“You can’t pass!” Ye Mo shouted.

The heavy-set man managed to recover and blocked the doorway again. He seemed to have gone crazy. Nothing else could explain why he came back for another beating.

Wu Qianyu shook her head and slashed her sword. A ray of purple energy pierced Ye Mo’s shoulder. The Purple Jade Sword displayed its immortal might and it was unstoppable in the mortal realms. Her master had told her to use it less as it would stump the development of her Dao. She fully intended to follow his instructions… right after she took down this disobedient sect.

“Uncle San, arrest him properly, please.”

“Yes! Mistress Wu!” The chief enforcer said sheepishly.

Wu Qianyu finally stepped through the main doorway of the Shatter Peak Sect and into a wide, stone-paved entrance hall that was lined with well-manicured pine trees. Red festive lanterns were adorned everywhere possible and a crowd of disciples stood in her way in a loose semi-circle.

She took a few steps forward and they took a few steps back. She continued forward and parted the frightened disciples effortlessly without a fight.

She crossed the hall, towards the sounds of partying and laughter seeping through from a nearby room.

The two guards at the door thought for a moment about stopping her but then decided against such foolishness. They had heard and seen what happened to Elder Ye Mo. Instead, they bowed respectfully and opened the door.

The scene inside was of a lively banquet, with rows and rows of individuals sitting at tables laden with food and wine. A dozen scantily clad dancers were performing in the center.

Wu Qianyu stepped in followed by San Huming and his red-robed enforcers. Their red was the color of festivity but of blood and punishment.

The party-goers paused.

The dangers stopped.

Even the music ceased.

Everyone stared at Wu Qianyu as she walked to the center of the room. She raised her sect badge and addressed the raised stage in front of her that held the dignitaries and core members of the sect.

“I am Wu Qianyu of Ten Thousand Flower Valley, disciple of Immortal Blue Dragon Chen Wentian.” She said and nobody dared to miss a single syllable, “This city is now under my authority. We are here to arrest Ye Wuzhi. Anybody that tries to stop me will be arrested as well.”

Silence met her words.

Nobody dared to move or say anything.

It was too shocking. It was supposed to be Ye Wuzhi’s great day, how could he be arrested?

Wu Qianyu studied the most notable people and found Ye Wuzhi sitting in the most prominent spot. His face was twisted in a mix of rage and fear. He was clad from head to toe in crimson and gold. He was certainly a handsome specimen of a human male. Too bad his black heart led him down the wrong path.

She searched for Nalan Wan’er but didn’t find her. It was strange for the future bride to not be present for the engagement ceremony. The representatives from the Nalan family were certainly present and seated in distinguished spots. Perhaps there was something else going on here.

“Heroine Wu Qianyu, the paragon of righteousness… your great name proceeds you!” A man past his prime rose to speak, “I am Ye Zongxie, sect master of the Shattered Peak Sect and Ye Wuzhi’s father. May I ask, why is he being arrested?”

Wu Qianyu scoffed, “Ye Wuzhi is under arrest for the murder of Xiao Yan of the Black Sword Lodge.”

“Lies!” Ye Wuzhi shouted, unable to control himself.

He had leaped up and shattered his table in fury.

“Silence!” Ye Zongxie pushed his son back down and bowed to Wu Qianyu, “Heroine Wu, today is my son’s great day of fortune. If you would give me face in front all these gathered heroes and heroines of the continent, I promise I will deliver Ye Wuzhi to the Crime and Punishment Division headquarters myself!”

“No. Uncle San, take down Ye Wuzhi!” Wu Qianyu replied flatly.

Nobody was going to negotiate with Ten Thousand Flower Valley, especially not the Shattered Peak Sect. What kind of ridiculous concept was this?

“Wait!”

“Hold on!”

Several voices interrupted Sun Huming from taking action. Several people rose from their seats with aggressive expressions.

An old man wearing black and red and carrying a long horse-tail whip spoke, “I am Hong Tian, the principal of the Black River Canyon School. Young lady, you should show restraint and reason in your actions. Do not let the arrogance of your good fortune drive you to offend the common people’s will.”

The Black River Canyon School was the number one mortal sect within Black Rock City. They were the most influential faction in the province before Chen Wentian arrived. Through many methods, they managed to get in the Zhou Clan’s good graces and maintained their position.

Wu Qianyu frowned slightly but didn’t reply as another person stood up, a middle-aged woman with an oversized and unbalanced headpiece and a ferocious face.

“I am Ao Yuanli, leader of the Bloodbird Group. I echo brother Tian’s words. The world is wide and filled with people. You may be a disciple of an immortal sect but there are millions of mortals struggling to make a living and survive in this world. You cannot oppress all of us without justification. We cannot follow your unprincipled demands.”

The ugly, mouthy woman’s Bloodbird Group was the strongest mercenary group in the region and arguably the whole province. Their ferocity in fighting against monsters and humans alike was well known to all the locals and they were equally as respected as the best sects.

“Well said!”

“This is wrong!”

“This is an engagement party!”

Other brave souls stepped forward to make their voices heard. In their eyes, they were right. All the representatives of the martial world of the Cloudy Mountain Province were gathered here for an engagement party, a celebration of unity and good fortune. This was not a place for Wu Qianyu to barge in and make demands left and right. They believed that even immortal sects had to follow certain rules of respect and etiquette. Since she showed them no face, she was looking down on all the gathered heroes and heroines of the province. Since she was being unruly and unreasonable, they had to unite and uphold righteousness.

This… was probably what they all thought, what they thought would save Ye Wuzhi.

They were all wrong.

They all misunderstood a fundamental fact, the difference between immortals and mortals. Immortals were simply divine beings walking amongst ants. If Chen Wentian was here, none of them would dare utter any bit of nonsense. They were all humans but an immortal was a higher state of being and existence.

Wu Qianyu, having taken her first tiny step toward an immortal Dao, was starting to understand a little of this mindset. She had to believe in herself to continue down this path. If was several months ago, perhaps she would have backed down out in front of so many people, in the face of such harsh criticism. But now, she was starting to think differently.

She was striving for a completely different world. She was striving for the immortal realms. A few petty mortals could not stand in the way of her will!

She put away her sect badge and drew the Purple Jade Sword. Deadly sharp sword energy emerged and wrapped her in a protective cocoon. It was as if ten thousand tiny sword blades were dancing around her.

“Everyone, listen carefully!” She said in a commanding voice, “I am going to arrest Ye Wuzhi. Anybody that gets in my way with be arrested as well. This is your final warning!”

“Nonsense!”

“Too arrogant!”

“This is ridiculous!”

She faced the united condemnation of the crowd with an expressionless face.

She then took a step forward and the banquet hall erupted into chaos.

---

Thank you to all my patrons!

Support me and read ahead by 14 or even 28 chapters!

p atreon.com/kigreenwriting

Join my discord for updates, delays, and my ramblings :)

d iscord.gg/dY5UApw