Chapter 122: No Explanation

Zhang Ning felt a surge of grief and rage, his eyes reddening. Although the Great Elder had dismissed his attendants, the commotion Zhang Ning caused—even kicking over a table—could not be ignored. The Great Elder’s subordinates, far from being oblivious, swarmed the scene at the sound of the disturbance. Upon witnessing the standoff, they silently aligned themselves behind the Great Elder, not daring to act against Zhang Ning. Though loyal to the Great Elder, they were hesitant to intervene without a direct order, especially with the Great Elder and the Fifth Prince at odds.

However, Zhang Ning was no pushover. If one included the still-maturing Lin Feng, Su Ye, and others, the strength of his personal retinue was not inferior to any major power-holder within the Great Freedom Demon Sect. Moreover, given the several life-threatening dangers he had faced recently, his men were on high alert; they arrived just as quickly as the Great Elder’s guards. Thus, a massive crowd of Zhang Ning’s own followers gathered behind him.

Even Zhang Ning was stunned. He might have understood the sudden appearance of Yu Zhong, but what of the others? He had felt completely alone while staying in the Water Moon Cave—so where did they come from? Had they been following him from afar? Were they secret guards or personal attendants?

Wait, he recognized that man—Liang Si, wasn’t he just a newly initiated disciple? What was going on?

Though Zhang Ning had been ready to roll up his sleeves and fight the Great Elder, the sight of his own people appearing with more murderous intent than he felt caused him to calm down. He and the similarly surprised Great Elder stood staring each other down.

Just then, a mass of purple energy, resembling both mist and flame, drifted from Zhang Ning’s shoulder blades. It expanded in the air and, in the blink of an eye, formed a humanoid shape. It was incredibly clear, from the strands of hair to the intricate patterns on the robes... Master?!

The figure that had appeared was none other than Chu Hanyu! Zhang Ning was startled, but before he could speak, everyone around them knelt in unison, shouting, "Greetings, Venerable One!" Only then did Zhang Ning manage a soft, "Master."

Zhang Ning finally realized that when his master had patted his shoulder blades back then, he must have left behind some sort of safeguard.

Chu Hanyu, having left a sliver of his martial soul within Zhang Ning, surveyed the scene and said coldly, "What is the meaning of this?" His tone was not harsh, yet everyone around them stood trembling in silence. Chu Hanyu frowned slightly and looked first at Zhang Ning.

Yu Zhong, Liang Si, and the others stole glances at Zhang Ning, filled with worry.

Zhang Ning clenched his fists. He did not want to repeat the vile insults the lecherous old man had spewed, so he stood with his neck stiff and remained silent. The Great Elder, not wishing to escalate things, smiled and said, "Venerable One, I merely wished to call the Prince here for a heart-to-heart. The Prince may have..."

To everyone’s surprise, Chu Hanyu interrupted him without hesitation: "He is my disciple. What business do you have having a 'heart-to-heart' with him?"

The Great Elder froze. Chu Hanyu no longer looked at him. Using some unknown technique, the humanoid projection became not only detailed and lifelike but seemingly solid. Chu Hanyu gently took Zhang Ning’s hand and said, "Remember, within the Great Freedom Demon Sect, no one has the authority to command you or force you to do anything!" With that, he led Zhang Ning away, ignoring the Great Elder entirely.

It took a long while for the Great Elder to recover, his expression a mix of helplessness and wry amusement as he watched them walk away. "These two, master and disciple..."

Zhang Ning kept his neck stiff, head bowed as he walked. Even in private with his master, he made no move to explain the outburst, and Chu Hanyu did not ask. Instead, he slowly released Zhang Ning’s hand. Zhang Ning felt a sudden panic, but before he could speak, the Chu Hanyu beside him "dissipated." Ahead of them, the real, physical Chu Hanyu stood waiting, looking at him with a weary expression: "Come here!"

***

A few days later.

"A life of leisure, truly a life of leisure!" Zhang Ning held a book in one hand and tapped the table on the bed with the other, shaking his head with delight.

Spending time under his master’s personal tutelage, with gourmet food when hungry and sleep whenever tired... could life get any better? Furthermore, his master had granted Zhang Ning’s subordinates permission to enter and leave the area.

Jie Geng, who was peeling fruit for Zhang Ning nearby, had to use all her self-restraint to keep from laughing. This made her reflect on the rigorous trials she had undergone to get here. Regardless of her preparations, she had never expected the Prince to be so kind; being by his side was not only relaxing but made one laugh involuntarily.

Jie Geng was genuinely grateful for the Fifth Prince’s benevolence. Her best friend, Ye, was a member of the half-cat tribe, an alien race subordinate to the Great Freedom Demon Sect. Because they had failed to protect the First Prince long ago, they had been severely punished, their status within the sect plummeting until they were trampled and looked down upon by everyone. They had lived in constant self-reproach, hoping for a chance to redeem themselves.

But with the First Prince gone, who would offer such trust to an alien race—who were different in appearance and habit—after they had already erred once? No one was willing, and no one dared to give them that chance.

Yet, the Fifth Prince had done exactly that. When her friend Ye was chosen to be part of the Fifth Prince’s direct retinue, Jie Geng had not been optimistic; after all, excellence alone was often not enough. But over these days, hearing how Ye was treated just like everyone else while on assignment, Jie Geng felt at ease. She was happy for her friend and felt a deep sense of reverence and loyalty toward the Fifth Prince.

Even after Jie Geng had gone to accept her punishment for trespassing in the Water Moon Cave, she remained full of energy, keeping Zhang Ning’s life organized and comfortable.

Zhang Ning was remarkably sensitive to people’s feelings. He had sensed something off about Meng Meng the moment he met her, and he certainly noticed the change in Jie Geng. While he knew that regardless of her motives, her loyalty remained, it was always pleasant to be treated with genuine kindness. He chatted happily with Jie Geng for a while, but then he felt something was wrong. At this hour, his master should have begun the lecture... why was it that during this break, it was his master who had gone missing?