After I Became A Divine Beast In An Immortal Sect [Transmigration into a Book] - Chapter 13

At the mention of Meng Li’an, Yunsheng gritted his teeth.

“He deceived me by saying that he had encountered a group of demonic beasts during a recent training expedition and that all the magical artifacts he carried had been damaged in the battle. Since the Heart-Tempering Realm was about to open, I was worried that he would be placed at a disadvantage, so I offered to lend him one of my magical artifacts.”

“He refused and said that he had another way to resolve the problem.”

“Then, one day, he suddenly sent me a voice transmission. He said he had recently obtained a new sword but did not know how powerful it was, so he wanted to borrow my Ice Jade Chalice to test it. Senior Brother Yunmo had forbidden me from leaving Xianmiao Peak at the time, so I asked Qingyun to deliver it on my behalf…”

There was no need to explain what happened afterward.

Not only had Meng Li’an failed to return the Ice Jade Chalice, but he had also deliberately staged a performance inside the Heart-Tempering Realm, forcibly entangling himself with Xianmiao Peak.

The scheme could not be considered particularly brilliant. He had merely taken advantage of Yunsheng’s trust in him.

Yunlan lightly tapped his folding fan against his palm and considered the matter.

“Was Meng Li’an not afraid that the truth would come to light and leave him unable to clean up the situation?”

Yunsheng could not understand it either.

When he had first entered the sect, Meng Li’an had taken good care of him. Yunsheng had always been grateful and therefore had never guarded against him.

Estimating that it was almost time to leave, Yunsheng once again bade farewell to his two senior brothers.

“Yunsheng shall take his leave. Senior Brothers, please take care.”

Only after Yunsheng’s figure disappeared into the teleportation formation did Yunlan and Yunmo begin their return journey.

Along the way, they happened to encounter a disciple from Xianmiao Peak.

The moment the disciple saw them, he hurried over with an anxious expression.

“Senior Brother Yunmo! Senior Brother Yunlan! Something terrible has happened!”

“What happened?” Yunlan asked with a frown.

“The newly appointed Peak Master of Hanyun Peak came to Xianmiao Peak to apologize! People from all the other peaks have come to watch the excitement!”

The expressions of both Yunmo and Yunlan darkened.

They had truly underestimated the thickness of Meng Li’an’s skin.

……

Hua Ling ate spirit grain while listening to the noisy voices outside Canglang Hall. She tilted her head and looked at her caretaker.

“Chirp?”

Were they not going outside to see what was happening?

That Meng Li’an had clearly come looking for trouble!

Cheng Suxi rubbed a finger against the soft down on Hua Ling’s chest.

“Are you full?”

Hua Ling could not help wanting to roll her eyes, but unfortunately, the physical structure of a bird did not permit such a gesture.

She climbed along Cheng Suxi’s slender, smooth arm and onto her shoulder, then released a long chirp toward the doors.

This time, Cheng Suxi understood her meaning.

“You want to go out and watch the excitement?”

Hua Ling nodded repeatedly.

“Then we shall go and see.”

The hem of Cheng Suxi’s robes swept across the cold green-jade steps as she rose with unhurried grace. Carrying Hua Ling upon her shoulder, she pushed open the doors of Canglang Hall.

The noisy voices outside abruptly fell silent.

Standing among the crowd, Meng Li’an turned at the sound and cupped his hands toward Cheng Suxi.

“Elder Lingxi, I am Meng Li’an, the Peak Master of Hanyun Peak.”

Cheng Suxi stood upon the stone steps. Her voice was as cool and clear as jade striking jade.

“For what purpose has Peak Master Meng come here?”

Meng Li’an took out a magical artifact and declared loudly, “Some time ago, I borrowed an Ice Jade Chalice from Junior Brother Yunsheng of Xianmiao Peak, but I did not have the opportunity to return it. Unexpectedly, I was attacked by a Flame Bird inside the Heart-Tempering Realm and used the Ice Jade Chalice in a moment of urgency.”

“I heard that certain disciples who were unaware of the circumstances developed misunderstandings regarding Elder Lingxi. Feeling deeply uneasy, I came today specifically to apologize to Elder Lingxi and Junior Brother Yunsheng.”

Meng Li’an adopted an extremely humble posture, and every word he spoke appeared to defend Xianmiao Peak.

After hearing his explanation, the disciples from the other peaks exchanged glances, expressions of understanding appearing on their faces.

This time, Hua Ling truly wanted to roll her eyes.

Meng Li’an had come to apologize with such great fanfare while deliberately making vague and misleading statements. Wasn’t he simply trying to turn the lie into reality and make the people from the other peaks believe that he truly had a relationship with Xianmiao Peak?

Even worse, after scheming against Yunsheng, he had deliberately mentioned Yunsheng’s name in public.

Was he afraid Yunsheng’s life on Xianmiao Peak had been too comfortable?

Fortunately, her caretaker had possessed the foresight to send Yunsheng away.

Yunmo and Yunlan, who had hurriedly returned, shared Hua Ling’s opinion.

Yunlan walked forward while gently waving his fan.

“Peak Master Meng, those words are mistaken. As you said, everything was merely an accident. There is no need to apologize at all. Our Peak Master has also never concerned herself with the opinions of others. Rumors stop with the wise.”

His implied meaning was clear: Meng Li’an should stop using the Ice Jade Chalice to create further trouble.

