Chapter 98
Somewhere a hundred li away from the Jiuyan Sect, the elder Chen Sheng sat cross-legged in the air with his eyes closed as if napping.
Below him, a three-tailed white fox was frantically running around, but no matter which direction it rushed towards, it would always seem to hit a soft wall and be bounced back to its original place.
At this moment, the white fox was covered in wounds, but it still kept trying.
Suddenly, Chen Sheng abruptly opened his eyes, and cold light flashed through his murky old eyes.
“What’s wrong, old man?” the little fox asked, puzzled.
“Someone has angered the young master,” Chen Sheng replied.
The young master? Isn’t that Jiang Chen?
The little fox’s heart raced with excitement.
It had been desperately trying to escape, all to catch a glimpse of Jiang Chen, but no matter what, it couldn’t break free from Chen Sheng’s control!
“Hmph, lying!” the little fox didn’t believe him.“We’re a hundred li from the Jiuyan Sect, how can you sense that from such a distance?”
“Little fox, you know nothing about the Divine Passage Realm,” Chen Sheng sneered.
“This old man really hates being doubted. I’ve decided, I’ll pluck your fox tail first before I turn you into a puppet! After all, a puppet maid with a fox tail is quite troublesome.”
The little fox shivered at the thought.
It had gained a new understanding of Chen Sheng; this old man was not only powerful and cruel but also held grudges!
“I’ve told you so many times, my name is Jiu Shuang! Stop calling me little fox!” the little fox still refused to back down.
“Why should I remember the name of a puppet? Besides, you’ll forget your own name, yet you expect me to remember it?” Chen Sheng scoffed.
“Hmph!” the little fox turned its head away.
It disdained to argue with Chen Sheng and had already decided in its heart that it would never forget this name, even in death!
Seeing that the old man did not act immediately, it wondered, “Since Jiang Chen is angry, why don’t you go help him? If it’s too much trouble for you, shall I go?”
Chen Sheng couldn’t be bothered to respond and continued to feign sleep.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to go, but that he couldn’t.
Unless it was a critical moment, he could not overstep his bounds, as per the family head’s orders.
If he acted rashly, it would tear up the agreement between the Jiang family and the Jiuyan Sect.
Then, the Jiang family’s plan to protect Jiang Chen would be in vain.
Seeing Chen Sheng’s silence, the little fox wanted to mock him again.
However, after noticing Chen Sheng’s shoulders trembling slightly from restraint, it ultimately held its tongue.
“Jiang Chen is so good. Those who bully him must be bad people!” it lay on the ground, quite certain.
“I’ve suddenly changed my mind.”
Chen Sheng opened his eyes again, teasing, “Before you grow your fourth fox tail, I’ll let you have a distant look at the young master.”
“Really?” the little fox jumped up excitedly.
“Of course. I may be bad, but I always keep my word.”
“What changed your mind? Was it my perseverance? Were you moved by me?”
“No, I just suddenly really want to see you being repelled by the stench of the young master. It should be quite interesting and quite desperate, eh? Daring to slander the young master as a good person, you must be severely punished!”
“Hmph! Nonsense, Jiang Chen must smell good! I’ve smelled him before!”
……
Jiuyan Sect, Ninth Peak.
In the top-secret chamber of the Cloud Soaring Hall, Xiao Hongyi was sitting cross-legged on an ancient meditation cushion in seclusion.
She suddenly sensed something, her beautiful eyes opened, and she said, “Come in, My mind is restless. I cannot fully close off in retreat.”
As her voice fell, an elder pushed open the stone door and entered.
The elder was Zhang Hu’s master, the Great Elder of the Ninth Peak.
Seeing the Great Elder hesitate to speak, Xiao Hongyi’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, “What has happened that made you linger outside for so long?”
“Ah…”
Hearing her question, the Great Elder sighed, “Peak Master, I didn’t want to disturb your seclusion, but there’s been a major incident at the Ninth Peak!”
A major incident?
Xiao Hongyi’s heart skipped a beat, with a bad feeling.
“Jiang Chen threw Lin Feng and Zhang Hu off the cliff, and both of them are seriously injured,” the Great Elder said.
“What?!” Xiao Hongyi was shocked!
She had just begun to see Jiang Chen in a new light, and in just a few days, he had committed such an atrocity?
Seeing her doubt, the Great Elder continued, “This incident was witnessed by Ninth Peak disciples, the evidence is conclusive. Especially my disciple nearly had his Core Formation shattered and almost lost his life. When I arrived, Jiang Chen was defiant, with no intention of explaining himself.”
