Reflecting on one's mistakes behind closed doors

Han Jiang looked at Cang Jingqi in confusion: You still don't agree to go on?

"The affairs of my Four Continents Sect shouldn't be the concern of the Demon Clan's Crown Prince," Lei Mo said.

Cang Jingqi coughed lightly and said, "I don't mean to interfere with the management of the disciples of the Four Continents Sect, but after all, Miss Han is a disciple of Hanshan, isn't she?"

As he spoke, he nudged Han Tian with his folding fan.

Han Tian realized what was happening and continued Cang Jingqi's words, "Sect Master, my disciple has made a mistake. How can he follow you to cultivate? It's better to leave it to Han Shan to handle."

These words immediately ignited Lei Mo: "Who doesn't know that Elder Han Tian has always spoiled his disciple, even allowing her to skip the pre-election demonstration? If Elder Han Tian tries to downplay this, it might be difficult to convince the public. The barrier of the forbidden book area is damaged, and it must be reported to the Vermilion Bird Pavilion. If the Vermilion Bird Pavilion blames her, Han Jiang will not only be expelled from the Four Continents Sect! I let her cultivate with me for her own good."

The abacus beads were about to fall onto Han Jiang's face! She wanted to defend herself, but she couldn't open her mouth.

Han Jiang looked to Han Tian for help, but Han Tian's gaze was locked with Lei Mo's.

It's obvious this spell belongs to Cang Jingqi! Using the same spell on her repeatedly is utterly despicable!

But then I thought, if they're not letting her speak now, could it be that they have some other plan?

Remer is definitely not a good person; there must be something going on behind the scenes. Wen Xu is right; any side story could potentially connect to the main plot. Could Remer be the catalyst for the next plot development?

Even if Cang Jingqi doesn't care about Han Jiang's life or death, Han Tian will definitely care, right? Han Tian probably hasn't figured out that she's not the original owner yet, otherwise he would have killed her long ago.

Han Jiang calmed down, stopped struggling, and waited to see what would happen and for the results of their discussion.

I don't know why Reimo wants Hanjiang to cultivate with him, but it's definitely not a good thing.

"Since Elder Lei Mo has said so, why not ask the people from the Vermilion Bird Pavilion to investigate?" Cang Jingqi was always eager to stir up trouble, even though it had nothing to do with the Demon Palace.

It was Chicheng who was anxious: "It's best not to make this matter public. Sect Master, we have already repaired the barrier, so there's no need to report it to the Vermilion Bird Pavilion. As for Hanjiang, it would be better for the elders to discuss and decide, and finally hand it over to Elder Hantian to handle."

Chicheng neither wanted to lose a disciple nor offend Reimo.

Reimo was just talking. The destruction of the barrier in the forbidden book area went unnoticed by anyone in the entire Four Continents Sect. How could the Vermilion Bird Pavilion know about such a huge scandal?

Wen Wan shielded Wen Xu behind her and said, "My disciples from Wenshan were involved in this matter to some extent. I hope the sect leader will not pursue the matter too much."

Wen Wan usually didn't concern herself with the affairs of the Four Continents Sect; she mostly managed the daily lives of her disciples. Han Jiang thought she was a "gentle and graceful" woman, just as her name suggested, but she spoke with a strong and unwavering voice, leaving no room for argument.

Remer probably realized that he had been too hasty and given himself away, so he softened his tone and asked, "Then, according to the elders, how should this be handled?"

"Reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors. What does the sect leader think?" Chicheng asked.

Remer frowned, not entirely satisfied with the punishment.

Han Tian answered before Lei Mo could, "I think it's fine. What does the Elder think?"

He didn't address Reimo as "Sect Master," but instead called him "Grand Elder" according to seniority. Han Tian's attitude towards Reimo had clearly changed; at first, he would at least use respectful terms, but now he didn't even bother to pretend anymore.

In terms of strength, Lei Mo is not superior to Han Tian.

In other words, Han Tian is not competitive. If Han Tian really wanted to be the sect leader, Lei Mo would definitely not be able to hold the position.

Having lost ground to Han Tian, ​​Lei Mo was furious but could only say, "Then you shall reflect on your mistakes behind closed doors—for a whole year!"

He gritted his teeth and added the "whole year" mark to the countdown. With that, he flicked his sleeves and returned to Leishan to continue his seclusion.

After everyone had dispersed, Cang Jingqi released the spell of the Cold Curse.

Han Jiang exclaimed, "A whole year in seclusion! What an unexpected disaster!"

Han Tian's words of comfort were interrupted by Cang Jingqi: "Don't worry, Han Xiaoman, he can't lock you up for a whole year."

"Who told you to call her Xiaoman?" Han Tian retorted.

“We’re good brothers, your apprentice is my apprentice!” Cang Jingqi put his hand on Han Tian’s shoulder.

Han Tian dismissively shook him off: "Who's your apprentice?"

“That’s right! Who’s your disciple!” Han Jiang echoed Han Tian.

"So you two, master and apprentice, have teamed up, huh? Then I'm not helping you!"

"Stop!" Han Tian called out to Cang Jingqi, then closed the door to Han Jiang's study. The three of them sat down in the room. "Tell me what you saw that night?"

“I followed you to check the disciples of Leishan, but there was no shadowy figure from that night.”

Han Jiang: "So you're an outsider?"

“Reimer said that there could be no outsiders in Leishan because there are disciples on night watch every night. This is the rule of Leishan.” Han Tian didn’t even call him “Grand Elder” in private, but directly called him by name.

"But there really was no one on watch the night we chased them."

"Actually, there are some, but they're asleep." Cang Jingqi tossed a few sachets onto the table.

