jdhmnovel Chapter 474: The Xuanyuan Family Emerges, a Dark Day for Jing University
Chapter 474: The Xuanyuan Family Emerges, a Dark Day for Jing University
Shen Yixuan and Luo Qingyu’s perspective was simple.
They believed that even if Gu Yuexi was at fault, any judgment should come from the Department of Education or the Military Department. For the Ten Great Clans to bypass the authorities and issue a wanted notice directly was a blatant disregard for the laws of the Great Xia, not to mention a sign of disrespect toward the students of Jing University.
As leading figures among the student body, they actively organized protests and demonstrations on behalf of Gu Yuexi and Chu Sheng.
Initially, the Ten Great Clans had turned a blind eye.
After all, they had no desire for a complete fallout with Jing University, let alone the entire Department of Education that backed it. ’Students will be students,’ they figured. ’They’re hot-blooded and prone to making a fuss. It’s nothing to worry about; they’ll quiet down on their own after a while.’
Until the Xuanyuan Family appeared.
The Xuanyuan Family.
The moment this name was spoken, the voices of the gossiping students around instinctively lowered several notches, their eyes filled with deep apprehension.
Among the Ten Great Clans, the Xuanyuan Family was truly a unique entity.
It was counted among the Top Three Families, but unlike the Qin Family with its deep roots in the military, or the Ye Family with its immense influence in politics and business, the Xuanyuan Family had virtually no power in these spheres.
And yet, its status was subtly even higher than the other two.
This was because it was the oldest and most mysterious of the families, with a lineage so ancient it could be traced to the time before the Spiritual Energy Awakening.
They were like shadows from history itself, living in seclusion and having not taken part in worldly affairs for many years.
But this time, for reasons unknown—perhaps for the sake of the "Divine Son" candidacy—the Xuanyuan Family had emerged from their seclusion.
The ones who came were an unfathomably profound elder and a young man with a refined, scholarly air.
It was during one of these protests that Shen Yixuan and Luo Qingyu, overcome with emotion, verbally offended these two uninvited guests.
And then, they were...
Gu Yuexi’s cold gaze swept over to the student who was speaking, her brow furrowed. "And then they were what?"
The student shuddered under her gaze and was about to continue.
Just then, a voice laced with amusement and ridicule drifted in from the edge of the crowd, cutting him off.
"Heh, what else could have happened?"
Everyone turned to see Qin Wudao strolling over, his hands casually tucked in his pockets.
He stepped forward, taking up the thread of the conversation, his eyes never leaving Gu Yuexi’s icy expression.
"Those two are currently being displayed like a pair of pets, locked in a cage at the Meridian Gate in Kyoto for everyone to gawk at."
’Meridian Gate? Locked in a cage? For everyone to gawk at?’
’What does that mean?’
’What does he mean, locked in a cage?’
’What kind of cage could possibly hold two formidable King Realm Powerhouses like Shen Yixuan and Luo Qingyu?’
Gu Yuexi’s frown deepened.
On her shoulder, Chu Sheng narrowed his eyes.
’If he means that literally... then this isn’t a punishment. It’s a blatant, naked humiliation!’
Qin Wudao seemed pleased by Gu Yuexi’s reaction. He added, his tone dripping with schadenfreude:
"Heh, don’t give me that look. While it’s true you and your mosquito slapped my Qin Family in the face, I’m the kind of person who keeps business and personal matters separate. I can overlook a small thing like that."
"What happened to Brother Shen and Sister Luo has nothing to do with my Qin Family. After all, I’m a student at Jing University too. It pains me to see our school disgraced like this."
He paused, then his tone shifted.
"I’m only speaking up today to offer you a piece of advice."
"You’d better stay out of this."
"Because when it comes to the Xuanyuan Family’s business, not even my Qin Family—not even my grandfather—can interfere, let alone you."
"Heh, as for the specifics... why don’t you go see for yourself? Then you’ll understand."
As he spoke, his gaze finally shifted from Gu Yuexi to Chu Sheng, a cold, unconcealed sneer in his eyes.
"Jing University was once a place of such glory. Now, because of you two, we’ve been utterly disgraced."
"And you have no one to blame but yourselves."
With that, he turned and melted into the crowd, vanishing from sight.
Gu Yuexi had no time for such a contemptible buffoon.
She exchanged a look with Chu Sheng on her shoulder, a silent understanding passing between them.
In the next second, the woman and the mosquito vanished without a trace.
...
「Kyoto, the Meridian Gate.」
This place was once part of the ancient imperial city. Legend held that it was where dynasties of old carried out executions and punished criminals, and it possessed a grim, somber aura.
Now, however, this famous historical site had become the liveliest spot in all of Kyoto.
Atop the Meridian Gate, two enormous, transparent cages floated in midair.
Inside the cages, a man and a woman sat cross-legged, their eyes tightly shut.
It was Shen Yixuan and Luo Qingyu.
Their auras were faint and their faces pale. They looked utterly exhausted, a clear sign they had been trapped for a long time.
Below the gate, a massive crowd had gathered, packed several layers deep. They pointed and murmured amongst themselves.
"Sigh, it’s been ten days, hasn’t it? And they still haven’t gotten out."
"They’re not getting out! I heard a major figure from the Xuanyuan Family personally created these cages. Forget them, not even an Emperor Realm Powerhouse could break through!"
"That’s right. The Xuanyuan Family is a legendary Hidden Clan. Jing University really picked a fight they can’t win this time. You just don’t offend people like that."
Some voices were sympathetic, others were mocking.
"Haha, so these are Jing University’s Top Notch geniuses? I don’t see what’s so special about them! They’re just locked up like a pair of monkeys for our amusement!"
"Exactly! I heard they ended up this way because they were trying to defend that Gu Yuexi woman. Was it worth it, I ask you?"
"Heh, you feel sorry for them, but for all we know, she’s off living it up somewhere! She probably got scared and went into hiding, too afraid to ever return to Kyoto!"
The cacophony of voices converged, each word like an invisible blade stabbing at the pair in the cages.
Just then, the Space above the crowd rippled faintly.
Chu Sheng and Gu Yuexi’s figures materialized out of thin air.
When she saw the scene atop the Meridian Gate, Gu Yuexi’s gaze turned instantly glacial.
While her relationship with Shen Yixuan and Luo Qingyu wasn’t particularly deep, they were comrades who had fought alongside her.
Furthermore, they had ended up in this state because of her, plain and simple.
It was a debt she had to acknowledge.
And this humiliation was one she had to repay in kind!
She took a single step and instantly appeared on the gate tower, directly in front of one of the transparent cages.
Wasting no words, she formed a sword with her fingers and unleashed a vicious strike of Sword Qi at the transparent prison!
However, the Sword Qi—powerful enough to easily slay a King Realm Powerhouse—vanished the instant it touched the prison, like a clay ox sinking into the sea. It dissipated into nothingness without causing the slightest ripple.
The cage remained utterly unmoved.