The duplicate subscription issue has been reported to the editor, and the editor said the tech department has already refunded the Qidian coins to the affected readers. But... free chapters can't be posted. Sigh, ever since the backend was updated yesterday, a ton of authors couldn't log in, and I'm getting used to it either.
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Gao Xueting turned her head away and muttered under her breath, "He already apologized, so what more does he want? No wonder he's never been able to find a dual-cultivation partner. He deserves to die alone and lonely!"
"What did you say?" A vein throbbed on Qiu Ran's forehead.
"Nothing." Gao Xueting kept her face cold, staring down the full force of Qiu Ran's fury without flinching. "But this whole thing started with me. If Senior Brother wants to punish someone, punish me alone. It has nothing to do with them."
The moment these words left her mouth, the gathered Elders nodded vigorously.
You Kun chimed in, "That's right, Senior Brother. This mess was all caused by Junior Sister Gao. We're all victims here. If anyone's to be punished, punish her—and punish her harshly. Anything less would be an injustice to us all!"
Yang Kai stared at You Kun as though seeing him for the very first time.
Qiu Ran sneered coldly, "Did any of you get forced to drink?"
Di Rong scratched his cheek. "Senior Brother's eyes are sharp as ever. That's exactly what happened!"
"Bullshit!" Qiu Ran roared, "None of you escape responsibility for yesterday's debacle!"
The group heard this and immediately looked as though they had lost a parent, heads hanging low in despair.
"If you're going to punish us, then punish us. Why all the chatter?" Gao Xueting snapped, her expression brimming with impatience.
"You... you... you... utterly devoid of any sense of propriety!" Qiu Ran slammed the table again. After fuming for a while, he finally declared, "Yesterday's incident had an extremely negative impact. If the Disciples find out and follow your example, what future does our Divine Temple have? In light of this, I am penalizing each of you three thousand Elder Contribution Points!"
"What?!"
"No, Senior Brother Qiu... three thousand Elder Contribution Points? You might as well just kill me!"
"Senior Brother, show some mercy!"
The group of Elders immediately erupted in wails and protests, as though Qiu Ran had flayed several pounds of flesh from each of them. Chen Qian even gazed at Qiu Ran with a pitiful expression and cooed, "Senior Brother... don't be like that..."
She had actually launched a tender appeal, coming dangerously close to outright acting coy.
"Spare me the embarrassment. If anyone utters another word, I'll deduct another two thousand points." Qiu Ran's face was iron and incorruptible, his tone brooking no argument.
That single remark seemed to have struck them all in a fatal spot. The clamoring ceased abruptly.
"Hmph." Qiu Ran cast his cold gaze toward Gao Xueting. "As for you—the ringleader. In addition to the three thousand points, you will be docked another one thousand. Four thousand Elder Contribution Points total, plus three months of solitary confinement. If you repeat this offense, the punishment will be far more severe!"
Gao Xueting pursed her lips, clearly unconvinced, but said nothing more.
Yang Kai watched from the side with a pang of sympathy. Back when he had been only a provisional Disciple of the Azure Sun Divine Temple, he had rarely interacted with these Elders. Even when their paths occasionally crossed, the gap in status meant he never saw their true colors.
Now, as an Elder sitting at their level, he had finally gained a comprehensive understanding of this group's... noble character. His entire worldview felt like it had been freshly rewritten.
A sharp gaze landed on him. Yang Kai swallowed hard and met it with an awkward smile.
Qiu Ran pondered for a moment, then said, "Junior Brother Yang, considering this is your first offense, I will let it slide this time. All penalties are waived."
Yang Kai's face lit up with joy. "Thank you, Senior Brother Qiu! Senior Brother truly is the most magnanimous soul under heaven!"
The moment these words left his mouth, seven or eight pairs of hostile eyes glared at him...
"This is the one and only time. Let there be a next time, and..."
"There will absolutely never be a next time!" Yang Kai pledged with fervent conviction.
"See that it stays that way." Qiu Ran let out a long, deep sigh and added in an earnest, almost paternal tone, "Junior Brother Yang, you have achieved so much at such a young age. Your future is boundless—so do not allow yourself to be led astray by this lot. You must stay true to yourself."
This remark left Yang Kai in an impossible position—neither accepting nor refusing it, and thoroughly mortified.
Fortunately, Qiu Ran said no more. After a few additional admonishments, he waved his hand and dismissed them.
The group of Elders fled as though granted amnesty, hastily taking their leave.
Once outside Lingyu Peak, every one of them wore a dejected expression. At the head of the pack, Gao Xueting muttered ceaselessly, clearly cursing under her breath, her entire body radiating a bone-chilling coldness that practically screamed "keep away." It was nothing short of terrifying.
"You know, we only mentioned the Divine Temple's three great taboos yesterday, and I can hardly believe that in just two days, Junior Brother Yang, you've already had the privilege of witnessing two of them." You Kun sighed, patting Yang Kai on the shoulder. "You weren't too shaken, were you, Junior Brother?"
"I'll manage," Yang Kai said with a nod, curiosity piqued. "Why is everyone so afraid of Senior Brother Qiu?"
Chen Qian sidled up and whispered, "Senior Brother Qiu isn't just the Vice Master of the Divine Temple—he's also the Elder of the Punishment Hall. He oversees the Master and the Elders above, and every rank of Disciple below. The entire Temple's laws and disciplines rest in his hands. Who wouldn't fear him? Even the Temple Master gives him a healthy measure of respect!"