On the bed, Shen Wen'an slowly opened his eyes and sat up after a moment of confusion.

At this moment, he seemed as indifferent as usual, but not as strange as before.

"Wen'an."

Shen Yuan called out with a smile.

"Ah Die."

"Big Brother, Second Brother."

Looking at his family in front of him, Shen Wen'an squeezed out a slight smile.

"Junior Brother Wen'an."

"Junior Brother Shen."

Li Heshan and Pei Yuwan also smiled and approached.

Facing them, Shen Wen'an just slightly nodded in greeting.

After exchanging pleasantries, Li Heshan finally spoke seriously, "Since Junior Brother Shen has awakened, that matter..."

The matter of killing fellow disciples at the Mountain Gate still had to be addressed.

Fortunately, Ji Yan was there, having witnessed that Shen Wen'an was previously influenced by the remnant soul of an unknown strong person.

The incomplete sword spirit of that Sword Holder had dissipated, and all the fault could be ascribed to him.

In this way, as long as Shen Wen'an had no intention of betrayal upon returning to the Mountain Gate, with his master Pei Zhao and Elder Ji assisting in the mediation, the punishment shouldn't be too severe.

Pei Yuwan hesitated for a moment and looked at Shen Wen'an, saying, "Do you remember the incident of killing Liu Hong at the Mountain Gate?"

In her view, the reason Shen Wen'an acted ruthlessly was surely due to the influence of the incomplete sword spirit.

However, Shen Wen'an just nodded directly.

"He asked for it."

Upon hearing this, both Li Heshan and Pei Yuwan frowned.

Li Heshan asked, "What do you mean by that?"

Shen Wen'an said indifferently, "That day, I wanted to leave the Mountain Gate to return home. Liu Hong and others deliberately made things difficult for me, asking for the Dean's decree."

"I didn't want to pay attention to them, but they wanted to discipline me on behalf of my master and struck first..."

"See! I said Liu Hong provoked first!"

"When did we, disciples of Qiyun Valley, have such a rule when leaving the mountain?"

Pei Yuwan immediately said angrily, "He's just a minor disciple. What right did he have to discipline a disciple on behalf of Ah Die!?"

"Ahem, Junior Sister." Li Heshan lightly coughed and said, "Even so, with fellow disciples, there's no justification for killing them."

"Report this to the Law Enforcement Disciples, and there will be punishment."

Shen Wen'an frowned slightly, "He had killing intent. Why couldn't I kill him?"

Liu Hong had killing intent?

Li Heshan turned back to glance at Ji Yan.

Ji Yan was a bit surprised and, after a moment of pondering, said:

"Young one, we at Qiyun Valley are proficient in arrays, and there's a Heart Inquiry Array at the Mountain Gate."

"If there's even a slight falsehood in your words, you'd better think clearly about the consequences."

"Junior Brother Wen'an wouldn't lie!" Just as Ji Yan finished his sentence, Pei Yuwan immediately spoke with a firm tone.

Seeing her like this, Ji Yan laughed and said, "If that's the case, you two can take him back."

"Right or wrong, a trip through the Heart Inquiry Array will make it clear."

"We can't take Junior Brother Wen'an back!" Pei Yuwan hurriedly blocked in front and pleaded, "Liu Hong is a disciple of the Cliff Mountain Courtyard. Elder Ji should know what kind of person Master Yao is in the Cliff Mountain Courtyard."

"If Junior Brother Wen'an returns, she definitely won't let it go!"

Ji Yan pondered for a moment and sighed.

"Yao Lin is indeed like that..."

"But if this young one doesn't return, how can we verify the matter?"

"If it spreads, what of Qiyun Valley's reputation?"

Pei Yuwan thought for a moment and suddenly spoke, "Simple!"

"There were several Cliff Mountain Courtyard disciples with Liu Hong that day. They definitely know the truth!"

"Let them go through the Heart Inquiry Array, and we'll know if Junior Brother Wen'an is telling the truth!"

Ji Yan shook his head helplessly.

"Heshan, you belong to the Sect Leader's faction. I don't want to get involved in this matter, you all should discuss it yourselves."

