Chapter Thirty-Eight: A Proper Conversation

"Not at all." Shen Qingyun replied with an emotionless face, "You want me to lose, so I should just throw the match? Who do you think you are!"

"How dare you!" The smile that had filled Wang Can’s face vanished in an instant, replaced by a livid expression and a blaze of anger in his eyes as he looked at Shen Qingyun.

His grandfather was the chief steward elder of the Bian Bamboo Peak. Wherever he went on this peak, every disciple would treat him with utmost respect. Yet this newly admitted Shen Qingyun dared to speak to him in such a manner!

"How dare you?" Shen Qingyun’s mocking voice rang coldly in his mind. "Aren’t you a little too full of yourself?"

Wang Can’s face darkened further, his tone sinister as he replied in Shen Qingyun’s mind, "And if I insist on making you lose to Wu Xier?"

"Then by all means, come and try!"

"Fine!" Wang Can spat out the word and then fell silent.

After a moment, Wang Can’s voice sounded again, "Junior Sister Wu, I’ll help you!"

In the next instant, Wang Can appeared at Wu Xier’s side. Without even looking at him, Wu Xier coldly refused, "No need. I can handle this myself."

Wang Can’s gaze turned icy, his eyes vulture-like as he stared at her. But after a brief moment, he returned to his previous demeanor and said, "Junior Sister Wu, if this continues, you’ll lose."

"There’s no need for you to worry, Senior Brother." Wu Xier’s delicate face was frosty, her voice cold.

Wang Can's expression grew so dark it seemed as if water could drip from it. With a flick of his right hand, a gigantic palm print suddenly materialized from the side, striking straight toward the ball of fire and the thundercloud.

Boom—

A deafening explosion split the air, utterly shattering both the fireball and thundercloud!

"What are you doing!" Wu Xier gasped in shock, turning to glare furiously at Wang Can.

Wang Can's eyes were gloomy as he looked at her. "Can’t you tell? I’m helping you. If you lose to him here, your standing as Senior Sister on Bian Bamboo Peak won’t be as high in the future!"

Wu Xier’s lovely face grew even colder. "Even so, I don’t need your meddling!"

"My meddling?" Wang Can’s body trembled as he struggled to suppress the turmoil within, demanding, "Do you think I’m doing this for myself?"

Wu Xier was about to retort, but from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of Ling Xiao’s fixed gaze upon her. The words she meant to say died in her throat. She lowered her head, and after a moment’s silence, spoke softly, "I’m sorry, Senior Brother Wang. I overreacted."

Only then did Wang Can’s expression soften considerably. He deliberately extended his hand to her. "Then let’s work together and drive this newcomer back, shall we?"

Wu Xier hesitated briefly before placing her hand in Wang Can’s. "Alright."

Ling Xiao, witnessing this scene, felt as if his mind had been struck by lightning, leaving it completely blank. Everything around him faded into irrelevance—only a sharp pain throbbed in his heart.

"Since Senior Sister calls you Senior Brother, I wonder just how capable you truly are," Shen Qingyun spoke up, gathering spiritual energy in his right hand before launching a punch at Wang Can.

The very air vibrated from the force of that punch, and the ash on the ground was swept aside in either direction.

Wang Can sensed the power in Shen Qingyun’s strike and immediately abandoned any thought of underestimating him. He stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Wu Xier, and caught the punch with his palm.

"Spiritual energy manifestation?" Wang Can withdrew his hand, staring intently at Shen Qingyun. He realized he had indeed underestimated him. That punch just now—it was formed of pure spiritual power!

"Junior Sister Wu, let’s attack together. Let’s see how many times he can wield such power!" Wang Can called out.

"Alright!"

Seeing this, Shen Qingyun raised his right hand, fingers curling as spiritual energy surged forth. In an instant, a halberd formed entirely from spirit power appeared in his grasp.

Wang Can grunted, feeling a hint of disdain. A weapon shaped from spiritual energy—how could that compare to a true spiritual artifact?

But Shen Qingyun swung the halberd, and with him at its center, a gale of spiritual energy swept out, growing into a whirlwind that rushed toward them.

Sensing that the whirlwind too was composed of spiritual force, Wang Can and Wu Xier attacked fiercely—one with a whip, the other with a palm—striking the vortex and shattering it with a thunderous crash. But when they looked again, Shen Qingyun was nowhere to be seen.

"Not good!" Wang Can exclaimed. The whirlwind was only a distraction!

Danger flared behind them. Wu Xier’s expression turned grave as she spun around, whip in hand, stretching it defensively before her.

Hiss—

Shen Qingyun’s sudden slash bent her supple whip with its force, the movement slicing a crimson welt into Wu Xier’s delicate palm. Gritting her teeth against the pain, she leapt into the air, twisting in flight to loop her whip tightly around Shen Qingyun’s halberd.

Without needing her to speak, Wang Can seized the opportunity, thrusting a palm strike at Shen Qingyun’s chest.

But Shen Qingyun had clearly anticipated this. He flashed them a cold, mocking grin and released his grip on the halberd, vanishing once more.

Wang Can’s palm found only empty air. Eyes wide, he searched frantically for Shen Qingyun. In that fleeting smile, Wang Can had seen only derision for himself.

"Such arrogance from a mere Qi Condensation disciple, daring to toy with me!" Wang Can’s composure was completely shattered. His face twisted with rage as he roared, "Come out, coward!"

Shen Qingyun’s voice echoed from all around. "If Senior Brother is so capable, why don’t you catch me yourself?"

Wang Can’s face turned ashen. If it were that simple, would he be making such a fool of himself?

Suddenly, a sense of peril prickled down his spine. He tried to leap away, but it was already too late—a gust of force struck from the left, making his robes flutter.

Before anyone could react, Wang Can was sent flying.

But that was only the beginning. At some unknown point, Shen Qingyun had already moved to intercept Wang Can’s flight path. As the gap closed, Shen Qingyun swung his halberd again, batting Wang Can higher into the air.

It all happened too quickly. By the time Wang Can regained his senses, he was already being volleyed back and forth like a ball by Shen Qingyun. Agonizing pain wracked his body, and his hatred for Shen Qingyun grew to an unbearable peak, even giving birth to a terrible thought—to kill Shen Qingyun!

Thud—

Wang Can crashed to the ground with a heavy sound. His once neatly combed hair was now a tangled mess, and his white Daoist robe was filthy and disheveled, his image utterly ruined.

"This…"

Such was the shock that even Fu Ping and the others stared in stupefaction at Shen Qingyun, who now stood with the halberd upon his back, his white robes billowing in the wind. It was as if he were an invincible war deity, once proud and solitary atop the mountains!

"Damn it…" Wang Can scrambled up, fixing a venomous glare on Shen Qingyun.

That look—Shen Qingyun knew it all too well! He had seen it in his enemies’ eyes more than once. Unless such foes were eliminated completely, trouble would follow relentlessly, even to the point of risking his life.

"This man cannot be allowed to live."

Wang Can had no idea Shen Qingyun had already marked him for death. All he wanted now was revenge—ruthless revenge! He wanted to see Shen Qingyun trembling on the ground, kneeling before him, and then to cruelly turn him away. Only then could his hatred be appeased.

And the only one who could help him achieve this was his grandfather.

Shen Qingyun turned to Wu Xier and said calmly, "Now, can we talk properly?"