"Sect Master Liu, it's been months. I've been thinking about how much I'd love to see you die— whoops, I mean, I've been dying to see you!" Yun Jin greeted with excessive warmth.
Liu Hua forced a smile. "Sect Master Yun, you are too courteous."
Facing Yun Jin now, he no longer carried the slightest arrogance he once had. In truth, he could not muster it at all.
"Why so stiff?" Yun Jin clapped Liu Hua's shoulder in a most friendly manner. "The people of Qingxiao Pavilion have not yet arrived. Come, let us discuss who their next Pavilion Master might be."
Liu Hua felt his organs churn violently from that seemingly casual pat. He dared not open his mouth, afraid that if he spoke even a word, blood would come pouring out. The more this happened, the deeper his unease grew.
What on earth was going on with Yun Jin's strength? She had not even exerted visible force, yet he felt as if half his life had already been stripped away. If she truly wished to kill him…
The thought made Liu Hua's spine crawl with chill.
"Sect Master Wen, what do you think?" Yun Jin turned her gaze upon Wen Fu, Sect Master of Yuehua Sect.
Not long ago, Yuehua Sect had been involved in quite a number of unpleasant matters. She had every intention of settling those debts one by one.
Wen Fu's face instantly darkened. If this had been before, he would never have put Yun Jin's threats in his eyes. But now…
With only a few words, Yun Jin gave him the sensation of impending calamity, a creeping dread that left him cold to the marrow.
How long had it been?
When Mu Lan and the others first met Yun Jin, she had only been at the Golden Core stage.
And now?
With just a sentence, she could reduce a Sect Master of a Super Sect to trembling knees!
A bitter smile crossed Wen Fu's lips.
"Sect Master Wen, why are you silent? Do you look down on me?" Yun Jin smiled faintly, her demeanor utterly like that of a bully.
Wen Fu resembled a wronged concubine, answering softly, "Matters concerning the Holy Lands are not something we dare speak lightly of."
"Oh? You are this timid? I had not noticed before." Yun Jin bared a few glinting teeth in a predatory grin. "If memory serves, not long ago, did your Yuehua Sect not pressure me through the Yu family? And later, in Canglan Imperial Capital, were your people not among those who besieged me?"
She made no attempt to hide her intent of dragging old debts into the open.
Wen Fu shivered violently. His knees buckled, nearly collapsing beneath him. "T-Those were all… all misunderstandings." Sweat streamed down his forehead, yet he did not dare to wipe it away.
"Misunderstandings, hmm?" Yun Jin's smile deepened. "Very well. I understand. In due time, I will visit Yuehua Sect myself, and you, Sect Master Wen, will explain everything personally."
Wen Fu clenched his teeth and gave a subdued nod.
Among the gathered Sect Masters of the Super Sects, silent glances flickered back and forth. Their hearts were shaken.
Yun Jin now made no attempt to hide her domineering intent. She was declaring openly to all present: With Lin Xiao dead, it was she who would take command of the Qingxiao Region!
They themselves were powerless to resist.
But what about Qingxiao Pavilion?
Would Qingxiao Pavilion tolerate this?
As silence settled, anticipation swelled.
Soon, the people of Qingxiao Pavilion would arrive. And then, the matter of who would rule the Qingxiao Region for the next thousand years would be decided.
Hua Ran broke the silence with a smile. "Speaking of Qingxiao Pavilion's next Pavilion Master, I believe it may be Elder Lieyang. In terms of strength, Lieyang is astonishing."
"I think not," Feng Yuan spoke up. "Sect Master Lin had a Junior Brother, rarely seen in public. Yet the Sect Master's mantle in Qingxiao Pavilion has always been passed down within the lineage. By custom, that Junior Brother should be the successor."
Even as he spoke, he sneaked a look at Yun Jin, his expression a little awkward. He too had once been counted among her adversaries.
