Chapter 14: The Truth Comes to Light—You Are So Impressive, So Aloof!

“Well said, well said indeed! Such stirring words, truly brimming with righteous indignation!” Xiao Ling’er couldn’t quite make sense of the current situation, but she gathered that Ling Tian seemed to have done something wrong, and her brows furrowed in concern. If that was the case, she’d better not eat too much of his food anymore. Her father had warned her: never accept too much from others, or you’ll lose your standing. Given the circumstances, she felt it best to remain silent.

But before the echoes of Ling Tian’s words faded, the air split with a whistling sound. An elderly man appeared before them, dressed in loose robes, sporting a short beard and a gaze as cold as a serpent’s.

“It’s you! You killed my son!”

Elder Sun Dehai of the Inner Sect swept his eyes over the group, his gaze finally locking onto Ling Tian. Anger flashed in his eyes, though his voice betrayed a hint of uncertainty. The old man had fathered his son late in life and doted on Sun Qiang excessively. Even when he knew his son was in the wrong, he refused to punish him, going so far as to cover up his misdeeds. As before, he’d come to clean up his son’s mess, only to discover his boy already dead. How could he possibly remain calm?

He’d quickly found witnesses nearby; after questioning them, he learned that the killer was a two-year-old child! Suspicion gnawed at his heart—two years old? Could this be the Supreme Elder’s disciple? But wasn’t the child supposed to be on the Supreme Elder’s spiritual peak? No, this must be it.

Clinging to this reasoning, Sun Dehai climbed the peak. When he saw Ling Tian, he instantly recognized him—how could it not be? Were it not for Ling Tian’s status, he would have acted long ago, sparing no words.

“It was me. And what of it? Do you recognize me?” Ling Tian nodded, neither denying nor avoiding, and returned a question of his own.

Sun Dehai fell silent. How could he not know? Word had spread like wildfire, and Ling Tian’s face had already been captured by the recording stone.

“Your son insulted this young lady and tried to take advantage of her. In order to save them, I killed your son. Tell me, did I do the right thing?” Ling Tian gave Sun Dehai no further attention and turned instead to Yan Chen, calmly explaining the situation.

“You… who’s to say he wasn’t brought here by you…” Yan Chen, ever stubborn, refused to admit fault even now, muttering under his breath.

“Insolence! Are you accusing me of staging my own son’s death?” Sun Dehai bristled with rage, finally finding somewhere to vent his frustration. How dare this fool suggest such a thing? Ling Tian might be untouchable, but this insignificant whelp was fair game.

A pressure from the third realm of the Sealed Emperor stage crashed down, pinning Yan Chen to the ground like a dog. Xiao Ling’er watched, wanting to plead on Yan Chen’s behalf, but recalling his earlier words, she realized it would be inappropriate.

So she gave up the idea.

“You spoke with such righteous passion—surely you ought to do something about this? Why don’t you resolve the matter yourself?” Ling Tian placed his hands on his hips, looking down on Yan Chen, who now lay sprawled on the ground. He used the very words he’d just praised Yan Chen for.

There is a saying: “Let them soar before their fall.” To kill with flattery—this is what it means. Since you consider yourself so noble and upright, here’s your chance to address an evil deed…

Ling Tian hadn’t argued before; he’d been waiting for this moment.

“You…” Yan Chen’s blood boiled as he realized Ling Tian had set a trap for him! It was despicable—Ling Tian had known the truth, yet let him speak at length, only to corner him when the time came for action.

Now, with Sun Dehai seeking redress, it was up to him to solve the problem. After his earlier grandstanding and with Ling Tian having set the tone, to refuse would be a public humiliation. Xiao Ling’er’s opinion of him would plummet.

But to accept? The old man before him was at the third realm of the Sealed Emperor stage—how could he possibly win? Unless… unless his master in the ring would lend him strength.

“Master…” Yan Chen called out in a low, uncertain voice.

“Endure,” came the terse reply, tinged with obvious disappointment.

Yan Chen’s face turned green. Endure? Was he a turtle, expected to withdraw into his shell? Endure it is!

With no other options, Yan Chen could only grit his teeth.

“Very well, if you want to resolve this, withstand three of my strikes,” Sun Dehai said, glancing at Ling Tian before narrowing his eyes at Yan Chen.

He’d happily swat Yan Chen aside with a single blow, and still have reason to go after Ling Tian—after all, the matter wouldn’t truly be resolved, would it?

Yan Chen looked at Ling Tian, then closed his eyes, resignation etched across his face. “I can’t resolve this. I was wrong about you. Please… please, you handle it.” His back teeth nearly shattered from the force of his bite.

[Yan Chen’s Dao heart suffers an 8% wound.]

He couldn’t avoid seeking help—he had to bow his head.

Ling Tian’s lips curled in a faint smile. He paid Yan Chen no further heed.

Yan Chen, seeing Ling Tian’s posture, couldn’t help but think, “How superior you are—how aloof!”

As Sun Dehai, barely restraining himself, prepared to strike, Yan Chen looked helplessly toward Xiao Ling’er.

“Ling’er, you…”

Xiao Ling’er, seeing Yan Chen’s pitiful state, finally felt a twinge of pity. He had brought her tasty treats a few times—this time, she supposed, she could repay him a little.

“He knows he was wrong. Will you let him off this once? Here, you can have this.” Xiao Ling’er approached Ling Tian with her candied hawthorns, hesitated for a moment, then decided to offer them as compensation. She no longer called Yan Chen “Brother.”

“Very well, as you wish, Ling’er.” Ling Tian nodded and accepted the treat.

[Yan Chen’s Dao heart suffers a 10% wound.]
[Reward: One drop of Ancestral Blood (optional).]

It seemed this approach had its merits, Ling Tian mused. He only wanted to sow discord between the two, so Xiao Ling’er would take his side in the future. He hadn’t anticipated such an unexpected gain.

“Now, let’s settle accounts,” Ling Tian called out, halting Sun Dehai.

Sun Dehai laughed in disbelief—his son had been killed, and now the murderer wanted to “settle accounts” with him? Anyone who didn’t know better would think he’d done something wrong.

“Your son oppressed the weak, bullying others so badly—his death was deserved!” Ling Tian ignored Sun Dehai’s incredulous reaction, speaking in a cold, detached tone.

“These two, then? I’ll remember them. I’ll be sure to ‘take good care’ of them.” Sun Dehai’s eyes glinted with malice as he glanced at Mei Ruoxi and her companion, his emphasis on “take good care” leaving no doubt as to his intentions.

Clearly, he meant to exact revenge. The two women shivered—an Inner Sect elder could crush them effortlessly.

“Do you think my age makes me easy to threaten?” Ling Tian’s brows drew together, a chill seeping into his voice. As expected, like father, like son—both were thugs at heart.

Sun Dehai wanted to spin a lie, but Ling Tian cut him off, his voice now icy:

“Your son insulted me and even revealed your crimes. He seemed quite eager for you to join him below…”