The Ferocious God in the Celestial Master's Mansion

Chapter 10 Zhang Jingqing's Protective Nature

The clouds and mist of Longhu Mountain are usually so thick they cover the sky, but in the past few days, they seem to have been dispersed by an invisible, malevolent aura.

When Zhang Yulei appeared at the gate of the Celestial Master's Mansion, covered in blood and in a sorry state, the gatekeeper almost didn't recognize him. The once tall and bright-eyed junior uncle now had disheveled hair, his black outfit stained dark red with blood and torn in several places, revealing skin covered in scratches and bruises. His breathing was as erratic as a candle flickering in the wind, but his eyes still held an indomitable sharpness.

"Junior Uncle!" the young Taoist exclaimed and stepped forward to help him, but Zhang Yulei raised his hand to stop him.

"Where is Master?" Zhang Yulei's voice was terribly hoarse, each word sounding like it was being squeezed out of his throat.

"The Celestial Master is meditating in the Chengyun Hall." The young Taoist disciple, not daring to be negligent, quickly said, "Junior Uncle, what are you doing...?"

Zhang Yulei did not answer. He pushed aside the young disciple and staggered toward Chengyun Hall. The disciples along the way were all shocked to see him like this, and whispers rose and fell. However, when they saw the bloodshot in his eyes, they all shut their mouths and dared not say anything more.

Inside the Hall of Auspicious Incense, the air was thick with the fragrance of sandalwood. Zhang Qingjing sat cross-legged on the Celestial Master's throne, his eyes slightly closed, a faint aura surrounding him. Hearing footsteps, he slowly opened his eyes, and when his gaze fell on Zhang Yulei, a flicker of emotion flashed in his deep eyes.

"You're back." Zhang Qingjing's voice was still calm, but it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Zhang Yulei fell to his knees with a thud. The sudden movement reopened his wounds, and blood seeped out, staining the bluestone slab beneath him. He lowered his head, his voice tinged with guilt and exhaustion: "Master, your disciple... your disciple has failed you."

He didn't hide anything and recounted his experiences of going down the mountain for training in detail—visiting the Sanyi Sect, Wudang, and Quanzhen, and making friends; encountering the Qingyun Sect committing evil at Black Stone Ridge and rescuing them; being chased by the Qingyun Sect, the Quanxing Sect intervening, and finally, his violent temper erupting, resulting in the slaughter of nearly a hundred people. He told all of this in its entirety.

The hall was completely silent, except for the crackling sound of burning sandalwood.

Zhang Qingjing listened quietly, his face expressionless, until Zhang Yulei finished speaking before he slowly opened his mouth: "Do you know that you killed nearly a hundred people, including core disciples of the Qingyun Sect and elders of the Quanxing Sect? Once this is revealed, the entire world of supernatural beings will be shaken?"

"Disciple knows." Zhang Yulei lowered his head even further. "Disciple could not control the violent energy within him and made a grave mistake. He is willing to accept punishment."

"Can't control yourself?" Zhang Qingjing's voice suddenly rose several decibels. "Did I feed all the Taoist classics I taught you, all the methods of self-cultivation I taught you, to the dogs?!"

He abruptly stood up, his withered finger pointing at Zhang Yulei, a flash of anger in his eyes: "I warned you long ago that your inner demons are filled with resentment. If you cannot control them, you will be consumed by them! And yet, you went down the mountain for training and killed nearly a hundred people! Do you know how much trouble this will bring to Longhu Mountain?!"

Zhang Yulei trembled, but did not refute. He knew that his master was right; he had lost control and had caused trouble for Longhu Mountain.

Just then, a commotion arose outside the hall, accompanied by disciples' shouts of protest and an arrogant voice: "Zhang Qingjing! Hand over your wicked disciple now! Otherwise, my Qingyun Sect will raze your Longhu Mountain to the ground today!"

Zhang Qingjing's eyes instantly turned cold.

Zhang Yulei also raised his head, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes. He knew that what was bound to happen had finally arrived.

"Master, I caused this mess myself, I will take responsibility!" Zhang Yulei struggled to stand up, but due to exhaustion, he fell back to the ground.

"Carry? What are you going to carry?" Zhang Qingjing scoffed. "You can't even stand up straight, and you want to carry something?"

