Free Web NovelChapter 1187: Chapter 1186: Ling Qianji
"Oh, isn’t this the young master of the Swordsaint Family?"
"Ah, it’s elder brother of the Tang Sect, my apologies."
The Full Moon Pavilion was already crowded at this moment. The younger generation from various aristocratic families had all gathered there.
In an area on the western side of the pavilion, there were several family disciples engaged in small talk. They hailed from the Ling Family of the Sword Saint Clan and the Tang Sect. If Ling Chen were here, he would surely recognize many of them.
Tang Haotian and Tang Yutong of the Tang Family were familiar to Ling Chen. From the Ling Family, Ling Xue and Ling Han Ye were also present, but none among them were the leaders of the young generation of these two great families.
On the Tang Sect’s side, the leader of the younger generation was unexpectedly a black-robed male, appearing to be around thirty-six or thirty-seven years old. This person was named Tang Wuxi, a core disciple of Desolate Fire City, one of the Eight Great Super Sects.
As for the gray-clad swordsman currently having a delightful conversation with him, he was the leader of the younger generation of the Ling Family, named Ling Qianji. Like Tang Wuxi, he was a core disciple of Sword Casting Villa, one of the Eight Great Sects.
At this moment, Tang Wuxi’s gaze suddenly shifted to the direction of the entrance, where, unexpectedly, a group of youths dressed in black robes walked in.
When he saw the young white-clad swordfighter leading them, his pupils suddenly contracted.
It was Ling Chen.
"That brat actually came too."
Tang Wuxi’s eyes flashed with a trace of coldness.
He had already learned from the family that not long ago, the Third Elder of their Tang Sect had indeed died at the hands of Ling Chen.
Furthermore, the clues regarding the Green Lotus Sword Song that the Tang Sect had painstakingly uncovered were abruptly cut off by Ling Chen.
What’s even more infuriating is that the Empress Yunyao actually issued a secret order to their Tang Sect, forbidding them from harming Ling Chen in any way.
This brat, unbeknownst to them, had somehow gotten close to Empress Yunyao again, causing the latter to go to such lengths to protect him.
"The young generation of the Tang Sect is truly talented. I believe the Tang Sect will certainly achieve good results in this Nine Streams Assembly."
At this moment, Ling Qianji, facing him, wore a courteous smile and spoke.
"The Ling Family is full of stars as well."
Tang Wuxi smiled and glanced at the Ling Family members, seemingly casually saying, "I heard the Ling Family has a peerless genius named Ling Chen. Why didn’t he come here?"
Hearing the name Ling Chen, not only did Ling Qianji’s expression change slightly, but even Ling Xue, Ling Han Ye, and others couldn’t help but frown.
Ling Chen had already betrayed the Ling Family long ago, killing the Ice and Fire Dual Swords, Ling Yuxuan, Ling Hai, and other geniuses of the Ling Family one after another, causing significant damage to the Ling Family. This name had become taboo within the Ling Family, yet unexpectedly, Tang Wuxi mentioned it right in front of them.
It had been more than half a year since Ling Chen betrayed the Ling Family, and it was impossible for this person not to know.
This guy must be doing it on purpose.
"Big brother, Ling Chen betrayed the Ling Family long ago. He is no longer part of the Ling Family."
Tang Yutong from the rear spoke up to remind.
"What? Betrayed the Ling Family already?"
Tang Wuxi wore a surprised expression and then seemed somewhat apologetic as he looked at the Ling Family members, saying with a smile, "I apologize, I’ve been in closed-door cultivation for a long time and didn’t know such a big event occurred in the Ling Family. I truly did not know."
"Ignorance is not a crime."
Ling Qianji’s face was calm, showing no trace of anger, but he was clearly feeling uncomfortable inside. The matter of Ling Chen betraying the Ling Family and joining the Witch Fiend Sect was so significant that even Empress Yunyao was startled by it. How could Tang Wuxi possibly not know?
"What a pity. I always thought Ling Chen was a genius of the Ling Family. I wanted to take this opportunity to have a good chat with him."
Tang Wuxi said.
Of course, he said these words intentionally. He just wanted to use this opportunity to incite the Ling Family members’ hostility towards Ling Chen.
Tang Wuxi suddenly looked in the direction where Ling Chen and the Witch Gate disciples were and unintentionally discovered, "Oh, who are those over there? They seem like faces I’ve never seen before."
Ling Qianji and others all turned to follow the voice, and when they saw Ling Chen, their expressions also became unsightly.
"It’s him!"
Ling Xue’s small mouth opened wide, her beautiful eyes showing a mix of emotions. She clearly didn’t expect to encounter Ling Chen here.
"Hmph, that traitor dares to show up here!"
Beside him, Ling Han Ye snorted coldly, staring at Ling Chen with eyes seemingly ready to spill fire.
"The bunch behind him seems to be people from the Witch Fiend Sect."
Ling Qianji’s gaze also fell on Ling Chen. When Ling Chen caused chaos in the Ling Family, he happened to be out training, so he had never met Ling Chen.
But after hearing about Ling Chen’s various deeds, he naturally harbored deep hatred toward Ling Chen now.
"Witch Fiend Sect? Aren’t they irregular sects? Why are they allowed to enter the Full Moon Pavilion?"
Tang Wuxi frowned and asked.
"Big brother, you might not know. The Witch Fiend Sect has now pledged allegiance to the Imperial Court, renamed as the Witch Gate, and has been designated by Empress Yunyao as the Tenth Great Family of the Nine Provinces," Tang Yutong explained.
"The Tenth Great Family?"
Tang Wuxi shook his head, "That’s too ludicrous. Irregular sects remain irregular sects; even with a name change, their essence remains the same."
"Who says otherwise."
Ling Han Ye gazed darkly at Ling Chen and the group, "But who dares to defy the Empress’s orders? However, these irregular sects, coupled with a notorious traitor, are unlikely to be acknowledged, right?"
In their view, Ling Chen and people from the Witch Gate had already sat down in a section, but indeed, as Ling Han Ye said, no one had proactively greeted them, and there they sat somewhat awkwardly.
"Had I known it would be like this, I wouldn’t have come."
Qin Yiren’s face was somewhat displeased. In the Eastern Ocean area, who would dare not show respect to the Witch Gate? She personally was always treated like a star wherever she went, yet now she was being ignored here, clearly making her very frustrated.
"Yeah, maybe the families have coordinated, choosing to ignore us to make us retreat. Perhaps we should leave."
A young Witch Gate disciple suggested.
Chen Qingzhi shook his head, "Since we’ve come, how can we leave shamefully like this? That would be even more embarrassing than not coming at all."
After speaking, he glanced at Ling Chen, who was sitting there, seemingly indifferent as if he didn’t care whether anyone paid attention to them.
Because to Ling Chen, the Witch Gate disciples attending the banquet were simply there to make an appearance, so what did it matter whether anyone acknowledged them?
