Chapter 40: Wall-Facing Punishment

After forcing the two back, Mu Yuan didn’t pursue them further. The radiant wave energy weapon left his hand, spiraling back to coil around him like an Azure Dragon. The Jasper Sword had shrunk back to its original form, a beautiful green little sword just six inches long, crystal-clear and sparkling.

“Feng’er, take this to play with,” Mu Yuan said, handing Zha Feng the Jasper Sword. “Your grandmaster here is very generous. We can’t look down on small gifts and refuse them!”

Zha Feng naturally loved such a delicate, gleaming little sword and couldn’t put it down.

Just as Mu Yuan was feeling triumphant, having vented his resentment, a thundering roar erupted. “Fighting privately again?! Come with me back to Flying Dragon Peak to accept punishment!”

Before Mu Yuan could react, a powerful force surged from behind him. Streams of green and rainbow light flashed before his eyes, and then a swirling power snatched his entire body. He couldn’t even muster his Zhenqi in time before he was lifted off the ground.

Zhou Huasheng and Wu Dejun were similarly grabbed and immobilized by two large, green-glowing hands. Mu Yuan gave a bitter chuckle. Hearing the voice and witnessing this oppressive power, he instantly knew it was Chen Taiyi, disciple of True Lord Tiemu of Flying Dragon Peak, responsible for enforcing Longevity Palace regulations and punishing undisciplined disciples!

Chen Taiyi had been refining Qi for thirty years—a genuine Elixir Formation master. Mu Yuan had thought that even though he just mimicked a fake Elixir Formation, the difference couldn’t be that vast. But Chen Taiyi’s sudden move today proved him wrong. Seized in one stroke! Yes, Chen Taiyi had caught them off guard, but it still showed how fearsome a true Elixir Formation cultivator was!

Chen Taiyi conjured three large, green-glowing hands, grabbing Mu Yuan and the other two. He spun them around him into a vortex like a tornado. Inside, the three tumbled wildly, shouting and screaming, dizzy and disoriented. Chen Taiyi, however, smiled slightly. He scooped up the young Zha Feng, grinned wide, and flew straight back to Flying Dragon Peak!

Mu Yuan tumbled violently inside the whirlwind. The massive green hand clamped around him, squeezing with immense force, making his bones creak and pop. He knew this was Chen Taiyi punishing all three of them. Another bitter laugh escaped him internally. The whooshing wind roared in his ears. In the blink of an eye, he was slammed onto the floor. The impact felt like it shattered his entire skeleton, forcing a pained groan from his lips.

He lifted his head to look. They were in Flying Dragon Peak’s main hall – the Azure Dragon Hall at the heart of Longevity Palace. Chen Taiyi tossed the three onto the floor. He sat imposingly on a large chair in the hall, holding Zha Feng. A gentle smile played on his lips, but Chen Taiyi’s face wasn’t pleasant. To the young Zha Feng, captured along with his master, this ugly figure glaring and smiling at him seemed filled with unspeakably terrifying intent, like a wolf gazing at a lamb. Zha Feng trembled violently, too scared to speak.

Chen Taiyi, however, remained blissfully unaware. He simply chatted innocuously with Zha Feng, ignoring the three on the ground.

Struggling to get up, groaning, feeling pain over his entire body, Mu Yuan nonetheless managed a wide grin towards Chen Taiyi. “Respectful greetings, Senior Brother Chen!” he said, his voice oozing false cheer.

Wu Dejun and Zhou Huasheng also climbed to their feet. They were in worse shape than Mu Yuan – half their body numb, legs and arms trembling uncontrollably. Humiliated by Mu Yuan and now hit by this misfortune, they just nodded silently.

Only then did Chen Taiyi turn his gaze, his expression shifting from a smile to gloom. “Fine?!” he barked. “Fine, your head! If the grand elders hadn’t blessed us, I’d have choked to death on your antics long ago!”

Mu Yuan chuckled heartily. “Senior Brother Chen’s cultivation has grown increasingly profound! Coming down the mountain, I felt my own strength greatly advance. To think I still can’t withstand a single move from you! Your divine skills truly illuminate Longevity Palace, overshadowing the entire second generation…”

Before he could finish, Chen Taiyi coldly cut him off. “Save your flattery! Go to the back mountain and face the wall in reflection for three months! Reflect on your actions! Zhou Huasheng, Wu Dejun, you too! If I hear of you three fighting again out back, it’ll be six months!”

