"Ah... P-Please forgive us, Senior Sister!" The two outer disciples trembled, their voices quavering with fear as they faced Li Rong's icy glare. Beads of cold sweat trickled down their flushed faces, eyes wide with trepidation.

"Please..." One of them swallowed hard, Adam's apple bobbing nervously. The other's hands fidgeted with the disheveled folds of his crumpled white martial robe.

Moments later, the door creaked open, and the two emerged, dragged unceremoniously by their necks in Li Rong's vice-like grip. Her fingers dug into their skin, leaving trails of reddened bruises. The disciples winced, instinctively struggling against her iron hold before thinking better of it.

THUD!

With a forceful shove, Li Rong cast them to the ground before Ji Wuye. They crumpled like rag dolls, groaning as dull pain blossomed across their already blue-tinged faces.

Ji Wuye's expression remained a mask of eerie calm, his gaze indifferent as granite. Only the faintest twitch played at the corner of his mouth as he regarded the sniveling disciples curled at his feet.

"Brother Ji, no, Big Brother Ji, please forgive us!" The male disciple's voice cracked with desperation as he scrambled forward, pressing his forehead to the dusty floor in a kow-tow. The other, limping from Li Rong's beating, hurried inside and reemerged clutching the correct sack.

"I'm wrong, Big Brother Ji, please, please, take this!" He thrust the sack towards Ji Wuye, eyes downcast with shame and remorse.

They may have dared disrespect Ji Wuye before, but none were foolish enough to challenge an Inner Disciple. As mere Outer Disciples, they were expendable .

Moreover, they knew their transgression in the first place. Even appealing to the Hall of Insight would only bring stricter discipline.

"Ah? Is that so? There is no need to prostrate before me, Brothers." Ji Wuye's tone remained mild, tinged with faint amusement as the ragged sack slipped from his grasp. With a gentle motion, he reached down and lifted their bodies, patting their shoulders with a placating smile. "Thank you for your sincerity and help, Brothers."

"Ugh, Br-brother Ji-?" One of the disciples croaked out a confused sound, feeling something sharp in his entire body—a pain equal to or even greater than what Li Rong had inflicted.

"Please, just let them go, Junior Brother." Her indifferent gaze locked with Ji Wuye's crimson eyes as they slowly opened from their squint.

"Ugh..." The two outer disciples let out strangled groans, their eyes widening in horror as Ji Wuye's grip tightened like a tiger's claws digging into their flesh. His fingers crushed down mercilessly, and they could feel the sickening grind of bone against bone. Desperate hands reached out, pleading silently for mercy.

"Of course." Ji Wuye's faint smile never wavered as he abruptly released his crushing hold. They crumpled bonelessly to the ground, bodies contorting with spasms of agony. Trembling hands clutched at twitching, dislocated shoulders that hung at grotesque angles.

"It hurts! You bastard, you—" One disciple managed a enraged shout through gritted teeth before the words died on his lips. Ji Wuye's crimson eyes bored into him with an intensity that made his blood freeze. An icy shudder ripped through his body, reducing his furious glare to one of cowering fear.

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"What a shame." A flash of disappointment flickered across Ji Wuye's eyes for just a moment before his benign smile returned. Raising his hands, he cupped them respectfully towards Li Rong. "Thank you very much, Senior Sister. If not for you, this might have become a problem."

Li Rong's stoic mask betrayed no reaction. Her narrowed eyes roved over the injured disciples writhing on the ground, taking in their mangled shoulders and jolting spasms. When her gaze met her Junior Brother's polite smile and cupped hands, a slight frown creased her brow.

'If I don't do anything, you might have planned something worse than this,' she thought, recalling the unsettling shift in Ji Wuye's demeanor as he emerged from the town hall door earlier.

"Senior Sister?" Ji Wuye's voice snapped Li Rong from her reverie. Seeing the pained disciples and his mild, placid smile, she was starkly reminded of her original purpose for seeking him out.

"Where do you think the missing disciples are?"

...

The rhythmic clop of hooves and creak of wagon wheels filled the dusty air as another day passed. Unhindered by emerging Dungeon creatures, Ji Wuye's caravan returned to Kunlun Qiuxiu Village a full day ahead compared to when they departed.

