I don't want to be trained by my senior sister!

Fang Xuan was awakened by the sunlight streaming in through the window.

He opened his eyes groggily and stared blankly for a few seconds.

Only then did I realize where I was—

Qingyun Sect, Sword Peak, his disciple's room.

The bed board was indeed a bit hard, and it wasn't very comfortable to sleep on.

However, the air in the mountains in the early morning is excellent; opening the window, the mountain breeze is quite pleasant.

Living in the mountains is a good option.

I quickly washed up.

Facing the blurry reflection in the water vat, he casually tied his hair back and fastened the cyan sword tassel, which signified his status as a direct disciple, to his waist in a conspicuous place.

"Alright, let's get started."

He patted his face, pushed open the door, and went out.

The sunlight was indeed a bit dazzling. Jianfeng Peak was at a high altitude, the air was clear, and the sun appeared exceptionally bright.

The mountain path leading to the main hall is winding and twisting, with ancient trees towering on both sides. Occasionally, you can see other early-rising disciples hurrying along the way or practicing breathing exercises on the cliff edge.

Fang Xuan walked slowly, pondering his plans for the day.

The formal apprenticeship ceremony is a serious matter, and one must be neither arrogant nor servile. One should not be too flamboyant or eye-catching, nor should one appear timid or shameful.

Then, I need to find a way to visit Ning Qian again and see how her injuries are recovering.

By the way... um, let's see if there's any opportunity to advance the training process.

Just then, a series of hushed laughter and chatter came from the fork in the road ahead.

"Have you heard? Last night, someone saw that new Junior Brother Fang enter Ning Qian's courtyard and stay there for quite a while before coming out!"

"Really? Isn't Ning Qian, that vixen, seriously injured and bedridden? What's he doing going in there?"

"What else could they be doing? A lone man and a lone woman...tsk tsk, I didn't expect this Junior Brother Fang to have such discerning tastes? He's taken a liking to someone as exquisite as Ning Qian right away..."

"Shh! Keep your voice down! I heard that Junior Brother Fang is extremely talented and has already become a direct disciple!"

"So what if he's a disciple? Does being a disciple give you permission to meet with your senior sister in the middle of the night? Who knows what he's up to? I think Senior Sister Shen is right, some people are just outwardly respectable..."

"That's right, Senior Sister Shen told us this morning to stay away from that Junior Brother Fang, saying he was disrespectful to her, rude and uncouth..."

Fang Xuan didn't stop walking, his expression didn't change much, and he wasn't even very emotional.

Without a doubt, it must have been Shen Qingqing who did this.

They acted quickly; after suffering a setback last night, they started spreading rumors and ruining his reputation first thing this morning.

They are quite skilled in their work.

He was initially too lazy to pay attention to the buzzing of the flies, but then he heard the last sentence, "Senior Sister Shen told us to stay away from him."

Considering that he still had to stay in Jianfeng and cultivate Ning Qian's favor, a bad reputation seemed to hinder his work.

The key point is that it's a bit annoying to listen to.

So he turned and walked straight toward the group of inner disciples who were gathered together, talking animatedly.

The group of people had their backs to him and were talking animatedly, completely unaware that someone was approaching.

Fang Xuan walked up behind the disciple with the loudest voice and the most lewd appearance, and reached out his hand, quite naturally putting it on his shoulder.

"What did you talk about? Tell me about it too."

The disciple was speaking animatedly when he was interrupted. He impatiently tried to shake off the hand on his shoulder: "Who is it? Didn't you see I was... uh?!"

He turned around while cursing, and met Fang Xuan's dark, indifferent eyes, which revealed no emotion.

The disciple froze, the rest of his words stuck in his throat, and the color drained from his face in an instant.

He recognized the face and the blue sword tassel at the other person's waist, which signified his status as a direct disciple!

"Master Fang..." he stammered, his legs beginning to tremble.

Fang Xuan didn't give him a chance to finish speaking.

The hand resting on his shoulder pressed down seemingly casually.

"Snap!"

"ah--!!!"

The disciple's screams instantly echoed through the mountain path.

He collapsed to the ground, feeling as if his bones had been removed. A sweet taste rose in his throat, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face as pale as paper.

The surroundings fell silent instantly.

The other disciples who had been discussing the matter just moments before froze in place, their faces filled with terror, not daring to utter a sound.

The other disciples who were startled also stopped and looked over with surprise and doubt. When they saw the sword tassel at Fang Xuan's waist, they all lowered their heads and dared not look directly at him.

Personal disciples hold a superior position within the sect, far surpassing that of ordinary inner and outer disciples.

Offending a disciple could result in having one's cultivation crippled and being expelled from the sect, which would be the least of one's worries.

Fang Xuan's gaze swept indifferently over the few disciples who were now trembling with fear.

"Who gave you the audacity to gossip about your own disciple behind his back?"

No one dared to answer; only the disciple on the ground groaned in pain.

"Not going to talk?" Fang Xuan's gaze fell on the disciple at his feet, and then he slowly lifted his foot.

His boot landed squarely on the disciple's neck.

The disciple's breath hitched, and he tried in vain to pry Fang Xuan's feet apart with his hands, his eyes filled with fear and pleading.

However, due to severe shoulder pain and neck constriction, he could not produce a complete sound and could only gasp for breath.

Everyone around was shocked by what they saw.

This new protégé, who looks young and exceptionally handsome, is surprisingly ruthless and decisive! He's practically... a demon!

Finally, a disciple trembling like a leaf couldn't withstand the pressure and stammered, "It's...it's Senior Sister Shen..."

"Senior Sister Shen Qingqing told us this morning... She said that Senior Brother Fang... you and Senior Sister Ning had a secret rendezvous, and... and you used vulgar language..."

Fang Xuan paused slightly with his feet, then released the pressure.

He glanced around and shouted sternly, "Did you hear me?"

The surrounding disciples all kept their heads down, not daring to respond, secretly thinking to themselves that they never expected the pure and innocent Senior Sister Shen to be this kind of person.

Fang Xuan's gaze returned to the faces of the disciples at his feet, and he slowly added:

"Also, letting you go today is not the rule of the Qingyun Sect."

"It's me—Fang Xuan."

"I remember... Thank you, Senior Brother Fang, for sparing my life! Thank you, Senior Brother Fang!" The disciple endured the excruciating pain, scrambling to his feet without daring to look back. He staggered towards the medical hall at the foot of the mountain, fearing that if he was even a step too slow, Fang Xuan would change his mind.

The other disciples lowered their heads even further, wishing they could disappear on the spot.

Fang Xuan didn't look at them again and straightened his clothes.

We continued walking slowly and steadily toward the main hall at the summit.

A mountain breeze blows, carrying the faint sound of distant bells.

The disciples who were doing their morning exercise had already fallen silent and made way for him, watching his tall, yet somewhat aloof, figure disappear into the distance.

The oppressive atmosphere that had hung over the crossroads only slowly dissipated after he had walked away.

The disciples exchanged glances, still shaken, and saw lingering fear in each other's eyes.

"This Senior Brother Fang is not someone to be trifled with."

"Senior Sister Shen has probably bitten off more than she can chew this time."

"Hurry up and go, and don't say anything like that again..."

Fang Xuan could faintly hear the murmurs behind him.

It seems that the initial goal of establishing authority has been achieved.

As for Shen Qingqing... I'll remember this debt for now.

We'll settle the score with her, interest and all, when we find the right opportunity. Right now, it's more important to deal with the apprenticeship ceremony.