Chapter Fourteen: Justice Served

In the outer courtyard of Danxia Sect, several disciples busied themselves with drying medicinal herbs while discussing the grand initiation ceremony that had stirred the entire sect.

“Brother Xu, do you really know that Qi Fei?” a delicate-looking youth asked, his face a mixture of surprise and curiosity as he gazed up at an older boy.

Xu Yi, who was sorting herbs, looked up excitedly. “Of course! Qi Fei was once an outer courtyard disciple too. Naturally, I know him.”

A sallow-faced middle-aged man nearby sneered and shook his head. “Brother Xu, you may know him, but I doubt Qi Fei remembers you now.”

Xu Yi hesitated, then protested, “Nonsense, Old Hu! Qi Fei and I have known each other for years. We used to go out together to gather herbs. How could he not remember me?”

Old Hu replied coldly, “Qi Fei is now an inner disciple of the sect, far above us in the outer courtyard. If he still cared about old ties, why hasn’t he come looking for you?”

Xu Yi was momentarily speechless, then muttered indignantly, “Qi Fei isn’t the kind to forget old friends for profit. Now that fate has favored him and he’s joined the sect as an inner disciple, once his cultivation flourishes, he’ll surely come back to find me. When that happens, the days of that Demon King Ma will be over.”

“And whose days are you saying are over?”

Suddenly, a chillingly familiar voice sounded from behind, so cold that everyone in the courtyard froze in terror. Xu Yi’s face went pale, sweat instantly beading on his brow.

Ma Deyuan strode over, his expression dark and menacing. “Xu Yi, were you talking about me?”

Xu Yi blushed crimson, fear evident in his eyes as he mumbled, “No, I...”

Ma Deyuan sneered, then slapped Xu Yi hard across the face. “Insolent wretch, daring to gossip behind my back.”

Under Ma Deyuan’s oppressive presence, Xu Yi lost all courage and immediately began to beg, “Qi Fei, who entered the sect today, is my friend, Master Ma. For his sake, I beg your mercy.”

Ma Deyuan, having finally recalled the newly initiated disciple, remembered that the boy named Qi Fei had always been good at reading people and had never offended him. He felt somewhat reassured.

But emboldened by his authority, Ma Deyuan had no intention of letting Xu Yi off easily. He began to beat him mercilessly.

“You’re already late with last month’s tribute, and now you dare gossip about me? Today I’ll teach you a lesson and see if that precious Qi Fei can save you now.”

Watching Xu Yi clutch his head and beg for mercy, the other outer courtyard disciples were terrified, each fearing Ma Deyuan’s wrath might turn on them next, so they kept their heads down in silence.

Ma Deyuan was in the midst of his beating when a furious shout erupted behind him, followed by a searing pain in his back. The tyrant of the outer courtyard, feared by all, was sent flying by a single punch.

The sudden turn of events left the disciples stunned. A white-clad youth stood with a face full of wrath, pinning Ma Deyuan beneath his foot.

Ma Deyuan cried out in pain, terror rising within him. Forcing himself to look back, he broke out in a cold sweat.

The youth glaring down at him was none other than Qi Fei, once an outer courtyard disciple, now a newly inducted inner disciple. Ma Deyuan dared not resist.

“Spare me, Senior Brother Qi! Xu Yi was boasting in the courtyard, claiming you were an old friend. I was just angry and... I didn’t realize they truly knew you. This is all a misunderstanding. Please, Senior Brother, forgive me!”

As Ma Deyuan grimaced and groveled, Qi Fei could not help but feel a sense of irony.

Ma Deyuan, merely a relative of the outer courtyard steward, had lorded it over the weak for years. Now that Qi Fei had become an inner disciple, the old tyrant put on a sycophantic face, shamelessly calling him “Senior Brother.” The words of his master, the Bloodshadow Lord, echoed in his mind: in this world, the strong are revered. To avoid being trampled, one had to step firmly on others.