Meng Li’an acted as though he had not noticed Yunlan’s mockery and naturally asked, “Is Junior Brother Yunsheng present? I must return the Ice Jade Chalice to him.”

Yunmo coldly replied, “He has already departed for Qintian City.”

Upon hearing this, the Xianmiao Peak disciples who were close to Yunsheng anxiously crowded forward.

“I heard that demonic beasts run rampant around Qintian City and that one can lose their life with the slightest carelessness. Senior Brother Yunsheng won’t encounter an accident, will he…?”

“Peh, peh, peh! You jinx! Senior Brother Yunsheng has always been fortunate. Nothing will happen to him!”

The disciples did not dare plead with Cheng Suxi, so they all glared furiously at Meng Li’an.

Had this man not secretly used Junior Brother Yunsheng’s Ice Jade Chalice, Xianmiao Peak would never have been subjected to other people’s gossip, and Senior Brother Yunsheng would not have been sent to Qintian City by the Peak Master!

That disciple named Yunsheng seems rather popular.

Hua Ling flapped her wings and sighed inwardly.

Meng Li’an revealed an astonished expression.

“Qintian City? How could Elder Lingxi bear to—”

“Peak Master Meng.”

Yunlan interrupted him, his expression icy.

“I will keep the Ice Jade Chalice for my junior brother. As for your apology, Xianmiao Peak absolutely cannot accept it.”

Meng Li’an’s expression abruptly darkened.

He raised his eyes toward Cheng Suxi upon the steps, only to see her teasing the hatchling on her shoulder, as though she had never taken him seriously at all.

Meng Li’an suddenly felt like a ridiculous clown, and irritation surged within him.

In his opinion, this should have been a mutually beneficial arrangement.

The Qianyuan Sect was currently divided into two factions.

One was led by the newly appointed Sect Master, Qin Jian, with Elder Lingxi supporting him from behind.

The other was led by Elder Jingming, who was backed by Suhui Peak, the peak that had suffered the fewest losses during the great war.

Because the Peak Masters of Hanyun Peak and Zhiyuan Peak had perished, both peaks had become disorganized and fragmented. They consequently became the focus of competition between the two factions.

The moment news of the Peak Master selection spread, Meng Li’an knew his opportunity had arrived.

He clearly understood that aside from his acceptable cultivation, he possessed no particular advantage.

His prestige on Hanyun Peak was low, and he had no capable subordinates. Even if he obtained the position of Peak Master, he might become nothing more than an empty figurehead without any true authority.

Therefore, he had to borrow external power.

Compared with the conservative Elder Jingming, Meng Li’an had more confidence in Qin Jian’s faction.

However, he was not certain that Qin Jian and Cheng Suxi would recognize him, which was why he resorted to this underhanded plan.

In his view, although his methods were somewhat dishonorable, the entire sect already believed he belonged to the same faction as Xianmiao Peak.

As long as he displayed sufficient sincerity afterward, Elder Lingxi could not possibly reject an advantage delivered directly to her door.

He had never expected the people of Xianmiao Peak to be so uncompromisingly upright.

Elder Lingxi, as Peak Master, also appeared completely indifferent to the bait he had offered and had even sent Yunsheng away beforehand.

The scheme he had believed foolproof had failed completely, so Meng Li’an naturally felt exceedingly frustrated.

The Hanyun Peak disciples who had accompanied him also had complicated feelings.

Although Meng Li’an had previously possessed a decent reputation on the peak, his abilities had never been particularly outstanding.

They had always believed Senior Brother Luo Ying to be the strongest candidate.

Unexpectedly, Luo Ying had been unable to participate in the selection because of an accident, allowing Meng Li’an to obtain the position of Peak Master instead.

Some people had suspected there was something questionable behind the outcome.

Only after rumors spread that Meng Li’an had Elder Lingxi’s support did they believe they finally understood.

However, the scene before them today left them confused once again…

Watching Meng Li’an suffer a setback gave Hua Ling a satisfying sense of vindication.

However, there was a saying that one would rather offend a gentleman than a petty person.

Perhaps Meng Li’an had already begun resenting Xianmiao Peak and was preparing to take revenge in the future…

Thinking of this, Hua Ling worriedly lowered her two small wings and shifted her round belly until it covered her feet.

At that moment, she suddenly heard Cheng Suxi’s voice above her.

“Tuanzi, you must remember this: circumstances arise from the heart. Those who use cunning to contend against strength may begin in the light, but they often end in darkness. When cleverness is taken to extremes, strange and devious schemes multiply.”

Such a long and complicated speech left Hua Ling completely bewildered.

She had returned all her knowledge of classical Chinese to her teacher long ago. How could she possibly understand what her caretaker was saying?

Fortunately, her caretaker also knew better than to expect a newly hatched divine beast to understand such profound words.

She continued with an explanation.

“What cultivators must avoid most is using conspiracies and dishonest tricks to achieve their goals. Once one loses sight of one’s true nature, inner demons will arise.”

This time, Hua Ling understood and chirped in agreement.

Those who harmed others would ultimately harm themselves.

They must never do bad things!

Seeing the little creature’s serious expression, Cheng Suxi found her extremely amusing and smiled as she stroked the top of her head.

Author’s Note

Hua Ling: So young, yet already troubled by the possibility of going bald. Sigh… o(︶︿︶)o