As the voice settled over the Heart-Interrogation Platform, the chatter around them died down simultaneously.
Panic surged in Yun Heng's heart. She had not anticipated this at all—how had a person suddenly appeared out of nowhere?
Yun Zhao—this name had not appeared in the early parts of the original book, or at least not in the original owner's memories.
Yun Zhao took half a step forward and stood beside Yun Heng. Without glancing at the crowd below the Heart-Interrogation Platform, she bowed her head to Yun Heng first.
“Forgive me for allowing you to be alarmed, Young Lord.”
Who? Her? Young Lord?
Yun Heng was utterly dumbfounded. Could this be the original owner's secret identity? But that didn't make sense either—there was nothing strange in her memories, nothing that could remotely connect her to the title of Young Lord.
However, she knew she could not show weakness right now. She maintained an air of composure on her face, even adopting a hint of profound mystery.
She looked at Yun Zhao and gave a subtle nod. “You arrived just in time.”
Yun Zhao raised her eyes, her gaze finally falling upon He Lansong.
“Who has shown disrespect to the Young Lord?”
He Lansong did not fly into a rage at her words.
Although the Xuanxiao Sect was a major sect in the Eastern Region, it was not entirely without apprehension.
The Taiyan Continent was vast; beyond the major sects lay noble clans, ancient clans, and hidden heritages. Those factions kept a low profile on ordinary days, but if provoked into action, they were not necessarily weaker than the Xuanxiao Sect.
He Lansong looked at Yun Zhao, his tone far more cautious than before. “Today is the Sect Grand Selection, and an unidentified talisman command appeared on Yun Heng's person. As the Grand Elder of the Xuanxiao Sect, I am merely conducting a routine inquiry.”
“Did the Heart-Interrogation Platform detect demonic energy?”
“It did not.”
“Since it did not, why continue the inquiry?”
Zhou Chen could not refrain from speaking up: “The origin of this command is unknown, and it can suppress the Heart-Interrogation Platform. Naturally, it must be investigated!”
Yun Zhao turned her gaze toward him.
Zhou Chen turned pale and recoiled half a step.
He Lansong raised a hand to shield Zhou Chen. “My disciple spoke out of line.”
Yun Zhao withdrew her gaze. “An unknown origin does not equal guilt. If the Xuanxiao Sect insists on investigating simply because it fails to recognize something, there is no such logic in this world.”
Her words left several elders in silence.
Standing to the side, Yun Heng listened to Yun Zhao speak, a judgment gradually forming in her mind.
He Lansong stared at Yun Zhao, speaking after a long moment: “Your Excellency refers to Yun Heng as your Young Lord. May I ask which faction you hail from?”
“The Xuanxiao Sect is not worthy to know.”
He Lansong choked on his words as anger flared within him. Yet he knew better than to clash head-on right now; instead, the Xuanxiao Sect had to yield to this overwhelming pressure.
Hearing those words, even Yun Heng was taken aback. Was she really being this arrogant?
He Lansong turned around to face the crowd below the platform.
“Regarding the matter of the broken jade today, the Shadow-Tracing Talisman has already verified the truth. Yun Heng did not take Su Mingyuan's missing jade, so the charge of theft does not hold.”
When these words were spoken, no one beneath the platform dared to interrupt.
He continued: “The Broken Command was inspected by the Heart-Interrogation Platform, showing no demonic energy or malevolent aura. Any talk of the demonic path shall not be mentioned again.”
Standing to the side, Su Mingyuan dug her fingertips so deeply into her palms that they almost cut her skin.
She quickly lowered her head. “Mingyuan understands.”
He Lansong looked at Yun Heng. “Yun Heng, you were indeed wronged by being brought before the Heart-Interrogation Platform today. As Su Mingyuan made the false accusation first, the Discipline Hall will record a demerit against her later, and she shall reflect in solitude for three days. As for the object on your person, since it is not an evil artifact, the Xuanxiao Sect will not inspect it in public.”
“And how will my Young Lord be settled?”
He Lansong looked at Yun Heng.
Reasonably speaking, Yun Heng had yet to complete the Sect Grand Selection. If the Xuanxiao Sect rejected her now, it would be equivalent to casting a person with an unknown background straight out of their gates. But if they kept her, the sect would gain another troublesome matter that required careful handling.
He Lansong weighed his options for a moment.
Yun Zhao was merely a projection and could not remain for long. Yet since she addressed Yun Heng as Young Lord, it meant there was a powerful entity backing her. A faction capable of commanding such a projection was not one the Xuanxiao Sect could afford to offend lightly.
More importantly, Yun Heng was still standing before the gate of the Xuanxiao Sect.
