In the end, Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, and Xiang Laner followed orders and returned to Wukang Mountain.

When they arrived at the foot of the mountain, it was the twilight hour filled with a rosy glow, and the ruined mountain gate archway appeared rather desolate.

Their encounter was not as splendid as the twilight glow, which one could imagine—they were dragged up the mountain by the furious disciples of Wukang Mountain, pulled by their clothes and hair, leaving them in complete disarray.

Some female disciples seemed to harbor an exceptional hatred towards Xiang Laner, scratching her until she bled, as if they wanted to disfigure her.

Xiang Laner took a good look and remembered everything.

If it weren't for the fact that the junior disciples weren't in charge, the three of them might have even been beaten to death on the spot.

Both up and down the mountain, disciples were hanging white flags and holding mourning ceremonies.

"Scoundrels!"

In front of the grand hall of the sect, Elder Ke greeted the three with an angry shout upon seeing them.

Actually, Wukang Mountain didn't have any evidence of the trio's guilt; the only suspicious evidence was that they, along with Xia Fuli, had left before the incident occurred and couldn't be contacted.

Faced with public questioning, the three of them insisted that Elder Xia had called them down the mountain, telling them to go to the Sky Pit at South Slope. They didn't understand the meaning but simply obeyed the order. After a long wait without seeing Xia Fuli appear, they decided to return.

Truly, if they were guilty of any wrongdoing, how could they dare to come back?

To these claims, Yin Huixin, whose eyes were red from crying, did not expose their lie but stared fiercely at Shi Chun without letting go.

Shi Chun was clear in his heart that this woman had probably been alerted by the Demon Path.

For now, apart from this woman, Shi Chun didn't know any other way the Demon Path could ensure their safety on the mountain.

After an inconclusive interrogation, the three were thrown into the dungeon and watched closely.

Indeed, Wukang Mountain lacked evidence to prove their connection with the deaths of the Bian father and son, and since the three were the first, second, and third place winners at the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, it was untenable to execute them without proof, especially with the responsibility of explaining to higher authorities.

Moreover, aside from Yin Huixin, most others actually believed the words of Shi Chun and the others.

In the eyes of many in Wukang Mountain, the death of the Bian father and son was related to the sects they had offended at the Sky Rain Meteor Conference, and if the murderer could grasp the movements of these three, they likely wouldn't let them off easily.

At least they couldn't decide the fate of Shi Chun and the others; they were waiting for Bian Que to return, unaware that Bian Que was already dead.

Not long after the three were locked up, someone took Shi Chun out of the cell, and he could guess who wanted to see him.

As expected, after being led into the high-level living quarters where common folk were not allowed, he saw Yin Huixin, with swollen and red eyes.

"You all leave," said Yin Huixin, waving away the escorting staff before suddenly making a move. She seized Shi Chun's neck with her hand, nearly choking him to death, and hissed in front of his face, "Is this your so-called 'doing my best to keep my son safe'?"

With restraints on his body unable to resist, Shi Chun's face turned crimson as he was choked, unable to utter a word.

After a while, Yin Huixin finally let go of him.

Before she could press him further, Shi Chun, holding his neck and coughing gasping for air, still staggered as he checked the surroundings. Then he came closer and asked in a low voice, "Is it safe to talk here?"

Yin Huixin snapped, "Don't think you can blackmail me, I dare to kill you!"

Upon hearing this, Shi Chun immediately understood that his guess was correct, this woman had indeed been warned by someone.

He softly said, "I already know your relationship with Xia Fuli, as well as Xia Fuli's relationship with Bian Weiyin."

Upon these words, Yin Huixin's face turned red with shame and anger. Before she could speak, Shi Chun pressed down on his hands to signal her to calm down, "This is not important, at least not to me, and I don't mean otherwise. It's not that I didn't want to save your son, I simply couldn't at the time. I was under control when the incident happened.

I can only say I did my best, and at least I've figured out the ins and outs of this matter. The problem lies in your relationship with Xia Fuli and Bian Weiyin. Someone wants to manipulate the situation to eliminate Bian Que, Bian Jixiong, and Bian Weikang, to elevate your daughter Bian Weiyin to the position."

Yin Huixin exclaimed angrily, "Nonsense, do you think you can deceive me? It's useless for Bian Weiyin to ascend without the refining secret method for the immobilization charm."

Shi Chun responded, "With Xun Gate, Lankang City will quickly gather a large amount of money and resources, and will rapidly expand. By controlling Bian Weiyin, they control these. Also, it seems that Bian Que and Bian Jixiong were clandestinely confronting someone else. Both sides were engaged in an underground struggle, which forced the hand of those people to commit murder.

By killing the three generations of the Bian family and elevating Bian Weiyin, and then with Xia Fuli blackmailing you with your private affair with her, and using Bian Weiyin's true lineage as leverage against her, they could control Wukang Mountain for their purposes."

Stunned and undecided, Yin Huixin fell silent at once. After pondering, she believed it and with a sorrowful expression on her face, she realized that this tragedy might indeed have been related to her own folly.

Shi Chun: "Elder Yin, what has happened has happened and is now part of the past, it's no longer important. What I need to tell you now is about the consequences. First, Bian Que can't come back, he's dead."

The news of the death sent a shock through Yin Huixin's expression.

Shi Chun: "Secondly, you must remember that they can't threaten you. Although I wasn't able to save your son, I did manage to get rid of Xia Fuli. It wasn't entirely for you; I just didn't want Xia Fuli to blackmail Bian Weiyin. Such a father is not worth keeping. Elder Yin, Xia Fuli is dead. Do you understand what I mean?"

