五月丁香五月丁香激情

Yu Longqing and Lu Mingrong exchanged glances, each frowning.

“I haven’t done anything wrong; why should I leave?” Zhang Xuan shook his head, reassuring them, “I appreciate your good intentions, but I have my reasons for staying.”

Running away wouldn’t solve the issue.

The other side represented the Destiny Hall. If he fled, it would confirm his label as a Chaotic Fate Practitioner, and the entire continent would begin hunting him down. If that happened, the only option left would be to hide, living like a fugitive. There would be no other paths left.

If he did that, not only would he lose his chance to clear his name, but saving Kong Shi would also become nearly impossible. He still had time to handle this, but who knew if Kong Shi could wait that long?

So, after thinking it over, the fastest solution was… if he couldn’t beat them, he’d join them!

If he could somehow prove he was a Destiny Master with a substantial background, then even if Ling Buyang was ambitious, he wouldn’t dare to make a move. There were even other benefits: First, he could use the opportunity to infiltrate the Destiny Hall and investigate Kong Shi’s whereabouts, preparing for his rescue. Second, he could obtain more Heaven\'s Fate Energy, accelerating his cultivation.

Of course, this was risky. If he got caught, even escaping would be impossible. But if he didn’t take risks, he’d never get what he wanted. If he stayed cautious forever, he’d have died countless times on the Master Teacher Continent.

“This isn’t about whether you’ve done something wrong…” Yu Longqing looked worried, about to continue when hurried footsteps interrupted. Everyone turned to see the Great Elder of White Rock Academy, Ran Qingxu, arriving at the alley entrance.

The elder looked anxious, but when he saw them in the alley, he paused before rushing up to Lu Mingrong, “Dean, Liu Tianzheng led a large group into the academy and has detained Yu Xiaoyu, Liu Mingyue, and Hong Yi, demanding to know where Teacher Zhang is…”

“They captured Xiaoyu?” Yu Longqing’s face darkened.

“Yes!” Ran Qingxu nodded.

“What’s Liao Shiquan doing?” Yu Longqing roared in fury.

Though he’d expected this might happen, he still found himself enraged now that it had come to pass.

“Leave the rest to me. Go back quickly and avoid being seen with me; it would complicate things.” Zhang Xuan advised.

Seeing they couldn’t dissuade him and shocked by the Destiny Master’s utter lack of restraint, Yu Longqing and Lu Mingrong exchanged a glance before swiftly departing.

“Young Master, what should we do?” Sun Qiang asked.

“You’re not strong enough yet. Focus on acquiring materials to boost your power; I’ll handle everything else.” Zhang Xuan gestured.

Sun Qiang hurried forward, “No, I’ll stick with you, Young Master. If we do encounter danger, even if I’m weak, I can still help. Besides, I know your intentions well—there are times when it’s better if I do the talking for you. I’m your best spokesperson!”

Zhang Xuan paused. True, this guy had been through many trials with him, and indeed, there were things that would be easier for Sun Qiang to say.

“Let’s go!”

With that in mind, Zhang Xuan nodded, mounted Dao Li, and galloped toward White Rock Academy.

Inside White Rock Academy.

Liu Tianzheng, Xu Xin, and Ling Buyang stood together, surrounded by dozens of powerful elders. Across from them, Yu Xiaoyu, Liu Mingyue, and Hong Yi were restrained by soldiers, looking slightly disheveled.

“Tell me where Zhang Xuan is, and I’ll overlook your ignorance in trusting him. If not… the Destiny Hall will show you the consequences of associating with a Chaotic Fate Practitioner.”

Ling Buyang’s voice was calm as he gestured dismissively.

“Ignorance? Association? I don’t understand what you mean by this, sir!” Liu Mingyue lifted her brows defiantly.

Ling Buyang ignored her and turned to Liu Tianzheng. “Liu Family Head, this is your daughter?”

“Yes!” Liu Tianzheng’s face paled, and he glared at his daughter, fury blazing in his eyes. “Mingyue, have you caused enough trouble yet? Tell us where Zhang Xuan is at once and make amends! Or do you want to drag the entire Liu Family down with you?”

“Drag us down? What crime has Teacher Zhang committed?” Liu Mingyue asked boldly.

