Elder Gongxi glanced at Qiu Ling and couldn't help but furrow his brows. Had he assessed him wrongly before? Was this guy actually stupid? What was he saying, challenging him to duel? He was playing into his hands!
Elder Gongxi wanted to turn back to the Grandmaster but paused. Wait. Could it be he was missing something? Was that some elaborate plan that would make them turn a few circles and then end up with him losing the advantage he had just gained? He tried to find a loophole in the plan he had made since yesterday but he couldn't find any. He glanced at Qiu Ling again but looking at his face, it seemed this disciple had finally lost his cool. He was probably thinking too much. No, this guy had just overreacted and blurted this out in the heat of the moment.
Well, regardless of what was the truth, the other sects were on his side. As long as he managed to steer everything in the right direction, they would help him out to make sure that they could also benefit. And in the end, the Yun Zou Sect would have to give in to save some face.
He turned back to the Grandmaster and wanted to speak up but once again, Qiu Ling interrupted him.
"Old man! Didn't you hear me?" There was a sharp edge to his voice that hadn't been there before.
Elder Gongxi's brows twitched but he didn't take it seriously. He had no idea that what Grandmaster Zhangsun had just said was the truth and that he had already crossed a line that shouldn't be crossed.
He once again tried to speak up but this time it wasn't words of abuse that were hurled at him. No, this time, a burst of spiritual energy rushed at his face.
Elder Gongxi barely managed to evade it but a strand of his hair was still caught in the attack and split off. If he hadn't evaded just now … He stared at that strand of hair on the ground and then incredulously turned around to the direction the attack had come from. Needless to say, the one who had thrown it was Qiu Ling. And his expression didn't show even the slightest hint of remorse.
Elder Gongxi gaped at him, not even knowing what to say anymore. This disciple had just attacked him. He had never seen anything as shameless as this! "You —"
Qiu Ling furrowed his brows and raised his hand again. "Stop talking and draw your weapon or gather your spiritual energy. Whatever it is you normally use."
Elder Gongxi stared at him before he turned back to Grandmaster Zhangsun. "Grandmaster, this —"
Qiu Ling harrumphed and then threw another attack. Why should he wait for this guy to finish his drivel? If he did, wouldn't they still stand here tomorrow? It was better to take care of this soon so he and his beloved could leave.
Anyway, these guys had already said that they didn't want him taken part in the duel and he certainly wouldn't let his beloved do so. So after he took care of this old man, they could just go back to the bamboo hut and continue cuddling. Ah, getting up this morning had been such a waste. They should have just stayed in bed.
Elder Gongxi once again barely managed to evade the attack. Well, this time, the hem of his robe ripped but he himself hadn't been hurt once again. He stared at Qiu Ling and then up at the Grandmaster who pretended that everything was alright. "Grandmaster!"
Another attack flew over but this time Elder Gongxi was prepared and leaped back in advance. "Are you alright with your disciple acting like this? First, he slanders me and now he even dares to attack me?! Is this the kind of example a disciple of a righteous sect should set?"
Grandmaster Zhangsun's brows slightly furrowed but he still didn't answer. Anyway, this person was only his disciple in name. He had never taught him anything and he wasn't able to control them either. Even if he told him to stop he didn't believe for a single moment that Qiu Ling would indeed do as he said. No, if he tried, that would only make matters worse. It was better to bring up some excuse and hope that everybody else believed it. "Well, he did ask you for a duel. And this is the second time the two of you have gotten into this situation. Maybe it would be better to resolve things like this."
Elder Gongxi stared at the Grandmaster in a daze. What was that supposed to mean? "But … He's of the younger generation!"
Qiu Ling snorted. He was certainly looking younger than this old guy with his wrinkled face and graying hair but as for his real age … This human probably couldn't even imagine. Well, no need to bring that up in front of his beloved. "Don't make up any excuses! If you're scared, you're scared. I still won't spare you today!" His hands moved and a blade of wind shot over, this time cutting Elder Gongxi's sleeve.
Elder Gongxi stared at the rip and then looked at Qiu Ling. This guy was being serious. He really wanted to fight with him. Elder Gongxi glanced around and pursed his lips together to hide a smile. Well, that wouldn't be too bad. "I feel that this is inappropriate but if the Grandmaster insists that we should have this fight, then I will comply. You shouldn't blame me if your disciple gets hurt though. Everybody has seen that I have tried to calmly discuss matters. It was your disciple that refused to listen and attacked me first. So whatever follows next isn't my fault."
Zhangsun Xun Yi gave an uninterested nod. Elder Gongxi wasn't even at his level. It would be a wonder if he was able to injure a dragon. Well, there was no need to tell him. If Qiu Ling got rid of this person, that would also be very good. "It'll be as you say: Whatever happens next, neither side will pursue the matter." He glanced at the Elders of the other sects who nodded in return.
"Yes, yes, neither side should hold the other accountable. Since there is bad blood between them, it's better to solve it in this way." Even though they said so, they couldn't understand what the Grandmaster was thinking. Wasn't this person his prized disciple with a heavenly constitution? Why would he sacrifice him in such a way? Even though the boy had now spent some years in the Yun Zou Sect, that definitely wasn't enough time to reach the strength an Elder had. After all, the Yang Huo Sect was also one of the first-tier sects. Their Elders weren't weak.
Qiu Ling didn't care about any of that. He wasn't human to begin with and didn't care about the Yun Zou Sect other than that Jing Yi was part of it. So regardless of what happened in this fight, he couldn't be bothered to think any further about it. This guy had dared to threaten his beloved's safety. Thus he had to die.