Chapter 87: Qian Xunji Makes a Grand Entrance
"Seventh Elder, your strength is unquestionable—but what about Yuehua? She went out alone. What if she had encountered someone with ill intent?!"
Tang Xiao no longer backed down. He had already compromised too much. "Seventh Elder, unless you apologize to Yuehua, I will not let this go!"
"What? You want me to apologize to her?!"
Tang Lie was furious. What was his status and strength? What was Tang Yuehua's? Even if he was in the wrong, so what? What right did she have to receive his apology?
"Tang Xiao," the Second Elder cut in. "Old Seven may be a bit impulsive, but he's not wrong. Yuehua left the sect without reason and happened to run into Qian Xunji, spending many days with him before returning. Do you really think all that was a coincidence?"
Really, what reason did she have to leave the sect? The continent was vast, and she just so happened to run into Qian Xunji? And he just so happened to have the means to heal her scar? Who would believe that wasn't suspicious?
And the true "suspicion" was that Tang Yuehua loved Tang Hao—a truth that could never be spoken aloud.
Tang Xiao roared, "Do you all really not understand who Yuehua is? If she had feelings for Qian Xunji, wouldn't they have shown up as early as the Seven Sects Conference, when he revealed his Title Douluo power and hundred-thousand-year soul ring? But did she?"
"Seventh Elder, I'll say it one more time—apologize to Yuehua!"
The Second Elder fell silent for a moment. Tang Xiao had a point. "Old Seven, you're in the wrong. You should apologize."
The other elders nodded. They still wanted a share of Moon Pavilion's profits, after all.
Veins bulged on Tang Lie's forehead. Ever since Tang Chen left, when had he ever been forced to bow his head?
At that moment, a disheveled figure entered the Clear Sky Hall—unshaven, filthy, stinking of alcohol like a beggar. It was Tang Hao.
"Big Brother, uncles—what's going on? Are we under attack?"
"Yuehua, who hit you?! Your second brother will make it right!"
Seeing her face swollen, tear-streaked, and bruised, Tang Hao's eyes burned with fury. He knew she had been mocked since her disfigurement, but what could he do? They were all part of the Clear Sky Clan—he couldn't just start smashing heads left and right.
"Second Brother, Big Brother…"
Seeing her brothers about to stand up for her, Tang Yuehua finally felt supported. All the humiliation she had bottled up was about to burst out.
But Tang Lie, upon seeing Tang Hao, became even angrier—and decided to shift all the blame onto him.
"You disgraceful cripple! Why are you here? If it weren't for you, none of this would've happened! If you hadn't overestimated yourself and used Nine-Ring Detonation, Yuehua wouldn't have been disfigured, and Moon Pavilion wouldn't have lost thirty percent of its profits!"
Tang Xiao and Tang Hao were stunned. What was going on? Why was Tang Lie blaming him the moment he walked in?
"What? Am I wrong? Isn't it all your fault? If you hadn't been so reckless, Yuehua would still be running Moon Pavilion like normal! You should be the one apologizing—not me!"
Tang Lie huffed and stormed off. The six elders were united. He was confident his brothers would defend his share of the pie.
Silence fell over the hall for ten seconds.
After hearing the full story, Tang Hao was overcome with guilt. Tang Lie had a point—it really was kind of his fault.
"Yuehua, this is all Second Brother's fault. If you want someone to blame, blame me."
"Big Brother, let's just let this go. The sect is already in turmoil, and everyone's eyeing our title as number one. We can't afford internal division."
"…Fine."
Tang Xiao sighed deeply. The fact that he hadn't stopped Tang Lie said enough—he didn't want an all-out power struggle either.
"Yuehua, let's just put this behind us."
At those words, tears gushed from Tang Yuehua's eyes like a flood. She ran out of the hall, utterly broken, her skirt tearing as she fled.
"Yuehua!"
"Let her cry," Tang Xiao said. "Don't interfere. I'll make sure she recruits more students and earns more for the sect. Aside from the portion owed to Spirit Hall, thirty percent of Moon Pavilion's income will go to the sect, and the rest—ten percent each—to you elders."
He knew Yuehua was devastated, but not why. Since childhood, her life had been hard. Her mother died days after giving birth. She awakened a useless martial soul. She was bullied. People even said she was cursed.
She had always endured—because she had three supports: Tang Chen, Tang Xiao, and Tang Hao.
Now Tang Chen was dead. And Tang Xiao and Tang Hao, instead of defending her, let her suffer alone.
With all her emotional pillars shattered, her breakdown was inevitable.
There are only two ways to deal with such pain. One is to find a new emotional support. The other is to harden oneself—but that comes with deep emotional scars and alienation from those who hurt her.
A third option—suicide—was unthinkable in the Clear Sky Sect's indoctrination. That would never happen.
Qian Xunji had watched the drama unfold for a while now. After all the mental energy he had spent crafting this script, there was no way he'd let Tang Yuehua endure alone.
Feigning ignorance, he casually entered the hall.
Tang Yuehua, still in tears, didn't notice and ran straight into his chest. She staggered, but before she could fall, Qian Xunji caught her with soul power.
"You're crying again? And this bruise—who hit you so hard?"
His brows furrowed, and his palm glowed with angelic soul power, gently healing her swelling.
His warm voice reached her ears. Her teary, dazed eyes met his.
She saw Qian Xunji's flawless features, his deep blue eyes, his golden hair bathed in sunlight.
In that moment, to the heartbroken and shattered Tang Yuehua, Qian Xunji looked just like a god.
Thank you for the support, friends. If you want to read more chapters in advance, go to my Patreon.
Read 20 Chapters In Advance: patreon.com/Johanssen