It was only a matter of time before the whirlwind Han Yu stirred up reached the ears of the people who really mattered.
Murong Xie, seated in the quiet elegance of the Azure Willow Pavilion, frowned over the growing list of complaints. This was the personal residence granted him by the elders for his high talent, something only a few worthy disciples ever got even if they were Inner Court Disciples.
And Murong Xie was only in the Outer Court still. This just showed how much of an impact he had made on the elders and how much they liked him.
But Murong Xie was a man of few words, refined taste, and an almost pathological disdain for disorder having grown up as the prodigy and heir of a cultivation clan.
"This disciple slipped during cultivation and fractured three fingers."
"This one claims someone left frog skins in his meditation mat."
"This one’s spirit beast refuses to obey unless spoken to in croaks."
Murong Xie tapped the jade table with his finger. Tap. Tap. Tap. The rhythm was precise, each knock echoing his simmering displeasure.
Across from him knelt a disciple in dark blue robes, his posture rigid and anxious.
"Speak, Yi Fei," Murong Xie said coolly. "Why are my people acting like drunk monkeys?"
Yi Fei flinched but tried to maintain composure. "Senior Brother, the situation seems to originate from... Han Yu."
Murong Xie’s eyes narrowed.
"Han Yu? The dreg of a servant who ’died’?" Murong Xie had mostly forgotten about him after Han Yu had died.
Sure two of his lackeys had perished in the mission too, but they were easily replaceable. After the death of Han Yu, Murong Xie had focused on his own matters, growing his cultivation as well as expanding his influence in the sect and making his own faction.
"He returned, sir," Yi Fei explained. "Miraculously. He’s in the Outer Court again... and, uh, things have been... chaotic since."
Murong Xie’s fingers stopped tapping.
"Chaos?" he echoed. "You’re telling me a former servant is singlehandedly causing instability in my faction?"
Yi Fei swallowed. "I believe he’s deliberately provoking the disciples. Emotionally."
Murong Xie raised one brow. "Provoking them emotionally?"
"...Yes. In some cases, with frogs. In others, with strange riddles. One disciple swears he saw a ghost with Han Yu’s face dancing on his roof."
A long silence followed.
Then, Murong Xie sighed and stood, his elegant robes flowing like smoke. "He wishes to play games, does he? Fine."
He turned to Yi Fei, expression turning cold. "Send Jian Yao."
Yi Fei’s eyes widened. "Senior Brother Jian? Isn’t that—"
"Yes," Murong Xie said, voice like frost. "A proper countermeasure. Tell him to... remind Han Yu of his place."
Elsewhere, Han Yu was feeling very pleased with himself. He leaned back on a bamboo chair in his courtyard, peeling a peach Li Mei had tossed at him as a reward for not setting any more spirit beast training areas on fire.
She after all needed spirit beasts for her tests and couldn’t have the supply being reduced.
"Eight pranks in eight days," he said proudly. "You know, I’m starting to think this emotional farming method might be my legacy cultivation technique."
Of course Li Mei knew nothing of Han Yu’s new cultivation technique and just thought of it as a joke. She just reckoned Han Yu was getting his revenge on those who had wronged him. And while she didn’t know Murong Xie was involved in the assassination of Han Yu she did know of the past instances since she was a bit involved too.
But she didn’t mind it since she got entertainment and Han Yu’s willingness to participate in more pill tests.
Li Mei rolled her eyes. "If you get stabbed, I’m not making you another recovery pill."
"You’d miss me too much," Han Yu teased.
She gave him a look. "I’d miss the peace and quiet."
A tiny ripple of grey Surprise.
A flutter of yellow Joy.
Han Yu grinned. "That’s what I thought."
The front gate of the courtyard was blasted open with terrifying precision, the door exploding into splinters as a shadowy figure stepped through the smoke.
A tall man with sharp eyes, a wolfish grin, and a blade strapped to his back walked in like he owned the place.
"Han Yu," he said calmly. "You’ve been quite... entertaining."
Han Yu blinked. "...Who?"
The man didn’t answer. He just took a step forward. His presence was oppressive, like an avalanche waiting to fall.
Li Mei whispered, "That’s Jiao Yao. Outer Court disciple and one of Murong Xie’s direct lackeys. Late-stage Qi Refining Realm. He’s dangerous."
Han Yu raised his brows as he didn’t think of Jiao Yao as that dangerous yet. After all he had faced stronger foes, plus he had also met Li Feng who was above Jiao Yan in terms of cultivation base.
To him it didn’t make full sense to send a weaker disciple to fight against him. This made him wonder just what was special about this man since even Li Mei was calling him dangerous.
Was it just his demeanor or some secret skill, that was yet to be seen. But Han Yu didn’t feel like the man was someone he couldn’t deal with. After all he had far too many trump cards to play right now.
Han Yu stood up slowly, brushing peach juice off his robe. "...And he blows up doors as a hobby?"
Jian Yao grinned. "No. I just don’t like knocking for rats."
Han Yu’s smile returned. "Well, I don’t like opening doors for wolves, so we’re even."
A wisp of red Anger flickered from Jian Yao.
Han Yu’s eyes gleamed. Perfect.
"So," Jian Yao said, flexing his fingers. "How about we have a little spar?"
Han Yu tilted his head. "Will I be penalized if I win?"
"You won’t win," Jian Yao said simply.
Another ripple of grey Surprise.
Han Yu cracked his knuckles and smiled like a fox who’d found a tiger’s tail and thought, Why not tug it?
"Then what are we waiting for?" he said, stepping forward. "Let’s give the sect another miracle to whisper about."