Chapter 7: Strong One in Desperation
“Dragon-Subduing Hero?”
Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun exchanged a glance.
Come to think of it, they had indeed heard of this man—from Jiang Kuotian.
Jiang Kuotian had been in such a hurry to descend the mountain because he wanted to witness the duel between the Dragon-Subduing Hero and the Sword Saint of the Vast Sea.
That piece of information had been mentioned before Jiang Kuotian left, so he had not elaborated on the Dragon-Subduing Hero.
There were countless renowned figures in the martial world, and Li Qingqiu and the others had not paid it much mind.
They had never expected that the Dragon-Subduing Hero Jiang Kuotian spoke of would actually appear at the foot of Clear Sky Sect’s mountain.
“What are you doing here?” Li Qingqiu asked cautiously.
Yang Jueding gave a bitter smile and said, “Obviously, I came here to hide from my enemy. You don’t have to worry, my pursuer has already left. I relied on my inner energy to hold my breath for seven days and did not encounter him.”
Hold his breath for seven days?
That powerful?
Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun were wide-eyed with amazement, though they did not entirely believe Yang Jueding’s words.
Yang Jueding continued, “Judging from the way you go up and down the mountain, you’re not villagers. You must be disciples of Clear Sky Sect. I’ve met your Master, Lin Xunfeng, several times before—I quite liked his temperament. How about taking me back with you? Once I’ve recovered from my injuries, I can teach you martial arts. I have a palm technique—one strike can move mountains and overturn seas—it will make you renowned throughout the martial world.”
When he mentioned Lin Xunfeng, Li Qingqiu and Zhang Yuchun relaxed slightly.
“So Master wasn’t boasting after all. His name really is quite well-known in the martial world,” Li Qingqiu thought silently.
He didn’t agree right away but began weighing the pros and cons.
Yang Jueding went on, “After this injury, I intend to retire from the martial world. Clear Sky Sect isn’t bad—remote and far from worldly strife. If you need someone to do chores, I can handle that. Just give me a meal and a straw mat.”
Zhang Yuchun was tempted and looked toward Li Qingqiu.
A thought suddenly came to Li Qingqiu. “Since you wish to join Clear Sky Sect, there must be a proper procedure. Now, kneel in the direction of Clear Sky Sect and make three vows.”
“First, never harm a fellow disciple.”
“Second, never act against the interests of Clear Sky Sect.”
“Third, for the development of Clear Sky Sect, be willing to dedicate everything.”
Zhang Yuchun was surprised—when had such rules been established?
Although puzzled, he didn’t speak and kept a calm expression.
Yang Jueding found the vows quite interesting.
They did not go against his principles, so he struggled to his feet and knelt in the direction Li Qingqiu indicated.
He raised one hand and began to recite the three vows Li Qingqiu had listed.
Li Qingqiu immediately opened the Dao Lineage panel to check, and sure enough, the number of disciples had increased by one.
He tapped on it and found Yang Jueding’s profile.
【Name: Yang Jueding】
【Gender: Male】
【Age: 35】
【Loyalty (to Sect Master / Sect): 50 / 50 (Full: 100)】
【Cultivation Aptitude: Good】
【Comprehension: Good】
【Fate Traits: Chivalrous Heart and Gallant Spirit, Strong One in Desperation】
【Chivalrous Heart and Gallant Spirit: Selflessly helps others, lives by righteousness, repays even the smallest kindness a hundredfold.】
【Strong One in Desperation: When in dire straits, able to unleash greater strength.】
……
Seeing the words “Chivalrous Heart and Gallant Spirit,” Li Qingqiu was immediately at ease.
He was curious about the “Strong One in Desperation” trait.
Could it be that Yang Jueding had survived his ordeal by fighting his way out of a certain-death situation?
Li Qingqiu didn’t dwell on it. He closed the Dao Lineage panel and said, “Yuchun, help him up. Let’s go.”
