El joven amo desvergonzado

Capítulo 24

Baili Liushang said carelessly, "Although I still have some relationship with her, it's not like I'd risk my life for her." While distancing himself from her, he didn't forget to say something that would be misunderstood by people in the martial arts world, intending to leave Tan Huan with no way to go on the righteous path.

Should she stay by Pei Jin's side? She loved him, but Pei Jin couldn't protect her now. Staying by his side would only lead to her death. Tan Huan glanced at Pei Jin sadly, then turned and said, "Baili Liushang, if you won't help me, at least give me the Lonely Dust Sword as a weapon."

"Why?" Baili Liushang said, "You're nobody to me, what does your life or death have to do with me?"

Tan Huan remained silent, understanding his meaning: "So, if I were someone to you, you would help me?"

Baili Liushang smiled slightly, "It depends on the situation."

Tan Huan gritted his teeth, knelt down in front of everyone, and kowtowed, saying, "Master, please accept my bow."

There was a moment of silence, then whispers, and then a torrent of unrestrained cursing at Tan Huan, using every nasty word imaginable.

Pei Jin's gaze held a hint of sorrow.

Baili Liushang laughed, "Is this what you call becoming a disciple? You should at least kowtow until your head bleeds, otherwise I won't feel your sincerity."

Tan Huan gritted her teeth and kowtowed heavily, her forehead stained with blood. Her heart was numb, and even her movements were numb. She knelt before Baili Liushang, acknowledging him as her master, in front of so many people; this truly meant that she and Pei Jin had no future.

"Hmm, you have to give some gifts to become an apprentice, right?" Baili Liushang smiled cruelly. "I'll lend you the Lonely Dust Sword. At least cut off five heads for me. If you can't cut them off by the time I count to ten, then I'm leaving."

Pei Jin never liked her killing, and the Wu family would never allow her to kill. Tan Huan fell silent. She had already become Pei Jin's disciple under Baili Liushang, so was she really going to kill someone in front of Pei Jin? Even though there was no future for her, she at least hoped to leave a good impression. Couldn't she even do that? "Killing is wrong."

Baili Liushang gave a mocking smile, "Do you have the ability to say no?"

Tan Huan hesitated for a moment, then shook his head again, "I won't kill anyone, I'll ask for a different apprenticeship gift."

"One, two, three..." Baili Liushang ignored her and started counting. He counted to eight, but Tan Huan was still standing there motionless. Baili Liushang stopped talking, a half-smile on his face. This girl didn't give him any face at all. So, should he just abandon her? If he left now, this girl would definitely be doomed.

Baili Liushang struggled internally for a moment, like choosing between an apple and a pear. Finally, he stood aside with his arms crossed. "You won't accept me as a disciple unless you kill me, Tan Huan. So what are you going to do next?" As long as the Lonely Dust Sword remained in her hands, Pei Gu Mo wouldn't let her leave. She didn't want to kill now? Very well, let's see what she does later. He couldn't bear to part with this girl's talent. Baili Liushang watched her with considerable interest, anticipating her next struggle.

As soon as the words left her mouth, Tan Huan regretted refusing Baili Liushang's request. She was afraid, terrified. She was afraid Baili Liushang would really turn and leave. Tan Huan knew perfectly well that once Baili Liushang left, she would be devoured without a trace. So, when Tan Huan saw that the cruel man hadn't left, she couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief.

Being willful requires reliance, but she had neither the strength nor the means. Refusing Baili Liushang's request, being willful in front of him—what gave her the right? Tan Huan sighed self-deprecatingly. Since when has refusing to kill become a form of willfulness?

Pei Gumo hadn't given the order to act yet, but many of his men were already itching to move. Especially after hearing Baili Liushang's words, many righteous people understood his underlying meaning: it seemed the demon didn't intend to attack. The only one in sight was that little girl. Although Wu Tanhuan's martial arts were impressive—she had defeated Ba Ying during the Lingfeng Sword Tournament—even the best martial arts were no match for a fourteen-year-old girl; she was nothing to fear.

Seven or eight people swarmed over, demanding, "Will you surrender obediently, or do we have to take action?"

Tan Huan didn't answer. Instead, she drew her Lonely Dust Sword, channeled her inner energy, and with a flash of light, the clothes of one of them were torn by the blade. She showed the others with her actions that she would not hesitate to draw her sword and charge forward.

