45 Chapter 45
◎Hearsay◎
Pei Xueyan was originally a little vixen. When she went down the mountain and encountered people she didn't like, especially men who spoke without restraint, she loved to tease them. Seeing their embarrassed looks made her feel relieved and amused.
With a smile playing on her lips, she gripped the dagger and simply cut off all four of their long hair as well.
The blade sliced through the hair, leaving uneven stubble clinging to the scalp, resembling weeds gnawed by wild dogs—grotesquely ugly.
"Who do you think you are, immortals? You dare to call yourselves immortals? With a few whiskers and long hair, you dare to pretend to be masters? Your backbiting is worse than that of a street thug!"
She held the dagger and slowly waved it in front of the group.
"Weren't you quite the smooth talker just now? What lewd things, what infatuation? Let me tell you today, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want!"
After saying that, she raised her foot and kicked the leading immortal's shin hard.
The other party grimaced in pain, but was immobilized by the spell and could only let out mournful "woo-woo" sounds.
"Where were you when you were gossiping earlier? Luckily, you met me today, this righteous heroine who's 'drawing her sword to help.' I'll teach you a lesson and make you remember it!"
She remembered her master saying that these self-important immortals valued their reputation the most.
Simply cutting off their hair and beard is too lenient on them.
Pei Xueyan's eyes flickered, and she gently untied the sashes of their outer robes while holding the dagger.
The men stared at her intently, their eyes filled with anger and resentment.
"What? You're still not convinced?" Pei Xueyan sneered, making no attempt to hide her "righteous indignation." "Do you think I'm unethical and resort to sneak attacks? I am a vixen, I just like to sneak attacks to make you all angry."
She acted swiftly, cutting all four people's outer and inner robes to shreds, leaving them with only their inner garments that were close to their bodies.
After doing all that, she deliberately wrinkled her nose and showed a disgusted expression: "Ugh, what a stinky bunch of people, I can smell them even from this far away."
After finishing her tinkering, Pei Xueyan reached into one of the immortals' storage bags and pulled out a signal firework.
Once the fireworks are set off, this person's fellow disciples will surely come running following the signal.
When they see their senior brother and master in such a sorry state, they'll be utterly humiliated.
Pei Xueyan smiled smugly and kicked away the tattered clothes on the ground.
Before footsteps could be heard in the distance, his figure flickered and disappeared from the spot.
After Pei Xueyan left, they went to a restaurant for a big meal.
For some reason, it's as if this matter has been broadcast over the loudspeaker; it's mentioned everywhere I go.
Jiang Xiye is really too famous!
But why?
She couldn't understand it.
Pei Xueyan thought about it carefully and began to suspect that Jiang Qiye had deliberately spread the rumors.
They were alone together most of the time, so how did it become known throughout the city?
Anyway, my senior sister definitely won't tell, so it must be Jiang Qiye's.
This lecherous scoundrel is utterly despicable!
The streets were bustling, and it was soon discovered that Jiang Qiye was already at the Qingzong Sect.
"Have you heard? Senior Brother Jiang returned to the sect severely injured, having lost all his cultivation, yet he's still protecting that woman named Pei Xueyan, claiming the marriage proposal was voluntary!"
"That's right! Master Wangyu was so angry that he wanted to cripple him on the spot. It was only after several elders pleaded for him that his life was spared. Now he's confined to Jingxin Cliff!"
Pei Xueyan's heart skipped a beat.
Where exactly is Jingxin Cliff?
When Wang Yu returned, he surprisingly didn't cause her any trouble?
Am I safe now?
She lay in the inn for several days, feeling restless and uneasy. Unable to suppress the inner turmoil, she felt she should secretly go to the Qing Sect to take a look.
Jiang Qiye had lost all his cultivation and was confined to his quarters, yet he still protected her at every turn. This whole thing seemed very strange.
This was her first time visiting the Qingzong Sect, and she had been searching for it for quite some time.
From afar, the houses were shrouded in mist, truly a paradise on earth, no less impressive than Yuanhua Mountain.
As the clouds and mist slowly dissipated, she could hear disciples dressed in neat uniforms practicing their skills halfway up the mountain. She then flew on her sword to a distant mountain.
Seeing the main gate of the Qingzong Sect, it was indeed magnificent. Not only was there a barrier, but a net was also laid out, exuding a solemn atmosphere that kept strangers away.
She didn't go directly through the main gate, nor did she dare to inquire directly. Instead, she subtly gathered a wisp of spiritual energy in her fingers and silently probed into the mountain.
These spiritual energies all belong to Jiang Qiye's cultivation level, so finding him should be easy.
Pei Xueyan had heard since childhood that disciples of immortal families who made mistakes would be confined to a certain place to reflect on their mistakes and be punished, which must not be too far from the sect.
Before long, they saw that the western side of the mountain peak was shrouded in spiritual energy, which must be the Tranquil Cliff.
Pei Xueyan concealed her aura and climbed the remaining steps.
The higher you go, the stronger the wind gets, and it's quite cold.
The Qingzong Sect's punishments were so severe and chilling, and the place was surrounded by sheer cliffs on three sides, with clouds and mist below, and only a narrow stone staircase.
They quickly climbed to the top of the mountain.
Pei Xueyan walked to the back of the stone chamber and looked out from the doorway.
