New Faction Leader
Heart Refining Cliff was still basking in the sunlight. The environment was peaceful, but the minds of those present were shaken.
“Ahem” – Daoist Yundan commenced – “Mu Yu, why did you vandalise Pill Containment Formation?” The corner of his eye twitched upon catching sight of Xu Ziye’s corpse. He questioned, “You killed another fellow disciple?”
“Xu Ziye attempted to assassinate my shifu. My hand was forced. I assume assassinating a faction leader incurs a death penalty?” Mu Yu calmly replied.
“Don’t spout hogwash!” accused Shi Dengtian.
“You tell me what Xu Ziye was doing here, then? Surely disciples are not allowed here without permission.”
“What are you doing here, then?”
Mu Yu flashed a round fiend soul. The particular one he showed recorded the events that occurred within its field of vision. Ku Mu used to have one set up at his valley to learn how Mu Yu outwitted the celestial fiend tree. Ku Mu leveraged the formation to amplify the fiend soul’s ability, allowing it to record the entire day’s events. That was Ku Mu’s last resort in case he didn’t survive the assassination attempt.
Xu Ziye’s assault and assassination attempt was displayed to the masses once Mu Yu injected his spiritual energy into it. Nobody doubted Shi Dengtian hatched the plan. The issue was solely Xu Ziye exhibited hostility; there was no evidence to put the nail in Shi Dengtian’s coffin.
“Xu Ziye asked for it. Brother Shi, you should reflect on yourself as his mentor,” Daoist Yun Dan reproached with an exasperated undertone.
“Patriarch, Xu Ziye and Shi Minghui were as close as brothers. That is why he wanted to avenge Shi Minghui. I admit I failed as his shifu and did not realise he had strayed. I beg your pardon.”
“Brother Ku Mu’s insight in the formation field likely trumps Formation Sect’s formation masters,” vaunted Daoist Yun Dan.
“May I boldly ask what wrong my shifu ever committed to be incarcerated here?” inquired Mu Yu, in a business tone.
Despite inwardly cursing Mu Yu for asking the obvious, Daoist Yun Dan answered, “Everyone is in uproar over your association with the fiend race. Everyone took their anger out on your shifu as you were stuck in Second Heaven. I had to tentatively imprison him to appease the masses and protect him. Are you happy with that explanation?”
“Now that I have returned, should he not be released?”
“And replace him with you?” asked Daoist Yun Dan, satirically.
Daoist Yun Dan: This brat sneaks back, kills one of our disciples and demands Ku Mu be released. Did he replace me as patriarch or something?
“I will pass on that. I remember one of Pill Cauldron Sect’s rules state that a newly instated faction leader has permission to lift the crimes on a prisoner. Does this token hold any weight?” Mu Yu revealed the green token Ku Mu gave him.
“Ku Mu handed over leadership on to you?” fumed Daoist Yun Dan. “Did you know everyone has to approve for you to be appointed?”
“Obviously. All disciples of the faction must approve of the new leader for them to be officially anointed. Bamboo Peak faction consists of Shifu and I. Gramps approves. I approve. Everyone has approved, right?”
Daoist Yun Dan pointed at Mu Yu and pursed his lips before raising his figurative white flag.
The reason for the requirement was owed to how each faction operated independently, although they still took orders from the main faction. In the same vein, other factions couldn’t interfere with other factions’ leader selection process.
Grinning, Elder Leng clapped. Meanwhile, Daoist Yun Dan dragged Ku Mu out of his formation and exclaimed, “Ku Mu, have you lost it? Are you really passing on the reins to him?”
“I’ve had my fun. Let him have his fun now. Everyone in our faction votes him in. Have we violated any stipulation?”
“Do you know what you’re doing? Have his fun?”
“I only have one disciple. How about you tell me who my successor will be?”
Daoist Yun Dan: I swear I’ll amend the rule!
“So… can you release my shifu now?” queried Mu Yu.
“You two… Hmph!” Daoist Yun Dan extracted the golden links from Ku Mu and returned them to the formation, returning Ku Mu’s freedom.
“Hehehe.” Mu Yu draped his arm over Ku Mu’s shoulder. “I’m the boss of Bamboo Peak from now on. You have to obey me, too, huh?”
“Like this?”
Whack! Mu Yu copped a slap over the head.
“I don’t have any authority, do I? Gramps, how am I supposed to lead if you don’t listen to me as the leader?”
Nobody besides the duo was happy about the outcome. They still hadn’t forgotten Mu Yu let the fiend king escape. Ku Mu understood that would be the case, and he gambled on Daoist Yun Dan not breaking the rules. It was quite a surprise to Ku Mu that Daoist Yun Dan didn’t abuse his authority.
Daoist Yun Dan would’ve denied Mu Yu’s association with Pill Cauldron Sect if the latter was still at Second Heaven. Mu Yu’s recent triumph at Eight Grass Village, however, flipped Mu Yu’s image for the better. Mu Yu, consequently, could become a superstar asset for the sect and silence critics who questioned the sect’s competence. Mu Yu’s victory over Shi Dengtian would inevitably spread. It would be Pill Cauldron Sect’s loss to deny Mu Yu’s affiliation with them, then. Mu Yu’s ability to extract wood residue was immeasurably valuable to their alchemists. Last but not least, Mu Yu’s placing in Ultimate Immortals Ranking was an enviable accomplishment.
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