“Lord Ling is a Destiny Master from the imperial capital’s Destiny Hall. He suspects Zhang Xuan is a Chaotic Fate Practitioner and has come to apprehend him. A Chaotic Fate Practitioner is a criminal on the Destiny Hall’s wanted list, incredibly dangerous, and must be eliminated. Do you understand the gravity of this?”

Liu Tianzheng’s brows furrowed, and he yelled, “Stop being stubborn at such a critical time, or I’ll show you no mercy!”

“Suspects? So it’s not confirmed. Yet you’re already mobilizing forces to hunt down a teacher, and on top of that, coercing his students? Is this really how the Destiny Hall operates?”

Liu Mingyue shook her head. “Besides, Teacher Zhang has taught us invaluable lessons. A teacher for a day is like a father for life. Even if I knew his whereabouts, I wouldn’t reveal it.”

“Indeed! If you want us to betray Teacher Zhang, keep dreaming!” Yu Xiaoyu nodded in agreement.

“Me too!” added Hong Yi.

Ling Buyang turned to Liu Tianzheng with a chilly gaze. “Your daughter has quite the sharp tongue!”

Cold sweat dripped from Liu Tianzheng’s forehead as he bowed quickly, “Apologies, Lord Ling. I will handle this disobedient girl myself and make her understand the consequences…”

“No need. I’ll handle it.”

Ling Buyang stepped forward, regarding the three students coolly. “You’re loyal to him, I see. But does he care for you as much? Perhaps he knew we’d come, so he fled long ago…”

“Impossible!” Liu Mingyue shook her head.

“Impossible? Then where is he now?”

Ling Buyang smirked, “Don’t tell me he doesn’t know what’s happening by now. Yet he abandoned you here. This is the teacher you trust?”

“This…” Liu Mingyue and Hong Yi exchanged uncertain glances.

Yu Xiaoyu lifted her brows, “Stop trying to manipulate us. We know our teacher’s character well…”

“Do you? Very well. Today, I’ll teach you a lesson about human nature.”

Ling Buyang took a step forward. “Kneel!”

Boom!

A powerful wave of Divine Soul energy from the Dharma Aspect Realm spread out. The three felt the sky darken, as though a massive storm was about to descend and tear them apart.

Terror filled their hearts, and their knees weakened involuntarily, as if they would fall any second.

“No…”

Realizing he was trying to control them mentally, Yu Xiaoyu and Liu Mingyue’s faces flushed as they resisted with all their might.

Here, the strength of the Heaven’s Path techniques shone through. Even though they’d only learned simplified versions, the power of the Heaven’s Path allowed them to resist kneeling, even as their bones felt like they’d shatter under the pressure.

“Your strength is lacking, but you have spirit. Let’s see how long you last…”

Surprised, Ling Buyang took another step forward.

With that slight movement, Yu Xiaoyu and the others felt as if a mountain was crashing toward them.

Spitting up blood, Hong Yi collapsed, thrown several meters back, his face pale. Liu Mingyue and Yu Xiaoyu soon followed, spitting blood as they fell.

Without using any martial techniques or True Energy, Ling Buyang had severely injured them just by exerting his Divine Soul pressure.

This was the terror of a Dharma Aspect master!

“Lord Ling, please go easy on my daughter. She may be misguided but is still my flesh and blood…” Liu Tianzheng hastily pleaded.

“I am Yu Longqing, City Lord of White Roc City, and Yu Xiaoyu is my daughter. Please, Lord Ling, show mercy!” Yu Longqing arrived at this moment, clasping his hands respectfully.

“Vice-Principal Wu Yunzhou, what is going on?”

Dean Lu Mingrong hurried over, pretending to be alarmed before looking up. “They’re just students, young and ignorant. Perhaps we can discuss this peacefully.”

“No need to worry. I’m merely teaching them a lesson.” Ling Buyang glanced at the two officials dismissively before stepping forward again, his Divine Soul pressure crashing over the students, making it impossible for them to even speak.

Under tremendous pressure, Yu Xiaoyu and the others struggled to rise.

“Hmm?”

Surprised, Ling Buyang’s face darkened. “Since you refuse to yield, I’ll grant your wish!”

He lifted his palm, pressing down lightly.

Bang!

