Daoist Competition

A clear breeze swept through the mountain, stirring up falling leaves and producing a rustling sound. Apart from this, all was silent. Zhang Yan did not answer immediately. He sat there without speaking or moving, his expression suggesting he was contemplating something.

ᴛʜɪs ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ɪs ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ʙʏ 𝕟𝕠𝕧𝕖𝕝⁂𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙚⁂𝔫𝔢𝔱

Zhuang Bufan stood silently, his robes gently swaying. Although there was no visible sign of joy, anger, sorrow, or excitement on his face, he did not urge or force Zhang Yan to speak.

The red-haired Daoist grew suspicious when Zhang Yan remained silent for a long time, thinking inwardly, "Could it be that Zhang Yan is unwilling to comply?"

Earlier, he hadn’t given the matter much thought, but now a sudden idea crossed his mind. His expression subtly shifted, and he vaguely guessed part of the reason. His heart was instantly filled with delight: if Zhang Yan defied Zhuang Bufan today, he might witness an intriguing drama.

Not long after, Zhang Yan smiled and stood up, saying to Zhuang Bufan, "Since Senior Brother wishes me to release the man, it is not impossible. However, with the two Deputy Directors present today and the Xiao Clan people also here, I have one matter that must be clarified."

Zhuang Bufan merely looked at Zhang Yan without speaking.

Vice Master Pan coughed softly and said, "Junior Brother Zhang, if you have something to say, speak up."

Zhang Yan bowed respectfully and solemnly said, "To be honest with the two Masters, although the Xiao Clan people are disciples of the Mingcang Sect, they have repeatedly sought to harm me. If I let Xiao He go today, I fear they will act even more recklessly and boldly."

The red-haired Daoist, shocked and enraged, suddenly stood up and pointed at Zhang Yan, admonishing, "Zhang Yan, cease your wild accusations! My nephew’s temperament is indeed impulsive and brash, but his approach to your mountain gate was purely because he admired your reputation and wished to spar. He harbored no other intentions. How dare you claim the Xiao Clan wishes to kill you? Ridiculous! Utterly ridiculous!"

Zhuang Bufan fixed his gaze on Zhang Yan, his pupils gleaming faintly, and said, "If you have no solid evidence and are merely causing trouble, the sect rules will not tolerate you!"

Zhang Yan smiled faintly and said, "I would not speak falsely."

During his duel with Xiao He, there had indeed been a flaw in the challenge letter. But this was not negligence—it was a deliberate omission. If the Xiao Clan decided to let matters rest, so be it. However, if they sought to exploit this loophole, it would play perfectly into his hands.

The red-haired Daoist observed Zhang Yan’s confident demeanor and inexplicably felt uneasy. Yet, try as he might, he could not fathom what trump card Zhang Yan possessed.

Zhang Yan reached into his sleeve and retrieved a human bag, untying the knot and spilling its contents onto the ground. Out rolled an old man with white hair, lying flat on the ground, unconscious.

The red-haired Daoist saw the figure and was initially puzzled. Then, as realization struck, his expression suddenly changed.

Zhuang Bufan glanced at the man and asked, "Who is this?"

Zhang Yan replied solemnly, "This man is Hou Boxu, the Clan Leader of the Marquis Qingxiao Family, a blood relative of the Xiao Clan. While I was seeking medicine abroad, he attempted to assassinate me. Fortunately, with the help of a fellow Daoist, I managed to capture him. After careful interrogation, I confirmed that he was under the Xiao Clan’s orders to harm me..."

The red-haired Daoist erupted in anger, shouting fiercely, "Zhang Yan, even if this man does turn out to be Hou Boxu, how can you guarantee he wasn’t framed to implicate the Xiao Clan?"

Zhang Yan chuckled and said, "Now that the man is here, the veracity of his words—along with his true identity—can be determined by our sect’s marvelous techniques. Brother Xiao, no need to worry. If the Xiao Clan is indeed not involved, I’m sure justice will clear your name."

The red-haired Daoist’s face darkened noticeably. He knew the Mingcang Sect had soul-collection Dharma techniques capable of uncovering the truth. Forget even a True Master—inquiries conducted by the Zhengqing Institute stewards present here could easily be conclusive. Anyone else might be manageable, but Zhang Yan was a True Disciple. If an investigation revealed anything, the Sect Leader would surely seize the opportunity, and the Xiao Clan would undoubtedly suffer greatly.

He glanced around, then a murderous intention sprouted in his heart.

At this moment, he was the only one present in the Nascent Soul Realm. Even Zhuang Bufan and the other three couldn’t compare to him in power. Hou Boxu, lying a mere eight or nine steps away, could be utterly obliterated in one swift move—erasing his Divine Soul with no chance of retrieval. Without solid proof, what could they do to combat him, a Nascent Soul True Master?

Yet he hesitated. Were he to act, taking Xiao He back would become impossible.

Zhuang Bufan frowned deeply. Zhang Yan’s sudden revelation had certainly made the situation tense. Facing off against the Xiao Clan, one of the Five Great Families, was not something he had wanted. Still, ignoring this and letting Zhang Yan remain dissatisfied was not a viable option either.

He couldn’t ignore the strategy underlying Zhang Yan’s actions. If the matter of Xiao He didn’t appease Zhang Yan, Zhuang Bufan himself would undoubtedly bear the consequences.

Reluctantly, Zhuang Bufan had no choice but to compromise. He said in a grave tone, "Then, let us detain this man. I shall personally interrogate him. Until this matter is resolved, we will not discuss Xiao He’s case further."

Zhang Yan stated gladly, "Senior Brother Zhuang is always fair in his actions. I trust you will handle this as such."

While the two conversed, the red-haired Daoist grew increasingly anxious. If Hou Boxu fell into Zhuang Bufan’s hands, wouldn’t that mean he could be brought up at any time as leverage? This was essentially a blade hanging over the Xiao Clan!

Unable to dwell further, the red-haired Daoist made a firm decision. He stepped forward abruptly and roared, "Such an unidentified man dares sully the Xiao Clan’s name? This is outrageous! I, an elder, am utterly incensed!"

Though his words came slow, his actions were swift. A streak of golden light shot forth, striking Hou Boxu squarely on the head. Without even a gasp, the elder perished, his Divine Soul entirely eradicated.

Having finished, the red-haired Daoist felt a sense of relief, as if a burden had been lifted. But as he raised his head, he found Vice Master Pan and Zhuang Bufan watching him with disdain, seemingly unsurprised. Turning slightly, he also caught sight of Zhang Yan’s faintly mocking smile. A chill welled up in his heart.

Could it be... that he had fallen into another trap?

...

...(To be continued. If you enjoy this story, feel free to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to cast your recommendation votes and monthly tickets. Your support is the greatest source of my motivation.)