The Legend of the Devil
Ch. 76 - The Eternal Ancestral Hall
Rumors spread so quickly like a stormy wind sweeping across land. The Eternal Valley was getting shocks lately, rumors were turning to the greatest college.
After sending two of his students to explain the important mission outside the Empire, the news that the two students brought home slowly scratched the reputation of the famous college for its greatness.
The Eternal Valley courtyard was filled with college students who were training for the Beginner Swordsman Exam in a few more months, four young men walking side by side behind one of the Master in the college while bowing, looking down, the man carrying them looked so complicated his face as he brought the four young men to meet the Elder.
An Eternal Valley disciple opened the door of the Eternal Ancestral Hall where a 100-year-old elder was sitting firmly inside as well as a sword eye was stuck to the floor.
"Chairman, I beg you to discipline them, give them the punishment of the negligence of the four of them."
The loud bang on the wooden floor echoed with the opening of the 45th Elder's pale white eyes. The medicine is snow-white but death has not yet picked him up, making the man sensitive and blood-ridden. He cursed on the sidelines of his glare.
"It is fitting that I whip them all! No matter from any college or Empire! Defying the rules in carrying out the mission is something that cannot be forgiven!" it was so hard that his saliva splashed everywhere. His white beard twitched, furious with the man.
All of these problems were fixed on one thing, the girl surnamed Wen.
"How could you just let go of that girl? Tell me, which stupid kid comes home with only a body after his mission?"
"We." Jiazhen Yan replied at an inopportune moment, Xue Zhan then pulled back his friend's head to bow back.
"Punish us, Elders. All this is out of control. After rescuing Miss Wen five attacking demon lizards, we did indeed manage to defeat the Poet Ghost and survive the Ghosts Gnawers. But the Cursed Demon Forest has hundreds of dangerous demons, our lives are under threat and we find a way out."
His glare grew more fierce, "You guys left that girl?"
Xiao Rong raised his face to speak, "Let me explain as Team Leader, Elder. Miss Wen may have been unable to be saved because just then one of the four demons that were chasing us turned towards her. I heard Miss Wen's scream. We're already dying and also being chased, can't save Miss Wen. forgive us."
The young man again bowed with both palms touching the floor, earnestly apologizing for his negligence as team leader.
The 45th elder threw his face away, stood up and walked towards the window. Seeing the disciple pass by there, looking annoyed.
"Failure in this mission would lower the reputation of the Eternal Valley before Emperor Li's face. Our empire owes them so much and this is all you can do? Don't you think this is a serious mistake?"
His voice is blaring. "Xue Zhan!"
Xue Zhan raised his face deathly pale.
"Tell me the truth! Where did you hide that girl?!"
The man did not want to waste much time, the wrinkles on his face became more visible because anger continued to flare in his chest. Xue Zhan did not dare to look into those eyes, he whispered to the side.
"How is this?"
It seems that the elder already knew the truth. It is free to debate the man who has lived for a century. Until the sun changes the moon will have no end.
"I'll explain the truth. I don't want this because you and Jiazhen Yan are being punished by it" Xiao Rong whispered back.
He looked at the 45th Elder who seemed to have read what Xiao Rong was about to say.
Kang Jian and the 45th Elder fell silent. Since one week after their return on the mission and said it had failed to save Wen Zhiqiang, there was an unseen turmoil in the Feng Empire.
This caused a lot of problems that they never thought of. That girl is more valuable than they know.
"We were not informed of what Miss Wen was going through, she committed suicide in the Cursed Demon Forest in the hope of escaping all the suffering. He's been locked up, chained up and used as an experimental object for sixteen years and almost crazy for it."
The 45th elder was still waiting for Xiao Rong to finish his sentence.
"After we heard it, we agreed to give Ms. Wen freedom. We don't turn our backs on the rules. Inside the mission order our only duty is to save Miss Wen. We managed to bring him out of the Cursed Demon Forest. And ... After that, he goes wherever he goes and we won't hold back his freedom."
"You—" cried the 45th Elder restrained.
"Miss Wen said she would return to her home when she had calmed down. He wouldn't run away knowing his sister would be a trial material if he just ran away. That's all I can tell you. If anyone should be punished, then it was me who sucked so badly as chairman. Forgive my carelessness."
Xiao Rong looked down. Be prepared to accept any punishment.
The Eternal Valley was famous for its strict rules which were extremely suffocating. The place where Kang Jian grew up was the college where Jiazhen Yan and Xue Zhan were currently residing, one of the largest colleges that prospered and also contributed thousands of genius and great warriors to the Diqiu Empire. Many elders had regretted Kang Jian's decision to appoint Xue Zhan as his first disciple.
Some disciples also blatantly displayed his dislike towards Xue Zhan. Right now they were still being polite since Kang Jian was his teacher, he was a highly respected person in the Eternal Valley.
"That's the answer I'm looking for from you, bad boys. You guys finally softened too. I don't understand what Emperor Li was thinking when he appointed you to do this mission. Really not thinking ..."
How many times had the four youths been interrogated, in the end they gave up.
The change in expression was accompanied by his voice which slowly softened.
"I still can't believe that the Ghost Poet has been subverted. This is big news. Raise your heads."
Xue Zhan, Xian Shen, Jiazhen Yan and Xiao Rong carried out the order.
"This is good news and also bad news" he said. "Xue Zhan, you can stay here. And for the three of you, Kang Jian will give the appropriate punishment for your actions. Emperor Li delivered it himself to me to discipline all of you."
"Punishment? What penalty?" Xian Shen was panicking.
"Whip 30 times."
That light answer made Xian Shen limp. "Then Xue Zhan? He's not punished?"
"He'll take double that."
Xue Zhan's turn was shocked. His mouth opened, Kang Jian immediately dragged the three young men out of the room to give the room the 45th Elder spoke to his disciple. It turned out that they were brought here not only because of Miss Wen's problem.
For a moment the atmosphere around turned grim, Xue Zhan stared for quite a while at the 45th Elder who was still unsteadily making his voice.
"I see fear in your eyes" the man murmured very small, as if he were whispering.