Now that the two were meeting, a flurry of veiled jabs and open accusations was inevitable.
Lan Le recounted the entire sequence of events, particularly emphasizing Bai Yang's and An Ze's aggressive, overbearing behavior and how they bullied their fellow disciples.
"Junior Sister Song, your years of wanton indulgence have made Bai Yang and An Ze arrogant and heedless of others! They injure people at will! Sect Master, you must discipline them properly!"
"If everyone acted like Junior Sister Song, wouldn't the entire Sect be thrown into chaos?"
Song Wanning was known for being fiercely protective of her own. Relying on her profound cultivation and superb alchemy skills, she often demanded special treatment.
Her disciples were likewise fawned over and revered by everyone in the Sect.
'He'd had enough of it long ago!'
The Sect Master's headache worsened upon hearing this.
Both of them were pillars of the Sect. It was inappropriate to favor either one, yet mediating between them was incredibly difficult.
Every time they met, a huge argument would erupt. Just thinking about it infuriated him.
"Junior Sister Song, what do you have to say about this?"
'Bai Yang and An Ze were indeed in the wrong. To show fairness, he would definitely have to punish them.'
'But he was afraid Junior Sister Song would make a scene, which would be embarrassing for everyone.'
'Reaching a private settlement would be ideal, but knowing Junior Sister Song's temper, it probably wouldn't be easy.'
All eyes fell on Song Wanning.
Bai Yang's gaze was heavy and his face was expressionless, but no one knew that he was actually feeling a little nervous inside.
It was almost laughable. He had never felt nervous around Song Wanning before.
'In the past, he would have been one hundred percent certain that his master would get into a huge argument with Master Lan for their sake before taking them away.'
'But now, he wasn't so sure.'
'Yet he had to admit that deep down, he still hoped his master would take the initiative to protect him—to put him first!'
Song Wanning rose gracefully and glanced in Bai Yang's direction.
Her gaze, as caring as it had always been in the past, met Bai Yang's head-on.
A trace of secret delight bloomed in Bai Yang's heart. 'He knew it! His master did care about him!'
'Enduring so many days must have been torture for her.'
The corners of Bai Yang's eyes lifted slowly. 'As long as his master was willing to yield, he could give her another chance!'
'He could forget all the unpleasantness of the past few days.'
He looked up, meeting what he perceived as Song Wanning's pained gaze.
The next moment, he saw Song Wanning slowly raise her hand, and then—
A slap flew through the air and struck him across the face.
"SLAP—"
The hall fell utterly silent. Only the ringing sound of the slap remained, echoing in everyone's hearts.
Song Wanning's slap was infused with Spiritual Energy. Though she used less than one percent of her strength, the already-injured Bai Yang couldn't withstand it.
Several of his remaining teeth flew out, and half of his face swelled up instantly. He was sent flying to the side, unable to even crawl back up.
Lan Le was stunned. Wen Mingyu's eyes were as wide as saucers.
He raised his hand and rubbed his eyes hard, feeling as if what he had just seen must have been an illusion.
This wasn't the first time the Sect Master had seen such a scene. He closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
'It seemed Junior Sister Song was still angry with Bai Yang.'
"Senior Brother Lan, are you satisfied?"
At this, Song Wanning tilted her head, a smirk playing on her lips, and raised her hand to slap him again.
As if afraid Lan Le's anger hadn't been appeased, she followed up with four more slaps in quick succession.
Bai Yang was tossed about like a rag doll, flying back and forth.
"THUD—"
He landed heavily on the floor.
And along with his body, Bai Yang's heart plummeted into an abyss.
He lay on the ground, seemingly unable to feel the pain in his body. He only felt a profound sense of bewilderment.
'Just because he stole one Elixir Pill, his master had become like this?'
'Why?'
A panic unlike any he had ever felt spread rapidly through Bai Yang's heart.
He finally realized he was no longer Song Wanning's most treasured disciple.
The hall was still silent. Lan Le was too shocked to speak.
'In the past, whenever her disciples were involved, Song Wanning would turn into a fierce mother hen. Her abnormal behavior now… could it be a trick?'
"Master, you— how could you side with an outsider?"
An Ze was the first to snap out of his daze. He jumped forward and yelled at Song Wanning, "Eldest Senior Brother's injuries haven't even healed! How could you bring yourself to strike him?"
'Master has been going way too far recently!'
His chest heaved with anger, his resentful gaze practically laced with poison.
But what greeted him wasn't an explanation from Song Wanning, but a slap even heavier than the one Bai Yang received, sending him flying backward to land hard on his head.
"Isn't this all your fault, you useless trash!"
Song Wanning's cold gaze swept over him as she slapped him again.
"SPFF—"
An Ze, whose old injuries had yet to heal, was knocked unconscious after just two slaps.
.......
Not a single sound could be heard in the quiet hall.
Lan Le stared at Song Wanning as if he were seeing a ghost, feeling that she had gone mad today.
But Song Wanning simply smiled, her expression sweet and innocent, and asked him, "Senior Brother Lan, is your anger appeased now?"
"If it's not, I can—"
"That won't be necessary!"
Lan Le hurriedly stopped her. He had come to demand justice, not to see Bai Yang and An Ze destroyed.
"Are you really satisfied?"
Song Wanning looked a little disappointed. She had wanted to hit them a few more times.
But...
'Since when does a vicious female supporting character care about being reasonable?'
'I'll do whatever I want.'
Song Wanning's expression shifted into a smile. She raised her hand and, right in front of everyone, delivered several more slaps.
The already unconscious An Ze took two more slaps, and Bai Yang was sent flying once again.
Even Lu Nanfeng, who was frozen in fright, received a slap.
Lan Le, shocked yet again, shot to his feet.
"You're insane!!!"
He glared at Song Wanning, then stormed out, flicking his sleeves in a mix of shock and fury.
Wen Mingyu nearly stumbled, and the look he gave Song Wanning was one of pure terror.
'The way Uncle Song had just slapped An Ze... it was like she was flogging a corpse...'
He scrambled to run after his master.
With the farce ending in such a manner, the Sect Master's head throbbed even more intensely.
"The Prodigy Tournament is in a few days, and you— you've—"
The Sect Master was exasperated. At such a critical moment, Ye Chuxue was injured, and now Bai Yang had been beaten into this state. The two most promising contenders for the Prodigy Tournament's top prize were now…
"Then, Sect Master, why don't you tell me what I should have done?"
Song Wanning raised an eyebrow, casting a lazy glance at her three disciples.
"Bai Yang acted on his own. I was merely disciplining my disciple. Does the Sect Master feel I was in the wrong?"
"In the past, when I didn't discipline my disciples, you all gossiped. Now that I do, you, Sect Master..."
"Sigh. It's truly so difficult!"
She smoothed the hem of her robes and departed with a graceful sigh.
The hem of her red skirt rippled gently in the breeze.
Like a lone skiff, she drifted further and further away.
Lying on the floor, Bai Yang couldn't help but raise a hand, as if trying to grasp that receding wisp of light.
But it was all too late.
He watched helplessly as Song Wanning walked away, never once looking back.
His hand fell slowly, a terrible emptiness suddenly blooming in his chest.
"Bai Yang, from this day forward, you are my, Song Wanning's, disciple!"
"Bai Yang, this is a top-grade elixir I just refined. It has no Dan Poison at all. Try it! From now on, your master will refine your Elixir Pills for you personally!"