Zhang Yuchun hesitated but obeyed his order.
As Yang Jueding was helped up, he grinned. “What are the names of you two young brothers?”
“I’m Li Qingqiu, the current head of Clear Sky Sect. He’s Zhang Yuchun, my second junior brother,” Li Qingqiu replied. The words “Chivalrous Heart and Gallant Spirit” sounded so benevolent that Yang Jueding’s very appearance now seemed more amiable to him.
It seemed the man’s reputation as a hero was not unfounded.
The only pity was that Li Qingqiu could not know exactly how powerful Yang Jueding truly was.
“Sect Master? What about Lin Xunfeng?” Yang Jueding asked in surprise.
“My Master went in search of immortality. He left us behind,” Zhang Yuchun said bitterly.
Ever since being brought back to Clear Sky Sect by Lin Xunfeng, it was Li Qingqiu who had taken care of him.
He barely had any time to speak with Lin Xunfeng, and now that their Master had abandoned them, how could he not hold resentment?
“Search for immortality?”
Yang Jueding clicked his tongue in wonder but didn’t say more.
The three chatted casually as they walked.
It took them a full hour before they returned to Clear Sky Sect.
Li Dongyue, Li Sijin, and Li Sifeng came over, curious about the new face.
Li Qingqiu instructed them to tidy up their Master’s old room and let Yang Jueding stay there temporarily.
Lin Xunfeng’s room held no treasures—Li Qingqiu had checked before. It was even simpler than his own; “utterly bare” was no exaggeration.
Yang Jueding wasn’t shy. Before moving in, he asked Zhang Yuchun to prepare two jars of old wine—and if possible, a chicken.
Zhang Yuchun didn’t spoil him—he only gave him one jar. For the next half day, Yang Jueding stayed in the room cultivating and healing.
Seeing that he could tend to his own wounds, Li Qingqiu felt relieved—after all, they weren’t exactly skilled in saving people.
If any of his junior brothers or sisters were injured in the future, Yang Jueding could help them.
Thinking that way, Yang Jueding did seem quite useful.
By evening, Jiang Zhaoxia emerged from the forest with Wu Man’er. Wu Man’er’s robe was torn, and his face bore injuries.
“What happened?” Li Qingqiu frowned and asked.
Jiang Zhaoxia replied nonchalantly, “How can one train in martial arts without getting hurt? They’re only superficial wounds, nothing serious.”
Wu Man’er scratched his head and grinned foolishly.
Li Qingqiu looked at him and said, “If it hurts too much, tell me—I’ll have your third senior brother go easy on you.”
Wu Man’er smiled honestly. “It doesn’t hurt. I want to protect senior brother, protect junior brothers and sisters. I’ll become stronger.”
Li Qingqiu was both moved and a little pained; after all, Wu Man’er was only thirteen years old that year, even though he looked burly.
He decided he would give Jiang Zhaoxia’s chicken drumstick to Wu Man’er later.
Forget it.
Since his third junior brother meant well, he would give up his own drumstick.
Li Qingqiu had them sit at the long table to talk about the afternoon’s training.
What external technique Wu Man’er had been practicing, Jiang Zhaoxia had not said—he claimed to be preparing a surprise—and trusting Jiang Zhaoxia, Li Qingqiu did not peek.
When Zhang Yuchun finished cooking, Yang Jueding came over drawn by the smell.
“Who are you?” Jiang Zhaoxia frowned at Yang Jueding and asked coldly.
Zhang Yuchun hurriedly introduced Yang Jueding to him, fearing Jiang Zhaoxia would make a move—after all, Jiang Zhaoxia dared to stand up to Jiang Kuotian.
Yang Jueding narrowed his eyes under Jiang Zhaoxia’s gaze.
The boy was not very old, yet he made Yang Jueding feel extreme danger.
Li Qingqiu sat on a stool and watched the scene without a change in expression; he was quite pleased with Jiang Zhaoxia.
