Chapter 1133: Ice Phoenix Is Not to Be Insulted
Mu Huanzhi had never faced Mu Xuanyin's fury so directly; his old face instantly turned deathly pale. With a "thud," he knelt down and said in a trembling voice, "S-Sect Master, please calm your anger. Huanzhi absolutely did not mean that, it's just... just... Huanzhi knows his mistake. Sect Master, forgive me!"
Mu Bingyun's lips parted slightly as if to speak, but she stopped herself. She sensed that Mu Xuanyin was genuinely enraged.
In terms of precedence, with Sword Lord's strength, status, and seniority, no one would have raised any objection if he went first... But the Ice Phoenix's voluntary deference was one thing; what Jun Xilei, the successor of the Sword Lord, had done clearly showed contempt for the Bing Huang God Sect, and Jun Wuming had simply allowed it.
For any other mid-tier star realm sect, there would have been no discontent or resistance whatsoever, let alone anger. (The original text at this point had a sentence about Mu Huanzhi trying to speak but being unable to utter a sound, and his arm slowly lowering as his lips trembled slightly—though only for an instant—but that portion appears to be a repetition or incomplete thought. The translation continues from the narrative flow.)
When Jun Wuming's arm had fully lowered, the three sword auras also completely vanished.
"Forget it." Another sigh, but its tone was distinctly different. He took a deep look at Mu Xuanyin, then turned his back, his aura gently guiding Jun Xilei. "Le'er, let's go."
"Master?" Jun Xilei looked bewildered, then quickly complied: "Yes!"
This unexpected turn of events left the Ice Phoenix crowd both astonished and vastly relieved. Especially those palace masters and elders; as their tension eased, sweat poured down their bodies like rain.
Master and disciple Jun Wuming and Jun Xilei turned and left. The three pale sword auras had proven Jun Wuming's anger. The words "Sword Lord Is Not to Be Insulted" were the verdict personally spoken by Jun Wuming himself, yet now he suddenly withdrew his sword auras and anger and turned away...
Amidst the great ebb and flow of their emotions, everyone felt an inexplicable sense of confusion.
"Hoo!" Huo Rulie let out a huge sigh of relief. "After all, Senior Sword Lord has extraordinary composure and cultivation. Perhaps he simply disdains to raise his hand against a younger woman?"
"...I'm afraid it's not that simple." Yan Juehai said slowly, his voice somewhat drifting.
"What do you mean?" Huo Rulie asked in puzzlement.
"..." Yan Juehai did not speak. Instead of looking at Jun Wuming and his disciple, his fiery eyes were fixed on Mu Xuanyin, his gaze flickering with uncertainty.
"Stop right there!"
Just as the Ice Phoenix crowd had relaxed, an icy voice stabbed toward the departing Jun Wuming and his disciple, causing everyone's hearts to leap up again... because this voice unmistakably came from Mu Xuanyin.
"You insulted me first, then acted arrogantly, and now you want to swagger away?" Mu Xuanyin said coldly. "Since when is there such an easy way out! Do you really think the Ice Phoenix can be bullied at will?"
Jun Wuming's figure paused. Before he could speak, Jun Xilei turned around in fury: "Mu Xuanyin! My master's status is far above yours, and he has deigned to ignore your offense, yet you..."
"How dare you!"
With a cold rebuke, though Mu Xuanyin made no visible movement, suddenly wind and snow filled the sky. Jun Xilei let out a miserable scream, was sent flying sideways, and crashed heavily into the snow. Before she could get up, she spat out several mouthfuls of blood.
Five blood-red fingerprints, clear and distinct, were imprinted on her cheek.