Under the gaze of the crowd.
The aloof and exquisitely beautiful Zhu Wanning, who hadn't uttered a word throughout the proceedings, gracefully moved on her slender, high-heeled legs to stand beside Lin Xiao.
She first bowed to the Elders on stage, then cupped her hands towards her Master, Su Mei, and said, "Master, when I discovered Ye Chen trespassing into the Fairy Pool and detained him, I was on my way back to my residence. It was then I saw Chu Youwei from Divine Phoenix Peak flying on her sword towards Phoenix Caw Peak. I approached to inquire, but Junior Sister Chu only mentioned she was looking for someone and then hastily departed."
"Now, it seems... just as Senior Brother Lin suggested, Junior Sister Chu was likely looking for the missing Ye Chen at that time."
"Therefore..."
She bit her lip, hesitating for a second before, for the first time in her life, telling a lie. "The incident where Junior Brother Ye from Tiandang Peak trespassed into the Fairy Pool... may indeed be a misunderstanding!"
As this testimony was spoken, the entire venue was instantly thrown into an uproar!
The Elders on the stage were also whispering amongst themselves, looks of astonishment on their faces.
Zhu Wanning surely knows the score, Lin Xiao thought. During my student days in my previous life, while reading "Emperor," I was too busy obsessing over Martial Uncle Su, completely overlooking this ice queen who possesses both beauty and wisdom. But then again, the Zhu Wanning from the original story never lied and valued her promises immensely. Midway through the story, she promised that scumbag Ye Chen that she would wait for him in the Qinglan Sect, and so she guarded Phoenix Caw alone for hundreds of years. Such a woman is actually lying to help me?
Lin Xiao observed this, feeling both gratified and somewhat puzzled.
"Wanning, is what you said true? Did you really encounter Chu Youwei?" Su Mei asked, turning to her prized eldest disciple.
Under her respected Master's scrutinizing gaze, Zhu Wanning felt a pang of anxiety, her head lowering slightly. "Disciple... would not dare deceive Master!"
I'm sorry, Master! It's not that I intend to deceive you. This Senior Brother Lin from Divine Phoenix Peak is a person of great wisdom. In that Heavenly Dao script, he's the only one in the entire Qinglan Sect who persistently opposes Ye Chen! Therefore, he must have his reasons for acting this way today! she silently affirmed in her heart.
"Very good."
Su Mei gave her disciple a complex look for a moment, then turned to True Master Ziyun and the Elders on stage. "Sect Leader, esteemed Elders, as you have all seen, my disciple has just corroborated Lin Xiao's statement. It now appears... Martial Nephew Ye's trespass into the restricted area of Phoenix Caw Peak last night was indeed a misunderstanding."
Her words had barely faded when a furious roar erupted.
"Nonsense!"
The entire hall was shaken, and all eyes turned towards the source.
They saw a young man in black approaching, his face contorted with fury, his eyes bloodshot. "Zhu Wanning, you're lying! You and this Lin Xiao are clearly in cahoots!"
"Yes, Chu Youwei did offer me a disingenuous apology! But her true intention was to lure me into the forbidden grounds of the Fairy Pool!"
"Therefore, she'd be overjoyed if I were caught in the Fairy Pool! Why would she come looking for me out of concern?"
Having spoken, the young man steeled himself. THUD! He knelt before the Elders on the stage. "Disciple Ye Chen! I was indeed framed this time! I implore all Chairmen and Elders to grant me justice!"
His tearful accusation moved many present.
Tsk, this fiery young punk, Lin Xiao mused. He's known for being a Long Aotian type, challenging heaven and earth, yet at critical moments, he can swallow his pride and adapt to the situation. A Son of Fortune is truly not someone an ordinary person can be.
He then calmly took a step forward, looked at Ye Chen, and said, "Junior Brother Ye, I understand that you feel aggrieved and upset due to this misunderstanding and the rough treatment from fellow disciples of Phoenix Caw Peak. That's why you're emotionally agitated and speaking recklessly."
"As your Senior Brother, I understand and even feel somewhat apologetic, but—"
At this, Lin Xiao raised his voice, his handsome eyes suddenly turning cold and stern. "You cannot malign the innocent and disregard facts simply because you have suffered a grievance!"
"How can such narrow-minded actions befit the conduct of our Righteous Path of cultivation?"
"If this continues, how can you forge a serene and upright Dao Heart and attain The Great Path?"
Each word he spoke was imbued with emotion, thundering through the hall like a stern admonishment, jolting everyone!
Absolute silence descended upon the grand hall!
Everyone stared, stunned, at the young man in the center of the hall—handsome and upright, with a refined temperament. Standing there, he seemed like the very embodiment of justice descended from the heavens.
At this moment, a question arose in the minds of most people present, including Su Mei and Zhu Wanning standing nearby:
Is this young man before us, exuding such righteousness, like a Fallen Immortal gracing the mortal world, truly the rumored idle and unskilled Eldest Senior Brother of Divine Phoenix Peak?
Even Ye Chen was stunned for several seconds before he reacted, snapping angrily, "Lin Xiao, you…"
However, before he could finish, a chubby hand clamped over his mouth!
Ye Chen's heart jolted. He turned his head in a daze, only to see his 'nominal Master,' Daoist Yuan Yi, standing behind him!
"My dear disciple, circumstances are stronger than individuals. Zhu Wanning holds an extraordinary position in the hearts of the Sect Leader and the Elders. If she testifies, I'm afraid no one will believe you," Daoist Yuan Yi began, using the Communication Secret Method.
"But rest assured, Master believes you! For today's grievance, I will help you repay it a hundredfold in the future! When we, Master and disciple, join forces, we will make these people pay with their blood!"
