I held my breath, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. Elder Li's shout of "Who's there?" struck like a thunderbolt, making my scalp tingle. Damn it, my cover was blown! Without a second thought, I leaped out through the window frame and sprinted into the distance with all my might.
"Trying to run? Not that easy!" Elder Li's furious roar echoed from behind, followed by a terrifying wave of spiritual pressure that bore down on me like an overwhelming tidal wave. I clenched my teeth and drove the Nine-Turn Golden Body Formula to its absolute limit, causing a layer of golden halo to surface on my skin, just barely blocking this fatal blow.
I dared not look back, running for my life. Elder Li was extremely fast; I could sense him closing in, his murderous gaze seeming to pierce right through me. "Kong Chen, you can't escape! Surrender obediently, and maybe I'll leave your corpse intact!" Elder Li's voice carried a bone-chilling frost, as if coming from the nether realms.
My heart was filled with fury and resentment. What on earth had I done wrong? Why hound me to the death like this? Just then, a cool, crisp voice rang out from ahead: "Elder Li, as an elder, why must you push a junior to such extremes?" I raised my head to see Wu Mengli in white, appearing before me like a celestial fairy from the ninth heaven. Her icy gaze was fixed on Elder Li as a powerful aura radiated from her entire body.
"Mengli, step aside! This brat is prying into sect secrets and his crime is unforgivable. I am going to purge the sect today!" Elder Li barked furiously. "Elder Li, you are trumping up charges against an innocent!" Wu Mengli refused to yield an inch, standing toe-to-toe with Elder Li. "Kong Chen is kind-hearted and upright; he could never do such a thing!" "Hmph, what does an ignorant girl like you know?" Consumed by rage, Elder Li ignored Wu Mengli and struck at me once more.
Wu Mengli flashed in front of me, her delicate hand sweeping through the air. A flash of white light effortlessly neutralized Elder Li's attack. "Elder Li, do you truly wish to make an enemy of me?" Her tone was icy, her gaze filled with warning.
Elder Li's face turned livid. He knew Wu Mengli's strength was unfathomable and that he might not come out on top, yet letting me go like this filled him with bitter reluctance. "Fine, fine, fine! I'll spare this brat for today out of respect for you!" With an angry snort, Elder Li flicked his sleeve and stalked off.
Watching Elder Li's retreating figure, my heart was a tangled mess of emotions. I knew this was merely the calm before the storm, and that a greater crisis still awaited. "Kong Chen, are you alright?" Wu Mengli asked with concern.
I shook my head, a surge of warmth flooding my chest. In my hour of peril, Wu Mengli had chosen to trust and protect me without a moment's hesitation. "Thank you, Mengli," I said gratefully. "Between us, there is no need for thanks," Wu Mengli replied with a faint smile. "However, Elder Li will not let this rest. What do you plan to do next?"
I took a deep breath, my gaze turning resolute. "I am going to become stronger—strong enough to protect myself and those I care about!" After escaping Elder Li's pursuit, I did not lower my guard.
I knew this was only the calm before the storm, and that greater challenges lay ahead. I trained even harder, while Wu Mengli frequently offered guidance, causing my cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds. I had already reached the fourth turn of the Nine-Turn Golden Body Formula, and the sturdiness of my physical body far surpassed ordinary people, making me virtually impervious to ordinary swords and sabers.
Wu Mengli had taught me a swordsmanship known as the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique. Light, ethereal, and unpredictably shifting, this style was perfectly suited for a disciple like me who lacked practical combat experience. One day, while practicing my sword techniques in the back mountain, I suddenly sensed a powerful spiritual pressure bearing down on me.
Startled, I hastily activated the Nine-Turn Golden Body Formula while brandishing my sword, scanning my surroundings with intense vigilance. "Brat, prepare to die!" A chilling voice echoed from the woods, followed by a dozen figures surrounding me from all directions. I recognized them as disciples under Elder Li, each possessing considerable strength, with several inner sect disciples among them whose cultivation far outstripped my own.
