Chapter 130

Just moments ago, the elders had been conversing merrily in Chunqiu Hall when a commotion broke out outside. Yun Shuchen immediately grew alert.

Using her red thread as a guide, she sensed that Qing Zhouxue seemed to be in trouble.

The very next instant, the hall doors burst open.

Two managing disciples from Xunjie Hall carried the unconscious Qing Zhouxue between them, rushing to the Sect Leader for a verdict. In trembling voices, they reported the murder of an inner disciple.

Junior sister Lin followed close behind, apparently having failed to stop them. She stepped one foot into the hall, then retreated, ultimately guarding the entrance with a hateful glare.

Two fools. Yun Shuchen seethed inwardly. Her hand pressed down on the armrest, nearly gouging out a dent—if only they had delayed even a little, long enough to send these outside elders away, matters wouldn't be so awkward now.

The Sect Leader's face darkened like the bottom of a pot, but he had no choice but to go along with it. He had just been speaking of how all sects were bound together as one, and now if he dismissed these people, it would only make him seem guiltier.

"In that case, once she wakes—"

Just then, Qing Zhouxue seemed to sense something and groggily opened her eyes.

The Sect Leader sighed.

"This is, after all, an internal matter of Taichu Sect. Everyone, best to say no more." The envoy from Lingxu Sect was still relatively honest, and seeing how things were turning, he tried to mediate.

But he was immediately bitten back.

Several of them argued that all cultivators under heaven belonged to one immortal path. Killing a fellow junior sister in broad daylight was such a heinous act that the entire cultivation world needed to warn its disciples. Had it happened in any other sect, the culprit would have been expelled long ago.

To be so brazen as to interfere on someone else's turf—the Chen family sure had no shame.

Still, sometimes unreasonable clamor, though despicable, could corner others and sway decisions.

Yun Shuchen raised an eyebrow slightly. She didn't speak, but thoughtfully swept her gaze over those who spoke with such fervor, memorizing the leading faces.

She could clearly see the true relationships between these sects and Taichu Sect.

The sects from the northern regions were merely trying to smooth things over.

But the four great families, and the other smaller sects, were all forces of the Liuyun Sect, and they suddenly started yapping like dogs.

No matter what they said, Qing Zhouxue remained expressionless.

Yet at the words "expelled from the sect," her expression couldn't help but ripple.

At that moment, the elders of Taichu Sect remained silent, seemingly deliberating their options.

As for witnesses—Elder Liu lowered her eyes in thought. She could indeed testify that Yu Ying had tampered with the pastries.

But that clever girl hadn't used poison at all. Digging deeper would only implicate Yun Shuchen's background.

That would be a loss outweighing any gain, worsening the situation.

Just then, Qing Zhouxue's gaze turned toward her, and she bit her lower lip, giving Elder Liu a slight shake of her head.

"Yu Ying was indeed of corrupt heart."

Yun Shuchen suddenly spoke. "I've long intended to execute her. Today her schemes were exposed; my senior disciple acted first, which is understandable. She should not be punished."

She gestured, ordering Yu Ying's corpse to be brought up. In no time, a thick, cloying stench of blood filled the entire hall.

"First: her bone age doesn't match. She must have taken medicine previously to delay her growth."

"Second..."

She sent a wisp of spiritual energy into the Dantian that Qing Zhouxue had pierced through, pulling out five faint points of light.

These were Spirit Roots.

"Of her five Spirit Roots, I'd wager three are not her own."

The moment these words were spoken, the entire hall was stunned.

This was clearly a long-lost secret art—so cruel it had been condemned publicly, and after the fall of the Xu family back then, no one had ever mastered it again.

"If you don't believe me, come and see for yourself. Excavated Spirit Roots look different from innate ones. It's a pity we didn't notice when she entered the sect."

Yun Shuchen withdrew her hand, but her gaze didn't rest on Yu Ying. Instead, she swept it across the faces of the visiting elders.

They fell silent for a while.

But Yu Ying was an inner disciple, and her execution was a matter for the entire Taichu Sect.

Qing Zhouxue's act of killing first and reporting later was against the rules. And to make matters worse, it had happened above the training grounds, causing panic.

If everyone acted like this, wouldn't the whole sect be in chaos?

Qing Zhouxue didn't fear punishment, nor did she harbor any regret.

But when she heard Yun Shuchen present those two pieces of clear evidence, she was startled at first, then felt a dazed emptiness inside.

