Young Hall Master Returns to the Mountain

"Clang! Clang! Clang!"

The summit of Misty Cloud Mountain, usually shrouded in mist and clouds all year round, was clear and bright today. The Misty Cloud Square, which was typically quite desolate, was now packed with sect disciples.

"Is he here? Is he here yet?"

"I don't know!"

"Hey, stop pushing me!"

The Misty Cloud Sect disciples, who usually appeared ethereal and immortal in the eyes of the people in the Imperial Capital while wearing their silver-white robes, were now acting like street hawkers at a market below the mountain, pushing and shoving without a shred of decorum befitting cultivators.

"He's here! He's here!"

Suddenly, someone shouted, and the many disciples turned their gazes toward the stairs at the end of the square. A figure dressed in white as snow walked slowly into the square, his footsteps echoing with a rhythmic tap-tap.

"Brothers, it has been a long time."

The young man wore a warm smile, waving his hand cheerfully toward the Misty Cloud Sect disciples.

"Junior Brother!"

"Senior Brother Zimo!"

The disciples surged forward. This grand scene made the passing elders and instructors feel somewhat astonished, but upon realizing it was that little fellow Yun Zimo, they shook their heads in relief and went back to their own business.

"Why is the Young Sect Master not here?"

Suddenly, Yun Zimo asked with a hint of surprise. Seeing that the once-enthusiastic crowd had suddenly become hesitant and evasive, he faintly understood something in his heart.

"I am going to see the Sect Master!"

Yun Zimo's expression darkened slightly. After bowing to his fellow disciples, he stepped into the void, his figure vanishing before their eyes.

"Junior Brother Zimo's cultivation has improved again. He's almost catching up to those elders, isn't he?"

A Misty Cloud disciple muttered with a bitter smile. This junior brother of theirs was truly someone who left others trailing in his dust...

"Sect Master! Sect Master!"

Yun Zimo barged into the Misty Cloud Sect main hall without restraint. Seeing all the elders present, he paused for a brief moment before hurriedly bowing.

"Greetings, Elders, Teacher..."

"Shouting and hollering in the council hall—what kind of decorum is this!"

Yun Yin, the head of the Punishment Hall, frowned, his voice stern.

"It is fine. Zimo has just returned from his travels and still retains some wildness; he is innocent of his ignorance."

Yun Yun, the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, who was seated in the main chair, smoothed out a few stray locks of her hair. She spoke softly to dismiss the matter, then gestured for Yun Zimo to continue.

"Zimo, you returned and came straight to the council hall instead of resting. I assume you have something important to report. Speak freely."

Yun Zimo felt a surge of joy upon hearing this. Ignoring his father's stern gaze, he looked directly into Yun Yun's gentle eyes and spoke.

"Sect Master, may I ask where the Young Sect Master is today?"

A flash of light flickered in Yun Yun's eyes, but she still parted her lips, her clear and pleasant voice reaching Yun Zimo's ears.

"Yanran has urgent matters to attend to and departed the sect yesterday."

"Is it because of that marriage contract?"

Yun Yun had not wanted the private affairs of her disciple's family to become the talk of the entire sect. With Yun Zimo pointing it out directly without any regard for the elders present, Yun Yun's expression darkened instantly, and her tone turned much colder.

"Zimo, you must be exhausted in body and mind after your travels. Rest well and prepare to take on the heavy responsibilities of the Punishment Hall. Do not concern yourself with this matter any further."

Once Yun Yun finished speaking, she flicked her sleeve. The Misty Cloud enforcement team members who had followed him in looked at each other, but they still escorted the unresisting Yun Zimo out of the council hall.

Watching the heavy doors of the council hall creak shut, Yun Zimo clenched his fists tight, gritted his teeth, and headed straight for the mountain gate.

"Where is the Young Hall Master heading?"

Hearing the voice from behind him, a flash of doubt crossed Yun Zimo's mind.

