Chapter 480 Where Did the Court Go Wrong?

Chapter 480: Where Did the Imperial Court Go Wrong?

"No matter what, you shouldn’t turn against your master and forsake your roots like this! Xiaoyue, Ci Xin, how much did the Master do for you two? He always cherished you dearly. Xiaoyue, as the princess of Great Wei, he even took you in as his final disciple. Yet now, you lead an assault on the mountain with the Emperor—how laughable!"

"Exactly, Xiaoyue! We respected you enough to call you ‘Eldest Senior Sister,’ but how can we, as sect members, tolerate such behavior? Regardless of what the Master did before, at least for the past decade or two on this mountain, we’ve all been under his protection!"

Though many sect disciples had been knocked down and scattered, they still brandished their weapons at Xiaoyue and Ci Xin while casting fearful glances at the wild wolves.

"So devoted to Bai Cangming? How strange!" Dong Ju remarked.

"This isn’t devotion to Bai Cangming at all. They don’t care about the survival of their sects—they’re only thinking of themselves. After all, cultivating here for over a decade, many must feel resentful in their hearts!" Nurse Jin said.

"Bai Cangming must have promised them something. Otherwise, why would they act like this?" Jing En added.

"In that case, let the wolves eat their fill!" Xiaoyue glanced at Ci Xin as she spoke.

Ci Xin looked at the alpha wolf and nodded. "Those who resist or refuse to surrender—take them down. Let the pack satisfy their hunger!"

"Awooo—"

The alpha wolf howled, and in the next moment, the rest of the wolves charged at the bewildered disciples.

This was the law of the jungle. The ferocious wolf pack lunged at the disciples, their sharp fangs tearing into arms and bodies alike.

"Master, please intervene! Save us!"

"Master, you can’t just watch us die!"

Yet Bai Cangming remained motionless, watching as they were torn apart by the wolves.

"Enough. Once they’re full, let them leave." Ci Xin gently turned Xiao Xi'er’s head to cover her eyes before waving the wolves away.

This little girl, really…

The wolves had torn into and devoured the resisting humans right before her eyes, yet she had watched intently, as if counting to ensure each wolf got its fair share.

Even knowing that this child was once a great villain in her past life—one who cared nothing for being hunted by the entire martial world—Ci Xin still felt she needed proper guidance.

The alpha wolf glanced at Xiao Xi'er Baby, let out a soft sound, then turned away, the rest of the pack following.

"Emperor of Great Wei, you’re too cruel! How could you stand by and watch us be devoured by wolves?" The heir of the Mighty Gate roared at Xiao Yin, one arm already severed, his body covered in blood as he clutched his wound.

"Weren’t you just begging your Master for help? Since he didn’t save you, why blame the imperial family of Great Wei?" Xiaoyue scoffed. "Since ancient times, it’s been said that the court and the martial world should stay separate. Who was it that claimed that? Now, when things go wrong, you suddenly blame the imperial family? Are we just scapegoats?"

"Hehe!" Ruo Xi Baby giggled, delighted by her mother’s quick wit.

"Ahhh! My leg!"

"These wolves were summoned by you! Imperial Tutor Ci Xin, as the Imperial Tutor of Great Wei, how dare you set wolves on us? You’re unworthy of the title!"

"Oh, I’m unworthy? Then are you? An Imperial Tutor’s duty is to serve the Emperor and the nation. The Great Wei Empire has faced nothing but turmoil in just four years since the Emperor’s ascension. Yet you lot keep insisting the court and the martial world should stay separate. If you’re so capable, deal with the wolves yourselves!" Ci Xin sneered.

"An Imperial Tutor should be magnanimous—"

"So noisy!" Ruo Xi Baby frowned, clearly irritated.

"Bang!"

Xiao Yin swung hard—the man was sent flying, crashing into a tree before collapsing, unconscious. Whether he would live was another story.

"An Imperial Tutor is just an ordinary person. Why should the Imperial Tutor be magnanimous while you can act like small-time crooks? The Imperial Tutor works his ass off for the country and people, ensuring court stability and border security—these are the foundations of the state. Yet all you see are immediate gains, and you still have the audacity to demand that the Imperial Tutor tolerate you? Is he your parent?" Xiao Yin rebuked coldly.

Ruo Xi Baby lifted her head from Ci Xin's shoulder and looked at her uncle, thinking he was truly wonderful—someone you'd wanna be friends with, a good uncle and a great friend.

"We... we've been on this mountain for decades. The Master said it was to bring peace to the world, so we all moved here. We all believe the Master is not at fault, the Master did nothing wrong!"

"The Master did nothing wrong? Then is the court at fault? Tell me, where exactly has the court erred?" Xiaoyue stepped forward and asked.

"The court... erred in..." They looked at each other but couldn't point to anything wrong.

If speaking of the previous dynasty, it was one of harsh taxation, endless wars, and suffering among the people, with the jianghu in complete chaos.

But now, the dynasty has changed. Since the new emperor ascended the throne, Great Wei has become much more peaceful. The lives of the common people have improved, taxes were reduced for three years, and many households now have stored grain.

"You holed up in the mountains, cut off from the outside world. The people no longer remember your sects, and you will fade from their memories, only to become Bai Cangming's cultivation vessels in the end. What a damn shame!" Ci Xin said coldly.

"Master, is this true? Say something, and even if we die, we will do so willingly!"

"Yes, Master, tell them you're not like this, that you wouldn't treat us this way. Even in death, we would be content!"

Bai Cangming, his long white hair flowing despite his injuries, turned to Ruo Xi Baby and gave a bitter smile. "They're right. I was going to turn you all into cultivation fuel. The medicine in your bodies was given by me. The training you undergo daily is accelerated by my drugs. You all know the principle of fish farming—in the pond, the weak are preyed upon by the strong, and in the end, the toughest fish ends up with the best meat. Your senior brothers are no different!"

"Senior brothers..." The disciples of every sect turned to their respective senior brothers, their eyes popping out of their heads.

Those so-called senior brothers wiped sweat from their brows. They understood the implications—if they didn’t resist now, they'd be dead meat.