Chapter 57: Back and Forth, Are You Playing Games with Me?!-Sendo eu da raça demoníaca, acabei construindo família e carreira entre os humanos.(Apertando os olhos.)

At first, the disciples of the Qingyang Sword Sect did not respond, clearly aware that they were in the wrong.

However, Bai Yang did not let the matter rest. He pressed further, "I will ask you again, is it true?"

Under Bai Yang's repeated questioning, the disciples of the Qingyang Sword Sect looked at one another in dismay. Finally, a disciple stepped forward, his voice tinged with a measure of guilt, "Senior Brother, I bumped into him, but I truly did not mean to."

Yet, just as Bai Yang was about to say something to the disciple who had stepped forward to offer an explanation, the rest of the Qingyang Sword Sect disciples—although inwardly acknowledging their fault—chose to speak up and defend him in order to uphold the sect's pride and reputation.

"Senior Brother, Junior Brother Wan truly did not bump into that person on purpose."

"Indeed, Junior Brother Wan wanted to apologize to him afterward, but all the disciples of the Dragon and Tiger Sect were present at the time, so..."

Hiding among the leaves, Yun Yi watched this scene with a growing sense of disappointment. He had initially been let down when Bai Yang and the senior brother from the Dragon and Tiger Sect stepped in to halt the confrontation.

After all, if they stopped fighting, there would be no chance of anyone getting killed, and thus the cultivation resources he coveted would slip away.

However, hearing the Qingyang Sword Sect disciples rush to defend Junior Brother Wan, his eyes suddenly brightened, and a spark of hope reignited in his heart.

Yun Yi was not the only one reacting this way; the disciples of the Dragon and Tiger Sect also assumed that Bai Yang, acting as the senior brother of the Qingyang Sword Sect on this trip, might ultimately choose to shield his junior brother given the sheer number of disciples pleading on his behalf.

As for the disciples from the other sects standing on the sidelines, they naturally hoped that Bai Yang would protect his own. Only through such a development would the Qingyang Sword Sect and the Dragon and Tiger Sect continue their feud, ultimately resulting in mutual destruction and costing them both their eligibility to contend for the treasures when the secret realm opened in three days' time.

Yet, there was one exception: the beardless, burly man from the Dragon and Tiger Sect. His reaction was entirely different from the rest.

He seemed to have anticipated Bai Yang's choice all along.

Sure enough, exactly as the burly, beardless man had predicted, Bai Yang raised his hand after a moment and cut off the disciples' defense of Junior Brother Wan.

"Enough."

That single word instantly silenced the junior disciples.

Bai Yang's gaze locked directly onto Junior Brother Wan. "Since you admit to bumping into someone—unintentional though it may have been—a mistake has been made, and you must have the courage to take responsibility for it. Go and apologize to our fellow cultivator from the Dragon and Tiger Sect. This is the code of conduct of our Qingyang Sword Sect, and a part of our cultivation journey."

Hearing this, Junior Brother Wan wore a look of reluctance, but under Bai Yang's stern and impartial gaze, he finally lowered his head, turned to the Dragon and Tiger Sect disciple he had collided with, and said, "Apologies."

This turn of events exceeded everyone's expectations, yet it caused the beardless, burly man of the Dragon and Tiger Sect to nod slightly, a flash of approval crossing his eyes.

The original plans of the disciples from the other sects fell through. Although discontented, they had no choice but to accept reality.

Feeling they had no face left to linger, they turned and departed.

As for Yun Yi, his disappointment was plain for all to see. "What? An apology? What about my blood and resources?"

He let out a silent, mosquito-like wail of grief, feeling utterly vexed and unwilling to accept this sudden and missed opportunity to acquire cultivation resources.

Just as he was plunged into despair and on the verge of giving up, the situation took a subtle twist.

The Dragon and Tiger Sect disciple who had been inadvertently bumped into seemed unsatisfied with the mere passing of a single perfunctory phrase to settle the matter. He turned to the burly, beardless man—Senior Brother Ma—and spoke in a quiet yet unyielding tone, "Senior Brother Ma, are we truly just going to let this matter rest?"

This query, like a flickering spark in a gentle breeze, instantly reignited the dissatisfaction among the remaining Dragon and Tiger Sect disciples.

"Precisely! That fellow was clearly looking for trouble on purpose," a disciple said indignantly. Though his voice was swallowed by the surrounding clamor, his anger was palpable.

"Indeed, Senior Brother Ma! Our Dragon and Tiger Sect cannot simply allow ourselves to be bullied like this!" another disciple chimed in loudly, his voice carrying a mix of reluctance and stubbornness.

Watching from the side, Yun Yi secretly rejoiced. Believing this to be a renewed chance to secure his cultivation resources, he saw a glimmer of hope dawning before him.

Yet, Senior Brother Ma's next words poured a bucket of cold water straight over his heart.

"Enough, Junior Brother Chen. This matter ends here." Senior Brother Ma's voice was steady and powerful, carrying unquestionable authority.

Junior Brother Chen attempted to argue further, "Senior Brother..."

Before he could finish, Senior Brother Ma interrupted him.

"What? Are you now refusing to listen to your senior brother?" The severity in Senior Brother Ma's tone struck a chill of silence into Junior Brother Chen and the other Dragon and Tiger disciples.

In the end, casting resentful and unwilling glances at the formidable figures of the Qingyang Sword Sect standing firm across from them, the Dragon and Tiger Sect disciples turned away in helpless frustration.

Beside them, Yun Yi felt a profound sense of despair, watching the cultivation resources that had seemed almost within his grasp slip through his fingers once more.

Meanwhile, Senior Brother Ma turned to Bai Yang and said, "Fellow Daoist Bai, we shall meet again in the secret realm."

His voice carried a mixture of resolve and anticipation.

Bai Yang smiled and replied, "Very well."

With that, he led his contingent of Qingyang Sword Sect disciples back toward their own camp.

Along the way, however, the disciples of the Qingyang Sword Sect could still hardly conceal their simmering resentment and reluctance.

"Senior Brother, are we truly just going to let it go like this? If those bastards from the Dragon and Tiger Sect catch any of our disciples traveling alone outside, they'll surround and attack them," a disciple complained bitterly.

"Quite right, Senior Brother Bai. That is precisely how Junior Brother Liu was beaten and left bedridden for three days. If we hadn't found him in time..." another disciple added, his voice laced with lingering fear and anger.

Hearing this and realizing his junior brothers still failed to understand his intentions, Bai Yang let out a soft sigh.

Frowning deeply, he spoke with a mixture of helplessness and profound meaning, "Enough. Do you suppose I have no desire to avenge Junior Brother Liu? But do you truly believe this is the right time?"

His words struck like a heavy hammer upon the heart of every disciple.

At this, some of the sharper-witted disciples wore expressions of sudden realization, finally beginning to grasp Bai Yang's hidden intentions and unspoken difficulties.

One of them flickered his eyes, appearing as though he wanted to speak but hesitated, "Senior Brother, could you possibly be worried about..."

Hearing this, Bai Yang felt a jolt in his heart, instantly realizing the sensitive topic his junior brother was about to broach.

He swept his gaze across the surroundings. Although few people were near the camp at the moment, in this perilous environment, one could never be certain if enemies or scouts were watching from the shadows.

"Silence, do not speak of it," Bai Yang interrupted in a low, swift tone, his eyes revealing a sharp vigilance and steadiness.

"We will discuss this once we return to the camp." His tone brook no argument, while also conveying his protection and care for his junior brothers.