NOVEL WEB Chapter 80: Snatched the Storage-Ring?!
The news spread like wildfire through the Burning Sun Pavilion. It was Jong, a disciple of the main peak, who first revealed it, whispering it in the ears of his peers with a tone that carried both envy and disbelief.
"Mo Han… that lowly servant boy… has already reached the complete Qi Condensation Realm," Jong announced with a smug dissatisfaction, though his eyes betrayed unease.
The hall of the main peak disciples buzzed like a disturbed beehive. Shock and agitation filled the air. Everyone knew what it meant. To reach complete Qi Condensation at his age and from such humble beginnings was a feat that many core disciples had failed to achieve. If Mo Han continued at this pace, it was inevitable that he would soon step onto the main peak as a recognized disciple.
"What kind of joke is this?" one disciple spat, his lips curling in disdain. "That mutt of a servant, daring to even dream of walking among us?"
Another slammed his fist onto a stone table, cracking its edge. "If such a precedent is set, what will happen to the dignity of the Pavilion? Will every stable boy and errand runner start thinking they can stand equal to us?"
Jong, enjoying the uproar, leaned back with folded arms. "Laugh if you want, but I heard it from the administrative elder himself. Mo Han has completed Qi Condensation. The only step left is the inner court test, and if he passes, he'll walk straight from servant to main peak disciple."
The room fell silent for a brief moment, then filled with heated curses and murmurs again. The words were venomous, but beneath their prideful tones lay genuine fear.
Finally, one of the senior disciples sneered. "We should take this to the Sect Master's son. Let him decide what to do about this upstart."
That very afternoon, the group of main peak disciples made their way up the winding stairs carved into the mountain cliffs, reaching the grand pavilion where the Sect Master's second son, Yao Fan, resided.
Yao Fan was well-known throughout the Pavilion—arrogant, domineering, and utterly shameless in using his father's influence. While his elder brother cultivated in seclusion, Yao Fan enjoyed his days trampling over others, indulging in his authority like a spoiled prince.
The disciples bowed and relayed the news to him.
"Complete Qi Condensation?" Yao Fan's expression twisted into a mocking smile. "And they think that gives him the right to stand as an equal to me? A dog that licked leftovers in the servant quarters now dares to dream of walking into the main peak?"
He stood abruptly, tossing aside a jade cup filled with wine. The cup shattered on the marble floor as he strode forward, his golden robe embroidered with the Pavilion's burning sun emblem gleaming under the lantern light.
"I'll deal with this personally. Let's see how much courage this servant has when I remind him of his place."
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The sun was dipping toward the western horizon when Yao Fan descended from the inner court… the main peak disciples following behind him. He made his way to the outer area near the stone house where Jia Kai resided.
The courtyards were quieter there, the servant disciples moving about cautiously, most avoiding the path of the Sect Master's son. Near the stone house, however, only one figure could be seen squatting on the ground, humming to himself as he fed a delicate Spirit Crane sat before him.
It was Fatty Lambu. His round belly shook as he laughed and offered the crane little meat pieces from a pouch. "Eat well... Someday, when Brother Mo Han rises, we'll soar above all these arrogant fools!"
The Spirit Crane flapped its wings gently, nipping playfully at his ear.
Yao Fan stopped, his gaze narrowing. "Who are you?"
Lambu looked up and recognised Yao Fan in one look, startled, and quickly rose, cupping his fists.
"Greetings, Young Master Yao Fan. I… I am Lambu, a servant disciple under Elder Jia's watch. I was only feeding my Spirit Crane."
Yao Fan's lips curled in disdain as his eyes landed on the bird. "So even a useless fatty servant like you keeps a spirit pet? What's the world coming to?"
He reached out abruptly, holding the neck of the spirit crane tightly. The delicate creature let out a sharp, panicked cry as it struggled in his grasp.
"Young Master! Please!" Lambu's round face paled. "That's mine! It's not harmful to anyone."
Yao Fan sneered, increasing his grip around the spirit crane neck. "You dare raise spirit beasts while serving in my father's Pavilion? What arrogance. Perhaps I should pluck its wings right here."
Lambu's heart pounded in his chest as he fell to his knees. "Please! Don't harm it! I beg you, Young Master Yao Fan!"
His pitiful pleading only amused the Sect Master's son further. But the spirit crane finally showed its angry side. With a single rising kick, the crane sent Yao Fan flying away.
Before Yao Fan rose up from the ground, the crane sat on top of the stone house and stared at Yao with a smug look.
"You're Mo Han's companion, aren't you?" Yao Fan turned his anger towards Ben.
Lambu froze. His lips quivered, but he said nothing.
Yao Fan smirked, bending down to grab a nearby stone. "Answer me, fatty."
"Yes…" Lambu whispered.
The stone struck his shoulder with a heavy thud, making him grunt in pain.
"You tell that servant," Yao Fan said coldly, his eyes like daggers, "that if he dares set one foot on the main peak, I'll grind him into the dirt myself."
Before Lambu could recover, Yao Fan lashed out with a vicious kick, sending the fat boy sprawling onto the ground. His crane fluttered anxiously in distance, crying out in distress.
The main peak disciples standing behind Yao Fan chuckled cruelly at the sight, as if it were no more than a comedic play.
Yao Fan reached down and yanked at Lambu's hand, pulling free the storage ring that glimmered faintly on his finger.
"A servant doesn't deserve such things. Consider this your offering to me," Yao Fan said mockingly as he slipped the ring onto his own hand.
Lambu, groaning in pain, tried to rise but was shoved down again by one of the disciples. Yao Fan straightened his robe, brushing imaginary dust off his sleeve.
"Remember my words, fatty," he said, his tone sharp and merciless. "Tell Mo Han—if he dares climb, I'll make sure he falls harder than any man before him."
With that, he turned, striding away with his entourage, laughter echoing in their wake.
Lambu lay on the ground, clutching his bruised shoulder, tears welling in his eyes. His Spirit Crane nestled against his cheek, chirping softly as if to comfort him.
He clenched his fists, biting down hard on his lip.
And so, while Yao Fan returned to his lofty chambers, satisfied with his display of power, the seeds of deeper conflict were sown—seeds that would soon shake the very roots of the Burning Sun Pavilion.
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Thank-you for the Power-stones!