Chapter 50

*Snap!*

With a crisp sound, Zang Xingqian, whose expression was stiff, took out a yellowish-orange fruit from somewhere, bit into it twice, and casually threw the core on the ground. He forced a smile, the corners of his mouth barely twitching, and said, "How could I dare to ruin Brother Hou's good deed? I just came for something else!"

Although he was facing away from Li Chen, Li Chen could clearly see the shape of the fruit core, which was undoubtedly the Yun Li fruit he had been eating for over a year.

The icy aura and stiff voice made Li Chen guess who the visitor was.

*Squeak!*

The little monkey, trembling under the pressure, mustered up the strength to crawl towards the fruit core, reaching out with its small paws to grab it and eat it.

*Flap!*

Before it could put the fruit in its mouth, Lei Peng flapped its wings and immediately struck the little monkey on the head. Its light golden eyes flashed with disdain, as if scolding it.

The little monkey felt extremely wronged and turned to look at Li Chen, but his eyes were fixed on Zang Xingqian, completely unaware of the small actions of the two beasts.

Out of fear of Lei Peng, the little monkey pouted, moved its tired body, and lay down beside Li Chen, not daring to look at the fruit core again.

"Best not to, quickly move aside, don't block the old man from disciplining his disciple!"

Hou Danchen waved his hand with a gloomy face, as if chasing away a plague.

"Brother Hou, if it's about disciplining a disciple, why not let the Discipline Hall handle it? That's what we're here for!"

Zang Xingqian nodded, stepping aside to reveal Li Chen, who was slowly standing up.

"You dare, Zombie Face? Today, the old man is disciplining a disciple of the academy. What right do you have to interfere?"

Hou Danchen's face changed slightly, looking somewhat nervous.

Everyone was confused. How did disciplining someone lead to an argument, and between two of the major figures of Nanyun Peak?

"Brother Hou, that's not right. When a disciple of the academy commits a crime, isn't it always the Discipline Hall that punishes them?"

Zang Xingqian remained calm and composed, but his slightly pale face, under the icy aura, gave off a chilling feeling, making it hard for anyone to look directly at him.

"You... "

Hou Danchen was speechless, his words choked by Zang Xingqian's. He looked at Li Chen and the two beasts, scratching his head in frustration.

"Head of the Academy, Head of the Hall, I have a suggestion that could resolve this matter!"

Seeing the two major figures staring at each other, Zhang Chulong felt it was his chance to shine. He straightened his clothes, stepped forward, and bowed to both of them.

"Speak!"

"Speak!"

They spoke in unison, but Zang Xingqian's face remained indifferent, while Hou Danchen's brows were slightly furrowed.

"This person is named Li Chen, who has committed several major offenses against the sect. The evidence is clear, and he should be executed. However, since heaven has a benevolent nature, why not publicly strip him of his cultivation and expel him from the sect to set an example?"

Zhang Chulong spoke confidently, looking around at the disciples, who were admiring and respecting him. He felt elated, completely unaware of the increasingly dark expressions of the two major figures.

"What do you think?"

Almost simultaneously, they looked at each other, Zang Xingqian's face slightly tense but still indifferent, while Hou Danchen was glaring and fuming, showing no sign of backing down.

"Can't say!"

Again, they spoke without context, leaving the disciples utterly confused, not knowing what the two major figures were up to.

"If the Head of the Academy and the Head of the Hall can't do it, I am willing to take the responsibility and be the bad guy!"

Zhang Chulong bowed and stepped forward, putting on a righteous appearance.

His deep understanding and willingness to solve the problem for the elders of the sect immediately earned him the admiration of the surrounding disciples, some of whom even cheered softly.

If the two major figures weren't there, they might have cheered out loud.

"Get out!"

Two angry shouts, one dark and one furious, echoed. If not for the different auras, it would have been hard to tell who said what. The two had just been at odds, yet now they spoke in unison.

The auras of the two major figures suddenly erupted, and Zhang Chulong, unable to withstand them, was pushed back several steps. He was only stopped by Pang Wenshan's support.

His handsome face turned red, and even if he was slow to understand, he now realized he had completely misunderstood the situation. Being a smart person, he had already sensed the true purpose behind their confrontation.

It seemed they weren't in a hurry to decide who would punish Li Chen but rather were vying for him.

Thinking of this, Zhang Chulong felt a deep jealousy. Clearly, Li Chen's talent had caught the attention of the two major figures, and they might be competing to take him as a disciple.

Considering himself a top cultivator and an elite genius of the sect, while Li Chen was just an outer sect disciple with many offenses, he felt a burning anger.

But in the face of their anger, Zhang Chulong dared not object. He pulled away from Pang Wenshan's support, his face covered in dirt, and left the courtyard.

Staying any longer would only bring more shame.

"What are you looking at? Get lost! Do you want the old man to invite you to stay?"

Hou Danchen's eyes widened, and he glared around, venting his anger at the disruption on everyone.

These disciples, being inner sect members, dared not speak against the solidified essence realm Hou Danchen and scattered like birds and beasts, quickly leaving the courtyard.

Chu Ziyun had wanted to stay, as this was her courtyard, but under Pang Wenshan's signal, she finally left, her last look at Li Chen filled with a hint of something different.

Perhaps it was the lingering emotion from over a year ago, reignited by Li Chen's reappearance.

For a moment, the courtyard was empty, and on Nanyun Peak, no one dared to defy Hou Danchen's words, except for the current Head of the Discipline Hall.

Li Chen moved to leave.

"Boy, stay put, or you won't have a good fruit to eat!"

Hou Danchen glared at him angrily, like an old man scolding his own disciple.

Li Chen glanced at him, and from the subtle situation between the two, he could tell that they definitely weren't planning to punish or kill him.

Without hesitation, Li Chen reached into his robe, took out a storage bag under Hou Danchen's watchful eye, infused it with the little remaining inner breath, opened it, and took out a Yun Li fruit. He divided it into three parts and shared it with the two beasts.

Seeing this, Hou Danchen was furious, his face red and eyes wide. This was clearly a mockery of his earlier words, "You won't have a good fruit to eat."

He wanted to show that not only did he have good fruit to eat, but he was enjoying it.

But with Zang Xingqian present, Hou Danchen couldn't overreact. He could only glare at him and say, "Zombie Face, are you determined to compete with the old man?"

"Who's competing? Brother Hou, why not let the boy choose for himself?"

If anyone familiar were present, they would have been shocked. Zang Xingqian, who was usually feared by the southern courtyard disciples like a fierce beast, was actually smiling, and quite naturally, looking very content.