"This matter was done by me alone, and has nothing to do with anyone else," Chen Hongzhu said.
The dim candlelight of the Discipline Hall illuminated her profile, the flames dancing in her eyes.
On this chaotic and restless night at Huawai Mountain, only this place was enveloped in deathly silence.
No one shouted or reprimanded loudly. The more than ten Peak Lords and elders in the hall had complex expressions, occasionally sighing.
Silent disappointment and resentment transformed into blades and swords, pressing down on the young woman's shoulders.
Who would have dared before to make the young lady of Huawai Sect, True Person Xuyun's beloved daughter, kneel wounded on the cold floor tiles of the Discipline Hall.
"Even now, you still protect that boy? You've been willful and unruly since childhood, disregarding etiquette and rules. The entire sect has been extremely tolerant of you—when have I, as your father, not indulged your wishes?" Xuyun's voice trembled slightly. "But do you still remember who you are?!"
"I am Chen Hongzhu. I have enjoyed all honors because of the sect, and I am willing to dedicate everything to protect it." Chen Hongzhu straightened her back, looking directly at Xuyun. "I'm not helping Song Qianji—I'm trying to save Huawai Sect!"
"Ungrateful daughter!" Xuyun trembled all over, about to draw his sword again when Discipline Hall elder Liu Hongfeng hurriedly restrained him:
"Sect Leader, the Outer Sect has already been mishandled, and the engagement ceremony is approaching. We must not jeopardize this important matter further."Everyone chimed in with advice: 'Sect Leader, think twice!""
"At this critical juncture, the young lady's reputation is Huawai Sect's reputation. Family shame should not be publicized! Regarding the Outer Sect disciples' defection, we must firmly insist they were seduced by villains—it has nothing to do with the young lady."
"Song Qianji was disloyal and unjust first. If we take action, we'll have the moral high ground. Those two from Green Cliff and Purple Cloud Temple won't be able to find fault either."
Chen Hongzhu let out a soft, low laugh.
"You still dare laugh!" Xuyun scolded.
Chen Hongzhu stopped laughing.
"I have failed in teaching my daughter. Before the engagement ceremony, Chen Hongzhu is confined to the Discipline Hall, not permitted to take half a step beyond!" Xuyun's gaze swept over the crowd. "In these troubled times, I ask everyone to diligently fulfill their respective duties."
Those who could come here tonight, besides the various Peak Lords, were only elders who held real power or were backed by prominent families.
Everyone acknowledged the order and took their leave, leaving Xuyun and Chen Hongzhu, father and daughter, facing each other in silence.
When the last person had gone far and the Trial Hall's main door closed, Xuyun suddenly sighed, bending down to help his daughter up:
"Does it still hurt?"
The anger he had displayed publicly gradually faded, replaced by that of an aged father.
Chen Hongzhu stood up, tears welling in her eyes: "Your daughter is unfilial."
"Why must you do this?" Xuyun shook his head in pained regret.
Chen Hongzhu smiled:
"Father, have you seen the mine at night? Spirit Stones are carried out basket by basket from the deep mines by Outer Sect disciples, shimmering faintly—it's quite beautiful. I stood halfway up the mountain, looking down at the scarred mining site, watching the glowing Spirit Stones being sent everywhere, like flowing rivers of stars."
"It's like ascending the Star-Picking Platform, looking up and seeing the sky full of twinkling stars. Even the wind is just as cold."
Xuyun was taken aback, slowly speaking: "The Star-Picking Platform was built atop Huawai Mountain's peak; the Spirit Stone Mine extends two thousand zhang underground. It takes thousands upon thousands from below to support the one above. You should know—you were born in the heavens."
"How many innocent lives have been thrown into that bottomless pit underground?! Just for my engagement ceremony, for me to marry someone I don't know. Father, isn't that laughable?"
