Chapter 83: Catastrophic Disaster

Yun Che's eyes narrowed as he heard sounds from a distance. He leaped from his bed, his hand touching his chin, his brows furrowed.

What must come, will come. Although Qin Wuyou had told him that protecting disciples was the Prefect's duty, Yun Che's nature meant he wouldn't rely entirely on Qin Wuyou. Furthermore, he didn't fully believe Qin Wuyou would completely alienate the Xiao Sect's New Moon branch – the most powerful force in New Moon City – just for a newly enrolled disciple like himself. Qin Wuyou protecting him publicly today was already remarkably benevolent.

His door burst open, and Xia Yuanba, his arm wrapped in bandages, rushed in, gasping for breath. His face was still pale from his internal injuries. He grabbed Yun Che, anxiously saying, "Brother-in-law! Quick, leave! It's the people from the Xiao Sect! They've ignored their promise not to pursue this matter and have come to capture you. You must escape through the back door... I'm so stupid! I should have made you leave right after the banquet!"

"Yuanba, don't panic."

"How can I not panic?! That's the Xiao Sect, the Xiao Sect! Brother-in-law, even though you're formidable, you can't possibly provoke the Xiao Sect. If you fall into their hands, then... then..." Xia Yuanba's hands and feet trembled with urgency, his face flushed red as he persistently pulled Yun Che's hand, trying to drag him out.

"Since they've come to capture me, they won't let me escape so easily. They're at the front, and the back and side gates are likely already guarded. They've probably even sent people to watch New Moon City's main gates. Trying to leave through the back door now would only lead to me falling into their hands immediately," Yun Che said calmly.

Xia Yuanba was stunned. He frantically clutched his scalp, pacing back and forth, "What do we do... what do we do?"

Yun Che patted his shoulder, reassuring him, "Yuanba, don't worry. Our new Prefect Qin is no simple person; he should be able to stop them. Even if he can't, I have many ways to ensure they don't catch me."

"Huh? Really?" Xia Yuanba's eyes widened, seemingly a little relieved.

"Go check the situation at the main gate for me, but be careful. If a fight breaks out, you must hide as far away as possible."

It was night, but the area in front of New Moon Profound Palace's main gate was brightly lit, the atmosphere tense and volatile.

Xiao Tiannan had come in person, followed by Xiao Zaixia and over a hundred Xiao Sect disciples, brimming with fury and lethal intent. The main gate of New Moon Profound Palace had been blasted apart, scattering into splinters on the ground. The palace guards stood trembling, drenched in sweat, not daring to breathe. Normally, encountering even a common Xiao Sect disciple would make them instinctively lower their heads; tonight, with the Xiao Sect branch master himself present, their hearts were pounding in their throats.

Qin Wuyou, accompanied by the elders and disciples, finally arrived. From a distance, he sternly declared, "Who dares to act so presumptuously in my New Moon Profound Palace!"

"Xiao Tiannan of the Xiao Sect! Are you Qin Wuyou, the new Prefect of New Moon Profound Palace?" Xiao Tiannan asked with a dark expression.

He had expected his name alone to startle the new Prefect. To his disappointment, however, the new Prefect not only showed no surprise but chuckled, "So you are the current Master of the Xiao Sect's New Moon branch. This afternoon, your son mentioned you were unwell and unable to leave your residence. I was planning to visit you tomorrow, but it seems that won't be necessary now."

"Hmph!" Xiao Tiannan's face instantly darkened. "You dare to mention my son! Prefect Qin, regarding today's incident, I demand to know how you intend to explain yourself!"

"Explain? Explain what?" Qin Wuyou's face also showed anger. "Your Xiao Sect trespassed into my New Moon Profound Palace without cause, destroyed my gate, and even declared you'd flatten my palace! If anyone needs to explain, it should be you, Xiao Tiannan, giving an explanation to my New Moon Profound Palace!"

