Chapter 1571: "Apologies, But We're Not That Close (2)"
Gu Xin Yan sat within the pavilion and saw the "heated exchange" between Hua Yao and Qiao Chu, her heart secretly heaving a sigh of relief.
Looks like her guess had not been wrong. The relationship between the few people were not too amicable. They had not really been able to go all out against each other only because they were here within the academy but given the chance, a fight might really break out between them.
After realizing that, Gu Xin Yan was feeling a little more at ease. What she was afraid of was for the other five palaces to be on good terms, which would make her attempt at lobbying today highly difficult to achieve any result.
Qiao Chu and Hua Yao came to the pavilion first and Gu Xin Yan said a few words in greeting.
Lin Hao Yu who was seated at the side still sported injuries that had not fully healed up and when he saw Qiao Chu, a ball of rage immediately surged to the surface, the memory of having been bashed up by Qiao Chu before still had not faded from his mind.
It must be known, as the grandson of an Elder of the Blood Fiend Palace, regardless whether it was within or without the Blood Fiend Palace, he was respected and revered to a certain extent, and had never had to suffer such a kind of treatment from anyone. Qiao Chu was the first person to dare to strike him, and he had not shown any mercy despite his status, before the eyes of so many people that completely shattered the confidence and pride he had built over so many years.
Even when Gu Xin Yan had reminded him just before this, when Lin Hao Yu saw Qiao Chu, the hatred still showed fiercely within his eyes, unable to be suppressed.
Qiao Chu sat himself down upon a stone stool without a care and propped his leg over his other knee while he gave Lin Hao Yu a highly deprecating glance, his mouth curled into a mirthless smile as he said: "What? You've haven't had enough? Are you telling me that you are not feeling good that you've been thrashed upside down by me? Why don't we have another go at it today? So you can be properly convinced."
The moment those words came out of Qiao Chu's mouth, the colour on Lin Hao Yu's face immediately turned a greenish white.
Although there was intense hatred within his heart, he had to admit that he was not a match for Qiao Chu. With Qiao Chu's power, needless to say there was only one of him. Even if there were three, Qiao Chu would be able to toy with all three effortlessly.
Gu Xin Yan saw that the situation was taking a rather bad turn and she said hurriedly with a big smile: "Big Brother Qiao has such outstanding skills and our Hao Yu was just being young and ignorant. If he has offended Big Brother Qiao in anyway, I beg for Big Brother Qiao to be magnanimous and let this little sister her apologize to you on his behalf."
Gu Xin Yan brought down her own status and put forth a soft and agreeable attitude, making it hard for Qiao Chu to kick up a fuss but to merely snort in disdain, not saying another word more.
Lin Hao Yu lowered his head and clenched his fists tightly within his sleeves, hatred swirling in his heart, wishing he was able to jump over and tear out Qiao Chu contemptuous face.
However.....
He did not possess enough power to do that.
In a while, Rong Ruo, Fei Yan, and Fan Zhuo arrived as well and the youths sat in order under the pavilion.
Jun Wu Xie was the last to reach and when she sat herself down, the people who were supposed to be there that day had all arrived.
Within that tiny little pavilion by the lake, sat a group of the most prominent youths among the freshmen of the Cloudy Brook Academy.
The Young Miss of the Blood Fiend Palace, the grandson of an Elder of the Blood Fiend Palace, and this batch's most powerful disciples of the Flame Demons Palace, Dragon Slayers Palace, Soul Return Palace, Dark Heavens Palace and the Purple Thunder Palace. Even Jun Wu of the not well known Spirit Jade Palace but was the one and only person of the Spirit Mastery race throughout the entire Middle Realm.
It could very well be said that within that little pavilion, was gathered a group of the most influential people among the freshmen.
But.....
They all served different powers and their relationships with each other were in no way harmonious at all.
With such a grand gathering, they quickly drew the attention of quite a number of people. The youths who were idling their time by the lakeside quickly nudged themselves besides the pavilion, their eyes peeled and their ears pricked, seeking to pay witness to the gossip that was about to erupt.
Chapter 1572: "Apologies, But We're Not That Close (3)"
With such a grand gathering, they quickly drew the attention of quite a number of people. The youths who were idling their time by the lakeside quickly nudged themselves besides the pavilion, their eyes peeled and their ears pricked, seeking to pay witness to the gossip that was about to erupt.
All the attendees had arrived, but the atmosphere within the pavilion was still a little strange.
It could be said that not a single person seated under that pavilion at that moment was not a significant or influential entity. Even based just purely on looks, it was a highly beautiful sight to behold.
Besides the delicately featured Jun Wu and Lin Hao Yu who still had had bruises upon him, anyone among that congregation would be able to draw the eyes of everyone.
Qiao Chu's uninhibited wildness, Hua Yao's cold beauty, Rong Ruo's graceful gentleness, Fan Zhuo's dapper grace, with the incomparably handsome looks of Fei Yan while Gu Xin Yan sat with her exquisitely beautiful face. That entire combination just made people unable to turn their eyes away.
But it was just that.....
Even the atmosphere between them was not so tense with sparks almost flying in the air, the situation might have been even more pleasing to the eyes.
Since all attendees were already present, Gu Xin Yan secretly gauged the young men and women she was not that familiar with before her eyes, her heart rather moved by the sight of all of them gathered.
