Chapter 484: Requesting the Sect Leader’s Judgment
The morning mist at Gazing Star Cliff had not yet dispersed.
Inside the cave dwelling, the cold light from the night pearls reflected off the stone walls, and a few lingering traces of muddy earth still clung to the floor. That was the smell brought back from the spiritual field just now — damp, chaotic, mixed with the bitter aroma of crushed herbs; the scent alone made the chest feel tight.
Shadow huddled by the stone table, already mostly cleaned by Su Ming’s spiritual energy. Only a few broken down-feathers still stood up stiffly, making it look more and more like a little soldier who had just lost a battle yet stubbornly refused to admit defeat.
Su Ming sat on the stone stool, head bowed as he wiped the mud from beneath its wings.
“Don’t move.”
Shadow twisted its body in defiance, emitting a low “chu” from its throat, as if protesting.
“You still acting wronged?” Su Ming glanced at it, then with a fingertip let a dab of water spiritual energy spread and remove the last bit of grime. “I told you to charge and fight head-on, but you went your own way. Now you feel pain?”
Shadow tilted its head away, refusing to look at him.
Clearly guilty.
Inside his Consciousness Sea, Lin Yu snorted coldly, “This little thing may be tough-boned, but its brains still need work. Ancient breeds are decent, but even if it were more ancient, right now it’s still a cub that hasn’t finished growing feathers.”
Su Ming hummed in agreement, not replying.
He rose and walked to the wooden rack, scanning the row of robes with his eyes. In the end he did not choose his usual gray tunic, but took down the purple Daoist robe reserved for True Disciples.
The fabric felt slightly cool to the touch, the hem’s subtle patterns faintly emitting spiritual radiance in the morning light.
Holding the robe, Su Ming stood quietly for two breaths.
He usually kept a low profile if he could — never wanting the four words “Formation Peak True Disciple” displayed on his face unless necessary. But today was different. He was not going to the market, nor the Administration Hall; he was going to the Sect Leader’s Peak.
And — he was going to lodge a complaint.
To complain about the white crane the Sect Leader raised.
No matter how he thought about it, the whole affair had an absurd streak running through it.
Lin Yu opened his mouth calmly in the ring, “Put it on.”
“Knows what?”
Su Ming opened the robe, slowly put it on, and tightened the sash. “I know I can’t play the victim today, nor act magnanimous. If the spiritual field was destroyed and I still wear gray and cower, it will only show I lack conviction.”
Only then did Lin Yu sound satisfied. “Good, don’t be foolish. When you see the Sect Leader, be respectful but firm. You are the wronged party, not someone begging.”
Su Ming nodded.
A moment later, the stone gate of the Gazing Star Cliff cave dwelling opened again.
Su Ming stepped out in a neat purple robe, hair tied back, sleeves hanging; he looked more formally dressed than usual. Shadow sat on his shoulder, neck lifted slightly, golden eyes startlingly bright; its posture looked less like someone going to the Sect Leader’s Peak and more like preparing to assault the mountain gate.
Su Ming reached up and patted its small head.
“Behave yourself.”
Shadow opened its beak and let out a faint cry, whether understanding or not was unclear.
The mountain path led upward straight to the Sect Leader’s Peak.
Among the peaks of the Cloud Hidden Sect, the Sect Leader’s Peak was the highest. The slope was not precipitous, yet it carried a solemn dignity as if it rose straight from the earth. The higher one climbed, the denser the mist, and the stronger the ambient spiritual energy became; even breathing felt cooler, seeping into the lungs.
Ancient pines lined both sides of the stone steps, their needles beaded with fine dewdrops. When the wind stirred, the pine fragrance and cloud mist spread together, serene like a laid-out scroll painting.
Su Ming walked up the stone steps without haste, but his mind involuntarily began to calculate.
Sect Leader Yun Miao Zhenren was a major cultivator at the Refining Void stage, usually looking amiable; but no matter how gentle, he was the head of a sect.
