The mortals and the newly recruited disciples below watched with boiling blood. The half-grown children, in particular, looked at Li Zhaoye with eyes full of worship and longing.
That was a sword immortal!
Slaying demons and devils, acting on behalf of heaven—how magnificent!
Even the several elders sitting on the high platform stroked their beards and smiled, their gazes toward Li Zhaoye filled with praise.
"Zhaoye, this child, hates evil as if it were his personal enemy. His sword heart is transparent; he is truly a blessing to our Heavenly Sword Sect."
"Indeed. In time, he will surely inherit the Sect Master's mantle and lead our Heavenly Sword Sect to wipe out the Moon-Swallowing Wolf Court."
Chen Zhou stood behind the crowd, watching this scene, unable to help but feel amused.
He nudged Jian Huaishuang beside him. "Does this look familiar?"
Jian Huaishuang looked at Li Zhaoye, who was surrounded by the crowd, and at the fanatical people. His face reddened slightly as he whispered.
"I have made a fool of myself before the Lord. When I was in White Jade City... I suppose I was just as foolish."
"It’s fine. Not foolish. With such a sword heart, you may sacrifice yourself for your way of the sword."
Chen Zhou folded his arms. "No need to belittle yourself. You are different from him. You are worthy of the title 'Light of the Sword Sect'."
Just as Li Zhaoye sheathed his sword and stood still, enjoying the cheers of the crowd.
"Pah, hypocrite!"
A crisp yet sharp female voice suddenly rang out across the square, instantly drowning out all the noise.
Everyone looked toward the source.
A young girl dressed in the attire of an inner disciple stood there, her eyes rimmed with red, staring deathly at Li Zhaoye.
The girl was young and quite elegant in appearance, but at this moment, she looked like a cat with its fur standing on end.
"Qingque? Have you gone mad?!" a companion beside Li Zhaoye hissed.
The girl named Qingque ignored him and pointed at Li Zhaoye, cursing loudly.
"Li Zhaoye, who do you think you're fooling with this act?!"
"Slaying demons and devils? Hating evil? You are nothing but an ungrateful villain!"
"Have you forgotten who carried you back from the wolves' den all those years ago? Have you forgotten who taught you the sword hand-in-hand?"
"Now that you've become the Sect Master's disciple and a sword immortal revered by all, can you comfortably climb upward by stepping on her reputation?!"
A dead silence fell over the entire area.
The newly recruited disciples and the mortals looked bewildered.
"Who is she talking about?"
"I don't know. How could Senior Brother Li be an ungrateful person?"
But the faces of the elders on the high platform, as well as the disciples of the same generation as Li Zhaoye, changed instantly.
That name.
The name that had been a taboo in the Heavenly Sword Sect for ten years.
"Silence!"
From atop the high platform, a red-faced elder roared in anger, his beard trembling. "Seize this mad girl! How dare you speak such nonsense at the recruitment ceremony! Where is your sense of decorum!"
Disciples from the Hall of Discipline immediately rushed forward, grabbing Qingque from both sides.
Qingque struggled desperately, screaming with heartbreaking intensity, "I refuse to accept this!"
"Why can't I mention it? Senior Sister Bai Ling was the number one in swordsmanship in the Heavenly Sword Sect! She was born with a sword bone; she was the true sword fanatic!"
"If it wasn't for her, all of you would have died in that great war ten years ago!"
"Bai Ling colluded with the Moon-Swallowing Wolf Court and betrayed the sect! She is the shame of our Heavenly Sword Sect!" the red-faced elder shouted, utterly enraged.
"If she hadn't secretively associated with the wolf demons and led them inside back then, how would the Sect Master have been gravely injured and lost his cultivation realm?"
"How would so many fellow disciples have died such tragic deaths?"
"You wicked disciple! If you dare mention that demoness's name again, I will cripple you along with her!"
"She didn't! Senior Sister did not betray us!"