The sky was so blue it looked like it could drip water, and the breeze carried the scent of fresh grass.

On the ground, however, a murderous aura was stirring. The number of people attacking them increased from eight to more than ten. As a result of the prolonged siege, the people became increasingly ruthless in their attacks on Tan Huan. At first, they were thinking of capturing him alive, but as the fight progressed, every move they made was a killing blow.

The old master of the Xiang family looked on with a hint of regret. "Ah," he sighed, "if only we had known of this girl's strength earlier, we should have recruited her to our side. With such martial arts skills at such a young age, she'll definitely be a top figure in the martial arts world in ten years." The old master bowed to Xiang Nichuan and said to Xiang Luyin, "Yin'er, why don't you go up and practice your moves too?" Since there wasn't time to recruit anyone, at least let his grandson get some experience; perhaps it would help Yin'er break through to a higher level.

Just as he was thinking this, Pei Gumo suddenly spoke up, "Stop!"

Both stopped fighting. Tan Huan, panting heavily, sheathed her sword. If the fight continued like this, she would definitely lose.

Pei Gumo said, "All of you step back, I'll handle this." He couldn't bear to watch a dozen people take so long without being able to defeat Wu Tanhuan, even though they didn't seem to mind wasting their time.

Tan Huan's eyelashes trembled slightly. If Pei Gu Mo made a move, she would be utterly powerless to resist. She looked up at the sky; such a beautiful day, why was she forced to make such a difficult choice? Glancing deeply at Pei Jin, Tan Huan actually smiled. Taking advantage of the moment when no one around her was paying attention, she swiftly drew her Lone Dust Sword. In the blink of an eye, two heads fell to the ground, blood spurting out.

In an instant, the air froze. Baili Liushang smiled contentedly; he knew it would be like this.

Tan Huan gave no time for anyone to react. Relying on her Golden Cicada Armor, she used her body as a shield, absorbing all attacks without hesitation. She only dodged attacks on parts of her body not covered by the armor, such as her neck and arms. Her outer robe was tattered; Tan Huan had a sharp eye and chose to attack the five weakest members of her group. After five heads had fallen, she leaped to Baili Liushang's side. "Master," she said, "you only recited up to eight, so this apprenticeship gift should still be valid, right?"

Baili Liushang laughed heartily, rubbing Tanhuan's head. "Look at you, I told you to chop, but you wouldn't. You had to suffer a bit before you would do it. Have you learned your lesson?"

Tan Huan lowered his eyes numbly, "Master's teachings are correct."

The sight of five bloodied heads was horrifying; Pei Jin couldn't bear to look any longer and immediately closed her eyes.

"Killing people must be very difficult for you, right?" Baili Liushang feigned concern. "Don't worry, you'll get used to it eventually."

Pei Gu Mo frowned, "Baili Liushang, neither you nor Wu Tan Huan are leaving here today!"

Baili Liushang smiled, "Do you have that kind of strength?"

“Give it a try…” Pei Gu Mo stopped mid-sentence, his attention fully focused. Six dark figures approached from a distance, moving with incredible speed. In a short while, the five leaders of Zheng Yang Palace appeared beside Bai Li Liu Shang: Zeng Lun, whom Tan Huan had seen in You Ming Valley, Luo Yi, whom he had seen two years ago, and four other unfamiliar faces.

When the five of them stood before the crowd, many people's expressions changed. Pei Gumo also sighed. There was nothing he could do. It seemed that he really couldn't keep Baili Liushang and Wu Tanhuan today.

"Palace Master, what? Are you going to start a massacre?" Yu Ye had a handsome face, but his eyes were filled with murderous intent.

“No,” Baili Liushang said with a smile, ignoring all the righteous people in front of him. “Today I have taken on another disciple. Let me introduce you all. Luo Yi, come here, this is your junior sister.”

Tan Huan nodded in greeting.

Baili Liushang glanced disdainfully at Pei Gumo, then at Tan Huan, before finally fixing his gaze on Pei Jin's face, smiling amicably, "Young Master Pei, you've colluded with that vixen from Zhengyang Palace. Do you still have a place in the martial world?"

Tan Huan suddenly raised his eyes and stared at Baili Liushang.

Pei Jin remained silent, as he was already unable to speak due to the pressure points being pressed.

