Chapter 33: The Grand Celebration and a Vow of Vengeance

The heterodox faction was a people exceptionally skilled in song and dance.

Within the colossal circular sacrificial altar, countless tribesmen danced and sang around the central viewing platform.

The scene was incredibly vibrant, far more impactful than any special effects-laden movie sequence, offering a dual feast for both sight and sound.

Shui Jingxuan, clad in a simple yet luxurious red robe, leaned back languidly in a wide chair.

His phoenix eyes were slightly narrowed, and with a delicate lift of his chin, he tilted his head, savoring the songs and dances unfolding below the stage.

One hand propped his forehead, while the other tapped gently on the armrest, keeping time with the drumbeats. His expression was one of profound enjoyment, clearly lost in the fervent and joyous atmosphere.

In the arena, Wolf Girl, on the central viewing platform, was enjoying herself even more than he was. She had already emptied a pot of potent liquor, casually tossing the flask behind her.

Her cheeks were flushed crimson, her gaze hazy. At times, she would stroke the hair of the attending boy beside her; at others, she would gaze blankly upwards.

Her elegant demeanor was imbued with an infinite allure, her exquisite face made even more captivating by the glow of the bonfire.

‘What a captivating beauty! No wonder Zhuo Yihang was so utterly smitten after only two encounters,’ Shui Jingxuan mused, his eyes narrowing slightly as he watched Wolf Girl.

“Is she really that beautiful? Look at you, your eyes are practically glued to her!” Ji Wushuang’s twin sister snapped, having inadvertently caught sight of his focused expression.

At her words, Ji Wushuang abruptly turned, his eyes darkening as he looked at his beloved disciple.

He moistened his elegant, thin lips, which were damp with wine, and slowly began to speak.

“I was merely admiring Senior Sister’s dance. From a young age, I have only ever regarded Senior Sister as an elder sister, and I harbor no ulterior motives.

Senior Sister possesses such peerless beauty; I truly wonder which young man of our clan will be fortunate enough to win her favor in the future.”

As he finished speaking, he glanced at Ji Wushuang, his expression clear and frank.

“Heh, who she ends up with is none of your concern!” Ji Wushuang replied with a smile, though a hidden undercurrent stirred in his eyes.

“Since your Senior Sister is so exceptional, does my disciple not like her? After all, you two are not blood siblings.”

Shui Jingxuan’s phoenix eyes narrowed, a moment of chilling sharpness in their depths. He spoke slowly,

“Master, please do not fault your disciple for holding a grudge. The way my right hand was nearly crippled back then is something I will never forget in this lifetime.”

The implication was clear: he could never bring himself to like Wolf Girl.

“Hahaha, little one, I’ve finally gotten your true feelings out of you today!” Ji Wushuang’s twin sister clapped her hands and laughed heartily, feeling a sense of relief upon realizing someone else shared her deep aversion to Wolf Girl.

“Wolf Girl’s foul temper truly makes one want to keep their distance!”

The gloom in Ji Wushuang’s eyes instantly dispersed. He patted his beloved disciple’s hand gently, saying,

“Holding a grudge? This is the very nature of our clan; how could I blame you? People should indeed remember hatred, constantly using it to spur themselves on.

Even the sages have said: ‘Repay kindness with kindness, but how can one repay kindness with virtue?'”

Seeing the sourness on Ji Wushuang’s face fade, and his tone becoming earnest, as if he truly didn’t mind him harboring resentment towards Wolf Girl, Shui Jingxuan’s heart stirred. He suddenly wanted to test his master’s limits.

He leaned closer to Ji Wushuang, his expression utterly serious. “Master, do you truly not blame me? What if your disciple wishes to avenge this broken meridian?”

Ji Wushuang pondered for a moment, then smiled.

“The conflict between our clan and the Eight Great Sects grows deeper by the day; a great war is inevitable sooner or later.

If my disciple wishes for revenge, let us speak of it after the great war. At that time, your fates will be your own, and you shall rely on your own abilities.”

‘Wolf Girl’s martial arts are exceptional; she is a major fighting force for the Demonic Cult and cannot be lost yet. Once the Eight Great Sects are eradicated, this weapon will become expendable.

Then, my disciple can deal with her as he wishes,’ Ji Wushuang thought indifferently.

