Chapter 4: Inquiry

Description

Main Peak of the Piaomiao Sect, Council Hall.

The atmosphere in the hall was suppressed to the extreme, as if the air itself had solidified. Several Elders sat on either side, eyes downcast, none daring to speak first.

The moment Wu Yan stepped into the hall, she could clearly feel dozens of gazes instantly converging on her. In those eyes, there was wariness, fear, and disgust, but absolutely no goodwill.

Wang Teng’s death was suspicious. Although the official statement was Chi Deviation, everyone present was a seasoned veteran; who didn’t have their own suspicions?

Although they didn’t know why the Sect Master wanted to suppress the matter, since the Sect Master had spoken, everyone could only pretend they hadn’t noticed anything.

Wu Yan ignored the collective gaze and walked straight to the center of the hall. She bowed to the Sect Master on the high platform, her movements so standard that no fault could be found.

“Disciple Wu Yan, pays respects to the Sect Master and the Peak Masters.”

“Demonic Cultivators have recently appeared in the West Barren’s Red Sand Mineral Vein, and several disciples have gone missing. I want you to lead a team to investigate. It would be best if you could bring back the surviving disciples. If there are any evils, kill them without mercy.”

“Oh, by the way, besides searching for traces of Demonic Cultivators, you also need to escort a batch of Spirit Stones back to the sect. You will have full responsibility for this trip.”

From high above, hidden behind a gauze curtain, the Sect Master stated the purpose of summoning Wu Yan.

“This disciple accepts the command.”

Wu Yan did not hesitate.

She knew very well that this was an opportunity given by the Sect Master to redeem herself through service.

“Wait! This disciple is also willing to go!”

Just as Wu Yan was about to turn and leave, a crisp and pleasant voice suddenly rang out in the hall, breaking the dead silence.

Wu Yan paused and turned her head.

She saw Yu Qingyao, who had been standing behind Xia Lingshuang, take a step forward and stand in the center of the hall.

She held her head high. Though a trace of fear still lingered on that delicate face, her eyes were exceptionally firm.

“Nonsense! What are you doing?” Xia Lingshuang’s brows furrowed, her tone dripping with disapproval. “You have only recently reached the Foundation Establishment Stage. This journey is fraught with danger; it’s not child’s play.”

“It is precisely because it is dangerous that I must gain experience.”

Yu Qingyao bit her lip, her hands tightly clutching the hem of her clothes. It seemed she had mustered all her courage just to speak. “Furthermore… with Eldest Senior Sister there, I believe we will certainly be able to turn misfortune into good luck. I want to stay by Eldest Senior Sister’s side and learn how to slay demons and eliminate evil.”

When she mentioned the words “Eldest Senior Sister,” she specifically glanced at Wu Yan. Her eyes flickered, looking both expectant and afraid.

Looking at this Junior Sister, a strong sense of dissonance rose in Wu Yan’s heart.

“Oho!” The inner Wu Yan in her mind let out a loud whistle. “This little white lotus isn’t right—absolutely not right! Look at that gaze. She’s clearly scared to death, her legs are shaking, and yet she insists on throwing herself into the mouth of a tiger like you.”

“Little Wu Yan, I bet a top-grade Spirit Stone that this girl wants to trip you up on the road, or… she wants to spy on you?”

Wu Yan replied coldly in her heart: “She is only at the Foundation Establishment Stage, what kind of trouble could she cause? She probably just wants to show some courage in front of Master to prove she isn’t just a fledgling hiding under Master’s wing.”

She didn’t think too much of it.

In her understanding, although Yu Qingyao had good talent, her current temperament was still immature, even a bit of a naive “sweet-and-dumb” type. She was far from being the Yu Qingyao in Wu Yan’s memories of her previous life, who had been her equal.

“Since Junior Sister wants to go, then keep a close watch.” Wu Yan retracted her gaze, her voice cold. “The West Barren is not like the sect. If you die, no one will collect your corpse.”

Hearing this, Yu Qingyao immediately showed a relieved and obedient smile: “Thank you, Senior Sister! I will definitely be obedient and never cause any trouble for Senior Sister!”

***

Half an hour later, a massive Azure Spirit Boat rose into the air, carrying the group from the Piaomiao Sect toward the Western Regions.

High in the sky, the astral winds were bitter.

Wu Yan stood alone at the bow of the ship, her hands behind her back.

The fierce wind disheveled her black hair, and her sleeves fluttered, making her look exceptionally lonely. She did not activate her Protective Spirit Shield. Instead, she allowed the blade-like cold wind to strike her face, using it to keep herself awake.

The red-clothed Wu Yan floated above her head like a ghost, occasionally kicking at the layers of clouds below out of boredom while humming an unknown tune.

A very faint sound of footsteps came from behind.

“Senior Sister…”

Yu Qingyao approached carrying an exquisite jade tray, which held several succulent spirit fruits.

She stood three paces away from Wu Yan, as if this was a safe distance, not daring to take another step closer.

“Please have some fruit. The journey to the West Barren is long, and Senior Sister has been controlling the Azure Spirit Boat, which consumes a lot of energy…”

Yu Qingyao’s voice was soft and waxy, carrying a hint of ingratiation.

Wu Yan continued looking into the distance: “I won’t eat.”

If it were the old Yu Qingyao, she would have been scared into turning and running long ago upon hearing such a cold rejection. But this time, she did not leave.

She hesitated for a moment, as if having made a decision, and asked in a low voice: “Senior Sister… Senior Brother Wang Teng… did he really suffer from Chi Deviation during cultivation?”

The moment these words were spoken, the air seemed to freeze.

Wu Yan slowly turned around, her motionless eyes quietly falling on Yu Qingyao’s face.

Swept by this gaze, Yu Qingyao subconsciously shrank her neck. Her fingers tightly gripped the edge of the fruit tray, her knuckles turning white, looking very tense and terrified.

She is testing me.

Wu Yan thought to herself.

“What do you think, Junior Sister?” Wu Yan asked back, her tone unreadable.

“I… I don’t know.”

Yu Qingyao lowered her head in a panic, not daring to meet her gaze. “I just feel… that the world operates on the cycle of karma. Senior Brother Wang Teng usually did so many bad things; perhaps… this is the retribution given to him by the Heavens.”

When she mentioned the word retribution, her voice was very low. If Wu Yan hadn’t already stepped into the Golden Core stage, she might truly have been unable to hear what her Junior Sister was saying.

Looking at her timid yet persistent appearance, Wu Yan felt an inexplicable sigh in her heart.

“Since Junior Sister knows about the cycle of karma, and that evil is repaid with evil while good is repaid with good, then you should strictly follow the righteous path and guard your heart well in your daily life.”

Wu Yan spoke no further and looked forward again.

“The Western Wilderness is just ahead.” She looked at the sky in the distance that was gradually turning crimson, as well as the sandstorms rolling across the horizon, her expression turning slightly solemn.

“The wind is rising.”