Firmament Sword

The handful of Merak Elders in the room all had a barely perceptible flicker of joy on their faces.

The Grand Elder spoke, her face a mask of sorrow. ”Oh, my poor, ill-fated sister!”

The rest of the Elders also put on mournful expressions, looking utterly heartbroken.

Just then, a voice announced from outside, ”Young Master Ark of the Tianquan Sect has come to pay his respects to the Elders of Merak!”

”Show him in at once!” The trace of grief on the Grand Elder’s face vanished in an instant, replaced by a warm, benevolent smile.

But to Qiushuiduan and Phoenix, that smile was an absolute eyesore.

’How ironic!’ Qiushuiduan felt a growing urge to leap to his feet. He desperately wanted to slam his hand on the table and storm out.

’I hope Master makes a full recovery this time,’ Phoenix silently vowed.

Just then, a tall, debonair young man walked in, followed by two middle-aged men in martial attire.

These two men walked with a steady gait, their gazes calm, their true strength impossible to gauge. But then, who would dare underestimate anyone in the Young Master of Tianquan’s retinue?

”Ark Fang greets you, Seniors!” The young man entered with a smile, bowing to the Grand Elder and the other Merak Elders. When his gaze swept over Phoenix, his eyes flashed with stunned admiration. ”This must be Junior Sister Phoenix, I presume? You are truly a heavenly beauty!”

”Haha, Young Master Fang, you’re too kind. This is our Merak Saintess, Phoenix.” The Grand Elder’s face bloomed into a wide smile. She looked at Phoenix and said, ”Phoenix, come and greet your Senior Brother Fang.”

Though she was completely against it, Phoenix could only swallow her reluctance for now. She gave Ark Fang a slight bow. ”Phoenix greets Senior Brother Fang.”

”Please, no need for formalities, Junior Sister Phoenix.” Ark Fang’s bearing was elegant, his movements poised. He was clearly a young man who had received a fine upbringing since childhood.

It wasn’t just that Phoenix had no idea what kind of person Ark Fang truly was; even if he were exactly as he appeared on the surface, she would never fall for him.

Though born into a sect, Phoenix had essentially grown up in the secular world. She was repulsed by the superior attitude of most sect disciples; deep down, she found them arrogant and hypocritical.

Ark Fang, however, had no idea that this was the impression he had already made on Phoenix. He, on the other hand, was feeling quite good about himself.

His eyes then fell on Qiushuiduan, who was sitting in the main hall. Ark Fang paused, asking with a hint of confusion, ”And this senior is...?”

The Grand Elder introduced him with a placid smile. ”He was once a disciple of our Merak Sect. He left for many years and has only just returned for a visit.”

She didn’t even mention his name.

Qiushuiduan’s expression remained unchanged—cold and serene.

Phoenix, however, was seething with rage. ’Master Qiushuiduan may have been away for many years, but he never officially renounced the Merak Sect. If it wasn’t for my own master refusing to accept him all these years, which made him unwilling to return to this place of heartbreak, his strength would have earned him a seat as an Elder long ago!’

’Even the Grand Elder would have been no match for him!’

Back in the day, Qiushuiduan had captured the hearts of countless women throughout the Merak Sect, a sect with far more women than men.

Unfortunately, Qiushuiduan only had eyes for one person: Li Wenxi.

”Oh.” Upon hearing that this cold-looking, white-haired man was merely a Merak disciple, Ark Fang let out a soft, dismissive sound, losing all interest in even greeting him.

’After all, who was he, Ark Fang?’

’The great Young Master of the Tianquan Sect!’

’The future leader of an entire sect!’

’An ordinary disciple like this white-haired man had nothing to recommend him, aside from being a bit older.’

’Greeting such a person would be beneath him!’

If Ark Fang paid Qiushuiduan no mind, it was equally true that Qiushuiduan hadn’t given him a second glance.

He stood up and said coolly to the Grand Elder, ”Please, continue your conversation. I’m going to get some rest.”

The Grand Elder was visibly displeased, but she simply smiled and nodded. ”I’ll have someone show you the way.”

”No need.” Qiushuiduan tossed out the two words curtly and turned to leave.

”Senior Brother Qiu, you haven’t even met the Young Master of Tianquan, and you’re just leaving? Aren’t you afraid people will say our Merak Sect lacks courtesy?” a man with an effeminate voice spoke up, his tone icy.

Qiushuiduan had already reached the doorway. He stopped but didn’t turn around. ”Lu Dazhi, don’t start trouble.”

With that, he departed.

”How outrageous!” a handsome man who looked to be in his late twenties exclaimed angrily. ”He’s unbelievably arrogant!”

”That’s enough.” The Grand Elder’s face also showed a flicker of displeasure, directed not at Qiushuiduan, but at Lu Dazhi beside her.

Then, she looked up and gave Ark Fang a small smile. ”My apologies for the scene, Young Master Fang.”

A smile touched Ark Fang’s handsome face. ”He is simply a man of strong character. It’s of no concern.”

”Please, have a seat, Young Master Fang,” the Grand Elder said.

Someone brought a chair for Ark Fang. After seating himself, he looked up at the Grand Elder and said, ”My father had intended to come and propose this marriage in person. However, a matter suddenly arose within the sect right before his departure, and he was unable to get away. Before I left, he insisted that I convey his sincerest apologies to you, Grand Elder.”

”Haha, it is no matter, no matter at all. Sect Leader Fang has a myriad of duties to attend to. Your presence here, Young Master, is more than enough,” the Grand Elder said with a broad smile.

