But without Fairy Li's permission, Pei Ling didn't dare act in her name.
After all, when he'd joined the Outer Sect, Pei Hong Nian had said Zheng Jingshan had given the order by voice transmission. Yet just before arriving at Zhan Chen Platform, Fairy Li had told him to master the Blood Fiend Saber Technique within ten days. If she hadn't planned to keep him in the sect, why bring it up only now?
Clearly, Fairy Li had been the one who wanted Pei Ling admitted to the sect, but she'd had Zheng Jingshan come forward. Most likely, she didn't want to be publicly associated with him.
Pei Ling didn't dare provoke Fairy Li's anger at a time like this. He immediately said, "Senior Brother Zhou, you misunderstand. I come from humble beginnings. How could I possibly be acquainted with Fairy Li? I'm merely fortunate that Senior Brother Zheng took me under his wing."
"Why put yourself down, Junior Brother?" Li Siguan listened with an unchanged smile. "Everyone knows Senior Brother Zheng has always been respectful toward Fairy Li. When he's away from home, how would he dare bring you back without her approval?"
"Perhaps it's because Fairy Li stayed for a few days in the guest courtyard at my household, so she didn't mind when Senior Brother Zheng brought me along?" Pei Ling denied. "But it was Senior Brother Zheng who ordered me to join the sect."
At this, Li Siguan's expression grew a little peculiar. He suddenly pointed at the Aversion to Life Saber and said, "Junior Brother, that saber looks familiar."
Pei Ling didn't hide it. "Senior Brother Zheng gave it to me."
"So it really is the Aversion to Life Saber!" Miao Chengan had been sneaking glances at it the whole time, and now couldn't help speaking up. "Back then, Zheng Jingshan claimed to be invincible in the Outer Sect. In truth, wasn't it all thanks to his weapon? They say this saber is peerlessly sharp, and it also..."
Zhou Yi was even more direct. "Junior Brother Pei, name your price. I want that saber!"
Pei Ling frowned. "Sorry, Senior Brother Zhou. Senior Brother Zheng gave it to me, so I can't sell it. Besides, I need it myself. I don't intend to part with it."
"Zheng Jingshan?" Having confirmed Pei Ling had no powerful backing they couldn't afford to offend, the three dropped all pretense. Miao Chengan sneered. "If Fairy Li hadn't shown some regard for their distant kinship, would a good-for-nothing like him ever have been able to hold on to his position as an Inner Sect Pulse Master? Using him to threaten us is a joke!"
"Senior Brother Zhou is kindhearted. He's even willing to offer a price."
As he spoke, he reached out to snatch the saber and barked, "As for me, the moment I set my eyes on your saber, your fortune was sealed."
Pei Ling swiftly gripped the Aversion to Life Saber and leaped back. He asked coldly, "You dare disregard the Sect Rules?!"
"The Sect Rules?" The three exchanged glances and burst out laughing. "The Sacred Sect's rules are strict, sure. But this place is remote. Even the patrol disciples only come by around noon and midnight, and then they just make a cursory round. As long as we avoid those times, you can willingly give us the saber—and who's going to stop us?"
"Even when the Sacred Sect enforces its rules, it still needs evidence. You hand over the saber, then regret it afterward—are you going to demand it back with nothing but your word? Hahaha, Junior Brother Pei, who'd have thought you were so naive?"
Miao Chengan spat on the ground in disdain. "Why waste so much breath on him? We saw a newcomer and thought he might be like us, with backing in the sect. That sort of person could make a friend. But someone as lowly as him? He doesn't deserve to live with us! No idea why he chose this place, but now that he's here, he'll have to pay a price."
He licked his lips, his greedy gaze sweeping over the saber's pale blade. "This bastard doesn't have much worth taking, but the saber's a real prize."
Damn it!
Pei Ling finally understood the malicious intent behind the male disciple from the Affairs Hall's actions. He'd thought the man had found him a good place to stay. So he'd deliberately delivered him into these three men's hands.
