Chapter 412: Master is no different

Outsiders often say that the Joyous Sect is a den of iniquity, where dual cultivation between men and women runs rampant.

But the Supreme Sovereign clearly understood that this was merely a facade.

The Joyous Sect was a sect that cultivated the mind, and the pleasure between men and women was only pursued by some disciples. Elders, Sovereigns, and Grand Elders, for instance, sought joy at a much higher level.

This was especially true for the Joyous Sect Sovereign. To this day, he had never heard any unsavory rumors about the Joyous Sect Sovereign and any man. In terms of purity, she was in no way inferior to Gong Caiyi, the Sovereign of the Spirit Beast Sect.

"So it's you, it's been a long time!"

The Supreme Sovereign quickly suppressed his anger, revealing a gentle and amiable demeanor, like a noble jade.

"The last time we met was three years ago, wasn't it? I hope you've been well."

Yue Mingzhu sighed deeply. Her worst fears had come true. She couldn't pretend not to know him.

She glanced at him indifferently and asked, "Supreme Sovereign, why are you stopping Jiang Fan? Seeing your murderous aura, has Jiang Fan done something to harm the Supreme Sect? Enough to make you, the Sovereign, personally intervene?"

Her previous statement about not liking the Supreme Sovereign was not false.

Aside from the Supreme Sovereign relentlessly pursuing her when they were both young, a significant reason was his narrow-mindedness. Many times, matters between disciples should be resolved by the disciples themselves. Failing that, the elders could step in.

But this Supreme Sovereign would occasionally pop up to protect his disciples, turning minor incidents into major fiascos, leaving both parties embarrassed. She had repeatedly warned the Joyous Sect elders to restrain their disciples and avoid overly close interactions with the elite disciples of the Supreme Sect to prevent conflicts of interest that might involve the Supreme Sovereign.

And now, for some unknown reason, the Supreme Sovereign had jumped out again to stop Jiang Fan. He showed no regard for his own status as a Sovereign. It would be an absolute miracle if Yue Mingzhu liked such a person!

The Supreme Sovereign's face stiffened for a moment before he let out a hearty laugh. "You jest. How could I, a dignified Sovereign, trouble a junior disciple?"

Jiang Fan looked at him with a strange expression. Did he even believe what he was saying? He had reported Jiang Fan to the Heavenly Secret Pavilion simply for defeating a few of his disciples.

Jiang Fan touched his nose and asked in confusion, "Then, Supreme Sovereign, what guidance do you have for this junior, stopping me like this?" The murderous look from earlier didn't seem feigned.

The Supreme Sovereign froze for a moment. After a full two seconds, a sudden idea struck him. He turned and snapped, "Li Shiqian! Get over here!"

Li Shiqian, who had been squatting in the distance, watching the spectacle with excitement, hoping to witness Jiang Fan being severely punished and begging for mercy on his knees, was startled.

This tone... why did it sound so familiar? After a moment of hesitation, she walked over nervously and said, "Sovereign."

The Supreme Sovereign swept her leg out from under her, forcing her to kneel on the ground. "Do you know why I brought you here? You slandered and framed Jiang Fan, showed no remorse, and even threatened him using my name! Now, properly kowtow and apologize!"

Li Shiqian blinked. Wait! Didn't he bring her here to watch him teach Jiang Fan a lesson? What did he mean by making her kneel and kowtow?

"Why are you just standing there?" The Supreme Sovereign pressed down on her head, making her kowtow three times with thudding sounds. The blows made Li Shiqian see stars.

This routine was all too familiar! They would always declare they'd help her avenge, their killing intent soaring, but in the end, the butcher's knife always turned on her!

She completely broke down. Two streams of aggrieved tears poured down her face as she sobbed loudly. "Wuwu... wuwuwu..."

The Supreme Sovereign turned to Jiang Fan and said, "Jiang Fan, you see? She's crying in remorse. I'm sure she's sincerely reforming. Please be lenient and don't hold this against her anymore."

Uh—

Jiang Fan rubbed his nose, looking awkward. "This... there's really no need for this. Vice Pavilion Master Ye has already punished her, and Senior Brother Hua also brought her to apologize to me. There's truly no need to go this far."

He even felt a bit of sympathy for Li Shiqian. The matter was over, and he hadn't pursued it further, so why were the Supreme Sect members still fixated on her?

