Watching the Mountain

Moreover, Xu Ran had always stayed on Qing Xuan Peak and was familiar with its atmosphere. He didn’t believe Wang Xiaohu had endured much hardship during his time there.

But since he didn’t know the whole story, he couldn’t judge the man just yet. He simply planned to find some time later to learn more.

In the center of the gathering, Li Daoyi heard Wang Xiaohu’s words but didn’t rush to refute him. Instead, he first raised his hand to form a Dao Seal and humbly asked for the man’s identity.

Only after Wang Xiaohu had identified himself did he ask in a gentle tone:

"Elder Wang, have you suffered some injustice within the Sect? If so, you can tell me. I will be sure to seek justice on your behalf."

Wang Xiaohu let out a sneer, shaking his head disdainfully as he spoke:

"You worry too much, Chief Li. I haven’t suffered any injustice."

"Then..." Li Daoyi’s expression flickered. Just as he was about to say something, Wang Xiaohu cut him off.

"I just find your words too hollow, Chief Li. Too self-righteous."

He shook his head and let out a long sigh. "I used to think the same way when I was young. I thought I would do everything in my power to make the Sect better."

"But now that I’m old, with not much time left, I’ve had a sudden realization. For mediocre talents like us, we can live a few hundred years at most. Even if we work hard to make the Sect better, what do we get to enjoy in the end?"

"In the end, all our efforts just pave the way for prodigies like you."

"So I’ve often found myself wondering lately... what was the point of all my hard work when I was young? Was there any meaning to it at all?"

"All that precious time... if only I’d spent it enjoying myself instead."

Hearing this, many disciples in the crowd showed thoughtful expressions. When Li Daoyi saw this, his brow furrowed slightly. He didn’t speak, apparently trying to think of a way to refute Wang Xiaohu’s claims.

Seeing Li Daoyi’s predicament, Xu Ran, who was sitting silently in the crowd, considered whether he should step in to help. However, he decided to observe a little longer.

’Since my martial nephew, Li Daoyi, has taken on the role of Chief Disciple, he’s bound to face all sorts of difficult problems in the future. This situation is a test for him. I’ll see how he handles it.’

However, before Li Daoyi could speak, another burst of loud laughter echoed through the area.

Startled by the sudden noise, everyone turned toward the sound. They saw a flamboyantly dressed young man clutching his stomach, roaring with laughter.

Once they got a clear look at the newcomer, many disciples from Qing Xuan Peak quickly rose, cupping their fists in salute. "Greetings, Wang Zhenzhuan."

This was none other than Wang Zhenye, the very same man who had entered the Sect with Hao Miaomiao using Xu Ran’s token—a man who cultivated solely for a life of pleasure and freedom.

Wang Zhenye’s talent was average and he’d started cultivating late, but his luck was remarkably good. After joining the Sect, he not only became a favorite among his senior and junior martial sisters but also constantly stumbled upon fortuitous opportunities in his cultivation.

At the age of one hundred and fifty, he reached the Purple Mansion Stage, meeting the minimum requirement to become one of the Sect’s True Disciples.

In previous years, this wouldn’t have been enough to be ranked among the True Disciples. But the Sect was currently suffering from a dearth of talent, and they couldn’t even fill the one hundred and eight slots for True Disciples.

Since he met the requirements at such a time, he was chosen to fill a vacancy, becoming a True Disciple of Qing Xuan Peak.

After laughing for a good while, Wang Zhenye sauntered forward until he was standing before Wang Xiaohu. He cupped his fists and spoke in a theatrical tone:

"Pardon me, my fellow disciple. I couldn’t help but overhear what you just said. I have a question, if you’d be so kind as to enlighten me?"

Wang Xiaohu had already taken a dislike to Wang Zhenye because of his laughter. Now, hearing his theatrical tone, he was even more annoyed.

His face cold, he turned his head away, refusing to even glance at Wang Zhenye. "What’s your question?" he said stiffly. "Let’s hear it."

But Wang Zhenye was a notorious rogue who cultivated only for a life of pleasure and freedom.

Far from getting angry at Wang Xiaohu’s expression of deep-seated resentment, Wang Zhenye looked at him as if he were some strange new toy. He let out a snort, which immediately turned into a loud, derisive cackle.

"Heh! You’re Wang Xiaohu, right?" Wang Zhenye crossed his arms, cocked his head, and gave the man a mocking, top-to-bottom inspection.

"Well, what you said is pretty damn interesting! So, you’re saying the Sect teaches you skills, puts food on your plate, and lets you walk around with your head held high and announce its name... and that’s all just a free handout, is that it?"

He took two steps forward, leaning in closer. His voice wasn’t loud, but it carried clearly to everyone’s ears, dripping with a brazen, devil-may-care attitude.

"When I’m having a good time down at the Carefree Pavilion, the girls there take my Spirit Stones and at least know to sing me a little song or flash me a smile! But you?"

Wang Zhenye’s voice suddenly shot up, his finger nearly poking the tip of Wang Xiaohu’s nose.

"The Sect feeds you, clothes you, teaches you to cultivate, and has your back! And what do you do? You eat your fill, then turn around and curse the hand that feeds you? Complaining the Sect didn’t grant you a life of several thousand years? Whining that your own life is too short?"

"Pah!" He spat dramatically. "You have a short life because that’s how your parents made you! What the hell has that got to do with the Sect? Does the Sect owe you something? By your twisted logic, should I go dig up my ancestors’ graves and ask them why they didn’t make me a ten-thousand-year-old turtle demon?"

"You enjoy all the Sect’s benefits, yet you feel wronged just by having to train and put in a little effort with everyone else? Wang Xiaohu, oh, Wang Xiaohu, this isn’t you being unable to see past your troubles. You’re just a damn ungrateful wolf!"