These five people could be said to be the most prominent people of the Battle of Deities Grand Meet that had just passed and the Blood Fiend Palace had previously extended an invitation to all of them. Regretfully, none of the five had accepted it where even Jun Wu had similarly rejected the Blood Fiend Palace's invitation, to accept the Spirit Jade Palace instead.
That was one of the most regretful result the Blood Fiend Palace had suffered and Gu Xin Yan could not help herself but think at that moment that if all of these six people had accepted the Blood Fiend Palace's invitation, then the Blood Fiend Palace would not need to worry about them not being able to reach the peak of the pyramid among the Twelve Palaces.
No need to worry that they would not be able to stand out among heroes.
However, that had all become just wishful thinking and the only thing she was able to fight to win over, was Jun Wu from the Spirit Jade Palace.
She composed her feelings and with a highly disarming smile, Gu Xin Yan said to Qiao Chu and the others: "I troubled all of you to come here today because of some misunderstandings that grew between us over the recent period. Coincidentally, at the break of spring when flowers are blooming, we are able to chat a little here by this lake. If we are able to resolve whatever misunderstanding that exists between us, it would be a rather good bonus to this meeting."
Gu Xin Yan's words were put across rather skillfully that glossed over the situation that the Blood Fiend Palace by quite a bit, to peg the word "misunderstanding" onto everyone there without any finger pointing, like she was there as a mediator, and not targeting at resolving the predicament that the Blood Fiend Palace was suffering under from the other five palaces.
Just by hearing those words from Gu Xin Yan, Fan Zhuo immediately knew that this little lady was not that easy an opponent.
But, though it was true that Gu Xin Yan was smart and intelligent, but unknown to her, the fact was that Qiao Chu and the rest were not really looking out for the interest of the powers they served, and they were not in the least bit worried about blowing up the matter into bigger proportions, even wishing that it would explode in all their faces.
"Har, I'll say this about this little lady. You're a rather pretty looking one but why are your words sounding so ugly? What do you mean by misunderstanding? Are you saying our brains are muddled here? You think we will not know whether there are any misunderstanding? I do not feel that any kind of misunderstanding even exists and you do not have to beat around the bush. The reason you got us to come here, and what you are thinking in your mind, cannot be any clearer to us. Isn't it just because your guys in the Blood Fiend Palace have been thrashed up too badly and you are no longer able to sit back without trying to do something about it? You mean you got us to come here today not because you have softened your stance and intend to apologise to us to beg for a way out for yourselves? Or are you saying..... I have misunderstood this as well?" Qiao Chu blurted out without a care, playing his role as a wild and arrogant youth perfectly, having immersed himself into it quite well.
There was no need to speak about how people from the Blood Fiend Palace would react when they heard that, as even Fei Yan who heard it as he sat on one side almost couldn't hold himself back as the urge to want to bash Qiao Chu up rose inside him.
It was just too infuriating to hear!
Chapter 1573: "Apologies, But We're Not That Close (4)"
As expected, once Qiao Chu's words came out from his mouth, the smile upon Gu Xin Yan's face immediately stiffened a notch and Lin Hao Yu at the side was almost driven to vomit out blood by the wanton arrogance of Qiao Chu's words.
[Can't we chat amicably? Aren't you capable of civil speech?]
[This guy here must have come here to find trouble right?]
Jun Wu Xie sat on the side, highly indifferent, like she had not heard anything, though in her heart, she was all praise for that highly vicious retort.
[Dumb Qiao stupidity doesn't seem to be all that incurable at times, doesn't it?]
Even a nimble minded and highly articulate person like Gu Xin Yan found herself completely stumped by Qiao Chu words and she could not find any words to say for a moment.
Qiao Chu had instead seemed to have gained his momentum as he swung his measuring gaze upon the green faced Lin Hao Yu.
"I'll say, since you guys are here in apology, then shouldn't you be acting like an apologetic person should? So why do you keep staring at me with such intense hatred in your eyes? Could you possibly have fallen in love with my fists? Lash out at me if you need to and don't hold it in. Seeking peace in such a manner like the way you guys are doing, is really a first for me to see. You're not even a match for me in a fight and rushing straight at me will only earn you another pummeling, so why are you looking so aggrieved and unhappy for? Could it be possible be that you might be able to stare me to death with your fierce gaze? Wishy washy like a prissy little girl."
Lin Hao Yu's face turned a deep shade of green, his tightly stiffened lips trembling slightly, the rage within him turning his lip lips pale white.
Fan Zhuo and the others saw Lin Hao Yu being driven to such a rage that smoke seemed to almost be coming out of his ears, the companions secretly cheering in their hearts.
They all knew only too clearly how Lin Hao Yu had set Jun Wu Xie up before and the companions had been thinking that they had not been able to find a suitable way to strike at him in revenge. Not that the moron had delivered himself right up to them, begging for him to be humiliated, they companions would naturally not want to disappoint him would they?
Lin Hao Yu was almost about to burst, and fortunately, Gu Xin Yan secretly pushed him down.
Gu Xin Yan finally understood that the several people before her were not a group of kind or charitable characters. Their enmity against the Blood Fiend Palace were obvious to see, especially from Qiao Chu of the Flame Demons Palace. Hits demeanor showed he obviously had no intentions of making peace at all but had instead come here to kick up a ruckus.