"The major situation in the mountain has reached a critical point now, so I must return."

Ji Yan, who originally only wanted to study the Array Dao, was not very interested in sect affairs.

With Li Heshan, the chief disciple of Qiyun Valley and the future Sect Leader candidate, in charge, Ji Yan was even less inclined to worry.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, Patriarch Shen, I take my leave."

Bowing to Lu Zhiyuan and Shen Yuan, Ji Yan then headed outside.

Shen Yuan escorted him to the door.

Upon returning, Li Heshan and Pei Yuwan had already discussed a strategy.

"Senior Brother, let's proceed with the plan!"

"If it truly doesn't work out, we'll consider letting Junior Brother Wen'an go back."

Li Heshan pondered for a moment and nodded.

"Alright, keep an eye on He County for now. I'll hurry back to the sect to discuss with the Master."

As a candidate for the next Sect Leader of Qiyun Valley, Li Heshan was also unsatisfied with Qiyun Valley's current state.

Stagnant and conservative, many elders in the sect still held onto their former glory and prestige.

If it continues like this, Qiyun Valley will only become increasingly declining.

In the end, like a tree falling and monkeys scattering, the disciples within the sect would be reduced to pathetic creatures kept by other Immortal Sects.

He hoped that this time he could protect Shen Wen'an, and in the future, when he assumed power, the sect would have a strong guardian.

After agreeing, they both left.

In the room, only the father and his three sons remained.

"Wen'an, do you feel any discomfort in your body?" Shen Yuan asked in a deep voice.

He was still a bit worried that the so-called incomplete sword spirit of the Sword Holder hadn't completely dissipated and had hidden ulterior motives within his son.

Shen Wen'an carefully sensed and shook his head slightly, "I feel I'm about to break through."

Shen Yuan nodded slightly, "Then rest well. It's not too late to cultivate after your body recovers."

After saying this, the father and two brothers left the room.

...

Danzhou, Qiyun Valley.

After returning, Li Heshan immediately went to the Hidden Cloud Courtyard and found Pei Zhao.

At this moment, Pei Zhao looked visibly weary, but upon seeing Li Heshan, he regained a bit of energy.

"Heshan, how is it?"

"Is that traitor in Yangnao Land?"

Li Heshan slightly cupped his hands, "Master Pei, Junior Brother Shen is indeed at his home in Yangnao Land."

Hearing this, Pei Zhao breathed a slight sigh of relief.

In his view, it's good that Shen Wen'an went home.

At least it proved that he had no intention of betraying us in his heart.

Otherwise, he would probably be at Cyan Ruo Sword House by now.

"Since that traitor is at home, why didn't you capture him on this trip?"

Li Heshan smiled bitterly, "Junior Brother Shen was seriously injured. It was Elder Ji who treated him, and he is currently recuperating at home."

This explanation was something he had discussed with Pei Yuwan.

"Injured?"

"Who injured him!?"

Pei Zhao hurriedly asked.

Li Heshan cupped his hands and said, "The Shen Family discovered an ancient ruin in Hidden Dragon Mountain, and Junior Brother Shen got injured while exploring it."

"No need to worry, Master Pei, Junior Brother Shen is fine now, he just needs some time to recuperate."

While offering comfort, Li Heshan also felt a sense of gratitude.

Grateful for the deep teacher-disciple bond between Pei Zhao and Shen Wen'an.

Know that, under the influence of that Sword Holder's Sword Spirit, Shen Wen'an inexplicably killed Liu Hong of Cliff Mountain Courtyard and disappeared without a trace.

Inside Qiyun Valley, 90% believed he had defected.

As the Dean of Hidden Cloud Courtyard, Pei Zhao always believed in his disciple.

"That's good, that's good..."

Pei Zhao rubbed his hands, looking relieved, and then asked, "Did you ask him what exactly happened that day?"

Li Heshan nodded and recounted Shen Wen'an's words verbatim.

After listening, Pei Zhao narrowed his eyes slightly.

"Hmph! Very well!"

"Does Cliff Mountain Courtyard's disciple intend to discipline my disciple?"

