Chapter 205: Chapter 203: That’s Right, I Am Threatening You
At this, it wasn’t just the members of the Four Seasons Sect; even Shangguan Shiyu stared at Qin Li in utter disbelief. However, she didn’t voice any of the questions on her mind. Because whatever decision Qin Li made, she would... support it unconditionally!
The woman in the palace gown was also taken aback for a moment. Her elegant brows knitted as she asked coolly, "And your reason?"
"Heh. First, thank you for your generous offer. I, Qin Li, am hardly worthy of such high praise from a peerless expert like yourself..."
"A peerless expert? Not necessarily," the woman in the palace gown murmured to herself.
Qin Li continued, "As for my reasons... First, I’m not someone who likes being tied down. I value my freedom. Second, I can’t stand this old woman trying to act young!" As he spoke, Qin Li pointed at Luan Yu, who stood beside the gray-robed crone. Then he pointed at the crone herself. "And I like this old, ugly hag even less. I’m sure they feel the same way about me, wishing they could eat my flesh and drink my blood. With two people like that in the same Sect, plotting to kill me day in and day out? I wouldn’t dare stay here."
The woman in the palace gown let out a soft "oh." Without even glancing at the gray-robed crone, she said to Qin Li, "If you agree to join the Four Seasons Sect, you can leave them to me. I guarantee that the scenario you described will never come to pass!"
The only people who can never retaliate are the dead!
So, when the woman uttered these words, the gray-robed crone froze, staring at her in disbelief. Her voice was filled with boundless resentment and terror. "Sect Leader, you... how could you? For an outsider, you would treat us this way—people who have rendered great service to the Four Seasons Sect? Aren’t you afraid of disheartening all the disciples? And... I demand we convene the Elder Council! The Four Seasons Sect has never been a dictatorship!"
The woman in the palace gown spoke unhurriedly, "Could it be you know the rules of the Four Seasons Sect better than I? The Four Seasons Sect is indeed not a dictatorship, but every Sect Leader is also granted the right to act unilaterally once."
The gray-robed crone began to tremble uncontrollably, not from fear, but from sheer rage. Finally, she could hold back no longer and roared, "Why?! Why would you use your one and only chance to act unilaterally for this pretty boy? Why are you doing this to me? Is this little pretty boy... really worth all this?"
The gray-robed crone’s disciple, Luan Yu, was completely stunned, her mind a total blank. If she could have foreseen the future, she would have never, ever launched that sword strike at Qin Li!
Luan Yu’s sword strike at Qin Li wasn’t to keep Shangguan Shiyu at the Sect; it was an act of pure, unadulterated jealousy.
She was actually quite old, and her strength had reached the Celestial Shattering Realm. But because she had a master like the gray-robed crone, she had never once experienced love in her entire life. Forget having a sweetheart; just exchanging a few words with a man would earn her a harsh scolding or even physical punishment from the crone. Her personality had long since become twisted by years of such torment.
Therefore, she was both hateful and jealous of Shangguan Shiyu for having a sweetheart she could never forget.
Today, someone had reported to her that a man calling himself Qin Li had arrived outside the Sect gate, asking for Shangguan Shiyu. Luan Yu immediately had the disciples on guard duty tell the man that Shangguan Shiyu would not see him. She had thought that would be enough to make him give up. But to her surprise, that Qin Li was outrageously bold and shameless, standing at the valley entrance and shouting until he drew out Shangguan Shiyu.
The more Luan Yu thought about it, the angrier she became. A wicked rage flared up in her chest, and she decided to kill the damned brat with a single strike. That would force Shangguan Shiyu to give up on him for good!
It just goes to show: like master, like disciple. While the saying may not be one hundred percent accurate, it holds true more often than not.
A cold smile touched the corners of the woman’s lips. "The Four Seasons Sect has never forbidden its disciples to marry. Even if they chose to leave the Sect for marriage, we have never stood in their way. But in the hundred-odd years since you became an Elder of the Four Seasons Sect, what exactly have you done? Did you truly think I was so young and ignorant when I became Sect Leader that you could fool me as you pleased? In terms of seniority, I am your Martial Aunt. In terms of status, I am the Sect Leader of the Four Seasons Sect. But you... when have you ever truly treated me as your Sect Leader? When have I ever asked you anything that you didn’t brush off with a half-hearted answer? When have I ever made a decision that you didn’t obstruct at every turn? Open your eyes and take a good look! A hundred years ago, the Four Seasons Sect was a mid- to high-tier power, and we maintained good relations with many families and other Sects. And now?"
The gray-robed crone’s wrinkled face twitched violently. Suddenly, she let out a wretched, bitter laugh. "Good. Very good. Bing Mengyun, oh Bing Mengyun... so this is what I get for all my years of selfless dedication to the Four Seasons Sect! This speech of yours! You’re just casting me aside now that I’m no longer useful... is that it?"
