Su Yan, Wang Feng, and Yang Kai stood surrounded by hostile disciples, tension hanging in the air like a drawn blade.
The standoff had reached an impasse—violence now seemed inevitable.
Amid the unease and rising hostility, Wang Feng remained unusually calm. His posture was relaxed, his eyes dull gold and unreadable, betraying none of the strain that the others wore plainly on their faces.
While Yang Kai clenched his fists subtly and Su Yan's expression remained stoic yet alert.
Su Yan, standing close beside him, was the first to notice his unnerving calm and raised an eyebrow.
"You have a plan, don't you?", Su Yan's voice was soft, but her tone made it clear—it wasn't a question. It was a statement of certainty. Her sharp eyes studied him, trying to peel back the layers of his eyes—those dull golden irises. There was a quiet confidence in his bearing, one born not from arrogance, but from certainty in victory.
'Wait… He looks different than before...', her attention drifting to the subtle changes in his face and demeanor. 'More refined... handsome, even? And his presence—it's like his body is now radiating a deeply entrenched Yang energy. It's not just around him... it's infused into him.', her Pure Yin Cultivation Technique allowing her to sense the abundant Yang Energy in Wang Feng.
Unbeknownst to her, the way she was looking at Wang Feng drew attention. Her eyes, previously cold and distant like an untouched winter lake, now shimmered with an almost imperceptible warmth. To the others watching, it looked like she was gazing at him with tender affection.
Disciples all around began murmuring, many of them stunned and even jealous.
Xie Hong Chen's face twisted, as though he'd bitten into something vile. He looked ready to erupt. Rage simmered behind his eyes as he glared daggers at Wang Feng, his clenched fists trembling.
Wang Feng, meanwhile, was helpless in the face of this misunderstanding. He knew Su Yan was simply analyzing his changes, yet the perception around them was quite different. From the side, Yang Kai rolled his eyes and muttered, "sheesh, Get a room already…"
Su Yan snapped out of her trance at Yang Kai's muttering. A faint flush touched her cheeks, and she turned to glare at him. Yang Kai shuddered under the weight of her cold stare and lifted his hands in mock surrender, looking away as if hoping her gaze wouldn't burn a hole through him.
Su Yan's embarrassment deepened as she noticed some of the nearby disciples giving her star-struck stares. Realizing how her momentary lapse had been misinterpreted, her cheeks flushed a deeper red. Grinding her teeth in frustration, she turned toward Wang Feng and pinched his side sharply, blaming him silently.
Wang Feng winced as he felt her pinch his waist sharply. 'Why am I getting punished!? You're the one who kept staring at my perfect face!' he groaned internally, meeting Su Yan's aggravated look with one of his own.
To the onlookers, however, the scene painted a completely different picture—one of an intimate couple engaging in a lighthearted quarrel. Their shared expressions of irritation, mutual glares, and unspoken exchanges only fueled the misconception, further demoralizing the already confused crowd.
Xie Hong Chen trembled with rage before barking, "Why are you all still standing there?! I said attack them!!"
The disciples hesitated, then charged—more out of resentment toward Wang Feng than loyalty to Xie Hong Chen.
But before they could make contact, a booming voice echoed from the sky.
"STOP THIS INSTANT!"
Everyone froze.
A figure descended swiftly from above, robes fluttering as he landed between them and the Disciplinary Hall. Recognizing the newcomer, the Disciplinary Disciples immediately straightened and bowed.
"Greetings, Fourth Elder!"
Xie Hong Chen blinked in surprise. Confusion flickered across his face—why would the Fourth Elder interrupt now, when the Great Elder had already ordered Wang Feng's detainment?
The Fourth Elder's eyes swept the crowd, indifferent on the surface, but betraying deep anxiety as they landed on the trio—Yang Kai with his arms folded, Su Yan standing tall, and Wang Feng, bloodied, leaning lightly against her.
'I'm doomed', he thought, horror blooming in his chest.
His gaze snapped to Xie Hong Chen. "What happened to Disciple Wang?! Why is he injured?!"
Xie Hong Chen's expression tightened, startled by the elder's urgency. "He… He sustained the injuries during detainment, Elder.", his mind already forming some conclusions, each one not favourable for him.
The Fourth Elder's frown deepened.
Wang Feng chuckled softly and spoke in a lazy drawl, having an irking about the urgency behind the Elder's look, "Oh~ how modest of you, Fellow Disciple Xie. Surely you mean from your 'Special Treatment'? They were very~ welcoming, after all."
Xie Hong Chen's heart skipped a beat in dread.
"You dare?!" he roared and slapped Xie Hong Chen across the face with a burst of spiritual energy that sent the young man sprawling to the ground.
"You think your position entitles you to abuse your fellow disciples?" he shouted, his anger boiling over. "The Disciplinary Hall is meant to uphold justice—not to become a den of bullies!"
The disciples stood rooted to the spot, stunned. Never had they seen Xie Hong Chen treated this way.
Xie Hong Chen lay stunned. 'He… hit me?'
Turning to the other disciples, the elder barked, "Release them!"
"But the Great Elder—" Xie Hong Chen started.
"I said, RELEASE THEM!"
The disciplinary disciples withdrew, sheepish and subdued.
Su Yan watched the unfolding drama with disbelief. 'Why would the Fourth Elder intervene like this? He's part of the Great Elder's faction…'
She turned to Wang Feng suspiciously. "You know what happened, don't you?"
