◎ Wronged ◎
The howling wind drowned out everything. A strange sense of weightlessness descended rapidly, then vanished just as quickly.
At the final moment, the shattering of the icicles, the collapse of the space, the closing of the domain... Yingshi shut her eyes tight in extreme terror.
But with absolute consistency, the person who had caught her as she fell before once again hurried to her side from the center of the storm, lightly resting a single hand around her waist, his touch almost imperceptible.
His approach brought a piercing chill, sharing the same origin as the icy coldness of the Marrow-Cleansing Spring. Just like his name, it was like a layer of frost... Yingshi thought, somewhat absentmindedly.
Perhaps when she opened her eyes again, they would be back at the starting place—the platform in the center of the prison.
At that time, they might have to face Mi Ruotian, who had been drawn by the destruction they caused but failed to catch them in the first instance.
But subconsciously, she already sensed something was wrong. For instance, even with her eyes closed, she could feel the bright light. Actual warm sunlight was hitting her skin, and the surrounding air was incredibly fresh and flowing. Although it carried a faint dusty, earthy smell, it definitely didn't belong to the confined space of a cave-like structure...
Her feet landed solidly back on the ground. The person beside her gave her arm a final steadying touch before pulling away. Shuangjian's strange silence deepened the ominous premonition in Yingshi's heart. She nervously opened her eyes. Suddenly leaving the dark environment caused a fierce stinging in her pupils, but the scene before her was so shocking that she forced her eyes wide open despite the harsh light to stare at the group of people standing not far away...
"..."
Staring at each other, both sides were too stunned to speak!
Indeed, less than ten meters away from Yingshi and her companion stood a row of middle-aged and elderly cultivators with complex expressions.
The bearded man standing right in the center, dumbfounded, suspicious, yet harboring hidden worry and anger, was none other than Yingshi's so-called father, the Sect Leader of the Cloud Water Sect, Xu Mingcheng!
As for the others, none were strangers either. They were all prominent figures within the sect. Several were teachers who had taught Yingshi, such as Master Xuanzhen, whose classes she frequently skipped.
How could Yingshi not realize by now? The commotion they had accidentally caused must have alarmed the entire sect, bringing all these immortal masters here to catch them red-handed!
...However, it seemed Mi Ruotian wasn't here?
The suffocating silence was broken by a deep, hoarse male voice: Sect Leader.
It was Shuangjian, who performed a standard disciple's bow with his usual calm demeanor.
This action caused Xu Mingcheng's gaze to shift slightly from Yingshi. He glanced at him in extreme surprise, his face then turning even gloomier.
Father... Yingshi hurriedly tried to follow suit, but she was angrily interrupted by Xu Mingcheng halfway through.
He flicked his sleeve fiercely. Under everyone's gaze, his sense of responsibility as the Sect Leader ultimately prevailed. Needing to give everyone an explanation, he decisively and sternly scolded, You rebellious child, to be so utterly unruly! Hurry and come back with me to explain in detail just what you have done?!
Father! Listen to me explain first... Yingshi tried to clear her name, but was interrupted again by Xu Mingcheng's loud roar, Enough! Shut your mouth, isn't this embarrassing enough?! If Immortal Master Ruotian hadn't warned us in time, I'm afraid it wouldn't just be the Repentance Cliff, but the entire Cloud Water Sect that you would have blown up! Xu Yingshi, you have truly turned the heavens upside down!
What warning from Immortal Master Ruotian? Could he mean Mi Ruotian?
What did Mi Ruotian tell Xu Mingcheng? Could it be a pure frame-up?!
This was entirely different from how she expected things to develop. Yingshi was completely bewildered. Meanwhile, the more Xu Mingcheng spoke, the angrier he got. Perhaps realizing his daughter was physically unharmed, that little bit of worry dissipated, leaving his anger completely unchecked.
He nodded to the others beside him and said coldly, I ask everyone to please handle the aftermath. It is my failure in teaching my daughter. I will take her back now to teach her a proper lesson!
Saying so, he used a flash step to approach, grabbing Yingshi by the collar to forcefully take her away.
Yingshi grew anxious. Why did all these people in the cultivation world like to grab her by the scruff of the neck like a kitten!
She struggled while looking at Shuangjian, shouting, Wait, Father, what about my companion? If you're taking me, take us both together. We are truly innocent!
But Xu Mingcheng completely ignored her wishes, even casting a spell to seal her throat, rendering her words soundless.
"..."
Yingshi was dragged into the air, flying away from the scene. She watched helplessly as the distance between her and Shuangjian grew larger and larger. The young man's expression was obscure and hard to read. She felt so stifled she could almost cough up blood!
Damn it! What kind of plot twist was this??
Hopefully, hopefully Shuangjian could handle the situation on his end...
Just what had Mi Ruotian done and said to make Xu Mingcheng adopt such an attitude?! To immediately punish them the moment he saw them?
Being taken high into the sky and looking down at that area, Yingshi finally realized where they had been standing just now.
She had thought that after the Marrow-Cleansing Spring domain closed its entrance, they had been teleported elsewhere. But actually, they had landed right where they started. It was just that the form of the starting place itself had changed—the Repentance Cliff had been reduced to a pile of rubble.
