92 The Lotus' Rage

"Hm. The Nine Blossom Society isn't some backstreet whore, that you can just insult!" Yuan Lin's temper flared for the first time; this organisation obviously held a lot of sway in his heart. His nostrils widened, and his jaw jutted outwards, containing his anger he put on a dashing smile.

"My Nine Blossom Society has a long and storied history, going back to some of the original students of the Sect, Sha Ku. Its majesty is beyond reproach, and through it, the Spirit Sword Sect has been changed for the better, a thousand times over." Yuan Lin's words were rough, his heart yearning to say more. But somehow, he kept shtum in the face of his Lord's opponent.

Sha Ku's lips curled upwards; a mocking smile adorned his plump little lips, "Oh, so your Nine Blossom Society must be the most powerful in all the peaks? After all, it has such a long and storied history."

Yuan Lin's jaw cranked back and forwards, his perfectly placed hair falling to the sides, just a tad. His anger brewed and brewed. This kid was clever. He obviously knew how to push people buttons and find their weak spot.

It's not a secret to those of the upper peaks that the Nine Blossom Society was in obvious decline. If it weren't for the hard-earned victories of Ren Xuan, the Vice Chairman and Jin Konglou, the Illustrious Chairman, the Nine Blossom Society would have collapsed under its own weight long ago.

Yuan Lin grit his teeth at such an idea, the Nine Blossom Society, no more? The heavens prevent it!

Sure, the newer societies were getting all the attention nowadays, the Sacred Jade Society, with their pompous devotion to art and culture. Or the Heretical Sword Singers, who believe that through words, the power of the sword is truly manifested. But the Nine Blossom Society would never give in!

Yuan Lin crouched down close to Sha Ku, so their eyes were level. The burning intensity of Yuan Lin's pupils met the deathly cold that was Sha Ku's, "Little one. You best prepare well for your battle. Concern yourself not with frivolous matters of this society or that society. The only thing that should truly matter, to you, is whether or not you'll be alive in the next few years to even join one…" Yuan Lin stood up back straight, ready to turn around, leaving an obviously befuddled Sha Ku to suck on his words.

"Yuan Lin… Yuan Lin." Sha Ku whispered, to himself, "Such a hard name to remember. How about Ren Lin?" Sha Ku snapped his fingers, exclaiming to the entire courtyard, so those around him turned and began to gawk.

"Sha Ku isn't purposely trying to piss off a disciple from a higher peak, is he?" One of Song Ping's cronies whispered to the one-legged boy, who sat upon a rocking chair, angrily rocking backwards and forwards.

Whoosh –

Song Ping's hand became like a pincer, clasping around the smooshed up lips of his lackey, turning his head towards him, "Silence, Little Po, you're ruining the show." He pushed backwards, flinging the younger boy to the floor.

His gaze fell even more intensely upon Sha Ku, and this Yuan Lin, wondering how the situation might evolve.

"Ren Lin?" Yuan Lin growled, his hatred for his 'adoptive family' reared upwards. His teeth gnashed in his mouth; little bits of froth splattered on the hard stone that covered the courtyard.

"You're right, Ren Lin, you're not deserving of the name Ren. It's obviously an illustrious clan, with a rich and vibrant history. You're no, Ren." Sha Ku's voice became cockier and cockier, his words started to form like snarls of a beast, "I know. Let us call you, just Lin. Lin, the 'Clanless'. Abandoned from his father Clan, unwanted and unloved, then made into a pathetic servant of the Ren Clan, who had to watch his mother betray his father and be a servant to their spawn."

"Silence!" Yuan Lin finally turned back to meet Sha Ku's eyes, his right-hand flashing to the sword upon his belt. Squeezing the hilt ever so tightly. Killing intent radiated from every fibre of his being, one strand. One strand of good sense, that was all that kept him from striking down Sha Ku.

His growl could be heard across the courtyard. None dare to mock it though, a disciple from a peak mountaintop was engaging in a battle of mockery, and losing, badly. The lower disciples of Demonic Peak, they were not so stupid to believe they were untouchable.

Sha Ku, on the other hand, that was another story, "Run along now, Clanless Lin, we wouldn't want your master to beat his dog for disobeying orders." Sha Ku waved his hand off, masterfully, as if he were some wiseman waving off a child.

"Grrrr!" Yuan Lin lost all composure at this point, grinding his thumb against the blue pearl pommel of his sword, "Just you wait, Sha Ku, you demonic wretch! I may not be able to touch you! You may have a shield as until my brother strikes at your heart, but you have friends, loved ones! Everyone does!" Yuan Lin's hands rubbed together round and round, salivating at the thought of destroying what Sha Ku held dear.

"And if not, what then?" Sha Ku scoffed with a punchable smirk plastered across his face, obviously taunting the man further.

"Cough!" Yuan Lin barked up a blob of blood, "Then I shall make everyone on Demonic Peak's life a living hell until they turn on you!" Yuan Lin roared, turning off and swiftly leaving, not giving Sha Ku a moment to retort or hurt his pride any further.

As Yuan Lan vanished in a streak, storming up the mountain like an injured wildebeest in search of safe haven, the crowd of students broke out into imminent discussion. Breaking their long silence, none were light on their views about the matter.

"Haha, did you see that? The pride of our Lower Demonic just sent a Vanquishing Peak prick running. Ha! I guess I joined the right peak after all." One of the voices in the crowd spoke in absolute delight as if his family would absolve him of the sin of his ineptitude.

"What are you talking about fool! Who said he was the pride of this peak?!" Snorted one of Song Ping's cronies, crossing his arms. "And didn't you hear that egotistical milksop? He pretty much swore to cause problems for us!"

At the sound of the cronies' words, the original disciples face paled.

These weren't the only two voices, the entire crowd was filled with vitriol and curiosity for their newfound situation.

The few faces that knew Sha Ku the best had looks of worry though. Song Yi, his tongueless mouth didn't make any semblance of sound, it just breathed ever so slowly. Attempting to steady himself in the face of the coming storm.

Yu Shi's cold and uncompromising look was unfazed as ever. He stood there trying to calculate what was to come, the poison arts that trailed through his veins coolly burning against the inside of his skin.

Bing Yuanshan clenched his fist, an icicle subconsciously started to form in his hand. The icy sword signifying his heart's response – preparing for the coming battle. A furious aura started to broil around him, suppressing those few students that chose to stand around him.

Sha Ku stood there though, cold, uncompromising. A small smirk formed around the corner of his lips, "Master, don't you think you're causing more trouble than is necessary?" Yan Huang asked queerly, unsure of his master's response.

"Hm. A sword must be forged in a dragon's flame. If not, it shall be weak. Fully of impurities, bound to break. I have learnt two lessons from today's events, little Huang." Sha Ku responded, his hands placed firmly behind his back, looking at the unset, as it descended behind the mountain peak.

"And what is that?" Questioned Yan Huang.

"My enemies in this Spirit Sword Sect are far more incompetent than I once thought, especially considering the calibre of their lackeys." Sha Ku remarked with his eyes closed, feeling the mountain wind sway his long dark hair.

Yan Huang nodded in his spirit form, "And what is the second lesson?"

Sha Ku's eyes shot open, followed by bellowing pressure, a killing intent that shocked all on the mountainside, "Those that oppose me shall crumble underneath my wrath." His eyes gleamed purple as the demonic soul within his raged!