Chapter 17
Clearly, Qin Youzhou was not nearly as “understanding” as Dai Yang had imagined.
“There is demonic energy on you. Are you a demon?” His tone was calm.
“I remember that when you registered your birth details, you wrote that you were human.”
He was already in such a miserable state, yet this was what Qin Youzhou cared about?
Dai Yang felt so wronged he nearly burst into tears.
“I…” His lips trembled, and it took him a long time to continue.
“My head hurts, and my whole body feels hot.”
“I’ll have someone take you back.” Even when faced with the person he disliked most, Qin Youzhou still upheld the principles of a medical cultivator.
“You should have your illness treated first.”
“No.” Dai Yang mistakenly thought Qin Youzhou truly cared about him, and tears began falling freely.
His lips were bright red, and his voice was thick with sobs. “Don’t let anyone see me like this. Please!”
As he spoke, he clutched his shoulders, making his already loose robes threaten to slip off.
“Ah—”
A female voice cried out, “Don’t panic! Put your clothes back on before you speak!”
Being ill was one thing. Why was he suddenly taking off his clothes?
Dai Yang froze.
Only then did he notice that not far from Qin Youzhou, a male and female cultivator were hiding beneath a crooked old pine tree, watching the excitement.
Startled by them, Dai Yang completely lost control of the demonic traits he had barely managed to suppress. His pupils narrowed into thin slits.
The female cultivator pretended to cover her eyes, but her fingers were spread wide apart, and her eyes still darted curiously through the gaps.
“Senior Brother, he really does seem to be a demon!”
Yun Luoyi cautiously reached a conclusion.
“So he felt unwell during the examination because he couldn’t suppress his demonic nature?”
The male cultivator covered his mouth and studied Dai Yang with a complicated expression.
“Our sect does not refuse demon cultivators.” Yu Jia frowned slightly. “Why did you conceal your identity?”
Dai Yang’s mind went completely blank.
Dizzy and feverish, he looked pleadingly at Qin Youzhou.
“Don’t let them tell anyone,” Dai Yang said.
Yu Jia and Yun Luoyi exchanged baffled looks.
Yun Luoyi said, “Concealing your identity seems to violate sect rules.”
Yu Jia nodded. “That’s what I remember too.”
This was not something they could hide merely because Qin Youzhou asked them not to speak.
The sheer confidence with which Dai Yang made such an inexplicable demand left Qin Youzhou’s expression difficult to interpret.
Even he had not expected Dai Yang to be so self-righteous.
“Take him for a physical examination first. Once he has recovered somewhat, his offense can be judged.”
Afraid Dai Yang might accidentally expose a shoulder or leg, Qin Youzhou turned his head away and did not look at him.
They had no authority to decide whether a cultivator could stay or leave. An elder needed to intervene. And because such an exceptionally talented candidate had encountered a problem, the Sect Master would most likely become involved.
Simply hoping the Sect Master would act impartially and expel Dai Yang on the spot was far too passive, so Qin Youzhou planned to have the medical cultivators examine him first.
But he found nothing useful.
The effects of both pills in Dai Yang’s body had already been neutralized, so naturally, no problem could be detected.
They could only determine that he was an ordinary fox demon. They could not find even the slightest trace of spiritual energy belonging to Qingqiu.
The seal concealing his spiritual energy was probably exceedingly complex and deeply embedded. Even a high-ranking spell cultivator would have been helpless against it.
Yet the Sect Master, who had dragged his feet when the cultivators disappeared, suddenly became remarkably efficient now. He arrived at the medicine cottage with a grand procession of cultivators.
“What a pity. He truly is an excellent seedling.” Lü Quechen looked deeply distressed.
“Why did you conceal your identity?”
Had an untalented cultivator done the same, they would already have been thrown down the mountain.
But Dai Yang’s genuine heaven-grade spiritual root was impossible to ignore. Naturally, Lü Quechen intended to protect him.
“Please judge fairly. I have done nothing wrong.”
Dai Yang’s clansmen had clearly taught him in advance what measures to take if his identity was exposed. He suddenly became much more intelligent.
“I came from Mount Meng and had never seen the outside world even after reaching sixty years of age. My parents were also murdered by villains.”
His eyes filled with tears.
“During your honored sect’s Immortal Hunt, I told the leading cultivator about my background.”
“I was afraid I would be captured and killed, so I concealed my identity throughout the journey. By the time I reached Yinxiao Sect, I no longer had any proof of my demon registration, which is why…”
He choked up and could not continue.
“Call Minglu here.” Lü Quechen looked moved. “We’ll clarify the situation.”