Ark Fang nodded and smiled. ”As the Grand Elder says. However, since this concerns the most important event of my life, I felt I had to come myself to show my sincerity. I truly admire Junior Sister Phoenix. Having now seen her, I am all the more struck by her heavenly beauty. To have such a fine woman for my wife would be my greatest blessing.”

Phoenix stood to the side, her beautiful face ashen with fury, her heart burning with indignation. ’Grand Elder, are you really in such a rush to marry me off? Are you that afraid someone in the sect will support me to become the next Sect Leader?’

’Not only are you discussing my marriage right in front of me, but you treat Ark Fang, who is my peer, as a guest of honor. He gets to sit, while I, the Merak Saintess, have to stand here like a common Maid!’

Lost in her thoughts, Phoenix didn’t spare the smiling Ark Fang a single glance. She looked up at the Grand Elder and said coolly, ”Grand Elder, please continue your discussion. I must return to care for my master.”

With that, she gave a slight bow and turned to leave.

”Insolence!” Lu Dazhi’s effeminate voice was thick with rage. SLAM! He smacked the table, shot to his feet, and pointed at Phoenix, snapping, ”Have you no manners at all?”

Phoenix turned back calmly to face Lu Dazhi. ”Then pray tell, Master Lu, how have I been impolite? Furthermore, Master Lu, I call you ’Master Lu’ out of respect, but I am still the Merak Saintess, am I not? What right do you have to speak to me in such a manner?”

”You... You insolent girl! How dare you show such insubordination!” Lu Dazhi roared.

”Insubordination? Master Lu, you can really lie through your teeth. How was I insubordinate? If anyone is guilty of that, isn’t it you, Master Lu? Within the sect, the status of the Saintess is slightly higher than that of an Elder... That is the ancestral tenet of the Merak Sect. Master Lu, how did you become the Elder in charge of punishments? Have you forgotten our own tenets?” When Phoenix’s tongue sharpened, very few could stand against her.

At this, Ark Fang, still seated, offered an awkward smile and interjected, ”Everyone, please, let’s not argue. Elder Lu, please calm your anger. Junior Sister Phoenix, you as well... Junior Sister Phoenix is worried about Sect Leader Li. It’s understandable that in her distress, she might have spoken rashly...”

”You, be quiet!” Phoenix coldly cut Ark Fang off. ”My affairs do not require your concern! And it is certainly not your place to interfere! I don’t care if you’re the Young Master of Tianquan or its Sect Leader; it has nothing to do with me. Furthermore, this is the Merak Sect! The affairs of Merak will be handled by the people of Merak.”

Ark Fang froze, a cold glint flashing in his eyes, but his face was a mask of apology. He said repeatedly, ”My apologies, I’m sorry. I misspoke.”

Just then, the Grand Elder cleared her throat and said in a heavy voice, ”Phoenix, you have gone too far!”

”Have I?” Phoenix turned back around. The killing intent on her face suddenly melted away like snow, replaced by a smile. ”Grand Elder, you’re being biased. Heaven is watching what we do. You should worry about yourself first. If something truly happens to my master, the Sect Leader’s position is not guaranteed to be yours!”

”You! You are too insolent!” That last sentence completely enraged the Merak Grand Elder. Without any discernible movement, she was suddenly standing right in front of Phoenix.

SLAP!

A sharp crack echoed as she viciously slapped Phoenix across the face.

A bright red palm print instantly bloomed on Phoenix’s fair, delicate cheek.

A flicker of glee flashed in Ark Fang’s eyes, though he quickly said, ”Sigh, what a mess. Can we all please just calm down?”

”Heh heh heh.” Tears welled in Phoenix’s eyes, but what came from her lips was a string of silvery laughter. She looked at the furious Grand Elder before her and sneered, ”Finally lost your composure, have you? After putting on an act for so many years, why stop now? The act of being peaceful, gentle, and kind... Go on, keep pretending.”

”You...” The Grand Elder raised her hand, about to strike Phoenix again.

”Go on, hit me! The worst you can do is beat me to death right here!” Phoenix said coldly. ”But then, your little scheme will fall apart.”

Staring coldly at the furious Grand Elder, Phoenix continued, ”You really should have kept up your act. This isn’t over yet, and you can’t be certain you’re the winner.”

”Do you have any idea what you’re saying?” The Grand Elder’s voice suddenly turned cold and ethereal. She was utterly incensed.

’I am the Grand Elder of the Merak Sect, yet our own Saintess is speaking to me so disgracefully. If I can’t salvage my dignity after this, what face will I have left? What right... would I have to take over as the Sect Leader of Merak?’

”Grand Elder, why waste your anger?” Lu Dazhi chimed in with a sinister tone. ”Young Master Fang is right here, isn’t he? We’ll agree to this marriage. Let the Young Master take his fiancée and leave the Merak Sect now!”

The Grand Elder narrowed her eyes, a cold light glinting within them, and glanced at Ark Fang.

Ark Fang gave a wry smile. ”It seems Junior Sister Phoenix is not very happy here. In that case, I will take her with me.”

”You dare!” Phoenix’s brows shot up in fury. She glared first at Ark Fang, then at Lu Dazhi, and roared, ”I am the Merak Saintess! How dare you treat me this way? Aren’t you afraid of retribution?”

”Retribution? Heh heh, little girl, you’re far too naive. The one who’s really getting what they deserve is your master!” Lu Dazhi finally dropped his facade, a smug, villainous sneer spreading across his face as he cackled.

”Is that so?” A voice, utterly calm, came from the doorway. But anyone could hear the extreme, suppressed rage simmering just beneath that placid surface.

At the sound of that voice, the entire reception hall fell so silent you could hear a pin drop.