Mu Yuan immediately wailed dramatically. “It’s always been one month before! How come it’s three months now?!” He knew Senior Brother Chen might look fierce, but he was actually kind-hearted. They were usually quite friendly, talking casually. Ten years together, dealing with each other due to conflicts between their factions, Mu Yuan considered him more like an elder brother.

Chen Taiyi fixed Mu Yuan with a glare. “What?! You dare question me?!”

Seeing Chen Taiyi’s face turn cold, Mu Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. He instantly switched back to a smile. “No, no, Senior Brother! You say three months, then three months! But… please, let me take this child back to Cloud-Capped Peak first. Ah, Senior Brother doesn’t know yet? This is Zha Feng, my newly accepted disciple!”

Chen Taiyi’s expression softened slightly. He nodded. “Since you are now a master, be mindful of your words and deeds. Don’t corrupt a fine child! Otherwise, I will punish you sternly!”

Mu Yuan chuckled again and stepped forward to take Zha Feng. He gave Chen Taiyi a perfunctory bow and then practically fled from the Azure Dragon Hall like his life depended on it, soaring directly back to Cloud-Capped Peak.

Watching Mu Yuan’s hasty departure, a faint trace of amusement crossed Chen Taiyi’s stern face. He ignored Wu Dejun and Zhou Huasheng still on the ground, flicked his sleeves, and left. Wu Dejun and Zhou Huasheng exchanged a helpless look. Supporting each other, they limped out of the Azure Dragon Hall. They decided to return to Strange Abode Peak first before heading to the back mountain. At the very least, they needed to report the loss of the Jasper Sword to their master!

After being away for over half a year, returning to Strange Abode Peak filled Mu Yuan with the excitement of a wanderer coming home. Landing on the peak, he coincidentally found his master, Cang Qing Zi, strolling through a flower garden with his Martial Uncle, True Lord Qinghua. Mu Yuan excitedly shouted, “Master! Martial Uncle!” and rushed forward to bow in greeting.

Seeing Mu Yuan, True Lord Qinghua simply smiled without speaking. Cang Qing Zi, however, stepped forward and whacked Mu Yuan sharply on the head. “You stinky brat! Back, are you?! Enjoyed yourself outside?”

Rubbing the spot on his head, Mu Yuan laughed heartily, “It was alright, alright! Master! Look!” He pushed Zha Feng forward. “While away, I even brought you a grand-disciple! Little Feng! Quickly, greet your Grandmaster and Great Martial Uncle!”

Cang Qing Zi smiled warmly and helped Zha Feng up, examining him closely. “Not bad at all in your choice, you stinky brat. Your disciple has remarkable spirit!”

Mu Yuan smirked. “Ah, well… this granddisciple of yours will need your care for the next three months.”

Cang Qing Zi’s face tightened instantly. “What?! You just got back and got into another fight? Punished by your Senior Brother Chen, weren’t you?”

“Truly wise and all-knowing, Master! No one understands a disciple like his master!” Mu Yuan laid on the flattery thickly, answering without shame.

“Bah! Enough! Go! Quick! Coming back down the mountain is perfect for centering yourself and reflecting on your gains!” Cang Qing Zi waved him off dismissively, paying him no further mind. He and True Lord Qinghua took Zha Feng with them and left.

Mu Yuan sighed, a bitter smile on his face. He then went to his quarters to greet a few of his senior brothers. Upon hearing that Mu Yuan had taught Wu Dejun and the other a lesson, his senior brothers heaped praises upon praises on him. One particularly large-framed brother slapped Mu Yuan vigorously on the shoulder, roaring with laughter, “Little Mu! You’ve come back from your travels looking a lot more accomplished now!”

After a round of banter with his senior brothers, Mu Yuan gathered some daily necessities and headed straight for the back mountain. Chen Taiyi enforced the rules strictly. Mu Yuan understood this deeply and dared not slack off in the slightest!