Chapter 78: What I Wish to Discuss Is You Yourself

The recruitment had come to an end, and many people had returned to their own posts.

At this moment, Jiang Che was brought by Yun Yan to a secluded spot on Lingxiao Peak.

Within Lingxiao Peak, there was a little-known Bamboo Forest, which usually had restrictions placed upon it, but in truth, it was not guarding anything of importance.

Inside the Bamboo Forest stood a Xiao Pavilion.

Jiang Che sat inside, the air somewhat damp and chilly.

If Jiang Che could open his eyes to take a look, he would have discovered that the Bamboo Forest was shrouded in mist, with the scenery just a few meters away all veiled in a blanket of white.

The air carried a cool dampness, but the humidity was just right, not at all sticky. Instead, it made people feel quite comfortable.

It was as if, on a scorching summer day, one had suddenly stepped into a room filled with cool air.

The difference was, this was not a room.

Jiang Che could still sense the faint rustling of wind passing through bamboo leaves, the sound seemingly soaked in the mist, becoming distant and hazy.

Here, Jiang Che’s originally chaotic heart gradually grew calmer.

“Child, do you recognize me?”

Yun Yan sat across from Jiang Che, his gaze deep and serene, yet not as cold and distant as Su Qingyue’s, which was like the surface of an icy pond.

Yun Yan’s gaze was ancient, making one feel as if staring into a deep, bottomless old well.

But if you shouted into that well, it would answer you.

“Zongzhu of Shenxiao Sect, Yun Yan. You just introduced yourself.”

Upon hearing this, Yun Yan smiled faintly.

Then, silence fell once more.

Jiang Che had no idea what kind of medicine Yun Yan was selling in his Hulud.

By procedure, he had neither undergone the Linggen Test, nor had he gained anything in the Secret Realm.

He hadn’t even made it through the Illusion Realm, and by rights should have been eliminated.

The only oddity was that, though he had almost collapsed, he had suddenly recovered, and even he himself did not know why.

Yun Xing studied Jiang Che carefully.

He hoped to see something different about Jiang Che.

Because Jiang Che had been chosen by the Core of the Secret Realm, and had inherited the Jiu Xiao Wan Xiang Secret Codex.

His condition should not be so calm as it was now.

But what Yun Xing did not know was that Jiang Che had not actually obtained any so-called secret codex.

After coming out of the Secret Realm, there was merely a Golden Light Cluster appearing in his Sea of Divine Sense, which he could not unlock no matter how hard he tried.

“Zongzhu, if you have something to say, just say it. Then let me go.”

Jiang Che got straight to the point.

Though in truth, even if he were let out, he wouldn’t know what to do next.

Perhaps sensing Jiang Che’s thoughts, Yun Xing spoke up, “Child, do you dislike this place?”

“No, it’s very nice here.”

Jiang Che lied again, unlike Yun Xing, who always liked to avoid the topic and keep things to himself.

Jiang Che lied selectively. He believed that for some questions, no matter how he answered, it would not change the result, so he might as well lie.

“Hehe, child, since you have grievances in your heart, why not speak them? Maybe if you say them, I can help you?”

At Yun Yan’s words, a self-mocking smile appeared at the corner of Jiang Che’s lips.

“You might also not help.”

Jiang Che’s tone was oddly tinged with complaint, but what else could he do?

Yun Yan stood up and turned his back.

“Ahem, enough. This old man didn’t bring you here to talk about what happened in the Secret Realm. What I want to discuss… is you.”

For some reason, Jiang Che found this statement a little awkward.

If Feng Yaqin or Xu Qianlan were here, upon hearing these words, their first reaction might be to go all out against this old man.

“What does Zongzhu mean by this?”

Jiang Che questioned. In his mind, his identity had not yet been exposed, though he was starting to get used to it.

After all, his characteristics were simply too obvious.

Yun Yan took a deep breath and then said,

“This old man wants to ask you—do you still hate this place?”

Jiang Che lowered his head, his expression hidden from view.

“Zongzhu, so you really still…”

“Hehe, you are exactly the same as when you were a child. Though something like reversing your age is truly unbelievable, I could still recognize you.”

“Besides, the night you came back, Lin Yin already came to see me.”

Yun Yan stroked his white beard. Yun Xing had started observing Jiang Che over ten years ago.

For when he calculated that a calamity was coming to Shenxiao Sect, it was exactly the night before Lin Yin brought Jiang Che back.

Jiang Che gritted his teeth, his heart full of confusion.

“Zongzhu, since you knew all along, then why didn’t you send someone to arrest me?”

“Arrest you?”

Yun Yan paused, but quickly understood what Jiang Che meant.

“You’re talking about what happened back then? I knew from the start—it could not have been you. As for that Demon Clan member, I also know a thing or two. At the very least, that Demon Clan member shouldn’t have been captured, nor should they have died.”

Yun Yan’s tone was calm, but Jiang Che could not accept it.

Jiang Che clenched his fists, his body trembling uncontrollably.

He wasn’t stupid! The moment Yun Yan recognized him, Jiang Che had already guessed something.

“Then why didn’t you step in back then!”

Jiang Che ground out the words through gritted teeth, each word heavy, almost like a low growl.

So Yun Yan had known all along—then what had all Jiang Che’s suffering over the years amounted to?

Seeing Jiang Che like this, Yun Yan’s guilt deepened, but as Zongzhu, there was nothing he could do. He was the Zongzhu of Shenxiao Sect, bearing an enormous responsibility.

Even if it went against his conscience, he forced himself not to intervene.

But when he realized that doing nothing changed nothing in the end—

“Child, all I can say is, I’m sorry. For how you are now, I too am responsible. But there’s nothing I can do.”

“But child, you shouldn’t keep running from this. I can feel it—you act as if you don’t care about what happened three years ago, but in truth, everything you do now is a result of what happened back then.”

“But don’t worry. Whether it’s me, Xu Qianlan, or Lin Yin, we’re all trying to uncover the truth of that year.”

“Heh, ‘uncover the truth’—but did you? Did you find anything at all?”

This question stumped Yun Yan. Helpless, he could only shake his head and sigh. As Zongzhu, it was not convenient for him to investigate personally.

“I was framed! I was distrusted! All by the people I once cared for the most…”

“Child, do you still think that way?”

“Then how am I supposed to think?

Should I be strong? Seek revenge? Pursue the truth of that year?

But why must I prove my own innocence?

Why should just a word from your mouths force me to suffer these things?”

Yun Yan took a deep breath. In the end, he was at fault, Lin Yin was at fault—he truly had no right to say anything.

“Is that so… but is it really so?

Perhaps things aren’t as you believe. Child, ask yourself—do you really think your Master Lin Yin is still that heartless now?

And during the time Xu Qianlan took care of you, can you not feel her affection?

And your Younger Martial Brother Yun Fan, right? Are you sure your thinking is right?”

These three questions left Jiang Che speechless.

He had only ever wanted to return to being an ordinary person, unable to trust anything here.

But now, calming down and thinking it through, could it be possible that he was not as alone as he believed?

“Especially your Master Lin Yin—do you know her current situation?”