After returning to her room, Chen Xuanling was restless, wondering if the information from Master Ouyang Feng and the others was true or false.

But since he hadn't been exposed, they had no reason to deceive a complete stranger like him. If it were true, then his uncle, the cult leader…

Chen Xuanling was very unwilling to believe this fact, but considering what happened back then, her uncle, the sect leader, only said that the Central Plains martial arts world was behind it, but over the years, he had never made it clear which sect it was.

The Central Plains martial arts world seems to have many forces, but back then, there were very few who dared to take action against the Holy Sect and had the power to kill my father. Now, upon closer reflection, there is indeed something strange about it, especially since almost all the masters of the Central Plains martial arts world have gathered in Linghe City. If they say there are no such forces, they should not be lying.

After all, if they really did it, why not show it off and use it to gain more fame and power for themselves?

Chen Xuanling felt increasingly uneasy and panicked. If it really was her uncle, the cult leader, who did it, what should she do?

Should I kill my uncle, the cult leader, to avenge my father? But where would I go after that? And all these years, my uncle's affection for me didn't seem fake; the power he delegated to me was indeed meant to groom me as his successor. But if I don't take revenge, how can I be worthy of being my father's daughter?

Chen Xuanling suffered from insomnia, which was rare for her, so she slowly walked out of the courtyard. She found that the disciples of Linghe Valley were not very wary of her.

Is he really that confident in himself? Or is it because he trusts Ouyang Feng?

If he were to steal the strategies for Linghe Valley and Linghe City in the future and expose them, would Ouyang Feng be criticized and become the target of public scorn?

Thinking of that honest, loyal, and dashing man, Chen Xuanling admitted her reluctance. She clutched her heart, as if she had already fallen in love with someone she shouldn't have.

So he gave a bitter smile. They were destined to be two people facing away from each other. Why did fate have to torment them like this?

"Xuanling? Why aren't you asleep yet?" Ouyang Feng had just discussed some matters concerning the upcoming campaign against Weicheng with Yin Shihuai when he came out and saw Chen Xuanling there. He was slightly surprised, then looked at her with concern, "Are you not used to life in Linghe Valley?"

“No.” Chen Xuanling paused for a moment and said, “Ouyang Feng, if I return to my father’s side and help the imperial court deal with you and your Linghe City, what will you do?”

"If we meet on the battlefield in the future, I will not hold back."

Chen Xuanling couldn't help but ask, "Would you detain my mother right now?"

Ouyang Feng shook his head decisively: "No."

"Why?"

“Because you are now my friend.” Ouyang Feng hesitated for a moment before saying, “Xuanling, you have seen the strength of our Linghe City these past two days. You can persuade your father to join our Linghe City and together we can overthrow the imperial court’s rule and the cult’s infiltration to restore peace to the world.”

Chen Xuanling said cryptically, "Sometimes, we can't just back down whenever we want; the relationships involved are very complicated."

“I know, so I want to urge you to think this over carefully. I don’t want us to become enemies.”

Both of them were telling lies, but their lies contained the truth, so they were both in a lot of pain.

Chen Xuanling's expression wasn't good: "It's getting late, I'll go back and rest first. You should rest early too, you'll be leading the charge as the vanguard in a couple of days, you'll be working hard!"

"This is an opportunity for Shi Huai and me to show our abilities, given by my master's wife. Fortunately, it won't be too tiring. Xuan Ling, if anything happens, you can come to me anytime."

"Okay, I certainly won't be polite."

The next morning, while Linghe Valley and Linghe City were busy, Chen Xuanling took the opportunity to meet her mother-in-law, who had come to Linghe City in disguise. Her mother-in-law had taken care of her since she was a child and treated her like her own granddaughter.

"Mother-in-law, why did you come here in person? Aren't you afraid of the danger?"

"Miss, you personally infiltrated Spirit Crane Valley. This old servant was filled with apprehension! Did the people of Spirit Crane Valley discover your identity?"

"If they had any doubts, how could I be so free?" Chen Xuanling gave a bitter smile. "Mother-in-law, how much do you know about my father's death back then?"

"Miss, why are you asking this? Did someone say something to you?"

"It's nothing. I just want to find out who killed my father back then, since most people in the martial arts world are in Linghe City right now. I want to avenge my father myself."

The old woman thought for a moment and said, "Back then, I wasn't in the Holy Sect, but the sect leader's servant said that the man used martial arts from the Central Plains. Later, the sword marks left on the pillar also proved that it was the martial arts from the Central Plains who were responsible."

"But my father was also quite skilled in martial arts back then, so how could he possibly have this ability?"

"This old servant does not know. If you have any questions, Miss, you can go back and ask the sect leader."

"My uncle, the cult leader, also said he didn't know who it was, only that he would investigate slowly. But I'm really anxious. Grandma, where is my father's servant from back then?"

"That man was also seriously injured that day and died shortly afterward."

The more this happened, the more suspicious Chen Xuanling became. Could it be that her father's death was really caused by her uncle, the cult leader?

She knew that her uncle, the sect leader, was highly skilled in martial arts, perhaps even more so than Ouyang Feng's master's wife. Therefore, it would be extremely easy for him to imitate other people's martial arts if he wanted to.

Chen Xuanling slowly tightened her palms. Although she was quite talented, she was far inferior to her uncle, the cult leader. So what if she went to question her uncle and he confessed?

Deep down, she didn't want to believe it, because over the years, her uncle, the cult leader, had really loved her. And if her uncle died, what would become of the many disciples of the Holy Cult?

She knew that the martial arts world of the Central Plains hated their Holy Sect to the bone, and that without their leader uncle, the disciples of the Holy Sect would become lambs to the slaughter.

"Grandma, is Uncle the Sect Leader still in the capital?"

"It should be so. The leader said he hopes you will return as soon as possible, and does not want you to continue to take risks in Linghe City."

"I understand." Chen Xuanling hesitated for a moment. "Grandma, do you think it's possible to persuade Uncle the Sect Leader to withdraw from beyond the Great Wall?"

The mother-in-law was shocked: "Miss, why do you have such thoughts?"

"I just feel that Linghe City is so powerful, and I don't want my disciples to be injured or killed for no reason. I don't think we are a match for Master Ouyang Feng."

"The sect leader hasn't even faced him yet, how do you know it won't work, Miss? The sect leader's martial arts are unparalleled, we should trust him."

"But defeating Song Xia is not enough to repel their forces."

"However, Song Xia is their backbone. Once they are leaderless, we can take advantage of the situation to attack. Miss, we have come all the way from beyond the Great Wall to the Central Plains. We must not go back so easily."

Chen Xuanling sighed softly, "I understand."

"Miss, since you refuse to leave Linghe City, the sect leader might need you to deal with Song Xia!"

Chen Xuanling was startled again. If that happened, she and Ouyang Feng would truly be locked in a life-or-death struggle.