Chapter 19: Three hundred years (2/2)

Nan Gong Ling nodded and said: “Mo Xie, Chu Zhan Peng came here as a guest, how can you let him stand.”

“The great Chu Zhan Peng came to the Yun Hai Sect because he wants us to deliver him one of our ordinary disciples called Lin Feng.” Mo Xie said explaining.

“Because of an ordinary disciple?” asked Nan Gong Ling frowning in irritation.

Chu Zhan Peng quickly interrupted Mo Xie and said “Patriarch Nan Gong Ling, Lin Feng is the son of this junior female apprentice’s uncle. That young man has no regard for his elders and betters. He has injured one of his male cousins. He also insulted and humiliated his uncle, the father of my female junior apprentice. Therefore, my female junior apprentice wanted to come to solve their personal grudges.”

Chu Zhan Peng was facing the great elders and the patriarch of the Yun Hai Sect, so he was careful not to sound too excessive with his words or he may not leave with his life. He wanted Nan Gong Ling to accept his request. Therefore he was using a mild and humble tone. However, Nan Gong Ling wasn’t that kind of a person and he perfectly understood what was going on.

“Mo Xie, how do you want to handle this?” Asked Nan Gong Ling.

Mo Xie didn’t immediately reply. He secretly glanced at one of the great elders who was standing next to Nan Gong Ling.

“That child, with no regard for his elders and betters is guilty. He should be expelled from the sect”.

Mo Xie was guarded in his speech. If he had directly said that he would deliver Lin Feng to Chu Zhan Peng to save face, it would definitely anger Nan Gong Ling. Lin Feng was still a Yun Hai Sect disciple after all. How could he deliver one of his disciples to the Hao Yue Sect without question? But saying he would expel Lin Feng from the Sect implied that everything that happened after would have nothing to do with the sect anymore as Lin Feng wouldn’t be a disciple any longer. How cruel could Mo Xie possibly be to this ordinary disciple his own face?

Nan Gong Ling was frowning and shaking his head. He knew exactly what Mo Xie had meant in his words. Nan Gong Ling would not willingly hand over any of his disciples.

“Patriarch, his behavior is harmful to our sect and its reputation, if he stayed in the Yun Hai Sect, it would be a disaster in the future. Mo Xie is begging that you expel that disciple for the well-being of the other disciples of the sect.” Said Mo Cang Lan; one of the great elders from the sect.

Everyone around them had perfectly understood the situation. A solution had to be found. Mo Cang Lan, as one of the Great Elders was also in charge of enforcement within the sect. His position within the hierarchy of the sect was extremely high. He was also Mo Xie’s father. After what he said, it could be easily understood what the consequences for Lin Feng would be.

“Ordinary disciple.” Whispered Nan Gong Ling. He was inwardly startled but didn’t show it. He didn’t approve Mo Xie’s decision but Mo Cang Lan was a chief figure in the sect. Nan Gong Ling couldn’t make Mo Cang Lan lose face because of a simple Ordinary disciple. Abandoning Lin Feng was the only solution.

At that moment, Nan Gong Ling was about to agree.

“GOOONNNG”A deep soul piercing sound was heard and it seemed that the sound echoed through the mountains, each vibration making all those present tremble slightly. It sounded like the gods were marching to battle in the heavens and these were the war drums they played.

The whole crowd was puzzled. Where did such a loud and terrifying sound come from? They could not think what had caused the sound they had just heard. The Patriarch of the Yun Hai Sect, Nan Gong Ling had chills run down his spine as a light twinkled in his eyes. That was the sound of the drums on the Precipice of Zhangu.

Mo Cang Lan was amazed. His eyes were twinkling as well. He gazed into the distance towards a certain mountain range. There was a precipice in that chain of mountains. On that overhanging cliff, there was a small room with eight drums. The drums there had not emitted a single sound in more than a hundred years.

“GOOOOONNG” Another drum sound was heard as if it was rushing down from beyond the highest heavens.

“That… That’s the second drum! Impossible!” Nan Gong Ling could not believe what he has just heard. Right after that, the smile on his face could not be removed. Only the most gifted and the strongest disciples, referred to as geniuses could make the drums emit a sound. They were looking forward to announcing that the Yun Hai Sect had an outstanding disciple, a true genius among geniuses.

Nan Gong Ling’s mood wasn’t good because of what had happened with Chu Zhan Peng. Being in such a situation because of a disciple while being a large sect like the Yun Hai Sect was embarrassing. But at that moment, Nan Gong Ling had forgotten these events and could not contain his excitement. It had been more than a hundred years since the beating sound of the drums had been heard. Now he had heard the beating sound of the drums twice.

“I don’t know who that disciple is… Unbelievably he was able to pass the test of the Precipice of Zhangu.” Said Nan Gong Ling. He was asking himself who had passed the test. He had completely forgotten that problem with Chu Zhan Peng.

“GOOOOONNNGGG”The third beating sound of the drums spread throughout the sky above the Yun Hai Sect. That time, almost everyone in the Yun Hai Sect looked at the heavens with a slight fear showing in their eyes, but some of the stronger disciples could somewhat tell the direction the sound was coming from and nothing more. The strongest disciples knew the sound they were hearing. It had been a long time since they had been so thrilled.

Nan Gong Ling was also staring at the sky. The history of the clan dated back a thousand years… and it had been three hundred years since three beating drum sounds were heard.

“Phewww…” Nan Gong Ling was breathing deeply and struggling to contain his excitement. The Patriarch of the Sect was so young and yet in his generation he would bring untold glory back to the Sect.