Xuyun said gravely: "It's not for you—it's for the sect! If you feel guilty because of this and let them go, in half a month we'll recruit another group, and the mine will operate the same as ever. There are more mortals in this world seeking immortality than stars in the sky.""You keep recruiting, and I'll keep releasing them. Until you all wake up completely and see that this world has changed—that there are people like Song Qianji, places like Thousand-Ditch Prefecture, where they have somewhere to go!"
Xu Yun: "What exactly are you trying to do?!"
"I want to reform the system!"
Chen Hongzhu's eyes blazed with fire. "I want to establish a new Inner Sect Selection System, break down the barriers between the Inner and Outer Sects, and make the sect select more talented individuals instead of being confined by family backgrounds."
"Such reform would be like overturning the heavens."
"Then let the heavens be overturned!"
"You!" Xu Yun raised his hand high, but Chen Hongzhu glared at him, neither dodging nor retreating, instead stepping forward.
Xu Yun closed his eyes and abruptly lowered his hand. "Those people just now all watched you grow up. Even if you could overturn heaven and earth and replace them with a new group, given time, they would become just like the old ones. You cannot overturn this heaven. Stop deluding yourself."
"Father, let me try!" Chen Hongzhu grasped her father's hand. "If it succeeds, it will set a precedent. Cultivators from all over the world will yearn for the Huawel Sect, and the sect will surely prosper."
Xu Yun opened his eyes, his gaze calm once more.
He withdrew his hand and took a step back, retreating from the candlelight.
From a father back to the position of Sect Leader.
"On the fifteenth of next month, an auspicious day. Until then, reflect quietly in the Discipline Hall. Your Senior Brother Yuan will assist me in preparing the ceremony for you."
Chen Hongzhu blinked, tears streaming down her face. "Daughter does not wish to marry. I don’t want to marry him."
Xu Yun did not respond, suddenly changing the subject. "After you colluded with that Meng Heze, I began to ponder something."
"Does Song Qianji truly have ties to 'that person'? The evidence he presented that day contained no solid proof. From the Grand Audience Assembly to Thousand-Ditch Prefecture, 'that person' never appeared, nor did they ever stand up for him."
"There are rumors that recently, the Chess Devil has fallen more seriously ill, and the Calligrapher Sage has aged rapidly. 'That person' remains nowhere to be seen."
Chen Hongzhu was initially stunned, but grew increasingly anxious as she listened, sensing something amiss. "What do you mean…"
"Since Song Qianji was the first to tear off all pretense of cordiality, there is nothing stopping the sect from killing him openly. If you continue to act recklessly, you will be forcing the sect to kill him."
As soon as Xu Yun finished speaking, he turned and left. With Ground Shrinking to an Inch, he crossed the threshold in one step.
"Father!" Chen Hongzhu hurriedly chased after him.
The heavy door slammed shut with a thunderous roar, blocking Xu Yun’s figure outside.
"Bang!" Chen Hongzhu pounded on the door with all her might, but her fists struck an indestructible barrier of the formation.
"Dad, Dad—"
In the deep silence of the night, the girl’s screams and sobs echoed through the Discipline Hall.
...
"Are you acting as a father or a senior brother here?"
Lin Feiyuan asked impatiently.
There were indeed quite a few Outer Sect disciples coming for questions today.
Many of them were seeing Song Qianji for the first time, as if observing some rare creature, and even after asking their questions, they were reluctant to leave.
"So this is the legendary Senior Brother Song."
"Senior Brother looks no more than fifteen or sixteen, yet he’s already in the Nascent Soul Realm!"
After the residents of Song Courtyard finished breakfast, Ji Chen headed to the God Temple to randomly select today’s practice formation targets.
Wei Ping was dragged out of the Immortal Official Manor by Meng Heze to "catch up."
Only Lin Feiyuan, who was freeloading meals while recovering from his injuries, remained by Song Xian Guan’s side.
Though Lin Feiyuan couldn’t use his Spirit Qi, he still carried himself with the air of a Golden Core expert, naturally urging people: "Hurry up, next, next!"""How can you not understand such basic cultivation questions? Here, I have an ancient text—read it and come back!"
