Advice

Senior Sister Song was employing “Graceful Swan, Startled Dragon” from the Luoshen Sword Art, a technique designed for swift closes on a target. Her attack was vicious, aiming directly for Bai Lan’s life.

This wasn’t entirely unexpected, as she hadn’t fully mastered the Luoshen Sword Art. It was possible she hadn’t anticipated such a lethal outcome from her own strike.

The strike seemed poised to pierce Bai Lan’s body. However, Bai Lan had been watching her intently, bracing herself the moment she moved. Senior Sister Song, a streak of light, materialized before her, her weapon mere inches from her form.

But in that instant, Bai Lan suddenly drew her treasured sword, Cold Soul, from her waist. The blade tore through the air, imbued with a chilling cold, and struck Senior Sister Song’s weapon.

A crisp clang of metal rang out first, like the chime of a wind bell. Yet, as the sound faded, it was immediately followed by a sharp ‘crack.’

Senior Sister Song’s treasured sword had been abruptly severed by Bai Lan’s Cold Soul. She herself was forced back several steps by the impact, her face etched with disbelief as she stared at the broken hilt in her hand.

“What? My sword?” Senior Sister Song exclaimed, her face a mask of disbelief. Her own sword had been cut down by her opponent.

Yet, she lingered in her daze, making herself an easy target. Bai Lan, mimicking the earlier move, employed “Graceful Swan, Startled Dragon” and appeared directly before her. She then swung her palm, delivering a resounding slap that sent Senior Sister Song sprawling to the ground.

After striking her, Bai Lan began her reprimand.

“So young, yet so malicious,” Bai Lan chastised, her gaze severe as she looked at Senior Sister Song. “You tried to kill someone with your very first move. Do you realize that if your sword had landed on them, they would likely be dead? Who taught you such vicious behavior?”

Senior Sister Song was now terrified. She hadn’t expected the person before her to be even more formidable. She had countered their sword technique in a single move, clearly indicating her combat prowess far surpassed hers. She was no match.

“I—?” Senior Sister Song stammered, attempting to offer an explanation.

Bai Lan, however, wasn’t interested in her excuses. She turned her attention to the others. Senior Sister Song’s followers stood rooted to the spot, dumbfounded. They hadn’t imagined their leader would be defeated so decisively.

As for those who had been attacking Xue Linglong, they were already exhausted to the point of immobility. Witnessing Senior Sister Song’s defeat extinguished any remaining desire they had to fight.

“What are you staring at? All of you, come here and stand in a line!” Bai Lan roared, taking a deep breath.

Having witnessed Bai Lan’s methods, none of them dared to utter a word. One by one, their faces pale with fear, they shuffled over and stood in a neat line, awaiting punishment.

Gone was their earlier arrogance. Now, they resembled scolded schoolchildren, crestfallen and dejected. Girls, it seemed, were prone to discouragement when faced with an insurmountable opponent, unlike boys who, even when outmatched, rarely surrendered easily.

Moments later.

After a short rest, Bai Lan and Xue Linglong finally turned their attention to the nine disciples, including Senior Sister Song.

“You’re their leader, aren’t you? What’s your name?” Bai Lan asked, looking at Senior Sister Song, whose face was a picture of humiliation.

Though Senior Sister Song was afraid, she showed no inclination to answer Bai Lan. Seeing her silence, Bai Lan immediately raised her hand, poised to strike again.

“Hey! No, don’t hit me! My name is Song Yi, and I’m fourteen years old,” Senior Sister Song quickly blurted out.

So, she did fear a beating. This woman, compared to her followers, had it far too easy. Just look at the others who had attacked Bai Lan earlier; their faces were still flushed, the marks from the earlier confrontation yet to fully fade.

Xue Linglong watched Bai Lan, who, like an adult, paced back and forth before the nine disciples, scolding them as if they were errant juniors. She felt a slight urge to smile. She remained silent throughout, observing everything, treating the entire scene as a learning experience.

“So you can be afraid?” Bai Lan remarked. “Why weren’t you scared when you were attacking earlier? Let me tell you, with your paltry skills, if I wanted to kill you, it would be effortless. Do you really think you’re such a big deal?”

Bai Lan lectured the girls repeatedly, and soon, some began to weep again. This time, they cried not from being beaten, but from being scolded. It was clear that despite becoming cultivators, these young women still had much to learn in terms of mental fortitude.

Most of them had been led astray by the ill-natured disciples of the Outer Sect. At their age, they were highly impressionable, and their immature minds struggled to distinguish right from wrong.

“Why are you crying?” Bai Lan demanded. “You came looking for trouble, and now you’re feeling wronged? I’m asking you: what has been happening in the Outer Sect recently? Answer truthfully. If I’m pleased, I’ll let you go. If not, you’ll stand here until you speak.” Bai Lan began to question them.

As Bai Lan and Xue Linglong hadn’t interacted with anyone else recently, they were largely unaware of the situation. However, it was clear that some significant change had occurred.

The nine disciples exchanged glances, then proceeded to recount the events in the Outer Sect to Bai Lan and Xue Linglong. Most of what they said aligned with Bai Lan’s and Xue Linglong’s suspicions: it was all about the struggle for stipends.

In just a month, numerous factions had emerged within the Outer Sect. The largest among them was formed by Chen Xuan, the Princess of Chen Kingdom, and several other princesses from various nations. This particular faction boasted nearly a hundred members.

Some joined for self-preservation, while others were purely interested in plundering resources. Chen Xuan, for instance, had set a terrible precedent, being the first to lead her subordinates in raiding other disciples.

“Her again?” Bai Lan muttered, a flicker of annoyance crossing her face at the mention of Chen Xuan, the Princess of Chen Kingdom.

With all the necessary information gathered, Bai Lan had no intention of keeping the nine disciples any longer. She hadn’t planned to kill them, and since they had been punished, releasing them was the only option.

“Alright, you may go,” Bai Lan advised. “But let me warn you: do not commit evil, however small. Never think that what you’re doing is insignificant; it could very well lead to your demise. Instead of spending your time bullying others, find a quiet place and cultivate diligently.”

Song Yi and the others felt as if they had received a great pardon. They quickly scurried away, distancing themselves from the area. Bai Lan, they knew, would likely become a lingering nightmare for them for some time to come.

After they had departed, Xue Linglong finally approached.

“Sister, you really scared them,” Xue Linglong said. “Actually, they aren’t truly malicious girls; they’ve just been led astray. I can discern people’s hearts, and I understand who is genuinely evil and who has simply picked up bad habits. Those who have learned bad habits can change, but those born with evil in their hearts are the truly wicked.”

“Even Chen Xuan isn’t necessarily a villain,” she continued. “It’s simply that her environment has shaped her understanding of the world differently from ordinary people.”

“I know,” Bai Lan responded with a soft sigh. “Otherwise, I wouldn’t have spent so much time lecturing them. It’s just that these aren’t the only ones in the Outer Sect who’ve gone astray. Alas, there’s little we can do about it.”

Indeed, of the five thousand disciples, at least half had strayed from the right path.