Pei Gumo's face was solemn. Baili Liushang, that devil, wanted to trick someone again before leaving. However, the Xiang family, who were eyeing the position of alliance leader, and several others who were also eyeing the position were secretly delighted. If they could bring Pei Jin down today and eliminate his hopes of becoming the leader of the martial arts alliance, that would be a great gain.

"Yes, Alliance Leader, you really should give us an explanation. Shouldn't you clarify the relationship between Young Master Pei and Wu Tanhuan?"

"Alliance Leader, please tell us."

"Young Master Pei has been protecting Wu Tanhuan and even said she wasn't the murderer. Is there something more to this story?"

Pei Gu Mo spoke after a long silence, "I don't know much about my son's affairs."

Although Pei Jin couldn't speak or move, he could still express emotions. He opened his eyes, his gaze sharp, and a mocking smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Baili Liushang chuckled softly to himself. Tan Huan stood beside him and whispered, "Master, why?"

Baili Liushang feigned ignorance, "What? Why?"

Tan Huan looked up at him with clear eyes, "Are you forcing me to break up with him?" Baili Liushang smiled but remained silent. Tan Huan smiled bitterly; it was such a waste to use such beautiful weather for a farewell. Her heart ached with pain. Oh well, so-called dreams can only be imagined in dreams. "Pei Jin and I are nothing."

As soon as she said this, all eyes turned to her.

Tan Huan dared not look Pei Jin in the eye and continued, "From the very beginning, I was deceiving Pei Jin. I killed the Wu family members, and Pei Jin knew nothing about it." Since she was going to sever ties, she should sever them completely. Once she chose this path, she could not give herself a chance to turn back.

Baili Liushang revealed a strange smile.

Pei Gumo was also taken aback, looking at her with a hesitant expression.

Xiang Nichuan clearly didn't believe him. "Didn't you just deny it? Now you're admitting you're the murderer? Are you covering for someone? Aren't you in cahoots with Pei Jin?"

Tan Huan gave a cold laugh, "Don't make false accusations." She paused, her eyes filled with sorrow, but a smile played on her lips, "Just consider it a change of heart." She tugged at Baili Liushang's hand, "Master, let's go."

From beginning to end, Tan Huan didn't have the courage to look at Pei Jin again.

It's nothing really; you get used to most things. She couldn't imagine life without martial arts at first, but as time went on, she got used to it. She didn't want to kill; the feeling of killing was awful, but after a while, she'd get used to it too.

From then on, Tan Huan became Baili Liushang's second disciple.

Chapter Thirteen: The Closed-Door Disciple

It's no wonder that Zhengyang Palace is hated by the entire martial arts world. While its numerous evil deeds are certainly one reason, its formidable strength is also a crucial factor. The most prominent figure is naturally its Palace Master, Baili Liushang. Although there isn't a single opponent in the martial arts world who can rival his prowess, if he were alone, exhausting him through a series of battles wouldn't be out of the question.

Unfortunately, besides Baili Liushang, there were plenty of other experts in Zhengyang Palace, the most outstanding of whom were the five Commanders, each of whom was a first-rate expert in the martial arts world. After Baili Liushang brought Tan Huan back to Zhengyang Palace, he introduced them to her.

Zeng Lun was the person Tan Huan knew best. When Tan Huan walked up to him, he paused, thinking that they would be living in the same place from now on, and it wouldn't do to keep holding onto the grudge from their time in Youming Valley. So, Tan Huan wisely greeted him, "Master Zeng, I'll be relying on you a lot in the future." Zeng Lun smiled, the scar on his face wriggling like a caterpillar, "You'll be the Palace Master's disciple from now on, why would you need to rely on me? However, I'm quite satisfied with the disciple the Palace Master took this time. It's good to have more beauties in the palace, it's good to feast my eyes." Tan Huan chuckled twice, and Zeng Lun added, "Don't call me Master anymore, just call me by my name." Tan Huan nodded.

Yu Ye remained silent, his face grim. It was said this man used to be an assassin, never failing, and had even been recruited by the Netherworld Valley. Tan Huan sighed, bowing his head, "Lord Yu Ye, I've long admired your name." In truth, he'd never heard of this man before. "Hmph," Yu Ye tossed his head away, "Practice your martial arts well, and don't embarrass yourself in front of those bastards! Zhengyang Palace can't afford to lose face like that." Regardless of what he said, Tan Huan nodded in agreement.