"Trespassed without cause?" Xiao Tiannan burst into laughter, then snarled, "Half a month ago, I heard that Prefect Qin not only hailed from the Imperial City of Blue Wind and possessed noble status, but also had a gentle and upright character. Now, it seems you're nothing but a slanderer who twists facts! Your disciple, Yun Che, maliciously inflicted grievous harm upon my son, Xiao Luocheng, severing all his profound veins and meridians, ruining his life! This hatred cannot be repaid, even if Yun Che were to be cut into a thousand pieces!"

"Oh, you mean that incident." Qin Wuyou adopted an expression of sudden realization, then said with feigned puzzlement, "I was present during that incident, and I saw everything clearly. Is it possible that Sect Master Xiao is so enraged because of that? Haha, then I don't understand. Before my disciple Yun Che and your son Xiao Luocheng sparred, they had an agreement. During their sparring, no matter who suffered serious injury, neither party was to be held responsible in the slightest. Hundreds of people present at that time witnessed this agreement; everyone saw it with their own eyes and heard it with their own ears! Including the person standing behind you; he knows it especially clearly!"

"Since there was a prior agreement, what is the meaning of your coming here now to demand accountability? Is it possible that your esteemed Xiao Sect, a millennium-old sect, is accustomed to such shameless and treacherous behavior? Are you not afraid of dragging your main Xiao Sect into disrepute and contempt?"

Qin Wuyou's words were powerful and righteous.

Xiao Tiannan frowned deeply, turning to ask in a low voice, "Zaixia, what is going on?"

Xiao Zaixia lowered his head, nervously saying, "Young Sect Master did indeed have that agreement before sparring with Yun Che, and he specifically had everyone present witness it, but... but..."

"Say no more!" Xiao Tiannan sharply waved his hand, then suddenly burst into maniacal laughter. "Hahahahaha! What a joke! What a colossal joke! The vengeance for my ruined son cannot be simply dismissed by some paltry agreement! Even if I, Xiao Tiannan, have to bear the lifelong infamy of treachery, I will certainly avenge Luocheng! Qin Wuyou, hand over Yun Che immediately! Do not force me to enter and seize him myself! I fear that if it comes to that, your entire New Moon Profound Palace will be thrown into utter chaos!"

"Since the esteemed Sect Master Xiao has abandoned all pretense of dignity, then I have nothing further to say." As Qin Wuyou's voice faded, his robes suddenly billowed as if by an unseen wind. "If you wish to take my disciple, you must first get past me!"

For a century, New Moon Profound Palace had been suppressed by the Seven Great Sects. Former Prefects would act cautiously when meeting the Xiao Sect's branch master, fearing to offend them. However, this new Prefect, Qin Wuyou, not only refused to yield in his words but actually intended to fight him. This momentarily stunned Xiao Tiannan, who then let out a wild laugh. "Hahahahaha! Prefect Qin is truly noble, disregarding the safety of the entire New Moon Profound Palace for a mere newly enrolled disciple!"

"Heh, even if he's only been in my Profound Palace for a day, he is still my disciple! If I cannot protect my own disciples, how can I call myself the Prefect of this Profound Palace!" Qin Wuyou said solemnly.

"Good! Then I'll see how capable you are of protecting this disciple of yours!"

Xiao Tiannan's robes also suddenly billowed as a vast aura erupted from him, instantly shattering the ground beneath his feet. His immense profound energy, like a sky-covering net, enveloped Qin Wuyou and the elders behind him. Qin Wuyou let out a low shout, pushing his right palm forward, colliding with Xiao Tiannan's profound energy in the empty air.

A tremendous crash echoed, and dust flew. Between Xiao Tiannan and Qin Wuyou, a shocking pit, seven to eight meters deep, appeared.