"But in the current situation… AHEM, AHEM… it has at least proven that your intrusion into the Fairy Pool was a misunderstanding, thereby clearing your name! From the looks of it, Lin Xiao still possesses some humanity, so don't stoop to his level for now," Daoist Yuan Yi advised earnestly.
"This…" Ye Chen clenched his fists tightly. Ultimately, he could only forcibly swallow his anger, lowering his head in dejection, saying no more.
Daoist Yuan Yi pulled Ye Chen behind him, his face maintaining its usual false smile. He cupped his hands to everyone present and said, "Chief Su, Sect Leader, esteemed Elders, and my dear Martial Nephews Zhu and Lin, thank you all for being here today and clearing my disciple's name!"
"As you've all just heard, this whole affair was simply a misunderstanding! Hahahaha!"
His placating words gradually eased the tension in the hall.
After exchanging a few words with several Elders via the Communication Secret Method, Sect Leader True Master Ziyun cleared his throat and spoke, "Chief Su, as the presiding adjudicator, do you have any further questions for Lin Xiao?"
Su Mei, who had been gazing dreamily at her handsome, white-robed Martial Nephew, faltered upon hearing this. It took her a moment to collect herself and respond, "Replying to the Sect Leader, just as Martial Brother Yuanyi said, everything is perfectly clear. Last night's incident of trespassing into the Fairy Pool was indeed a misunderstanding. Frankly, Martial Nephew Lin, Martial Nephew Chu, and even this Martial Nephew Ye, are all good children."
"Isn't such an outcome what we all hoped for?"
"Hahahaha! Well said, Chief Su! Let's consider this matter concluded!" Daoist Yuan Yi immediately burst into hearty laughter, grabbing Ye Chen's arm. "Disciple, although this whole affair was a misunderstanding, you still rashly accused your Senior Brother Lin due to emotional distress. Shouldn't you go over, extend a hand in reconciliation, and apologize?"
What!? I'm the sole victim in this incident! I was severely injured, and now I have to apologize to that Immortal Stick?
Hearing this, Ye Chen felt as if struck by a bolt from the blue, recoiling two steps, a million objections screaming in his heart!
However, he knew in his heart. Just as that old Daoist Yuan Yi had said, circumstances were indeed stronger than individuals!
Abruptly, he gritted his teeth and walked, step by step, towards the handsome, white-robed young man whom he detested and now, increasingly, envied.
"Senior Brother Lin, I… I am…" His eyes were bloodshot, every muscle in his face twitching violently. Finally, he extended his hand and squeezed out through clenched teeth, "I am sorry! Please forgive your rash junior brother!"
"Never mind. Since Junior Brother is so sincere, as your Senior Brother, I naturally won't pursue the matter further." Lin Xiao raised an eyebrow and deliberately raised his voice, "Junior Brother Ye, in the future, you must focus more on cultivating your character and be prudent in your words and actions. Do you understand?"
His magnanimous and fitting statement earned nods of approval and relieved expressions from all the Elders and stewards present.
Finally, just as Lin Xiao was steeling himself against his revulsion to symbolically shake Ye Chen's outstretched hand—
A cold, imperious female voice echoed from outside the hall:
"Ye Chen, you little cur! How dare you harm my disciple!"
The voice, amplified by potent True Power, reverberated throughout the entire Shenxiao Palace.
A terrifyingly vast and immeasurable Sword Intent descended from above, so potent it even coalesced an intangible sword domain within the void!
"It's… it's Junior Sister Hongling!" Daoist Chisong, the Chairman of Red Cloud Peak, who had been watching the proceedings with a detached air, cried out in a high-pitched, shocked voice.
The next moment, under the stunned, shocked, and terrified gazes of everyone present…
A brilliant azure sword gleam, accompanied by a blurred female silhouette, pierced directly into the grand hall from an inconceivable angle and with unstoppable momentum!
The next instant—
BANG!
Lin Xiao's heart leaped as he watched helplessly. Ye Chen, standing beside him, was sent flying by a single, snow-white, delicate-looking fist executing a powerful uppercut!
WHOOSH!
Ye Chen's body soared like a kite with a severed string, a fountain of blood spraying from his mouth, tracing a vivid parabola through the air.
As the familiar fragrance of flowers and wine wafted into his nostrils, Lin Xiao abruptly turned his head.
There, his ethereally beautiful, yet clearly intoxicated Master, Xiao Hongling, had arrived by his side, treading through the air on her incomparably stunning, perfectly shaped, snow-white legs.
"Apologies, Xiao'er. Your Master was… AHEM."
"Regardless! Master is taking you away!"
"With your Master here, no one in the Qinglan Sect dares to harm you!"
Xiao Hongling's expression was cold and utterly domineering. Then, in front of everyone, she unhesitatingly took her eldest apprentice's hand.
Feeling this immensely powerful and domineering aura, everyone in the hall drew a sharp breath and looked closer…
The foremost beauty of the Central State's Cultivation World had not bothered with an elaborate hairstyle; her waterfall of black hair danced freely in the wind. Her devastatingly beautiful face still bore a faint, languid flush from alcohol.
In the course of her short speech, she even let out two drunken hiccups. It seemed… she had only just woken from a hangover?
My heavens…
Is this woman completely plastered again?
The crucial point is, Ye Chen didn't even do anything this time!
Just yesterday, he was beaten half to death by Zhu Wanning, and today he's thrashed again until he's bleeding from all seven orifices!
What in the world is going on?!
Has the 'World Where Only the Male Lead Gets Injured' achievement been unlocked?
This time, Lin Xiao was utterly speechless, lacking even the energy to make a snide comment.