He wasn't afraid that Yin Huixin would become angry at him over her lover's death, as he had learned from Xia Fuli that their affair had already faded.

Surprise flashed in Yin Huixin's eyes. Naturally, she understood the meaning behind his words. Someone had removed what worried her most, and after her surprise, suspicion arose: "What exactly do you want? Are you trying to bind Weiying to you?"

Shi Chun waved his hand, "I don't want anything, I simply wanted to help Bian Weiyin. I don't harbor romantic feelings for her; helping her is merely to not let down the affection she's shown me and to find peace of mind for myself. You know, I cannot stay on Wukang Mountain any longer, especially since I've killed her biological father. It's impossible for us to be together, and it's likely we won't see each other again once I leave. Everyone should just live well."

Yin Huixin fell silent, looking at him blankly for a long time. She hadn't expected such an outcome to emerge from bringing him here. After a long pause, she asked again, "Who exactly are you people?"

Shi Chun waved his hand, "Don't use the word 'you people'. Wu Jinliang and I really come from the Land of Exile, and we didn't expect to get involved in these matters. No matter who they are, and whether you believe me or not, I still need to say this: I am not one of them. I'm just a passerby in the Wu Kang Mountain Sect, and my journey ends here. Once I walk out that door, it's as if I never said anything; there's no need to dig into my affairs."

The conversation ended there, as there was no need to continue idle chatter.

Afterward, people came and took Shi Chun back to the dungeon. The three of them were not detained together but were instead kept in separate cages.

Yin Huixin gazed at the starry sky through the window for a very long time, silent amid her grief. Although she was still mourning, Shi Chun had given her a heads-up. She knew what she was about to face and how to confront it. Her heart was full of sorrow, yet very steady.

As the days passed, Bian Que never showed up, and the Wu Kang Mountain Sect gradually came to realize that something must have happened to the old Sect Master too, for he would not stay hidden from such a grave family incident.

The Wu Kang Mountain's upheaval also alarmed the provincial authorities and the Royal Court, with envoys from both arriving to inquire in person.

After all, the banner left by the killer brazenly proclaimed "Top Sect of the Sky Rain Meteor Conference," a clear expression of dissatisfaction with Wu Kang Mountain's victory, taking the grudges of the Sky Rain Meteor Conference beyond the venue.

But what could the enquiers do? Without evidence, whom could they hold accountable? It was only a matter of expressing outrage and condemnation, with declarations that once caught, the perpetrator would be severely punished.

Following that, there was a sect in Sheng Province that raised objections whether Xun Gate should still be established on Wukang Mountain.

The one expressing the objections was Jieyun Mountain, the largest sect in Sheng Province. At this critical juncture, when many suspected that Jieyun Mountain was behind the troubles of Wukang Mountain, Jieyun Mountain did not avoid suspicion and stood confidently against them.

Before Sheng Province could respond, the Royal Court made the first move, asking Jieyun Mountain to prove their non-involvement in the Wukang Mountain incident.

How could they prove it? This put Jieyun Mountain in an awkward position, becoming a big joke.

What followed was the matter of the successor to the Wu Kang Mountain Sect Master. The Royal Court was also quite attentive to this issue.

That was not difficult to understand, for the Royal Court had always had a connection with Wukang Mountain.

Inside the Wu Kang Mountain main hall, a distinguished official from the Royal Court, commanding with authority, was hosting the discussion when someone outside reported, "Elders, Junior Sister Bian Weiyin has returned."

"Let her come in!" Elder Yi Huachun said with a humph.

With the old Sect Master and the Sect Master both missing, he was now the most authoritative figure in the Wu Kang Mountain Sect, temporarily wielding its power.

Soon after, Bian Weiyin was brought in, looking bewildered.

She had been quite excited on her way back, having mastered the "Five Beasts Sky Touching Skill" and ready to test it, but upon her arrival at the mountain's foot, she found that a mourning ceremony was taking place. After learning what had happened, she was struck dumb, unaware of how she even made it back.

No one cared about her impropriety in front of the hall.

The Royal Court representative said from his high seat, "Now that the only Bian heir has returned, there should be no doubt about who will take the position of Sect Master."

Elder Yi Huachun said, "Without the refining secret method and still young, Weiying might find it difficult to command respect."

Elder Feng Youzhi said, "If the old Sect Master comes back alive, what then? Wouldn't it be inappropriate to decide on a Sect Master now?"

Elder Cui Youfei said, "That makes sense. I think it's better for the Great Elder to continue acting for the time being."

Yin Huixin, dressed in mourning attire, was silent and unmoving.

Elder Ke furrowed his brows, deep in thought.

The Royal Court representative glanced over the reactions of those assembled and spoke loudly, "The Wu Kang Mountain Sect exists because the Royal Court rewarded the Bian clan for its valor and established it as a legacy for successive generations to inspire the Royal Court's soldiers to follow orders and serve devoutly. If we allow someone outside the clan to interfere and the Royal Court turns a blind eye, would it not dishearten our troops?

I'm not suggesting anyone here has ulterior motives. I'm here to convey the Royal Court's stance: as long as the Bian clan exists, so does Wukang Mountain. If the Bian clan is gone, there would be no need for any of you to occupy this land. There's nothing to discuss in this matter. Even if Bian Que came back, the Royal Court would not permit him any other option.

By the rules of succession, only Bian Weiyin is valid, so the position of Sect Master should pass on to Bian Weiyin. If anyone has objections, they may accompany me to present their case to the Royal Court. If there are no objections, the matter of the Sect Master is settled. Who objects?"

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