Grace Lewis brought three people straight to the Tai Xing Immortal Residence, one of the five main caves of the Five Spirits Immortal Residences. After leading them inside, he struck the Tai Xing Bell. In just a moment, dozens of third-generation disciples of the Emei Sect, except for a few still in seclusion, all gathered.

The other three of the four great third-generation disciples of the Emei Sect—David Hill, James Young, and Irene Key—also arrived together.

Grace Lewis recounted what had just happened. Lillian Moore was so frightened that she trembled all over, hurriedly threw herself to the ground, and, caring for nothing else, repeatedly begged for mercy, crying, “My younger brother is too young and doesn’t understand things yet. It’s also my fault for not disciplining him well, letting him cause such a big disaster. I hope all my senior brothers and sisters will spare him this time for my sake. I promise he will never dare to do it again in the future.”

Although Lillian Moore had not been on the mountain for long, she had good relations with almost all the third-generation disciples. These Emei third-generation disciples were all still quite young, but they did not show favoritism. Upon hearing her plea, they all spoke up to intercede for Thomas Moore.

Thomas Moore, dragged to his knees by his sister, was truly annoyed in his heart. Although he kept his head down, pretending to admit his fault, he did not feel he had done anything wrong. He sneaked a glance at Richard King, harboring many malicious ideas, secretly thinking, “Sooner or later, I’ll drive you out of the Emei Sect. Today you reported me, but one day I’ll get back at you.”

Grace Lewis did not want to make a big deal out of this either. Seeing several fellow disciples speak up for Thomas Moore, he slowly said, “Although Thomas Moore is mischievous, he ultimately didn’t actually touch the Five Spirits Emerald Peak, so a lighter punishment will do. I won’t mention this to Uncle Master Xuanhe. Although Thomas Moore’s mistake can be overlooked, if it weren’t for Jason Turner’s warning and Thomas Moore really did something to the Five Spirits Emerald Peak, we would all be held responsible. A reward is in order.”

As soon as Grace Lewis said this, everyone looked at each other. It was still David Hill, one of the four great disciples, who coughed and spoke up: “Jason Turner understood the bigger picture and saved us all from punishment. Why not teach him a martial art from the mundane world as a reward?”

Once David Hill spoke, the other disciples all voiced their agreement, and the matter was settled. Not only was Thomas Moore let off, but even William York was lightly pardoned.

Richard King smiled bitterly in his heart. It was one thing not to bring down Thomas Moore and William York, but he had hoped to use this opportunity to win the favor of the Emei elders. Unexpectedly, these third-generation disciples suppressed the matter and did not report it to Daoist Xuanhe.

With Daoist Xuanhe absent, the third-generation disciples quietly settled the matter, and his plan fell through.

The only benefit from this incident was that he had finally drawn a clear line between himself and Thomas Moore and William York, making it less likely he would be implicated in the future.

Richard King thought to himself, “I’ve offended the siblings Lillian Moore and Thomas Moore, and also fallen out with William York, yet gained no real benefit. From now on, I’ll have to be even more careful, and practice the Yuanyang Sword Technique more diligently. If I can master the Yuanyang Sword Technique and refine the Yuanyang Sword, the world will be wide open to me. Whether or not I join the Emei Sect won’t matter, and I won’t need any tricks.”

After a brief discussion, several of the major third-generation Emei disciples gifted Richard King a set of Dragon-Subduing Vajra Hands.

This set of Dragon-Subduing Vajra Hands was a family art of David Hill, not an Emei Sect martial art, so it did not require the approval of the sect elders and could be taught privately.

Although Richard King did not think highly of this mundane martial art, he could only put on a grateful appearance, lest he leave a bad impression in the minds of these third-generation Emei disciples.

As one of the four great third-generation disciples, David Hill held a status far above that of ordinary disciples and lived alone in a bamboo building with a very elegant environment.

He called Richard King to his residence, gave him half an hour of instruction, recited the Dragon-Subduing Vajra Hands manual once, and demonstrated it three times.

David Hill was a handsome young man from a martial arts family. Before joining Emei, he was already a renowned young hero in the martial world. Later, by chance, he helped an Emei elder find a spiritual herb and was thus accepted into the sect.

He was extremely talented, and not long after joining, he had already surpassed many who had entered before him, becoming one of the four great disciples.

Although David Hill was young, he had long roamed the martial world and was very perceptive. He could tell that Richard King did not like this martial art, so he did not say much more. After having Richard King practice it once and pointing out a few mistakes, he invited him to have tea together, never mentioning martial arts again.

David Hill was accomplished in both the literary and martial arts, and his conversation was much more humorous and charming than Leonard Shaw’s, making people feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze and easily engendering a sense of closeness.

If Richard King did not have his own secrets, just this meeting would have been enough for him to consider David Hill a lifelong confidant.

The two sat together for half a day. When David Hill needed to prepare his lessons, he got up and saw Richard King out, making it clear that if there was anything unclear about the Dragon-Subduing Vajra Hands he had just taught, Richard King could come ask at any time.

Richard King did not care much for this martial art. After all, no matter how advanced a mundane martial art was, it could not compare to even the most basic spell. If David Hill had insisted on teaching him and watched him practice every day, it would have been more trouble, delaying his practice of the Yuanyang Sword Technique.

This relaxed attitude from one of the four great disciples was actually more to Richard King’s liking.