Blowing off Steam

There was an angry mob of cultivators stuck at the academy entrance since the air route was cordoned. They rambled and rambled, only for Sun Yin to fire back, "Shut up. You're all implicated in his death. For as long as the culprit is on the loose, you can forget about your peace. Are you going to argue with Patriarch Qing Song?"

Tu Panshan: "Haha, all the talk about your almighty Primordial Infant Realm cultivator, yet you can't find a culprit? Some Primordial Infant Realm cultivator he is."

"Men, arrest them for insulting Patriarch Qing Song!" commanded Sun Yin, with a wave of his hand.

Six Foundation Establishment Realm disciples attacked Jiuhua Sect's disciples.

Swords clanged as the two parties started their fight. Meanwhile, Sun Yin turned to Mu Yu and declared, "As for you, I'll kill you as deterrence."

Sun Yin slashed at Mu Yu. Mu Yu's spiritual energy swung along the trajectory of his blade that forced Sun Yin back. Mu Yu had pent up frustration from the events of the last few days and wanted to blow off some steam.

"Deterrence did you say?" Mu Yu rhetorically asked.

The spiritual energy within Mu Yu's vicinity roiled. His sword's glowing radius expanded. His sword qi blasted down. Sun Yin was clearly caught off guard as he watched the incoming attack. Admitting defeat was not an option, nevertheless. He performed hand seals to execute Navy Pine Tree Chases the Whistling Wind.

The two sword qi attacks collided. If Xiaohu lost to the same technique when he had Navy Pine Sword, Sun Yin's ordinary sword was mere fodder. Unsurprisingly, Mu Yu easily defused Sun Yin's defence, then speedily closed the gap in two steps using Dustfallen Stance. Sun Yin quickly guarded his chest with his sword. Alas, Mu Yu drove his kick into Sun Yin's sword, snapping it and continuing through to boot Sun Yin straight into a pit of shattered rocks.

"H-how dare y-" Sun Yin's blood coming from his mouth interrupted his speech. His snapped sword lied off to the side.

"Before you kill someone as a deterrence, sharpen your sword first, or you'll be the one who ends up dead," warned Mu Yu. "And you lot."

Mu Yu vaulted up and created four sword clones. He sent his swords into the fight between the two sects and had the light energy burst along with sword qi. Sword clones smashed into all the disciples, knocking them to the ground and kicking up a tornado of dust. The disciples were left grimacing on the ground, while Mu Yu stood in the centre and recollected his sword clones.

One attack. One attack was all it took to put away multiple disciples from the two biggest sects, rendering the crowd astonished. Primordial Infant Realm cultivators couldn't magically accelerate their disciples' growth.

"Your patriarchs are the Primordial Infant Realm cultivators. What are you all acting up for? You really think the world of cultivation revolves around your two sects?" reprimanded Mu Yu, feeling relieved after some therapy.

Mu Yu wasn't naïve enough to think they'd just let it go, but enough was enough, and they deserved the lesson. His sentiments rubbed off on those watching, and they were just as glad somebody vented and spoke up on their behalf.

Mu Yu dusted himself off and made his way in.

***

That night, Mu Yu lied on his bed at his courtyard and spaced out. He knew it was going to be a festival at his door tomorrow after he slapped around the two sects. Anyhow, he was glad to finally be back to his usual self.

Mu Yu contemplated why they targeted his shifu, when the elder was always smiling, reasonable and kind. He pondered what his shifu's significance to Third Heaven Continent was. What was the point of throwing Moyun Mountains into disarray? Perhaps they wanted to get every sect in on the search for his shifu. Perhaps his shifu went missing because he figured Dustfallen Sect wouldn't be safe from the ordeal, either.

Mu Yu rolled over and chuckled to himself. He wanted everyone to witness Daoist Qing Song grovelling at the youth's feet. He wanted to see the imperious disciples stunned expressions.

An individual in dark clothing emerged in the academy, his five claws reflecting the moonlight.