Chapter 77: Do Not Look Down on the Young and Poor

“Heh, what a bold statement. If you don’t wish to stay, so be it?”
The servant disciples seemed to spot their savior, tears of gratitude streaming down their faces. “Vice Hall Master, you must seek justice for us! This Lu Ciyuan colluded with outsiders to steal a top-grade spiritual weapon from the inner sect. Not only does he refuse to admit his wrongdoing, but he also maliciously attacked us!”
The Vice Hall Master waved his hand broadly. “Take them all to the Hall of Discipline!”

Inside the Hall of Discipline, the servant disciples tearfully recounted Lu Ciyuan’s misdeeds, emphasizing how innocent and pitiful they were, attacked by him at the slightest disagreement.
Xu Nuo, accused of inciting trouble, and Lu Ciyuan, stood before the others to receive judgment.
The Vice Hall Master asked, “Lu Ciyuan, is this true?”
“It is not,” Lu Ciyuan replied, head bowed, voice aggrieved. “I didn’t attack them first. They tried to strike me. I was alone and outnumbered, so I had no choice but to defend myself. I was forced into it.”
“Nonsense!” The servant disciples were furious at his tone, their hands aching with both pain and disgust. How could he have the gall to play the victim?

The Vice Hall Master assessed the youth before him. He appeared timid, thin, and bore visible wounds—hardly a match for the aggressive group of servant disciples. Suspicion flickered in the Vice Hall Master’s eyes as he glanced at the crowd.
The servant disciples, sensing his doubt, raised their voices, “Stop pretending! Explain where you got that sword—did you steal it?”
“And this woman—did you bring an outsider into the sect?”
“Colluding with outsiders, stealing top-grade spiritual weapons, injuring fellow disciples, and even declaring you’d rather leave than stay—your crimes are unforgivable!”
“Enough,” the Vice Hall Master interrupted impatiently. “What do you think this place is—a marketplace for your squabbling?”
“Lu Ciyuan, tell me what happened.”

Lu Ciyuan glanced at Xu Nuo, then described the events. “...And so, without distinguishing right from wrong, they insisted on seizing the spiritual weapon and disciplining me. I’m used to rough treatment from my seniors, but Miss Xu is a mere mortal. I had no choice but to draw my sword in defense.”
The Vice Hall Master turned to the servant disciples. “Is this true?”
They gritted their teeth. “He’s spouting nonsense! We never meant to fight—just wanted to reason with him.”

The Vice Hall Master withheld judgment, having heard of Lu Ciyuan before. He was aware of the boy’s usual circumstances and character. For such a timid youth to boldly steal an inner sect weapon and provoke servant disciples? If he had that courage, he wouldn’t be getting beaten every other day. The truth was becoming clear.
The servant disciples, adept at reading faces, quickly caught on. “Vice Hall Master, this boy brought outsiders into the sect, declared he’d beat us, and even said the sect wasn’t worth staying in. You heard him yourself! The Hall of Discipline is fair—please do not shield him from punishment!”
Others echoed, “Yes! He’s so arrogant; he says whatever he wants. We can’t let someone like him corrupt our sect’s ethos!”
“It’s that woman instigating him!”
“Maybe she put him up to stealing the sword!”

Xu Nuo, until now quietly observing, suddenly became the center of attention.
“I said I’d beat you all up?” she asked.
“Of course! We all heard it!” the servant disciples replied indignantly.
“Oh? Were you beaten? Is anyone here actually hurt?”
They looked at each other. Only their weapons had been destroyed—none bore any signs of being struck themselves, making their accusations unconvincing.
“Don’t try to deny it! You came here to start trouble. Didn’t you urge him to attack us? Don’t try to shift the blame!”
Xu Nuo laughed. “If you’re so eager to be beaten, I suppose I must oblige you. Otherwise, how else can our crime be justified?”

“Xiao Lu,” Xu Nuo patted Lu Ciyuan’s shoulder.
“Yes,” Lu Ciyuan drew his sword and strode forward.
“You—You wouldn’t dare!” the servant disciples shrieked. “This is the Hall of Discipline!”
The Vice Hall Master frowned deeply. “Enough of this nonsense!”

With the Vice Hall Master presiding and surrounded by his disciples, the servants regained some composure. “Sir, do you see? They truly have no respect, daring to act out before you!”
“Don’t you dare—” the Vice Hall Master began, but Lu Ciyuan swung his sword. The once-arrogant servant disciples scattered in panic, a comical sight.
But no matter how they fled, they couldn’t escape Lu Ciyuan’s blade. In moments, they lay bruised and battered across the floor, utterly humiliated.
Lu Ciyuan reported obediently, “It’s done.”
“Good,” Xu Nuo praised him. “Would you like to leave the sect and follow me?”
Lu Ciyuan replied, “Having been saved by Miss Xu, I am willing to follow your orders in all things.”

