As soon as the little girl spoke, everyone present was startled. The situation took a sharp turn, shifting from internal confrontation to a united front against an external threat. Even the sect members distanced themselves greatly from Ji Peilan, leaving a wide circle around her.
“Hmph,” Ji Peilan couldn’t stop scoffing. With her hands behind her back, her tone was ice-cold. “Who knows where this little brat came from? How can you easily believe words like that?”
“Perhaps Fellow Daoist Yun coached her beforehand?”
“On my way here to find these two demon cultivators, an expert guided me. She told me I had to go to Huang Yi Valley first. When I found this child, she was so hungry she was lying on the ground eating grass, speaking unclearly, and afraid of everyone she saw. Before that, I didn’t even know the situation at Huang Yi Valley. Would I need to use this to lie? What’s more…”
As Yun Lingyue spoke, she patted the girl. “Pull up your sleeve.”
The little girl was very obedient. She reached out and rolled up her right sleeve. Half an inch above her elbow was carved a square-shaped character representing ‘righteousness’.
“The Sect Leader of Huang Yi Valley requires everyone to have this character carved on their body. It represents, ‘without trust, one cannot stand; without righteousness, one cannot proceed.’ Now, that’s enough proof, isn’t it? Elder Ji, what else can you argue?”
Ye Wenzhen had heard of this. “Although we’re not very familiar with Huang Yi Valley, I’ve seen this mentioned in cultivation tabloids…”
“Sect Leader, you believe her but not me?” Ji Peilan’s gaze was sharp as she glanced at Ye Wenzhen. “I am the Great Elder of the Yaoguang Pavilion. She’s just a mere disciple from the Chongxiang Sword Sect . It’s highly possible she’s colluding with the demon cultivators and threatening this child to deceive everyone.”
“Why should we believe you? Given what you just did, you’re already untrustworthy enough!” Ye Yushuang cried out in grief and anger. She had almost been buried under the arrows with her mother, so naturally, she didn’t have a pleasant expression.
Ji Peilan’s spiritual energy surged like wind, causing her robes to swirl around her feet. “I’m untrustworthy? Everything I did was for the Yaoguang Pavilion!”
“Even letting me and my mother fall into such disaster?” Ye Yushuang roared at her, like a furious little beast.
“Ye Yushuang, if you believe the Chongxiang Sword Sec tand believe the demon cultivators’ words, then I’m afraid I’ll have to conclude that you are also demonic…”
“Everyone is a demon cultivator, and everyone who lives peacefully is somehow linked to the Demonic Sect. Only you, who kills without blinking an eye, are a good person, is that right?”
The voice was unexpected. Yue Jin’s lips curved up; a heavy weight lifted from her heart. Wu Bei was alright. She was still alive.
Ji Peilan gripped her umbrella handle tightly.
“Xiao Bei!”
Yun Lingyue was the first to rush over. She hugged Wu Bei tightly, her tears wouldn’t stop. “Why were you so silly? You don’t know any spells! Why did you go help me…?”
Wu Bei was stunned by the hug. She felt her pocket and unexpectedly pulled out a glowing, flower-petal shaped jade. Startled, she broke free from Yun Lingyue’s embrace and retreated several steps.
Wu Bei’s last memory before losing consciousness was that long saber cleaving towards her face. When she woke up, she only felt a small puddle of blood about to solidify beneath her, and a warmth radiating from her waist. She should be dead. Killed by that person with a saber, just like Wu Xi.
But there wasn’t a single wound on her body. Wu Bei fumbled through her clothes, finding the source of the warmth.
A piece of jade.
Before coming to the Yaoguang Pavilion, that strange woman had snatched her money bag, stuffed a thin jade piece into her hand, and said a bunch of strange things. Could this jade have saved her?
Wu Bei couldn’t afford to think too much. She needed to quickly tell Yue Jin and the others what she saw here. But who could tell her why this jade lit up when Yun Lingyue hugged her?! The light was so dazzling, it was impossible not to notice!
