Chapter 11: The Sect Master’s Favor

The next day’s duel only had a hundred newly recruited inner disciples participating, a relatively small number, but the atmosphere was even more tense.

The reason for this was that the Sect Master, who rarely appeared in public, was seated on the high observation platform, accompanied by the Wolf Girl. The three of them were looking solemnly at the children who had been selected.

The Ten Elders led their new disciples to the front of the martial arts stage, knelt down, and bowed to Ji Wushuang, shouting, “We pay our respects to the Sect Master.”

“Rise,” Ji Wushuang raised his hand and called for everyone to stand, his voice hoarse and deep, with a penetrating power.

“Thank you, Sect Master!” Everyone stood up, but their heads were still lowered, not daring to look directly at the Sect Master’s dignity.

In this era, conjoined twins were as monstrous as monsters, and Ji Wushuang was known for his cruel and violent nature, his superior strength, and his indifference to killing, making him a monster in the eyes of the disciples, feared far more than respected.

Ji Wushuang’s face was impassive, and he coldly swept his gaze over the disciples, finally resting it on Shui Jingxuan, who was standing behind Elder Mu.

Although Shui Jingxuan’s head was lowered, his posture was straight, and his hands were relaxed, hanging naturally at his sides, with no sign of tension or fear. This made Ji Wushuang admire him even more.

“Today, there will be two duels to select the first disciple and the champion under each Elder’s name. I hope you will do your best and not disappoint me,” Ji Wushuang said sternly, his gaze moving away.

The hundred inner disciples responded in unison, their hearts filled with resolve. If they performed well, they might be favored by the Sect Master and become his personal disciples, which would be a stepping stone to a bright future.

The Wolf Girl was a perfect example. Otherwise, how could she, at the age of twelve, have the right to be the General Inspector?

Although Shui Jingxuan was the most ambitious among the children, he had never thought about trying to gain Ji Wushuang’s favor and become his disciple.

He remembered from a movie that Ji Wushuang had only one disciple, the Wolf Girl, and that he had been infatuated with her since her childhood, treating her as his own woman.

Therefore, seeing the eager expressions and restless movements of his fellow disciples, Shui Jingxuan felt a little dismissive and merely smiled faintly. He was already satisfied with being a disciple of Elder Mu.

However, this time, he underestimated Ji Wushuang. Although Ji Wushuang was deeply infatuated with the Wolf Girl, he had not reached the point where he could not live without her.

He had not taken any disciples before because there were no suitable candidates, but now that Shui Jingxuan had appeared, he naturally wanted to cultivate him and make him and the Wolf Girl his right-hand men.

While Shui Jingxuan was thinking, Ji Wushuang’s deep voice suddenly rang out, “Who is Axi? Come before me.”

Shui Jingxuan looked up, his mouth still curled in a faint smile, and looked directly at Ji Wushuang, his dark eyes slightly widened with curiosity, and he pointed at his face with his fingertips, silently asking, “Are you calling me?”

It was the first time anyone had dared to look directly at him, the first time anyone had smiled while looking directly at him, and the first time a child had looked so innocent and unafraid.

This calm attitude made Ji Wushuang’s eyes light up, and his mouth, which was usually tightly pressed into a line, unconsciously curled up as the child smiled.

“I’m talking about you. Come here,” Ji Wushuang said, not knowing how gentle his voice was, the kind of gentleness that could only be seen occasionally when he was with the Wolf Girl.

Ji Wushuang’s unusual attitude was hard to ignore, and his sister’s pupils contracted, her gaze as sharp as a knife, piercing into Shui Jingxuan. Even the cold Wolf Girl looked at the child with curiosity, examining him up and down.

Combining the plot and Axi’s memory, Shui Jingxuan knew that Ji Wushuang’s sister had only been his subordinate from start to finish, and had done little except to incite and frame the Wolf Girl.

Therefore, he paid no attention to his sister’s sinister gaze and walked towards the three on the observation platform, his steps calm and dignified, his simple white linen robe exuding an unusual elegance, as if a fairy child had descended, attracting everyone’s gaze.

Ji Wushuang watched intently as the child walked towards him, not only his mouth but his eyes also carrying a hint of a smile. This child was indeed special, remaining calm and at ease under the gaze of the crowd.

As Shui Jingxuan, who was calm and composed, approached, Ji Wushuang’s sister gave a cold snort and stood up to greet him.

Having experienced the hardships of life and survived, she had long believed that no one would not be afraid of their bodies, and many had been scared away.

Even the Wolf Girl, who had been raised by them, had come to despise and reject them after growing up. There was no reason for this child to be so calm.

The only explanation was that they were sitting sideways, and the child, from a distance, only thought they were leaning back-to-back, not knowing the true horror of their bodies.

Standing up would allow him to see more clearly. If he showed even a hint of fear on his face, Ji Wushuang, who was moody, would surely be disappointed and might even kill him. Ji Wushuang’s sister thought darkly as she approached the child.

She insisted on standing up, and Ji Wushuang also had to stand up and walk towards the child.

The two of them, dressed in dark blue and heavy priestly robes, their faces twisted and demonic due to their cultivation of the Poison Demon Function, their lips stained with an eerie blackish-green, looked terrifying.

