v4c64: Upending Heaven and Earth

The disciples of the Shrouded Mountain Sect were for a moment arrested. Mouths wide open as if they had been slapped by a writhing fish. The disciples watched on as the magnificent rooster took an obvious breath and began to stretch like a mortal before they did strenuous activity—making sure his body was in perfect shape. His movements were smooth and unhurried; and though he still bore marks on his body where Sheng had struck him, he seemed little worse for wear.

After he was satisfied… he stopped and turned his profound gaze upon Sheng.

“This one apologises for holding back. We may begin again,” he said, his voice deep and smooth.

The world was held spellbound by the sheer absurdity of it all.

A single voice called out from the crowd, thin and reedy, croaking out an exclamation “It’s a fucking chicken!?”

The spell broke. The crowd roared in shock.

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Zang Zhong stared at the arena.

A chicken. He had been humiliated by a chicken. He had failed to suppress a chicken. He had been surpassed by a chicken. It was a chicken a chicken a chicken—

More blood came out of his mouth.

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Zang Fengfeng felt like her soul was leaving her body. She had… She had offered that to a chicken? To a Spirit Beast?! Oh heavens!

She stared at his bright plumage and handsome eyes and—oh heavens!

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Yushang turned to Biren as he looked down into the arena.

She pointed at the chicken.

“Yeah. He’s a chicken,” Biren replied evenly, as he squinted at the arena.

Yushang was at a loss for words for a moment before she spoke up, pointing at his sideburns. “Are you a monkey?!”

Biren snorted. “No, but my brother is.”

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Master Lishu of the Medical Pavilion paused, his eyebrow rising. He had come down to the emergency room to assist his disciples in what was surely going to be a rather bad situation; Sheng had sent many, many disciples into Lishu’s hands over the years after all.

He also knew Bi De and Ri Zu were close… so he decided to do a kindness to one of his new favourite students.

At first, all of his disciples had been watching the fight with interest.

Now, they were staring in shock… all except Ri Zu.

Lishu frowned at her reaction… and especially when she turned to look at him, a slight bit of apology in her eyes.

Ah. He felt the sting of betrayal. A promising student, a woman he actually liked, leading him on.

And yet… it did not make full sense for her to be some manner of nefarious infiltrator. She had been far too helpful, and had even trained able replacements. She challenged him and caught his attention on purpose.

He pushed down his rising feelings and beckoned Ri Zu forward.

She followed him to the back of the room.

“So… what exactly is going on here?” He asked, his eyes peeled for any sort of treachery.

“As Ri Zu and her companions have said; we were sent here to learn from the Shrouded Mountain Sect.” He could feel her openness and honesty. He looked into her dark eyes, and found no deceit. “And investigate the Shrouded Mountain Sect for demonic corruption, as a test from Bi De’s Master.”

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That pulled Lishu up short. He paused. Zang Li had been a hollowed out husk—likely puppeted by a demon. He was defeated by somebody, and now their Sect was apparently under review by disciples of… Elder Shenhe going off fighting something demonic in the north…

Lishu swallowed. This had suddenly changed things.

“Who exactly is your patron?” he asked tentatively.

Ri Zu told him. A dull ringing began in Lishu’s ears.

“He isn’t just a story?”

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Elder Chongyun swallowed thickly. He had nearly screamed in shock, but managed to contain himself. It would not do to lose his head in front of the Patriarch.

Still, it was a bare thing.