The Ill-Mannered Local Faction

After all, two fists could hardly contend with four hands. Even though the Hundred Hunt Gate was one of the Demonic Path sects, and even though Demonic Path cultivators, often branded as ‘demonic cultivators’ by the Immortal Alliance, were renowned for their combat prowess, they were ultimately outnumbered.

Yet, Gu Bei’s current senior disciples, despite their rough-and-tumble nature, understood they were on someone else’s turf and couldn’t push things too far.

Moreover, cultivators from the Immortal Alliance typically refrained from delivering fatal blows.

They were even rather courteous about it, with male cultivators exclusively pummeling male cultivators and female cultivators striking only female cultivators.

The Misty Rain Tower, being the largest pleasure establishment, rarely saw the attendance of respectable young ladies. However, many female cultivators were an exception; some were driven by curiosity, visiting for the first time, while others were genuinely there to indulge.

While they maintained a facade of civility, the Immortal Alliance cultivators were truly ruthless in their attacks. Unlike the Hundred Hunt Gate cultivators, who instinctively went for killing blows, the Immortal Alliance members deliberately targeted the most painful spots or those that would leave the most visible marks.

They were all too familiar with these brawls among junior sect members. The Hundred Hunt Gate disciples, accustomed to fighting with actual weapons and deadly intent, found themselves momentarily at a loss, unsure how to engage without resorting to lethal force.

Frustration simmered within them.

A sense of injustice burned.

It was galling, considering that most Hundred Hunt Gate cultivators far outstripped the Immortal Alliance’s young masters, who spent their days casting spells with elegant sword-fingers, in terms of body refinement. Yet, at this moment, they couldn’t even retaliate.

Since their opponents hadn’t resorted to spells, they couldn’t either.

To do so would be to stoop beneath their station.

Just then, Wang Batian, whose eyes were almost swollen shut from the beating, caught sight of Gu Bei. The junior disciple was in a corner, repeatedly attempting to charge into the fray only to be struck and sent flying by stray attacks.

“Junior Brother Gu!” he roared, struggling free from his assailants for a fleeting moment. He then hurled a bone-carved waist token towards Gu Bei. “Return to the sect and call for reinforcements!”

Gu Bei, tumbling and scrambling, managed to snatch the waist token from the air.

“He’s going back to get reinforcements! Stop him!” a local Immortal Alliance cultivator bellowed.

Gu Bei was merely at the third stage of Qi Condensation—at least, for now. It was utterly impossible for him to escape the pursuit of even a single Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Swiftly, with a resounding thud, he was pinned to the ground.

A barrage of punches rained down upon him.

Gu Bei instinctively shielded his head with his arms, but his meager defense was no match for the powerful fists of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The cultivator straddled him, raining down blows with both hands, all the while attempting to wrench the waist token from his grasp.

As for Gu Bei’s own sensations…

The agony was immense.

It was excruciatingly painful.

‘This bastard was utterly malicious. Had Gu Bei been a mere mortal instead of a Qi Condensation cultivator, unable to withstand many blows, the brute relentlessly pinning him down might well have aimed for his groin.’

‘These local ruffians are utterly disrespectful!’

“I am Immortal Lady Ning’s retainer! I have a jade token as proof!” Gu Bei hissed, enduring several more punches to his face as he fumbled a small jade token from within his robes.

The attacker froze.

He couldn’t discern whether it was genuine or a fake.

“Keep hitting! Don’t stop!” Gu Bei urged, his voice strained.

There was no reason for him to conceal the fact that Ning Wanzhuang and Yu Qiuqiao were behind his actions.

Their strategic arrangements in Sanchuan was an open secret throughout the Nine Provinces.

Besides, as long as Lin Yi of the Hundred Hunt Gate and the cultivator currently straddling him weren’t complete idiots, they wouldn’t dare to spread such information carelessly.

The cultivator fiercely pummeling Gu Bei was, after all, an Immortal Alliance member, and one of their most prominent traits was their extensive knowledge of the world.

This ‘extensive knowledge,’ however, was often a derogatory term.

Having heard and even witnessed countless sordid and unsavory affairs, the sudden appearance of such a powerful figure’s jade token from a mere Qi Condensation cultivator made him genuinely pause.

The Immortal Alliance cultivators’ primary modus operandi was to err on the side of caution, preferring to do nothing rather than make a mistake.