It seemed Elder Li was determined to eliminate me! "What are you doing? I have no enmity with you, why push me so hard?" I forced a calm exterior and shouted sternly.
"Hmph, you offended Elder Li and expected a good outcome? Today is your execution day!" A burly inner sect disciple sneered, raising his heavy saber and hacking toward me.
I dared not hesitate, immediately unleashing the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique to meet him. Though my sword techniques were exquisite, the gap in our cultivation was simply too wide, and I quickly found myself on the defensive.
"Brat, is that all the skill you have? Go on and meet your maker!" Seeing me falter, the inner sect disciple flashed a look of contempt, and his heavy saber attacks grew even more ferocious.
Panic gripped my heart. At this rate, I was a dead man! Just then, a sentence Wu Mengli had spoken while teaching me the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique flashed through my mind: "The essence of this sword technique lies in the word 'speed'. Your strikes must be fast, your transitions even faster. Only by overcoming slowness with speed can you triumph over an enemy."
I drew a deep breath and drove the Nine-Turn Golden Body Formula to its extreme. Golden light erupted brilliantly across my skin, instantly doubling my speed and power.
The sword in my hand transformed into a flurry of afterimages, assaulting the inner sect disciple like a tempestuous squall. Caught completely off guard, he was driven back step by step under my onslaught, sustaining numerous wounds. Seeing this, the remaining disciples swarmed forward, intent on putting an end to me.
Undaunted, I used the might of the Nine-Turn Golden Body Formula and the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique to dance amidst them. My swordplay grew faster and sharper, and gradually I seized the initiative, driving the attackers back one by one. "Stop!" A furious roar rang out as a figure descended from the sky, landing right in front of me.
I looked closely and saw that it was none of other than Elder Wu! "Master!" At the sight of Elder Wu, the disciples were frightened out of their wits and dropped to their knees in terror.
"How dare you! You actually had the audacity to attempt murder against a fellow sect brother!" Elder Wu glared at the disciples, his eyes filled with disappointment and fury.
"Master, we..." The disciples tried to explain, but Elder Wu waved a hand, cutting them off.
"Say no more, I saw everything!" Elder Wu said coldly. "Elder Li colluded with outsiders in an attempt to usurp the Sect Master. I have already reported this matter to the Sect Master, and the truth will come to light soon enough. Consider yourselves warned!" Hearing this, the disciples turned as pale as ash.
Watching all this, I felt a swell of deep gratitude and admiration. Elder Wu was truly a respected and virtuous senior. At a critical juncture, he had chosen to believe in me, stepping forth to uphold justice and expose Elder Li's conspiracy.
I knew this was only the beginning; Elder Li would not take this lying down, and greater challenges awaited. But I would not be afraid. I would face everything with courage, because I knew justice would prevail! Elder Wu's sudden appearance was like an unbreakable barrier erected before me, blocking out the malice of Elder Li's lackeys.
I took a deep breath, suppressing the turbulent emotions in my chest, and bowed deeply to Elder Wu. "Thank you, Elder Wu, for saving my life." Elder Wu helped me up, a look of admiration in his eyes. "Good lad, to have cultivated the Flowing Cloud Sword Technique to this level—given time, your achievements will be limitless!"
He turned his gaze toward the trembling disciples, his tone severe. "Today's events will be reported to the Sect Master. May fortune favor you!" I understood that Elder Wu was helping me. Elder Li wielded immense power and high status; relying on my own strength alone, it would be exceedingly difficult to bring him down.
As a respected elder of virtue and prestige, Elder Wu held decisive influence within the Wu Family. Sure enough, after returning to my quarters, Wu Mengli informed me that Elder Wu had already reported Elder Li's collusion with outsiders to the Sect Master and had secured several key witnesses, preparing to expose Elder Li's crimes at the upcoming sect assembly.
"That's wonderful!" I clenched my fist in excitement. Once Elder Li's conspiracy was laid bare, I could cultivate in peace without constant fear.
