Although Duan Xinyuan’s mind was not as sharp as Su Cheng’s, he was still the Sect Master of a Heaven-level force.
He wasn’t a complete fool.
It only took him two seconds to grasp the situation before him.
The way Su Cheng knelt with her head bowed was so submissive and humble, filled with soul-deep awe and devotion to the peerless woman atop the flying palanquin.
“There is only one person in this world who can make me kneel.”
Recalling this phrase, Duan Xinyuan could easily guess who the peerless woman on the flying palanquin truly was.
At that moment, she spoke softly.
“Indeed, my true name is known to few, and the Elite Ranking has nothing to do with me, but you just said I lack a resounding title…”
On the flying palanquin, Yu Yi’s beautiful eyes shimmered as she gazed calmly at Duan Xinyuan.
“The world calls me ‘Yu Yi Jue.’ Have you ever heard this name?”
In an instant, a wild wind rose, shaking the mountains and forests.
It felt as if Death had brushed across Duan Xinyuan’s spine.
Cold sweat broke out all over his body.
His legs went weak, and he stood rooted to the spot, unable to move.
He wanted to call for help from the Disciples beside him and the two Grandmasters behind, but when he opened his mouth with difficulty, only a muffled, incoherent sound emerged—barely even a syllable.
Even though Duan Xinyuan had the will to run, under the overwhelming pressure of an absolute powerhouse, he no longer had control over his own body.
The existence called Fear firmly gripped his every instinct.
“Su Cheng.”
Yu Yi looked down at Su Cheng, who was bowing on the ground.
“Raise your head.”
Su Cheng slowly lifted her head and looked at Yu Yi.
Her eyes were dull and lifeless, a mix of fear, unease, excitement, anticipation—all tangled together in a complex mess.
At the very instant their gazes met.
A jolt of electricity seemed to course through Yu Yi’s mind.
The countless threads of memories between the original body and Su Cheng surfaced, weaving together in her thoughts.
The truth behind Yu Yi Jue expelling Su Cheng from the Sect was finally revealed.
It had been an utterly ordinary mission.
Su Cheng was ordered to eliminate a group of Demonic Cultivators.
On the way, she saved a Mortal Family, but they had already been threatened by Demonic Cultivators.
Because of this, they betrayed Su Cheng, nearly costing her life.
Later, Su Cheng killed the Demonic Cultivators who threatened Among the Colorful Clouds and almost wiped out the Mortal Family who had betrayed her.
Upon learning of this, Yu Yi Jue—rarely—became furious, blaming Su Cheng for being overconfident and careless, which led to the innocent being harmed.
The Master and Disciple disagreed over whether the Mortal Family was truly innocent.
In the end, due to Su Cheng’s arrogance and stubbornness, and her actions crossing Yu Yi Jue’s bottom line, she was expelled from the Sect.
Though Su Cheng possessed a remarkable mind, she was exceptionally dull when it came to “repairing the Master-Disciple Bond.”
She defected to the Righteous Faction, plotting endlessly against Yu Yi Jue, trying to prove her own abilities and draw Yu Yi Jue’s attention through such means.
Yet how could Yu Yi Jue ever bring herself to harm her own Disciple?
Yu Yi Jue never retaliated against Su Cheng.
This, however, made Su Cheng feel that “Master is ignoring me, trying to forcefully erase me from her memory.”
Su Cheng, terrified of Yu Yi Jue’s indifference, resorted to increasingly drastic measures to get her attention.
Ironically, this made Yu Yi Jue believe Su Cheng’s Hatred for her was growing ever deeper.
From that point onward, the misunderstanding between Master and Disciple only intensified.
One would do anything to avoid being ignored by Master, not realizing she was spiraling into an unhealthy obsession, further down a twisted path.
The other, unwilling to strike her Disciple, bore the burden of Hatred in silence until forced to the brink, her Soul Extinction imminent.
Judging from Yu Yi Jue’s end, perhaps it was Su Cheng who “drove” her to it.
But in truth, perhaps Yu Yi Jue silently endured not just Su Cheng’s Hatred, but also misunderstandings with other Disciples.
And now, all of it would fall to the present Yu Yi to resolve.
After these memories flashed through her mind, Yu Yi was shocked to find her vision blurred.
She was crying.
Fortunately, she quickly used the River System Technique to quietly wipe away her tears.
“Because of one trivial matter, you forced yourself to Soul Extinction and left all this mess for me to handle—enough is enough…”
Yu Yi sighed inwardly.
“Since ‘you all’ couldn’t handle the Master-Disciple relationship, I’ll settle it myself.”
She stared silently at Su Cheng, waited a moment, then spoke softly.
“So, after a few years apart, have you forgotten all the Sect Master-Disciple Ceremony I taught you?”
Su Cheng was startled.
Then, a faint light gradually returned to her dull eyes.
Even without Yu Yi’s explicit words, Su Cheng already realized that Yu Yi still saw her as a Disciple.
She still had a chance to return to Among the Colorful Clouds!
Su Cheng kowtowed again, speaking hoarsely yet respectfully.
“Disciple greets Master… May Master have peace!”
“You deliberately protected the Wei Family—this, I already know.”
Yu Yi continued.
“You designed this to lure me in, trying to prove that even without harming the innocent, you could still control the situation, correct?”
“Disciple… Disciple would never see Master as a mere fish swimming in the pond…”
“Su Cheng, after spending a few years with these so-called Righteous Sects, have you become hypocritical too?”
Yu Yi raised her brows.
“Speak honestly.”
“Disciple… It is true. I wanted to use this carefully prepared ‘Trap’ to lure Master in, but I never intended any disrespect. Disciple…”
Su Cheng hadn’t finished when she heard an unexpected reply.
“Very good.”
Yu Yi nodded, her tone meaningful.
“Disrespecting Master is a grave fault, but I don’t want you to lose your pride either. Su Cheng, your tactics this time surprised me—I’m satisfied.”
Sometimes, lowering oneself to acknowledge a Disciple’s excellence is no fault at all.
“Eh?”
Su Cheng was stunned, staring at Yu Yi in disbelief, as if she had misheard.
“However, after leaving the Sect for so many years, your cultivation hasn’t improved at all? Though your earlier offenses were many, only this time did you truly impress me. Su Cheng, your training is still far from sufficient.”
Yu Yi gave a subtle hint.
Su Cheng quickly understood and bowed her head.
“Disciple is willing to return to Master’s side and accept punishment! I will strive to hone my Martial Arts and become the Disciple Master expects!”
As the flying palanquin slowly descended from the sky and Yu Yi prepared to take Su Cheng away, Wanhai Jiu, Li Tianhan, and their Elite finally made their move.
In a blink, Yu Yi and the others were surrounded.
“Su Cheng must stay.”
Li Tianhan stared straight at Yu Yi, his voice cold.
“You cannot take her away.”
“Yu Yi Jue, your situation is unfavorable. The entire Righteous Faction sees you as an enemy, and many in the Demonic Path covet your position. Only His Majesty, out of old sentiment, has left you be. Now that His Majesty wants Su Cheng, you’d best not go against the decree.”
Wanhai Jiu’s expression hardened as he warned Yu Yi.
“To oppose The Imperial Family of Great Yan is not a wise decision.”
Even when facing the Lady Demon Yu Yi Jue, these two men exuded formidable presence, their confidence bolstered by the Yan Emperor behind them.
However, Yu Yi spoke calmly.
“It seems you’ve misunderstood something.”
“I’m not negotiating with you—I’m informing you.”
Yu Yi’s beautiful eyes flashed with killing intent.
“Today, I will take Su Cheng away. Who among you dares stand in my way?”