The woman in the palace gown raised her head, her clear, innocent-looking eyes fixed on the gray-robed crone. She remained perfectly calm as she spoke. "Three things. First, the previous Sect Leader failed in his attempt to break through to the Venerable Realm. He passed away suddenly, not from old age, but without any apparent illness. Second, the previous Sect Leader had already given a verbal decree that I was to succeed him as Sect Leader. Yet when I took the position, the official seal of the Four Seasons Sect remained in your hands. To this very day, you have refused to hand it over! Third, over these years, my meals have been poisoned a total of thirty-three times! And I have survived a total of eighteen assassination attempts while away from the Sect!"
As Bing Mengyun spoke, the gray-robed crone’s expression had already become utterly ghastly. Before she could even retort, her body shot into the air. At the same time, her grating, duck-like voice rang out, "Bing Mengyun, I will never forgive you! One day—"
An immense killing intent suddenly erupted in Bing Mengyun’s eyes. In that instant, the very air seemed to freeze solid!
The gray-robed crone’s ascending figure came to an abrupt halt in mid-air. It was no use, no matter how she unleashed her world-shaking, powerful aura!
As if exerting no effort at all, Bing Mengyun gave a casual wave of her hand. The gray-robed crone’s body was instantly vaporized, vanishing completely into thin air!
This move left everyone present completely stunned and speechless.
Qin Li stared, dumbfounded, at the scene and muttered, "So this is the power of the Venerable Realm? Truly terrifying!"
Qin Li could never have imagined that coming here to take his beloved away would lead to so many incredible events. The situation, which had been so unfavorable to him, had taken a sudden, drastic turn. The overbearing gray-robed crone had been utterly helpless in Bing Mengyun’s hands, erased with casual ease!
A chill ran down Qin Li’s spine, and the way he looked at the woman in the palace gown changed. It had nothing to do with a fear for his own life; it was simply that the Four Seasons Sect Master’s power was just that terrifying.
’If a Martial Artist in the Celestial Embracing Realm still fights with immense power,’ Qin Li thought, ’then... a Martial Artist in the Venerable Realm has completely transcended the realm of mere power. From that one move she just made, it felt like... the power of a Law! He hadn’t felt the slightest fluctuation of energy from her at all! Every move she made, every gesture, carried the essence of the Natural Daoist Law. Only in the instant the gray-robed crone vanished did he sense an irresistible, immense power that had instantly devoured her.’
Qin Li clenched his fists, suddenly feeling something cold and hard on his finger. It was the black ring—his Storage Ring.
A thought suddenly struck Qin Li. He seemed to have gained some insight into Bing Mengyun’s astonishing attack. Because no matter how powerful someone was, there was only one way to annihilate an enemy so completely, without leaving a single trace.
’That is... the power of space! Yes, that has to be it!’ Once Qin Li solidified this idea in his mind, the way he looked at Bing Mengyun changed. There was more wariness in his gaze now, and less fear.
The reason was simple: if she could use the power of Space Laws to make the gray-robed crone vanish, then she could very well bring her back again!
As someone who possessed a Storage Ring, Qin Li understood perfectly well that this was not a difficult feat for a Venerable Realm expert.
However, judging from their conversation, the rift between them was clearly genuine. So, while he remained wary, Qin Li stood his ground calmly.
Seeing the surprise in Qin Li’s eyes last only for a moment before he regained his composure, a flash of appreciation flickered in Bing Mengyun’s eyes. ’To remain calm in the face of such a momentous event... he’s quite an impressive young man!’
"Luan Yu, you may leave," Bing Mengyun said coolly to the horrified girl.
As if granted a royal pardon, Luan Yu scrambled down the mountain path, fleeing wildly. When she was several hundred meters away, Bing Mengyun raised a hand. This time, Qin Li felt a vast surge of energy shoot straight toward Luan Yu.
Luan Yu didn’t even have time to scream before the force blasted her into dust. Her body was torn to pieces by the immense power, once again leaving not a single trace behind!
Every member of the Four Seasons Sect stared at the scene before them in utter horror and disbelief.
Bing Mengyun turned to Qin Li with a faint smile. "See? I’ve purged the two degenerates from the Sect. Now you can accept my offer, can’t you?"
The corner of Qin Li’s mouth twitched. ’This woman is definitely not to be trifled with,’ he thought. ’To kill two people without even blinking... it would be a miracle if she were actually some kind, pure-hearted soul!’
"It’s not that I don’t want to accept," Qin Li said, his voice quiet but firm. "It’s just that... I’m used to my freedom!" The refusal in his tone was undeniable.
"You... have quite the nerve!" Bing Mengyun’s eyes narrowed, and her voice turned cold. "Aren’t you afraid that if you anger me, I’ll kill you as well? Are you thinking that someone like me can’t possibly be a good person? Heh heh... you’re right about that. So, you can go ahead and imagine the consequences of refusing me!"
"Are you threatening me?" Qin Li narrowed his eyes as well, his gaze glinting as he watched the extremely dangerous woman.
"That’s right. I am threatening you," a smile spread across Bing Mengyun’s face, the very picture of a cat toying with a mouse.