You can see the person inside. Jiang Qiye is sitting cross-legged on the stone bed, wearing a light purple Taoist robe from the Qingzong Sect.
His hair hung down, and he looked weak.
This person is the one who always keeps their clothes and hair neatly combed.
She should hate him, but seeing his pitiful state after losing all his cultivation, her hatred faded considerably.
"Cough..." Jiang Qiye, kneeling on the ground, coughed softly, his chest rising and falling slightly.
Pei Xueyan was about to go in when she heard another authoritative voice coming from inside the stone chamber.
He is Wang Yu Zhenren.
"Keep arguing! You're about to die, and you're still arguing!"
Jiang Qiye lowered his head, his voice weak: "Master, I'm already like this, what else can I do?"
In the past, Wang Yu would have already slapped him a few times.
Seeing his current pitiful state, I feel more heartache than blame.
"I feel sorry for you. You were exceptionally talented from a young age, and I nurtured you as the future pillar of the Qing Sect. I poured my heart and soul into teaching you martial arts, but you have ruined yourself for the sake of a remnant of the Ye Clan!"
Wang Yu's voice was filled with undisguised heartache.
Jiang Qiye smiled faintly: "Master, it's alright, I can start over."
Foolish disciple, how easy is it to start over! With all your cultivation lost and your foundation damaged, how much suffering and how many detours will you have to endure to return to your peak!
“Master, A-Zheng is not a remnant. Ye Xiuluo’s mistakes should not be borne by her. She has never killed an innocent person.”
Wang Yu was about to lose his temper again: "Not a remnant? She practices the evil arts of the Ye Clan. Haven't you seen the consequences yourself? If it weren't for your desperate pleas, I would be acting on behalf of Heaven to eliminate this threat!"
Jiang Qiye argued, "But now her cultivation level was passed down by me, and it has nothing to do with the Ye Clan anymore. She is a good person now."
Master Wangyu was so angry that he trembled all over. He raised his hand to strike, but stopped abruptly when he saw the blood seeping from the man's chest and the silver hair at his temples.
He just sighed heavily.
That day, it was pouring rain. She stabbed him twice and then turned and left. He fell into a pool of blood, having lost all his cultivation and been seriously injured. With only a sliver of will to live, he walked towards the direction of the Qing Sect, dripping blood.
His body, having just lost its cultivation, couldn't withstand such a severe injury. He couldn't go far before collapsing unconscious at the foot of Yuanhua Mountain.
There are many immortals within dozens of miles of Yuanhua Mountain. The next day, they found Jiang Qiye lying on the ground and summoned disciples from the nearby Qingzong Sect to take him away.
Those people wanted to befriend this famous scholar and reached out to infuse him with spiritual power, but they found that he had lost all his cultivation and had become an ordinary mortal.
In addition, the presence of immortals in the marriage proposal attracted extra attention, and rumors quickly spread after seeing the names "Jiang Qiye and Pei Xueyan".
When Wang Yu returned home after a long absence, he found that his carefully trained apprentice had indeed been tricked and was now a cripple, half-dead.
He was about to kill someone, but was stopped by him and threatened with death.
Even now, on this Tranquil Cliff, he remains so stubborn and inflexible.
Wang Yu closed his eyes and tried to soften his tone: "I know you have feelings for her, but have you ever thought that she has no feelings for you at all? She has been lying to you from beginning to end. She is evil-hearted and evil-minded. She is either a demon or a witch. This is the result of Ye Xiuluo's upbringing. If you want her to change, you will have to be reincarnated!"
He crouched down and earnestly advised, "Good disciple, listen to your master's advice and quickly sever this relationship. A heartless woman is not worth your sacrifice. She killed you and ran away, intending to leave you to fend for yourself!"
"Master, no. It all started in the illusion. I deceived her and took advantage of her. I was the one who wronged her first."
"Shut up!" Wang Yu interrupted him sharply. "I taught you the art of illusion so you could use it for good, not so you would feel guilty and morally bound afterward! Illusion is illusion; there's no guilt to speak of, let alone any moral constraints! It's just a means, no different from any other cultivation technique you practice! Ah Ye, I always thought you were rational and clear-headed, how could you be so confused? Could it be that you're really greedy for lust and infatuated with beauty?"
Hearing this from outside the window, Pei Xueyan couldn't help but snort, her eyes full of disdain. How could he possibly utter such twisted logic?
That very subtle sound was instantly caught by Wang Yu, who had exceptional hearing.
A blurry figure appeared outside the door in an instant, its piercing gaze locking onto Pei Xueyan, who was hiding behind the rocks.
She was terrified and immediately channeled her spiritual power, turning around and flying down the mountain to escape.
Fortunately, Jiang Qiye's cultivation level was already top-notch. Although she couldn't fully master it, she was still able to hold her own against Wang Yu.
However, Wang Yu was a senior who had been famous for many years, with profound spiritual power and rich experience.
In less than half an hour, Pei Xueyan gradually became exhausted and was tightly trapped by the Heavenly Net he had summoned. Her spiritual power was imprisoned, and she was unable to move.
"You little devil, it really was you!"
Wang Yu snorted coldly, picked up the net, and threw her hard into the secret chamber of the Qingzong Sect, slamming the stone door shut with a "bang".
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