Wang Feng gave her a mischievous grin. "Who, me? I have no idea~ Maybe someone decided to teach him some manners?"
Su Yan narrowed her eyes, clearly not buying his feigned ignorance. But before she could press further, the elder addressed them.
The elder turned to them. "You three may go. The Elder Council has deemed you not guilty of any charges."
Yang Kai and Su Yan nodded in acknowledgment. Wang Feng, naturally, smirked at Xie Hong Chen as they passed.
"Oh, and you might want to check on those who gave me your 'special treatment'," Wang Feng added casually. "They received some parting gifts from me~."
Xie Hong Chen's expression froze. 'No… It can't be. Those disciples—he couldn't have…', his mind involuntarily running back to Su Yan's statement.
....
Wang Feng leaned against Su Yan as they walked, watching Yang Kai head toward his own cabin.
"Brother Wang!" came a distant voice. The two turned to see Su Mu running toward them.
Seeing his Su Mu finally approaching, Su Yan shot Wang Feng a warning look. "If you don't want to die, stop pretending and get up now."
Yes—Wang Feng had already recovered some time ago. But he had been enjoying leaning against Su Yan far too much to admit it. Unfortunately for him, she had noticed this the moment they turned to look at Su Mu.
He straightened quickly, coughing awkwardly. "Senior Sister, what are you saying? I still need time to fully refine the pill…", he spoke while seemingly struggling to put his feet on the ground.
Su Yan narrowed her eyes and gave a cold snort, clearly seeing through him. But with so many eyes watching, she resisted the urge to smack him and simply glanced at Su Mu. Then like a flash of moonlight, she took off into the sky.
Wang Feng watched her retreating figure, his eyes glowing. 'One day, Su Yan… One day, I'll make you truly fall for me…'
Su Mu reached him, panting heavily. "What happened to you? Shouldn't you be resting?", Wang Feng inquired with a raised brow.
Instead of answering, Su Mu grabbed him by the shoulders and rattled him like a sack.
"WangFengyouwon'tbelievewhathappenedwaitdidyouknowwhydidn'tyoutellmebeforethatTreasurerMengwasthisstrongdoyouknowwhathedidhecamethenbangeveryonefelltothegroundhethenthreatenedtheelderhitthegreatelderwhilesaying'whofaceyouthe couragetotouchmypeople!'andthengavethemawarningbeforedisappearing....hah, hah, hah, hah", he spoke non-stop before he stopped with ragged breathing.
{For those who can't read the upper paragraph. He said: Wang Feng, you won't believe what happened! wait did you know? why didn't you tell me before that Treasurer Meng was this strong! do you know what he did!? he came, then *bang* everyone fell to the ground! he then threatened the elders hit the Great Elder while saying 'who face you the courage to touch my people!' and then gave them a warning before disappearing!"}
Wang Feng blinked. "Whoa, whoa, whoa—slow down, tiger.", both amused and exasperated at Su Mu
He waited till Su Mu recovered his breath a bit, "now, let's talk. Nice and slow, alright."
Once Su Mu caught his breath, he recounted the events properly—how Treasurer Meng had arrived, instantly subdued everyone, and scolded the Great Elder with righteous fury before disappearing like a legend.
Wang Feng chuckled, eyes gleaming. So that's what happened… Meng Wu Ya, you really are something.
He patted Su Mu's shoulder. "Thanks for the update. Now, let's get some rest."
Su Mu nodded wearily, body aching. He offered to take Wang Feng to his residence—his grandfather wanted to meet him later.
Wang Feng accepted. Upon arrival, he was given a guest room and offered healing pills, which he politely declined, citing his own supply.
Inside the room, Wang Feng set up a small alarm array with a few flags, took two pills, and collapsed onto the bed. Exhaustion finally claimed him.
As sleep took hold, his thoughts drifted back to the earlier battle in the Disciplinary Hall.
It had been a brutal fight—three-on-one, with limited space. Which had turned into four-on-one later on.
The cramped and dark room gave him an edge with movement technique, but robbed him of range.
He held back from using his full strength. A single fatal strike or the Golden Yang Flames could have killed his attackers outright, which even Meng Wu Ya's favor wouldn't excuse.
The encounter left him painfully aware of his lack of defensive capabilities—a flaw he mentally vowed to remedy.
.....
Elsewhere, in a secluded pavilion nestled in the shadows of the forest, Meng Wu Ya and Ling Taixu sat sipping tea beneath the shade.
"These brats have grown arrogant and blind with power," Meng Wu Ya muttered. "You gave them too much freedom, Brother Ling."
Ling Taixu sighed, stroking his beard. "I know… but what choice did I have? If not for that incident, I'd have already retired and focused on breaking through…"
Meng Wu Ya frowned. "Can't you use that brat's cultivation method—Wang Feng's Cultivation Path?"
Ling Taixu's expression darkened. "No. If I attempted that transition… I fear I'd never advance beyond the Soul Refining Realm."
Meng Wu Ya's eyes narrowed. Then, with a jolt, they widened. "You're developing a heart demon?!"
Ling Taixu stared into the distance, regret and longing etched into his features.
"…Yes."
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{So, how do you all like it so far?
I have been thinking about a few things about the plot and such. Although I have drafted a rather rough outline of events I want, I will be adding more, maybe many many more, things in the novel which will make it reach beyond just Martial Peak, So stay tuned.
Also, comment and review, it helps keep me motivated. 👍
P.S. I have been minimalized the use of '*' so expressions such as heavy breathing or sighs will be written in Italic}