“Weren’t Senior Brother Qin and I there too?” Yun Luoyi muttered unhappily. “Why does the Sect Master still need to ask Senior Brother Li?”
“What else could it be?” Yu Jia yawned.
“He needs someone to come protect him.”
Li Minglu, who was still being punished, was released.
The moment he heard that Qin Youzhou had caught Dai Yang, he naturally defended Dai Yang with all his might.
He even embellished the story, making Dai Yang’s background sound several times more pitiful.
“He never said he had done many good deeds or guided lost woodcutters out of the mountains.”
Seeing Li Minglu’s story becoming increasingly absurd, Qin Youzhou finally spoke to correct him.
“One-sided claims cannot be trusted. And even if he truly performed good deeds, the fact remains that he also committed an offense.”
For hundreds of li around Qingqiu, there were only demons. Where would a human woodcutter have come from?
“He told me when I escorted him back.”
Li Minglu smiled without warmth.
“A little demon makes one small mistake, and Junior Brother is already so eager to destroy him completely?”
“Besides, wasn’t it thanks to him that Junior Brother found those four wandering cultivators?”
【I think Li Minglu and Dai Yang are the ones who should be permanently bound together!】
The system snorted.
【Just to disgust everyone, they’ve completely thrown away their dignity.】
“I-I also suggested a way to resolve the flooding during the Winter Sacrifice,” Dai Yang hurriedly added, as though grasping a lifeline.
“I have achievements. You can ask Changheng Sect.”
“The one who stepped forward during the flooding wasn’t him. It was clearly—” Yun Luoyi could no longer endure it. “He merely opens his mouth every time. How can that count as an achievement?!”
“From this perspective, he truly is a good seedling who merely took a small wrong turn.”
Lü Quechen frowned in disapproval.
“Luoyi, you were too abrupt.”
“We should show him more tolerance.”
Yu Jia wanted to speak as well, but Qin Youzhou gently shook his head.
Even if they told the Sect Master now that Dai Yang was a Qingqiu fox, the Sect Master was a sword cultivator and could not detect any evidence. He would not believe them.
The strongest spell cultivator in the sect was still in seclusion, and someone was always willing to speak on Dai Yang’s behalf.
It was as though heaven itself were helping Dai Yang.
Judging from the way the Sect Master and Li Minglu were performing their rehearsed exchange, they were determined to protect him.
The moment Dai Yang’s talent was revealed, he had already become a cultivator of Yinxiao Sect.
Shizun had protected Qin Youzhou too well.
Only now did he realize just how much calculation and self-interest lay beneath the sect’s hidden currents.
He had been swept into the whirlpool and could only protect those who, like him, could not struggle free.
Li Minglu was willing to disregard others’ lives to bring Dai Yang into the sect.
The cultivators of Qingyue Peak had previously gone along with him and deliberately caused trouble when manpower was scarce.
And their peak master, who remained in seclusion, had continually indulged Li Minglu’s wrongdoing.
Perhaps there was no need to desperately save those who had willingly become part of the whirlpool that devoured others.
Qin Youzhou sent a voice transmission to his two friends.
After the three discussed the matter, he spoke.
“Sect Master, how do you wish to handle this?”
Lü Quechen paused for a long time.
But everyone present knew that he had decided long ago. This hesitation was merely for show.
“Allow him to continue the examinations. If an elder from any peak is willing to accept him, he may join that peak. Consider it forming a benevolent connection and giving him an opportunity.”
“If he cannot pass, then let the matter end there.”
At this point, his words were already equivalent to protecting Dai Yang.
Dai Yang’s eyes lit up.
“Thank you for your generosity, Sect Master. This junior is endlessly grateful!”
“I will obey the Sect Master’s decision,” Qin Youzhou said neither humbly nor arrogantly.
“However, a healer must possess sincerity in both heart and speech. Even a lie told because of hardship is still dishonesty.”
“He possesses outstanding talent, but he truly is not suited to practice medicine. This disciple must make that clear.”
Dai Yang’s expression immediately worsened.
His lips opened and closed, but in the end, he could find no way to refute him.
Dai Yang was now certainly unable to enter Xuanxing Peak, but that was not enough.
“Longling Peak has many beasts. When he encountered a vicious beast before, he completely lost his composure,” Yun Luoyi added indignantly. “Even if he ranked near the top, I’m afraid he would still be unsuitable for our peak.”
“Sect Master.”
Yu Jia’s eyes shifted, and he smiled.
“The music cultivators’ examination has not yet begun. We music cultivators frequently travel from place to place and easily attract enemies.”
“This young fellow is afraid of drawing trouble, so our peak truly would not suit him either.”