Yu Xiaoyu and the others, who had just stood up, couldn’t withstand the force and collapsed, coughing up blood once more.

“You claim Zhang Xuan wouldn’t abandon you, yet here you lie, wounded by me. Where is this teacher you trust so deeply?” Ling Buyang stood with his hands behind his back, his robes flowing, emanating a powerful presence.

Yu Xiaoyu clenched her fists.

The others might not know, but she understood her father had likely warned Teacher Zhang, who would have left White Roc City by now.

If he’d escaped, at least they wouldn’t be in immediate danger. As long as her teacher couldn’t be captured, they wouldn’t face execution.

“Teacher… will come!” Liu Mingyue gritted her teeth.

“Oh, he will? How naïve. Today, I’ll show you just how ridiculous your faith is!”

Ling Buyang raised his hand, about to strike, when he suddenly sensed his immense spiritual force vanish without a trace, as if it had dissolved into the void.

“What the…”

Ling Buyang’s face grew grim.

As a Dharma Aspect powerhouse, he knew the strength of his Divine Soul. Even a Source Pool Realm eighth-level cultivator would be obliterated by it. But here, it had been nullified instantly…

Who was responsible? And what level were they at?

Just then, a horse galloped toward them. In a blink, the rider—a young man—appeared, pulling his reins with ease. The horse reared back, steady as a rock.

“Apologies for being late…”

Upon hearing his voice, Liu Mingyue, Yu Xiaoyu, and Hong Yi found themselves unable to hold back their tears.

“Teacher…”

The towering figure on the horse could only be Teacher Zhang.

Despite knowing his foes were after him, he had come without hesitation.

This was their true teacher, someone who placed his students’ safety above all else.

Ling Buyang hadn’t expected such a bold arrival and looked at the young man with a frown.

Around twenty-four or twenty-five, he stood tall and had a profound gaze. His cultivation was difficult to discern, but his composed manner was unfathomably deep. A stout man accompanied him, casting a cold, dismissive gaze as though the people before him were mere ants.

Ling Buyang extended his Divine Soul toward the fat man, who, to his surprise, revealed his cultivation openly.

“Energy Storing Realm?”

Ling Buyang’s mouth twitched.

He’d assumed the man was highly skilled, yet he was only at the third level of the Source Pool Realm, the peak of Energy Storing… with a mere five units of power… and he dared look down on him?

Amused, Ling Buyang lost any respect he’d harbored. Narrowing his eyes, he looked at Zhang Xuan. “You must be Zhang Xuan…”

Before he could finish, the stout man’s brows shot up. “How dare you! Who are you to address our Young Master by name?”

“???”

Ling Buyang was stunned.

A mere Energy Storing cultivator daring to speak to him like this?

Even Xu Xin and Liu Tianzheng were flabbergasted. They’d assumed the steward was insignificant, yet here he was, daring to scold Lord Ling himself…

“What did you say?” Ling Buyang’s face darkened.

“Are you deaf? I said, who do you think you are, calling my Young Master’s name?” Sun Qiang sneered. “Our Young Master came here to White Roc City for training. He didn’t want to reveal his identity, yet here you are falsely accusing him of being a Chaotic Fate Practitioner. What incredible nerve!”

“Young Master? Training?” Ling Buyang’s confusion grew.

According to Liu Tianzheng’s reports, Zhang Xuan was merely a servant of the Mo Family who had recently become a teacher at White Rock Academy… And yet now, he was supposedly a young master in training?

Studying Sun Qiang, Ling Buyang saw no fear in his face. If anything, his expression bordered on disdain. This was no act. Could he truly be from some powerful family?

Could his earlier “quick progress” have been a ruse, hiding his real strength? That would explain his rapid advancements.

“Exactly!” Sun Qiang huffed coldly.

At Zhang Xuan’s instruction, he’d said what needed to be said, leveraging the situation.

Not wanting to intervene himself, Zhang Xuan dismounted and walked to Yu Xiaoyu and Liu Mingyue. “Are you alright?”

“We’re fine, Teacher…” Yu Xiaoyu said quickly.

Liu Mingyue’s face lit with pride. “Teacher, I, Liu Mingyue, haven’t let you down…”

“You did well.”

Checking their pulses, Zhang Xuan sighed in relief. They appeared severely injured, but the damage wasn’t too deep, likely thanks to Yu Longqing and Liu Tianzheng’s presence.