Their flagrant disregard for the situation was nothing short of brazen. The Vice Hall Master stared, stunned for a long moment. “You two—how dare you! Do you know the consequences of this?”
To actually attack others right before his eyes—these two truly had no fear.
“Seize them!” he ordered.
Xu Nuo remained unfazed. “At worst, we’ll be expelled from the sect, isn’t that so?”
A disciple sneered, “You insisted on joining our sect, and now, after stirring up trouble, you think you can just leave? Not so easy!”
“Take Lu Ciyuan to the punishment chamber. Xu Nuo, to the reflection room,” commanded the Vice Hall Master.
Hearing this, the battered servant disciples scrambled to protest. “Vice Hall Master, this woman is cunning and has repeatedly incited Lu Ciyuan. You can’t let her off so lightly!”

The punishment chamber and the reflection room were worlds apart—the former for severe punishment, the latter a place for minor offenders to reflect, sometimes even sought after for its tranquility.
What kind of punishment was this? Clearly, it was favoritism toward the mortal woman!
“Vice Hall Master, where is your famed impartiality?”
“Hmph!” The Vice Hall Master’s mood, already foul from this nonsense, soured further at the sight of the whining disciples.
“All of them to the punishment chamber as well!”
“No, no, we’re innocent! How could you—”
“Why isn’t that woman punished? You all saw her incite Lu Ciyuan. Why must we suffer and not her?”
“They haven’t even been judged for stealing the sword!”

The Vice Hall Master regarded them with a mixture of pity and ridicule. Did they really think she was just an ordinary mortal woman?
The Hall’s disciples ignored the protests and dragged the lot off to their punishment.
“And you—surrender your weapon and come with us.”
Lu Ciyuan simply stood there, looking to Xu Nuo for direction.
Xu Nuo asked, “You’re taking Xiao Lu to the punishment chamber?”
“Of course.”
“I do not agree.”

The Vice Hall Master laughed in disbelief. “Oh? Just because you have some ties to the inner sect, you think you can push your luck? When did the Hall of Discipline answer to you?”
Xu Nuo replied, “Did you ever act justly when these servants bullied Xiao Lu before?”
He was momentarily speechless. “Those are two separate matters. His past treatment does not justify your current disregard for the rules.”
“So you admit you never handled it before?” she pressed.
The Vice Hall Master’s face darkened. “Miss Xu, we’ve already shown you leniency. Don’t push your luck.”
“I’m not negotiating with you,” Xu Nuo shook her head. “Nor am I asking for leniency.”
The Vice Hall Master was baffled. “Then what do you want?”
007, equally perplexed, asked: [Host, what exactly are you trying to do?]
“I’m here to announce something.” Xu Nuo pulled Lu Ciyuan to her side and declared, “From this day forth, Lu Ciyuan has nothing more to do with you. He is no longer a disciple of your Immortal Abode Sect!”
“What?” The Vice Hall Master and the others were dumbfounded.
007: [Host, what kind of bombshell are you dropping now?!]
“You—You…” The Vice Hall Master was at a loss for words, pointing at Xu Nuo, nearly breathless with anger. Never had he encountered such an audacious woman.
“How laughable. Do you have the right to decide whether Lu Ciyuan stays or goes?”
“Xiao Lu,” Xu Nuo looked at him.
“I will do as Miss Xu commands.”
“Why?!” the Vice Hall Master demanded.
007 wanted to know as well.
Xu Nuo shook her head. “There’s no reason to stay here.”
007: [But the main storyline mostly unfolds in the sect. If you take Lu Ciyuan away, how will the plot continue?]
Xu Nuo replied, “You mean the main plot where he’s beaten and insulted, forced to endure years of humiliation and torment?”
007 answered without much thought, [Well… more or less.]
Xu Nuo said, “Then I see no reason to continue with such a pointless plot.”
007: [But he needs hardship to grow! This is a trial on his path of cultivation. More importantly, you’ll lose so many opportunities to increase the Favorability Meter!]
“Does the plot have to unfold as originally written to complete the mission?”
“Does he have to suffer abuse to truly grow?”
Xu Nuo declared, “No need. I’ll follow my own path. I’ll make him the most powerful and confident man—if devils block his way, he’ll slay devils; if gods block his way, he’ll slay gods.”
007: [Ahhhh!!!] Host, you’re causing trouble again!

The livestream erupted in cheers: [Xu the Sovereign is awesome! I’ve had enough of this pathetic plot. Enough of playing the victim—just kill them all!]

The Vice Hall Master, seeing Xu Nuo’s prolonged silence, couldn’t help but sneer, “What, have you finally come to your senses?”
Xu Nuo ignored him, instead patting Lu Ciyuan’s shoulder. “Now I’ll tell you what your new identity is. Come, shout our slogan with me.”
“Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west—never look down on a youth in poverty!”