Xiao Hongyi fell silent, and after a long while, she said, “Are you here to complain? This matter cannot be handled rashly. It needs a thorough investigation…”
“No, I’m here to inform the Peak Master that Jiang Chen has been taken away by the Sect Master and the people from the Hall of Enforcement,” the Great Elder interrupted.
Xiao Hongyi was even more shocked by this!
She instantly understood that it must have been Gu Changqing and the Hall of Enforcement trying to convict Jiang Chen while she was in seclusion.
Although furious, she also understood.
If things were really like this, then the evidence of Jiang Chen harming his fellow disciples must be conclusive.
Otherwise, Gu Changqing, the Sect Master, would not dare to intervene in this matter, knowing he would have to face her wrath afterward.
Both fell silent.
Xiao Hongyi closed her beautiful eyes, and though she said nothing, one could feel a palpable sadness.
Jiang Chen had destroyed Lingshan Town, and although she was annoyed, she still protected him.
Because cultivators are inherently entangled in strife, and too many restrictions would only hinder Jiang Chen.
But this time was different. Attacking fellow disciples was something she could not accept.
And such acts, Jiang Chen had committed over and over again!
“…Great Elder, have I failed too much as a Master?” Xiao Hongyi asked.
Her voice was soft and gentle but filled with unspeakable sorrow.
“Peak Master, you’ve asked me this many times.”
The Great Elder said solemnly, “Don’t take your disciples’ mistakes upon yourself. They have failed your earnest efforts.”
Earnest efforts?
Xiao Hongyi gave a bitter smile.
She had once asked Jiang Chen the same question, and his answer had been the same.
But the result… Nothing had changed.
Suddenly, another Ninth Peak elder arrived.
Seeing his panicked expression, Xiao Hongyi preempted, “I already know about Jiang Chen being taken to the main peak. No matter what, he is my disciple, Xiao Hongyi’s disciple, and it’s not up to outsiders to punish him! I’m about to head to the main peak…”
“It’s not that! Peak Master, after learning that Jiang Chen was taken away, Jiang Lianyue, Lin Mubai, and Qingning, three true disciples of the Ninth Peak, actually set out to attack the main peak! This is going to stir up a fight within the sect!” the arriving elder said urgently.
At this, Xiao Hongyi felt as if struck by lightning.
A fight within the sect could lead to the most severe punishment!
If it was just Jiang Chen making a mistake, she could still find a way to protect him, but what could she do now that Jiang Lianyue and others were involved, stirring up a fight within the sect? What was she able to do?
“Fortunately, the Sect Master took action personally. Jiang Lianyue was knocked unconscious before she could self-detonate her imperial essence. Lin Mubai and the others were quickly captured, but that White Tiger, madly rushing towards the main peak, got slightly injured,” the arriving elder continued.
A sudden pain clenched her heart, and Xiao Hongyi’s complexion turned pale, her figure staggering.
Seeing this, the Great Elder quickly comforted her, “Peak Master, stay calm! You have the Postnatal Phoenix Body constitution, do not let the phoenix blood cloud your mind!”
“Yes, Peak Master. This matter started because of Jiang Chen, you can’t protect him this time! Otherwise, Jiang Lianyue and the others might also be held accountable!” another elder said.
Protect him?
Xiao Hongyi showed a look of despair.
This time, how could she protect him?
With the situation so escalated, it would surely attract the attention of the Supreme Elders. By then, on what grounds could she protect him?
Yet, even now, she still wanted to believe in Jiang Chen.
But how could she believe him with everyone saying the same thing and the evidence being conclusive?
Jiang Chen had disappointed her.
Large tears fell from Xiao Hongyi’s cheeks.
She had never felt as desperate as she did now, yet she still mustered her energy and began to walk outside.
No matter what, she still wanted to go to the summit and bring Jiang Chen back.
Because he was her disciple.
He was the disciple she, Xiao Hongyi, had taught with the most dedication.
Xiao Hongyi steps out of the Cloud Soaring Hall.
Suddenly, Xiao Hongyi’s body stiffened, and she stood frozen in place.
She felt dizzy and disoriented, and as she lost control of her body, her vision began to distort and change.
Then her eyes became vacant as if she had lost her soul, staring blankly at the sky while murmuring softly,
“Jiang Chen, you are my disciple, Xiao Hongyi’s disciple…. Master and disciple, united as one, never to part…”
……
At the same time.
Underground of the Main Peak of Jiuyan Sect.
An old man with white eyebrows, his face withered and his body emaciated, exuding an aura of death woke up inside a jade coffin.
“This is the fourth time…”
His tone was extremely weary.
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