After the banquet ended, the disciples and elders returned to their pre-arranged guest rooms to rest, waiting for the opening of the Yaochi Spirit Spring.
Some disciples wanted to go wander around the Yaochi Holy Land, to see the beautiful scenery and the beautiful people.
However, the living quarters of the female disciples of the Yaochi Holy Land were very far from theirs.
A few sneaky disciples tried to slip over to the women’s side, only to be scolded back by a few elderly women.
Guarding against disciples from other sects was really like guarding against thieves.
But many men are born with a sense of “adventurous spirit.”
The more mysterious and forbidden something is, the more they yearn to understand and conquer it.
The tighter the Yaochi Holy Land’s guard, the more active their thoughts became.
…..
Zhu Lan stretched after getting out of bed.
It was already noon….
She hadn’t slept so soundly in a long time.
Originally, she had slept quite poorly last night, constantly worried that Ye Feng would launch a night assault.
Later, she was too tired and didn’t want to cultivate, so she fell into a deep sleep.
Without Ye Feng around, Zhu Lan felt her spirits were much better.
She had slept straight through until noon the next day.
But she was also a bit confused.
When she went out to inquire, she learned that early in the morning, several elders and the Jianshou of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect had barged into Ye Feng’s room with great force.
A barrier had been set up outside the door, isolating the room from outside sight and sound, so no one knew what was happening inside.
“Why did a large group from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect storm into Ye Feng’s room this morning?”
“Are you stupid? Last time, the Jianshou was defeated like a stepping stone. He must be furious and brought the elders to get back at him!”
“There’s such a thing? Then why didn’t Ye Feng call the elders from the Heavenly Profound Sect to help?”
“It happened suddenly. Maybe Ye Feng didn’t expect the humiliated Ten Thousand Swords Sect to block his door.”
“Should we go help Ye Feng call the Heavenly Profound Sect elders, to earn a favor from him?”
“Are you an idiot? Look over there, aren’t those the Heavenly Profound Sect elders? They’re all blocked outside too.”
“Ah! Could it be that the Ten Thousand Swords Sect is being so overbearing, wanting to torture Ye Feng inside that barrier?”
The disciples’ rumors grew more and more outrageous, and public opinion spread rapidly in a bizarre form….
“Did you know? The Jianshou took people to block Ye Feng’s door today!”
“What! The Jianshou wants to force his love on Ye Feng?”
“What! The Jianshou, unable to win his love, wants to force his love on Ye Feng?”
“What! The Jianshou, his advances rejected, flew into a rage and wants to take people to Ye Feng’s door to force his love?”
…
Finally, the sect leader and elders of the Yaochi Holy Land had no choice but to step in, calling out to those inside the barrier.
The barrier was then lifted.
However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, the Jianshou had his arm draped over Ye Feng’s shoulder, looking like they were on very good terms.
“Huh? Wasn’t it said the Jianshou took the elders to block the door to teach Ye Feng a lesson?”
“What! Ye Feng compromised and agreed to the Jianshou’s pursuit?”
“Your sister!”
Zhu Lan couldn’t help but deliver a flying kick, sending the rumor-spreading disciple flying.
‘I’ve put up with you for too long!’
Rumors spread with a single mouth, but clearing them up takes endless effort.
The energy required to dispel a single rumor is far greater than what it took the rumor-monger to spread it.
Zero tolerance for rumors!
Seeing Ye Feng and the Jianshou come out, everyone rushed forward to understand the situation.
After learning the full story, Ye Feng smiled and said, “Everyone has misunderstood. The Jianshou and I were merely having a friendly discussion about the immortal path. We weren’t fighting.”
The people from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect were also at a loss for words.
They had only come to inquire about one matter, not to fight.
“Everyone has misunderstood. Ye Feng and I are now very good friends. Our relationship is not as antagonistic as everyone thinks.”
The Jianshou also came forward to clarify.
“We were merely discussing our insights from yesterday’s battle, having a friendly exchange about martial arts.”
Fortunately, with this opportunity, almost everyone was present, and the rumors were finally completely put to rest.
Although this explanation was a bit far-fetched, those with ulterior motives in the crowd were always an extreme minority.
Most were just there for the spectacle.
With the spectacle gone, they left.
Later, the disciples dispersed, and the elders of the Yaochi Holy Land also left.
The Jianshou cupped his hands towards Ye Feng.
“Shi… Brother Ye Feng, until we meet again.”
Ye Feng returned the gesture.
“Jianshou, until we meet again.”
After the Ten Thousand Swords Sect entourage left, the elders from the Heavenly Profound Sect came forward to express their concern.
“Ye Feng, what did those people from the Ten Thousand Swords Sect want with you?”
“Just as I said earlier to the disciples, we were merely exchanging insights from yesterday’s battle. There was no other reason.”
The Heavenly Profound Sect elders were so angry their beards seemed to bristle.
“Who are you trying to fool! We brothers were worried you’d get beaten up and came to guard you early on. Now you’re telling us this?”
Ye Feng couldn’t help but laugh.
He offered a brief explanation and finally added, “The Sect Leader is also aware,” before managing to send the Heavenly Profound Sect elders on their way.
Zhu Lan, seeing that nothing was amiss, also wanted to leave.
Unexpectedly, a hand immediately grasped her wrist firmly from behind.
“You don’t want to know?”
Zhu Lan shook her head rapidly.
“Not really.”
‘Being alone with Ye Feng always leads to being… taken advantage of. So, I’m not that eager to hear the real reason either.’
But no matter how unwilling Zhu Lan was, it wasn’t up to her now.
She was pulled back into the guest room by Ye Feng.
After they sat down, Ye Feng began explaining on his own.
“During my last battle with the Jianshou, I used a technique from their Ten Thousand Swords Sect, which caused him mental turmoil, leading to a surge of fiery energy and his collapse. If we had continued fighting, I would have been the one to lose.”
Zhu Lan absentmindedly responded with an “Mhm.”
She was thinking about whether she could leave quickly without being… taken advantage of.
“So… what are you thinking about?”
Ye Feng’s voice suddenly stopped.
The familiar tone, the familiar feeling—a certain part of Zhu Lan’s body began to ache phantomly again.
‘This is the tone Ye Feng uses every time he’s displeased. And then Zhu Lan gets disciplined quite severely.’
“Ah, nothing. I was thinking about what you just said. So? What happened after that?”
Zhu Lan jolted, quickly pretending she had been listening attentively.
“So… forget it. I suddenly think it’s better for you not to know this right now.”
Zhu Lan: ?
‘What are you going on about?’
What did that mean?
So, should she listen or not?
“Do you want to hear it? I think the truth might not be a good thing for you.”
Ye Feng’s words carried a hint of temptation.
An ordinary person might not be able to resist asking, as few can endure curiosity.
But our Zhu Lan endured.
She deeply understood the principle that “curiosity killed the cat.”
If Ye Feng said knowing the truth was bad for her, then she wouldn’t ask or listen.
If the protagonists in horror movies were as cowardly as Zhu Lan, running away on the first day they moved into a haunted house, they would definitely live to celebrate their eighty-eighth birthday.
Ye Feng was somewhat surprised.
“You really don’t want to hear it?”
Zhu Lan shook her head firmly.
“Really, I don’t. You said knowing the truth is bad for me, so I won’t listen.”
Ye Feng: …
He was rarely this conflicted.
Should he tell Zhu Lan about the Jianshou acknowledging him as his senior brother?