Thus, the Foundation Establishment cultivator’s blows against Gu Bei, though loud and blustery, were like thunder without rain, lacking any real force.

His shouts and curses were boisterous, yet the actual impact of his fists was no different from a gentle massage.

In truth, it was just the force of a massage.

Frankly, if not for the burgeoning bruises already mottling Gu Bei’s face and body, he might have found it rather pleasant.

“Esteemed one…”

“You may address me as ‘Scholar‘.”

“Scholar…” The Foundation Establishment cultivator murmured, a faint sense of recognition stirring within him, as if he had heard that moniker somewhere before.

“You must devise a way for me to extricate myself gracefully,” Gu Bei whispered. “Today’s events are intimately tied to Immortal Lady Ning’s instructions to me.”

These words sent a chill through the Foundation Establishment cultivator, his limbs suddenly feeling cold.

‘Damn it! I’ve gone and beaten a major figure, likely a confidant of that esteemed individual! Who else but a trusted aide would be sent undercover into the Hundred Hunt Gate?’

‘Will I be purged for this?’

‘By the heavens!’

‘How could my luck be so utterly terrible!’

‘I came out for a bit of pleasure, and I ended up beating a confidant of someone so influential that even my master’s master’s master couldn’t hope to meet them!’

“Don’t fret,” Gu Bei said, sensing his panic. “If nothing is exposed, you haven’t spoiled my plans. Once this is accomplished, I will personally commend your efforts to Immortal Lady Ning.”

This, of course, was utter nonsense.

Yet, upon hearing this, the Immortal Alliance disciple immediately felt his fears subside.

He understood that most unbacked promises from influential figures were meaningless, but the very act of offering such a statement implied that he wouldn’t face repercussions later.

That alone was sufficient.

Otherwise, even if he were to be commended, the mere fact that this unidentified, powerful figure—whom he had just pummeled several times—remembered him would rob him of all peace.

Should that individual ever recall this incident and decide to exact retribution, a single word from them would be enough to destroy his life.

Ning Wanzhuang’s influence within the Immortal Alliance was akin to that of the Crown Prince of the Nine Provinces. This was because the current number one on the Heavenly Ranking merely served as a figurehead, while the Immortal Alliance was truly governed by Immortal Lady Ning’s master, who held the third position on the Heavenly Ranking.

The realization sent an even deeper chill through his veins.

Nevertheless, he managed to suppress any outward display of his terror.

Should he betray his fear and thus jeopardize the plans of ‘this one’ and ‘that one,’ then a terrifying, unspeakable, and utterly miserable future would be irrevocably sealed.

Thus, he wracked his brain, desperate for a solution.

How to orchestrate a plausible escape for both ‘Scholar’ and himself.

****

Just then, the Misty Rain Tower’s venerated guardians and security personnel finally made their appearance.

Glancing across the hall, the guardian saw that the brawlers were all promising young talents from the various sects of Sanchuan Commandery. Intervening immediately would prove difficult.

‘Damn it, there are even several half-step Golden Core cultivators among them!’

‘Forget about picking a side, I don’t even know if I’ll just get beaten along with everyone else if I step in!’

‘Sect cultivators are vastly different from rogue cultivators like me; their backgrounds and foundations run deep!’

‘Those brawling here will, at the very least, become Golden Core cultivators in the future, and they’re from proper institutions, capable of being directly appointed as officials by the imperial court!’

In this regard, both the Demonic Path and the Immortal Alliance shared the same prestige.

‘Their career trajectory begins as a village chief; after two years of satisfactory assessment, they are guaranteed to become a county magistrate. Should their performance as a magistrate be deemed excellent, they could expect to become a prefect of a commandery within five years.’

While the guardian was lost in his own internal struggle, the Immortal Alliance disciple astride Gu Bei saw him, and his eyes lit up with sudden hope.

‘A savior has arrived!’

“Esteemed one,” he whispered urgently to Gu Bei, “I will loosen my grip for a moment. When I do, you must run directly towards that individual by the entrance.”

“Understood.”

In the mere ten seconds since the Misty Rain Tower’s Golden Core guardian had appeared, the cultivator had already formulated a plan of escape.

Such, perhaps, was the sheer force of human survival instinct.

The instant his assailant’s grip slackened, Gu Bei rolled backward, scrambling away on all fours.