So Master had known that junior sister had a problem all along. She knew far more than Qing Zhouxue did.

Then why... why hadn't she revealed even a hint to her?

Qing Zhouxue lifted her lashes and looked at Yun Shuchen. Their gazes met for a fleeting moment.

Then Yun Shuchen looked away.

*

The trees cast deep shadows, and birds chirped softly.

"Whoever comes here to reflect must not bring a sword. Nor any magical instruments."

Upon hearing this, Qing Zhouxue removed the Qingshuang Sword, handing over her rings and jade bracelet as well.

Because Yu Ying was indeed guilty, and Qing Zhouxue had both merits and faults, the Sect Leader ultimately sentenced her to three years of solitary reflection. Still, some voiced dissatisfaction, insisting it was too lenient.

She knew nothing of what came after.

Taichu Sect was likely launching a full-scale investigation into the Spirit Root matter. Her master's words had completely shifted the focus of the other sects. At the same time, if what Xu Ying said was true, it could very well invite disaster.

According to Senior Sister Lin, within Chunqiu Hall of Taichu Sect—regarding the upcoming Immortal Ascension Assembly—some disagreements arose, and the meeting broke up on bad terms. Yun Shuchen had kept a cold face throughout, taking veiled jabs at the Chen family. Though she didn't use a single coarse word, every sentence cut like a blade, striking right at their sore spots until the other party was so furious they couldn't speak, their faces turning blue-black.

Qing Zhouxue had missed that spectacle; she had already been dismissed by then.

But her master had been cultivating her temperament for years, and Qing Zhouxue could still remember the few times she'd truly been angered.

However, she truly had no idea what Yun Shuchen looked like when she scolded someone.

Senior Sister Lin's description: quite elegant.

The one who brought her here was none other than Lin Xunzhen.

This place was different from the scripture-copying confinement on the Main Peak's back mountain. It was said to be a completely isolated, secluded space carved out by the previous Sect Leader. Inner disciples were rarely sent here unless they'd committed a major offense.

Lin Xunzhen tucked away everything Qing Zhouxue had handed over, gave her a thorough once-over, and let out an almost imperceptible sigh.

"Three years here—maybe it's for the best."

"Rumors within Taichu Sect have spread through both inner and outer circles. After some time, they'll probably die down. If you were out there listening now, it'd hurt your heart. I think the Sect Leader didn't punish you otherwise precisely to help you ride this out. Perhaps he won't really keep you here for three full years."

Qing Zhouxue nodded. She took out the bell she'd been keeping all along and placed it in Lin Xunzhen's palm.

"I took this from Yu Ying. I'm not sure if it can truly harm people. Don't speak of it—just give it directly to my master."

Lin Xunzhen nodded, her gaze on Qing Zhouxue carrying a hint of pity.

"Junior sister, is there anything else you'd like to say to Master Yun? I can pass it along."

Qing Zhouxue had been about to turn away, but at these words she paused mid-step.

After a moment's silence, she gave a slight shake of her head.

Qing Zhouxue walked alone toward the entrance of the confinement chamber. Her robes vanished into the shadows, like scattered white light on snow being pressed down by dark clouds, until they disappeared entirely.

The moment she stepped fully inside, the stone door closed shut. From the outside, no sound could be heard.

Inside was very dark. A small lamp was left burning in a corner, its flame as straight as a needle, barely flickering.

It seemed a formation was set here—once she entered, all spiritual energy within her was sealed, making her as ordinary as a mortal.

After all, it was a place of punishment; it couldn't let anyone cultivate comfortably. Otherwise, it would be no different from secluded meditation.

Qing Zhouxue found a small cushion on the ground and sat down cross-legged, silently contemplating. The lamplight only illuminated half her face.

So much had happened today. The horrified cries, the clamoring objections, the expressions on their faces—Qing Zhouxue didn't remember them clearly, nor did she much care.

Now, with nothing to do, she'd meant to meditate in peace, but Xu Ying's scolding still echoed in her ears. When combined with all the doubts from before, she found herself following those words despite herself.

The moment her thoughts grew chaotic, she hastily stopped.

Thinking herself in circles here was useless; she didn't fully trust what others said. Better to calm her mind and ask her master once she got out.

Having made this decision, she set aside the matter weighing on her heart for the time being.

Qing Zhouxue was naturally a composed person, and it didn't take long for her to sort herself out. She began to find things to occupy herself.

