Chapter 20: Daring to Threaten Me?

Chapter 20: Dare to Threaten Me?

"Chief Li, this person is truly gifted."

The female sect leader stood opposite Chen Ping’an, her previously wild demeanor now much subdued, her tone suddenly calm.

"It seems... I have allowed this madwoman to make an exception."

Chen Ping’an remained expressionless.

In his previous life, he was an unparalleled beauty adored by all, believing that if one could not conquer women with their looks, it was his greatest failure.

"Chief Li, has the sect leader chosen him?"

A young man with reddened eyes, overwhelmed with emotion, asked while staring at the sect leader’s back.

"Indeed."

Li Lian nodded lightly and waved her hand, signaling, "Everything is over. The sect leader has made her choice; you may all return home."

"Chief Li, I refuse to accept this!"

"Why was Wang, who cannot even play the flute, passed over in favor of him?"

Many voiced their doubts.

"Sect leader..."

Li Lian was about to explain when the sect leader, clad in a floor-length gown, suddenly turned around. Her eyes were cold and indifferent, her voice hoarse as she said, "To play the flute, it is called playing the flute, yet it is not playing the flute."

Her words left the youths dumbfounded—they did not understand at all.

Li Lian frowned, equally puzzled by the sect leader’s cryptic speech.

Chen Ping’an’s eyes lit up.

Years ago, he had spoken exactly these words to a woman. He had taught her the art of flute playing.

"Lan’er?"

Chen Ping’an transmitted his voice silently, attempting to utter a name long sealed away.

Lan’er was the nickname of his former girlfriend, whose real name was Lan Fenghuang.

The sect leader ignored him.

Chen Ping’an frowned. That phrase was his own creation; no one else should have used it.

Could it be that this woman was not Lan Fenghuang herself?

Perhaps she was Lan Fenghuang’s daughter?

Had Lan Fenghuang passed down this skill to her own child before dying?

Unwilling to give up, Chen Ping’an continued to transmit his voice quietly, adding a faint trumpet call.

"Lan’er, I am your brother Chong... have you forgotten me?"

The sect leader gave Chen Ping’an a strange look, then abruptly turned to Li Lian and said, "Chief Steward, I will take him away."

"Farewell, sect leader."

Li Lian bowed slightly as she saw the sect leader off.

Suppressing the lingering doubts in his heart, Chen Ping’an followed the sect leader back to the large courtyard. Upon entering, four men in splendid robes approached.

Each was a peerless beauty, dignified and handsome.

Yet compared to Chen Ping’an, they were like stars beside the bright moon; his own radiance seemed dim in comparison.

There was no helping it.

Chen Ping’an was so strikingly handsome that even the Empress of a realm had been captivated; one could imagine the extent of his beguiling looks.

"These are the other four deputy sect leaders."

The sect leader glanced at Chen Ping’an and smiled as she explained.

So many deputy sect leaders?

For a moment, Chen Ping’an felt as if he had stepped into a trap.

Could it be that these men, like him, initially could not play the flute?

Thinking this, Chen Ping’an could only laugh bitterly.

Ever since joining the Five Poisons Sect, everything felt strange, especially the sect leader, who seemed both familiar and yet distant.

The sect leader stepped back two paces, looking at the five handsome men before her with seriousness.

"Though you all have talent, you have yet to grasp the true essence of flute playing. Therefore, your positions as deputy sect leaders are not secure.

If anyone can comprehend the true essence, that person will be the genuine deputy sect leader of the Five Poisons Sect. The other four will be sent away..."

"Sect leader, rest assured. We study the art of flute playing day and night and believe that soon we will grasp the truth."

The four deputy sect leaders spoke respectfully.

"Since a new member has joined, I reiterate the highest realm of flute playing—To play the flute is called playing the flute, yet it is not playing the flute... You must truly understand this to formally assume your positions as deputy sect leaders."

The sect leader’s voice was grave.

Hearing this, Chen Ping’an felt a complex mixture of emotions; the sect leader increasingly resembled someone he knew.

Yet her face was hidden by messy hair, making it impossible to see clearly.

Shifting his thoughts, Chen Ping’an clasped his hands and smiled.

"Sect leader, the world says the Five Poisons Sect leader’s beauty is unparalleled and heavenly. I have long admired your grace but never had the chance to see you… Might you reveal your true face today and fulfill this humble wish of mine?"

The other four handsome men also turned their gazes toward her, evidently curious.

They had been in the Five Poisons Sect for years but had never seen the sect leader’s peerless beauty.

"Very well."

After a brief silence, the sect leader extended a slender, fair hand and slowly swept aside the hair from her forehead, revealing an exquisitely beautiful face.

Her features were as if carved by a master’s blade—flawless and delicate, skin like creamy jade, eyes like autumn waters, a finely sculpted nose, and sensuous red lips, reminiscent of a blooming rose.

Chen Ping’an’s expression grew grave.

This woman was his former girlfriend, Lan Fenghuang.

Yet for some reason, his memories had completely vanished.

Her cultivation level did not match either; he recalled that when they met, Lan Fenghuang had been a powerful figure in the Divine Void Realm, yet now her cultivation had fallen to the peak of the Golden Body Realm’s tenth layer.

What had happened?

The sect leader turned and left, leaving only the five men behind.

"Follow me."

One handsome man looked at Chen Ping’an with a complicated expression.

Chen Ping’an hurried to follow.

Crossing a babbling brook, they entered an ancient-style room.

"Close the door! Attack!"

As soon as they entered, the handsome young man shouted and, together with three others, lunged at Chen Ping’an.

Chen Ping’an was furious.

Were these men human? Strangers to one another, yet they conspired to gang up on him.

Bang, bang, bang...

Chen Ping’an struck back.

Within moments, all four were knocked down, faces bruised and battered, their internal organs injured, coughing up blood as they lay on the ground.

These four were mere pretenders, their highest cultivation barely reaching the third layer of the Golden Body Realm.

Even though Chen Ping’an’s realm was one tier lower, with his innate sacred body, Dao seed, and the Nine-Turn Immortal Demon Technique, they were no match for him.

Cries of pain echoed through the room.

"Haha, newcomer, you’re bold to injure all four deputy sect leaders. Just wait for the sect leader’s wrath!"

One handsome youth spat out a broken tooth and sneered.

"Dare to threaten me?"

Chen Ping’an’s gaze turned icy.

These four were malicious, plotting one treacherous scheme after another.

After being beaten, they still tried to turn the tables, aiming to kill him.

Since they showed no mercy, he would be ruthless.

Chen Ping’an drew a blood-red longsword and, striking one by one, killed them all.

This was the Bloodthirsty Demon Sword.

It absorbed blood, and the four instantly became dried corpses.

As a sacred artifact awarded by the system, Chen Ping’an did not need to refine it and could control it at will.

No aura leaked out during the killings.

The blood-red blade shimmered with an eerie dark red light as if it were alive and breathing.

"As the leader of a sect, to be confined within such a small courtyard, essentially under house arrest, while her mind is muddled and she roams about learning flute from handsome men—such strange behavior must be due to some persecution..."

Chen Ping’an sheathed the sword and turned to leave the room.

He returned to the original garden and found the old musician still playing the jade flute.

"I want to see the sect leader."

He said calmly.

The old musician’s eyes widened. "Is the sect leader someone you can see just whenever you want?"

"I have comprehended the highest realm of flute playing; do I not have the right to meet the sect leader?"

Chen Ping’an’s eyes grew cold.

Upon hearing this, the old musician’s breathing grew rapid.

(End of chapter)