He had no pretense of dignity or self-importance; truth be told, he wasn’t even considered a mere ‘white glove’ (TL Note: A Chinese idiom referring to a frontman or proxy used to handle sensitive or illicit affairs) for them, let alone possessing any grand sense of his own identity.

With utter disarray, he bolted towards the Misty Rain Tower’s Golden Core guardian standing by the entrance.

The Golden Core guardian’s eyes widened in alarm at the sight.

‘Damn it, don’t come my way!’

‘This Foundation Establishment junior, who clearly has an unlimited future, should I block him or not?!’

‘Young people are most concerned with their dignity. If I block him, I might offend him. If I don’t, then what’s the point of the Misty Rain Tower employing me as a guardian?’

‘I wouldn’t even have the face to show myself in Sanchuan tomorrow!’

Gritting his teeth and stomping his foot, he resolutely positioned himself, shielding Gu Bei behind his imposing figure.

A glint of grim determination flashed in his eyes.

However, when he noticed the gratitude etched on the face of the stopped cultivator, whose lips silently mouthed ‘thank you,’ he found himself utterly bewildered.

Before he could even process the situation, the Foundation Establishment cultivator he had just stopped abruptly turned back, rejoining the crowd to resume what he perceived as a ‘righteous’ group beating.

The cultivator who returned to the ‘battlefield’ was no fool. He had now realized that this inexplicably ignited brawl was undoubtedly a trap laid by the formidable Qi Condensation cultivator who called himself ‘Scholar.’ Now that ‘Scholar’ had rushed off to gather reinforcements, his intention was likely to escalate the entire affair.

Therefore, after rejoining the fray, he not only continued to pummel the Hundred Hunt Gate cultivators but also discreetly struck a few blows at his fellow Immortal Alliance daoists nearby, subtly manipulating the intensity of the conflict between the two sides.

His objective was to ensure the sustained escalation of animosity between both the attackers and the attacked.

He was utterly distraught, his mind a chaotic mess, with only one thought echoing clearly: ‘I must escape this miserable future!’

If, before leaving, ‘Scholar’ had instructed him to strike a few of the female cultivators, he would have gritted his teeth and complied.

Offending Yu Qiuqiao in the Demonic Path might lead to death and the dissipation of one’s cultivation. However, offending Ning Wanzhuang in the Immortal Alliance meant everyone around you would wish for your demise.

In his extreme panic, he began to speculate on Gu Bei’s intentions, his expression shifting erratically between shades of gloom.

He weighed his options incessantly.

Ultimately, choosing the lesser of two evils, he clenched his fists until his knuckles whitened and declared, “That demonic brat who ran off has gone to call for reinforcements! If that old devil comes, we’ll be in deep trouble!”

His words brought a measure of calm to most of those present.

“But! Sanchuan is Immortal Alliance territory! It’s our territory! How can we let these foreign demonic brats run rampant?!” he proclaimed indignantly, his eyes wide with righteous fury.

His display of a ‘gentleman’s wrath’ earned the reluctant approval of both the female cultivators on one side and the male cultivators on the other.

An Immortal Alliance disciple echoed, “This Senior Brother is right! We’ll call for reinforcements too! How can we let outsiders bully us on Immortal Alliance territory?!”

The Hundred Hunt Gate disciples, however, cared little for their thoughts or words. Having suffered a humiliating beating, they were certainly unwilling to let these bastards simply dust themselves off and leave.

During the momentary lull in their opponents’ chatter, the Hundred Hunt Gate disciples, who had previously only managed to barely parry and occasionally retaliate, now charged forward, both male and female, roaring as they randomly targeted individuals to pummel.

The unfortunate cultivator who had spoken first naturally became their primary target.

The battle intensified, becoming even more brutal.

The Hundred Hunt Gate disciples stubbornly clung to one of the Sanchuan Immortal Alliance disciples, refusing to let go, even as a rain of punches and kicks from other Immortal Alliance disciples fell upon them, attempting to make them release their grip.

The harder they were beaten, the tighter the Hundred Hunt Gate disciples held on; the tighter they held on, the harder the Immortal Alliance disciples pummeled them.

By this point, no one remembered how the fight had even started. All they knew was that they had to thoroughly teach these demonic brats/young masters a lesson.

****

As for Gu Bei, having returned to the Hundred Hunt Gate, he simply used the waist token to ask a random disciple for directions. After hearing a brief account of the situation, that disciple also became indignant.