Yet during the rescue of disciples, he had, against all instinct, chosen to follow Yun Jin. From that moment on, his stance could not help but change. Still, Feng Yuan worried whether Yun Jin, remembering past grievances, would refuse to shield Juling Sect.
"It seems those two are the most likely candidates," Yun Jin replied with a smile, "but I am inclined to believe Sect Master Feng's guess holds greater weight."
Her words served as a tacit acknowledgement of his loyalty, and Feng Yuan exhaled in long relief. Had he offended both sides, his sect truly would have been doomed.
While Yun Jin conversed with the others, Qin Ping watched with a subtle smile. When Sect Master had first arrived at Sky City, these people had fawned over Lin Xiao and dared to mock Yun Jin.
But now?
Every gaze upon Sect Master was filled only with fear. Even with ten lives to spend, none would dare utter a disrespectful word. Though Wushuang Sect was still but a top-grade sect in name…
Within it resided the strongest being of the human race!
Wushuang Sect, though not a Holy Land, would possess authority surpassing the Holy Lands themselves. This was likely a first in all of history.
At last, the people of Qingxiao Pavilion arrived.
Yun Jin's eyes turned immediately, falling upon Xuan Kong standing at the forefront. Her lips curled into a subtle, knowing smile. So, her guess had been correct.
Lin Xiao had indeed laid down measures to ensure Xuan Kong's ascension. Though Xuan Kong himself had no desire for the position, in the end, he had still been pushed onto this path.
"This is the new Pavilion Master of Qingxiao Pavilion, Xuan Kong, Sect Master Xuan." One man behind Xuan Kong stepped forward proudly. "Come forth and pay your respects."
"Greetings, Sect Master Xuan," Liu Hua and the others immediately bowed.
Yun Jin remained where she stood, unmoving, her lips curved in a faint smile.
Hua Ran and Feng Yuan hesitated, then chose to stand behind Yun Jin without moving either. If one intended to pledge allegiance to a new mountain, then cutting ties with the old one was only proper.
"Yun Jin, you—" the man started, about to rebuke her.
Before he could finish, Hong Ye's blade had already been drawn, its edge resting coldly upon his neck. Her voice was frigid. "Who allowed you to address Sect Master by name?"
The man looked down at the shimmering blade, his body trembling uncontrollably. How had this blade appeared without his notice? Just how terrifying was Hong Ye's strength?
"Do you Wushuang Sect intend rebellion?" another from Qingxiao Pavilion demanded.
"Rebellion?" Qin Ping stepped forward, and scrolls unfurled in the air. A suffocating pressure instantly descended upon Qingxiao Pavilion's group, their faces paling in shock.
How had Qin Ping's power reached this level?
"You show disrespect to Sect Master Xuan, we are authorized to slaughter you here!" another man bellowed angrily.
"Slaughter us?" The disciples of Wushuang Sect laughed coldly, stepping forward as one.
They lined up like bullies at a street corner, blocking the path of Qingxiao Pavilion's disciples.
Now, they possessed this right to be arrogant.
Now, they possessed this right to be domineering.
What of it?
Did they wish to fight?
Then come!
Come and try!
===
"柳宗主,几个月没见,我可想你死了...咦,好像说错了,是想死你了."
Above is the original text of the first sentence of this chapter
"柳宗主,几个月没见,我可想你死了..."
Literal Translation: "Sect Master Liu, it's been months since I've seen you, I've been thinking about you dying..."
This is a deliberate "slip of the tongue." The common, affectionate Chinese phrase is "想死你了" (xiǎng sǐ nǐ le), which is an exaggerated way to say "I've missed you so much!" (Literally: "I've missed you to death!").
By placing a pause after "想你" (thinking of you), she adds the word "死了" (dead) in a way that initially sounds like she's saying she's been thinking about his death.
"...咦,好像说错了,是想死你了."
Literal Translation: "...Huh? Seems I said it wrong, it's 'missed you to death'."
She immediately "corrects" herself, pretending it was an innocent verbal mistake and reverting to the standard, affectionate idiom.