Rather than letting her leave harboring resentment, it would be better to invite her into the sect first. On the surface, it would appear as respectful treatment, while in secret, they could investigate her origins.
He Lansong spoke: “The Sect Grand Selection has not yet concluded. If Yun Heng is willing, she may temporarily enter the Xuanxiao Sect to rest. Once the selection ends, the sect will make further arrangements for her.”
Yun Heng looked at him.
He Lansong maintained a steady tone: “Regarding today's events, the Xuanxiao Sect will give you a proper explanation.”
Yun Heng did not agree immediately.
She knew that entering the sect did not mean she was safe.
The Xuanxiao Sect was forced to back down today only because of Yun Zhao's appearance. Once Yun Zhao vanished, countless eyes within the sect would be watching her. Su Mingyuan would not truly accept defeat, yet Yun Heng could not simply walk away either.
In the original book, Yun Heng died in a dense forest after being expelled from the sect. Outside the mountain gates was not necessarily safer than remaining within the Xuanxiao Sect. What was more, she had just bound the System; the origins of the broken jade, the Broken Command, and Yun Zhao all required time to uncover.
By staying in the Xuanxiao Sect, she would at least have access to spiritual energy, ancient texts, and an opportunity to touch upon this world's true cultivation system.
“Very well.”
He Lansong nodded. “Good.”
Yun Zhao glanced at Yun Heng.
Yun Heng could feel that her projection was fading.
“Young Lord,” Yun Zhao said softly, “the time limit for the summoning order is nearing its end.”
“Will you come again?”
“Should the Young Lord summon me again, Yun Zhao will appear.”
Yun Zhao did not seem to care that the Xuanxiao Sect overheard her words. Her figure slowly dispersed into nothingness.
The array runes on the Heart-Interrogation Platform flared back to life, and the sound of the wind returned to normal.
He Lansong withdrew his gaze and addressed a disciple beside him: “Guide Miss Yun to the guest courtyard. Do not neglect her before the selection concludes.”
The disciple stepped forward in response, his form of address for Yun Heng having already changed.
“Miss Yun, this way please.”
When Yun Heng stepped down from the Heart-Interrogation Platform, Su Mingyuan was still standing in the same spot.
As the two brushed past each other,
Su Mingyuan said softly, “As for today's matter... it was my misunderstanding.”
Yun Heng halted her steps and looked at her.
Su Mingyuan's eyes were slightly red, maintaining the image of someone admitting her mistake and yielding. To an outsider, she had lowered her posture enough.
Yun Heng gave her an indifferent glance.
She had no need to fight Su Mingyuan over words right now. The outcome on the Heart-Interrogation Platform was sufficient; the remaining accounts could be settled later.
She followed the Xuanxiao Sect disciple away.
Behind her, He Lansong's voice resonated:
“Regarding today's events on the Heart-Interrogation Platform, no disciple shall exaggerate or spread rumors. Anyone who disobeys will be dealt with according to the disciplinary rules.”
“Understood.”
Listening to those voices, Yun Heng walked up the white stone steps into the depths of the Xuanxiao Sect.
Beyond the mountain gate, the spiritual energy was far denser than outside. Distant mountain peaks overlapped, mist swirling around their midsections, while the ringing of bells resonated from deeper within.
This was the place where Su Mingyuan truly began her rise in the original book.
After the courtyard gate shut, the footsteps outside gradually faded into the distance.
The guest courtyard was where the Xuanxiao Sect temporarily accommodated outside guests. Its furnishings were sparse: a wooden couch, a low table, and a bronze burner placed near the window. No incense was lit in the burner, yet the room retained a faint scent of vegetation, as if soaked in the mountain's spiritual energy year-round.
She had held on for too long on the Heart-Interrogation Platform.
From waking up to being accused of stealing jade, to the Shadow-Tracing Talisman, the Broken Command, and Yun Zhao's appearance, every step had pushed her forward. Only now, with her surroundings finally quiet, did she truly gain a moment to herself.
Yun Heng walked to the low table, sat down, took off the broken jade at her waist, and placed it in her palm.
The surface of the jade felt slightly cool.
It still appeared to be nothing more than a chipped piece of pale green jade. A corner was missing, and the old cord held nothing special. If she had not witnessed with her own eyes the Shadow-Tracing Talisman emerging from it, the Broken Command materializing, and Yun Zhao appearing because of it, Yun Heng would have found it difficult to believe that such a broken piece of jade was connected to her current predicament.
She gripped the broken jade and called out within her sea of consciousness.
“System.”
There was no response from her surroundings.
Yun Heng waited for a moment before calling out again: “System.”
This time, that cold voice finally echoed from the depths of her sea of consciousness.
【I am here.】
Yun Heng lowered her gaze, staring at the broken jade in her palm.
“What on earth are you?”
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