Over the next few days, Elder Wu, Wu Mengli, and I ran around gathering evidence of Elder Li's crimes. Wu Mengli tenderly dressed my wounds and helped me organize the documents; her companionship and encouragement provided me with boundless strength.
Yet, just as success was within our grasp, unexpected news arrived: my father, Kong Fang, had come to the Wu Family! I simply could not believe my ears. "My father? Why would he come here?"
Wu Mengli furrowed her delicate brows. "I heard he learned you were in danger and rushed here from thousands of miles away. He's waiting in the front hall right now."
A storm of emotions raged in my chest. Having left home for many years without a word, why would my father suddenly show up? Did he know something? With a fluttering heart, I made my way to the front hall, where I saw a hunched figure with graying temples anxiously pacing back and forth.
Hearing my footsteps, he spun around abruptly, a brilliant spark of joy igniting in his cloudy eyes. "Chen'er! It really is you!"
A sourness gripped my nose and I dropped to my knees. "Father!"
"Good boy, let Father take a good look at you." Kong Fang stroked my face with trembling hands, his eyes brimming with paternal love. "You've lost weight, and you're tanner. You've suffered these past years..."
I could no longer hold back; tears poured down my face. Before my father, I no longer needed to feign strength, and I could freely release the emotions I had suppressed for so long.
"Child, don't be afraid. Father is here. No one will ever bully you again." Kong Fang pulled me tightly into his embrace, as if trying to melt me into his very bones and blood.
At that moment, I truly felt the warmth of home. Even in an unfamiliar world, even with a murky path ahead, as long as I had the company of family, I would fear nothing.
Yet, anxiety still lingered in my heart. Elder Li's conspiracy had not yet been exposed, and I did not wish to drag my father into this storm.
"Father, why did you come? It's too dangerous here, you should go back!"
Kong Fang patted my shoulder and said earnestly, "Child, I know what you're worried about. But you are Kong Fang's son. No matter what happens, I will never abandon you!"
Gazing into my father's resolute eyes, a surge of warmth washed over me. I knew that no matter what fierce winds and torrential rains lay ahead, I was no longer alone. Behind me stood my father, my family—they were my strongest backing!
However, I had no idea that an even greater challenge was yet to come. The sect assembly was fast approaching, Elder Li's true face was about to be unmasked before everyone, and I, too, was about to face a monumental choice in my life... My father's words gave me boundless strength, but the shadow of Elder Li still hung over my heart. As the day of the sect assembly drew closer, I knew this was our final chance; I had to muster my courage and expose Elder Li's true face.
On the day of the assembly, the atmosphere was unusually heavy. I had organized all the evidence into a dossier and, taking a deep breath, exposed Elder Li's crimes of colluding with outsiders and framing fellow disciples before everyone present.
"Nonsense!" Driven mad by humiliation, Elder Li leaped out and pointed a finger at my nose, cursing, "You unwashed whelp, how dare you slander this elder!"
I was well-prepared, presenting both human witnesses and physical evidence one by one. With ironclad proof, there was no room for denial. Elder Li's defenses were pale and powerless, and he was ultimately dealt with by the Sect Master according to the law, while the disciples who aided and abetted him received the punishment they deserved.
At that moment, a wave of relief washed over me. I had finally claimed justice for myself and for all those oppressed by Elder Li. Wu Mengli walked up to my side, her eyes sparkling with admiration. "Kong Chen, you were amazing!"
I sheepishly scratched the back of my head. None of this was my achievement alone; without the help of Elder Wu and Wu Mengli, I would never have made it this far.
Yet, I knew clearly in my heart that this was only the beginning.
Elder Li's downfall meant that the internal power struggle within the Wu Family would only grow fiercer. And as a newly risen outer-surname disciple, I was bound to become a target for everyone.
More importantly, I had come to this world to seek the fortune to defy the heavens and change my fate. I faintly sensed that the Wu Family harbored a tremendous secret, and this secret might be intimately tied to my own destiny.