Grinning like a thief, Mo Zhiyuan stole away from the disciple dormitory and headed not toward any bathroom but the lake pavilion.
Situated at the center of an expansive lake, it was the place Wu Mansong often used when he needed to speak with someone in private. The water surrounding the solitary structure was deep enough to ensure that no disciple was within hearing range.
To be precise, no disciple with a cultivation level as low as the Wuchang Peak disciples.
Then again, Mo Zhiyuan, this grandmaster of demonic cultivation, possessed several very useful skills and tricks to eavesdrop on a conversation without getting too near.
Had he planned on using his own spiritual power, Shen Ruizhe would surely find out. But for some reason, a spiritual power similar to Shen Ruizhe's coursed within his body. He could use it, and no one would notice any difference.
Mo Zhiyuan conjured a small fish in his hand. This makeshift fish had spells written all over its body. Silently, he dropped the fish into the lake and then hid himself behind one of the thick trees that surrounded the lake.
Before long, the fish neared the lake pavilion and hovered close to the water's surface. It was impossible to spot it unless someone deliberately peered from the edge of the pavilion.
"I do not have the confidence to raise him," Wu Mansong's concerned voice echoed in Mo Zhiyuan's ears.
"Ruizhe, you have been paying close attention to this child from the moment he entered the sect. You should take him under your wings."
Mo Zhiyuan furrowed his brows in confusion.
What? What were they talking about?
The clinking sound of a teacup hitting the saucer was heard, and then Shen Ruizhe's familiar voice came in reply.
"He doesn't want to join Jinlian Peak. Sect Leader, do you want me to drag him by his feet and lock him up at my peak?"
Wu Mansong laughed.
"No, of course not. Then again, it's not like disciples of Wuchang Peak are doomed to stay in Wuchang Peak for the rest of their lives. If he one day changes his mind, surely you will accept him."
"Of course."
Shen Ruizhe's lips twisted into a macabre smile. One that only he understood the meaning of. Unseen by Mo Zhiyuan, a single drop of tea lifted from Shen Ruizhe's cup and shot into the lake water. It carefully attached itself to Mo Zhiyuan's spirit fish. Without an ability to warn its master, it could only let the droplet of water clung to him, disguised perfectly by the surrounding water.
The two cultivators proceeded to talk about uninteresting matters. Mo Zhiyuan estimated that it was nearing the time to go back, so he retracted his spirit fish from the lake pavilion.
The fish dissipated into thin air as soon as it landed on Mo Zhiyuan's palm.
But a droplet of water, previously unseen, suddenly transformed into a string of golden chain and wrapped itself around Mo Zhiyuan's legs!
Cursing and flailing like fish out of water, Mo Zhiyuan grabbed the golden chain with both hands and struggled to free himself.
"Arghhh, fuck, fuck, fuck...!"
He wanted to scream out of frustration, but he didn't want to attract anyone's attention.
With his legs bound so tightly, he had no choice but to crawl away from the crime scene.
And yet, before he could escape far, he stumbled upon a pair of white boots, standing right in front of his nose.
"..."
"Good evening, Disciple Mo."
"..."
Mo Zhiyuan contemplated disguising himself as a block of stone that very second. Alas, he knew no spell that would aid him that way.
Gritting his teeth in resentment, he craned his head and looked at Shen Ruizhe's face. Mo Zhiyuan would give everything to be able to wipe that self-satisfied smile off his face that very moment.
"Good evening, Sh... I mean, Peak Master Shen."
Amusement flickered in the depths of Shen Ruizhe's eyes.
"Are you trying to become one with the earth? What a peculiar cultivation training."
Mo Zhiyuan refused to cater to Shen Ruizhe, this heartless bastard, any longer.
"If you will excuse me, Peak Master Shen, I am going back now."
He continued slithering like a snake past Shen Ruizhe.
"Of course. As a peak master, I always encourage the disciples to work hard at cultivation."
Shen Ruizhe left, and Mo Zhiyuan scowled at his back, his heart overflowing with hatred.
He was pondering the best ways to get rid of the golden chains, but then an unseen force pulled at his body, and he was dragged off like a corpse.
"Oi! Oi!" He yelled at no one in particular.
The golden chain dragged him away from Wuchang Peak, heading toward Jinlian Peak.
Mo Zhiyuan's face bumped against the uneven ridges of the blue stone bridge that connected the two peaks.
So late in the evening, with almost no traffic between the two peaks, no one got to witness this public act of humiliation.
As he was slowly dragged toward Shen Ruizhe's bamboo cottage, Mo Zhiyuan launched a torrent of insults, directed at the Jinlian Peak Master.

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