Volume One, Chapter 13: I Have Always Acted on Your Orders

Outside the stall, the gathered disciples were left speechless at the brutal scene before them. Soon after, Ji Die finished washing the creature thoroughly, turned to the horse-faced steward, and asked, “Steward, is this sufficient?” Her tone had shed all deference, leaving only indifference behind.

Everyone snapped back to their senses and looked towards the steward.

The horse-faced steward furrowed his brow, about to speak, when a sharp voice pierced the air. “Steward, this person dared to abuse Sister Jiang’s spirit beast, beating it into this state—such madness cannot be tolerated! He must not be let off lightly!” It was, predictably, He Song, who pointed an accusing finger at Ji Die.

The surrounding disciples looked at him with unconcealed contempt. Though they were aware of the animosity between the two, this man was truly despicable.

Seeing He Song repeatedly jump out to seek attention, Ji Die’s heart turned cold as ice. He gazed calmly at the horse-faced steward.

“Ji Die, do you have anything to say for yourself?” The steward glanced at him.

“Abuse? When did I ever abuse this black serpent? Weren’t all my actions under your orders, Steward?” Ji Die retorted.

“Silver-tongued, are you! When did I tell you to abuse the black serpent?” the steward sneered. True, he had told Ji Die to bathe the serpent, but not to handle it so roughly.

“Steward, you must have a short memory. You instructed me to clean it, but the creature wouldn’t cooperate. In order to complete your task without overstepping my bounds, I had no choice but to subdue the serpent. Isn’t that so?” Ji Die replied unhurriedly, holding firmly to one point: You gave the order; I merely followed it.

He didn’t believe that, should this matter escalate, Seven Mysteries Sect would punish him for it.

“Cheeky and insolent! Now you dare slander me? Don’t think that just because you outsmarted the black serpent, you’re invincible. If I don’t teach you a lesson today, how will I command respect?” The steward’s face darkened, and he unleashed the full force of his fourth-layer Qi Refining aura, preparing to teach Ji Die a lesson himself.

But just as he was about to act, Ji Die’s calm voice rang out: “If the steward wishes to punish me for this, I have nothing to say. However, with so many eyes watching, I doubt you can silence everyone. If word spreads, I wonder if it might affect your reputation.”

The steward’s expression immediately soured, as though his fire had been snuffed out. Though Ji Die’s words were a threat, they were not without reason. With so many witnesses, if the sect’s higher-ups heard he abused his power to bully disciples, he could well be punished, even lose his position.

“How dare you speak to the steward this way! Tired of living, are you?” He Song once again leapt out, berating Ji Die.

“A stray dog, barking for no reason. Speaking of abuse, I happen to have something to report.” Ji Die’s gaze grew icy.

“The black serpent went berserk earlier because someone attempted to kill it. That’s why it raged. Here’s the evidence I found at the scene, belonging to the culprit. I hope the steward will investigate thoroughly!” As he spoke, Ji Die produced a silver needle, coldly fixing his gaze on He Song.

His accusation was carefully phrased—not that He Song had tried to anger the serpent into attacking him, but that he had attempted to assassinate the beast.

“Someone tried to assassinate the black serpent?”

“Who was it?”

A murmur spread among the disciples. Seeing Ji Die’s gaze settle on He Song, and recalling their feud, it wasn’t hard for them to deduce the truth.

“You dare slander me! Who would want to assassinate that serpent?” He Song’s face turned ashen.

Attempting to kill a spirit beast? If word got out, the creature’s owner would never let him off.

“I never said it was you,” Ji Die replied coolly. Yet no one with sense could miss the guilt written all over He Song’s face.

“You…”

“Enough.” The steward, growing impatient with their bickering, cut them off coldly.

“Steward, about the black serpent—” He Song, still unwilling to let it go, tried to press the issue but was silenced by a glare and forced to swallow his words.

“You may leave. If the black serpent is injured, I’ll inform Sister Jiang to check on it herself. Should anything happen to it, she will decide how to handle it,” the steward said, glancing at Ji Die before striding away.

“He’s dead for sure this time!” He Song’s face lit with renewed excitement.

Sister Jiang was a renowned figure on the southern bank, rumored to have already broken through to the mid-stages of Qi Refining. Among this year’s disciples, she was a top contender for promotion to the northern bank.

If she learned her spirit beast had been beaten so, she would never let the culprit off.

Suddenly, a frigid gaze landed on He Song, sending a shiver down his spine. He looked up to see Ji Die, having exited the stall, staring at him from afar.

The others hastily stepped away from He Song, eager not to be caught in the crossfire.

“What… what do you want?” He Song, now isolated and panicked, began to back away. This was the same youth who had just tamed the black serpent with his bare hands. If…

But Ji Die merely gave him a cold look before heading out of the stables under the watchful eyes of the crowd.

Though he longed to deal with the wretch who had repeatedly tried to harm him, now was not the time. With so many witnesses, any rash action would play right into the hands of those with ulterior motives.

He could not risk his own safety for a moment’s satisfaction.

Leaving the stables, Ji Die closed his eyes, basked in the familiar sunlight, and washed the blood from his hands at a nearby stream.

Just then, a plump figure hurried after him.

“Senior Ji, you were incredible just now! You beat that black serpent so badly, you’re the undisputed champion of the beast stables!” The speaker was a chubby youth, another stable disciple, who began to flatter him enthusiastically.

“And you are?” Ji Die was unmoved by the flattery, glancing at him indifferently.

“I’m Wu Han, also a disciple of the stables. Wu as in ‘mouth’ and Han as in ‘valiant’!” The chubby youth grinned, revealing two pointed canine teeth.

Wu Han?

Ji Die sized him up. The fellow was round and short, his plump face radiating cheerfulness—hardly the image of anything ‘valiant.’

Wu Han seemed to sense Ji Die’s thoughts and forced a wry smile. “My parents named me, so forgive me for the irony, Senior Ji.”

Ji Die headed towards the orchard, intending to pick some fruit. “What do you want from me?”

“Senior Ji, do you know who owns the black serpent you just handled?” Wu Han asked mysteriously.

“Who?” Ji Die inquired.

“Sister Jiang!”

“Sister Jiang… What’s her cultivation level? Is she formidable?” This was the first time Ji Die had heard the name, and his curiosity was piqued.

Seeing his unfamiliarity, Wu Han glanced around and whispered, “I can’t say for certain, but you’re new here, Senior Ji. Sister Jiang is one of the most sought-after talents among the outer disciples on the southern bank and a leading candidate for promotion to the northern bank this year… She’s probably close to breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refining!”

“Southern bank, northern bank?” This was the first time Ji Die had heard of such a distinction within the Seven Mysteries Sect. He looked at Wu Han in surprise.