Chapter 210: Chapter 124: A Bustling Doorstep, Ji Qingyue Gets Carried

As the cultivators under her eldest brother Ji Chengping’s command prepared to sign the contracts, a complex and inscrutable mix of emotions churned in Ji Qingyue’s eyes—part surprise, part wry amusement, and part incredulous disbelief.

She had never imagined that these subordinates, who had once followed her eldest brother’s every command, would actually switch to her side.

Song Qingyan, one of the cultivators involved, could only feel resigned to the situation.

His initial decision to join the First Young Master’s faction hadn’t been made on a whim.

In his opinion, while the First Young Master was somewhat mediocre, his own abilities weren’t particularly strong either. Coasting along under him seemed like the best option.

Furthermore, Prince Qinghe was in his prime and could shelter the First Young Master for a long time, allowing Song Qingyan to cultivate in peace.

He even felt that joining the First Young Master’s faction was a better choice than joining those of Ji Qinghui or Ji Qingkang.

—Those two young masters were certainly impressive, but they were also incredibly ambitious. They were constantly at each other’s throats, their struggles fierce. Becoming one of their subordinates presented opportunities, but it also meant facing the constant risk of factional infighting. The slightest misstep could make one a casualty of their conflict.

The First Young Master, on the other hand, was so mediocre that neither Ji Qinghui nor Ji Qingkang paid him much mind on a daily basis.

However, what Song Qingyan had never imagined was that Ji Chengping wasn’t just mediocre—he was also a fool.

The moment someone provoked him, all the blood rushed to his head, and he ordered his men to deal with Zhong Ming.

’He’s an Inner Sect Disciple from a major sect! A monster who can severely wound a person’s Divine Soul with a single glance! How are we supposed to deal with someone like that?!’

Of course, that alone wouldn’t have been enough to make Song Qingyan sign the contract and switch his allegiance to Princess Qingyue.

It was Black Snake’s gruesome death that, like a bucket of ice water, extinguished any trace of wishful thinking in Song Qingyan’s mind, filling him with a bone-chilling fear and suspicion.

’Princess Qingyue said that Black Snake was an Evil Cultivator, brimming with resentful energy, and that he deserved his fate... but is that really the truth?’

’Is it possible that Black Snake was a normal cultivator, and Zhong Ming killed him by mistake after being provoked? Is Princess Qingyue just saying this to protect Zhong Ming’s reputation?’

He couldn’t be blamed for thinking this way. In this world, it was far from uncommon for the powerful to twist the truth to protect their own.

What made Song Qingyan even more anxious and terrified was that, on Ji Chengping’s orders, he would soon have to face Zhong Ming directly.

And if Zhong Ming really was a cruel person, he wasn’t very optimistic about his own chances.

’If I really go up against Zhong Ming, the best-case scenario is my Divine Soul being severely wounded. If I’m unlucky, I’ll be utterly annihilated...’

Matters of life and death were not to be taken lightly, and Song Qingyan dared not take that gamble.

Besides, he had only joined the faction partway through; he wasn’t a Death Warrior or a servant raised by Ji Chengping from childhood. He had no intention of laying down his life for him.

’Why would I risk my life for a few paltry resources? Besides, Princess Qingyue is also from Prince Qinghe’s Mansion. Serving her doesn’t really count as a betrayal.’

All one could say was that Zhong Ming’s act of incinerating Black Snake’s Divine Soul to ash with a single glance had scared the ordinary cultivators out of their wits.

They would rather submit than actually confront Zhong Ming.

...

"Bastards!"

"How dare you?!"

For the sake of their survival, Song Qingyan and the others signed the contract with Princess Qingyue. The sight made Ji Chengping tremble with such fury that a coppery tang rose in his throat, and he nearly spat out a mouthful of blood.

He was especially enraged when he recalled how he had personally singled out and mocked Zhong Ming, calling him a menace and claiming that Ji Qingyue keeping him around would only bring her endless trouble.

But in the end, Ji Qingyue, who kept Zhong Ming by her side, was perfectly safe. In fact, her power and prestige were growing more prominent by the day.

Meanwhile, his own subordinates had all defected to her side because of that very same man.

This stark contrast made Ji Chengping’s eyes burn red and his features twist in a mask of rage. He felt as if he were being consumed by his own fury.

As he seethed with rage, Ji Qinghui and Ji Qingkang, standing to the side, started laughing with schadenfreude. 𝓯𝓻𝒆𝙚𝒘𝓮𝙗𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝒍.𝙘𝓸𝙢

Soon, however, the smiles on their faces froze, replaced by solemn expressions.

...

While the three young masters of the Ji Family were lost in their own schemes and calculations, the battle on the platform continued.

To Song Qingyan’s relief, after he and the others signed their contracts, the intensity of Zhong Ming’s attacks did indeed lessen.

Although he still hadn’t entered the ring, he continued to sweep his gaze over them, one by one.

This time, however, after his attack, the cultivators who had signed the contract were merely left looking terrified and gasping for breath, as if they’d had a bad fright.

It was still a pathetic state to be in, but it was far better than bleeding from all seven facial orifices or dying on the spot.

After a series of challenges, it was soon Song Qingyan’s turn to take the platform.

SWOOSH!

The moment he was on the platform, he squeezed his eyes shut. This wasn’t an act of resignation; it was his attempt to counter Zhong Ming.

—Resisting Zhong Ming even as he was preparing to surrender to his side might seem contradictory, but it was a calculated move.

Song Qingyan was well aware that no matter where one went, the more capable you proved to be, the more respect and resources you would receive.

And in this situation, Zhong Ming’s gaze was, in essence, an assessment.

The longer they could withstand Zhong Ming’s Pupil Technique, the higher their status would be after joining Ji Qingyue’s faction. Therefore, it was only natural for them to resist him with all their might.

And Song Qingyan had a clever idea. ’It’s a Pupil Technique, so if I just keep my eyes closed, he won’t be able to do anything to me, right?’

As he thought this, Song Qingyan quickly discovered that he was wrong. Horribly wrong.

Where there is sunlight, there must also be a Shadow. The more brilliant the light, the deeper the Shadow.