Their two tall bodies were closely connected, and their movements were slow and strange, like a fearsome beast crawling slowly, with a powerful presence that made people afraid just by looking at it once.

This sight, even adults would not dare to look directly, let alone children?

When the Sect Master stood up, Elder Mu below the stage began to worry, secretly concerned for the child. If the child was afraid and made a mistake in his response, he might be killed by the Sect Master today.

He should have known earlier and not rashly introduced the child to the Sect Master, but instead, taken him in and taught him himself, which would have preserved a talent for the sect. Now, it was too late to regret.

Ji Wushuang understood his sister’s intention at the first moment, but he still cooperated with her. He did not want to take a disciple who was afraid of him and did not dare to look him in the eye.

This child, if he had no courage, would not have much future, and it was useless to keep him around.

Not knowing of the many twists and turns, when Ji Wushuang stood up and walked towards him, Shui Jingxuan, following his education from his previous life, habitually smiled and stopped three meters in front of him, bowing respectfully, “Axi greets the Sect Master.”

The child’s natural and calm gaze, his innocent and obedient smile, and his polite greeting, without a trace of fear, made Ji Wushuang’s sister not believe it, and the coldness in her eyes unconsciously receded.

Ji Wushuang’s face also showed surprise, followed by a thick smile that flowed from his eyes.

Feeling her little brother’s joy, Ji Wushuang’s sister narrowed her eyes, leaned down, and approached the child, asking in a sinister tone,

“You are Axi? Indeed, as your name suggests, you have thin arms and legs.” Her unfriendly expression and cold voice were like a witch who would eat children, enough to make all the children cry.

Having seen many ugly and grotesque zombies and mutated beasts, Ji Wushuang’s deep and handsome features in Shui Jingxuan’s eyes could be compared to the most pleasing sight, and the blackish-green on their eyes and lips was also considered by Shui Jingxuan to be a non-mainstream makeup, in his mind, thinking that this makeup was very good, with a very powerful presence. Therefore, he boldly looked back, not speaking, but his smile became even more pleasing.

Seeing the child still smiling brightly, Ji Wushuang’s sister had used up all her tricks but could not scare him, and instead, her own hatred for him gradually disappeared, feeling a little discouraged.

Seeing that her little brother was extremely happy because of the child, a happiness she had never seen before, and through their connected bodies, it was also slowly transmitted to her heart, infecting her.

She suddenly softened her expression and smiled, pinching the child’s cheek and speaking kindly, “This child is so obedient and cute! I like you very much.”

Ji Wushuang’s sister had never been close to a child, and her hands could not control the strength. The tender flesh on the cheek was almost pulled off, and Shui Jingxuan, no matter how calm he was, could not help but grimace, showing a painful expression.

“He is still a child, you should be gentler with him,” Ji Wushuang pushed away his sister’s hand, seeing the child’s cheeks flushed and the deep fingernail marks on the side of his face, and gently stroked it, comforting,

“You are very good, I like you, you can stay and watch the duel with me. You don’t need to compete for the first disciple, you can directly go up and win the champion, what do you think?”

Unlike the Wolf Girl’s dislike and rejection of him, when Ji Wushuang stroked the child’s cheek, the child naturally accepted it, with no intention of evading, Ji Wushuang’s heart moved, and after speaking, he looked at the child deeply. Ji Wushuang’s sister also kept looking at the child, feeling complicated in her heart.

She had only her little brother in her heart because she thought that only her little brother could accept her, not to be afraid of her.

Her pathological possession of her little brother was only because of her extreme inferiority and fear. The Wolf Girl, whom they had raised, was only a further deepening of her twisted psyche.

Therefore, she had been targeting the Wolf Girl, not without reason, not purely out of pathological possession. Now, this special child appeared, and her worldview was somewhat overturned.

“Axi obeys the Sect Master’s order,” Shui Jingxuan bowed and replied, and then naturally stood behind Ji Wushuang and the Wolf Girl.

Ji Wushuang had only called him up, openly showing his appreciation for him. Shui Jingxuan already guessed his intention and decided to follow him.

Ji Wushuang was the Sect Master, and if he became his personal disciple, it would be more legitimate for him to take over the demon sect in the future, and he could also avoid many unnecessary battles, why not?

Moreover, he had seen this movie, and he had a general understanding of Ji Wushuang’s character.

Ji Wushuang was very concerned about the people he liked, and even if he was betrayed, the cold and cruel Ji Wushuang would not have the heart to kill him.

Therefore, as long as he did his best to gain Ji Wushuang’s favor, life would be quite good.

Ji Wushuang saw that the child was calm and had a good sense of propriety, completely different from the ferocious appearance of the day before, and felt that he was interesting.

After observing him for a long time, he finally turned his gaze to the crowd below and raised his hand to signal, “Good, the duel can start now.”

The child was bold and fearless, so the imagined bloody scene did not occur. Elder Mu breathed a sigh of relief and quickly called his disciples to draw lots and determine their opponents.

The other Elders were also prepared, and two incense sticks later, the duel officially began.

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Special Supernatural Investigation Team

Modern FantasySupernaturalUrban Fantasy

Read Now →
Not interested