Chapter Fifteen: The Task of Rewarding Good and Punishing Evil

Sun Tianpeng was filled with terror. If the young master Jiang became enraged, his precious son's head might well be forfeit... In truth, Sun Tianpeng was worrying unnecessarily; the blood-soaked bandit-slayer Jiang Yan was already gone. Three months ago, when Jiang Yan crossed over, the butcher Jiang Yan had died. The Jiang Yan who stood here now was nothing more than a new leader with his mind set on developing Mount Hua.

Sun Yang’s gaping mouth snapped shut. Something was wrong—why was his father kneeling before that boy? He ought to be punishing him, not bowing down. Indignant, Sun Yang shouted, “Father, father, that boy bullied me! Why are you kneeling to him? He should be kneeling to you!”

Sun Tianpeng’s gaunt face darkened, his cunning little eyes flashing with anger. His son was hopelessly disappointing, but Sun Tianpeng quickly shifted his thinking, ignoring the boy and continuing to address Jiang Yan, “Young Master Jiang, my son is young and ignorant. He’s offended you, but you need not trouble yourself over it. I’ll make sure to discipline him thoroughly.”

Sun Yang, hearing this, refused to accept it. His father had gone senile. With dozens of retainers at home, dealing with a young brat should be a trivial matter. If his father claimed he was ignorant, he would show him otherwise. Sun Yang snarled viciously at the sly servant, “Ning Yang, go gather all the household retainers. I want to see this boy beaten to the ground with my own eyes...”

With the young master’s backing, the sly servant scrambled to his feet, disregarding his bleeding wrist, intent on summoning the retainers to deal with Jiang Yan. Meanwhile, Sun Tianpeng was busy flattering Jiang Yan, piling on obsequious words, while his own son continued to provoke Jiang Yan, making Sun Tianpeng increasingly furious...

Seeing Ning Yang about to fetch the retainers, Sun Tianpeng’s anger boiled over. His son was already a stupid fool, and now this servant was making trouble as well. In a rage, Sun Tianpeng strode forward, his short, thin body moving swiftly, and delivered a flying kick to the servant's backside, sending Ning Yang sprawling face-first into the dirt.

The sly servant was much taller than the short, thin Sun Tianpeng, yet Sun Tianpeng managed to execute such a difficult kick.

The servant scrambled up, and seeing that his master had kicked him, his sly face showed obvious confusion as he timidly asked, “Master, why did you kick me?”

A grimace flickered across Sun Tianpeng’s face, and he delivered another kick to the servant’s thigh, knocking him down again. He shouted fiercely, “You dog servant! It’s you lot who incite the young master to provoke Young Master Jiang. If you dare stir him up again, I’ll teach you a lesson!” Sun Tianpeng cursed as he kicked, making the servant flee, clutching his head.

As he fled, the servant regretted his actions. Today, it seemed the young master had run up against a solid wall...

Sun Yang’s thin face was flushed red with anger. What was wrong with his father today? In the past, whenever he got into trouble, his father always helped him deal with the other party. Today, his father had changed, not only refusing to help, but even beating his own servants.

“Father, if you won’t help me, at least don’t help outsiders punish me! It’s all because of this outsider—I’ll kill him and then you’ll see!” Sun Yang, seeing his father refuse to help, shifted all his resentment onto Jiang Yan.

A savage expression flickered across Sun Yang’s twisted face as he glared fiercely at Jiang Yan, who stood with a cold indifference. His chest was filled with rage. “It’s all your fault, outsider. You made my father turn against me. I’ll kill you.”

With that, Sun Yang leapt down from the wall, raising his wrist to reveal a gleaming dagger. With a shout, he charged at Jiang Yan...

Hearing his son’s cry, Sun Tianpeng turned to see Sun Yang charging at Jiang Yan with a dagger in hand. In an instant, Sun Tianpeng’s face turned ashen, and memories of Jiang Yan’s bloody street fight from half a year ago flashed before his eyes...

Somehow, Sun Tianpeng found the strength to dart forward in a few swift steps. His short, thin body blocked Sun Yang’s path, and he seized his son’s dagger, yanking it free and tossing it to the ground with a clatter.

With a thud, Sun Tianpeng threw his son to the ground. Though Sun Yang was about the same height as his father, he was effortlessly thrown down—who knew where Sun Tianpeng found such strength?

Sun Tianpeng glared at several gray-robed retainers nearby. “You dog servants! Hurry over and hold down the young master so he doesn’t cause more trouble!”

The retainers rushed forward and pinned Sun Yang to the ground as he tried to rise. Seeing Sun Tianpeng’s dark expression, they applied extra force, holding Sun Yang down firmly.

Whether from agitation or anger, Sun Yang’s face was flushed red as he shouted at his father, “Father, why are you stopping me? Why? Even if the Emperor himself came today, I would deal with this boy! No one’s plea will change my mind—I...”