The Deputy Prefect and the various elders of New Moon Profound Palace felt extremely conflicted. It was expected that the Xiao Sect would come, but seeing Qin Wuyou already fighting the Xiao Sect Master filled them with dread. Yun Che had indeed brought great glory to New Moon Profound Palace today; it was arguably the most exhilarating day for the palace in years, and his astonishing talent was a once-in-a-century rarity for them. However, the fact that he crippled Xiao Luocheng was an immense disaster! For New Moon Profound Palace to protect him, they would inevitably become enemies with the Xiao Sect. Was it truly worth it?

The potential outcome of such an action was that the entire New Moon Profound Palace would suffer a terrible calamity!

Now, seeing Qin Wuyou so forcefully determined to protect Yun Che, they didn't know whether to feel relieved or anxious.

In a clash between powerful experts, one move often reveals the depth of their abilities. For the first time, an expression of surprise appeared on Xiao Tiannan's face. In their initial exchange, he had shockingly discovered that Qin Wuyou's strength was absolutely no less than his own! Xiao Zaixia had told him on the way that Qin Wuyou's strength might be above the fifth level of the Earth Profound Realm, which he hadn't believed then. Now, he had no choice but to believe it.

Xiao Tiannan did not attack again. He said gravely, "A super expert in the late Earth Profound Realm, capable of becoming a grandmaster anywhere on this continent, yet you come to New Moon City to be a mere Prefect!"

"Wherever I am, whatever my position, I am honored to serve the imperial family, with no complaints. As the Prefect of this New Moon Profound Palace, I, Qin, shall certainly fulfill my duties diligently! Protecting my disciples is my most fundamental responsibility!" Qin Wuyou declared imperiously. "Sect Master Xiao, please leave. I can consider tonight's events as having never happened. Otherwise, not only will you fail to achieve your goal tonight, but you will also bring further disgrace upon the Xiao Sect! The agreement between your son and Yun Che has hundreds of witnesses!"

Xiao Tiannan's face darkened once more. Having witnessed Qin Wuyou's strength, he knew it was indeed impossible to achieve his objective tonight. He had come hastily, bringing only a hundred or so ordinary disciples, believing that his personal presence would compel the New Moon Profound Palace to meekly hand over a disciple. To his surprise, this new Prefect was entirely different from previous ones; he showed no fear of the Xiao Sect, and his profound energy was completely on par with his own.

"Heh!" Xiao Tiannan sneered. "As long as I can avenge my son, I, Xiao Tiannan, am not afraid to bear infamy! With Prefect Qin present tonight, I can indeed only return empty-handed. But tomorrow... we shall see if I have the audacity to flatten your New Moon Profound Palace!"

"Flatten New Moon Profound Palace?" Qin Wuyou scoffed. "What immense audacity! This New Moon Profound Palace was established by the imperial family. Are you trying to rebel?"

"Rebel? Hahahahaha, I, Xiao Tiannan, certainly wouldn't dare. If you had merely gravely injured my son, no matter how furious I was, I wouldn't truly dare to flatten New Moon Profound Palace. However, my son Luocheng is not just the Young Sect Master of my Xiao Sect branch!" Xiao Tiannan's face was extremely grim. "Now, I'm not afraid to tell you, the reason my son Luocheng possesses extraordinary talent is because, as a youth, he consumed the Heavenly Kylin Treasure Pill bestowed by the main sect! My humble branch is not qualified to enjoy such a treasure, but my son Luocheng is the future grandson-in-law of the Great Elder of the Medicine Sect in the main sect! The marriage was arranged four years ago, and the Heavenly Kylin Treasure Pill was granted then. The engagement banquet only took place half a year ago, and the wedding is set for half a year from now!"

As soon as Xiao Tiannan uttered these words, Qin Wuyou, who had been as calm as still water, instantly changed his expression. The elders and disciples behind him also showed extreme terror. In the distance, Lan Xueruo, leaning against a wall, trembled, her face similarly filled with dread...

Crippling a Young Sect Master of a Xiao Sect branch, and crippling the future grandson-in-law of a Great Elder from the main Xiao Sect, are two entirely different concepts!

One is a major calamity!

The other is an enormous, heaven-shattering disaster!