She had once anticipated that the loosening of the seal on Shuangjian might cause a massive earthquake, but she never imagined the power would be so immense, actually leveling a cave so deep it was hard to climb, along with the half-cliff it relied on!
No wonder Xu Mingcheng and the others were all gathered here, their faces pale as paper, acting as if facing a formidable enemy.
If she was this shocked, it was only natural that these unrelated people would be questioning their lives...
But Yingshi still didn't understand how Xu Mingcheng could link such a terrifying change to two little disciples like her and Shuangjian?
He spoke as if they had intentionally blown up the Repentance Cliff.
Regardless of the truth, in Xu Mingcheng's eyes, how could they possibly have that kind of strength?
So Mi Ruotian must have definitely done something...
Yingshi was brought to the center of the inner sect's main hall. Xu Mingcheng was so angry his beard was trembling, yet his gaze swept over her body for a quick second. After confirming she was truly unharmed, he released his oppressive aura to force her to her knees.
Feeling that she could finally speak again, Yingshi didn't wait for him to furiously interrogate her. She seized the initiative and said, Father, Mi Ruotian is a demonic cultivator! What exactly did he tell you?! He kidnapped me and then made false countercharges. Don't be deceived by him!
On the way here, Yingshi had already sorted out her thoughts. Some details could be blurred, like the experiences related to the Marrow-Cleansing Spring domain, while other things she had to mention, like Mi Ruotian's true identity.
She originally thought that upon hearing a bombshell word like demonic cultivator, Xu Mingcheng would at least be stunned for a moment. But unexpectedly, he only paused briefly before laughing out of extreme anger, saying, The Immortal Master's words were actually true! You are single-mindedly slandering others! Xu Yingshi, I only blame myself for indulging you too much in the past, actually raising you into a little devil!
"What?! Who is slandering whom here!" Yingshi's almond eyes widened as she sprang up from the ground, saying in exasperation, "Father, just tell me, what exactly did he do and say after you met?! Where is he now?!"
She looked like a lit firecracker. Her expression of abhorring evil, being overwhelmed by anger, and suffering a massive injustice actually managed to bluff Xu Mingcheng for a second. He furrowed his brows, stayed silent for a moment, and then sneered, "Fine, then I will make it clear to you, so you won't dare to quibble when death is at your door!"
...
One day ago, in the main hall of the Yunshui Sect.
Xu Mingcheng sat opposite the wandering immortal master who had come from afar.
He quietly took a sip of tea, silently observing the man across from him.
This person was named Mi Ruotian, the "external aid" he had spent a fortune to hire for his son and daughter. With his guidance, even if those two rebellious children struggled to gain much in the Tiangang Martial Tournament, they at least wouldn't suffer any major setbacks or encounter any danger.
However, just as he was about to introduce the temperaments of the brother and sister to the immortal master, the other party began to seem absent-minded.
"Immortal Master, do you have any concerns?"
A hint of dissatisfaction welled up in Xu Mingcheng's heart, though he did not show it on his face. He gently tapped the table between them, and this time Mi Ruotian finally snapped back to reality.
The immortal-looking master smiled apologetically and said slowly, "Not at all, it was just that I suddenly remembered the key to a certain cultivation method, and I must take this opportunity to fully comprehend it..."
After saying that, without waiting for Xu Mingcheng to respond, he stood up on his own and quickly walked outside.
Xu Mingcheng's words to make him stay were still stuck in his throat. He was truly in disbelief. Could it be that these wandering immortals were all so free, undisciplined, and disregardful of etiquette?!
Could such a person really be fit to be a teacher?
Or, was this person deliberately disrespecting him to show him who was boss?
But he didn't look like he was doing that either...
Could it be that the situation with Yingshi and Xiaoran was too tricky, and he was unwilling to teach them, so he found an excuse to leave?
Xu Mingcheng's face turned blue and white. He then remembered that Yingshi had not submitted her punishment copying. The deadline had long passed, which meant she hadn't finished it at all.
He originally thought she was more promising than her brother, but he didn't expect that with the Tiangang Martial Tournament approaching, her heart had grown wild!
Xu Mingcheng immediately wanted to go and scold Yingshi, but to his surprise, he searched several places and could not find any trace of the girl, and even the jade pendant he had given her could not be activated.
Now he became a little worried. When he found Nanny Zhong to carefully question her about Yingshi's whereabouts, he saw the woman waving her hands frantically, saying in a panic things like "Miss definitely didn't go to the back mountain," "Miss has been cultivating hard lately and has no time to think about other young men," and "Miss has never brewed medicine for anyone."
How could Xu Mingcheng not understand?
It turned out that Yingshi not only wanted to play but had also fallen in love!
His anger had reached a critical point. When he chased to the back mountain to find her, he ran into Mi Ruotian, who had left in a hurry earlier.
This independent immortal master actually wore a rare solemn expression. He bowed and stepped forward to say to him, "Sect Leader, please forgive my bluntness, but I fear a great disaster is about to descend upon the Yunshui Sect, and the root of the trouble lies with your daughter!"
