Shizun, Misunderstood this Disciple As a Hero. [bl]

Chapter 31

[Shizun, someone is trying to frame us.]

"Lord Xiu Qiangshu! You have prepared this place well," Xiu Lan smiled.

"Thank you," Xiu Qiangshu smiled in relief. "Are you doing well?"

"Yes," Xiu Lan's smile faltered, "I'll take a seat now." He smiled brightly again.

Xiu Qiangshu nodded and glanced suspiciously at Xiu Lan.

"He seems a little too happy for a person whose whole sect was slaughtered." Yun Lixin added, skeptical.

Yun Lixin stood beside Xiu Qiangshu with index fingers resting underneath his chin. He looked like an old philosopher. Nevertheless, Xiu Qiangshu agreed. Xiu Lan greeted others as he laughed and talked with them, enjoying all the snacks and drinks without a hint of grief for his parents or the people killed in his sect.

Guests took their seats after greeting each other in an open area overviewing the field. Everyone beamed as they bragged about their top disciples who competed in the demon-hunting competition. Xiu Qiangshu and Shi Liang ensured that no guest requests were unheard of before starting the demon-hunting competition.

A board stood in the corner with every disciple participating in the competition. Besides, another board stood where the points for each of the top 10 disciples would be added and displayed for everyone except for the participants since they couldn't see while competing.

Since Yun Lixin was too old to compete, he stayed with Xiu Qiangshu.

"As everyone may already know, the demon-hunting consists of several demons. These demons aren't innocent; they are prisoners who have harmed humans or done something wrong and are being sent as prey in the competition instead of hanged. They will be left open in the field while the participants can hunt them. Don't worry; they are less powerful and are being tracked by a pill inserted in their veins that would allow us to track them," Xiu Qiangshu announced to everyone. "The way to gain points is simple: The bigger the demon, the higher the points the participants gain if they are the first to kill it. The more points you get, the more likely you are to win."

The whole time Xiu Qiangshu spoke, Yun Lixin admired him. He sat behind the lords and disciples who noticed Yun Lixin and were stunned to see him alive but didn't dare talk about him or make a scene as they were too afraid of Xiu Qiangshu. Therefore, they ignored him.

After announcing, Xiu Qiangshu and Shi Liang used a spell to open a transparent screen midair where the guests could get a clear view of each participant they wanted to see with their minds along with the view that they were getting from above where they could see their disciples–but not clearly.

Shi Liang popped a firework in the sky, indicating to the participants that the competition had started.

Xiu Qiangshu sat beside Yun Lixin, while Shi Liang sat beside Xiu Qiangshu.

"I bet on Shi Lian!" A Qian Fan yelled, "She already gained 1000 points!"

"I will bet on Wei Zhu! He is smart and has good looks. Not only that, he is just 50 points below Shi Lian."

Silly kids. Xiu Qiangshu thought as he smiled beside his fan.

He gazed back at the screen. Shi Lian was playing well. He could hear guests talking about how talented and beautiful she was and were already fighting to take her into their sect.

"Woah, who is this participant?"

"It's Shi Lian, Shi Liang's sister."

"She is charming."

"And talented."

"A bright star"

Xiu Qiangshu glanced at Yun Lixin and wondered whether the plot was as follows; Shi Lian would show her outstanding skills and win the challenge; the beautiful and talented she is will win Yun Lixin's heart! And boom! Yun Lixin would fall for her even more, later ask her hand, have tons of kids, and live happily ever after! While Xiu Qiangshu would die as a single old man!

Xiu Qiangshu cried silently behind his fan at the thought.

"Shizun, are you okay?" Yun Lixin asked, noticing Xiu Qiangshu's weird behavior.

"Of course!" Xiu Qiangshu gave a thumbs-up while hiding his face behind his fan.

Yun Lixin nodded and looked away while being alert to Xiu Qiangshu's health.

"Huh? What's going on?" One of the Lords asked. The screens glitched. Someone was trying to remove Shi Liang and Xiu Qiangshu's spell, which had opened a screen to help the guests see their disciples in the demon-hunting competition.

"Why is my disciple walking toward the lake? He—Someone save him! He is drowning!"

"Zu Hui is walking toward the cliff! What is going on? Someone—" Zu Hui fell down the cliff. The lord fell onto his chair, aghast. Just like that, his top disciple died.

But his disciple wasn't only the one who was leading themselves to their doom. Each disciple in the demon-hunting competition walked as if a ghost possessed them to kill themselves in any way possible.

One disciple got eaten by the demon.

Another disciple slit his throat with his sword.

Many disciples fell from the cliff.

Shi Lian slowly walked toward the pit of fire that some disciples had started. Her eyes looked ahead without any emotion.

Xiu Qiangshu and Shi Liang stood. Both of their eyebrwos knitted together in confusion.

The guests were dismayed by the situation as they turned angrily toward Xiu Qiangshu and pointed fingers at him and then at Yun Lixin.

"Yun Lixin! You must have done this! Look at you sitting calmly!" One of the lords raged.

"Xiu Qiangshu, Is this what you planned for our disciples? Is this your revenge for your disciple, Yun Lixin?" Another lord fumed.

"It's probably Yun Lixin who is doing this, the demon he is; he wants every immortal and human to die!" The sect leader pointed his finger at Yun Lixin.

Yun Lixin calmly stood up, he towered every lord and sect leader present there. The lord who pointed at Yun Lixin stepped back fearfully.

"This is a misunderstanding. I wouldn't do such a thing for petty revenge. Someone wants to ruin this demon-hunting competition." Xiu Qiangshu defended.

"And who is that someone, if I may ask? I suspect none other than you and Yun Lixin." The lord folded his arms across his chest arrogantly.

Yun Lixin coked his head to the side and stared at the lord with stern eyes. The lord trembled fearfully, but they didn't dare show it to Yun Lixin.

"We need to think with a clear mind. Peak Lord Xiu Qiangshu worked hard on this competition. He wouldn't do such a thing. He stayed with me the whole week, planned, and worked tirelessly for this competition. Someone is trying to frame Peak Lord Xiu Qiangshu and Yun Lixin." Shi Liang supported. His voice echoed with confidence. The lords became silent. They believed Shi Liang's words and trusted him.

"We should all go and save our disciples," Xiu Lan sounded. All the lords nodded in agreement.

"No, this can be dangerous," Xiu Qiangshu responded.

"Then do you want us to watch our disciples die?" The other lord said furiously and was about to walk toward Xiu Qiangshu, but Yun Lixin and Shi Liang drew their swords and stepped forward, defending Xiu Qiangshu.

"As I said, We need to think clearly and not panic. I'll go out and save the rest of the disciples."

"I'll come with you, Shi Liang." Xiu Qiansu stated.

"You have a weak core; I can't risk it." Shi Liang whispered.

"I'll come with Shizun, too; as long as he is with me, Shizun will be fine." Yun Lixin said indifferently. Shi Liang looked at him suspiciously.

"Do you think you can save the disciples all at once? They are all scattered in the huge field." Yun Lixin folded his arms.

"Fine." Shi Liang finally said.