The Flame Demons Palace and the Blood Fiend Palace had been at odds for a long time and Gu Xin Yan could somewhat understand the reason for the great enmity Qiao Chu was showing towards them.
But the situation with the other four palaces were not so extreme and for the sake of trying to resolve the conflict between the Blood Fiend Palace and the other four palaces, Gu Xin Yan had no choice but to tolerate it all. Because, if the Flame Demons Palace was to continue to persecute the Blood Fiend Palace in the future and they did not have the other four palaces on their tails as well, the Blood Fiend Palace would then not be in such a disadvantaged situation.
"Why does Young Master Qiao hold so much angst? We are all gathered here merely to have a casual chat. Although the Blood Fiend Palace had been bogged down with quite bit of trouble recently, I can't help but think that the trouble that had befallen us had been rather strange and I wonder just how our Blood Fiend Palace had somehow offended our esteemed individuals here to incite such great discontent against us? All of us are members of the Twelve Palaces and the Twelve Palaces have always supported one another all these years to resist the pressure the Nine Temples tries to exert upon us. I think we should not treat each other as enemies as the real enemy we all face had never once changed, and that will be the Nine Temples, isn't that right?" Gu Xin Yan's voice and tone was neither hurried nor slow, without the slightest tinge of impatience, like the words Qiao Chu had said to her had not elicited any anger in her in the least.
"The Nine Temples currently enjoy stable power and the Twelve Palaces have always been suppressed by them and are not allowed to defy the Nine Temples. After the Dark Regions went into seclusion, the Nine Temples gradually grew stronger and the Four Sides have remained aloof from worldly affairs. If the day comes that the Nine Temples take the place that the Dark Regions once held, where would that put us, the Twelve Palaces? Are we to once again be like the way we were when the Dark Regions were around, the wholly suppressed ones who were subject to only live an ignoble existence?" That soft gentle voice drew out the antagonism between the Nine Temples and the Twelve Palaces, glossing over the internal strife between the Twelve Palaces themselves, making it sound like the Twelve Palaces have always been amicable and friendly to each other.
Chapter 1574: "Apologies, But We're Not That Close (5)"
It must be said that Gu Xin Yan really showed some techniques in her speech.
If not for the fact that the hearts of Qiao Chu and the companions were so highly resolute, if it had been anyone else, they might very well have been bought over by Gu Xin Yan with just a few words.
Even the righteousness and greater good of the Twelve Palaces had been brought up by her, there was just no way for her to be refuted.
After she finished her speech, Gu Xin Yan's face was still wearing that same genteel smile, as she looked at everyone.
It was said that one does not slap a smiling face.
Gu Xin Yan's demeanor was just so soft and gentle, her smile that felt so genuine, that it caused the companions to not know what to say for a moment.
If it had been Lin Hao Yu shooting his mouth off at that moment, it was thought that Qiao Chu would have gone all out blazing and uninhibited, but faced with such a soft and frail looking like lady, Qiao Chu felt that if his vicious tongue lashed out at her, it might not be exactly morally right.
Obviously, the youths were all thinking roughly the same thing. Although they knew what their objective was, they all felt that they should be at least a little respectful towards a little lady.
And the only two females among the companions, Rong Ruo and Jun Wu Xie..... were even more gentle towards females than the guys.
Rong Ruo had never shown a darkened face to any female, to the extent that among this batch's freshmen young guys and girls in the Soul Return Palace, she won the hearts of everyone in there, to become a gentle youth that was liked by more girls than any of the guys they had.
And as for Jun Wu Xie.....
This lass had even gotten herself a wife! What else was there to say! ! ?
She was already the biggest winner in life among them all!
Fortunately, there was one such person whose immunity against females was very much different from Qiao Chu and the others.
And that was..... Fei Yan.
When Fei Yan was admitted into the Cloudy Brook Academy, he was dressed as a girl. If Rong Ruo was the most revered male god among the freshmen disciples of the Soul Return Palace, then Fei Yan would be the Dragon Slayers Palace's "goddess".
Fei Yan's level of popularity in the Dragon Slayers Palace, was not any lower than what Gu Xin Yan enjoyed in the Blood Fiend Palace.
The viciousness of Fei Yan's tongue, was not something that Qiao Chu could even dream of competing with. Fei Yan had his arms folded across his chest, his chin slightly lifted as she looked at the smiling Gu Xin Yan, his face showing an expression of disapproval.
"Would the Young Miss Gu's words be pushing all of us here towards being heartless and sinful? I am instead of the idea that our Young Miss Gu's words here are just absolutely laughable. What the situation really is like between the Twelve Palaces, even if others aren't aware, we of all people should know it better than anyone! You're even talking about being amicable and friendly? Those words will sound much more suited to be spoken to people from the Nine Temples, don't you think? I would like to ask you this instead. When the Blood Fiend Palace was arrogantly trying to boss people around, did you once consider then about the friendship and harmony between the Twelve Palaces? If my memory still serves me correctly, it was just about a month ago. Didn't someone from the Blood Fiend Palace beat up someone from the Green Tide Palace? Tsk, when your guys beat people up, you couldn't care less about all this greater good and righteousness between the Twelve Palaces. But when your guys are now being bashed up all over the place, you are suddenly remembering to pull out this large flag now? As a person, one cannot practice such double standards like this. Even if one were to do that, they must at least remember to hide their tails well, and not let them show like this now. How awkward do you think that makes you look?" Fei Yan's tone fluctuated, sometimes shrill, sometime low, unlike Gu Xin Yan's soft ripple like water, Fei Yan's strong sarcasm brought strongly to the fore.
