Jealousy in the Human Heart

After the celebration banquet ended, Zhou Muyun made a trip to East Market to finish some official business before returning to Greenwood Martial Hall.

It was already afternoon, and quite a few disciples were still training in the martial arts grounds.

Fortunately, autumn had arrived, sparing them the torment of the blazing sun.

"Senior Brother Zhou, Master asked you to come over." Zhang Yu jogged over to greet him.

"Got it."

Zhou Muyun crossed the training grounds and headed straight for the rear courtyard.

Li Qingliang was seated on a stone chair. All of the martial hall's direct disciples had arrived except Leng Ni.

Across from Li Qingliang sat a middle-aged man, and the two were chatting pleasantly.

Beside the middle-aged man stood a tall, stern-faced young man.

The instant he saw Zhou Muyun, a flicker of fighting spirit appeared in his eyes.

"Master."

Zhou Muyun came to stand beside Li Qingliang and greeted him respectfully.

"Just in time. Let me introduce you. This is Feng Tengyun, master of Soaring Cloud Martial Hall, and this is his prized disciple, Zhang Chong.

Brother Feng, this is my disciple, Zhou Muyun."

Li Qingliang seemed to be in an excellent mood. Smiling, he pointed to the two men beside him and introduced them to Zhou Muyun.

"Master Feng, Senior Brother Zhang." Zhou Muyun cupped his fists to each of them in greeting.

Feng Tengyun gave a slight nod. As he looked at Zhou Muyun, his gaze carried a hint of scrutiny and curiosity.

Zhang Chong returned the gesture as well, his eyes filled with eagerness.

Zhou Muyun found their looks rather strange.

Zhou Muyun had naturally heard of Feng Tengyun, the master of Soaring Cloud Martial Hall.

Among Yunlin County's ten great martial halls, Soaring Cloud Martial Hall ranked first. Its strength was plain to see.

As for Zhang Chong, Zhou Muyun had only learned of him when Mo Qi mentioned him last time.

"Were you the one who defeated Long Qian?"

Feng Tengyun did not continue speaking. Instead, Zhang Chong, who stood nearby, spoke up.

Zhou Muyun immediately understood why the two had been looking at him that way.

So news of Long Qian's defeat at his hands had already reached Soaring Cloud Martial Hall!

"I only won by luck. I had merely been entrusted by someone else and had no choice but to act."

Since the two had chosen to visit Li Qingliang, they clearly had not come looking for trouble.

Zhou Muyun had no wish to stir up needless conflict, so his words were modest and measured.

When Greenwood Martial Hall's direct disciples heard that Zhou Muyun had actually defeated Long Qian, each wore a different expression.

Mo Qi and Yan Qing smiled, delighted that the martial hall had gained another formidable disciple.

Liu Yan was somewhat surprised, while Li Buhui's face was full of jealousy and a trace of lingering fear.

Bai Yu merely glanced at Zhou Muyun with a blank expression, lost in thought.

"Does Junior Brother Zhou know that Long Qian ranks among the top three in our martial hall as well?"

"I did not. But victories and defeats are common in sparring. I imagine Brother Long would not take it to heart."

Zhang Chong wanted to say more, but a look from Feng Tengyun silenced him.

"What an unassuming disciple. Brother Li, you truly are fortunate.

First Bai Yu, then Zhou Muyun. Greenwood Martial Hall seems destined to prosper!"

"Hahaha, Brother Feng, you flatter them. They still have a long road ahead. Only if they successfully break through to the Blood Exchange Realm can they be considered to have achieved something."

Though Li Qingliang spoke modestly, the smile on his face only grew wider.

However, his words were true. Looking across lineages, martial halls, and aristocratic clans devoted to martial arts, the overwhelming majority were stuck in the Organ Refinement Realm.

Only upon reaching the Blood Exchange Realm could one hold up the sky in a place like Yunlin County.

"That is true." Feng Tengyun agreed with Li Qingliang. "Now that I have seen the person I came to see, I shall take Chong'er and leave."

Feng Tengyun had an open and forthright nature. Having achieved his purpose, he prepared to depart.

"Very well. We shall have another good talk next time, Brother Feng."

Li Qingliang did not try to keep him. The two had always gotten along well, and he understood Feng Tengyun's temperament.

If Feng Tengyun wanted to leave, he left. If he did not, he stayed. He was very free-spirited.

After saying farewell, Feng Tengyun rose and left with Zhang Chong.

Once they were gone, Mo Qi walked over to Zhou Muyun and looked him up and down as though seeing him for the first time.

"Good job, Junior Brother Zhou. You brought honor to our martial hall. That was Long Qian—we couldn't even beat him."

Mo Qi was not exaggerating. Most disciples' martial arts mastery hovered below Minor Accomplishment.

Within the first three realms of martial arts, the gap in strength was not particularly large, whether one was at the initial stage or the peak.