"Should I simply hand over the position of Hidden Cloud Courtyard Dean to him?"

Sensing Pei Zhao's anger, Li Heshan felt quite helpless.

The biggest reason for the decline of Qiyun Valley is stagnation and not recognizing oneself.

Additionally, internal conflicts and mutual dislike also play a part.

Even before becoming the Dean, Pei Zhao had deep conflicts with Yao Lin, the Dean of Cliff Mountain Courtyard.

He didn't know how to deal with it after taking over Qiyun Valley in the future.

"Master Pei, please don't be angry."

"Both sides hold different views now, and Junior Brother Shen can't come."

"Elder Ji suggested initiating the Heart Inquiry Array..."

As Li Heshan spoke, he silently apologized to Ji Yan.

Given the current situation, Cliff Mountain Courtyard appears to be the "victim," and the Dean Yao Lin wouldn't easily agree to interrogate the victim with the Heart Inquiry Array.

Pei Zhao sneered after hearing this.

"Heart Inquiry it is."

"I trust that kid wouldn't lie."

"Heshan, come with me to see Sect Leader Senior Brother."

Qiyun Valley, Sect Leader's Hall.

Yao Lin looked at Pei Zhao angrily, "You want to put my Cliff Mountain Courtyard's disciple into the Heart Inquiry Array!?"

Pei Zhao didn't cater to her, calmly saying, "If Senior Sister believes her disciple, what harm is there in entering the Heart Inquiry Array?"

"Now, in front of Sect Leader Senior Brother and the other Elders, Pei says this."

"If a disciple of Cliff Mountain Courtyard can pass the Heart Inquiry, Pei will immediately step down as Dean of Hidden Cloud Courtyard and offer two hundred Spirit Crystals as compensation to several nephews."

"If the Cliff Mountain Courtyard's disciple dares not, then this matter..."

Pei Zhao didn't finish, but everyone understood his implication.

The disciple from Cliff Mountain Courtyard claimed it was just customary questioning, and Shen Wen'an suddenly attacked, killing Liu Hong.

If they dare not enter the Heart Inquiry Array, it speaks volumes.

They might not like this outsider Shen Wen'an, but they can differentiate between right and wrong.

Otherwise, it would also affect Qiyun Valley's reputation if it spreads.

Yao Lin's face turned ugly.

She had already understood the whole story long ago.

She just hoped Shen Wen'an would really defect under pressure, so no one would pursue it.

Seeing that she was silent, Pei Zhao felt more confident and respectfully said,

"Sect Leader Senior Brother, please make a decision!"

Yun Zhongzi, the Sect Leader of Qiyun Valley, looked at Yao Lin and said, "Junior Sister Yao, please summon the disciples from that day."

"I will give them a chance, and if they confess honestly, I can be lenient."

"If the Heart Inquiry Array must be initiated, we will deal with it according to the sect rules."

His meaning was clear, virtually presuming that Cliff Mountain Courtyard's disciples were lying, implicating Shen Wen'an of Hidden Cloud Courtyard in the defection case.

Yao Lin's face changed, and she finally cupped her hands and walked out.

A moment later, two disciples from Cliff Mountain Courtyard were brought into the Sect Leader's Hall.

The others were still recovering from serious injuries.

"Zhang Lei (Wang Kang) of Cliff Mountain Courtyard, pay respects to the Sect Leader and Elders."

Their voices trembled as they cupped their hands in greeting.

Yun Zhongzi glanced at them indifferently, "Your master should have told you the situation."

"Now, recount the events of that day word for word, and I might give you a chance."

"Otherwise, once you enter the Heart Inquiry Array, there will be no room for maneuver."

Their bodies trembled slightly, showing signs of fear.

The reputation of the Heart Inquiry Array preceded it; once inside, every secret since birth would be exposed without fail.

Even a Golden Core Stage elder would find it hard to lie or hide the truth from the Heart Inquiry Array, let alone them at the Qi Refining Stage.

"Sect Leader, I'll speak!"

"We'll confess everything!"

Under such immense pressure, they couldn't hold on any longer and immediately knelt to speak.

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