NOVEL WEB Chapter 74: Gathering Storms
Chapter 74: Gathering Storms
“Really?” Xiaomei sniffled twice, then broke into a delighted smile, her mind clearly racing with thoughts of something exciting.
“Really.”
Ye Shu nodded. He planned to use the same tactics Luo Jiuyan had once used on him to deal with Xiaomei. It was amusing, giving him a sense of complete control. Offer her a little sweetness, and she’d be overjoyed.
“Alright! I’ll definitely do my best and make Master proud!” Xiaomei was thoroughly motivated.
She had figured it out—when it came to someone like Ye Shu, relying on seduction or persistent pestering wouldn’t work. What she needed to do was perform exceptionally well, leaving no room for criticism. If she could satisfy him completely, he would naturally reward her.
Perhaps, if she demonstrated sincerity, he might even fall in love with her!
At this thought, Xiaomei giggled uncontrollably, her expression caught between ecstasy and delirium.
“In reality, creatures like her are quite easy to manipulate,” Ye Shu thought as he observed her demeanor. He already knew what was going through her mind, but he didn’t dwell on it.
Such dynamics were common. The way Xiaomei was thinking now mirrored how countless “simp” minds worked in his past life. Each person had their own pursuits, but their motivations weren’t hard to decipher.
Not giving it much more thought, Ye Shu walked over to the window, leaning against the edge of the nanmu wood frame. He gazed outside.
Dark clouds blanketed the sky, and fierce winds howled, signaling an impending storm.
This matched perfectly with the atmosphere surrounding the upcoming disciple tournament in two days.
Whether it was the disciples of the Heavenly Fiend Sect hoping to leap forward like a carp ascending the dragon’s gate, or the exchange students visiting from other sects, they all held high hopes for this event.
Especially the exchange students.
Ye Shu could clearly sense their intense hostility toward him.
First, there was Qing Yunzi of the Demon Sword Mountain, who had been provoked during their earlier sparring. Then there was Wang Man of Ghost Mountain Sect, whom Ye Shu had crippled just moments ago.
Essentially, he had offended nearly everyone.
They would undoubtedly use the disciple tournament as an opportunity to teach him a lesson—and that lesson would likely be brutal.
Even with his current cultivation at the early Nascent Soul stage, Ye Shu could feel the mounting pressure. Their intentions were aggressive, and the storm was coming fast.
…
On the other side.
In a pitch-black room, a group of people dressed in bizarre outfits sat fuming with anger. Before them lay a barely conscious figure.
Their fury was almost palpable, and some were on the verge of standing up, weapons in hand, ready to lash out.
“That Demon Prince of the Heavenly Fiend Sect has no regard for rules! How dare he attack like that, completely disregarding the other demonic sects!”
“This time, he truly crossed the line. We’ve never experienced such humiliation as exchange students in the Heavenly Fiend Sect. Even in combat, there should be proper preparation! But he struck without warning, giving no chance to react!”
Their faces were filled with indignation. The man lying before them was none other than the now-crippled Wang Man.
After some treatment, his condition remained dire. He required a rare medicinal pill to repair his damaged meridians.
Wang Man’s supervising elder made a decision: to delay further treatment. Instead, he sent a message back to their sect, awaiting instructions from the higher-ups before proceeding. If the sect decided to hold the Heavenly Fiend Sect accountable, the evidence was clear—Wang Man’s severe injuries provided ample justification.
“That brat is becoming increasingly reckless. Back when he sparred with my son, he nearly slit his throat with a single sword strike. Now, he ambushes and cripples people without hesitation. His wickedness knows no bounds—it’s beyond our comprehension.”
The speaker was a stunningly beautiful woman. Before her stood an enraged youth.
This mother and son duo were none other than Wu Meiyue, the First Lady of the Demon Sword Mountain, and her son, Qing Yunzi, who had previously crossed blades with Ye Shu.
Qing Yunzi’s face was now contorted with frustration.
He had heard that Ye Shu’s strength had reached the Nascent Soul stage. For someone like Wang Man, who had spent fifty years cultivating, to be defeated so easily by Ye Shu was utterly absurd!
And here he was, still stuck at the mid-Golden Core stage. He had thought breaking through a minor realm quickly would earn him respect.
But in front of Ye Shu, he was nothing more than a junior!
After hearing his mother’s words, Qing Yunzi grew angrier, his face flushing red as he tried to stand up.
However, a tall man sitting nearby pressed him back down with one hand. “Junior Brother, calm yourself.”
“Senior Brother Wei.”
Qing Yunzi turned to look at the man clad in long robes, his expression calm and composed. This was Wei Feng, one of the exchange students sent by the Demon Sword Mountain. He was a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator and a sword cultivator whose strength rivaled those at the late Nascent Soul stage!
Wei Feng looked at Qing Yunzi and spoke slowly, “I understand your anger, but your priority right now should be improving your strength.”
“You know that Demon Prince of the Heavenly Fiend Sect advances rapidly. At just eighteen, he’s already reached the Nascent Soul stage, and his power is ferocious. You should focus on catching up to him rather than dwelling on resentment.”
“As for this tournament, don’t worry. Your Senior Brother Wei will give him a lesson he won’t forget!” Wei Feng patted his chest lightly, but his confidence radiated assurance.
“Senior Brother Wei, you…”
Qing Yunzi was deeply moved. He knew his strength was no match for Ye Shu’s, but thankfully, a senior from his sect was willing to fight on his behalf.
Wei Feng’s strength was extraordinary. He was on par with—or even surpassed—most Demon Princes. If not for the overwhelming Senior Sister in their sect, the title of Demon Prince would have long been his. There was no need to rely on the Heavenly Fiend Sect for shelter.
“If Senior Wei speaks up, that Ye Shu will surely regret his actions!”
“Of course! Among those at the same realm, no one can withstand Senior Wei’s sword!”
“Haha, if that Ye Shu brat finds out about this, he’ll probably regret ever laying a hand on Qing Yunzi!”
The crowd showered Wei Feng with praise. They knew he was among the strongest in their group, and flattering him was an opportunity they couldn’t pass up.
However, Wei Feng remained calm throughout. His gaze shifted to a provocatively dressed woman with an alluring appearance, and a flicker of interest crossed his face.
After a long silence, he finally spoke, “Hu Qiner, what’s your opinion?”
The room immediately fell silent as everyone turned to look at the woman named Hu Qiner, none daring to speak.
They knew she was no ordinary person. She was the adopted daughter of the Joyful Union Sect’s sect leader!
Recently dispatched as an exchange student to the Heavenly Fiend Sect, she had quickly earned a high status among the exchange students.
Her influence rivaled even Wei Feng’s.
First, her strength—she was already at the late Nascent Soul stage. Among the few Nascent Soul exchange students, her cultivation ranked third, behind only two peak Nascent Soul cultivators.
Second, her status. Among the Joyful Union Sect disciples, the most influential figures weren’t necessarily the direct disciples of Sect Leader Hu Ling but rather adopted daughters like Hu Qiner, who had taken on the Hu surname.
Her position within the Joyful Union Sect was untouchable, second only to the sect leader herself.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Hu Qiner revealed a chilling smile. “Ye Shu, was it? It seems he’s done something that will leave my junior sister regretting it for the rest of her life.”