"Objections? Elder Yi, Elder Feng, and Elder Cui clearly expressed themselves earlier; is it of any use?"

"Anyone else who raises objections will have to present their case to the Royal Court. Do you think the Royal Court will listen to a mere Wu Kang Mountain elder rambling on? Whether you can even return from there is unknown."

This was clearly using the Royal Court to suppress dissent. Who would dare to object?

The scene fell into silence. After a long wait with no one speaking up, the Royal Court envoy let out a faint smile, "Since a decision has been made, I shall take it back to the Royal Court for further orders."

He then rose from his seat and approached Bian Weiyin, instructing, "Sect Leader Bian, once the aftermath is handled, you should promptly report to the Royal Court."

Bian Weiyin was still confused. Sect Leader of Wu Kang Mountain? This was what she had long desired, yet now she did not know whether to feel sad or happy.

Thus, she became the Sect Leader of Wu Kang Mountain in a daze.

With the task completed, the Royal Court envoy did not stay long. This was not the time to linger; they were in mourning here, how could he stay for leisure and pleasure?

Before leaving the temple, just as he was about to ascend to the heavens, the Royal Court envoy turned back to address the group seeing him off: "After all, the Sky Rain Meteor Conference is personally organized by the Royal Court. Shi Chun and others were top contenders, known to all. If it's proven that they were not involved in the incident, handle the matter cautiously, for it touches upon the Royal Court's dignity."

With that said, he soared away into the sky.

Bian Weiyin remained dazed in place.

Elder Yi Huachun found an excuse to leave. "I'm going to see how the construction of the Xun Gate is progressing."

Despite the incident at Wu Kang Mountain, the construction of the Xun Gate was not delayed, proceeding as scheduled, and it was already more than halfway done.

After Elder Yi and a few others had left, the scene was left with Elder Ke and the mother-daughter duo, Yin Huixing.

After a long while, Elder Ke turned and left, leaving behind a somber sigh, "The Bian family's heritage ends with this generation!"

Yin Huixin watched his retreating figure, and she could probably understand his meaning. Bian Weiyin was a woman, and her future offspring might not be recognized by the Royal Court. The concept of male and female succession was such.

After seeing off the distinguished guests, Bian Weiyin was finally led to see the remains of her father and brothers. Apart from weeping bitterly, what else could she do? The past respect, the past resentments, if they could be moved past, so be it; if not, they would forever remain in her heart.

Only after hearing the accounts of her fellow disciples did she realize that the disaster stemmed from winning the Sky Rain Meteor Conference. She deeply regretted not following the sect's instructions in the past, and her crying grew even more sorrowful.

Later, during a moment of respite, Yin Huixing took her aside for a private conversation.

There were some things Yin Huixing had intended to keep secret for a lifetime, preferably taking them with her to the grave. But now, with her daughter abruptly in power and facing internal and external threats as a mother and daughter alone, one careless step could be fatal.

To tread cautiously, Yin Huixing revealed the truth.

Starting from when she found her daughter and Shi Chun spending the night together, she detailed the events of this incident, their involvement with Shi Chun, and even confessed that Shi Chun was aware of her affair with Xia Fuli, revealing everything Shi Chun had instructed and advised before he killed Xia Fuli.

Bian Weiyin was stunned; she was not the daughter of Bian Jixiong, she was the daughter of Elder Xia?

This was a shocking secret to her, almost too much to accept. What did this all mean for her now, was she an usurper?

But after revealing all this, Yin Huixing then added a twist, "Shi Chun thought you were Xia Fuli's daughter, but he was mistaken. You have no relation to Xia Fuli; Bian Jixiong is undoubtedly your biological father."

Bian Weiyin hurriedly asked, "What about your affair with Xia Fuli?"

Yin Huixin sighed, "There was indeed something between Xia Fuli and me, many years ago. I feel I might have been manipulated, but I have no evidence. Initially, I only sensed his affection for me, but later during a sect mission abroad, an incident happened. We were ambushed, our companions scattered, and only he and I depended on each other.

In the isolation of a man and a woman, facing his tender care, I was moved, and then something that should not have happened did happen. Afterward, I was immensely anguished, unsure why I had allowed such a thing to occur, and then it was too late for regrets; I got entangled with him.

Soon after, I discovered his questionable intent; he seemed particularly interested in the sect's refining secret method, always trying to start from me. I realized that there was something odd about our private affair, looking back at the process, suspecting that I had been drugged and calculated.

Yet I dared not confront him directly; then you were born. Given my cultivation, how could I have given him the chance? But I told him that you were his child."

Bian Weiyin was once again shocked, "Why would you do that?"

Yin Huixin stared incredulously, apologizing with her face full of remorse, "Weiying, your mother was really out of options back then. He wanted me to steal the Sect's refining secret method, and I couldn't agree to that. Yet, I couldn't escape his entanglement either. Continuing that way, I honestly didn't know how to end things.

The error had already been done, and I didn't want to continue, to sink deeper, so I had to turn around and threaten him.