The colour on Gu Xin Yan's face took on an ugly shade. She knew that her gender as a girl would win her some advantage against Qiao Chu and the other males. But with Fei Yan who was of the "same gender", that advantage was now obviously inadequate.
"Fei Yan, I think you might have misunderstood something. We have never bullied anyone before." Gu Xin Yan said, attempting the salvage the situation.
That incident where one of their own had assaulted a youth from the Green Tide Palace, she still remembered it clearly. As Lin Hao Yu had been using the excuse of defending Jun Wu to argue with people from the other palaces, driving all the other palaces to grow more hatred against Jun Wu, they had taken that opportunity to strike then, seeking to stir up more chaos.
Chapter 1575: "Apologies, But We're Not That Close (6)"
"I misunderstood? Do you want me to get those guys from the Green Tide Palace to come her and have a chat as well? Tsk." Fei Yan sneered, highly sarcastic.
Gu Xin Yan made another sincere sounding speech. All in all, she still emphasized on two points.
One, the Twelve Palaces were partners and they should not fight.
Two, every was just a misunderstanding and everyone were still good friends.
The meanings were simply put forth skillfully by Gu Xin Yan with her speeches and they were made to sound honest and sincere through her.
At least it made the youths who had surrounded them outside secretly think that Gu Xin Yan was a rather good person. She was afterall the Young Miss of the Blood Fiend Palace and now that she was willing to come sit down in peace with Qiao Chu and the others to discuss the matter, and even in the face of Fei Yan's constant waves of sarcasm, she was still able to maintain her highly gentle smile on her face.
But.....
While everyone was rather moved by how great a person Gu Xin Yan was showing herself to be, they were all also astounded by the merciless and incisive words of Fei Yan's criticism.
So astounded that many of them stared at him in shock.
Many of them not realizing that Fei Yan did give much accord to the difference in gender. To him, Jun Wu Xie belonged to a third type of person who gender was somewhat clouded and the only one among females that could make him treat her with gentleness was only Rong Ruo alone. If it had been in the past before he fell for Rong Ruo, he might not be so mean to females. But after he understood what his heart had set on, he completely changed his ways.
Towards all other females, he was like how the strong wind was towards fallen leaves, blowing them all away without mercy, and only towards his little future bride to be, he was like a light breeze brushing over the water's surface, soft and gentle.
Gu Xin Yan could only be said to have suffered eight lifetimes' worth of ill luck, to have encountered Fei Yan who had his heart set, who did not show Gu Xin Yan the slightest bit of politeness or courtesy.
The number of people gathered around the lakeside grew. The most prominent entities all gathered together like this in one place to debate and argue was a situation that would not be common to see, especially when the Blood Fiend Palace had earned the wrath of all other parties, many people came rushing over to catch a glimpse of the bustle.
No matter how nice Gu Xin Yan made it sound, the arrogance of the Blood Fiend Palace from before had gained them the hatred of quite a large number of people. Regardless how well embellished her speeches were, they were unable to erase the discontent they all felt in their hearts, which only made even more of them to come running in a rush, to see the Blood Fiend Palace eat humble pie.
Gu Xin Yan spoke till her mouth went dry, and her heart was starting to feel rather helpless.
She had initially thought that with her gift of the gab, she would be able to turn the whole situation around. But faced against Fei Yan with his completely merciless words, Gu Xin Yan was having a rather hard time.
No matter what kind of reasoning she used to explain herself, Fei Yan would have a hundred retorts ready in rebuttal, where in the end, even Gu Xin Yan herself felt that this peacemaking talk this time, was about to go up in smoke. Lin Hao Yu had been too extreme in his ways before, seeking to push Jun Wu right into the abyss. However, his highly extreme methods had also brought a crisis to the Blood Fiend Palace as well.
If this was outside the Cloudy Brook Academy, the Blood Fiend Palace would naturally not have to fear anyone. But they were now confined within the Cloudy Brook Academy's walls and hence, the situation was not the same.
Seeing the smile on Gu Xin Yan's face becoming more and more forced, Lin Hao Yu's breathing became more hurried. His gaze then unwittingly fell upon the side, where the silent Jun Wu sat without having said a word.
[If not for that kid, all of this would not have happened!]
[If not for the fact that they were trying to make Jun Wu submit, why would the Blood Fiend Palace be in so much trouble?]
Lin Hao Yu had at that moment, pinned all blame for the entire matter onto the head of Jun Wu, never having noticed that if he had not wanted to use such despicable methods to force Jun Wu to submit, then none of this would have happened at all.
"All of you feel that what we had done before was just too much and you were unable to endure it right?" Lin Hao Yu suddenly spoke, taking the opportunity while Gu Xin Yan was still contemplating how she could still turn the situation around.