Qingque wailed, "Someone as proud as Senior Sister—how could she collude with wolf demons!"
"It was you who framed her! It was you..."
"Gag her and take her to the Hall of Discipline!" the elder yelled in a state of exasperation.
Seeing that the disciples of the Hall of Discipline were about to act.
"Wait!"
A figure blocked their path in front of Qingque.
It was Li Zhaoye.
His expression was complicated to the extreme. He looked at the still-weeping Qingque, then at the furious elders on the platform. With a bitter smile, he clasped his hands and knelt.
"Elder, Qingque is young and naive. I beg the elder to show mercy."
"Li Zhaoye, you don't need to be so fake!" Qingque did not appreciate his gesture and spat on him.
"Are you even worthy of mentioning Senior Sister?"
"Back then, Senior Sister cared for you the most. But when her cultivation was stripped and she was expelled from the sect, where were you?"
"You were in seclusion! You were busy striving for your position as a direct disciple!"
Li Zhaoye's body trembled. He allowed the spittle to hang on his clothes without wiping it away.
He lowered his eyes, his voice deep. "I haven't forgotten. I have never forgotten Senior Sister's life-saving grace, nor have I forgotten that it was she who led me through the gates of this sect."
"That is why I have cultivated desperately all these years, killing wolf demons with all my might."
"I do this not only to protect the Northern Region but also to atone for Senior Sister's sins."
"As long as I kill enough wolf demons, as long as I accumulate enough merit, perhaps one day the sect will forgive Senior Sister, and then..."
"Bullshit!!" Qingque shrieked. "Senior Sister does not need to atone! She did nothing wrong!"
"Enough!!"
The elder slammed his palm onto the armrest. "Li Zhaoye, are you going to go mad along with her?"
Li Zhaoye bowed deeply. "This disciple would not dare."
"It's just that today is a day of great joy; it is not suitable for punishment."
"This disciple is willing to take Qingque to the Reflection Cliff and personally supervise her reflection. I beg the elder to grant this."
The elder looked at this disciple, whom the Sect Master favored most, and eventually softened his heart.
"Fine. For your sake, the death penalty is waived, but punishment is unavoidable."
"Take her away and lock her in the Reflection Cliff. She is not to come out until she has understood her errors!"
Li Zhaoye breathed a sigh of relief and stood up, reaching out to pull Qingque away.
A farce seemed about to end under Li Zhaoye's attempt to smooth things over.
Behind the crowd, Chen Zhou gently patted Jian Huaishuang's shoulder.
"It’s time for us to make our entrance."
"The waters of this Heavenly Sword Sect are even murkier than I imagined. Since someone wants to keep the lid on, then we shall..."
A smile curled at the corners of Chen Zhou's mouth.
"Flip the table over."
Amidst the wind and snow, a lazy voice drifted through the air.
The voice wasn't loud, but it clearly pierced into everyone's ears, as if whispering right beside them.
"However, I happen to think that little girl is right."
Chen Zhou walked out of the Ghost Domain with his hands behind his back.
He strolled leisurely out from the crowd, with Jian Huaishuang following closely behind like the most loyal of guards.
Everyone's gazes instantly converged on the two.
"Who is this?"
"How bold, to dare act wildly in the Heavenly Sword Sect?"
Chen Zhou ignored the startled looks around him. He looked directly at Li Zhaoye and shook his head.
"Such swordsmanship—you have intent but no eyes, form but no spirit."
"Holding a so-called sword of benevolence and righteousness, slaying so-called demons of atonement, yet you don't even dare to pull out the thorn in your own heart."
"In my view, your title as the number one of the Heavenly Sword Sect is quite inflated. You are indeed a mediocre talent."
"Presumptuous!"
The red-faced elder stood up abruptly. The pressure of a fifth-stage cultivator erupted violently.
"What manner of scoundrel dares to trespass into my Heavenly Sword Sect and insult the disciples of my sect!"
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