Chapter 54: Using a New Identity to Tell Them the Truth

"What! Why didn't you say so sooner that Senior Brother Wen Yao was here?"

Jiang Mengyao ignored Ye Li and hurriedly sat in front of the bronze mirror, anxiously sticking two hairpins into her hair and then putting on a thin veil before she was done.

She swayed her hips as she entered the courtyard, saying sweetly, "Senior Brother Wen, you've come."

Wen Yao subtly avoided her outstretched hand, saying, "I've come to check on Junior Sister Jiang Li's injuries."

"She woke up a long time ago, she was just pretending to be sick. Senior Brother Wen, don't pay any attention to her, let's have tea outside."

Wen Yao's spirits lifted. "Junior Sister Jiang Li is awake? That's great! I have something important to ask you."

"Hey, Senior Brother Wen!"

Wen Yao strode into the house, his gaze shifting to meet a pair of clear, familiar eyes.

He was taken aback. "Ah Li?"

"..."

Ye Li knew she would meet with the Lotus Sect again, but she didn't expect it to happen so soon.

She is no longer suitable to use the identity of Ye Li.

Firstly, she still had some things to investigate and couldn't let people know she was still alive.

Secondly, soul cultivation sounds too far-fetched, so it's best not to let anyone know about it.

Why not use Jiang Li's identity? Perhaps we'll have a different experience.

So Ye Li looked away and said in a light tone, "Are you calling me?"

Wen Yao snapped out of his daze.

No, that's not right. She's not Ah Li; she just looks somewhat similar.

Upon closer inspection, Jiang Lisheng possesses the features of a beautiful woman from Jiangnan, with a charming and alluring face, a stark contrast to Ye Li's aloof and detached demeanor.

Why did he admit his mistake?

Wen Yao suppressed his doubts and nodded slightly, "I mistook you for someone else and offended you."

He paused for a moment and then said, "I came today to ask Junior Sister Jiang Li what happened after you entered the Misty Camphor Forest? Did you see A-Li?"

Ye Li sensed something from his anxious expression and asked in return, "You haven't found... Ye Li's body?"

Wen Yao shook his head.

After returning from the Mist Camphor Forest that day, he went to the main peak to report the situation of the Mist Camphor Forest to the Grand Elder. For the past few days, he had been searching for Ye Li in the ruins without sleep or rest.

Unfortunately, they found nothing but the corpses of the disciples and the only survivor, Jiang Li.

He held a sliver of hope: if he couldn't find Ah Li, did that mean she wasn't dead?

He hoped to learn Ye Li's whereabouts from Jiang Li, but clearly, she was unaware of it.

Wen Yao refused to give up and pressed on, "Do you remember how you were captured and brought to the cave? Did you see A-Li in that cave?"

"I don't remember."

Wen Yao was somewhat disappointed and was about to take his leave.

Ye Li said calmly, "But I have met Ye Li before."

Wen Yao's tone suddenly became urgent, "What did you see on her? How is she? Has she been tortured?"

He had been traveling for several days without sleep, his eyes were bloodshot, and his anxious and worried appearance seemed genuine.

But if they truly cared so much about her life, why did they ignore her pleas for help? Don't they find their current behavior laughable?

"Junior Sister Jiang Li?"

Ye Li composed herself and said coldly, "Her limbs were broken, her inner core was removed, and she died. The masked man used the disciples he captured to create a blood array to control her."

Hearing that everything was as he had guessed, Wen Yao felt a sharp pain in his heart.

As expected, Ah Li's attack on him was not her intention.

Suppressing his grief, he stood up. "Thank you, Junior Sister Jiang Li. Take good care of yourself. If you need anything, you can come to Lotus Sect to find me."

Ye Li stared at his stumbling back and forced a smile.

Don't worry, she will definitely go to Lotus Gate to find them.

-

Wen Yao was distraught and had no interest in responding to Jiang Mengyao's attempts to be attentive.

However, on his way back to Lotus Gate, he heard many rumors about Ye Li.

At first, he thought it was just baseless speculation, but when he heard everyone talking about it in a very detailed and convincing way, he grabbed one of them and questioned him.

