Yun Heng turned around and looked back at Wei Quechen.
Her tone was cold and unfriendly.
“Wei Quechen.”
“Do you still want me to confess everything truthfully now?”
The gloom on Wei Quechen’s face had long vanished.
He managed to force a stiff smile.
“Little Friend Yun, it is all a misunderstanding.”
“A misunderstanding?”
Yun Heng scoffed.
“Wasn't it you who just used spiritual pressure to force me to cough up blood?”
“Wasn't it also you who directed killing intent at me and wanted to take my life just moments ago?”
A flicker of displeasure surged in Wei Quechen’s heart.
Given his status, he had already taken the initiative to call it a misunderstanding, yet Yun Heng was still unwilling to accept the gesture and let the matter slide.
However, when he looked at the Soul Transformation cultivators standing behind Yun Heng, he forcefully suppressed that annoyance.
He still had no idea how powerful the family backing Yun Heng truly was.
He could not allow this matter to escalate any further.
Wei Quechen kept the smile on his face.
“Little friend must be joking.”
“Just now, this old man merely listened to slander for a moment and was overly concerned about my beloved disciple's safety, which led me to act somewhat impulsively.”
“This old man never truly intended to harm you.”
Low whispers immediately broke out among the crowd.
“Sect Master Wei sure changes his face quickly.”
“Just a moment ago he looked ready to kill her, but the second he sees she has a powerful backer, it instantly becomes a misunderstanding.”
Someone nearby hurriedly nudged the speaker's arm.
“Keep it down.”
“Yun Heng has a backing, but we don't.”
“If Wei Quechen hears you, watch out that he doesn't find an opportunity to get revenge on you later.”
The cultivator's expression shifted slightly, and he quickly shut his mouth.
The gazes of everyone present toward Wei Quechen became somewhat subtle.
If Yun Heng were truly just an ordinary rogue cultivator, she would have likely died at Wei Quechen's hands today.
Now that they realized her extraordinary identity, anyone could see right through his hypocritical shift in attitude.
On the other side of the crowd, Su Mingyuan's face was completely drained of color.
She stared blankly at the ten Shadow Guards and two hundred Golden Armored Guards standing behind Yun Heng, feeling a chill run through her entire body.
How was this possible?
How could Yun Heng have such a powerful family standing behind her?
With such strength, probably no sect or noble clan in the entire Eastern Region could easily match them.
Watching Wei Quechen’s swift change in attitude, the delight Su Mingyuan had felt earlier completely vanished.
In its place was an uncontrollable sense of terror.
Wei Quechen was still the Sect Master of the Taihua Sword Sect, at least.
No matter how strong the family behind Yun Heng was, they might not immediately go to war with the entire Taihua Sword Sect.
But what about her?
Su Mingyuan's fingers trembled uncontrollably.
“Fellow Daoist Su.”
Yun Heng’s voice drifted over from not far away.
Su Mingyuan, who was desperately trying to think of a way to escape, shuddered all over as if startled and jerked her head up.
The eyes of everyone around followed and landed on her.
Yun Heng stood there looking at her with a faint, half-mocking smile.
Su Mingyuan’s face was so pale it was almost entirely bloodless.
She managed to squeeze out a smile.
However, the smile was so stiff it looked worse than crying.
“Fellow Daoist Yun.”
“Mingyuan failed to understand the situation properly and misunderstood you in the heat of the moment.”
“My words earlier were inappropriate. I am truly sorry.”
Yun Heng let out a soft laugh upon hearing this.
This person really was quite something.
Su Mingyuan clearly hadn't seen her strike Xie Wujiu with her own eyes, yet she had spoken with absolute certainty earlier.
But now that she saw Yun Heng had a powerful backing, Su Mingyuan immediately bowed her head to admit fault, hoping to brush everything aside with a light apology.
How could it be that easy?
This time, she would absolutely not let it drop so easily.
She took two steps forward and stopped right in front of Su Mingyuan.
“Can a simple apology resolve everything?”
The smile on Su Mingyuan’s face froze completely.
“Fellow Daoist Yun, I was just...”
