"Bai Mao, you're too kind." The Sect Leader said, "Even those who have no connection with our Taichu Sect still have their own destiny."

"What exactly happened?" Shen Qingmang asked.

Elder Baimao, the junior fellow of True Man Wujiu, said, "Although this man possesses a single spiritual root of the water element, he has no cultivation whatsoever. Luckily, he was admitted to the outer sect, but he's ungrateful. He asks everyone he meets if they can accept him as a disciple. He's caused unrest in the entire Wuwei Sect. Later, we sent him to the Daowen Peak, thinking that once he met the highly accomplished elders, he would wake up and realize the vast difference between himself and the cultivators. Unexpectedly, he refused to repent and remained as he was. Expelling him from the sect is a measure of my magnanimity."

"Now that we've investigated, there's no need to elaborate," said Immortal Wu Jiu. "Perhaps Gu Fangping truly learned something and passed it on to his son. I hope you'll diligently cultivate in the future. If your father's unattained immortal fate can be continued through you, I'm sure he'll be very pleased."

"...Yes." Gu Suihan slowly stood up, staggered a bit, and walked to Shen Qingmang's side. "Let's go, Master, it's okay."

Shen Qingmang hugged him gently and patted his back. "Don't be afraid, Master is here."

She released his hand and took a step forward. "Has the Discipline Hall found out?"

"yes."

"Has my disciple been proven innocent?"

"Innocent for now."

"Ha." Shen Qingmang sneered and covered his lips again. "Sorry, I lost my composure for a moment. My uncle and uncle have finished their trials, so I should at least let Qiongju have a few words."

"What else do you have to say?" Elder Lisu said with a look of disdain. "You're always gossiping. Now that you've escaped unscathed, be content."

"Elder Lisu was right," Shen Qingmang said with a smile. "Today, my master and I have escaped punishment. We should be grateful and express our gratitude. After all, although the Discipline Hall had no evidence, relying solely on arbitrary assumptions to detain my disciple and expose his scars in public, in the end, we were able to allow him to escape unscathed and avoid expulsion from the sect. We are truly fortunate."

Everyone's expressions changed, and Master Wujiu's face tightened. "Qiongju, the Discipline Hall investigates all suspicious individuals, and it's not without evidence."

"Okay, Uncle-Master, let's take a step back. Sui Han hasn't used any techniques that aren't available to those in the Foundation Establishment stage; he just mastered them better than others. But you can consider him suspicious, and I accept that. But now that he's been cleared of suspicion, shouldn't you also apologize to him?"

Gu Suihan turned his head to look at Shen Qingmang, his lips slightly parted, as if he wanted to say something but stopped himself.

"How can this be absurd?" the secular elder said angrily, "How could an elder apologize to an inner disciple?"

Shen Qingmang ignored him and spoke to Master Wujiu, "Master Wujiu is a man of integrity and sensibility. If nothing is said about today's incident, the Taichu Sect could bring this disciple to the Discipline Hall for questioning simply because he's exceptional. In the future, even more exceptionally talented disciples will be afraid to reveal their talents for fear of suspicion. Would this be beneficial to the long-term development of our Taichu Sect?"

Immortal Wu Jiu locked eyes with her, then smiled and said, "Qiong Ju has made considerable progress since his retreat. It's time for my son to retreat for a few hundred years as well. Okay, if you want to apologize, I'll bow once, as long as your disciple can accept it."

"Elder Wujiu," Gu Suihan said, "Today's matter is Master seeking justice for me. If you are dissatisfied, you can do whatever you want to Suihan, but please don't take your anger out on Master."

"Sui Han," the headmaster said kindly, "You're overthinking it. All of you senior masters have sharp tongues but kind hearts. Your master has explained the principles clearly, so we should act accordingly. How can you vent your anger on others? Wu Jiu, please don't make a fool of yourself in front of the younger generation."

Master Yiqing blushed and said, "If Master Wujiu can't bend down, I can apologize on his behalf. To be honest, I also feel that Sui Han has been wronged. If my Ah Rong was questioned for this, I'm afraid I would be even more distressed than Junior Sister Qingmang. Sui Han, Master apologizes to you."

As he said this, he bowed neatly.

Shen Qingmang felt a tinge of guilt. Yiqing had nothing to do with what happened today; he was merely a juror from the Wanshi Hall, completely unaware of the situation. He had always been cautious and self-protective, but today he stood up for her, presumably to protect Si Rong.

From the moment he handed his daughter over to her for teaching, the two were tied to the same boat. If he sat back and watched her eldest disciple being humiliated, then one day his own daughter might suffer the same misfortune.

She was being too demanding, but she had to seek justice for her apprentice. The young man should be proud of himself, not suffer in silence. If there were any problems, they, the elders, would handle them.

"The child is still young, and I'm grateful that he's been cleared of suspicion today. But I'm a protective person, and I'm afraid he'll suffer even the slightest injustice." Shen Qingmang said, "Elder Wujiu is unwilling to apologize, and Qiongju can't do anything about it. But Sui Han..."

"Master."

She stared into his eyes and said word by word, "Remember, you're not wrong today. There's nothing wrong with being excellent, and there's nothing wrong with showing off. As the saying goes, 'A tree that stands out in the forest will be destroyed by the wind.' Even if the wind temporarily bends your back, there will always be a day of peace. Don't be afraid of growth because of hardships."

"Okay." Gu Suihan looked at her with a flickering gaze.

"Let's go." She took his hand. "Dear seniors, Qiongju will take her leave first."

After saying that, she disappeared with Gu Sui Han, and reappeared at Lingshuang Residence on Wuya Peak.

"Have a good rest and don't think too much." Shen Qingmang let go of his hand and gave him a soothing smile.

"Master, have you never doubted me?" Gu Sui Han asked her.

"Um?"

"I have mentioned my father to Master many times, saying that he taught me a lot. But today, Master has realized that he was nothing but a wishful thinker... Hmm."

Shen Qingmang pointed a finger at his lips. "You know him best. Don't feel ashamed because of what others say. Besides, even if your father does have a hidden illness, that's his business. You don't need to bear any responsibility. Just live your life well."

"Master, have you ever thought that if my father couldn't teach me, then who taught me and allowed me to learn so much?"

Shen Qingmang felt his heartbeat quicken for some unknown reason. He blinked and said, "Don't you have the Heart of Heaven and Earth? Wouldn't it be easy for you to master these things? If I weren't afraid of bringing disaster upon you, explaining this to you would be enough to shut them up."

"Besides that, Master..."

Shen Qingmang interrupted him and turned to walk out. "You've been frightened today, so get some rest. If you have any questions, you can talk about them later."

"Master." Gu Suihan reached out and grasped her wrist, his palm surprisingly warm. "I want to say this right now."

Shen Qingmang had no choice but to stop, feeling a little resistance in her heart, and even she couldn't explain where this resistance came from.

"It's you, Master. It's always you."