Chapter 212: Threat

After the silence came the storm that had already arrived.

“Damn it! Do you still consider my Woyang Pavilion beneath your notice?”

Elder Liu flew into a rage and thrust his sword outward in one swift motion.

“Elder Liu, don’t!”

Li Jiaying saw the sword flash and quickly placed her small frame in front of Li Tan. Yet within a breath, Elder Liu’s sword was as if bound by an invisible force, immobilized just an inch away from her.

“This…” Elder Liu recalled the events on the mountain path earlier, his face turning grim.

Li Tan gently placed his right hand on the jade pendant at his waist, smirking coldly at Elder Liu.

Elder Liu gritted his teeth, growling, “Hmph, don’t think this matter will end so easily. You won’t leave Woyang Pavilion today at all!”

“Hehe, I wasn’t planning on leaving so simply either. Today, we’ll settle all the old and new accounts together.”

“Fine, fine. Just wait for me. I’d like to see how long you can act so arrogantly!”

Elder Liu left with a threat, just like the disciples who scattered in panic, shouting about someone killing people, and didn’t look back as he rushed up the mountain. Once out of Li Tan’s sight, he secretly exhaled in relief.

Actually, his previous show of strength was merely a bluff. After both attacks were mysteriously blocked and with the fear Li Tan had instilled deep in his heart, Elder Liu knew he was no match for the man before him and couldn’t wait to leave.

However, once he was gone, his fear of Li Tan vanished completely, replaced only by the fury of suddenly losing disciples and being disrespected.

As long as he delivered the news to the Woyang Pavilion’s leadership, he believed Li Tan—who acted impulsively and killed people—would definitely be unable to escape, no matter how fast he flew.

As for the ancient texts, and the matter between Li Jiaying and Zhouni, he hadn’t remembered a single word.

Soon, upon hearing the news, the Woyang Pavilion’s leadership was furious. A muscular inner sect disciple volunteered to kill Li Tan and restore the sect’s dignity.

The inner sect disciple arrived at the Star Moon Cave, angrily pointing at Li Tan, “You actually dared to stay here! Today I will definitely kill you to avenge my junior brother Zhou!”

Li Jiaying tugged at Li Tan’s clothes, crying out, “This is Elder Brother Murong Hu, ranked first on the Qingyun List of the inner sect. Run quickly, don’t worry about me. Once the elders from the inner sect arrive, it will be too late!”

Li Tan gently patted Li Jiaying’s head, comforting her, “Don’t worry. This small Woyang Pavilion hasn’t even entered my eyes yet, little brother.”

“What a bold statement! Dealing with you doesn’t even require my masters. I alone will suffice! You can’t escape even if you wanted to now!”

Murong Hu powerfully raised his heavy sword with one hand and slammed it into the ground, causing the green bricks beneath to crack.

“Great! Brother Murong’s mighty!”

“Brother Murong, quickly kill this troublemaker!”

Because of Murong Hu’s presence, some of the people who had followed him, emboldened, shouted loudly in support.

“Fellow junior brothers, don’t be afraid. With me here, no one can cause trouble in the Woyang Pavilion!”

Murong Hu patted his chest proudly, prompting another round of thunderous applause. Enjoying the crowd’s praise, he planned to use Li Tan to establish his authority. He then lifted his heavy sword arrogantly and said, “Do you think killing an outer sect disciple at the peak of the Post-Heaven stage and driving away a useless outer sect elder at the middle stage of Pre-Heaven makes you invincible?

Let me tell you, I recently broke through to the middle stage of Pre-Heaven after a long period of seclusion. My sword hasn’t tasted blood for a long time. Today, I will use you to consecrate it!”

Whoa! The words “middle stage of Pre-Heaven” stirred the crowd into excitement.

Li Jiaying tightly held Li Tan’s hand, trembling.

“I already told you there’s nothing to worry about. Don’t you think your older brother is an idiot?”

Li Tan shielded Li Jiaying in his arms, “If I didn’t have confidence, I would have already run away with you.”

Li Jiaying blinked her tear-filled eyes, recalling the events that happened in Linjiang. Her unease suddenly disappeared, and finally, she showed a long-awaited smile.

However, her smile quickly turned into fear.

“Die!”

Taking advantage of Li Tan’s distraction while speaking to Li Jiaying, Murong Hu suddenly charged forward.

“Be careful, older brother!”

Li Jiaying was very anxious.

“Hmph, a petty villain, get lost!”

Li Tan disdainfully glanced at Murong Hu. Since his right arm was still around Li Jiaying, he used his left hand to grasp the rusty sword and sweep it forward.

The unremarkable appearance of the rusty sword was the best trap, enough to cause great losses for most people unfamiliar with Li Tan.

Murong Hu obviously belonged to this category. Although the sword in his hand looked impressive, it was merely for show, actually an ordinary mundane weapon, how could it possibly match the rusty sword?

Crack! Not even making a sound, Murong Hu’s heavy sword broke in half like tofu. His chest also bore a hideous wound, blood gushing out.

“Aaaaaaaaah!”

Screaming in pain, Murong Hu, seeing Li Tan preparing to strike again, was overwhelmed by the fear of death and immediately knelt down to beg for mercy.

“Leave before I change my mind, and tell your Pavilion Master to come see me.”

“Yes, yes, I understand!”

Murong Hu felt as if he had been granted a pardon, fleeing for his life. Naturally, those who had shouted encouragement also disappeared from sight after receiving a glare from Li Tan.

Li Jiaying watched in astonishment, but beyond her shock, there was more joy.

“Older brother is so amazing!”

A very simple compliment, but Li Tan listened to it happily.

If one’s achievements cannot gain the recognition of friends, family, and loved ones, something will always be missing, even making it seem meaningless.

But obviously, this was not the place for a happy reunion. Soon, a gloomy, unremarkable middle-aged man appeared, surrounded by a group of followers.

Li Tan ignored the raging fury in the man’s eyes, gently holding the now slightly frightened Li Jiaying, and coldly asked, “Are you the Pavilion Master?”

“I am. Young man, you’ve caused quite a disturbance in my Pavilion. Don’t you owe me an explanation? Otherwise, I absolutely won’t allow you to leave today.”

At this moment, Li Tan had already suppressed his uncontrollable anger, at least appearing calm on the surface.

“Then I will explain everything properly to you, Senior.”

“My younger sister came here full of admiration to become your disciple, but she nearly fell victim to a lustful thief.”

Li Tan pointed at Zhouni’s corpse on the ground, “Senior, shouldn’t you also give me an explanation?”

The Pavilion Master’s lips twitched, “You’ve already killed the man. What more explanation do you want?

Regarding Zhouni’s matter, indeed, we were in the wrong first, so we won’t pursue it further. However, you intruded into our Woyang Pavilion and severely injured several people. If this matter isn’t properly resolved, how can our Woyang Pavilion maintain its dignity in the Jiuzhou region in the future?”

“Then, Senior, what do you think should be done to preserve your Pavilion’s dignity?”

“You must sever your cultivation, and I will spare your life, allowing your younger sister to continue cultivating here in Woyang Pavilion.”

“It’s easy for me to sever my cultivation. However, Senior, you should first consider whether your sect can bear the consequences.”

Li Tan nonchalantly removed the jade pendant from his waist, slowly extending his hand. The Pavilion Master of Woyang glanced at it, feeling somewhat familiar. Upon looking again, his face changed drastically.