"What do you mean by that, Immortal Master?!"
Mi Ruotian raised his hand, his expression becoming more complex. "The cultivation method I comprehended just now required drawing a spiritual talisman with my mind as a guide to connect heaven and earth. Therefore, I let my guard down for a moment, and your daughter actually snatched the spiritual talisman away."
"Are you talking about Yingshi?! Absolutely impossible! Immortal Master, please don't joke around..."
Mi Ruotian shook his head with a bitter smile, interrupting him, "Your daughter is naturally not someone who disrespects her elders. However, I don't know where she got the idea to view me as a demonic cultivator, and to view the Repentance Cliff on this back mountain as a place invaded by demonic cultivators. Perhaps she came into contact with someone with ulterior motives..."
"This is pure nonsense!" Xu Mingcheng's expression changed drastically. "How could my Yunshui Sect be involved with demonic cultivators?!"
"Sect Leader, there is no need to be angry. I have no intention of speculating, but I don't know how your daughter developed such a misunderstanding. It doesn't matter if she looks down on me, but after snatching the spiritual talisman, she actually jumped down the Repentance Cliff! It is a forbidden area of the inner sect, so it is inconvenient for me to trespass, but I must report the whole story to the Sect Leader." Mi Ruotian spoke faster, his anxiety evident. "I heard that the restrictions under the Repentance Cliff have not been lifted. I am afraid that if the spiritual talisman touches the barrier, it will detonate, affecting the entire sect!"
Xu Mingcheng's face instantly turned pale. "Are you saying... Yingshi jumped down the Repentance Cliff?!"
Mi Ruotian nodded.
Xu Mingcheng's body trembled, and he almost collapsed to the ground.
The Repentance Cliff was the most mysterious place in the Yunshui Sect. Even as the leader of the sect, he had never personally set foot in it.
Even though this prison from hundreds of years ago had not been used for generations, its inherent danger was not diminished.
Yingshi had caused a catastrophe. Losing her own life was a small matter, but bringing disaster to the sect was a huge matter!
Even though his heart was filled with terror and pain, Xu Mingcheng had to take on the responsibility of a sect leader, leading his people to set up barriers, waiting in full battle array, vowing to minimize the shockwaves...
...
"That's too ridiculous, too ridiculous!" Yingshi stomped her feet in anger. "How could you believe such an outrageous story?! It's utterly absurd!"
It was obvious that Mi Ruotian had been alarmed by the noise of them cutting the chains at the time, but when he returned, the two of them had already entered the domain, leaving him empty-handed.
But this demon clearly knew something, and since his plan was disrupted, there was no need to stay in the Yunshui Sect anymore. He might as well make a false countercharge and then slip away... Was he really that despicable?
"..."
Xu Mingcheng did not speak, his brows locked tightly together.
After this recounting, coupled with Yingshi's genuine reaction, he had somewhat realized that something was wrong.
"Mi Ruotian is a demonic cultivator! I was taken to the Repentance Cliff by him! Where is he now?! Let's just gather a few elders and arrest him!"
"Stop talking nonsense!" Xu Mingcheng slapped the table and glared at Yingshi.
With his level of cultivation, he wouldn't fail to see through a demonic cultivator's disguise. Although Mi Ruotian acted strangely, he was indeed an orthodox immortal master. He had also participated in setting the questions for the Tiangang Martial Tournament before, so there couldn't be any mistakes about this.
"The immortal master's aura clashes with yours, and he was slandered by you. Why would he still be willing to stay and teach? He left a long time ago!" he said. "On the contrary, where did you pick up this bad habit, repeatedly mentioning demonic cultivators?! Did you come into contact with someone with impure intentions?"
"Yes! It was Mi Ruotian!" Yingshi said through gritted teeth. "If you don't believe me, go look on the way to the back mountain, by the ruins of the Repentance Cliff. I'm afraid the residual yin energy of the ghost fog hasn't even dissipated yet!"
The term "ghost fog" absolutely shouldn't have come out of Yingshi's mouth. Xu Mingcheng was truly shocked this time. He was silent for a long time before saying, "If things are really as you say... Yingshi, the fact that you could return safe and sound is enough for me to thank the heavens."
"..."
Yingshi couldn't explain how she felt in her heart; she was a little wronged and a little helpless.
"If it really turns out to be exactly as I said, you owe me an apology for wronging me. You would rather believe a shady outsider than your own flesh-and-blood daughter!" she said. "Besides, haven't you noticed that I have grown a bit stronger, Father?"
"...Going through a major ordeal naturally brings about some enlightenment. Do you expect me to praise you for such a minuscule amount of progress?" Xu Mingcheng turned his back to her, his movements stiff and unnatural. "Return to your room at once and reflect deeply on your actions. You are not to step outside without my permission. The entire sect has been thrown into chaos because of you, and on top of that, the Cliff of Repentance has been destroyed. Do you have any idea how much trouble you have caused me?! As for this matter regarding the Ghost Fog, if it truly exists, I will investigate it myself. Do not meddle in it any further!"