"Why is he on duty today?"

He increased his speed, but just as he was about to break through the mountain gate, a flash of light blocked his path.

"The Young Hall Master has just returned to the sect and is already in such a hurry to leave. Do you have a hand-written order from a sect deacon?"

A hearty, light chuckle came from the young man in front of Yun Zimo. However, as he slashed his long spear, several enforcement team members surrounded Yun Zimo. Though they felt completely helpless, they could only offer apologies while firmly blocking his path, not allowing him to move even an inch.

"Captain Yun Yun, can you make an exception? I can provide the order once I return to the mountain, is that acceptable?"

Yun Zimo did not want to entangle himself with them further and tried to negotiate with kind words. But seeing that Yun Yun's expression remained unchanged, he knew that leaving the mountain today might be a bit troublesome...

"My apologies."

Yun Zimo bowed slightly, his footwork instantly becoming profound. In a flash, he bypassed the many blocking enforcement disciples, clouds and mist surging in his palms as he bore down on Yun Yun's face.

"None of you are to intervene. I will spar with the Young Hall Master."

Yun Yun shouted for the surrounding, hesitant team members to stand down. He thrust his long spear, creating ripples of spear flowers. As the afterimages flickered, bursts of sharp, fierce wind forced Yun Zimo to dodge and defend.

"It's been a few years, and your combat intuition has improved quite a bit. Take this!"

Yun Yun's long spear lunged out like a serpent flicking its tongue, though he still called out a warning, not wanting to cause any injury.

"Clang!"

Yun Zimo had no choice but to draw his sword to meet the assault. With the blade in hand, his entire temperament shifted, his sword flourishing as he traded blows with Yun Yun, neither gaining the upper hand.

"That's more like it!"

After exchanging dozens of moves, Yun Zimo intentionally exposed a flaw to bait Yun Yun. With a sudden shift in movement, he slapped the long spear aside and surged forward with explosive speed. A mere afterimage remained where he had been, pierced through by the spear, while his true form shot straight into the sky.

"Captain Yun Yun, my thanks."

Cyan and white Dou Qi wings erupted from his back, and Yun Zimo's voice reached Yun Yun's ears.

"Clang!"

Planting his spear into the ground, Yun Yun revealed a smile that said 'as I expected.' It was worth holding back so much; this kid had indeed already reached the Dou King realm.

"Captain, the Sect Master requests your presence..."

Just then, a cautious report reached his ears. Yun Yun's expression stiffened instantly. He turned to see that figure not far away, and he knew he was finished—his elder sister had seen through him.

With his cyan and white Dou Qi wings vibrating rapidly, Yun Zimo pushed his speed to the limit, carving a long cloud trail across the sky that made the commoners of the Jia Ma Empire look up in wonder.

"The Misty Cloud Sect has another Dou King..."

Jia Xingtian, the ancestor of the Jia Ma Imperial family, looked up. Sensing that aura—both familiar and alien—he could not help but let out a soft sigh.

Other factions had their own thoughts on the matter, but Yun Zimo had no interest in what they were thinking at the moment.

He flew at full speed, heading straight for a medium-sized city in the northeast of the empire—Wutan City, the last of the empire's ten great cities.

Cyan and white Dou Qi surged behind him. Caught in a gale, Yun Zimo borrowed the force to accelerate once more. In a mere half-hour, he arrived outside Wutan City. Ignoring the heavy crossbows slowly being raised upon the walls, he vaulted over them and flew directly toward the residence of the Xiao Clan, one of the city's three great families.

"Yun Zimo of the Misty Cloud Sect pays a visit to the Xiao Clan!"

Yun Zimo landed before the Xiao Clan gates, his gentle voice carrying accurately throughout the entire estate.

"Everyone, go back. It's nothing."

The Wutan City Lord, who had arrived first, heard this voice and waved his hand to dismiss the garrison soldiers. Looking at the other two clan leaders nearby, whose expressions were complex, he sighed inwardly. Wutan City was about to descend into chaos again.