Chapter 1576: "Apologies, But We're Not That Close (7)"
This was the first time Lin Hao Yu opened his mouth and everyone's gaze turned to focus on him.
Compared to the smoother Gu Xin Yan, Lin Hao Yu was not that tactful with his words.
Added to the fact that the reason Jun Wu Xie was bullied on all sides because of this scoundrel, against this bruised face before them, Qiao Chu and the others were not going to be that amiable with their response.
"Eh? You've finally decided to speak up? I had thought that you were the kind that would act timid by hiding behind a woman's skirt." Qiao Chu sneered contemptuously. "No, that's not right, you're not acting timid. You're just truly gutless."
Lin Hao Yu clenched his jaws tight to fight the itch forming behind his teeth, wishing that he could give Qiao Chu a good thrashing.
But he had no choice but to suppress the hatred within his heart.
He'll just let the kid think he's all that for a while more. Wait till they get out of the Cloudy Brook Academy and he'll then let him have his bitter desserts.
Lin Hao Yu had thought of getting the seniors from the Blood Fiend Palace to come help him but Gu Xin Yan had held him back. As only the freshmen from the other five palaces were targetting them and none of their seniors had been involved. In they dragged the seniors from the Blood Fiend Palace into this, the other palaces might very well do the same thing and pull the seniors from all the other palaces into the fracus, which would not be a worthwhile deal for the Blood Fiend Palace at all.
Hence, Lin Hao Yu could do nothing but endure it further.
"The Blood Fiend Palace had done all that before not because we are arrogant but because of only one person" Lin Hao Yu said, struggling to hold down his rage.
Gu Xin Yan had initially been afraid that Lin Hao Yu might say something that he was not supposed to but after hearing his words, she decided to temporarily remain silent and see what else Lin Hao Yu was going to say.
It was clear that Lin Hao Yu had also realized that they could not afford to anger the other five palaces and would not speak carelessly anymore.
Lin Hao Yu turned and looked at Jun Wu whom he detested the most. But no matter how much his hated Jun Wu, and wished that the kid would just fall dead right at that moment, he had no choice but to turn the attention of the entire matter upon Jun Wu's head.
"Before this, within the Cloudy Brook Academy, the voices of dissent raised against Jun Wu had been incessant. Do you know just many people had spoken ill against Jun Wu? You can very well go ahead and ask around. The reason we had gotten into so many arguments with so many other people was to refute all the highly baseless accusations heaped upon Jun Wu and we had done all that only because we wanted to protect Jun Wu. If it was said that the Blood Fiend Palace had done all that just to benefit ourselves, then I will have nothing to say to that. Our actions after that had then been to protect our own people as all the deeds against us had been incited by others, so why shouldn't we be allowed to retaliate? Are you telling me that we are to just sit back and see our own comrades being cursed at and not say a word at all?" Lin Hao Yu's heart was most unwilling to admit that Jun Wu was seen as one of their own in the Blood Fiend Palace but at that moment, he had no choice but to say it in that way.
Lin Hao Yu fought to push down the strong taste of disgust he felt in his mouth, attempting to make the expression on his face look a little bit more sincere.
The moment Lin Hao Yu's words came out of his mouth, the youths surrounding the outside of the pavilion were immediately stunned.
[When did Jun Wu become a member of the Blood Fiend Palace? Didn't he reject the invitations of all Twelve Palaces and chose the Spirit Jade Palace?]
[From where had this information that Lin Hao Yu was spewing come from?]
At that moment, everyone could not help but recall the intimacy between Jun Wu and Gu Xin Yan over the recent period of time. They knew the way the Blood Fiend Palace had aggressively defended Jun Wu all this time and they all began to think that Lin Hao Yu's words might not be all that implausible.
If not for the fact that Jun Wu had intricate links to the Blood Fiend Palace, why would the Blood Fiend Palace defend the kid so strongly?
Chapter 1577: "Apologies, But We're Not That Close (8)"
If Jun Wu was not related to the Blood Fiend Palace at all, why would the Blood Fiend Palace defend him so aggressively?
Any why would Gu Xin Yan be seen moving about together with Jun Wu so often?
Afterall, how the Blood Fiend Palace had treated Jun Wu was clear for everyone to see. Lin Hao Yu's words might sound a little strange in the beginning but after thinking about it carefully, it seemed rather plausible that that really might be the truth behind all the current ruckus.
If the Blood Fiend Palace's show of arrogance had only been because they wanted to stand out, that would naturally be highly detestable. But if they had done it to protect one of their own disciples, then that would make a distinct difference in the crux of the entire matter.
It was an entirely different situation if they were the victims instead of the aggressors.
But there was one point that everyone still thought was a little strange. Jun Wu had definitely rejected all the invitations from the Twelve Palaces at the end of the Battle of Deities Grand Meet, so why would she suddenly switch allegiances to the Blood Fiend Palace after they were all admitted into the Cloudy Brook Academy?
Could it be possible that the kid thought that his initial choice had been a mistake?
Although Lin Hao Yu was not as intelligent as Gu Xin Yan, he was nevertheless not an idiot. Throwing out these words, it would become easy for them to salvage the entire situation.
At least the other five palaces would no longer be able to use the reason that the Blood Fiend Palace had been arrogant against them any further.