Seeing Qi Fei unmoved, Ma Deyuan pleaded, “Senior Brother Qi, I’ve never had any grievance with you. Today’s matter was my fault. I’ll apologize to Xu Yi right away. For Steward Ma’s sake, please have mercy.”

The commotion soon attracted the entire outer courtyard. News spread quickly that Qi Fei, the new inner disciple, had returned and subdued the infamous Demon King Ma. The courtyard soon filled with spectators.

Steward Ma Zhong hurried over, pushing through the crowd to stand before Qi Fei. Seeing his relative suffering, Ma Zhong’s face darkened.

“Qi Fei, you just joined the sect today, and already you’re causing trouble in my outer courtyard. Have you forgotten the sect rules the Grand Elder taught in the main hall?”

Qi Fei turned slowly, producing a command token from his robe. “I am here on my master’s orders. How have I violated the rules?”

Seeing the elder’s token and the well-known Jiang Yifan nearby, Ma Zhong suddenly realized that this youth was highly favored by the sect master and elders, no ordinary disciple.

Ma Zhong’s face shifted to one of respect. “I was wrong. But may I ask what my cousin has done? Could you release him for now?”

Qi Fei sneered, “Ma Deyuan has committed countless misdeeds, disgracing Danxia Sect. Today, on my master’s orders, I have come to capture him. Whether or not I release this villain is up to the disciples here to decide.”

Hearing this, the gathered disciples were beside themselves with joy. At last, the notorious Demon King Ma was to face justice.

Before Ma Zhong could reply, Xu Yi, still recovering from his beating, summoned his courage and spoke first, “Demon King Ma has done countless evil deeds. Senior Brother Qi, you mustn’t let him go.”

As if igniting a powder keg, Xu Yi’s words inspired the crowd. The disciples began to denounce Ma Deyuan’s crimes, wishing they could tear him apart themselves.

Qi Fei cast a cold glance at Ma Zhong. “Those who commit evil will meet their own destruction. Ma Deyuan has run rampant for years, earning the hatred of all. Today he reaps what he has sown. Steward Ma, you shouldn’t try to shield him. You’ve enabled his cruelty for years; even you may not escape the sect’s judgement.”

A flash of hatred crossed Ma Zhong’s eyes as he retorted, “The outer courtyard is full of unsavory types, not like sect disciples. Rules must be stricter. Ma Deyuan may have erred, but he’s contributed greatly to the sect. You, a newly initiated disciple, have no authority to deal with him.”

“Is that so?” Qi Fei raised his token and, channeling his energy, stomped down hard on Ma Deyuan’s right hand. A heart-rending scream rang out as Ma Deyuan’s hand was crippled, and he immediately fainted from the pain.

Even as Qi Fei delivered his punishment, Ma Zhong gritted his teeth and invoked his own backer. “You’re twisting the truth for your personal grudge! You dare act out here in the outer courtyard? Do you even respect the sect’s rules anymore? I only follow Elder Huo’s orders. If Elder Huo hears of this, you’ll not be let off lightly.”

“Elder Huo?”

Though Qi Fei had been only an outer disciple, he’d heard of Elder Huo’s reputation—the strongest in Danxia Sect, second only to the sect master and grand elder.

Jiang Yifan, hearing Elder Huo’s name, turned pale and whispered, “Master has ordered, Ma Deyuan’s life must be spared. Since Elder Huo is involved, we should leave the matter to the sect master and grand elder.”

Qi Fei sneered inwardly. The outer courtyard was rife with corruption, even colluding with the sect elders. If he let Ma Deyuan go today, how could he face his wronged friends and the oppressed disciples?

Qi Fei had planned from the start to take Ma Deyuan’s life today, to offer blood in memory of his fallen friends. How could he spare such a villain?

If one always hesitated and feared to act, what was the point of seeking the Dao, no matter how high one’s cultivation?