Jun Shuying took a few days to recuperate his martial arts in the pool of water, but the effect wasn’t big. His internal injuries were not a problem, but he could not fully recover his internal force. Sometimes, it would even reduce. He needed to deal with the Sect’s matters. And everything in this cave reminded him of the absurd things that had happened here.
After Jun Shuying left the cave, he wanted to destroy this place filled with bad memories. But he considered that he may use this cave again in the future. After all, the pool water was a rare precious thing. He had Gao Fang send people to block the cave. Out of sight, out of mind. He would consider it as destroyed and nonexistent. Although Gao Fang was puzzled, he still followed orders and blocked the cave.
Jun Shuying returned to the Sect during the most chaotic time in Tianyi Sect. Some sect members were already suspicious about his disappearance for so many days. There were all sorts of rumors. The most popular was that he was seriously injured by Qing Lang and was about to die. The people with traitorous hears would not miss this opportunity. They couldn’t want to expose themselves.
Jun Shuying returned to the Sect and immediately cleared the enemies with lightning speed. He tortured several branch leaders in public to death. The bloody scene made people shudder. For a time, everyone in the Sect was more submissive to Jun Shuying and followed his every order.
The sun was shining brightly at noon. The side hall was wide and bright. The trees outside the window were blowing and wafted an osmanthus fragrance. Such a peaceful and leisure atmosphere reminded the people that Canglang Mountain had such a wonderful springtime.
“Sect Master, these are the accounts of each branch in the recent months. Take a look. There is a lot more money coming in. After killing a few restless branch leaders a few days ago, the rest are a lot more honest.” Gao Fang placed a ledger in front of Jun Shuying.
Jun Shuying picked it up and randomly turned a few pages. He pushed it away. “I’m assured with you doing these things. You don’t have to show me anymore.” He rubbed his forehead with a lazy expression.
Gao Fang’s hand pressed against the wooden table and he frowned. “Although I’m very happy that you believe me and it makes me happy, this isn’t like you.”
“Oh?! Then what is like me?” The rebellion in Tianyi Sect was pacified. Jun Shuying seemed to be in a good mood and faintly smiled as he asked.
“Sect Master is suspicious. You wouldn’t let anyone else do anything. You have to do it yourself to be at ease. These few days…… You seem to be a lot lazier.”
Jun Shuying’s smile turned grave. His face changed and he coldly snorted. “Gao Fang, you’re getting bolder.”
Gao Fang held the ledger and backed away a few steps. He chuckled. “Because Sect Master didn’t turn people into mummies at the drop of a hat. You’re not so scary anymore.” As he left, the jingling bells drifted away.
Jun Shuying’s face sunk. His hands on the table clenched. One didn’t know what he was thinking. After a moment, he stood up and opened a secret door on the wall. He disappeared behind the secret door. The door shut and left behind a silent room.
The fifteenth day of every month was the day that every branch leader would come pay respects to the Sect Master. This rule was set from the first day of the creation of Tianyi Sect. Even during this internal unrest, this rule had not been abandoned. At this moment, every branch leader was sitting upright and majestically. They gave reports one by one. Jun Shuying sat on a couch and listened. He faintly praised or darkly reprimanded before warmly appeasing.
The branch leaders were used to being dominating outside, but they were like mice in a cat’s mouth here. They were jittery. After each report, each branch leader had a forehead full of cold sweat, as if they had just experienced a war.
Fortunately, Jun Shuying was sinister, but he was not unreasonably difficult. He only gave everyone some orders and gently nodded before he let them all off. Pity those branch leaders who felt as if they had been through a war.
Finally, it was Chiyang Branch Leader’s turn. Jun Shuying didn’t pay him any attention. After Chiyang Branch Leader finished, he respectfully bowed. As time passed, big drops of sweat flowed down his face, chin, and dropped onto his shirt. But he didn’t dare to wipe it up.
Fifteen minutes passed. Jun Shuying did not make a sound. Chiyang Branch Leader secretly looked up. He saw their Sect Leader lying on the couch propped on a hand, but could not see his expression behind his sleeve. The other branch leaders sat still in the main hall. Everyone was at risk, so naturally no one would speak up for him.
Chiyang Branch Leader swallowed his mouthful of saliva. He carefully asked, “What orders does Sect Leader have for Chiyang Branch?”
Jun Shuying still did not reply. The main hall was filled with a terrible and suppressed silence.
Chiyang Branch Leader couldn’t take it anymore. He got up from the chair and knelt on the ground. He heavily kowtowed. His voice held a tremor. “Sect Master, although Chiyang Branch didn’t earn any merits, it made no faults. Under the eyes of the sun and moon, we are loyal to Sect Master. If there is anything that Sect Leader is dissatisfied with, this subordinate will take the penalty. Please have mercy and spare my life, Sect Master!”
He heavily kowtowed again. He used a lot of strength. A “bang” sounded and his forehead turned bloody.
Jun Shuying finally said something. He looked up, rather dazed. “What are you doing? You didn’t do anything wrong. What mercy and sparing your life?”
Chiyang Branch Leader did not reach. He continued kneeling with his bloody forehead. Jun Shuying lazily waved his hand. “Are you finished? Then leave.”
The scared branch leaders hurriedly stood up and respectfully took their leave. Chiyang Branch Leader was as happy as if he had gotten his life back after this. How would he care about Jun Shuying’s abnormal actions? He heavily kowtowed and stood up to quickly leave.
After all the branch leaders left the main hall, Jun Shuying stood up from the couch and frowned as he rubbed his forehead. Gao Fang went over and asked in concern, “Sect Master, are you feeling unwell?”
Jun Shuying shook his head and walked into the inner room. Gao Fang looked at his back in worry.
Gao Fang had always felt that Jun Shuying wasn’t quite right these few days. Maybe it was because the rebellion was pacified and the enemies were cleared out, so he wasn’t as meticulously careful. Jun Shuying seemed to have relaxed. Those eyes that flashed with a calculating light were now lazy and lethargic, as if he could fall asleep at anytime.
Those branch leaders were silent and scared and didn’t even dare to lift their heads, so they naturally did not see Jun Shuying’s expression. But Gao Fang was sitting next to Jun Shuying and clearly saw everything. Jun Shuying’s silence scared those branch leaders to death, but he had merely fallen asleep.
Gao Fang went over to the window to take a look at the sky. It was only after You Shi [5 – 7 p.m.]. It was not normal for a martial artist to sleep so early. But since Jun Shuying did not allow him to take his pulse, he naturally did not dare to touch his veins. Otherwise, with Jun Shuying’s temper, it was possible for him to kill Gao Fang.
The fragrance in the air floated. The night breeze was genial. Gao Fang lightly sighed. “Let’s hope that it’s just the spring weather.”
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Cookalina Jones Translations 