Zhaowu

The crowd buzzed.

"What's gotten into the disciples of Ethereal Peak? Have they all suddenly seen the light?"

"Could these disciples Immortal Venerable Wanghan took in be playing some grand game of chess?"

"Good heavens, the skies over the Flowing Cloud Sect may be about to change."

After the shock, Sword Lord Qingyun was the first to recover. His tone was gentle. "I never expected this disciple to surpass his limits in the midst of battle. What a surprise. A-Ye underestimated his opponent after all."

Pah.

He was clearly outmatched, yet you call it a 'surprise' and 'underestimating his opponent.' Is admitting defeat that hard?

Oh, I almost forgot. That's the scumbag's own son. No wonder he's so protective!

Qiaoqiao's eyes darted. He still doesn't know my senior brother inherited Sword Lord Qingshuang's Radiant Dragon Bloodline, and that a golden dragon manifests when it awakens. That was Senior Brother's bloodline awakening just now. I told you, never bully a youth for being poor!

Her senior brothers and sisters: It really was a bloodline awakening?

They had almost thought their junior sister was making things up...

The commotion from that bloodline awakening couldn't possibly escape the sect master's notice. Once she discovers that Senior Brother is her biological child, let's see how you two hypocrites keep up your act!

Hehe, once my senior brother becomes the young sect master and backs me up, I'll be able to do whatever I please in the sect too!

Her senior brothers and sisters: ...Aren't you supposed to be a good person sent by the Heavenly Dao?

I want to touch the sect's guardian Law Treasure, the Flowing Cloud Divine Lamp. I heard the divine lamp can let people grasp insights into the Dao. Just touching it might let you form your core!

Shen Ji: ...

You even dare set your sights on the sect's guardian Law Treasure. That's our junior sister for you.

But if his junior sister wanted it, perhaps he could help.

Amid the discussion, Bai Fu said mildly, "Indeed, the young sect master's sword moves left quite an impression."

Even the immortal venerable could make barbed remarks. Sword Lord Qingyun looked thoroughly embarrassed.

Mu Ye's eyes darkened. He looked at Qiaoqiao. Could it be... she had done it on purpose? Had Fu Fengyuan actually recovered long ago?

From proposing the match at the start to switching opponents midway through, had she been scheming against him all along?!

"Young Sect Master, a bet is a bet. Since Senior Brother won, shouldn't you drink this wine?" Qiaoqiao picked up the wine cup and brought it before him.

Mu Ye looked at the wine he had poisoned himself, his lips slowly pressing together.

There was no antidote for this poisoned wine. Drinking it would make a person drool and speak incoherently, humiliating them in public, yet a pulse examination afterward would reveal no trace of poisoning. He had only wanted to teach Fu Fengyuan a lesson.

If he drank this wine and made a fool of himself in public, acting like an idiot, his reputation would be ruined!

As the dignified young sect master of the Flowing Cloud Sect, how could he bear such humiliation?

Mu Ye was just about to refuse when Qiaoqiao pushed the cup a little closer. Her curled lashes fluttered, and her voice was light and soft, yet sounded like a demon's whisper.

"Why won't you drink, Young Sect Master?"

"Is it because you poisoned the wine, so you don't dare drink it?"

"Or are you concerned about your dignity as young sect master? You're overthinking it, really. You aren't even the sect master's biological child. You're just the Flowing Cloud Sect's fake young master."

Mu Ye: !!!

Everyone: !!!

Chapter 24: Zhaowu

Qiaoqiao's few casually spoken words dropped like thunderbolts upon the gathering, stunning everyone present.

The young sect master had actually poisoned the wine to plot against Fu Fengyuan?!

Why would he do that?

But that wasn't the point. The point was her final sentence-

The young sect master wasn't the sect master's biological child!

What did that mean?!

Mu Ye wasn't the biological son of Mu Liuyun and Sword Lord Qingshuang?

Everyone's heads buzzed. This was earth-shattering gossip! To think they would witness such earth-shattering gossip at the sect master's birthday banquet. This was far too thrilling!

Curiosity, shock, and disbelief mingled on everyone's faces as their burning gazes turned toward Mu Ye and Mu Liuyun.

Mu Ye's expression changed drastically.

First Qiaoqiao had exposed the fact that he had poisoned the wine, then she had said he wasn't Mu Liuyun's biological child. Even his lips trembled. "Y-you, what nonsense are you talking about?!"

How could he possibly not be his mother's biological child?

Ever since he was little, he had been treated as the esteemed young sect master, the future master of the Flowing Cloud Sect, a ruler of one of the four great immortal sects. From the elders of each peak to ordinary disciples, who in the sect wasn't courteous to him?

He did whatever he wanted, with a crowd of people to clean up his messes. Whatever resources he wanted, someone would present them to him with both hands.

Mu Ye had never imagined that one day someone would tell him the identity he took such pride in was false!

He didn't believe it. He didn't believe a single word.

He instinctively looked toward Mu Liuyun. He had always been obedient and respectful before her, and Mu Liuyun had never expressed any dissatisfaction with him.

He thought, Mother will surely smile and say, "What nonsense are you talking about? How could you possibly not be my son?"

Yet that glance froze the blood throughout his body.

Mu Liuyun didn't even glance at him. Instead, she stared intently at Fu Fengyuan not far away, as though she had discovered some astonishing truth.

Recalling the scene when the sword struck earlier, Mu Ye's heart jolted.

Fu Fengyuan...

This good-for-nothing he had always trampled underfoot, he...

This was absolutely impossible!

It was all this female cultivator's doing. She was spreading lies! She wanted to destroy him!

His vicious gaze fixed on Qiaoqiao, his hands clenching into fists as killing intent surged in his chest. She deserved to die!

The instant his killing intent spilled out, a tall, slender figure stepped in front of Qiaoqiao. A chill as piercing as ice and snow seeped into his lungs. Mu Ye felt a terrible cold penetrate his bones. Merely facing him made his teeth chatter, and fear rose in his heart. "I-Immortal Venerable-"

"It's only a cup of wine. Why get angry, Immortal Venerable?" Sword Lord Qingyun stepped forward. "I'll drink this cup on A-Ye's behalf!"

As he spoke, he reached for the wine cup, but a light, nimble figure beat him to it. Wen Zhi dipped a silver needle into the cup. "This wine is poisoned!"

Xiao Tingyu demanded, "Were you so afraid of your identity being exposed that you poisoned Fourth Junior Brother?"