Gu Xin Yan was rather satisfied with Lin Hao Yu's explanation as that had also been one of the reasons she had invited Jun Wu to this meeting as well.
Qiao Chu and the others arched up their eyebrow and their gazes that looked upon Lin Hao Yu were filled with a rather complicated emotion/
[Little Xie would join the Blood Fiend Palace?]
[Has this idiot lost his mind?]
[Dreaming when it was still so bright out! ?]
The silence from the companions made Lin Hao Yu think that his plan had succeeded, and his heart was filled with a sense of complacency.
He went on to say in a sincere and slightly aggrieved tone: "With Jun Wu as a member of our Blood Fiend Palace being bullied by everyone else, the other disciples of the Blood Fiend Palace would naturally have to stand up and seek justice for him. I really do not see anything wrong with us doing that or are all of you saying that if someone from the palaces that you belong to are bullied, all of you will not be bothered with it in the least?"
Lin Hao Yu said with an eyebrow lifted inquiringly, thinking that he was speaking highly eloquently.
Fan Zhuo looked at the smug and highly complacent expression on Lin Hao Yu's face and he finally spoke.
"You are saying that Jun Wu has joined the Blood Fiend Palace?"
Lin Hao Yu nodded.
Without even flinching, Fan Zhuo said with a smile: "If that is true, it would truly be understandable for the Blood Fiend Palace past actions. But I cannot help but be rather curious about this. Isn't Jun Wu from the Spirit Jade Palace? How did he become a member of the Blood Fiend Palace?"
Lin Hao Yu was unperturbed. "The situation that the Spirit Jade Palace is currently in must be well known by every single one of you here. Comparing the Blood Fiend Palace to the Spirit Jade Palace, anyone will know which one to choose without a second thought. Jun Wu is afterall still young and might not understand all this too well and had made an erroneous choice before. But now that he realizes just how good the Blood Fiend Palace will be for him, and decided to switching allegiances, what is wrong with that?"
Lin Hao Yu spoke in a highly casual tone, but he praised the Blood Fiend Palace to the skies with his words. But with those same words, he had debased Jun Wu into a selfish and self seeking scoundrel, who would jump onto a better opportunity wherever he chanced upon one.
Towards the way Lin Hao Yu had put his words across, Gu Xin Yan's brows lifted slightly. She did not want to destroy Jun Wu's reputation, but with the way things had currently played out, they had no choice but to have Jun Wu sacrifice a little.
Fan Zhuo arched up his eyebrow and gazed at Lin Hao Yu who was looking highly pleased with himself. A faint smile then curled up upon Fan Zhuo lips and a sinister glint that flashed briefly over his eyes. He turned to Jun Wu Xie and asked with a smile: "Jun Wu, have you really joined the Blood Fiend Palace?"
At the same moment that Fan Zhuo asked that question, the eyes of Lin Hao Yu and Gu Xin Yan similarly turned onto the tiny figure. Lin Hao Yu was not worried in the least that Jun Wu Xie would deny it. Afterall, wouldn't all the recent actions of Jun Wu be the surest sign that he was showing goodwill towards the Blood Fiend Palace?
Jun Wu Xie slowly lifted her head, her cold gaze sweeping over everyone seated under the pavilion.
Chapter 1578: "Apologies, But We're Not That Close (9)"
"No." Jun Wu Xie said without emotion, the one lone simplest of syllable causing the faces of Lin Hao Yu and Gu Xin Yan to change drastically.
A corner of Lin Hao Yu's mouth twitched. Although Jun Wu Xie had not ever said that she wanted to join the Blood Fiend Palace, but hadn't the recent actions of Jun Wu showed her inclinations to join them?
"He still has not for now, but he will join us very soon in the very near future." Lin Hao Yu said hurriedly.
But the expression on Gu Xin Yan's face became highly stiff and her gaze was fixed onto Jun Wu Xie's little figure, her eyes filled with shock and disbelief.
Lin Hao Yu still felt that Jun Wu only meant that he still had not joined the Blood Fiend Palace at that moment but Gu Xin Yan was not that naive to share the same delusions. The past period of time that she had spent with Jun Wu had made Gu Xin Yan realize that Jun Wu was not a slow witted person. Although Jun Wu was largely silent and did not speak much, his mind was clear at all times. Hence, it was not possible that Jun Wu would not know what Lin Hao Yu was trying to drive at but Jun Wu had still gone on ahead to answer as he had.
A strong sense of unease rose within Gu Xin Yan's heart.
Lin Hao Yu's explanation led Fan Zhuo and his other companions to laugh jeeringly at him. They then looked at Lin Hao Yu with a pitiful gaze, looking at him lying to himself while trying to deceive others.
Lin Hao Yu felt his skin crawl from the gazes all the youths were throwing upon him and he turned himself around most nervously, seeking to hear affirmation from Jun Wu.
"Jun Wu! Tell all of them whether things are as I have said." The only person that would be able to turn the whole situation around was just Jun Wu, and no matter how much Lin Hao Yu disliked Jun Wu, he still had to seek an answer from him.
Jun Wu Xie opened her mouth to say in a highly expressionless tone: "Apologies, but we're not that close."