"Return it next time? No need, I've already memorized it! Want to make a copy? Go ahead, just hurry up and leave!"
The winter sun warmed the green tiles of Song Courtyard, where sparrows chirped noisily on the plum branches.
A small calico cat leaped lightly over the wall.
By the time the Q&A session ended, Song Qianji remained calm and composed, while Lin Feiyuan was both furious and panting with exhaustion.
Song Qianji brought the narcissus from the windowsill out to bask in the sun.
The white buds held their fragrance within, while the slender emerald leaves stood tall and graceful.
Lin Feiyuan's fingers itched. Crouching on the ground, he reached out to poke a bud, but Song Qianji swatted his hand away.
"The buds are delicate—don't touch them recklessly."
Lin Feiyuan muttered, "Stingy."
His fingers moved downward, tapping the flowerpot instead. The plain white porcelain pot, wide-mouthed and short, filled with clear water, produced crisp, rhythmic sounds like a melody.
Song Qianji knew Lin Feiyuan loved listening to and singing opera tunes. In their previous life, when they first met, they lived next to the "Springcoming Pavilion."
During several escapes afterward, they always stayed near songhouses, theaters, or silk and tailor shops.
After tapping for a while, Lin Feiyuan suddenly looked up at him:
"Song Qianji, in my line of work, if I fail, even if no one comes to save me, someone should come to kill me. Life and death are fated. You don't have to..."
He meant to say, "You don't have to take responsibility for me," but it came out as: "Don't go looking for trouble. I won't thank you for it."
Song Qianji ignored him and brought a bowl of medicine from the kitchen. "Drink."
Lin Feiyuan downed it in one gulp.
The medicine was potent, brewed with various Spirit Herbs at great cost, transforming into streams of Spirit Qi within his organs.
Then again, Song Qianji didn't engage in life-risking ventures, yet he never lacked money.
Lin Feiyuan stared at the black dregs at the bottom of the bowl, murmuring, "I still don't get it."
"Don't get what?" Song Qianji asked.
"Why are you treating me like this? I don't even know you! You're not some merciful bodhisattva from the temples, offering your flesh to eagles or repaying evil with kindness, thinking you can descend to enlighten a wicked man like me, are you?"
Song Qianji smiled, snatched the bowl, and turned to leave. "I'd rather enlighten a pig."
Instead of getting angry, Lin Feiyuan clapped his hands:
"Exactly! At least a pig can be slaughtered for meat. A rotten man like me, stuck in the mud, deserves a wretched death. What's the use of enlightening me?" He stroked his chin. "Do you have a friend who looked like me but died?"
Song Qianji paused, then shook his head. "I have no friends."
This Lin Feiyuan wasn't the Lin Feiyuan from his past life. Everyone he had met, killed, shared loyalty or enmity with in his previous life had changed in this one. Only he retained the memories.
Lin Feiyuan guessed again, "You want me to recover so I can kill for you? Just say it—who do you want dead?"
Song Qianji kept walking. "When it comes to killing, I don't make a habit of using others."
Lin Feiyuan chased after him. "Don't expect me to stay in this shabby courtyard and farm with you!"
Song Qianji thought, "As if such a good thing would ever come your way."
Even as he picked up a hoe to till the soil, Lin Feiyuan trailed behind him like a sparrow on the plum branches: "Then what do you want me to do? If you keep it bottled up, you might not suffer, but I will!"
Song Qianji raised a Silence Talisman.Lin Feiyuan stiffened his neck defiantly: "Go ahead, stick it right here! What's the point of silencing people? Look, I still have hands and feet!"
Song Qianji thought to himself that if he didn't find something for this man to do, the whole day would be anything but peaceful.
"The furs brought by the hunting team are all in the storeroom. Cut and sew me a cloak."
"What?" Lin Feiyuan fumed, "You think I'm your personal tailor?!"
"If you won't make clothes, then come with me to sort seeds," Song Qianji said. "I see you still have hands and feet."
A moment of silence.
"...How do I get to the storeroom?"
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