Jiang Shemi was a stunningly beautiful woman in her early twenties, the youngest of the five leaders. Seeing her possess such martial arts skills at such a young age, Tan Huan admired her greatly, saying, "Leader Jiang, I will need to learn much more from you in martial arts in the future."

"You're too kind," Jiang Shemi smiled charmingly. "Learning martial arts from the Palace Master is a very arduous task. You can come to me whenever you're tired. I have a group of young and handsome men around me who can help you pass the time."

Tan Huan's lips twitched; she probably meant what she thought. "No, thank you."

"I heard you and Pei Jin used to be a couple? Although the ones I raise aren't as good-looking as Pei Jin's, they're still pretty good." Jiang Shemi introduced them enthusiastically. "Don't be so polite with me."

"She Mi, don't bully Huan'er because she's young." Baili Liushang said indifferently, "Don't go too far either. Even Zeng Lun didn't keep women in the palace. Don't bring back any random people in the future."

Jiang Shemi smiled and said, "I will naturally heed the Palace Master's teachings."

Tan Huan continued to greet the remaining people, one a middle-aged man with gray hair, and the other a burly man. The gray-haired man, whose name was Song Lian, had a venomous smile on his face. "Palace Master, I do not approve of you accepting this disciple."

The mouth that Tan Huan was about to open closed again.

Baili Liushang gave a soft "Oh?"

"Don't you suspect this is Pei Gumo's conspiracy? We didn't do anything to the Wu family. It's one thing to frame Zhengyang Palace for this, but they deliberately brought Wu Tanhuan in, perhaps to make her an undercover agent."

"Song Lian, you're overthinking it." Baili Liushang sat in the seat of honor, propping his head up with his hand and laughing. "Thinking too much is bad for your health."

"Palace Master..."

"It's me who's taking on a disciple, not you. Do I need your permission to take on a disciple?" Baili Liushang's smile vanished. "If you have any doubts, go and investigate the matter thoroughly. Wait until you can present me with the evidence before you speak."

"……yes."

Tan Huan sighed almost imperceptibly; making a living is difficult no matter where you are. "Lord Song, although this meeting wasn't pleasant," she smiled, "I still want to say hello."

Song Lian revealed a poisonous smile, "The Palace Master said you have exceptional talent, I'm really looking forward to it."

The burly man, named Zhong Ding, with a full beard, laughed loudly, "It's alright. If this girl is an undercover agent, I'll kill her as soon as I find out. Song Lian, you're overthinking it."

Baili Liushang said, "Luoyi, take Tanhuan to her room, see if she needs anything and arrange for her to have some things. After lunch, bring her to my room, understand?"

Luo Yi nodded, "Yes."

The architecture of Zhengyang Palace is not luxurious; some parts are even dilapidated. It resembles an old-fashioned courtyard house, exuding an atmosphere of antiquity. The entire mountain is within the Zhengyang Palace grounds, and since most of the buildings are designed in the same style, it's easy to get lost.

Luo Yi led Tan Huan forward in silence, finally stopping in front of a house. "This is your room." She paused, then kindly added, "My room is the third one on the left at the end of this road. You can come find me if you need anything."

Tan Huan nodded, "Thank you, Senior Brother."

"Is anything missing?" Luo Yi rigidly repeated Baili Liushang's words, "Just let me know if anything is missing, and I'll have someone bring it."

Tan Huan shook his head. "No, you can actually take me to see Master right now."

Luo Yi said, "Alright, I'll take you. However, I don't know if Master will even see you now." Baili Liushang's first thing upon returning from any trip was to rest, a habit he had cultivated over many years. The two walked in silence when Luo Yi suddenly said, "In the end, you still came to Zhengyang Palace."

Tan Huan paused, then slowly lowered her eyes. "...Perhaps I really am destined to be here."

"Don't you regret it? If you had come back with Master back then, you wouldn't have wasted so much time, and you might not have encountered so many unpleasant things. Your martial arts skills would also be much better."

Tan Huan walked with his head down, saying, "That was in the past."

Luo Yi smiled and said, "Master has a strange temper. You might suffer a little at first, but you'll get used to it."

Tan Huan smiled and said, "Thank you. I hope you will continue to guide me in the future."

The two quickly arrived at Baili Liushang's room. The door was half-open, and they could see him sleeping on the bed, still dressed and wearing shoes. Baili Liushang, with his eyes closed, said softly, "Why are you here so soon?"