Six words, and this time it fell crashing down upon Lin Hao Yu's head like a bolt out of the clear sky. He stared in stupefied speechlessness at Jun Wu, the six words telling everyone in no uncertain terms that he, Jun Wu, had no intentions of joining the Blood Fiend Palace at all.
Never had, not now, and in the future..... just impossible!
The words that Lin Hao Yu had uttered before Jun Wu mercilessly refuted to reveal the truth, now just seemed like a complete joke.
Meanwhile, Qiao Chu and the companions were just not stingy in the least with their ridicule and sneering laughter, their eyes sharp as razors that shaved off completely any "face" that Lin Hao Yu had left.
All the words were heard not just by Qiao Chu and the companions but also all the youths surrounding the pavilion, who saw everything that was happening before their eyes.
Jun Wu had never wanted to join the Blood Fiend Palace. Everything that had happened during the past period had only been the Blood Fiend Palace's own wishful thinking.
It suddenly dawned upon the people around that although Jun Wu had remained rather close to Gu Xin Yan, the only person from the Blood Fiend Palace that Jun Wu had interacted with was only Gu Xin Yan and no one else. If Jun Wu had really been seeking to join the Blood Fiend Palace, wouldn't he have tried to blend in with the entire team of disciples from the Blood Fiend Palace instead?
The detail that everyone had overlooked, slowly became glaringly obvious, this scene before their eyes making them all realize that what they had all thought before was wrong.
Lin Hao Yu's face turned a greenish white, his entire body starting to tremble. He gritted his teeth and stared at Jun Wu, unable to believe what Jun Wu had just said!
At that moment, Jun Wu's rejection of them was as good as pushing the Blood Fiend Palace over into the abyss!
"You....." Lin Hao Yu was so angry that he wanted to strike out but was suddenly blocked by Rong Ruo who raised a hand to stop him.
"What? Being exposed and your humiliation has turned to rage?" Rong Ruo asked, with a mirthless smile upon her face.
Lin Hao Yu's face was flushed a deep red as he glared at Jun Wu, wishing for nothing else but be able to tear Jun Wu into shreds. But with Rong Ruo blocking Jun Wu off, it gave Lin Hao Yu absolutely no chance of doing that.
Chapter 1579: "Apologies, But We're Not That Close (10)"
"Jun Wu!" Lin Hao Yu could only shout helplessly in vain.
Jun Wu Xie just sat there calmly, looking at Lin Hao Yu who was raging from humiliation and then she slowly stood up. Before the eyes of everyone there, she turned herself around and walked away from the pavilion.
Gu Xin Yan was left staring blankly after Jun Wu's departing back. She knew for sure, that by Jun Wu walking away this time, it was now an unchangeable fact that Jun Wu would never be joining the Blood Fiend Palace. In her mind, memories of her being with Jun Wu over the recent period of time rose up continuously, the images all quiet and silent, feeling highly harmonious and tranquil. They were all still so clear to her in her mind but somehow, without knowing why, it gradually became rather fuzzy now.
With Jun Wu's departure, the Blood Fiend Palace became the biggest laughing stock in the Cloudy Brook Academy. Their own pomposity and their lies quickly made them the Blood Fiend Palace to become the butt of their jokes.
This attempt at negotiations for peace had utterly flopped which left Gu Xin Yan with a wooden expression and Lin Hao Yu in humiliated rage as they left the place under the raucous and jeering laughter of everyone there. The humiliation and ridicule they suffered today would accompany them for the rest of their academy lives, never to be erased.
After they returned back to the dormitory, Lin Hao Yu paced around the room in a insufferable rage.
"That Jun Wu thinks he's all that great! That brat is just one big ingrate! After all that we've done for him all this time, see how he is repaying us! He's just thrashed the face of the entire Blood Fiend Palace right into the ground! Who does he think he is? If not for his unique identity as one of the Spirit Mastery race, he wouldn't even be able to set foot inside the Cloudy Brook Academy at all!"
Lin Hao Yu was absolutely fuming. Jun Wu had made a big fool out of the Blood Fiend Palace before everyone out there. What was even more infuriating was that with Qiao Chu and the others in the picture, he couldn't even exact revenge against Jun Wu.
"That brat must surely have an ulterior motive! He had been so obedient lying at the side of your feet like a dog this past period waiting just for a day like this to clamp his jaws upon us! I'm sure....."
"Enough!" Gu Xin Yan who had been silent all this time suddenly shouted, her voice chillingly cold, which stunned Lin Hao Yu so badly he froze.
"Xin Yan, don't get so angry. I will definitely seek justice for you in return. Afterall, that brat merely knows a little bit of that Spirit Mastery right? Without his Spirit Mastery, he is just a piece of trash. I will be able to easily take him....."
"I said that's enough! Don't you understand! ?" Gu Xin Yan shouted as she swept the porcelain tea set off the table, the crisply clear crash resounding within the room.
"Xin Yan, you are....." Lin Hao Yu was a little flustered. He had never seen Gu Xin Yan showing such an expression on her face.
Gu Xin Yan drew in a deep breath, her face expressionless as she said: "I was just being too self conceited. I had thought that I would be able to win him over to join our Blood Fiend Palace. I had been wrong. I should have listened to the Elder and the others and not go provoke him at all."