The third junior brother was not only fierce at home but also tough outwardly—Li Qingqiu liked that temper more and more.
For a sect to survive, it needed strong people.
Zhang Yuchun acted steadily, but his nature was somewhat soft; having Jiang Zhaoxia to support him was just right.
“No matter what fame you have in the martial world, once you come to Clear Sky Sect, if you dare act rashly, I will make you regret it,” Jiang Zhaoxia said after Zhang Yuchun’s introduction, then sat down.
Yang Jueding was not angry; instead he looked at Jiang Zhaoxia with an appreciative gaze.
He had worried about Li Qingqiu being sect leader—how could Clear Sky Sect be full of children?
Now it seemed Clear Sky Sect had some backbone!
Yang Jueding sat down and, without ceremony, picked up his chopsticks and began to eat, all while observing the other disciples.
Wu Man’er attracted his attention the most.
This kid was plainly a martial prodigy!
Li Qingqiu noticed Yang Jueding’s stare and said, “Yang Jueding, once you recovered, besides helping Yuchun, you must teach the disciples martial arts—teach the palm technique you mentioned.”
Yang Jueding raised an eyebrow and asked, “Can Wu Man’er practice with me?”
“No need, he will train with me,” Jiang Zhaoxia interjected and refused first.
Yang Jueding looked at Jiang Zhaoxia and said with a smile, “Kid, my palm technique is a peerless art that shook the world.”
Jiang Zhaoxia was not to be outdone. “Fine—when you recover, spar with Man’er and use your so-called world-shaking art.”
Even Yang Jueding’s good temper was provoked; his smile turned a bit cold. “All right, I’ll see how great your skill really is—whether a child could surpass my twenty years of bitter training.”
Li Dongyue looked to Li Qingqiu worriedly; seeing Li Qingqiu’s amused expression, she held herself back.
Li Sifeng and Li Sijin were too young to know ways of the world; they began to shout and speculate who would win, making the dining table lively.
That night, the other disciples were anxious after returning to their rooms, wary of Yang Jueding.
Li Qingqiu, however, felt at ease; he no longer needed much sleep and practiced every night.
Early the next morning, Li Qingqiu took Jiang Zhaoxia down the mountain, which made Zhang Yuchun nervous—he felt the pressure of watching Yang Jueding alone was too great.
Unfortunately, Li Qingqiu did not listen to his advice and told him not to worry.
At the Subterranean Spiritual Lake, Jiang Zhaoxia was excited; after the two of them practiced there for half a day, Li Qingqiu reminded him of a few things and then forcibly pulled him back to the sect.
The next day, Jiang Zhaoxia would bring Li Dongyue to practice.
Thus, half a month quickly passed.
All seven of them had taken turns going to the Subterranean Spiritual Lake, and they warned one another that the lake must not be spoken of.
Yang Jueding noticed nothing odd; he thought they had gone out hunting or working.
On this day, Li Qingqiu suffered a blow—Jiang Zhaoxia took the lead and stepped into the second layer of the Nourishing Vital Energy Realm.
Although he had expected it, when the day actually came he still felt a sting: his own aptitude was inferior.
To vent, he excitedly hugged Jiang Zhaoxia and mussed his hair into a mess; Jiang Zhaoxia, caught up in his joy, did not see through his senior brother’s little heart.
That night, Li Qingqiu returned to his room and sat on the bed, still moved when thinking of Jiang Zhaoxia’s midday breakthrough.
“Truly feared my brothers would suffer, yet feared they would surge ahead,” he had smiled wryly to himself, having adjusted his mindset and rejoiced for Jiang Zhaoxia’s achievement.
Suddenly.
A voice came from outside the window, loud and piercing, echoing under the night sky.
“‘Yang Jueding, as the Dragon-Subduing Hero, are you going to rely on a bunch of kids for protection? Come out and die, or I will slaughter Clear Sky Sect!’”