The Supreme Sovereign said sternly, "This is called 'killing the chicken to scare the monkey' to set an example! Li Shiqian's actions not only harm the image of our sect but also damage the Supreme Sect's prestige. No apology is too much!"

Jiang Fan helped Li Shiqian up and said, "Alright, alright, please don't trouble her anymore. I've already put this matter behind me. Take her back and let her rest. Look, her head is bleeding from the kowtows."

As he spoke, he took out some healing ointment and applied it to her forehead.

Li Shiqian cried even more sadly. She suddenly threw herself into Jiang Fan's arms. "Wuwuwu... Junior Brother Jiang..."

Her Sovereign and Senior Brother had treated her so harshly. Even an enemy cared more about her. No, he wasn't an enemy anymore. Jiang Fan was the one who truly cared for her!

Uh—

Jiang Fan was also a little bewildered. He patted her shoulder, offered a few words of comfort, and then said, "Supreme Sovereign, do you have anything else? My friend and I need to continue our journey and can't delay much longer."

The Supreme Sovereign looked regretful. He wanted to say a few more words to the Joyous Sect Sovereign, as she had been avoiding him for years, making it hard to meet. Fortunately, after his maneuvers, he had successfully salvaged his image in front of the Joyous Sect Sovereign.

"You may go, have a safe journey!" He watched Jiang Fan and Yue Mingzhu ride Little White until they disappeared into the vast snowy plains.

Only then did he collect his thoughts and withdraw his gaze. He happened to hear Hua Xiangchen's barely audible grumble: "He told me to watch closely, but wasn't he just like me?"

*Creak—*

The Supreme Sovereign clenched his fist. This little brat, was he talking back to him now? But he truly had no face to bring it up, so he pretended not to hear and silently walked back.

Li Shiqian wiped away her tears and followed behind him silently.

Hua Xiangchen comforted her, "Junior Sister, don't be sad. We'll find another opportunity to punish Jiang Fan."

Upon hearing this, Li Shiqian quickly moved away and said, "You go yourselves, don't drag me into it." She was scared.

Hua Xiangchen sheepishly said, "Junior Sister, you can't blame me and Master. It's all Jiang Fan's fault..."

He was interrupted by Li Shiqian before he could finish.

"Don't speak ill of Junior Brother Jiang!" Li Shiqian glared at him with disgust.

Hua Xiangchen was dumbfounded. Wait, he was speaking up for her! How did he become the villain who spoke ill of others?

"Junior Sister, it was Jiang Fan who caused you to fall into such a miserable state!" Hua Xiangchen reminded her heavily.

Li Shiqian hummed lightly, her expression shifting a few times. "Actually... if I think about it carefully, I was the one in the wrong. I should have apologized in the first place. If I had, none of this would have happened later. This matter isn't Junior Brother Jiang's fault. He's a good person, a truly good person worth befriending."

Hua Xiangchen was utterly baffled. Oh, so Jiang Fan was a good person. Then didn't that make him the bad person?

He said discontentedly, "Master, listen to what Junior Sister Li is saying!"

The Supreme Sovereign, walking ahead, paused his steps, turned his head, and said, "Xiangchen, you should interact more with Jiang Fan in the future."

A disciple whom the Joyous Sect Sovereign personally accompanied on a mission must be a junior she valued highly. To gain more favor from the Joyous Sect Sovereign, he could definitely start by befriending this junior.

Hua Xiangchen was once again bewildered. He felt as if he had woken up to a world where heaven and earth had completely changed.

Li Shiqian was a little suspicious. Last time, Hua Xiangchen's sudden change in attitude was because he discovered how powerful Jiang Fan was, so he used her as a scapegoat. This time, why did the Sovereign's attitude suddenly change?

She remembered the girl on the ox's back and couldn't help but murmur, "Could it be that the Sovereign has taken an interest in Jiang Fan's woman?" Based on a woman's intuition, Jiang Fan and that woman were definitely not just ordinary friends.

The Supreme Sovereign's ears twitched. His heart skipped a beat. But remembering their respective generations, he smiled faintly. "What are you thinking? That's the Sovereign of the Joyous Sect, Yu Shengyan! What could she possibly have with a junior disciple?"