Chapter 21

The next day, the elders came to the door, still about the changes in the forbidden area. Since the establishment of the Chaoyun Sect, the area behind the mountain had always been sealed off, strictly forbidding disciples from entering. Even elders with high prestige in the sect could not enter without the express permission of the sect leader.

For so many years, under the repeated admonitions of the teachers, the disciples did not dare to cross the line. However, this rule was actually broken by a young girl from outside.

Not only was it broken, but quite a few people also died.

Even if it were a disciple of the sect, or even the children of those elders who committed the crime, it would be a great sin. If dealt with according to the sect rules, the outcome would be to destroy their cultivation and expel them from the sect. If it were an outsider, it would be even more unforgivable. If they were let off lightly, what if outsiders learned from it one by one in the future? How could that be tolerated?

For a time, the elders outside all wanted Danxun Valley to give an explanation, and the public sentiment was intense.

Tan Ye did not reveal a single word of this to Su Heng. He knew her temperament. He didn’t know if she would sleep well in the cave dwelling, or occasionally argue with him when she was in the mood. But if she knew, she would definitely run out to watch the commotion. Even if he wanted to stop her, he wouldn’t be able to. If she got too excited and added fuel to the fire, not only would the matter be messed up by her, but worse, she might be discovered by the sect leader and elders.

The sect leader and elders were not like those disciples. The disciples were intelligent, but their cultivation was limited after all. However, the sect leader and elders were all perceptive cultivators. If any clues were discovered, even if she could completely conceal her figure, it was better not to take any chances.

Today, he went out to handle matters for Dao Zhen. The matter was not difficult, just very tedious, requiring a lot of patience and perseverance. When he finished the matter, the few young junior disciples who went with him looked at the streets outside eagerly.

These junior disciples were all in their teens, younger than him, still at the age of playfulness. Following him out, they just stared outside.

“You cannot act alone. You must be in groups of a few. If you encounter anything, you must inform me.” After Tan Ye said this to the junior disciples who were staring at him eagerly, the sternness on his face faded away, revealing his original gentleness. “Go.”

With his words, those young disciples responded obediently, then cheered and went to play.

Tan Ye stood at the entrance of the street, watching the junior disciples leave below. Looking at the bustling crowd on the street, he hesitated for a moment, but still went in.

He looked gentle and harmless. When getting along with fellow disciples, he was mostly amiable unless he encountered bullying. Even so, unless necessary, he did not hang out with other disciples in private. He mostly came and went alone.

Now that the junior disciples had all dispersed, he walked into the crowd alone.

He was born with keen senses, so he did not like crowded places. The turbid energy on mortals was heavy. Not only that, their auras were also extraordinarily chaotic, which was somewhat tortuous for him.

Tan Ye subconsciously looked at a few shops selling pastries. He came out with silver thread candy and a few boxes of pear cheese cakes, and ran into a junior sister who happened to pass by the door.

A few female disciples were about to go in, but they didn’t expect Tan Ye to come out with things in hand.

“Senior Brother?” The girls were startled to see Tan Ye coming out with things, and then looked at what he was carrying. “Senior Brother also eats this?”

The girls looked at Tan Ye with a strange look in their eyes.

Tan Ye looked down at what he was holding in his hands. “I saw so many people here, so I wanted to buy some. It just so happens that a few junior sisters are here. I don’t know where else has good pastries here?”

The girls had been in the sect for some time, but they were not yet old hands. Hearing Tan Ye ask them this, they immediately and enthusiastically told him about all the good pastries nearby. After listening, Tan Ye thanked them and then bought the pastries the junior sisters mentioned.

On the way back to the sect, passing through the Taiyi Path that connected the outside world to the mountain gate, there were environments around the Taiyi Path, gathering the four seasons of spring, summer, autumn and winter. He went to pick a few sweet tangerines to bring back.

At this time, Dao Zhen had gone to the sect leader’s Yuzheng Pavilion and didn’t know when he would return. Tan Ye let the junior disciples under him go back to rest first, and told the gatekeeper Taoist boy to inform him as soon as Dao Zhen returned.

Tan Ye returned to the cave dwelling. As soon as he stepped into the cave dwelling, he felt that it was so quiet that it made him uneasy.

“Miss?” Tan Ye said softly.

It was quiet all around, without the slightest sound.

Tan Ye walked in quickly and looked around. “Miss?”

He was clear about the temperament of that enchantress. If she was really here, no matter if she showed her figure or not, she would definitely respond to him.

He went to the bedroom door and knocked twice, but there was no response from inside.

At this point, Tan Ye could no longer stand still. His eyes moved a few times and his face changed. He immediately turned around and ran outside.

At this moment, it was a bloody storm in the Yuzheng Pavilion.

Su Heng found a comfortable place to lie down and looked down from the rafters. Below, they were at loggerheads, with sarcasm in their words and knives and swords in their eyes, making her want to clap and cheer as she watched.