"No, Xin Yan, you had done all that only for the good of the Blood Fiend Palace." Lin Hao Yu said, seeing Gu Xin Yan blaming herself in such strong self reproach. His heart pained to see her like this, Lin Hao Yu continued to say: "Things have turned out like this all because of Jun Wu's actions. I will definitely make him pay."
"Make him pay?" Gu Xin Yan laughed bitterly as she shook her head in helplessness. "Lin Hao Yu, do you still not understand? Regardless whether Jun Wu meant for this to happen or not, the fact remains that the Blood Fiend Palace is now at odds with all the other palaces. You are still thinking to find trouble with Jun Wu? We don't even know whether we will be able to defend ourselves!"
Gu Xin Yan's mind was buzzing in a whirl but she had no other choice but to struggle to calm herself down. The days ahead for the Blood Fiend Palace in the Cloudy Brook Academy would not be easy and judging from the reactions of Qiao Chu and the others, she knew that they would not let things rest so easily.
"Stabilize the situation with the others from the Blood Fiend Palace first and get all of them to lie low for the moment. We can only see how we can cross the bridge when we come to it." Gu Xin Yan told him.
"Then Jun Wu....." Lin Hao Yu said, his brow lifting slightly.
Chapter 1580: "Unreconciled Heart's Vengeance (1)"
Gu Xin Yan then cast a sidelong glance at him and said softly: "Leave him alone."
Lin Hao Yu froze in surprise.
[Gu Xin Yan was sparing Jun Wu just like that? That wasn't like the normal Gu Xin Yan at all!]
"I'm tired. You should leave." Not giving Lin Hao Yu any chance to ask questions, Gu Xin Yan immediately issued him his marching orders.
Lin Hao Yu had no choice but to leave feeling highly indignant.
After Lin Hao Yu left, Gu Xin Yan sat at the table by herself, resting her forehead on one hand. Her feigned calm finally broke down at that moment and her face showed an expression of agony, tears brimming up in her eyes.
"Jun Wu, must you really do this to me....."
Jun Wu's words had made Lin Hao Yu feel nothing but utmost rage. However, Gu Xin Yan did not feel the same way. She thought that she would hate Jun Wu right to the core, hate Jun Wu so much that she would want to tear him to shreds, but what she felt in her heart at that moment was not hatred.
But aggrievement.
Why carry it so far to be so absolutely final?
Why not leave just a little leeway?
Could it be that the time they spent together during this period had only been her own wishful thinking?
Gu Xin Yan knew that she should seek revenge. To make Jun Wu realize the consequences of offending the Blood Fiend Palace. But after she heard Lin Hao Yu say he wanted to seem revenge, she found she could not agree to it in anyway in her heart, but instead felt a sense of resistance against it.
She did not want to be enemies with Jun Wu.
Even when Jun Wu was pushing the Blood Fiend Palace into the abyss.
Complicated emotions swirled within Gu Xin Yan's heart, the strong willed Young Miss of the Blood Fiend Palace finally unable to hold herself back any longer as she hugged her knees to sob softly. No matter how intelligent and composed she usually was, she was still just a young lady in her teens.
After Lin Hao Yu came out from Gu Xin Yan's room, the hatred on his face had not reduced in the slightest.
He had grown up together with Gu Xin Yan so how could he not see that Gu Xin Yan was just being soft hearted this time?
"Jun Wu, the scores between us has grown even bigger!" Lin Hao Yu said to himself, his fists clenched tightly together as his knuckles crackled.
For a good period after, the persecution from the five palaces against the Blood Fiend Palace did not abate and the Blood Fiend Palace's situation became extremely bad. The youths from the Blood Fiend Palace just wished to be able to practice their cultivation training in peace but it was complete wishful thinking on their part. What made it even more unbearable was the taunting and ridicule from the bystanders watching from the sides.
The words that had been exchanged under the pavilion on that day had spread throughout the freshmen disciples of the Cloudy Brook Academy. Everyone knew that the Blood Fiend Palace had plotted to drag Jun Wu to join the Blood Fiend Palace but had been slapped straight across the face by Jun Wu instead. Besides causing the Blood Fiend Palace to be completely embarrassed, it also caused them to be reduced into being the biggest joke of the year within the Cloudy Brook Academy.
The youths from the Blood Fiend Palace were unable to practice their cultivation properly and they had to suffer the oppression from the five palaces in turn daily. In less than half a month's time, quite a number of the disciples from the Blood Fiend Palace became too frightened to even step out through their door.
Towards this, the Cloudy Brook Academy turned a deaf ear, not showing the slightest inclination to interfere at all.
Gu Xin Yan tried to placate everyone that they just have to suffer through this period, but Lin Hao Yu was unable to endure it.
It was as if Qiao Chu had marked him and he led a group of people to block him off at the Spirit Power faculty gates everyday without fail. No matter how many people Lin Hao Yu brought along beside him, Qiao Chu was always able to pick him out from within the crowd, and give him a good bashing before everyone's eyes.
These days, Lin Hao Yu's face that could have been considered to be rather handsome had been made to maintain that pig headed look for an extended period. Being completely helpless against Qiao Chu and could only hide himself within his room not daring to go out, how was the egotistical Lin Hao Yu expected to be able to endure such a comprised existence?
He wanted to retaliate, but he also understood that to take on the five palaces, it was really just too hard.