"Who said Ah Li colluded with evil spirits? You slandered my Lotus Sect's inner disciple, what is your crime!"

The outer disciple was startled and said timidly, "Senior Brother Wen, please calm down. We only heard it from Junior Sister Ying'er."

Su Ying'er...

Enraged, Wen Yao abandoned the disciple and headed straight for the Lotus Sect.

Lotus Cave

Su Ying'er was wiping the hands of the unconscious Qingyu Zhenren.

Wen Yao, devoid of his usual gentleness, questioned sharply, "Junior Sister, why are you spreading rumors to slander A-Li!"

Startled, Su Ying'er stood up. "Third Senior Brother, what are you talking about?"

"You still want to argue! Tell me! What is your purpose in slandering Ah Li!"

Lu Ziting had just returned from retrieving the medicine when he heard Wen Yao "bullying" Su Ying'er. He quickly stepped forward to protect the trembling Su Ying'er and scolded, "Third brother, have you lost your mind? It's a fact that Ye Li colluded with evil spirits. Ying'er has been taking care of Master without taking off her clothes these past few days, how can she endure such humiliation from you!"

Hearing Lu Ziting's tone of deep hatred, Wen Yao couldn't believe it. "Back then, we ignored A-Li's pleas for help and let her suffer endless torment. Now, A-Li sacrificed herself to save us, and you actually... you actually..."

"Oh."

Lu Ziting sneered, "I think you can't distinguish between reality and illusion. Ye Li willingly degenerated and associated with evil. Even if she eventually repents, it can't cover up the fact that she fell into evil!"

Wen Yao's fingertips trembled with anger. "An illusion? If it's an illusion, then why are A-Li's bones broken, and why is there no inner core in her dantian!"

His eyes stung, tears welled in his eyes, and he said in a trembling voice, "That was our Ah Li. She died so tragically, she died with her eyes wide open in death..."

The sorrowful voice struck Lu Ziting's ears, and a look of bewilderment appeared on his face.

Isn't that an illusion created by evil spirits to disturb their minds?

How could Ye Li have really suffered those injuries?

He hesitated, "Are you telling the truth?"

"If you don't believe me, you can ask Junior Sister Jiang Li from the outer sect. She escaped from the Misty Camphor Forest and saw with her own eyes that the masked man used evil magic to control A Li."

Upon hearing that there were still survivors in the misty camphor forest, Su Ying'er immediately sensed that something terrible was about to happen.

Could she have seen something she shouldn't have? Will it expose her?

Lu Ziting didn't notice Su Ying'er's unusual behavior, assuming that Wen Yao was making a last-ditch effort, and immediately agreed, "Okay, I'll go with you!"

Just as I was about to leave Lotus Cave, there was a sound behind me.

"ah-"

Su Ying'er was swaying precariously.

Lu Ziting quickly stepped forward and caught her delicate body. "Ying'er! What's wrong!"

Su Ying'er shook her head firmly, "I'm fine, Senior Brother. You should go to the outer sect with Third Senior Brother. Please don't wrong Senior Sister."

As she spoke, she tried to stand up, but her legs gave way and she fell back down.

Lu Ziting hurriedly caught her and gently scolded, "Don't push yourself. The outer disciples are right there. It doesn't matter when you go. You're already weak. You must have been too tired these past few days."

"Come on, sit down first. Have some water."

While Lu Ziting was taking great care of Su Ying'er, Wen Yao kept a close eye on them.

Gradually, his eyes changed.

He suddenly realized something.

Su Ying'er kept stopping them from finding A Li.

From the moment Ah Li disappeared until now, she has been deliberately guiding them, making them drift further and further away from the truth.

Also, Ah Li was clearly already dead on the day Su Ying'er became her apprentice. Su Ying'er claimed to have seen Ah Li twice, but who was she looking at?

Did she really see Ah Li?

Bai Xiaosheng's words echoed in his ears: 'It wasn't my senior sister who injured me, but Su Ying'er!'

Could it be that Su Ying'er is related to A Li's death?