After you were born, he mistakenly thought you were his. With your existence, I bluntly refused him, and he couldn't temper his anger. His previous threats were useless since revealing them would implicate his own daughter too. From the time of your birth, I was free of his entanglement."

"…" Bian Weiyin was speechless, sensing the years her mother had struggled to juggle all sides and protect herself from Xia Fuli.

Thinking back, no wonder Xia Fuli had always been quite good to her. He had also strongly supported her when she vied for the position of City Lord of Lankang City.

"I originally thought that the matter was over after that, but facts have proven that a mistake is a mistake. It was I who caused the death of your father, the death of your brother…" Yin Huixin's voice shook with sobs, her eyes glistening with tears, but after shaking her head, she resumed firmly: "But some mistakes aren't necessarily bad. It's not a bad thing for those who think they know the inside story to continue with their misunderstandings. Remember, never explain to anyone privately that your birth father isn't Xia Fuli, not even to Shi Chun. Otherwise, it would endanger our lives."

Bian Weiyin was somewhat puzzled; even if the truth was revealed, as the legitimate daughter of the Bian family, how could their lives be endangered? She questioned doubtfully, "Mom, isn't that an exaggeration?"

Yin Huixin grasped her daughter's arm tightly, "Wukang Mountain is not as peaceful as you think. A storm is approaching soon, and from now on, we must depend on each other as mother and daughter. Just standing our ground is immensely difficult. You are originally a daughter of the Bian family; there's no need to explain any truth privately. You must not say anything, promise me!"

Bian Weiyin, not sure if it was an illusion, sensed her mother's fear and fright about this matter. After thinking it over, she nodded, "Mom, I understand. I won't tell anyone… including Shi Chun."

Speaking of Shi Chun, Yin Huixin advised: "I've been through this as a woman, I understand a woman's emotions. If not for this incident, I too would have hoped to see a perfect match and fulfill your wish. But you must understand, your current identity does not allow you the freedom of romantic feelings.

Even though Xia Fuli isn't your birth father, there's still the death of your father and your brother. He's too deeply involved to be unconnected. To think he's unrelated is like treating me as a naïve child. He's most likely implicated.

His background isn't simple; at the least, the issues he's involved in aren't simple. Those daring to muddy the waters here aren't simple either, so you and he are doomed not to come together. He himself knows this; he even said, after leaving, to live peacefully on our paths."

Bian Weiyin turned silent.

Yin Huixin continued, "I will quickly spread the word and find a suitable match among the disciples of our generation."

Bian Weiyin gasped, "With the remains of our father and brothers still cold, how could this be?

Yin Huixin replied: "It's just spreading the word, not really arranging a fiancé. Actually making an arrangement wouldn't be effective. It's better to choose without settling; that way, you'll get more support.

Many already admire you, and most of your peers among the disciples are key members of the Sect. Once this news spreads, naturally, everyone will want to show their worth. You are currently on unstable footing and facing a massive surge of challenges. You urgently need this support."

Bian Weiyin remained silent again, tacitly consenting.

Elder Yin was very urgent about this matter and acted immediately. The next day the word was spread, regardless of background, slightly older or younger, as long as they were male disciples of the same generation, it was clear that the intention was to find a capable partner for her daughter.

That was the Sect Leader, and quite beautiful at that.

This news instantly stirred the previously subdued atmosphere of Wukang Mountain, with many disciples striving to show their worth.

The news even reached the ears of Shi Chun, who was still in prison. Bian Weiyin had not come to see Shi Chun after returning to the mountain.

The storm Yin Huixin worried about came swiftly, as Shi Chun had warned.

Soon after the memorial service for the Bian's father and sons, as the altar had just been placed into the ancestral shrine, on the very day Xun Gate was completed, indeed, someone secretly approached Yin Huixin, blackmailing her with her past affair with Xia Fuli.

Yin Huixin would never admit such a thing; besides vehemently denying it, she had people seized, clearly making her stance known.

The person escaped.

Both sides were irreconcilably at odds then. The Demon Path, busy over nothing, was furious and humiliated, with no evidence but unwilling to endure the blame silently, and it definitely would not let Yin Huixin off easily.

A violent storm struck instantly; rumors circulated in Lankang City, saying Yin Huixin and Xia Fuli had an affair, claiming that Bian Weiyin was actually the daughter of Yin Huixin and Xia Fuli.

The details of Yin Huixin and Xia Fuli's first affair were spoken of with clear elaboration: how many people were dispatched together on the mission, what happened during that period, and then the wild passion between a lonely man and a woman in a certain place – the whole story was elaborately detailed.

With many of those involved still around, the reminder matched up, causing suspicions to arise.

Coupled with internal dissatisfaction with Bian Weiyin's lack of experience as the Sect Leader, Wukang Mountain was thrown into chaos by the rumors, exhausting both mother and daughter. Fortuitously, Yin Huixin's method of choosing a suitor was timely; at the time of this severe trial, a number of core members tried hard to help stabilize the overall situation.

Even more dreadful, the news that the Bian family had been "usurped" reached the Royal Court, and the court's attitude towards Bian Weiyin's succession as Sect Leader seemed to waver.

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