The Fated Person…
That woman said the jade would react to the Fated Person…
No, that can’t be…
Wu Bei was so scared she backed away, wishing she could retreat to a corner and stand with Ye Wenzhen and the others.
“What’s wrong, Xiao Bei? Why are you hiding from me? Are you hurt?” Yun Lingyue was very surprised, not understanding why Wu Bei was so resistant to her. She turned her head, glaring at Shan Shi and Eyin. “Demon cultivators! Did you… did you do something you shouldn’t have…?”
“I, I…” Wu Bei remembered she had something important to do and quickly changed the topic. She looked at Ji Peilan. “I saw everything just now! This person, she actually hid that kind of thing in the secret passage! After I discovered it, she even tried to kill me to silence me!”
Ji Peilan truly hadn’t expected her to be alive. To ensure the blow was stable, accurate, and ruthless, she had hacked at her several times, only letting go of her heart after confirming there was no breath. How could she possibly be alive…?
“What did you see?” Yue Jin lowered the sword in her hand and asked.
“Rows and rows of people…”
Wu Bei lowered her head, her shoulders trembling, as if she were afraid. “Rows and rows of people hanging, their bodies covered in saber wounds. This person was using innocent people to practice her saber techniques!”
Now, the evidence was conclusive. As long as they went to the secret passage, everything would be clear. Ji Peilan broke out in cold sweat; her gaze had already betrayed her.
Ye Wenzhen helped her daughter up and raised her head. Her usual gentle appearance was gone, replaced by grim severity now that the truth was revealed. “I calculated in every possible way, but I never calculated that this scoundrel would actually be an Elder of my Yaoguang Pavilion! Good, good! Just now you were also trying to indirectly kill me so you could seize sole control of the sect, weren’t you? Guards, take her down!”
“Wait!” Yue Jin knew this wasn’t right. “It’s impossible it’s just you! Speak up! Tell me who else is involved!”
“Haha, hahahaha!”
Ji Peilan held her forehead, laughing up at the sky. The saber on the ground moved on its own, flying into her hand. It was as if it had been tailor-made for her.
“There’s no one else. Just me.”
With her free hand, she put two fingers together, placed them before her eyes, and chanted an incantation. “Today, the Yaoguang Pavilion was slaughtered by demon cultivators. Luckily, I arrived in time, killed the demon cultivators, and avenged the spirits of all the disciples in heaven. How about it, Sect Leader? Is that a good headline for the newspaper?”
Ji Peilan no longer held back. She was vicious and wicked, deranged and frenzied. She killed anyone who came near, her eyes completely bloodshot and red.
Wu Bei figured making a move herself wouldn’t be of much use. She also didn’t want to expose herself yet. She scrambled and crawled to Yue Jin’s side, bringing the little girl with her and hiding behind Wu Ju. “Yue Jin, what should we do? I don’t think these Yaoguang Pavilion people are useful at all! Those three won’t last long fighting her! What should we do, what should we do!”
Yue Jin swayed as Wu Bei shook her, her brows furrowed tightly. “How should I know? How should I know!”
“You, you go call for Fu Lingyi! Only she can handle this! Go quickly!”
“Where am I supposed to call? I can’t even get out of this great hall! You think if I just shout here, Fu Lingyi will show up?”
She was utterly speechless, truly wishing she could just beat Wu Bei to death. She immediately made a gesture and shouted a couple of times mockingly. “Fu Lingyi! Fu Lingyi! I called! Is she here?”
The sound of a long sword cutting through the sky rang out above the hall. It was like a meteor tearing through the night sky, carrying an unstoppable force. A spectacular roar came from the hall roof, which had already been badly damaged by Yun Lingyue. Now, half of it was ripped away.
Wu Bei looked up, then turned her face to look at Yue Jin. “She really came.”