The sachet is embroidered with the character "雷" (Lei), and it is an item worn by disciples of Leishan. Because it has been worn for too long, it has lost its fragrance.

"Open it and take a look," Cang Jing said. "I stole it from the disciples on night watch."

Hanjiang opened the sachet as instructed and immediately saw something familiar: sleep grass.

"Just a little bit, enough to dissipate the scent overnight. The amount is just right; it will put the disciples on night watch to sleep, and there won't be any lingering smell the next morning." Han Jiang poured out all the flowers and herbs from the sachet, carefully sorting and counting them.

“How could the disciples on night watch admit to falling asleep? Leishan has strict rules; falling asleep on night watch will result in punishment,” Cang Jing retorted.

"Hey! Wait a minute! Where are those pages from the forbidden books on my desk? Did Elder Shuqing take them?" Han Jiang suddenly asked.

Han Tian took out a few pages of paper: "They're with me. Or rather, the original ones are with me."

"Original?"

Han Tian: "This is all thanks to Han Qi. When we were checking outside, she noticed someone had entered your villa and immediately told me. The thing that person left on your desk must be the thing he stole that night. So I changed the pages and put the contents of another banned book on your desk. But Remer needs those pages and will definitely retrieve them after he accuses you."

"So he took the pages you prepared, Master, and what's here is what he wanted!" Han Jiang exclaimed in surprise. "Then where did you get those pages from the forbidden book, Master? We've been checking them for the past two days, and you actually managed to steal them in front of so many elders?"

"Who said I took it in the last two days?" Han Tian and Cang Jingqi looked at each other and smiled. "Couldn't I have taken it nine years ago?"

Nine years ago, Han Tian stole those few pages about the Spirit Gathering Altar, and he never returned them.

"Come on, let's see what that old man is up to!" Cang Jingqi opened the book.

The words "On the compatibility of demonic energy and spiritual energy" were prominently displayed.

Everyone couldn't help but think of everything that had happened before: the transformation from human to demon.

"Is Elder Remer connected with the demon rebels?"

Cang Jing said, "At least I didn't sense any demonic energy from him just now."

Han Tian suddenly stood up: "Aqi, you stay here and watch over Xiaoman. I'm going to check the part of the forbidden books that Lei Mo checked again!"

He left quickly before he finished speaking.

Han Jiang asked, puzzled, "Why does Master suddenly want to go and check at this time?"

"Han Tian didn't want to doubt Lei Mo. He thought Lei Mo had at most reached a bottleneck in his cultivation and wanted to use the forbidden book to achieve a breakthrough in his spiritual power. He didn't expect it to be related to the human-demon transformation. So Lei Mo is an untrustworthy person, and everything he handles is untrustworthy."

Cang Jingqi carefully packed several pages of paper and, following Han Tian's instructions, stayed in Han Jiang's study.

He casually picked up a storybook and flipped through it. Han Tian's study was full of incredibly boring ancient books and rigid scriptures, but Han Jiang's place was much more interesting.

"Han Xiaoman, what other books do you have here?" Cang Jing asked.

Han Jiang didn't take it seriously: "We have everything, take whatever you like."

Cang Jingqi indeed stood up and rummaged through the bookshelf: "Are they all just love stories? I don't like reading them!"

"Who said that! There are also martial arts and other genres, okay!"

With a "thud," a scroll rolled down.

Han Jiang immediately realized: Something's not right!

She rushed forward to snatch it, but Cang Jingqi had already opened the scroll.

The portrait of the red gold was opened between the two of them, and the air became awkward for a moment.

After a long silence, Cang Jingqi said, "You... really like Crimson Gold?"

Han Jiang snatched back the scroll: "What's it to you?!"

Although Han Jiang didn't like Chi Jin, it was still incredibly embarrassing to have her privately kept portraits of men discovered! She touched her burning face, which was probably flushed red.

She should have destroyed the portrait the first time she saw it!

"Han Xiaoman, Chijin doesn't like you."

Cang Jingqi didn't laugh when he said this, and he himself didn't realize how cold his tone was. He wanted to tease Han Jiang, but the teasing words instantly took on a different meaning.

Neither of them laughed.

Han Jiang silently put away the scroll. This time, she stuffed it into the bottom of the bookcase and covered it with other miscellaneous books. Hopefully, it won't be found again now.

"Your Highness, I know you want some entertainment, so how about I provide you with some entertainment?"

Cang Jingqi didn't reply.

"His Highness the Second Prince will be going to the desert with Sister Wen," Han Jiang added a time limit to the plot to increase credibility, "before the New Year."

"so--"

"So Your Highness, you help me conceal my identity, and I'll provide you with entertainment from another world's perspective. We're both outsiders, so let's not entertain each other, shall we?" Han Jiang's words were rather distant.

Or perhaps the two people weren't that close to begin with.

The study light was blown out by the wind, and a silent darkness instantly spread.

Cang Jingqi immediately sensed something was wrong: "Han Xiaoman!"

He lunged toward the direction of Hanjiang, only to grasp at nothing.

Cang Jingqi opened his folding fan, recited an incantation, and used the wind to start a fire, making the study bright again, and the cold wind disappeared.

The only one in the world capable of taking someone away right under his nose is that demon.

During the Three Gates Treasure Hunt, in the alley of Yinzhou, the demon was able to quickly sever his connection with Han Jiang, and then take Han Jiang away after the barrier disappeared.

Cang Jingqi was unwilling to believe the demon's identity, yet she couldn't sever her connection with the demon in anything she did.

"Where's Han Xiaoman?" Han Tian rushed back in a flurry, only to find Cang Jingqi standing alone. He roared, "Where's my disciple?!"

"If nothing unexpected happens, it should be in Leishan."