Sun Tianpeng slapped his son hard across the face, feeling a pang of sorrow as he watched him reel from the blow.

Sun Tianpeng’s black, gaunt face alternated between dark and pale, his chest heaving. He spoke with bitter disappointment, “Fine, fine—you’re grown now, you don’t even listen to your father. Then let me tell you who you tried to kill with that knife!”

Sun Yang, holding the side of his face, replied disdainfully, “Who? I don’t care who he is! He’s hardly some immortal from the mountain!” His words were thick with mockery.

Sun Tianpeng let out a heavy breath, his eyes bulging with frustration as he stared at his son. “Standing behind me is the chief disciple of Mount Hua’s immortal sect—Young Master Jiang.”

Sun Yang’s expression froze. His struggling body went limp, and he stammered, “Mount... Mount Hua... Young Master Jiang?”

Seeing his son calm down after hearing Jiang Yan’s name, Sun Tianpeng finally relaxed. His son had always idolized the immortal sects of Mount Hua, dreaming of one day becoming their disciple and learning their arts. Now, knowing Jiang Yan’s identity, he would surely not dare make further trouble.

Sun Tianpeng turned and bowed respectfully to Jiang Yan. “Young Master Jiang, my son is young and ignorant. If he has offended you in any way, I beg your forgiveness. I am endlessly grateful for your mercy.”

Jiang Yan looked coldly at Sun Yang, sprawled on the ground. Sun Yang’s face showed not only shock and helplessness, but a lingering trace of resentment. His expression suggested that, if Jiang Yan were not a disciple of the immortal sect, he would continue arguing. Jiang Yan felt a pang of sorrow—another child ruined by his parents’ misguided beliefs.

With that thought, Jiang Yan’s spiritual power suddenly surged forth, forming a giant hand that seized Sun Yang’s discarded dagger and suspended it in mid-air before everyone.

Seeing the hovering dagger, Sun Tianpeng’s eyes flashed with fear. Was Young Master Jiang about to punish his son?

But Sun Yang, seeing the dagger floating in the air, shed his resentment and fear, replacing them with excitement and longing. In his heart, he was thrilled—this was truly the work of immortals!

The sly servant shrank his neck in terror at the sight of the hovering dagger, casting a fearful glance at Jiang Yan before slowly edging forward to hide behind the retainers holding Sun Yang down.

The townspeople witnessing the floating dagger all fell to their knees, their hearts filled with awe. They remembered the day Young Master Jiang executed the mountain bandits, but he had not displayed such supernatural power then...

“Heaven’s misfortune can be overcome; self-inflicted misfortune cannot.” Jiang Yan’s icy words echoed over Qingyang Town.

“In Qingyang Town, I will not tolerate evildoers. This is but a small town—the foundation of Mount Hua. In future, the youth of Qingyang may be chosen as disciples. For immortals, the foremost virtue is benevolence and moral conduct. Those who are wicked and corrupt should not dream of entering Mount Hua’s gates.”

Suddenly, Sun Yang’s face turned ashen, the excitement and longing in his eyes vanishing without a trace...

“Sun Yang, as head of the sect, I will forgive you this time for your youth and ignorance. If I hear of you committing another evil deed in Qingyang Town, your fate will be as dire as this hat.”

Jiang Yan raised his hand. The dagger suspended before everyone trembled and began spinning rapidly. Its blade reflected sunlight, its edge slicing through the air like a high-speed fan, emitting a constant buzzing sound. With a gesture, Jiang Yan sent the dagger streaking toward Sun Tianpeng...

“Father...” Sun Yang, sprawled on the ground, let out a miserable cry and struggled to rise...

With a clang, the dagger stabbed into the ground, producing a chilling scraping sound.

Sun Tianpeng exhaled deeply, glancing at his hat beside him—now sliced cleanly in two. He prostrated himself before Jiang Yan, “I thank Young Master Jiang for sparing my son’s life. I am forever grateful.”

Sun Yang’s body went limp, collapsing helplessly. The dazzling flash from the dagger had utterly terrified him.

The sly servant’s legs gave out, and he plopped onto the ground. If that brilliant blade had struck his neck just now...

After delivering his stern reprimand, Jiang Yan flicked his sleeve and strode into the Ning family’s mansion. Behind him, Master Ning’s arrogant voice rang out, “Ning Yang, you idiot, hurry up and return the ten taels of silver you owe me! How dare you try to take advantage of Young Master Jiang...”

“Ding! Congratulations on activating the Sect Leader System’s reward-and-punishment mission: Discipline the wicked youth Sun Yang of Qingyang Town. You have earned 0.1 merit points and one hundred low-grade spirit beast pills.” The Sect Leader System’s voice suddenly sounded in Jiang Yan’s ear. The system continued abruptly: “Any more recommendation votes, dear readers? Cast your votes quickly, the mission rewards are many, my friends...”