Though he spoke of their fates being their own, he knew full well that Wolf Girl was no match for his beloved disciple.

‘Is this a disguised deferral? However, the fact that he didn’t eliminate me on the spot, does that mean I still hold some weight in his heart?’ Shui Jingxuan’s gaze shifted.

He suddenly looked up and chuckled, shaking his head as he mused, ‘Why care about such things? Am I trying to compete with Wolf Girl for favor? How utterly boring!’

“What ‘fates will be your own’? Master, you exaggerate; your disciple was merely jesting. With internal strife between the Left and Right Protectors, our cult’s strength is bound to suffer, and ultimately, Master will have to clean up the mess. Your disciple is not such an unprincipled person.”

As Shui Jingxuan spoke, he leaned over and poured two cups of wine for Ji Wushuang. “Today is a celebration, Master; please have a few more drinks.”

“Good boy!” Ji Wushuang’s heart swelled with delight at his beloved disciple’s thoughtfulness. He took one wine cup, handed it to his twin sister, then took the other cup from his disciple’s hand and drained it in one gulp.

“Excellent wine! Little one, you drink too!” Ji Wushuang’s twin sister exclaimed loudly, pleased by the conversation between master and disciple, after finishing her own drink.

Shui Jingxuan did not decline. He extended his slender, jade-like fingers, picked up a small golden goblet, and tilted his head back, pouring the contents into his mouth with a carefree, unrestrained motion.

As the potent liquor slid down his throat, he narrowed his long, phoenix eyes, parted his red lips slightly, and exhaled a warm breath fragrant with wine.

He then leaned back languidly into the wide chair, a flush of crimson gracing his cheeks. Every gesture was exquisitely elegant, yet incredibly alluring.

Ji Wushuang’s twin sister stared at him for a moment, then sighed,

“Little one, you are too modest. What kind of beauty is Wolf Girl? Compared to you, she’s like mud next to clouds! Look! The young women below are all dumbfounded! Hahaha!” She reached out, pointing towards the groups of young girls gathered below the stage.

Shui Jingxuan merely smiled nonchalantly at the crimson-cheeked girls. Romantic entanglements were currently not a consideration for him.

It was then that Ji Wushuang noticed his beloved disciple had become the center of attention. He slowly scanned the faces of those staring at his disciple.

Seeing their expressions of shock, and how they quickly lowered their heads to avoid his gaze, he felt a slight easing in his heart.

“My beloved disciple is naturally the most outstanding,” he murmured, gently twirling a silky strand of Shui Jingxuan’s dark hair around his fingertip, a fleeting look of obsession in his eyes.

As if remembering something, he tightened his grip on the strand of hair, his obsession instantly replaced by cold sternness. He leaned down, looking into his disciple’s clear eyes, and said in a deep voice,

“However, temporary excellence means nothing. To forever stand at the pinnacle of strength, one must rely on diligence and arduous effort. Now, in the prime of your youth, is the time for striving; do not let matters of the heart hinder your progress.”

Shui Jingxuan, understanding that his master was repeatedly warning him against delaying his martial arts practice for the sake of ‘hatred,’ likely hoping he would achieve great mastery soon to help him seek revenge, obediently promised,

“Master, in the future, I will personally slay the demonic daoist Ziyang.”

“Haha,” Ji Wushuang laughed, then tilted his head back and drank deeply.

“My good disciple, it is enough that you have the intention,” Ji Wushuang said, patting his disciple’s fair, jade-like hand. His deep-set eyes were filled with an unspoken tenderness and affection.

Shui Jingxuan nodded with a faint smile, picked up the wine pot, and refilled his master’s cup, slowly handing it to him.

Unexpectedly, Ji Wushuang seized his wrist, drank the wine directly from his hand, then refilled the empty cup and brought it to Shui Jingxuan’s lips. His gaze, sharp as a hook, fixed on his disciple, inviting him to drink together.

Shui Jingxuan was momentarily stunned, then smiled. He tilted his head back and drained the cup in one gulp, his movements impossibly dashing.

Sharing a cup was nothing significant to him; in the apocalypse, resources were extremely scarce, and in the beginning, he had even shared toothbrushes and bath towels with others, having long developed an extraordinary capacity for acceptance.