The liveliness here was much better than at Tan Ye’s place. Tan Ye’s place was cold and quiet. Apart from himself, she basically couldn’t see anyone coming for several days. Today, early in the morning, he ran off somewhere again. She was too lazy to run outside with him. The ready-made excitement was right in front of her, why would she run outside?

Not long after Tan Ye left, she came over.

Below, they had been arguing for a while. After all, privately entering the forbidden area was not a small matter, and it even caused casualties. More than a dozen patrolling disciples died, which was not something that could be easily overlooked.

Below, it was a tense showdown. She had been watching for a while.

“It’s really unimaginable that on the first day the honored guest came to Chaoyun Sect, such a big incident was caused. It’s really incredible.” An elder said with a smile that was not quite a smile, speaking bluntly. Mei Shuangshuang had been standing behind Mei Luo from the beginning until now. Since the incident, Mei Luo did not let her leave his sight. Even now it was the same.

Mei Luo faced that elder. The elder looked directly at him. He looked at the elder, then sat back down.

Mei Shuangshuang stood behind Mei Luo, facing the elders’ looks of either disgust or scrutiny.

“More than a dozen lives at once.” The elder looked at Mei Shuangshuang. “What a feat.”

“Or perhaps it should be said, Valley Master Mei has taught well, to have raised such a good daughter.”

The elder’s words were so sharp that Mei Shuangshuang’s face turned white. From the beginning until now, she heard all those words. She had never dared to speak, but hearing this, she finally couldn’t bear it anymore.

“I wanted to go to that place, and I caused the trouble. I will bear all the consequences alone!” The elder who spoke looked at her, raised his eyebrows, and said approvingly, “Then may I ask, more than a dozen lives, how will you bear it, and in what way will you bear it? I’m all ears.” The elder spoke bluntly, his words sharp and hitting the key point. Mei Shuangshuang was immediately at a loss for words.

She stood there, facing the gazes from all around, not knowing what to say. She indeed wanted to bear the consequences, but upon being pointed out, she discovered that the consequences were not what she had imagined.

Su Heng, on the rafters, looked at Mei Shuangshuang’s face that looked like she was about to cry, sighed a few times, then casually took out a sweet tangerine from her sleeve. She peeled it without hesitation and stuffed a segment into her mouth. The little girl looked very young in her eyes, her face full of childishness, but her eyes were clean, looking adorable, very likable to youths experiencing their first love.

But once she cried, she really exposed that she was still a child, which was quite unsightly.

Mei Shuangshuang shed tears. Seeing this, Mei Luo stood up. In an instant, both sides were at daggers drawn.

“What, does Valley Master Mei still want to refute something?” That elder smiled, facing Mei Luo without the slightest fear. “Did I say something wrong?”

“It is Mei’s failure in teaching, but Shuanger is still young, she…”

“Those patrolling disciples were also young.” The elder retorted, “Could it be that privately entering the forbidden area and causing people to die was also taught by the Valley Master?”

Su Heng almost laughed out loud. These elders were all talented, and their words sounded nice.

She watched coldly as Mei Luo was trapped and couldn’t say a word. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a disciple whispering a few words to Dao Zhen.

After listening, Dao Zhen said, “Tell him to come in.”

After two breaths, Tan Ye was brought in.

Seeing him, Su Heng sat up from the rafters. She had taken advantage of his absence to come over and watch the commotion. This guy was afraid she would cause trouble, so even if she asked him a few times about the follow-up of Mei Shuangshuang, he would casually find a topic to fob her off.

At this time, he should be outside. Even if he came back, it shouldn’t be so soon.

“You came at the right time.” Su Heng heard Dao Zhen speak and subconsciously felt that it wasn’t good.

“In front of so many people, tell us what exactly happened at that time.” Tan Ye had come to find Su Heng, but who knew he was seen by Ling Mao and thus was called over.

Tan Ye appeared surprised. He looked at Dao Zhen. He had already sent the details of what happened to Dao Zhen using a transmission bead.

Dao Zhen looked over, meeting Tan Ye’s surprise. “What’s wrong?”

Tan Ye slightly tilted his head and saw Mei Luo also looking at him on the other side.

“Yes.”

Tan Ye stared at Mei Luo’s gaze and briefly described what happened that day. After listening, Dao Zhen asked, “Did you tell her that the back mountain is a forbidden area and the consequences of entering it?”

“This disciple…” He began, seeing Mei Luo, and lowered his head. “I did not inform her of the consequences of entering the forbidden area.”

The sect leader frowned slightly, looking at Dao Zhen. Dao Zhen and the sect leader looked at each other, and the sect leader understood his intention. At this point, the person needed to be disciplined, and an explanation had to be given to the elders. But he also did not want to use this matter to completely cut off ties with Danxun Valley. Danxun Valley was a thousand-year-old family. Completely tearing off the relationship with Danxun Valley because of this matter…

The sect leader turned his head back.

Dao Zhen smiled. “Since that’s the case, you didn’t tell her the consequences?”

From the rafters, Su Heng saw Tan Ye lower his head slightly. This was simply finding a scapegoat, and the charges against this scapegoat were very far-fetched.