For a Foundation Establishment mid-stage True Disciple to go to the Sect Leader’s Peak and accuse the Sect Leader’s white crane in person…
If word got out, nine and a half out of ten people would think he had guts; the remaining half person would think he was foolish.
Still, thinking of the patch of ruined mud in the spiritual field made Su Ming’s expression darken several shades.
Those were not ordinary spirit herbs.
They were the Silver-Spotted Heart-Clearing Orchids he had coaxed into growth bit by bit with star force — the main ingredient for the Soul-Nourishing Incense and Lin Yu’s most reliable path to steady replenishment right now. The Sect Leader’s white crane’s greedy pecking away had devoured not a few plants but his steady development for the coming months.
After climbing for about half an incense stick’s time, the outline of the Sect Leader’s main hall finally appeared at the end of the stone steps.
The hall hung among the clouds, eaves sweeping outward, with copper bells on the corners tinkling clearly when stirred by the mountain wind. The white jade square in front of the hall gleamed under the morning mist, and several spirit birds circled in the clouds in the distance, their wings trailing threads of golden light.
A duty disciple stood outside the hall, straightening his sleeves. Seeing someone approach, he glanced up casually, then his expression immediately stiffened.
“Greetings, Senior Brother Su.”
He hurriedly cupped his hands.
A True Disciple purple robe was the clearest indicator of status within the sect.
Not to mention this was the recently prominent Formation Peak True Disciple, Su Ming.
After finishing the greeting, the duty disciple’s gaze involuntarily fell upon the shoulder where Shadow perched. Shadow stared back with golden eyes that showed little expression, which made the disciple’s heart tighten; he quickly averted his gaze.
Su Ming returned the salute and said, “Disciple Su Ming seeks an audience with the Sect Leader.”
The duty disciple froze for a moment.
It was not strange to see Su Ming at the Sect Leader’s Peak, but his demeanor… neither greeting, nor reporting for orders, nor the usual seeking of instruction or reward.
It looked like… something was wrong.
The duty disciple did not dare ask and only said, “Please wait a moment, Senior Brother.”
Then he walked briskly into the hall to report.
Su Ming stood before the hall, his sleeve swaying lightly in the wind. Shadow crouched motionless on his shoulder, alert like a little black raptor.
Soon the duty disciple hurried out again, his expression more solemn than before.
“The Sect Leader asks Senior Brother to come in.”
Su Ming nodded and stepped into the hall.
The Sect Leader’s Peak main hall was even more spacious than it appeared from the outside.
The floor was paved with whole slabs of blue jade, mirror-like. The interior was hardly ornate; instead, it was extremely plain. In the center stood a long table piled high with jade slips, and beside it a brazier burned a faint bluish incense for calming the spirit. The high ceiling hung above, with mist slowly drifting along the beams and columns as if clouds were imprisoned inside the room.
Yun Miao Zhenren sat behind the long table, head bent reading jade slips.
He wore a moon-white Daoist robe with wide sleeves and had gentle, refined features. If not for the deep aura naturally emanating from him, he would resemble more an erudite gentleman who had spent years in mountain seclusion.
Hearing footsteps, he put down the jade slip and raised his head.
“Su Ming?”
Yun Miao Zhenren recognized him and smiled, “This early in the morning, what brings you to the Sect Leader’s Peak?”
Su Ming stepped forward a few paces, stopped, and cupped his hands in salute. “Disciple Su Ming pays respects to the Sect Leader.”
“You may put away the formalities.” Yun Miao Zhenren raised a hand in a gentle gesture. “Speak, what is it?”
Su Ming did not beat around the bush. Standing, he said straightaway, “This morning I have come because of an incident and humbly ask the Sect Leader to judge it.”
Yun Miao’s eyebrows lifted slightly.
“Judge?”
His smile became warmer, as if finding the matter amusing and novel. “Tell me about it.”