Liu Chuandao's deafening bellow sent Zhu Qi plunging into the abyss.

It was an abyss that was a bottomless pit.

He felt weightless as he fell through the darkness. There was nothing under his feet. He was on the verge of a breakdown.

What was going on?

He had no idea what was happening.

How had things turned out this way?

The disciples who had followed his lead were furious and terrified. They were furious at Zhu Qi for acting rashly when he had no idea what was going on.

Jiang Ning and the sect leader clearly knew each other. They couldn't believe he had the nerve to offend Jiang Ning.

Did he want to get himself killed?

He could do that on his own time. Why had he dragged them into this as well?

They weren't the only ones who were dumbstruck. Liu Qing was equally stupefied. She was utterly lost. She didn't know what was going on.

She knew that Jiang Ning wasn't a member of Qingshan Sect. She had spent her whole life in the sect and had never heard of him. How could her father possibly know this man? This seemed impossible.

Was Jiang Ning really a member of Extreme Sect? Did such a sect really exist?

She could suspect everyone, but she couldn't suspect her own father.

Silence filled the air. Liu Chuandao did not say a word. No one dared to breathe.

The principal of the Inner Court and Mr He arrived within no time.

They had not expected something like this to happen. They never expected Zhu Qi and his gang to have the nerve to do something so bold in Liu Chuandao's

presence.

"Chief Liu," Zhang Heng, the principal of the Inner Court, greeted Liu Chuandao.

"I see you've been doing a good job at keeping the Inner Court disciples in line," Liu Chuandao scoffed.

Zhang Heng swallowed visibly. "Forgive me. I failed to perform my duties. I deserve punishment for my failures."Content protected by Nôv/el(D)rama.Org.

"I'm glad that you know that," said Liu Chuandao as a severe look settled on his face. "Mr He!"

"Yes, Chief Liu."

"What is the punishment for disobeying the rules of Qingshan Sect?"

Mr He froze momentarily. This wasn't a joke. The sect leader was really angry.

He glanced at Zhang Heng and caught the pleading look in Zhang Heng's eyes, but he pretended that he didn't see it. He cupped his fists and said, "A demotion, seven days spent in solitude and penitence, and confiscation of a full year's worth of resources."

Zhang Heng's heart spasmed violently. Zhu Qi nearly collapsed to the ground.

Zhu Qi would pay for the punishment that had been inflicted on Zhang Heng. This...was going to be the end of him!

Zhu Qi trembled violently. He felt hollow, as if his soul had fled from his body.

"Zhang Heng, do you agree that you deserve this punishment?"

Liu Chuandao narrowed his eyes.

"I do! I have neglected my disciplinary duties and failed to perform my duties. I deserve to be punished!" Zhang Heng declared loudly.

His eyes slid towards Zhu Qi. He had

spat out his words. Each word had been torn out from him like how he wanted to rip the flesh off Zhu Qi, bite by bite.

Zhu Qi was stupefied. His hearing had fled him. So had his vision. He had fallen into a daze. All he knew was that he was done for...

...and that his death wasn't going to be quick or painless!

"Good. I hope to see improvement," Liu Chuandao said coolly. "Leave us."

"Yes, Chief Liu!"

Zhang Heng and Mr He dared not say anything more. It was rare of Liu Chuandao to get so furious.

They dared not say anything and fled the courtyard immediately.

Zhu Qi and the other disciples had no idea how they managed to make their way out of the courtyard. They had descended into a state of complete terror.

Silence lingered in the courtyard.

The guards had clustered together. None of them dared to utter a word. They dared not make a sound as they breathed as lightly as they could.

Liu Qing stood there silently too, afraid to say anything. She was still reeling. What had just happened? What was going on?

"So, the both of you..." She hesitated as she looked at Jiang Ning, then at Liu Chuandao. "...know each other?"

Jiang Ning didn't say anything. Neither did Liu Chuandao.

They exchanged a look. This fleeting look seemed to speak volumes.