After guiding Gu Bei to Wang Batian’s master, the disciple himself went to gather fellow sect members to join the fray.

Gu Bei had returned first, so the Hundred Hunt Gate elders were the first to arrive.

The Hundred Hunt Gate elders were appalled by what they saw!

How could their own junior disciples be pinned to the ground and beaten?

They were being ganged up on by over a dozen people!

The female disciples’ master was particularly enraged. Daughters naturally cherished their beauty, yet these little brutes from the Immortal Alliance had deliberately aimed for their faces. His little princesses’ formerly lovely or delicate features were now utterly unrecognizable.

“How dare you! How dare you! Bullying the few with the many! Oppressing the weak with strength! Is this the caliber of Sanchuan Commandery’s Immortal Alliance?! Is this the morality of your so-called prestigious sects! Do you truly think my Hundred Hunt Gate is undefended?!”

“Since your masters refuse to properly discipline you little brutes, then allow me to teach you a lesson!” Wang Batian’s master thundered, seeing that his own junior disciple was the one being beaten the most severely.

After all, having fought for so long, the Immortal Alliance disciples knew who Senior Brother Wang was, and with a clear target for their grievances, their attacks had grown particularly vicious.

Although the Hundred Hunt Gate was a newly established sect meant to serve as a target, it naturally had more than just the sect master, who was a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Wang Batian’s master was also a Nascent Soul cultivator.

While his cultivation and foundation might have been slightly weaker, he was more than capable of crushing weaker opponents.

Meanwhile, the masters of the other disciples also found their respective juniors. When they arrived, the Immortal Alliance disciples were still in the throes of their beating. With clear targets for their grievances, the situation was immediately apparent. Those who were still somewhat ‘calm’ even inquired who had been doing the beating.

Those less composed simply lashed out, beginning to pummel their attackers.

Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators utterly dominating Immortal Alliance disciples whose combat experience was limited to brawls was a clear case of bullying the younger generation, and their blows were unfailingly accurate.

Yet, the Immortal Alliance disciples refused to yield, unleashing their spell formations and magic treasures, ready to fight to the death against these shameless old geezers.

The Hundred Hunt Gate elders, seeing this, thought, ‘Oh, so you brats not only refuse to surrender, but you dare to attack me?’

‘Good! Good! How bold!’

Thus, their attacks grew even more ferocious.

Just as the Hundred Hunt Gate elders were fully immersed in their furious assault, the elders of the Immortal Alliance disciples arrived.

Well then.

It truly became a scene of firecrackers exploding, gongs and drums rattling the heavens, magic treasures unfurling, and a sea of people!

The Immortal Alliance elders had initially assumed their juniors had once again stirred up some trouble outside, and they had intended to come and apologize, perhaps mediate the situation. However, upon arrival, they found…

Well then.

Shameless old Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators were beating their disciples!

How could this be tolerated?

Some calmer Immortal Alliance elders attempted to break up the fight, but they were overwhelmed by the sheer number of people who had arrived.

It is well known that humans, no matter how calm and restrained individually, often become part of a collective frenzy once they enter a group.

Once one particularly protective and hot-tempered Immortal Alliance elder made a move, a second, then a third followed, until not a single one remained uninvolved.

Gu Bei watched, thoroughly amused.

Thus, the Hundred Hunt Gate was once again subjected to a group beating.

He couldn’t help but laugh aloud as he watched the Hundred Hunt Gate disciples being ‘righteously’ pummeled once more.

‘How could the masters be getting ganged up on when their disciples are being ganged up on?’

While the Hundred Hunt Gate elders were being beaten, the Immortal Alliance disciples, with renewed vigor, also resumed their group beating of the Hundred Hunt Gate disciples.

Gu Bei had long since slipped away, putting a considerable distance between himself and the chaos.

The commotion and trouble had already been stirred up; what reason did he have to remain there?

To get beaten himself?

The immense commotion caused by the Nascent Soul cultivators’ clash quickly drew the Hundred Hunt Gate Master, the Demonic Path’s young leader, the Immortal Alliance’s young leader, and the various Sect Masters of the Sanchuan Immortal Alliance to the scene.

Both sides looked utterly bewildered.

‘What exactly is going on here?’.jpg (TL Note: ‘.jpg’ is a common internet meme often appended to a question or statement to imply a visual of confusion or bewilderment.)