She couldn't cultivate here, but she had an excellent memory. There were some techniques she could still recall, and among them were points she'd never understood—just the thing to ponder over.

The confinement chambers were surrounded by stone walls that let in no light.

Thus, day and night blurred together. Only the still, small lamp remained, as if time itself had congealed here and stopped flowing.

Qing Zhouxue didn't know how long she'd been there.

Her thoughts truly settled.

In time, she even forgot the passage of time.

She sat cross-legged in meditation, her ears so quiet she suspected she'd gone deaf—but the sound of her own breathing dispelled that notion.

"Rumble—"

At that moment, the only sound became jarringly loud. The entire stone chamber seemed to shake, as if a dull thunderclap had struck the ground.

Was it about to collapse?

This place was completely sealed off from the outside world and warded by formations. Without someone coming to release her, she had no way to send a message or force her way out.

Besides, the room was square and barren—nowhere to hide.

Knowing resistance was futile, she calmly remained seated.

The trembling lasted a long while, and in the end, nothing crumbled or caved in. Just as she was about to hold her breath and resume meditation, an ancient voice came from the wall before her:

"You've been sitting in meditation for four days without moving a muscle. Young people should stretch their limbs now and then."

Suddenly, a bulge formed on the stone wall. The rock flowed like water, gathering together until it transformed into—

A massive stone tortoise.

"What senior is this?" Qing Zhouxue masked her surprise and spoke in a low tone.

A long silence passed before the stone tortoise let out a rather sentimental sigh. "You're not like the girl who came before."

It cleared its throat, then said solemnly: "I am Xuan Wu, the guardian divine beast of this mountain."

One of the Four Divine Beasts—who hadn't heard its mighty name?

But Xuan Wu was puzzled to see this girl before him merely hum in acknowledgment, utterly unruffled, then close her eyes to meditate again.

How could she show no surprise at all? Did young people these days take seeing a divine beast pop out of a rock for granted?

The Xuan Wu, bored stiff after a hundred silent years, was thrilled to find a living being to converse with. It coughed again and asked kindly, "Young one, are you here for reflection?"

Clearly small talk.

"Yes."

And then nothing more.

Xuan Wu grew intensely curious about this indifferent girl and pressed on. "Which peak are you under?"

"Heyi Peak."

Xuan Wu thought long and hard, but couldn't recall who currently presided over Heyi Peak.

"Are you a disciple of Lin Qingya?"

Qing Zhouxue shook her head. "No. He's my grand-master."

"Oh, oh." Xuan Wu narrowed its stony eyes, sensing a vaguely familiar aura from this girl, and suddenly thought of someone. It blurted out, "You wouldn't happen to be Yun Shuchen's disciple, would you?!"

Seeing Qing Zhouxue nod, Xuan Wu was shocked: "I wake up from a nap, and that little girl is already an elder, taking on disciples?!"

"Senior speaks as if you're acquainted with my master."

Xuan Wu's voice suddenly became thunderously excited, rattling Qing Zhouxue's eardrums: "Acquainted? Even if she burned to ashes, I'd still recognize her!"

"..."

This senior seemed to have some grudge against her master.

Qing Zhouxue thought it over, then remembered something, and asked, "She... she was also sent here back then?"

Xuan Wu's breath grew heavy, as if it were barely calming down. Slowly, it said: "That's right. That girl was headstrong back then, committed a grave offense. Lin Qingya flew into a rage and sentenced her to this place."

Xuan Wu narrowed its slit-like stone eyes at Qing Zhouxue, then sighed. "Who'd have thought. Master and disciple, cut from the same cloth. Little girl, what offense have you committed?"

"I killed someone," Qing Zhouxue said. "She had schemes, intending to ruin Taichu Sect and my master's reputation."

"One after another, all so full of killing intent." Xuan Wu yawned lazily. "Young. Truly young. But when I was young and hot-blooded, I once swallowed the entire great marsh of Taichu Sect in a single gulp."

It sized up the girl before it: "You're more subdued than her." Xuan Wu's voice suddenly dropped, as if whispering secrets: "That infuriating girl, when she was stuck here with nothing to do, took a carving knife and scratched a whole bunch of wrinkles into my face. Take a look."

Qing Zhouxue brought the lamp close, illuminating the stone wall. Indeed, there were many marks, but they weren't random scratches.

Her gaze was softened by the lamplight.

"No, these aren't ordinary marks." Qing Zhouxue held her breath, her fingers tracing the traces her master had left in her youth, and said with certainty:

"These are words."