He turned to look outside the hall, his voice booming like a bell: "Let them in!"

The Taoist boy guarding the gate dared not disobey and quickly opened the temple door.

A large group of people strode in, led by an elderly man in a blue Taoist robe, his face ashen. He was none other than Wei Wuji, the leader of the Qingyun Sect. Behind him followed a group of core disciples of the Qingyun Sect, each with an angry expression and a murderous aura.

Behind the Qingyun Sect disciples followed a group of people dressed in various attire, including representatives from the Quanzhen Sect, the Wudang Sect, and even some independent and unorthodox individuals. These people all wore solemn expressions, clearly there to exert pressure.

As soon as Wei Wuji entered the hall, his gaze fell on Zhang Yulei lying on the ground, his eyes blazing with murderous intent: "Zhang Yulei! You wicked disciple! You killed my Qingyun Sect's Enforcement Elder and slaughtered dozens of my disciples! Today, I will take your dog's life to avenge my Qingyun Sect disciples!"

As he spoke, he was about to rush towards Zhang Yulei.

"stop!"

A cold shout rang out, exploding like thunder in the hall.

Wei Wuji abruptly stopped, looking up at Zhang Qingjing with a flicker of fear in his eyes, yet still forcing himself to speak: "Zhang Qingjing! You want to protect this wicked disciple? Let me tell you, impossible! Today, you either hand over Zhang Yulei, or my Qingyun Sect will fight your Longhu Mountain to the death!"

"A fight to the death?" Zhang Qingjing sneered, her eyes filled with disdain. "Your Qingyun Sect? You think you're worthy?"

He took a step forward, and his aura suddenly erupted, unleashing a powerful pressure that swept over Wei Wuji like a mountain crashing down. Wei Wuji's expression changed drastically; he felt short of breath, as if his bones were about to be crushed, and involuntarily took several steps back.

"Zhang Qingjing! Don't go too far!" Wei Wuji said through gritted teeth, "This matter is not just a matter for my Qingyun Sect! This wicked disciple has slaughtered nearly a hundred people, including members of the Quanxing Sect, which has already violated the rules of the supernatural world! Today, representatives from all the major sects are here. If you insist on protecting him, you will be making an enemy of the entire supernatural world!"

The representatives from various factions who had followed them in nodded in agreement. An elder from the Quanzhen Sect stepped forward and said, "Master Zhang, please reconsider this matter. Zhang Yulei has indiscriminately killed innocent people and has become a public enemy. If Longhu Mountain insists on protecting him, it may incite public outrage."

"Indiscriminate killing?" Zhang Qingjing's gaze swept over the crowd, her eyes icy. "I'd like to ask, why did my disciple kill? If your Qingyun Sect hadn't colluded with the Quanxing Sect to harm the innocent, would he have taken action? If your Qingyun Sect hadn't been so aggressive and relentless in its pursuit, would he have erupted in such a violent outburst?"

His voice boomed like a bell, deafening: "You keep saying he broke the rules, but which of you so-called righteous sects is clean? The Qingyun Sect colluded with the Quanxing Sect, wreaking havoc in the region, and you turned a blind eye; some disciples of the Quanzhen Sect, under the guise of training, plundered the people, and you turned a deaf ear; some elders of the Wudang Sect secretly fought for territory and suppressed smaller sects, and you turned a blind eye! Now, my disciple has killed a few wicked people, and you jump out to say he broke the rules? It's an absolute joke!"

Everyone was speechless, their faces turning pale and then red.

Wei Wuji's face turned even uglier: "Zhang Qingjing! Don't you dare slander me! When has my Qingyun Sect ever colluded with the Quanxing Sect?"

"Whether he is or not, you know it in your heart," Zhang Qingjing said calmly. "Today, I'm putting my words here: Zhang Yulei is my last disciple, a member of Longhu Mountain! Anyone who wants to touch him will have to get past me first!"

"Fine! What a fiercely protective Zhang Qingjing is!" Wei Wuji laughed angrily. "Since you insist on protecting this wicked disciple, then we'll have no choice but to be impolite!"

With a wave of his hand, the Qingyun Sect disciples behind him were about to make their move.