At that point, experience and martial arts techniques became crucial.

If one's cultivation rose but one's martial arts techniques did not, one would naturally lose to someone at the same realm whose techniques had reached Minor Accomplishment.

"Senior Brother, I only got lucky."

"You said it was luck earlier because outsiders were present. Now that it is just us, I do not believe that line."

Mo Qi had spent a long time with Zhou Muyun and understood his personality fairly well.

He did not like showing off and trained diligently.

Zhou Muyun could only nod and did not argue further.

"You may all leave. I have something to say to Zhou Muyun alone."

After sending the other disciples out of the rear courtyard, including Bai Yu, Li Qingliang looked at Zhou Muyun with a complicated expression.

"Among the disciples I have taken in, you are the most diligent. I should have given you more care, but I did not. Do you blame me for it?"

"This disciple knows that Junior Brother Bai Yu is a peerless talent. I understand Master's decision and bear no resentment."

Zhou Muyun's expression remained calm, and his words were firm.

Hearing Zhou Muyun's answer, Li Qingliang fell silent for a moment before letting out a long sigh.

"Good! I was right about you. Your natural aptitude is ordinary, so your comprehension must be quite good.

After I chose to support Bai Yu, I truly did not have much strength left to cultivate another closed-door disciple."

A nearly imperceptible flash of disappointment passed through Zhou Muyun's eyes. It seemed his master was determined to cultivate only Junior Brother Bai.

Li Qingliang paused, then changed the subject. "But today, you won honor for Greenwood Martial Hall. Naturally, I will not treat you unfairly."

With that, Li Qingliang rose and entered the room. Before long, he returned carrying a box.

"These are three portions of Dragon Whisker Grass, each one a year's supply of precious medicine. Boil them in water, and they can be consumed three times. They are greatly beneficial to cultivation. Take them."

"Thank you, Master!"

Delight appeared on Zhou Muyun's face. He accepted the box from Li Qingliang and opened it, revealing three neatly arranged medicinal herbs resembling roots.

"When cultivating, never slack off. I look forward to your performance at the Martial Hall Assembly."

"This disciple will obey Master's command."

"You may leave."

Zhou Muyun tucked the box into his robes and walked out of the rear courtyard.

The moment he stepped out of the courtyard, Bai Yu approached with Liu Yan and Li Buhui.

"Senior Brother Zhou, your defeat of Long Qian truly earns my admiration!"

"Not at all. If it had been Junior Brother Bai, Long Qian likely would not have lasted a single move. Did you need something?"

Zhou Muyun looked at the three of them in confusion, unable to understand what they wanted.

Bai Yu's expression did not change at Zhou Muyun's flattery, but inwardly, he felt pleased.

"It is like this. Senior Brother Li has had some unpleasantness with you, Senior Brother Zhou, so I wish to act as a mediator."

A mediator? Zhou Muyun looked at Li Buhui behind Bai Yu, feeling slightly surprised.

Even though he had defeated Long Qian, Li Buhui was a member of the Li Household. He should not be particularly afraid of Zhou Muyun.

Moreover, Li Buhui had made things difficult for him time and again. Zhou Muyun had no intention of letting him off.

"And how do you propose to mediate?"

Bai Yu stepped forward, leaned close to Zhou Muyun's ear, and lowered his voice. "Brother Zhou, we are all children of poor families. Our strength did not come easily.

Senior Brother Li and the others are children of lineages. Since they are taking the initiative to reconcile, it is better to avoid trouble when possible. Offending a great lineage is never a good thing."

After speaking, Bai Yu stepped back and resumed speaking in a normal voice.

"Senior Brother Li and Senior Brother Zhou, why not apologize to each other and put this matter behind you?"

A faint smile appeared on Bai Yu's face. He believed Zhou Muyun would make the wise choice.

"I have no objection," Li Buhui said flatly.

"I cannot comply. If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave."

Zhou Muyun rejected the proposal and turned to leave at once.

Bai Yu's smile froze. His fists clenched as anger flashed in his eyes.

I am Li Qingliang's closed-door disciple. The great lineages all seek to curry favor with me, yet you are merely a direct disciple.

You only defeated Long Qian, and you dare to embarrass me in public?

"Junior Brother Bai, there is no need to take it to heart. I told you, this man only appears kind on the surface. In truth, his heart is narrow-minded."

Li Buhui comforted him from the side. Seeking reconciliation had only been a spur-of-the-moment idea. Now that his shock had faded, he felt it was no big deal.

Could an Organ Refinement Realm martial artist, no matter how formidable, truly threaten the Li Household?

Bai Yu nodded, and a smile returned to his face.

The group began chatting and laughing again as they walked away together.

Yet deep in Bai Yu's heart, dissatisfaction toward Zhou Muyun had already taken root.

I thought our origins were similar, so I offered to bring you into my circle.

Since you do not appreciate it, do not blame me for being merciless.