Moreover, during a banquet, he would never be foolish enough to defy Ji Wushuang and spoil the atmosphere.

Seeing his disciple show no aversion, acting as if there were no distinctions between them, Ji Wushuang’s heart pounded wildly. His body felt hot, and his mind grew hazy. It seemed the wine hadn’t intoxicated him; he had intoxicated himself.

Before Ji Wushuang could indulge in his reverie for much longer, the drums and music below gradually ceased, signaling the approaching end of the celebration.

Recalling the impending bloody battle with the Eight Great Sects, Ji Wushuang cast aside his tender emotions. He stood up with a stern face and declared in a loud voice,

“Our clan has endured great hardships and finally overcome the most difficult period.

Today, with the Left and Right Protectors having mastered their skills, and this Venerable One on the verge of breaking through the ninth level of the Poison Demon Arts, our clan’s power is at its peak.

We no longer need to hide and live in fear as we did in the past. In the future, our clan will confront the Eight Great Sects head-on, relentlessly, to avenge the great massacre of our clan from over a decade ago.

It is the duty of every one of our people to personally slay our enemies. Now, this Venerable One will reveal the appearance of our foes to all; may you kill them upon sight.”

Ji Wushuang’s icy tone was filled with a potent aura of bloodshed. After speaking, he looked towards the newly appointed High Priest. The High Priest understood, raising a hand to signal a group of scantily clad witches to perform their magic.

The witches, their hair damp and bodies slick with tung oil, danced wildly, their hair constantly flicking out sprays of water vapor. Amidst the swirling mist, several figures gradually took shape.

Shui Jingxuan stared unblinkingly at the miraculous scene unfolding in the arena. He knew this was not witchcraft, but some form of water-screen imaging technology. However, the precise principles were likely known only to the High Priest, who controlled it all.

Ji Wushuang typically paid little attention to such provocative performances. However, seeing his beloved disciple captivated by the witches, and considering that he was at a passionate, impetuous age, he feared his character might be corrupted.

A surge of anger rose within him. He glared at the High Priest and sternly reprimanded, “Perform your magic, but why these indecent displays? Make them leave!”

The High Priest, oppressed by the Sect Master’s oppressive aura, trembled violently. He hastily waved his hand, dismissing the witches, and personally stepped forward.

He poured a jar of purple liquid into the fiercely burning bonfire. The bonfire hissed as it was extinguished, then water vapor billowed, transforming into vivid human figures amidst the swirling mist.

The sect masters of the Eight Great Sects successively appeared in the vapor. The cult members watched intently, even Wolf Girl composed herself, standing upright to etch each enemy’s image into her mind.

However, when the image of a handsome man appeared, her eyes widened, her face abruptly changed, and the wine cup in her hand unknowingly slipped and fell.

“Oh? Who is this person?” Shui Jingxuan’s timely question diverted Ji Wushuang’s attention, preventing him from noticing Wolf Girl’s lapse.

“This person is the great disciple of the demonic daoist Ziyang—Zhuo Yihang, and also the next Sect Master of Wudang,” Ji Wushuang’s twin sister explained to the boy, glancing at the exceptionally dashing young man in the mist.

“Does my disciple know him?” Ji Wushuang asked, unable to resist, seeing his beloved disciple’s intense focus on Zhuo Yihang.

Wolf Girl’s face tightened as she looked at Shui Jingxuan. She did not want her master to know that they had crossed paths with Zhuo Yihang.

Shui Jingxuan subtly glanced at Wolf Girl, then shook his head.

“I haven’t met him, but I’ve heard of his great reputation. Ziyang praises him highly, saying he is a martial arts prodigy rarely seen in a century, capable of wielding Wudang sword arts with supernatural skill by the age of ten.

Your disciple truly wishes to challenge him to a battle and see who is superior.”

Ji Wushuang scoffed, stroking his beloved disciple’s dark hair. He declared proudly,

“Hmph, that demonic daoist Ziyang truly boasts without shame. While Zhuo Yihang is also a young genius, he cannot compare to my disciple, not by a long shot! Disciple, you two are destined to clash. When that time comes, you must kill him for your master and let that demonic daoist Ziyang witness the might of our cult.”

‘What should I do? How can I save his life?’ Wolf Girl closed her eyes, repeatedly asking herself.

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