Chapter 35: Visit By Sect Leader

After listening to what Li Taixing said, Wang Xuanwu chuckled. "The first thing, I'll handle tomorrow. As for the second, leave it to me."

Suddenly, a loud and angry voice echoed from outside Scarlet Peak Mountain.

"Wang Xuanwu!!!"

Startled, Wang Xuanwu turned to see Zhao Wentian, the Sect Leader, storming in with Elder Lin Feiyi following closely behind, wearing a smug expression.

"Huh? Sect Leader, what brings you here?" Wang Xuanwu asked in surprise.

"Hmph, if I didn't come, I wouldn't have known that you returned so late!" Zhao Wentian dismissed the protective barrier of Scarlet Peak Mountain and landed in front of Wang Xuanwu's wooden house with Lin Feiyi.

Li Taixing immediately bowed. "Li Taixing, disciple of the Fifth Elder, greets the Sect Leader."

He didn't recognize the elder next to Zhao Wentian.

"Li Taixing, this is Elder Lin Feiyi," Wang Xuanwu introduced, her tone surprisingly obedient.

"Greetings, Great Elder," Li Taixing said, bowing again.

Zhao Wentian snorted. "Look at this, Wang Xuanwu. Your disciple is far more sensible than you."

As Zhao Wentian evaluated Li Taixing, his thoughts wandered. He recalled hearing about Li Taixing—a former owner of a famous bun shop in Luoyue Town—now a new disciple of the Xuantian Sect. Only a few days had passed since his induction.

But something nagged at Zhao Wentian. From what he knew, Li Taixing should have been on a mission to Xianghua Village. Zhao Wentian's real reason for coming here was tied to that mission. The thought that Wang Xuanwu had sent her disciple on a deadly mission while she leisurely indulged herself made Zhao Wentian's blood boil.

"You are Li Taixing, right?"

"Yes, Sect Leader."

"Good. I need to talk with your master. You may go and rest."

"Understood, Sect Leader. Master, Great Elder, I will take my leave." Li Taixing bowed once more and returned to his quarters.

Watching Li Taixing leave, Lin Feiyi sighed. "Such a good disciple... It's a pity he's got no talent, and even worse, he's been paired with you."

"Little Feifei, what nonsense are you talking about?" Wang Xuanwu's face, usually playful, turned sharp. Lin Feiyi knew that look. She might have been smiling, but her temper was like a tigress about to pounce.

Realizing his blunder, Lin Feiyi quickly ducked behind Zhao Wentian. Despite being the Sect Leader, even Zhao Wentian wouldn't dare engage Wang Xuanwu in a fight. She was only second to him in strength, and in an actual battle, Zhao Wentian knew they would both lose.

Seeing Lin Feiyi hide, Wang Xuanwu waved her hand dismissively, unwilling to waste her energy on him. There were bigger issues to deal with.

"Alright, let's step outside to talk," Zhao Wentian commanded.

Once outside, Zhao Wentian folded his arms, addressing Wang Xuanwu directly. "Wang Xuanwu."

"Sect Leader," she responded meekly, her posture suddenly resembling that of a scolded child.

"I've been informed that you sent your disciple—a boy who's only been with you for a few days—on a mission to Xianghua Village, facing the bandits of Dulong Village?"

"Yes, that's correct."

"You... are you out of your mind?! You want your disciple dead?!"

Wang Xuanwu's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Oh, don't be dramatic. My disciple is tougher than he looks."

"On what basis?" Zhao Wentian's eyes narrowed, incredulous at her confidence.

"Because I know my disciple," she replied smugly. "You think he's weak, but you haven't seen what I've seen. I'm telling you, he's strong—stronger than you think."

Zhao Wentian raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "Only a few days in your care, and now you claim he can handle a gang of bandits? Do you take me for a fool?"

Wang Xuanwu's lips curled into a smile. "Sect Leader, underestimate me if you wish, but don't underestimate my disciple."

Lin Feiyi interjected, curious. "When did you start knowing him so well? It's only been two or three days since you accepted him as a disciple."

Wang Xuanwu nonchalantly replied, "Since I last bathed."

Lin Feiyi's eyes widened in disbelief. "Wait... You mean he saw you bathing, and that's why you sent him on that dangerous mission?!"

Wang Xuanwu burst out laughing. "You've got it wrong. I was the one peeking at him."

"WHAT?!"

Zhao Wentian lost all patience, his voice booming with fury. "Are you two serious right now?!"

Both Wang Xuanwu and Lin Feiyi immediately fell silent, realizing they had gone too far.

With a murderous glare, Zhao Wentian barked, "Enough. Lin Feiyi, return to Soaring Dragon Mountain. And Wang Xuanwu, make sure you teach your disciple well. If anything happens to him, I'll hold you accountable."

He sighed heavily, thinking of the burden he now carried. Wang Xuanwu, with her carefree and shameless attitude, had finally accepted a disciple. Zhao Wentian only hoped that this disciple wouldn't be led astray by her eccentric ways.

Wang Xuanwu, oblivious to his concerns, gave him a cheerful salute. "Yes, Sect Leader."

Without another word, Lin Feiyi flew off, eager to escape Wang Xuanwu's chaotic presence. But before leaving, he muttered, "Well, at least I learned one more embarrassing secret about Fifth Junior Sister."

Zhao Wentian, hearing him, immediately locked his eyes on Lin Feiyi with a deadly intent. "If you so much as whisper a word of this to anyone, I will personally make sure you're fed to the dogs."

Lin Feiyi gulped and quickly soared away, too terrified to respond.