Chapter 5126 — The Snow Sword Sect's Backing

Two generations running, the title of number one in the Foundation Establishment stage had gone to the Snow Sword Sect. On that point alone, the sect's depth was no small matter; among the Primordial Alliance's ten minor sects and clans, it stood at the very peak. If it could muster even one or two more Nascent Soul old monsters, challenging the four great sects and clans would not be out of the question.

For Xue Jianming, however, this was no blessing. He had always styled himself the Snow Sword Sect's heir apparent, and with such a junior uncle pressing down on his head, no one in his position could be in good spirits.

Given the choice, Xue Jianming would never have allowed the sect leadership to send such a junior uncle. Unfortunately, his father was only a vice sect master of the Snow Sword Sect—high in both standing and real authority, yes, but far from the point of covering the sky with one hand. And Leng Leng's master was no ordinary figure either, certain to fight tooth and nail with every argument at his disposal. That the Snow Sword Sect had ultimately dispatched Bing Wushuang, a man of neutral inclination, was likely the product of both sides balancing and compromising with each other.

Bing Wushuang regarded Xue Jianming with a flat expression, his voice cold. "From today on, all of the Snow Sword Sect's training disciples answer to me. You are no longer the senior fellow disciple in charge."

"Yes, this disciple understands." Xue Jianming nodded hurriedly. He dared not act presumptuously before Bing Wushuang—and besides, this had been his own proposal from the very start. Ever since crossing blows with Wei Zhao last time, he knew full well that his own strength offered no hope of revenge, so his only recourse had been to seek aid from the sect.

Of course, aid was not something one could simply ask for. Without a plausible justification, the Primordial Alliance alone would have blocked it. And the justification Xue Jianming gave was this: his dantian had been crippled, no disciple of the Snow Sword Sect could fill his shoes as senior fellow disciple in charge, and a headless host was prone to mishaps. He therefore requested that the sect dispatch a new senior figure to lead them.

At first hearing, the reasoning was entirely reasonable, so the Primordial Alliance raised no objection and let the Snow Sword Sect send out Bing Wushuang as the new junior uncle in charge—on one condition. Bing Wushuang could command only his own Snow Sword Sect disciples; he was absolutely forbidden to meddle with the training disciples of the other Primordial sects, and still less to contend for authority with Xin Yi'an. Xin Yi'an, after all, was the officially recognized junior uncle in charge of this mundane-world training expedition.

"Where is Leng Leng? Bring her to me," Bing Wushuang said bluntly. Apart from leading the Snow Sword Sect's training disciples, another important task on this outing was to send Leng Leng back to the太古小江湖.

The sect's command outweighed heaven itself. Ever since word came that Leng Leng had defied orders and refused to comply, the Snow Sword Sect's high leadership had been in an uproar, split into two factions that quarreled daily and brawled every third day. Vice Sect Master Xue had sworn to bring her to justice and vent his son's grievance, while Leng Leng's master fought back with arguments every single time. Yet whatever the final verdict, one point was not open to negotiation: Leng Leng must be escorted back as quickly as possible. Otherwise, repeated defiance would be treated as betrayal of the sect, and even her master would not be able to shield her.

"That... I'm afraid that won't be possible..." Xue Jianming shook his head, his face a mask of difficulty.

"What won't be possible?" Bing Wushuang knitted his brows slightly. On the matter of Leng Leng he held no clear position of his own; he was simply carrying out orders. So long as she was escorted back to the太古小江湖, whatever became of her afterward was none of his concern.

"She has already completely betrayed the sect. Unless we use force, I as her senior fellow disciple simply cannot command her." Xue Jianming gave a bitter smile, then added, "Even if it were your order, Junior Uncle Bing, I doubt she would listen."

"Is that so?" Bing Wushuang's aura was already cold beyond measure; now the temperature plunged further still, so much so that even Xue Jianming unconsciously hugged his arms.

"Seeing is believing. Whatever this disciple says here is wasted breath. Better that you go in person, Junior Uncle Bing—one look and you will know whether it is true or false." Xue Jianming's tone was earnest, and he seemed fair and objective, wholly free of any intent to stir up trouble with fabrications.

Bing Wushuang glanced at him. He held no clear position, true—but if Leng Leng truly dared defy his orders, then she was unquestionably his enemy. Toward sect traitors, his principle had always been: kill without mercy!

"Fine. Lead the way." Bing Wushuang's eyes narrowed to thin slits.

"Yes. Junior Uncle Bing, please follow me." Xue Jianming nodded again and again, secretly delighted. He knew well that Wei Zhao's wild, unyielding nature would never let him hand Leng Leng over to the Snow Sword Sect so easily, and that a man like Bing Wushuang might well strike on the spot the moment words failed. This was a genuine early-Golden Core expert—before him, what was Wei Zhao but a fart?

Led by Xue Jianming, Bing Wushuang soon arrived at the small island allotted to the North Island Cangwu Sect. At that moment Xin Yi'an was personally instructing a few prospective disciples in the entry-level mental method; he looked up and saw Bing Wushuang bearing down on him wrapped in an aura of ice, and his brows knitted at once.

"Bing Wushuang? What are you doing here?" Xin Yi'an was briefly taken aback. The circles of the太古小江湖 were nowhere near as vast as those of Yunjie Island; the North Island Cangwu Sect and the Snow Sword Sect were both among the ten minor sects and clans, and there was no small amount of contact and exchange between them on all fronts. He and Bing Wushuang were both early-Golden Core experts as well, so naturally they had met several times.

"Hand over Leng Leng." Bing Wushuang had not the slightest intention of exchanging pleasantries; he came straight to the demand.

"What is the meaning of this? Coming to my door to demand people—Bing Wushuang, aren't you rather too full of yourself?" Xin Yi'an's face darkened. They were both early-Golden Core, true, but his seniority far exceeded Bing Wushuang's, and besides, he was the junior uncle in charge of this mundane-world training expedition. By any measure, Bing Wushuang had no grounds to ignore him.

"Hand over Leng Leng." Bing Wushuang repeated himself, watching Xin Yi'an with that flat expression, his attitude hard beyond all reason. Off to the side, Xue Jianming watched the scene unfold with secret glee. This Bing Wushuang was no ally of his, but to see that old bastard Xin Yi'an put in his place—now that was truly a pleasure.

"Listen carefully, Bing Wushuang. I don't care how you got here. This mundane-world training expedition is under my sole command and responsibility. If you want to make trouble, so be it—so long as you can bear the wrath of the entire Primordial Alliance." Xin Yi'an suppressed his anger as he spoke. At any other time he might not have been willing to clash face-to-face with a heaven-favored prodigy like Bing Wushuang, but he was the one in charge of this training expedition. If he let Bing Wushuang do as he pleased, then he might as well stop being the junior uncle in charge—it would be a disgrace. (To be continued.)