"Thirty years east, thirty years west; do not bully the young because they are poor!"

Just as Xiao Yan roared this display of youthful arrogance in the heat of his anger, Yun Zimo's voice clearly entered the main hall.

"Young Hall Master?"

"Uncle-Master Zimo?"

Ge Ye and Mo Ling, who had been sitting with composed expressions, stood up abruptly, their faces filled with panic.

Why had that bastard returned already!

Nalan Yanran's expression also faltered; the anger she felt toward Xiao Yan's insolence softened slightly.

Seeing the distinguished guests from the Misty Cloud Sect looking so solemn, the three elders of the Xiao Clan bypassed Xiao Zhan and rushed out to welcome him.

Although the Xiao Clan appeared to be one family, only Xiao Zhan and Xiao Xun'er stood by the side of the isolated Xiao Yan.

Seeing this, a hint of ferocity appeared in Xiao Yan's eyes. He clenched his fists so tightly that his lips were nearly bleeding.

"Brother Xiao Yan, long time no see..."

Stepping into the Xiao Clan, Yun Zimo ignored the Xiao family members fawning over him and the fawning smiles of Ge Ye and his companions.

He responded to Nalan Yanran with a cold expression, then walked into the hall and smiled at Xiao Yan.

"Who are you?"

Xiao Yan was slightly stunned; he did not recall ever meeting this person...

"Three years ago, outside the small bamboo grove..."

Yun Zimo smiled and wiped his face. His features shifted slightly, and he returned to his true appearance.

"Brother Yun Li?!"

Seeing this somewhat familiar face, Xiao Yan suddenly remembered—three years ago, the night before his Dou Qi vanished, in that small bamboo grove! He had been beaten black and blue!

Seeing that Xiao Yan finally remembered, Yun Zimo nodded, walked to the head seat, turned to face everyone below, and bowed politely toward the Xiao Clan leader, Xiao Zhan.

"Clan Leader Xiao, may I borrow this space for a moment?"

Xiao Zhan frowned slightly, but seeing the unfriendly gazes of his clansmen, he sighed and agreed.

Yun Zimo scanned the room, his gaze lingering briefly on Xiao Xun'er. Seeing no injuries on Xiao Yan's hands and no sign of a divorce letter, he felt relieved and spoke.

"Yanran, you've been off the mountain for days; it's time to return, isn't it?"

"Uncle-Master, I..."

Nalan Yanran wanted to say something, but Yun Zimo raised a hand to cut her off.

"I know why you came here. Let's end this today. This matter is inappropriate; we shall discuss it later!"

Seeing this Uncle-Master, who was not much older than her but held a higher seniority, dismiss her opinions as casually as he had years ago, Nalan Yanran looked up at him stubbornly.

"On what grounds?!"

However, she did not expect Xiao Yan to shout the exact same thing at the same time. The two stared at each other in astonishment, then both turned their heads away.

Yun Zimo looked helplessly at these two naive individuals. Neither understood a thing; one was reckless and unreasonable, while the other was young and frivolous.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble this will bring upon the Xiao Clan?"

Yun Zimo adopted the posture of an elder, his voice cold and soft.

"I... I have already compensated them!"

Nalan Yanran said this while taking the brocade box from the timid Ge Ye beside her. The lid was wide open, revealing a glowing medicinal pill.

"Compensation? A single Qi Gathering Powder?"

Yun Zimo sighed softly. This little girl. He then cast a cold glance at Ge Ye and Mo Ling standing nearby; this master and disciple pair...

"Then what else do you want from me? Ever since I was young, I've been mocked by my peers because of this unseen fiancé. Even my uncle the chef... Five years ago, just because he broke through to become a Dou Practitioner, do you know how much the Nalan Clan sacrificed to get me into the inner sect, just to... just to make me worthy of him!"