Yun Heng gave her no opportunity to continue explaining.
“Su Mingyuan.”
“You have slandered me time and time again.”
“Just because I didn't bother arguing with you in the past doesn't mean I am an easy target.”
Yun Heng’s voice was not loud, yet it echoed clearly in everyone's ears.
The expressions of many Xuanxiao Sect disciples in the crowd shifted slightly.
They all knew what Yun Heng meant by “in the past.”
They hadn't expected that today, outside the Qingming Secret Realm, Su Mingyuan would pull the exact same stunt again.
Yun Heng stared at Su Mingyuan, her gaze sharp and cold.
“Do you think that no matter what you do, someone will always step up to clean up your mess?”
“That the Xuanxiao Sect will protect you, and your senior brothers and elders will all speak up for you?”
“So you don't need evidence, nor do you need to consider the consequences?”
“As long as you point your finger and make accusations, everyone is supposed to believe you?”
Su Mingyuan’s lips parted, but she couldn't utter a single word of rebuttal.
What Yun Heng said was precisely the greatest reliance in her heart.
She possessed a Heavenly Destiny Spiritual Root and had been taken in as a direct disciple by Lu Xuanwei, the Sect Master of the Xuanxiao Sect.
Even though Lu Xuanwei had been in secluded cultivation all along, she had never suffered any real grievances in the sect.
No matter what happened, someone would always stand on her side.
Even when she publicly accused Yun Heng just now, she had never seriously considered what price she would pay if she failed.
Because the Grand Elder and several sect elders of the Xuanxiao Sect were right here.
Subconsciously, she assumed that as long as she bowed her head and admitted her mistake, He Lansong would step forward to protect her.
But this time, Yun Heng did not intend to give her that chance.
“Today, I'll make it crystal clear to you.”
“This isn't over.”
As those final words fell, Su Mingyuan’s face turned deathly pale in an instant.
Behind Yun Heng, Xuan Yi through Xuan Shi looked at her simultaneously.
The ten Soul Transformation cultivators did not speak, but those gazes alone sent a bone-chilling cold straight through Su Mingyuan.
Clear panic appeared in her eyes, and she reflexively turned her head to search through the crowd.
Soon, she spotted He Lansong standing in front of several Xuanxiao Sect elders.
Like someone grasping at a final lifeline, Su Mingyuan looked at him with eyes full of pleading.
Grand Elder, please save me.
If the Xuanxiao Sect didn't step in, how could she possibly walk away from Yun Heng unharmed?
He Lansong naturally saw her pleading gaze.
He let out a soft sigh in his heart, a trace of weariness appearing on his face.
Truth be told, he was thoroughly disappointed in Su Mingyuan.
Had Yun Heng truly been an ordinary rogue cultivator, Su Mingyuan’s scheme today would likely have succeeded.
Her bowing her head to admit fault now wasn't because she realized her own wrongdoing, but simply because she discovered that the faction backing Yun Heng was far stronger than she had imagined.
Though He Lansong was dissatisfied, he could not simply stand aside and do nothing.
After all, Su Mingyuan was the Sect Master's direct disciple.
If something happened to Su Mingyuan right in front of him, he would be unable to answer to the Sect Master.
He Lansong stepped out from the crowd and came before Yun Heng.
He bowed to Yun Heng.
“Little Friend Yun.”
“Regarding today's matter, it is indeed Mingyuan's fault.”
“She failed to distinguish right from wrong and publicly accused you based solely on her own speculation.”
“This old man apologizes to you on her behalf.”
“I hope Little Friend Yun can be magnanimous enough to forgive her and give her a chance to mend her ways.”
Just as a sliver of hope rose in Su Mingyuan’s heart upon seeing He Lansong step forward, she heard Yun Heng speak.
“Elder He.”
“You don't need to clean up Su Mingyuan's mess.”
He Lansong’s movements stiffened slightly.
Yun Heng continued:
“Today's matter is a personal grudge between Su Mingyuan and me.”
“It has nothing to do with you, nor does it have anything to do with the Xuanxiao Sect.”