JSCMU-Chapter 33: If You’re Looking to Die, At Least Do It Right

Zhao Wuji glanced at Ruan Jun, paused for a moment, and then said slowly, “First of all, Ruan Jun truly did not act with malicious intent. Secondly, Yun Jin was not actually harmed. If I were to punish him too harshly, it would also be unfair. I will not sacrifice my disciple’s future just to protect my own reputation. I, Zhao Wuji, will never use a disciple’s life to uphold my name.”

He spoke righteously, but in truth, this was simply a different way of saying he was covering for his disciple.

Still, this justification sounded convincing enough. At least, Ruan Jun immediately looked deeply grateful.

Yun Jin narrowed her eyes. “Oh? He didn’t harm me. Is it because he didn’t want to, or because he couldn’t. If you let him off so lightly, wouldn’t that also be biased?”

Zhao Wuji remained calm. “Ruan Jun acted rashly, and he does deserve a stern warning. So here’s what I propose. To atone for my disciple’s mistake, all resources allocated to Heavenly Sword Peak will be tripled for the next year. And these will come from my personal stores. Are you satisfied now?”

Tripled resources, he said.

But in truth,

There were plenty of ways to manipulate such resources.

Even if the quantity couldn’t be altered, what about the quality? It would be easy enough to tamper with.

Yun Jin narrowed her eyes.

Zhao Wuji was shameless.

Confidently shameless too.

To put it bluntly,

He was relying on his father in Qingxiao Pavilion.

Yun Jin, like everyone else, was a native of this world. She knew full well how terrifying the so-called Four Great Holy Lands were.

Outside of the Holy Lands, the Nascent Soul Stage was the peak of cultivation.

But within the Holy Lands, even someone as powerful as Sword Elder was just an emissary-level disciple.

And the talents of those disciples from those Holy Lands were monstrous.

In the original novel, Ye Danxia passed the Qingxiao Pavilion’s test and became one of their disciples.

Among the Four Great Holy Lands, Kunlun Sword Sect was originally the leader.

But once the heroine entered Qingxiao Pavilion, everything changed.

Later, during the demonic uprising, sword cultivators led the charge against the demons. Even the Demon Lord was supposedly slain in one strike by the Kunlun Sword Sect’s leader.

However, at the time of his “death,” the Demon Lord had been cultivating a secret technique. That attack merely allowed him to undergo nirvana and be reborn, shedding his demonic body and taking human form.

In the end, the reborn Demon Lord returned to Kunlun Sword Sect, and when he drove his sword into the sect leader’s chest, he whispered, “When you killed me back then, did you ever imagine this day would come?”

The Sword Sect leader finally recognized the man as the once-feared Demon Lord. But it was too late. He died with his eyes wide open, never able to speak the truth.

And the Demon Lord? He framed the Kunlun Sword Sect as colluding with demonic cultivators and became a celebrated hero of the righteous path.

For Ye Danxia, he had personally annihilated the demon race.

Together, they became heroes of the realm, admired by all.

But now that Yun Jin had been reborn,

She had only one goal:

Anyone who was an enemy of the male and female leads would be her ally.

Whoever they wanted dead, she would protect!

More importantly,

Whether it was Lin Ya or the sword cultivators who later descended to exterminate demons, Yun Jin believed none of them had done anything wrong.

They had simply stood in the way of the protagonists. For that, they were labeled as villains and destroyed.

This world’s Heavenly Dao was unjust.

So this time around, she would be the one to correct it.

As for the Kunlun Sword Sect, Yun Jin fully intended to visit them someday.

But for now,

Her goal wasn’t to keep a low profile. On the contrary, she needed to display her value as quickly as possible.

Sword Elder might currently regard her highly, but at best, that meant he’d ensure her safety and maybe say a few words in her defense.

To make him truly stand up for her and even going against Zhao Wuji, that was unrealistic.

Sword Elder didn’t fear Zhao Wuji, but why would he make an enemy for no good reason?

Even though he had given Yun Jin the jade pendant, if she constantly ran to him with problems,

Once, he’d help.

Twice, he might still help.

But three or four times?

He would only start to see her as incapable.

That’s why,

Yun Jin had to resolve this matter herself. She couldn’t always rely on Sword Elder’s strength.

At this moment,

Sword Elder watched the situation unfold with great interest.

Those who knew the full story were aware that this so-called “punishment” was basically no punishment at all for Ruan Jun, and was completely unfair to Yun Jin.

But,

In a world where the strong prey on the weak, when has there ever truly been fairness?

If Yun Jin wanted fairness, she would have to seize it for herself!

If she asked him for help, he would step in this time.

However, his opinion of her might drop.

Yun Jin didn’t even glance at Sword Elder. Instead, she calmly turned to Ruan Jun and said, “Senior Brother Ruan, regarding what happened today, so many eyes were watching. Everyone here knows the truth in their hearts. But I also understand something else. Justice only exists where the sword can reach. Only strength is the true foundation. Earlier, my senior brother challenged you to a life-or-death duel, and you didn’t dare accept. So what if it were me instead? If I challenge you to a life-or-death battle, do you dare accept?”

“You?” Ruan Jun thought he had misheard.

“Of course not now. My cultivation is still too low,” Yun Jin said steadily. “But three months from now, during the Ten Peaks Ranking Battle, disciples from all ten peaks will compete. I will fight then. And at that time, you and I shall settle this with our lives!”

“Little Junior Sister!” Si Wanning’s pupils constricted sharply.

Xiao Jin…

She’s being reckless!

Sure, her cultivation progress was unconventional.

But no matter what, she was still only at the Qi Refining Stage.

And Ruan Jun was already at the Nascent Soul Stage.

Even if Yun Jin managed to reach the Foundation Establishment Stage in three months,

A Foundation Establishment cultivator against a Nascent Soul Stage?

That was still a death sentence!

“What do you say?” Yun Jin asked again, her expression calm.

Ruan Jun finally snapped out of his shock. Realizing she was serious, he couldn’t help but laugh.

Three months later, she thought she could challenge a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator?

A life-or-death duel?

Seriously?

If you’re looking to die, there’s got to be a better way than this.

“Wait, Little Junior Sister, you—” Yue Zhao opened his mouth to try to stop Yun Jin.

But Ruan Jun had already spoken eagerly, “Since Junior Sister has such confidence, how could I, as your senior brother, disappoint you? I accept this life-or-death challenge!”

The faces of everyone from Heavenly Sword Peak instantly changed.

Si Wanning glared at Ruan Jun, furious.

Even if Little Junior Sister was a bit reckless, for Ruan Jun to accept this, he clearly had no shame!

“Why are you all looking at me like that?” Ruan Jun said smugly. “It’s not like I suggested this. She challenged me, and it would be rude to decline.”

He smiled brilliantly.

He had been worried that, with Sword Elder backing her, there wouldn’t be a way to deal with Yun Jin for the year.

But now she proposed a life-or-death duel herself! Surely even Sword Elder couldn’t object.

Yun Jin nodded. “Yes, I’m the one who proposed it. I’m glad you accepted.”

She raised a brow. “But you’ve already failed to keep your word once, didn’t you say you would give me your head? Yet here it is, still attached. So what if you go back on your word again in three months?”

“Me? Go back on my word? Why would I need to?” Ruan Jun laughed.

“I want to bind this agreement with a formal contract,” Yun Jin said slowly and clearly. “And I want to use the golden contract parchment.”