Chapter Fifty-Four: Let Me Teach You

Shen Qingyun was slightly taken aback; it was no wonder that from the very beginning, he had leaned against the stone wall with his eyes closed, never intending to make a move. So, they were all from the Bamboo Peak!

"Bamboo Peak, Shen Qingyun!"

Shen Qingyun cupped his hands in response.

Xing Wuqie’s smile deepened. "Junior Shen, I’ve heard quite a few legendary tales about you!"

Shen Qingyun shook his head with a wry smile. "Not at all. What I’ve done is nothing more than trifling affairs, hardly worthy of mention."

"Oh?" Xing Wuqie squinted, his smile unchanging. "Still an outer disciple, you made your name resound in the inner sect, claiming the top spot on both rankings. After joining the inner sect, you stirred up trouble—challenging fourteen Foundation Establishment disciples on your second day, and treating the best among them, Sister Wu and Brother Wang, like children. Though the Hall of Discipline confined you for half a year, even if the time was short and little occurred, any one of those deeds would be remarkable if spoken of. If that's not worthy of the grand hall, then what is?"

Shen Qingyun smiled, surprised that Xing Wuqie knew so much about him, and even more astonished at how much he had accomplished in such a brief time. Had he become numb to the passage of time?

"Senior, you flatter me," Shen Qingyun said.

Xing Wuqie replied with a chuckle, "When others spoke of you, I never heard that you were humble!"

"If your soul’s aura and age weren’t aligned, I’d suspect you were like me—a reborn soul," Shen Qingyun mused inwardly. Because he himself was not what he appeared on the surface, he felt a similar resonance with Xing Wuqie, who seemed equally enigmatic.

Xing Wuqie struck Shen Qingyun as exceptionally composed, far beyond his years.

"Senior, you jest. My humility depends on who I’m dealing with. If others respect me, I return it threefold; but if they provoke me, I won’t simply stand and let myself be bullied!" Shen Qingyun’s voice was sincere, compelling belief.

Xing Wuqie, however, remained unmoved, his eyes full of amusement as he watched Shen Qingyun. After a moment, he said, "It is Bamboo Peak’s good fortune to have a disciple like you!"

"Senior Xing, you exaggerate!"

Fang Ge and Shi Yan stood quietly nearby, watching the exchange of compliments between them. Both were Bamboo Peak disciples, and found the mutual praise somewhat pointless.

Why not praise us instead?

After the courteous exchange, Shen Qingyun decided to turn to the main topic, addressing Xing Wuqie, "Senior Xing, may I proceed now?" As he spoke, he gestured toward the path.

Xing Wuqie was surprised; he had hoped to chat longer, but hadn’t expected Shen Qingyun to bring it up first. For some reason, conversing with Shen Qingyun felt unexpectedly congenial.

He pursed his lips, stepped aside, and nodded. "Of course!"

"Then I thank you, Senior!"

"Haha, it's nothing, nothing at all..."

...

As Shen Qingyun’s figure disappeared down the path, Xing Wuqie’s smile faded. He produced a communication talisman and said, "Attention, he’s coming up. Just as the Grand Elder said, he possesses strength beyond his level, speed comparable to my full effort, and has ample combat experience."

The talisman turned into a streak of light and flew off. Turning around, Xing Wuqie saw Fang Ge and Shi Yan eyeing him strangely. Puzzled, he asked, "What’s wrong?"

Fang Ge spoke, "Senior Xing, isn’t this a bit underhanded?"

Xing Wuqie’s lips curled slightly. "Brotherhood is one thing, but I must fulfill the Grand Elder’s task. I’m simply doing my duty—is that a problem?"

He smiled. "Well, we’ve failed our mission, so let’s head down the mountain!"

...

On the way, Shen Qingyun grew more suspicious. Could Xing Wuqie really have let him pass just because they were fellow Bamboo Peak disciples?

...

The summit of Flying Cloud Peak was as flat as if cleaved by a sword, vast in area. At its center stood a simple thatched hut...

The winding, rugged mountain road led to the top, where a stone stele stood at the entrance, inscribed with five bold characters: "Where the Clouds Lie Deep." The powerful calligraphy echoed the perpetual mist that shrouded half the mountain.

Beside the stele, a figure in purple leaned casually, idly playing with a dagger in his hand. Sensing something, he raised his head, revealing a young and handsome face.

The communication talisman flew to him, displaying its message.

After reading it carefully, he waved his hand, and the words dissipated into dust, carried away by the wind.

"Shen Qingyun, let me see if all the praise you’ve received is truly deserved," he murmured, his voice drifting through the enveloping clouds before fading away.

...

Finally, Shen Qingyun saw the end of the mountain path and breathed a sigh of relief. He had encountered no obstacles along the way, saving much effort. But soon, his expression turned solemn as he gazed ahead.

At the end of the path, a stone stele came into view, and again, a striking figure in purple stood out.

Shen Qingyun shook his head; clearly, it was too soon to rejoice.

He approached, and before he could speak, the figure in purple looked at him, speaking in a commanding tone, "You are Shen Qingyun?"

Shen Qingyun frowned. "Yes."

Seeing his expression, the youth in purple sneered, "You seem rather defiant!"

"Yes," Shen Qingyun replied coldly.

Ignoring Shen Qingyun’s tone, the youth in purple scoffed, "You can swallow your defiance. This is Flying Cloud Peak, not Bamboo Peak, and certainly not a place where you can do as you please!"

"Since you’ve come up, let me advise you—no matter how arrogant or prideful you may be, here, if you’re a dragon, you must coil; if you’re a tiger, you must crouch!"

Shen Qingyun’s face remained impassive. "And if I refuse?"

Hearing this, the youth in purple laughed coldly. "You really don’t know your place. I told you—this is Flying Cloud Peak, not some minor peak like Bamboo Peak!"

"If you won’t comply, I’ll have to teach you how things are done!"

"There are many who can teach me, but you are certainly not one of them!" Shen Qingyun summoned a longsword in his hand and, without hesitation, swung it at the youth in purple!