As Zhang Xuan dismounted, Sun Qiang followed, glaring at Ling Buyang. “You’d better hope Miss Xiaoyu and the others are unharmed, or the Machete Sect won’t be long for this world…”

Ling Buyang hesitated, his intent to attack fading.

Could Zhang Xuan really be a young master from a powerful family?

Sun Qiang turned to him with a sly smile, “Lord Ling, let’s keep this between us, or shall I share the truth with everyone?”

Shaken, Ling Buyang decided against escalating the confrontation.

Ling Buyang’s doubts deepened, and he couldn’t help but ask, “You know of the Machete Fate?”

Sun Qiang replied with a cool expression, “Naturally. Not only that, but I also know your greatest secret!”

Ling Buyang scoffed, caught off guard. “What secret could I possibly have?”

“Don’t believe me?” Sun Qiang smirked, speaking in a low tone that only Ling Buyang could hear.

“If my information is correct, when you first began cultivating the Machete Path, you made a small mistake. Because of that, every time you wield your blade, a trace of True Energy flows into places it shouldn’t, gradually causing a blockage.”

“Once or twice isn’t a big deal, but over time, that energy collects in an area that leads to severe pain, one that’s impossible to alleviate. Seventeen years ago, while exacting revenge, you disregarded the risk and unleashed the most powerful move in the Machete Path. The force of that attack was so intense that a particular… ‘part’ of your body burst and detached, leaving you with an unfillable regret.”

“However, every cloud has a silver lining. With that ‘part’ gone, your meridians became more fluid, and the Machete Path, which had once been rough and awkward, became smooth and harmonious, accelerating your cultivation speed—though it also diminished the path’s innate fierceness.”

“You even consulted your master, Mo Baiye, who reassured you that ‘existence is rational,’ and urged you to continue cultivating as you were.”

“To prevent others from discovering your condition, you left the Destiny Hall in the Zouyi Dynasty and came to this remote Hanyuan Dynasty, recruiting Fate Guardians with seemingly strong physiques but who all suffer from the same… affliction.”

Sun Qiang’s face was cold, and his voice dropped to a whisper as he added, “So, Lord Ling, did I get that right?”

“You… you…” Ling Buyang’s whole body trembled, his pupils constricting in shock.

Though he tried to deny it, he knew the truth: Sun Qiang’s words were painfully accurate.

The Machete Path was a deeply masculine technique, requiring the practitioner to channel energy into five key Yang meridians and absorb solar energy at noon. Only then could they draw upon supreme masculine force to empower the blade to its fullest potential.

Years ago, a distraction caused Ling Buyang’s energy to gather in a delicate spot. Every time he practiced, a portion of his energy gathered there until it built up to dangerous levels. When he finally had a chance to fight his enemy, he managed to kill them, but the excess energy caused irreparable damage.

From that day on, his physical form had changed, giving him an unusual advantage: his cultivation advanced smoothly, as though free from obstacles. Although his blade was less fierce than before, he progressed rapidly, reaching an advanced realm known as “having no part, but stronger than having one.”

Yet, this change had stripped him of his masculinity, a deeply humiliating outcome. To cover up this secret, he only recruited Fate Guardians who shared the same affliction, employing other means to mask the truth.

This incident had been buried for years, known only within a small circle in the Zouyi Dynasty—and even there, it was kept under tight wraps. The fact that Sun Qiang had unearthed it down to the smallest detail left Ling Buyang shocked and horrified.

Could it be that Zhang Xuan was truly a young master of some elite clan, here in this remote city for training? If so, then accusing him of being a Chaotic Fate Practitioner would mean courting death.

“If it’s just nonsense, I’ll shout it for everyone to hear. I’m sure you wouldn’t mind, Lord Ling?” Sun Qiang flashed a smile, gazing at him intently.

Ling Buyang’s expression darkened, his earlier imposing demeanor vanished. He hastily waved his hand, “I don’t think that’s necessary…”

Not far away, Xu Xin, who hadn’t heard the private exchange, saw Sun Qiang openly challenging Lord Ling and practically exploded with rage, shouting, “Lord Ling, let him speak! Let’s hear what he has to say!”

Author\'s Note