Dispute

"Your tribulation failed, yet you remain completely composed! Your Dao heart is truly remarkable; I am impressed, truly impressed!" Zhuanshui Qing praised.

"The Clan Head is too kind!" Ju Hua cupped his hands, then smiled slightly. "I heard the Xia Emperor is conscripting soldiers recently. Does the clan have any need for my services?"

"If you have no objections, then this heavy responsibility shall fall to you, brother!" Zhuanshui Qing followed Ju Hua's lead without a moment's hesitation.

Upon learning that the unconscious Ju Hua had awakened, he had immediately added him to the expedition list in his mind; even if Ju Hua hadn't brought it up, he would have sought him out himself!

Now that Ju Hua had raised the topic, he certainly wasn't going to refuse.

"Since it is a vital task for the clan, I have no reason to refuse!" Ju Hua smiled, then added, "However, I heard that while I was unconscious, my younger sister, Zhuanshui Qiu, was bullied by many. Is the Clan Head aware of this?"

"..."

So that's why he came. I was wondering why this fellow was being so proactive. Truly...

This thought flashed through Zhuanshui Qing's mind, though a look of timely indignation appeared on his face: "Is that so? Rest assured, brother, I will certainly investigate this matter and see justice served for sister Qiu!"

"Then I shall trouble the Clan Head," Ju Hua said, cupping his fists.

"No trouble at all. As Clan Head, it is my duty to restore order and ensure the Zhuanshui Clan regains the glory of the ancient times!" Zhuanshui Qing declared with a righteous air.

"..."

Ju Hua smiled faintly, but just as he was about to take his leave, a cold sneer drifted over from a distance.

"Restore order? A fine 'restoring of order' indeed!"

Before the voice had even faded, a white-robed Daoist with a long beard and an ethereal, immortal aura descended from the sky, landing not far from the two men.

Ju Hua glanced at the newcomer but said nothing.

This man was a Loose Immortal of the Zhuanshui Clan named Zhuanshui Pingqiu, whose own tribulation had taken place a hundred thousand years ago!

However, this man had not possessed Ju Hua's strength before his tribulation; at that time, he was at most comparable to an ordinary Loose Immortal. After a hundred thousand years of cultivation, he was now likely a top-tier Loose Immortal.

"So it is brother Pingqiu!" Zhuanshui Qing smiled, his expression unchanged. "What brings you here?"

"My own affairs can wait. But I just heard the Clan Head speak of 'restoring order.' May I ask, what order are you restoring, and upon what basis?" Zhuanshui Pingqiu asked indifferently.

"What do you mean by that, brother?" Zhuanshui Qing frowned.

"The Zhuanshui Clan strictly forbids the strong from bullying the weak! If someone truly bullied the weak, they should be punished, but if no such thing happened and facts are being fabricated for someone's sake..." Zhuanshui Pingqiu sneered, "Then I think this 'restoring of order' is better left undone!"

Zhuanshui Pingqiu's pointed remark caused Zhuanshui Qing's expression to shift slightly. However, just as he was about to speak, a powerful sword qi suddenly tore through the air, heading straight for Zhuanshui Pingqiu.

BOOM!

As if he had been prepared, Zhuanshui Pingqiu immediately threw out a seal-type magic treasure. The great seal spun, quickly grinding the sword qi into nothingness.

"What are you two doing?" Zhuanshui Qing instantly appeared between Zhuanshui Pingqiu and Ju Hua, his thick mana surging to force them apart.

"Clan Head, private duels are forbidden within the clan. It seems I must borrow the 'Jue Water Platform' today!" Ju Hua's calm voice rang in Zhuanshui Qing's ears.

"That is exactly my intention!" Zhuanshui Pingqiu sneered.

"Enough! I do not permit it!" Zhuanshui Qing barked decisively.

"Clan Head, I don't wish for this either! But it seems brother Pingqiu is targeting me!" Ju Hua said flatly.

Before Ju Hua's voice had even died away, Zhuanshui Pingqiu spoke up again: "Clan Head, brother Ju Hua and I are merely sparring. I know the clan rules; I will not take his life!"

"I said! I do not permit it!" Zhuanshui Qing was growing angry. He warned, "Do you two think there is no one in the Zhuanshui Clan who can keep you in check?"

"..."

Zhuanshui Qing's words silenced both Zhuanshui Pingqiu and Ju Hua. On the surface, it was these Loose Immortals who managed the clan's affairs, but in reality, those Celestial Immortal ancestors were the ones whose words were law.

Rumor had it that the Zhuanshui Clan even had a living Celestial God, though it was unclear if it were true!

Ju Hua did not want to invite trouble now. He seemed to possess an incredibly powerful talent, and what he should be doing most was focusing on his cultivation. Therefore, after Zhuanshui Qing spoke, he fell silent.

It was merely a Zhuanshui Pingqiu, after all. He didn't fear the man now, and as long as the talent he had recently displayed didn't fade, in another hundred years, the man would have to look up to him!

However, while Ju Hua remained silent, Zhuanshui Pingqiu did not.

After a moment of thought, he said slowly: "Clan Head, since we have reached this point, I have a question. I wonder if you can enlighten me?"

"Speak!" Zhuanshui Qing naturally could not ignore Zhuanshui Pingqiu. Although he had suppressed the two of them, he had relied on the power of the Celestial Immortal ancestors; he himself did not yet have the qualifications to completely disregard Zhuanshui Pingqiu.

"With this Xia Emperor conscription, both brother Ju Hua and I will be joining the army. Within the Zhuanshui Clan's forces, who shall be the commander?" Zhuanshui Pingqiu asked indifferently.

"This..."

Zhuanshui Qing was momentarily at a loss for words. He hadn't considered this question. Normally, the position would naturally go to the strongest Loose Immortal of the clan.

But now, he couldn't tell who was stronger between Ju Hua and Zhuanshui Pingqiu.

Zhuanshui Pingqiu was a hundred-thousand-year Loose Immortal and should have the strength of a top-tier Loose Immortal—otherwise, he wouldn't have survived until now! Ju Hua, meanwhile, had possessed strength near that of a top-tier Loose Immortal even before his tribulation, and after being tempered by the Heavenly Tribulation, he was surely even more formidable. How could he know who was stronger without letting them fight?

"What does brother Ju Hua think?" Zhuanshui Pingqiu asked loudly.

"I believe I should be the commander!" Ju Hua said in a flat tone.

Joining the army, the position of commander naturally had its advantages. Firstly, one didn't need to fight in the most dangerous places, and secondly, if the war was won, the commander received the greatest credit.

However, Ju Hua had previously been uninterested in this position because a commander had to deal with far more matters than other roles, which was detrimental to his cultivation.

But now, he couldn't afford not to take it!

Otherwise, if Zhuanshui Pingqiu secured the position, who could guarantee the man wouldn't sabotage him?