“Yes.” Tan Ye was silent for a moment and nodded in response.

Dao Zhen looked around.

The elder who spoke before also frowned. He glanced at Dao Zhen. Dao Zhen’s hand in his sleeve waved at him, indicating not to continue pursuing the matter relentlessly.

Those disciples were already dead. The dead could not be brought back to life. There was no benefit in pushing the Valley Master of Danxun Valley to the edge of a cliff. If they pushed too hard and completely tore off the relationship, they would only gain more enemies and nothing else.

Giving both sides a way out, each having their reasons, saving face for all.

“Alright, you may go.”

Tan Ye stood up and went outside.

Mei Luo’s face looked slightly better. When he looked at the elders again, his voice was much more steady.

With this happening, Mei Luo had actually gained an advantageous position.

“It was indeed my daughter’s fault. But she is young and ignorant. This was truly an unintentional mistake, not something she did on purpose. This situation is definitely not what my daughter and I wished for.” Mei Luo said.

The situation changed almost instantly. There was no longer the one-sided suppression from before. Mei Luo spoke with much more ease.

After this father and daughter left, Dao Zhen ordered the disciples to bring Tan Ye in.

After Tan Ye left the pavilion, he did not leave. Dao Zhen told him to wait outside.

“I originally thought you would handle matters more thoroughly.” Dao Zhen looked at Tan Ye and said. “After all, you have always been very reliable over the years, handling things properly.”

“But how come you handled this small matter poorly?”

Dao Zhen sighed with a face full of regret.

At this moment, an elder frowned, feeling it was inappropriate, but since this was Dao Zhen’s own disciple, as an outsider, he had no right to interfere with how a master disciplined his disciple. He immediately left with a swish of his sleeve.

Tan Ye remained silent. Seeing this, an inexplicable anger rose in Dao Zhen’s heart. Tan Ye was always like this. He never formally admitted his mistakes in person, only responding with silence.

The more Tan Ye was like this, the more Dao Zhen burned with anger.

Suddenly, Dao Zhen raised his hand and struck Tan Ye’s body with a palm.

The other elders and the sect leader who stayed behind were shocked.

“What are you doing?!” The sect leader exclaimed in shock.

Dao Zhen looked at the sect leader. “He handled the matter poorly, causing the death of fellow disciples. At this point, he still doesn’t admit his mistake.” Dao Zhen’s face was full of anger. “This kind of wicked beast, a palm strike is too good for him!”

Tan Ye covered his chest, blood flowing from the corner of his lips. Hearing the words “wicked beast”, he trembled and lowered his eyes.

“If not for you, how would those more than ten disciples have died! Since you still refuse to admit your mistake…”

The sect leader watched from the side. “Alright, who can be without fault.”

“This fault is not small.” Dao Zhen heard the sect leader speak and pursued the matter even more relentlessly. “According to the sect rules, this kind of person…”

“Elder.” The sect leader saw that Dao Zhen really intended to take advantage of the situation and immediately stopped him. Everyone knew what this matter was about. It was enough for both sides to have a good way out. As for ruining Tan Ye, that was not what he wanted to see.

“He is, after all, your personal disciple.” The sect leader reminded.

Hearing this, Dao Zhen calmed down.

“The death penalty can be avoided, but the living crime is hard to forgive.”

“Forget it, let him go back.” The sect leader said. Tan Ye was the most outstanding disciple of this generation in terms of talent. In the matter of cultivation, innate talent and comprehension were far more important than so-called hard work. Such a disciple was too rare. Even in a hundred years, one might not necessarily appear. He was unwilling to ruin the person for this kind of matter for no reason.

“You and I both know what’s really going on here. Why bother.” The sect leader said.

Having said this much, Dao Zhen could only say to Tan Ye, “You go back!”

Tan Ye was completely defenseless before and fully took this palm strike. But when he stood up, his figure did not tremble in the slightest.

He still bowed to Dao Zhen and the sect leader, completing the etiquette before leaving.

Su Heng watched the entire process from the side. She had no intention of intervening. Going through hardships after descending from the divine realm to start over was naturally not for enjoying blessings. Moreover, there were even more powerful things waiting ahead. She watched him walk out. The disciples outside saw him like this and were somewhat surprised. In some people’s eyes, the surprise turned into schadenfreude.

Tan Ye returned under the gazes of schadenfreude or pity. His cave dwelling was located in a remote place. Before he reached it, there were already no people around. His feet staggered a few steps, his figure no longer as steady as before. He fell forward, his entire body crashing to the ground.

Su Heng watched from the side. She watched Tan Ye collapse to the ground, not intervening from beginning to end. She watched him trying to get up. After waiting for a while and not seeing him get up, she finally felt that something was wrong. She tossed away the tangerine peel in her hand and ran over to check what was wrong with him.

“Are you dead?”

Su Heng asked softly. She saw Tan Ye’s half-closed eyes and waved her hand in front of his face.

The originally prone Tan Ye suddenly opened his eyes and grabbed her hand.

“Where did you go?”