NOVEL NEXT Chapter 17 - I Intend to Overstep, What Will You Do About It?
Jun Jiuxiao lightly tapped the armrest of his chair with his index finger, thinking that it wouldn’t be long before Li Xian’s master came looking for trouble.
How to handle it? Should he kill them directly? Killing them outright would be too violent and not his style.
It was better to torment them first and then send both master and disciple on their way together. That way, they would have company on the road to the underworld and wouldn’t be lonely.
As expected, the Law Enforcement Hall’s elder personally brought people to ask him and Ji Lanqing to go to the Law Enforcement Hall.
“Holy Son Jiuxiao, the elders ordered us to summon you. We had no choice but to offend you. Please forgive us,” the elder from the Law Enforcement Hall said respectfully.
The struggle between the Holy Lord’s faction and the Grand Elder’s faction was something they, as small figures, didn’t want to get involved in.
“Lead the way,” Jun Jiuxiao said, not making things difficult for them.
The members of the Law Enforcement Hall exchanged relieved glances.
Jun Jiuxiao led Ji Lanqing ahead while the members of the Law Enforcement Hall followed.
The power in the Xuantian Holy Land was held by the Holy Lord and the five elders. The Second Elder was a staunch supporter of Jun Jiuxiao’s master. The Third Elder and Fourth Elder were aligned with the Grand Elder.
The Fifth Elder was a fence-sitter who did not offend either side.
Jun Wuqi had a strong personality and high cultivation, maintaining pressure on the Grand Elder’s faction for the past few centuries.
The Grand Elder’s faction had planned to use his eldest disciple, Zong Yue, as the Holy Son to turn the situation around, but unexpectedly, Jun Jiuxiao emerged as a competitor.
Jun Jiuxiao’s talent was exceptionally high. Zong Yue was decades older than Jun Jiuxiao and had lower cultivation, causing the Grand Elder’s faction’s plans to fail before they even began.
On the way to the Law Enforcement Hall, Ji Lanqing whispered to Jun Jiuxiao, “Holy Son, if… if you need to, you can push me out to take the blame. As long as it ensures your safety, I’m willing.”
Jun Jiuxiao turned his head to look at Ji Lanqing, trying to see if she was speaking sincerely.
For the first time, he couldn’t understand Ji Lanqing’s expression and couldn’t tell if her words were genuine.
Before he could think further, they had already arrived at the Law Enforcement Hall.
All five elders were present, along with Li Xian and his master, Lin Mu. Jun Jiuxiao’s master, Jun Wuqi, was not there. It was good that the old man wasn’t present; it made things easier for him to maneuver. Hopefully, he would arrive in time.
Jun Jiuxiao casually found a seat, with Ji Lanqing standing behind him.
“Jun Jiuxiao, you are so audacious!” Lin Mu’s voice was harsh and particularly jarring in the silent hall.
Jun Jiuxiao ignored Lin Mu and asked calmly, “What do the elders want with me?”
Lin Mu wanted to say more but was silenced by the Grand Elder’s look.
“Jun Jiuxiao, you injured my Qianyuan Peak disciple, Li Xian. Do you admit it?” The Grand Elder’s tone was severe and uncompromising, not so much asking as forcing Jun Jiuxiao to admit.
“Yes, I did sever one of his arms. What’s the problem?” Jun Jiuxiao replied lazily.
Hearing this, the one-armed Li Xian nearly exploded with anger. However, with the elders present, he dared not act. He wanted to do something but was unable to, as he couldn’t defeat Jun Jiuxiao.
He could only glare fiercely at Jun Jiuxiao, as if he wanted to crush him.
Before the Grand Elder could speak, Lin Mu couldn’t help but speak first, “Jun Jiuxiao, you’re so bold. Even if you’re the Holy Son, you can’t harm inner disciples at will. You haven’t shown any repentance. Do you even consider the elders or the rules of the Holy Land?”
Jun Jiuxiao didn’t even spare Lin Mu a glance. This fool was truly dumb beyond measure.
No wonder others with the surname Lin could be protagonists, while he could only be a pawn to be sacrificed.
Jun Jiuxiao brushed off imaginary dust from his clothes and said, “Indeed, I do not hold them in high regard…”
Lin Mu, seizing what he thought was an opportunity, didn’t wait for Jun Jiuxiao to finish and loudly reprimanded him, “So you admit it, Jun Jiuxiao. I ask the elders to uphold justice and punish Jun Jiuxiao for his disregard for the elders, his malicious harm to fellow disciples, and his disrespect for the Holy Land’s rules.”
The five elders remained silent. The Second Elder looked worriedly at Jun Jiuxiao.
The Third and Fourth Elders seemed inclined to punish Jun Jiuxiao.
The Fifth Elder appeared indifferent, as if the whole situation had nothing to do with him.
The Great Elder showed no expression, not believing Jun Jiuxiao could be so foolish.
Jun Jiuxiao looked at Lin Mu with a look of disdain and continued his unfinished sentence, “The elders and the rules of our Holy Land, I hold them in my heart.”
“As for why Elder Lin merely holds them in his sight and not in his heart, I cannot say,” Jun Jiuxiao finished, smiling provocatively at the Great Elder.
Lin Mu was merely a pawn pushed out today. If he used this opportunity to punish Jun Jiuxiao, he would become a major enemy of the Holy Lord’s faction and would surely be eliminated.
If he failed, he would become a scapegoat for the Grand Elder’s faction and face death as well.
Jun Jiuxiao didn’t want to give such a dying person even a glance.
The Grand Elder, receiving Jun Jiuxiao’s provocation, did not retaliate but signaled Lin Mu to continue with his eyes.
Receiving the Grand Elder’s signal, Lin Mu continued, “Jun Jiuxiao, you know that’s not what I meant. You’re deliberately misinterpreting my words.”
“Let’s set aside your disrespect towards the five elders and the Holy Land’s rules for now. But you have admitted to wantonly injuring my disciple, Li Xian. Please, elders, punish Jun Jiuxiao.”
Lin Mu, the fool, was looking smug, thinking the Grand Elder was favoring him. He was unaware he was being set up for slaughter and still counted money for others.
Jun Jiuxiao’s expression remained unchanged as he coolly said, “Elder Lin, you should address me as Holy Son.”
Lin Mu was caught off guard by this remark. Despite his lengthy speech, one sentence from Jun Jiuxiao had rendered him speechless.
At this point, the Third Elder spoke up, “Holy Son Jiuxiao, Elder Lin’s direct address was indeed inappropriate. I will make him apologize to you.”
“Lin Mu, apologize to Holy Son Jiuxiao.”
With the Third Elder’s directive, Lin Mu’s face turned ashen, but he still respectfully bowed to Jun Jiuxiao. “Holy Son, I was rude to call you by your name directly. Please forgive me.”
“Do you think a mere apology will resolve this? Should I kill you and then apologize?” Jun Jiuxiao said with a mocking tone.
Lin Mu, infuriated, retorted, “Jun… Holy Son, don’t push things too far.”
“If I really wanted to push things too far, what could you do about it?” Jun Jiuxiao replied calmly, as if discussing everyday matters.
Facing Jun Jiuxiao, Lin Mu was on the brink of exploding with rage. If the five elders weren’t present, he would certainly have attacked Jun Jiuxiao by now.