However, unlike these indignant disciples, the doubt on Gu Xuanchen's face did not dissipate.
Yun Wan'er held a special place in his heart, so his gaze almost never truly left her.
Since the monster attack last night, Yun Wan'er's performance has been exceptionally calm, and she has remained composed even in the face of danger on several occasions. He was secretly pleased, feeling that Wan'er's character had grown far beyond that of others after this battle, and she was indeed extraordinary.
But just now... her sharp rebuttal, her flustered eyes... and now this seemingly reasonable yet somewhat deliberate explanation...
"Does the Crimson Cloud Sect really need to collude with the Demon Clan and ruin its own reputation?!"
On the other side, Elder Fenyan was so angry that his beard almost stood on end after being bitten back by Yun Wan'er. "Your Tianyan Sect didn't even have a single person who made it to the finals of the newcomer competition. Why should my Chixiao Sect have to be afraid of you?! What a joke!"
This merciless ridicule instantly ignited the gossip-loving spirits of the surrounding cultivators, and the discussions immediately grew louder.
"Elder Fenyan really dares to speak his mind..."
"Elder, I like what you said. Remember to turn off your private messages, or you might get interrupted by the Heavenly Evolution Sect's communication talismans!"
"Bah! What do you know! Our Fairy Wan'er is just being true to herself. What, she's not allowed to talk back when she's being bullied? The Crimson Cloud Sect is just taking advantage of the Heavenly Evolution Sect's current weakness to kick them while they're down!"
"That's right! Elder Fenyan, a dignified elder, is targeting a junior like this, has he no shame!"
As Qingxuan listened to the buzzing arguments, defenses, and ridicule around him, he felt his temples throbbing wildly, the scenery in front of him began to spin and darken, and waves of nausea rose in his throat.
He still remembered what his master had told him before he passed away: he was unusually composed, so he had to hold on.
The more he takes on, the less burden will fall on Qiu Bai and the others.
Qingxuan gave a bitter smile to himself. It wasn't that he was unwilling, but sometimes, he was really tired.
These two extreme emotions were tearing at his chest. The exhaustion of the past few days and the mental pressure at this moment reached their peak, causing his body to sway almost imperceptibly, his fingertips to become icy cold, and even breathing to become difficult.
Just as everything went completely black before his eyes, and he was about to fall forward uncontrollably—
A crimson figure nimbly darted out from among the disciples of the Crimson Cloud Sect and firmly supported his swaying arm.
"Tsk."
A clear, youthful voice rang out, carrying a hint of disdain mixed with barely perceptible disapproval. Even Shen Zhaozhao, who was just about to watch the show, was slightly taken aback when she saw the crimson figure through the gap in the beaded curtain—Pei Lang.
Pei Lang steadily supported Qing Xuan, who was almost fainting, with one hand, while pointing directly and bluntly at the group from the Tianyan Sect opposite them, especially the leaders Yun Wan'er and Gu Xuanchen: "I'd say those two holes in your faces are just for venting your anger?!"
"Can't you see that your elders' faces are as white as if they were just dug out of a grave, and they can barely stand?!"
"Are you still standing there making a fuss because you're afraid he won't collapse fast enough, and you're planning to push him even harder and send him to his death?!"
Yun Wan'er's expression tightened.
She couldn't help but curse Qingxuan in her heart again. Pei Lang had noticed that he was not feeling well, but she, who always presented herself as gentle and refined, hadn't noticed. Wasn't this tantamount to ruining her image?
Qingxuan and Pei Lang, are they both determined to make things difficult for her?
Yun Wan'er took a deep breath and said stiffly, "Pei Lang, this is a private matter of my Tianyan Sect. What right do you, an outsider from the Chixiao Sect, have to interfere here?"
"Besides, if Elder Fenyan hadn't started this trouble and humiliated us, why would he have ended up like this?"
"You're talking nonsense!"
But who is Pei Lang?
As a little tyrant who relies on his mouth to communicate, Pei Lang has always been quicker with his mouth than his brain.
He shoved the swaying Qingxuan toward the still-sane Tianyan Sect disciple beside him, then put his hands on his hips and started cursing: "Don't think I'm clueless just because I'm new here!"
"I heard it from afar. My Elder Fenyan clearly said that given the scale of the demon invasion last night, it's suspicious that your Tianyan Sect suffered so many casualties. He told you to investigate this thoroughly behind closed doors to see if there are any traitors within your ranks colluding with the demons!"
"What the hell is this if not a well-intentioned reminder?!"
"But you! You're quite the smooth talker, turning the tables on us! You immediately accuse our Crimson Cloud Sect of colluding with the Demon Clan? Which eye of yours saw that?!"
"and--"
Pei Lang looked Yun Wan'er up and down. "It's only been a few days. You, who was a piece of trash who couldn't even reach the Foundation Establishment stage in Riftwind Valley, have actually climbed to the seventh level of Foundation Establishment in no time?"
"Last time in the Riftwind Valley secret realm, your Heavenly Evolution Sect also suffered heavy casualties, and afterwards you inexplicably broke through the Qi Refining bottleneck!"
"Once is a coincidence, but twice is still a coincidence?! Is your cultivation level just surging by sucking the blood of your fellow disciples?!"
Pei Lang's words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, instantly silencing everyone around him.
All the cultivators who were watching the spectacle suddenly focused their gazes on Yun Wan'er, their eyes filled with suspicion, inquiry, disbelief... their gazes almost piercing through her.
Yun Wan'er's heart skipped a beat. Her meeting with Ye Wushang was extremely secretive, and there was absolutely no way that a brute like Pei Lang could see through it. Therefore, this person probably guessed it by accident.
Without any evidence, it is a frame-up.
Thinking of this, Yun Wan'er immediately looked at Gu Xuanchen beside her, but when she saw Gu Xuanchen's solemn expression, her heart sank.
...What kind of look was that from Senior Brother Gu?
Why did he look at her like that?
Come to think of it... she was so wronged by Pei Lang, why didn't Senior Brother Gu stand up and reprimand Pei Lang to protect her as he always did? Could it be... that he suspects her?
How could he doubt her?!
Was his affection for her so shallow, so easily swayed by the slightest breeze?!
Overwhelmed by immense grievance, Yun Wan'er's eyes reddened, tears streaming down her face. Her voice was plaintive yet filled with genuine accusation: "Senior Brother Gu... he... he's smearing Wan'er with every single word he's said! Aren't you going to say a single word in my defense?!"
Gu Xuanchen felt a pang in his heart at her pitiful gaze.
That expression...it couldn't possibly be faked...
Yes, his Wan'er is so gentle and innocent, how could she collude with the demons?
I shouldn't have had doubts because of those coincidences!
The self-reproach born from doubt instantly transformed into anger towards Pei Lang. Gu Xuanchen's eyes sharpened, a flash of light appeared beside him, and his natal spirit sword emitted a clear and melodious hum, carrying the sharp sword pressure of a Golden Core Great Perfection cultivator, and stabbed straight at Pei Lang's face!
"Pei Lang! Stop being so insolent!"
Elder Fenyan's expression changed, and he was about to intervene—
"choke!"
But it was interrupted by an even clearer and sharper sword cry.
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