And Dai Yang was far too short for sword cultivation. Even the female cultivators of Qingyue Peak were around his height.
This would also spare their eldest senior sister, who was currently outside exterminating demons, from having to deal with him.
After ruling out the peaks one by one, only a single destination remained.
Everyone’s gaze fell on Li Minglu.
Li Minglu tugged at the corner of his mouth and forced a smile.
A moment ago, he had praised Dai Yang extravagantly and protected him with all his might.
But deep down, he had no desire for a junior brother more talented than himself.
Yet he had already said too much, and judging by the Sect Master’s intentions, Qingyue Peak would probably be required to accept this genius.
“If this young fellow passes the examination, he may naturally come to us,” Li Minglu forced out through clenched teeth. “Qingyue Peak welcomes talent and never discriminates.”
Yu Jia gave him an exaggeratedly admiring look.
“As expected of Senior Brother. You were born with such breadth of mind. Petty young men like us, who only know how to play music and embroider, could never compare!”
“Then we’ll trouble Senior Brother with everything.”
Qin Youzhou smiled and tried to recall Shizun’s manner whenever he insulted someone.
“Congratulations in advance to Qingyue Peak on obtaining such a priceless treasure.”
Given Qin Youzhou’s personality, even his insults were not particularly sarcastic.
Yet Li Minglu’s expression still resembled someone who had swallowed one of Ying Weiye’s failed poison pills.
“…Junior Brothers praise me too highly.”
Qin Youzhou had made his refusal to accept Dai Yang firm and justified.
The matter was now half settled.
On the day before the music cultivators’ examination, an unexpected person came to bid him farewell.
“I’m leaving the mountain. I came to say goodbye to Senior.”
Du Xiao called him into a corner and handed him a letter of withdrawal.
He was still smiling, looking as striking and brilliant as ever.
“Until we meet again.”
“Why?” Qin Youzhou asked in surprise.
He remembered Du Xiao saying that he would definitely place first and become a disciple of Xuanxing Peak.
He had ranked highly in the first two rounds. If he performed well in the remaining examinations, he truly might have taken first place.
“Because there’s no need.”
Du Xiao studied his expression as though he found it entertaining.
“A melon forcibly twisted from the vine won’t be sweet. I understand now. You will never allow me to become your junior brother.”
“Won’t you regret leaving like this?”
“I’ve already submitted my withdrawal letter, so of course I don’t regret it.”
“Though I do regret something else.”
Du Xiao sighed.
“I prepared a piece for the music cultivators’ examination, but no one has heard it yet.”
He looked at Qin Youzhou with interest.
“Would Senior be willing to listen?”
“I’m not particularly skilled in music,” Qin Youzhou kindly explained. “If you want guidance, I can ask Senior Brother to come.”
Yu Jia again.
The young man’s face darkened for an instant before he innocently replied, “I only want Senior’s guidance, because you are Elder Ying’s beloved disciple.”
It was related to Shizun again.
Qin Youzhou remained refined and polite.
“Then play. Do you need me to find a qin?”
“There’s no need.”
The young man brought out an old-looking guqin.
He raised his long fingers.
When they fell, the notes flowed smoothly…
But they were hoarse and unbearably unpleasant!
It sounded exactly like the noise made while repairing an alchemy furnace.
Qin Youzhou’s fingers curled unnaturally.
Only after listening for a long time did he finally recognize the piece as High Mountains and Flowing Water.
It was even more frightening than Shizun humming completely off-key.
Qin Youzhou withdrew his earlier thought that Du Xiao might place first.
If Du Xiao did not come last in the music cultivators’ examination, it could only mean Yu Jia’s hearing had suddenly failed.
Yet the young man was entirely immersed in his art, playing with complete concentration.
When the piece ended, he looked expectantly at Qin Youzhou.
Qin Youzhou fell silent.
After a long while, he said with difficulty, “…There is plenty of room for improvement.”
“I’ll take that as Senior’s blessing.”
The young man stood and answered cheerfully.
“I have no regrets left regarding this selection.”
“But I would like to ask Senior one final question.”
He stared at Qin Youzhou.
“Senior, what kind of person is your Shizun to you?”
Qin Youzhou did not think deeply before answering.
“The person most important to me, and the person I respect most.”
He could not say such words directly to Shizun.
But it was easy enough to tell a sincere junior he would never see again.
The moment he finished speaking, the young man’s expression froze.
Only after a long while did he nod, while a strange flush spread across the tips of his ears.
Qin Youzhou was confused.
Could failing to become Shizun’s disciple have dealt him such a severe blow?
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