Chapter Sixty: The Wrath of Thunder (Part Two)

“Ahem, junior brother, a sect that has endured for hundreds of thousands of years is bound to develop certain drawbacks, but you cannot let your anger drive you to slaughter everyone here.” Ji Mo, a talent such as this, falling into Blue Moon Lake—it grieved Leng Fengyang deeply. Yet as the head of the sect, he could not permit Lei Wei to vent his wrath upon all the disciples present.

In a sense, the tradition of competing for treasures during the Moon Lake tides was something the sect had gradually indulged in. Everyone believed that true geniuses could only mature through relentless tempering in harsh environments. The sect’s rules were strict; normally, it strictly forbade disciples from scheming against or harming one another. Only in the matter of the tidal treasure hunt did it loosen its grip, offering disciples a cruel trial under the guise of opportunity.

“So, according to you, my little disciple being pushed into Blue Moon Lake by the combined plotting of everyone here is just to be accepted?” Lei Wei’s voice grew cold, the anger on his face solidifying into murderous intent.

Before Leng Fengyang could reply, the Lightning Beast, which had been watching coldly, suddenly snorted and interjected, “Based on my senses, the one who struck Ji Mo into Moon Lake wasn’t motivated by the treasure hunt but was determined to take Ji Mo’s life. The force used was so formidable that not only Ji Mo but even I am no match. I wonder who Ji Mo is, that she would attract such a mysterious figure to target her.”

“You are Ji Mo’s companion beast?” Leng Fengyang’s gaze was drawn to the Lightning Beast. After recognizing its form, a flash of astonishment crossed his eyes.

“That’s right.” Little Gold cast a cold, arrogant glance at him.

“You say the person who knocked Ji Mo into Moon Lake wasn’t after the treasures but intended to kill her. What makes you say so?” Leng Fengyang pressed.

“Ji Mo was standing close to the lake’s edge. The treasures she’d just claimed were already in her storage pouch. At that moment, this person suddenly made a secret move, sending Ji Mo into Blue Moon Lake. If Ji Mo hadn’t, at the last moment, tossed her pouch to Mu Baiyun, those treasures would have sunk with her into Moon Lake. And in the instant Ji Mo fell, my body was abruptly rendered powerless. Otherwise, with me present, how could that girl have plunged into the lake?” Little Gold replied.

“Lei Wei, if this is truly the case, I will order a thorough investigation and give you an account.” Leng Fengyang’s expression grew stern. The tidal treasure hunt at Blue Moon Lake was something tacitly allowed by the sect, so he could not overly blame the masses. But if someone had deliberately plotted to harm one of the sect’s prodigies, that was a matter of entirely different gravity.

“If you’re investigating, I suggest you start with her. This human is merely at the fifth stage of Qi Refinement, yet her soul sense rivals a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Since she appeared at Ji Mo’s side, her gaze toward Ji Mo has always been off,” Little Gold said, his eyes falling on Jiang Ping, his voice cold and sharp.

Jiang Ping’s heart jolted, and in her terror she looked up at the Lightning Beast, seemingly confused by its words. Little Gold, seeing her demeanor, gave a disdainful snort. “What’s with your look? Do you think I’m slandering you?” Jiang Ping lowered her gaze and did not speak.

“Playing innocent, I don’t know how your Moon Watching Sect could have recruited such a person. These two ugly creatures also look at Ji Mo with jealousy and hatred, though at least they don’t bother to hide it. They too harbor malicious intent toward Ji Mo,” Little Gold snorted again, his gaze shifting to Zhong Yao and Yao Qiong Yue. He had watched, cold-eyed, as their attitudes toward Ji Mo revealed themselves.

“You, you’re talking nonsense! We, we never wanted to harm Sister Ji!” The Zhong sisters were startled. They did loathe Ji Mo fiercely, and given the chance, wouldn’t mind seeing her dead. Yet Ji Mo’s strength was undeniable; they had the desire, but not the courage, and besides, Ji Mo’s fall into Blue Moon Lake had nothing to do with them.

Lei Wei narrowed his eyes, his gaze settling on the Zhong sisters. Zhong Yao and Yao Qiong Yue instantly felt chilled to the bone, as if plunged into an icy cellar, unable to move. In their terror, they cried out, “It wasn’t me, truly not us! I—I do hate Sister Ji and wish she’d disappear, but I don’t have the ability to harm her!”

Lei Wei snorted and turned his gaze to Jiang Ping. Under his scrutiny, Jiang Ping’s face went pale and her heart tightened, cold sweat beading on her skin, but she only lowered her gaze, refusing to defend herself.

“What’s your name?” Lei Wei’s gaze fell upon Dong Ping and he sensed a faint familiarity. After a moment’s thought, he recalled that when Ji Mo first entered the sect, he’d met this girl once. She seemed to hail from the same mountain village as Ji Mo, possessed a single water-type spiritual root, and was a disciple of Cloud Mist Peak’s master. Her name, however, he had never noted—he truly did not know it.

“Return—returning to Master Uncle, my name is Jiang Ping.” Jiang Ping’s face was bloodless; she swallowed nervously before replying, her voice trembling.

“If I remember correctly, you and my disciple Ji Mo both come from Zhao Village, is that right?” Lei Wei continued.

“Yes.” Jiang Ping answered, her gaze lowered.

“You come from Zhao Village, yet your surname isn’t Zhao. I find myself quite curious about your origins.” Lei Wei suddenly chuckled, but there was not a trace of mirth in his eyes. Had Little Gold not mentioned her, he would not have paid Jiang Ping any attention. Now, prompted by Little Gold, he scrutinized her closely and found that her soul sense was indeed far superior to others of her rank. Moreover, Lei Wei’s own cultivator’s intuition for danger told him that Jiang Ping inexplicably posed a threat.

By rights, Jiang Ping’s soul sense, though comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, should not threaten him, and yet the sensation was real and persistent. Lei Wei’s eyes narrowed involuntarily.

“Lei Wei, what are you implying? Jiang Ping comes from Zhao Village but isn’t surnamed Zhao, and that makes her origins suspicious? Your disciple Ji Mo is also from Zhao Village and likewise doesn’t bear the Zhao name. Does that mean her origins are unclear as well?” As Lei Wei finished speaking, Jiang Ping’s master, Yun Shui Lan, appeared, stepping in front of Jiang Ping.

“Yun Shui Lan, my disciple Ji Mo has been schemed against and fallen into Blue Moon Lake. If you dare slander her again, don’t blame me for being rude to you.” Lei Wei’s brows shot up, his gaze icy as he stared at Yun Shui Lan.

Yun Shui Lan, master of a peak herself, was infuriated by Lei Wei’s rebuke and was about to retort, but then she realized Lei Wei’s aura had locked onto her, startling her. Only then did she realize that Lei Wei was truly enraged—and when Lei Wei was angry, it was no trivial matter. Though she was a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, she was no match for Lei Wei if it came to a confrontation.