Having endured for years, Nalan Yanran finally roared. Her eyes, fixed on Yun Zimo, misted over, and she began to choke on her own grievances.

"I am fortunate that my master took me in. I swore then that one day, I would master my own life. This 'genius' fiancé of mine? I, Nalan Yanran, have no need for him!"

Nalan Yanran's eyes were filled with hatred, her pupils bloodshot as she stared fixedly at Xiao Yan. As images of the past flashed through her mind, she felt no regret for the decision she had made.

The entire hall fell silent. Even the young and impulsive Xiao Yan felt the hostility within him dissipate significantly.

Yun Zimo was also taken aback for a moment. Recalling the judgment he had passed on her years ago, he felt a flicker of confusion—had he been wrong?

"Apologies..."

At this moment, Xiao Yan let out a long breath and cupped his fists. The composure honed through three years of depression once again regained control of his rational mind.

"I didn't realize that my former self would bring you such trouble... I am willing to apologize for that. But my father is the head of the clan; if the engagement is broken today, how will he continue to lead the Xiao Clan?"

Xiao Yan then knelt before Xiao Zhan in full view of everyone.

"Father, today's events are a mistake I have caused. If Miss Nalan agrees, I ask that you personally go to the Nalan Clan tomorrow to annul our engagement!"

With that, Xiao Yan knocked his head against the floor three times.

"Yan'er, you..."

Xiao Zhan helped Xiao Yan up, sighing softly with eyes full of pity.

"Miss Nalan, take your things back. Tomorrow, I will head to the Nalan Clan to annul the marriage!"

"Xiao Zhan, you..."

The three elders of the Xiao Clan couldn't help but want to intervene, but a cold gaze from Xiao Xun'er caused their expressions to change, and they quickly held their tongues.

"Xiao Yan, you want to annul the marriage? Fine, but!"

Nalan Yanran suddenly spoke in a low voice, the aristocratic bearing she had cultivated since childhood faintly radiating from her.

"I am the Young Sect Leader of the Misty Cloud Sect, and you are the Young Clan Leader of the Xiao Clan. Neither of us represents only ourselves anymore!"

"You are right. Regardless of whether the engagement is broken today, the Xiao Clan has lost face, and Uncle Xiao Zhan's dignity is gone. Therefore, I will give you a chance to wash away this shame. Three years from now, you and I shall duel. After that, we go our separate ways, and there shall be no more ties between us!"

"Young... Young Sect Leader!"

Nalan Yanran's words shocked Ge Ye into an involuntary exclamation. If Nalan Yanran won in three years, it would be fine, but if she lost, Xiao Yan would be washing away his shame by trampling on the reputation of the Misty Cloud Sect!

If there were a reckoning then, the Young Sect Leader would naturally be blameless due to her status, but all the blame would surely fall on him, the one who had led the way!

"Good!"

Xiao Yan's tone was firm. With his intellect now back in play, he felt no dissatisfaction. This continent was a place where the weak were prey to the strong; opportunities and rules were always set by the powerful for the weak!

"Three years from now, I will accept your challenge!"

Seeing the matter settled, Yun Zimo breathed a secret sigh of relief. It was fortunate he had arrived in time; otherwise, if the two had fought to the death, it would have triggered the main plot of the Misty Cloud Sect's destruction. His friendly fellow disciples, the beautiful Sect Leader sister... ahem...

Although the final result was no different from the original world, the moral high ground and the initiative were now firmly in his hands!

After all, one was his fellow disciple's student—the Misty Cloud Young Sect Leader—and the other was a brother with whom he also shared some connections...

"Next, it is time to talk about..."

Yun Zimo looked at the master and disciple who had been stirring up trouble the moment he left the sect. He felt it was time for the Misty Cloud Sect to purge these parasites.

But for now, while at the Xiao Clan, Yun Zimo had to consider the reputation of the Misty Cloud Sect. Once they returned to the sect, however, he had countless ways to make them wish they were dead...