Chapter Sixty-Seven: Temper

That sharp, cold shout sent a tremor through Tian Huashan’s heart. He hurriedly used the secret technique unique to the Violet Dragon Palace to suppress his fear, and looked up to see a woman standing on the cliff edge of the Guihai Pavilion. She wore a Taoist’s robe in a gray-and-white check, her hair twisted into a topknot, revealing her entire face—a face so beautiful that it seemed impossible she was a woman of the cloth. In her hand she held a horsetail whisk, draped across her arm, but her eyes shone with a chilling light.

Tian Huashan glanced back at Mo Bai, and saw Mo Bai also looking up at the Taoist nun, still with that same unruffled, fearless expression on his face. This sight gave Tian Huashan a measure of reassurance, and he demanded, “Hmph, who are you?”

The nun replied coldly, “Did you forget whose name you just mentioned?”

Tian Huashan’s eyes flickered. He stammered, “You, you are a disciple of Master Gu Meng? No, impossible—I saw all her disciples go into Guihai Pavilion with that Yihua Sect girl they call the Lady in Red. This is strange, truly strange.”

The nun sneered, “My master’s machinations are hardly something a mere mortal like you could comprehend.”

Even if Tian Huashan was something of a paper tiger, he still carried some fire in Guihai City. He bellowed, “You foul hag, do you think that just by donning Taoist robes you become some celestial being? Hypocrites like you are the worst, all high and mighty and full of nonsense.”

As he spoke, a violet whirlwind spun up around him, and he hurled himself at the nun.

Mo Bai nodded quietly to himself. The close-range spiritual arts of the Violet Dragon Palace were indeed second to none! He couldn’t help but glance at Wu Luohua, wondering if Xiaohua would be able to break through the spiritual barrier at the Yihua Sect. If not, perhaps he could seek out the Violet Dragon Palace to learn their body-spirit cultivation methods. But seeing the young master’s look of eager anticipation, Mo Bai doubted he’d have the patience for such grueling training.

Meanwhile, Nalan Xiner had just heard Tian Huashan say that Guihai Pavilion wasn’t heavily inhabited, and was about to pull Gan Yu away to find a more elegant place to stay. But seeing another fight breaking out, her spirits lifted, sweeping away the gloom from earlier at the inn. “Hey, Brother Tian, you could’ve said so sooner! My hands are itching for action.”

Tian Huashan fumed inwardly. This little devil! I just got started and you’re already itching to see me make a fool of myself. Rage flared in his heart, and the violet light in his hand burst out another inch or two as he pressed his palm toward the nun.

“Hmph! So you’re a disciple of the Violet Dragon Palace. Instead of competing honorably for the Five Great Sects, you act as a lackey for villains. Today, I’ll rid the world of you in the name of the Five Great Sects!” the nun declared, brandishing her whisk as she swung it toward him.

Though Tian Huashan’s martial skills were lacking, his mouth was as sharp as ever. “Fine, fine! Let’s see how tough you really are. Isn’t the Violet Dragon Palace famed for its body-spirit techniques? Then today, let me show you what I can do!” The nun wasted no more words. With a flick of her wrist, the whisk stiffened into something like a giant staff, thrusting straight for Tian Huashan’s violet-glowing palm.

Before the whisk even touched him, Tian Huashan felt a gust of wind that made him hastily withdraw his hand. He thought to himself that if he were struck, he’d be finished. Still, as the leader of a sect, Tian Huashan had some skills—though his hand retreated, his foot lashed out, sending a violet streak at the nun. However, the kick was aimed at a rather undignified spot—a low, underhanded move.

“Scoundrel! Courting death!” The nun leapt lightly backward, easily dodging the blow. The next instant, her face turned deathly pale; with a snap, her whisk exploded, sending thousands of silken threads shooting toward Tian Huashan.

Tian Huashan cried out in alarm and tried to flee, but a flash of pale blue light swept before him. He glanced over just in time to see Mo Bai finishing a spirit-shield gesture, and heard a series of sharp impacts as the silken threads, like daggers stabbing into solid wood, were all blocked before his chest by Mo Bai’s spirit shield.

Tian Huashan breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear the nun shout, “So you have help. Looks like I’ll have to take you seriously.” From her expression, it was clear she hadn’t used even a fraction of her strength earlier.

Only now did Tian Huashan realize that the Spirit Summit Duel was far beyond the abilities of someone at his level of cultivation. Stealing a quick wipe at his brow, he was grateful to have Mo Bai’s help. He turned to Mo Bai with a look of both gratitude and silent plea.

Mo Bai nodded. After all, the affair at the Gan Family Fortress had cost this leader of the Haikun Gang dearly, and now that Xiaohua cared so much for Miss Gan Yu, in some ways, Tian Huashan was half a benefactor to Xiaohua. With this thought, Mo Bai slowly stepped forward from behind Tian Huashan and clasped his hands. “Miss, there’s no need for such anger. We were merely chatting. Besides, the Spirit Summit Duel hasn’t begun yet—surely there’s no need to let such a small matter spoil the peace.”

The nun shook her whisk and said, “Just for daring to slander my master, he deserves to die.”

Mo Bai smiled slightly. “In this world, everything can be controlled—except the human tongue. Even if we don’t say anything here today, who can guarantee we won’t say something in secret tomorrow? If I may be frank, there are at least ten, if not eight, people slandering Master Gu Meng every day. Do you intend to hunt down every last one?”

The nun was startled. Clearly, she’d never heard such reasoning. Her cheeks flushed, but she retorted, “Hmph, I don’t care about the others. If I don’t catch them, they’re lucky. But today, you will not escape death.” She pointed at Tian Huashan, then added, “And if anyone wants to stand up for him, I, Jade Whisk, will take you all on!” So this nun’s name was Jade Whisk.

“Enough, enough, Brother Mo, no need to waste words with this nun. If she’s got the guts, let her come at me—I’ll deal with her myself.” Only now did Nalan Xiner realize that this nun shared a master with the white-robed woman she’d fought at the inn, and her fighting spirit flared even higher.

Mo Bai soothed her, “Let’s leave it at that for today. Didn’t you want to help Miss Gan find a nice place to rest?”

Nalan Xiner pouted. “Fine, just this once for your sake, Brother Mo.” She even made a face at Jade Whisk as Mo Bai beckoned everyone toward Guihai Pavilion.

“Hmph! You think you can just leave? Not so easily.” Jade Whisk flicked her whisk, which suddenly clumped into a ball. With a loud bang, a diamond-shaped burst of spirit energy shot from the ball, aiming straight for Mo Bai’s back.

“Miss, don’t go too far.” Without even turning, Mo Bai whipped around and sent a spinning spirit orb to intercept the diamond-shaped energy. With a buzzing crash, the two collided and shattered in midair.

“So, the Jade Conch Technique. A disciple of Cloud Heaven Sect—no wonder you’re so arrogant. But even if your sect stands at the head of the Five Great Sects, my Yihua Sect fears nothing.” Jade Whisk flicked her whisk three times, then, like a soaring eagle, swept at Mo Bai with a fierce strike.

“Ah, why are the women of the Yihua Sect all so beautiful, yet all have such violent tempers?” Mo Bai shook his head helplessly.

PS: A new year, please add to your favorites~