Yue Jin was blank. She stared at her hands, wondering if she hadn’t just recovered her cultivation but also instantly grasped the essence of thousand-mile sound transmission.
Thousands of swords shot out, embedding themselves straight into the ground around Ji Peilan’s feet, surrounding her completely.
“Senior Sister!” Yun Lingyue recognized the newcomer, her excitement overflowing.
The person’s green robes fluttered as she descended from the air.
Shan Shi and Eyin exchanged a glance. Taking advantage of the distraction, they moved away from the center of the fight. Wu Ju finally stood up and clapped her hands at the two of them. “Let’s go!”
“Wait a minute! You three are just leaving? What about me and Wu Bei?” Yue Jin grabbed her sleeve, holding on tightly.
“Jin’er,” Wu Ju pulled her hand away and put it back at her side. “You two haven’t exposed your identities, what are you afraid of? But we’re different. When they realize what’s happened, they’ll definitely look for trouble with the three of us.”
Eyin: “Your Excellency, why don’t you come with us?”
“I…”
She seemed slightly hesitant.
Fu Lingyi dealt with Ji Peilan with ease, even having enough leisure to turn around. With firm, steady steps, she walked over to Yue Jin and grabbed her wrist.
Yue Jin was pulled to a halt, stunned for a moment. She leaned closer to Fu Lingyi’s side.
They looked at each other, speechless.
“Come here,” Fu Lingyi said, breaking the silence.
“This hall is only so big. Where do you want me to go?”
Yue Jin lowered her gaze. Her words were roundabout and awkward, and she felt uncomfortable all over.
“Come to my side.”
Fu Lingyi exerted a bit of force, pulling her to her side and putting an arm around her waist.
At this moment, numerous swords densely packed looked down from the air, then descended simultaneously.
Ji Peilan looked up, a subtle smile playing on her lips. Ten Thousand Swords Piercing Heart.
“What, what does this mean?” Eyin looked at the two of them, her mouth opening and closing. “Who is this?! What is she doing to Your Excellency!”
Shan Shi: “I’ll go kill her.”
“Calm down.”
Wu Ju put a hand on each of their shoulders, holding them down. “This means Jin’er isn’t coming with us. Let’s go, we won’t have time if we don’t hurry.”
“Take me with you!”
Wu Bei hurriedly blocked their path. “I want to go too! I want to leave too!”
Wu Ju looked curious. “Aren’t you going undercover at the Chongxiang Sword Sect ?”
Undercover? What’s the point of being undercover anymore! Wu Bei thought of the light the thin jade piece had emitted. She felt like crying but couldn’t. She was about to be claimed!
Ye Wenzhen panted heavily, her expression very earnest. “Many thanks to Fellow Daoist Fu for your timely assistance. There were many misunderstandings regarding the earlier matter. Please do not blame us.” The Yaoguang Pavilion had such a scandal erupt this time; the real murderous demon cultivator was actually their Great Elder. Who knew how this matter would be twisted and discussed in the cultivation world? They could only appease the Chongxiang Sword Sect first and find a backer…
“Lingyi Senior Sister…” Ye Yushuang was secretly happy. Fu Lingyi still cared about their sect, otherwise she wouldn’t have rushed over so quickly.
“No need to thank me.”
Fu Lingyi held the person in her embrace very tightly, so tight that Yue Jin felt a heavy force on her waist. “I didn’t come for you. I came for her.”
“She called me, that’s why I came.”
After speaking, she summoned her personal sword. She helped Yue Jin steady herself onto it, telling her to watch her step. Then she called out to Yun Lingyue to follow, and they left.
Ye Yushuang stood rooted to the spot, watching Fu Lingyi’s departing figure, a look of unwillingness to part on her face.
Ye Wenzhen patted her. “Your mother is an experienced person. I advise you to give up. It seems there’s no way for you to intrude into the bond between those two.”
“Mother, you don’t understand. What you can’t have is what you desire even more.”
Thanks for the chapter