He tightened his grip on the Aversion to Life Saber and warned them, "Even if Senior Brother Zheng is lacking in strength within the Inner Sect, he's still Fairy Li's distant relative. Fairy Li even brings him along when she leaves on missions. You're treating Senior Brother Zheng with such contempt—aren't you afraid he'll report you to Fairy Li? She won't let you off!"
"What status does Fairy Li hold?" Zhou Yi threw back his head and laughed. A complicated glimmer passed through his eyes, but he went on, "Haven't you noticed? We Outer Sect disciples call Inner Sect members like Zheng Jingshan 'Senior Brother' or 'Senior Sister,' even when they're Pulse Masters. But true disciples can only be addressed as 'Fairy.'"
"That's because, in the Sacred Sect's eyes, we Outer Sect disciples aren't even qualified to call true disciples 'Senior Brother' or 'Senior Sister.'"
"And in the eyes of true disciples, Inner Sect Pulse Masters are beneath notice. What chance do the likes of us Outer Sect disciples have?"
"Your surname is Pei. You must be one of Pei Hong Nian's family, that dog who served Zheng Jingshan in the Outer Sect."
"Go ask around sometime and find out when Fairy Li ever cared whether Pei Hong Nian lived or died!"
With that, he clasped his hands into a spell. Lines the color of verdigris rose across his cheeks and the backs of his hands, quickly wrapping around his entire body. His pupils gave off a faint, eerie green glow.
In the next instant, he leaped up and launched a rapid series of punches at Pei Ling's head.
Had Zhou Yi really decided to kill him?!
Pei Ling's heart sank. He remembered the Sect Rules he'd just read and immediately understood: these three all had powerful connections, so paying the fine would be no problem for them. From their attitude, the Aversion to Life Saber was clearly worth a great deal—perhaps even priceless.
If so, killing him and paying a fine would be worth it.
At that thought, Pei Ling changed the direction of the slash he'd been aiming at Zhou Yi's arm, sweeping it toward his neck instead.
At a life-or-death moment, who the hell cared about the Sect Rules?
"Bastard!" Zhou Yi and the others were taken aback. They'd relied on their backing and cultivation to scheme together and rob their fellow disciples more than once, so they'd gained plenty of experience.
Although they feared the Sect Rules and didn't actually want to kill anyone—the fine for murdering a fellow disciple was way too high—even if they could afford it, what else could they spend that money on besides handing it over to the sect?
But experience had taught them that starting off as if they meant to kill and plunder made it easier to break their target's resolve. After that, taking whatever they wanted was a breeze. And afterward, victims usually kept quiet rather than risk their lives by seeking revenge or reporting them.
Who'd have thought Pei Ling, who seemed so honest and answered every question, would turn out to be a ruthless character?
Zhou Yi hurriedly dodged. His Azure Ghost Battle Body had reached the point where blades and spears couldn't pierce it, but that depended on what kind of blade or spear he faced. The Aversion to Life Saber was the weapon that had made Zheng Jingshan famous in the Outer Sect. He didn't dare block it head-on.
"He doesn't know saber techniques!" Li Siguan, the most observant of the three, suddenly warned them. "In that case, knock the Aversion to Life Saber out of his hand!"
As Pei Ling heard this, his heart sank. The Chongming Sect's rules were too long. He'd spent too much time reading them, and hadn't had the chance to practice the Blood Fiend Saber Technique before Li Siguan and the others arrived. Otherwise, why would he be reduced to wildly hacking at them?
As soon as Li Siguan finished speaking, Miao Chengan was already forming hand seals and chanting. A black blade of energy gathered before him. With a flash, it sliced toward Pei Ling's saber arm.
Pei Ling had no time to dodge. He could only sweep upward with the Aversion to Life Saber, cleaving the blade of energy apart with ease, but the force of the impact made the saber shudder violently in his hand.
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