The morning sun had long since crested the horizon by the time Ji Wuye's caravan crested the winding slope leading up to the familiar Kunlun Qiuxiu Village.

The cobblestone streets teemed with life, bustling not just with villagers hauling goods and wares, but wandering disciples clad in billowing robes and foreign martial artists of every sect and style.

A steady stream of merchants' wagons rumbled through the entrance, no doubt arriving early for the upcoming grand gathering on Kunlun.

Even parked on the outskirts, Ji Wuye's carriage blended into a sea of carriages and wagons jostling for space. The once-vast place felt cramped and chaotic, alive with the sounds of creaking wood, clopping hooves and merchants barking out their wares.

Meanwhile, Song Jia stepped down from the carriage, squinting against the bright sunlight. As her eyes adjusted, she cupped her hands respectfully towards Ji Wuye, a warm smile crinkling the corners.

"Thank you so much for all this time, Brother Ji." Her sincere tone carried newfound respect and admiration.

The heavy weight of negative thoughts and guilt from before had long dissipated. In its place burned a fierce desire to spar with the him.

Of course, Ji Wuye's perceptive gaze did not miss this hungry gleam.

He responded with a faijnt smile, cupping his hands in return. The gesture prompted a satisfied grin to tug at the corner of Song Jia's lips. "See you again, Brother Ji, at your courtyard!"

With a parting wave, she was off, melting into the churning crowd. Only Li Rong remained behind, her narrowed eyes studying Ji Wuye with a complicated, unreadable expression. She opened her mouth as if to speak, then seemed to think better of it with a weary sigh.

There were lots of things on her mind, especially about the missing disciples, but she needed to speak to her Master first.

"Keep out of trouble. I can't help you much beyond the range of our deal." Her clipped tone brooked no argument as she reminded him of the conditions of their agreement.

Of course, Li Rong referred obliquely to the previous incident with the two outer disciples now recovering from dislocated shoulders.

Her stern glare made it clear such excessive force would not be tolerated going forward.

But Ji Wuye's expression remained an inscrutable mask, that same faint, mild smile playing about his lips. Holding her pointed stare for a beat, he offered no justification nor apology. With an inward huff of frustration, Li Rong spun on her heel and strode away, robes billowing.

Alone at last, Ji Wuye turned his attention to the coachman, pressing a heavy pouch of coins into the man's calloused palm.

"Thank you once again, Uncle." It was all the money he had.

The coachman's face split into a warm, gap-toothed grin as he accepted the generous payment with a respectful bow. "It's always a pleasure to do business with you, Young Hero."

...

As Ji Wuye entered the village proper, a wave of subtle whispers and furtive stares washed over him - attentions he casually ignored with impervious indifference. Like a rising tide, the mutterings swelled into mocking jeers.

"Isn't that the famous flower boy? He really lives up to his reputation: beautiful like a flower, yet also fragile!" A martial artist with a saber slung across his back sneered disdainfully.

"Brother Ji! Brother Ji, teach us how to become as beautiful as you!" A disciple called out between slurps of steaming noodles, laughter rippling through the gathered crowd.

Not all regarded Ji Wuye with derision, however. A pair of striking women garbed in luxuriant colored robes boldly stepped forward, their long silk tresses styled elaborately and jians hanging at their waists. Pale skin like fresh milk and elegant features reminiscent of phoenix eyes drew envious stares.

"Hello, Big Brother. May we know your name?" One extended the overture with plump, reddened lips, her intense gaze raking over Ji Wuye's handsome, impassive visage with undisguised interest.

Appraising the pair coolly, Ji Wuye took in their sharp jawlines and attractive countenances - a scenario he had encountered numerous times before. 'They just want my body,' he mused inwardly. He had experienced this kind of situation numerous times in his previous timeline.

Cupping his hands politely, he offered them a polite smile. "I'm sorry, Sister. I have business to attend to." Without pausing, he brushed past them unhurriedly, deaf to the disappointed murmurs and snide asides until he arrived before a wooden shop bearing the carved sign: 'Medicinal Herb Shop'.