The journey back to the sect felt suffocating.
None of the disciples dared to speak, but their eyes flickered with curiosity and doubt.
Mo Yan, however, keenly noticed Xie Zhaolin was in a good mood. He secretly let out a sigh of relief. For the past month he'd been on edge, afraid something might've happened to her in the secret realm. Now that she'd returned safely, he could finally set his worries aside.
Elder Wei's face stayed dark the whole way. From time to time, he swept a sharp gaze over Xie Zhaolin as if trying to see through her. She acted as if she hadn't noticed, occasionally whispering a few words with Liu Feng and Lin Ziye about their experiences in the secret realm, all the while carefully avoiding anything sensitive.
Three days later, they finally returned to Qingxi Sect.
The moment they stepped through the mountain gate, a group of stewards was already waiting for them.
"The Sect Master has ordered you all to head to the main hall immediately," one of the stewards said. His tone was stern, leaving no room for refusal.
Everyone felt their hearts sink. They all knew this was accountability. After all, this trip to the secret realm had cost the lives of fourteen disciples, including Elder Wei's niece, Wei Qingwu. The Sect Master would definitely want to hear the details personally.
Inside the hall, the atmosphere was heavy. The Sect Master sat at the head, calm as still water, though there was a subtle gleam in his eyes. His gaze swept across the group, finally resting on Xie Zhaolin. There was the faintest trace of interest in his expression.
These days, it was rare for anything to reach his ears. Yet within a single year, two incidents had, both involving this little girl named Xie Zhaolin.
"Speak. What exactly happened inside the secret realm?" His voice was calm, but carried unquestionable authority.
Things didn't play out the way Xie Zhaolin had expected. She'd thought Elder Wei would make things difficult for her right here in the hall, but to her surprise, he stayed uncharacteristically quiet, only listening as Liu Feng and the others described what had happened.
This was way too unusual.
She'd already arranged for Liu Feng and Lin Ziye to "accidentally" let slip a few details these past three days—like how Wei Qingwu had gotten close to disciples of the Hehuan Sect, and how she hadn't stayed with the group at all.
Not to mention, she'd also had Mo Yan secretly make a move against Elder Wei, using a special powder that was supposed to make him lose control of his emotions. By all rights, he should've been furious by now.
Yet he was calm.
Xie Zhaolin lowered her eyes, her mind racing. With his cultivation, there was no way he'd notice Mo Yan's interference. Which meant… either he didn't care as much about Wei Qingwu as she thought, or his patience ran deeper than anyone imagined.
"…Senior Sister Wei said she wanted to move together with Young Sect Master Yu, so she left us," Liu Feng said carefully, sneaking a glance at Elder Wei.
The hall went silent.
Everyone was waiting for him to erupt. But Elder Wei only nodded slightly. His tone was so calm it sent chills down spines: "So that's how it was. Qingwu… was far too willful."
He turned to the Sect Master and bowed. "Sect Master, this was Qingwu's own fault. No one else can be blamed."
Even the Sect Master raised his brows, clearly surprised by that response.
The heavy atmosphere lingered.
As for Xie Zhaolin separating from the group, she'd already given a reasonable explanation: she'd run into danger right at the start of the trial, had been saved by Zhou Zhilán of the Hehuan Sect, and since she couldn't contact her fellow disciples, she had no choice but to temporarily join their squad.
The explanation was solid. The Sect Master and several elders nodded slightly, showing understanding. But most of the elders still looked grim. It didn't matter if it was an accident—losing fourteen talented disciples in one blow was something they couldn't just swallow.
The Sect Master sighed, waving his hand. "Enough. We'll end it here for now. Go rest and heal."
Everyone felt like they'd just been pardoned, quickly bowing before withdrawing.
Xie Zhaolin followed the crowd out of the hall, though she could clearly feel that lingering, piercing gaze behind her—Elder Wei hadn't taken his eyes off her.
She knew this wasn't over. But his abnormal reaction only piqued her curiosity. She hadn't expected him to so easily dissolve the trap she'd laid. Since he hadn't lost control in the main hall…
A faint, amused smile tugged at her lips. Things on Alchemy Peak would get interesting soon.
That powder could affect even a Nascent Soul cultivator. She didn't believe Elder Wei was really as calm as he appeared. She remembered well that after the demonic cultivator murder incident, Elder Qiu, the second in command of Alchemy Peak, had started butting heads with Elder Wei. Now, this powder would serve as the perfect spark.
Once they returned to their residence, and Mo Yan finished setting up a barrier, Xie Zhaolin finally spoke.
"Keep an eye on Alchemy Peak, especially on Elders Qiu and Wei…"
Mo Yan nodded. "Got it."
"What about the Hehuan Sect's situation?" she asked.
Mo Yan's tone grew heavy. "Master, Yu Xiaotang's already been cleared of suspicion."
Her brows furrowed. That was faster than she'd expected.
"What did she do?"
"Not sure on the exact details," Mo Yan admitted. "But from what I've heard, during the inquiry in their hall, she suddenly produced a few key pieces of evidence. They proved the demonic clan really was behind the mess."
"What kind of evidence?"
"Supposedly, fragments of artifacts marked with demonic clan seals, and even a few memory stones that showed black-robed figures moving in the shadows," he said after a pause. "The strangest part is, the evidence appeared too perfectly timed, like it had been prepared long in advance."
Xie Zhaolin's eyes narrowed, a sharp gleam flashing within them. Her instincts screamed that Xi Tong was behind this again.
"Yu Xiaotang's current condition?" she asked after a moment.
Mo Yan hesitated. "It's odd. Even though she's cleared her name, she looks extremely weak. After presenting that evidence, she went into seclusion right away."
Xie Zhaolin didn't reply. She just lifted her hand slightly, signaling for him to leave.
When Mo Yan vanished from the room, she sat alone by the window, her fingers lightly tapping the table, eyes gleaming with thought. If her guess was right, then Yu Xiaotang's sudden retreat was the price of dealing with Xi Tong. If there really was evidence to prove her innocence, Yu Xiaotang wouldn't have been hunted down in the secret realm.
In the cultivation world, nothing came without a price. For that mysterious Xi Tong to help her escape such a desperate situation, the price demanded must've been crushing.
She just wondered… how heavy was that price?