On this turbulent night with the sky filled with turbulent winds and rain, Elder Ke Yizong stood with his hands behind his back, looking up at the aurora that had appeared once again and sighed, "When it rains, it pours."

The disciple standing beside him knew who he was referring to—who else could it be but the new Sect Master Bian Weiyin?

Rumors were already rampant, and the Royal Court's attitude towards Bian Weiyin's succession as Sect Master had begun to waver. The sudden appearance of this celestial event was like adding insult to injury.

In the past, such celestial events were considered auspicious and profitable days for Wu Kang Mountain. But now, they were likely to leave all the disciples feeling disheartened.

One thing after another, continuously shaking everyone's confidence in the new Sect Master.

At this time on Wu Kang Mountain, many disciples had come out of their houses, all looking up at the dazzling colors in the night sky.

In the past, this would have been everyone's busiest time, but today they unexpectedly had a moment of respite, many sighed long and short breaths.

"Boom, Boom, Boom..."

The dull ringing of the bell suddenly echoed at the mountain's peak, stirring the soul.

Everyone on the mountain looked around in surprise, exchanging glances, then began to move habitually, falling into their usual routines as in the past. The ringing of the bell was the command.

They got busy, transporting Yulan Bamboo from the mountain base, soaking it, spreading it out...

The sound of the bell reverberated in the prison, where three people, including Shi Chun, who were sitting cross-legged, stood up from their cells and listened attentively. They were well aware of what the bell signified.

Wu Kang Mountain had begun refining talismans again!

The Bian family, grandparents, and grandchildren were supposed to be dead, weren't they? Xiang Laner and Wu Jinliang found it very strange.

Only Shi Chun seemed to ponder, muttering to himself, "It is indeed that Cultivation Technique."

He knew very well that Bian Weiyin must have confirmed its usefulness, otherwise how could she start refining? It wasn't a trivial matter to cause a fuss within the whole sect for nothing.

"Chun Tian, when are we going to be let out?" Wu Jinliang suddenly shouted.

Shi Chun replied, "I don't know."

The three of them were very puzzled. The Demon Path had promised that they could leave safely after their return, so why were they still locked up? Had the Demon Path's promise been eaten by dogs?

They did not know the situation outside, and they were unaware that the Demon Path had already had a falling out with Yin Huixin. Now, unless they found a powerful figure to speak up for their release or directly stormed the mountain to break jail, their departure was not up to the Demon Path.

Tonight's aurora was not as long-lasting as the last time, it persisted for just about an hour.

Elder Yi Huachun and Feng Youzhi personally escorted the talisman paper calculated based on the time to the heavy stone door of the Forbidden Land.

This time, the person waiting at the door wasn't Bian Jixiong.

For the first time in the history of Wu Kang Mountain, a woman stood in front of the stone door at this moment to receive the batch of talisman paper.

Despite being full of doubts and uncertainties, the two elders still proceeded to hand over the talisman paper by the rules.

Afterwards, they went to their positions as protectors according to the rules, while Bian Weiyin pushed open the stone door and entered, disappearing behind the closed door...

Outside the Forbidden Land, Elder Feng Youzhi approached Elder Xu, asking in a low voice, "Can she refine the Secret Technique?"

Elder Yi Huachun pondered, "We will know in an hour whether she can or cannot."

An hour later, the stone door opened again, and Bian Weiyin handed over the damp talisman paper to them, giving some instructions as Sect Master.

The soaked talisman paper was quickly taken to the next stage for refining. Many people were eager to know the answer—whether the secret method of refining the immobilization charm was inherited, as it was a matter of interest for the entire sect.

The result was definitive—the new batch of immobilization charms had been successfully refined!

As the second half of the night approached, with the spread of good news, Wu Kang Mountain erupted in excitement, with some even cheerfully cheering.

A group of elders also found Bian Weiyin, who had yet not retired for the night, their eyes filled with astonishment and surprise.

Even Yin Huixin felt the same, astounded by her daughter who had hidden so much right under her watchful eye.

Seeing Bian Weiyin coming out and standing on the steps, Elder Ke asked excitedly, "Weiying... Sect Master, have you mastered the secret method of refining the immobilization charm?"

Bian Weiyin nodded, formally declaring, "The year my father expelled my brother from Wu Kang Mountain, he passed the refining secret method to me, saying that grandfather said, to let me take over Wu Kang Mountain in the future when there would be someone from the Bian family!"

The elders were speechless, they believed it because otherwise, Bian Weiyin would not have been able to receive the refining secret method, which they knew was kept very confidential.

They were speechless towards Bian Que and his son, realizing how scheming and ruthless the father and son were, focusing all the blame on the son while they had already secretly decided on another heir.

The problem was, they even sent this daughter to the Sky Rain Meteor Conference.

In this situation, who would dare believe that Bian Weiyin possessed the secret method of refining the immobilization charm?

"Very well, very well." Elder Ke clapped his hands together in happiness, again and again.

After some elders left with their indescribable complex emotions, Yin Huixing pulled her daughter into the house and asked in a low voice, "Is it really the refining secret method passed down by your father?"

Bian Weiyin nodded and said, "Yes, father told me not to reveal it to anyone, not even you."

After all, she had been the City Lord of Lankang City; she possessed the tactfulness of a City Lord. She knew what could be said and what must never be disclosed to anyone.

Yin Huixing said incredulously, "Then your previous discontent with your brother was... all an act?"

Bian Weiyin replied, "Father didn't trust you enough."

Yin Huixing was utterly speechless, sensing that all those with the surname Bian were in cahoots, and she, a person without their surname, was indeed an outsider.

Suddenly changing the topic, Bian Weiyin said, "Mother, let's let Shi Chun and the others go."

Sighing, Yin Huixing replied, "Decide for yourself." With that, she turned and walked away, feeling a flicker of despair.

The next day, within the Sect's conference hall, Bian Weiyin publicly made a decision. Officially, she expelled Shi Chun, Wu Jinliang, and Xiang Laner from Wu Kang Mountain, effective immediately.

No one raised any objections; most had long been eager to get rid of that bunch.

The one to carry out the order was Elder Ke, who personally led people to bring the three from the prison and announced the Sect's decision before the culprits.

Eager to cut ties with the disgraceful apprentices, the expulsion was carried out promptly.

Once they were dragged out of the prison, they were immediately escorted down the mountain. Only at the foot of the mountain were the restrictions on them released.

Behind a window pane, Bian Weiyin's profile was shadowed as she bit her lip, secretly watching those figures descending the mountain.

Originally, upon returning from seclusion, the first person she wanted to see was Shi Chun. However, some things were beyond her wildest dreams, so she had not seen Shi Chun since returning, not even giving a final farewell.

She didn't know what to say should she visit him. Did her father and brother's deaths have anything to do with Shi Chun? Should she ask?

Or should she remain ignorant?

And if there was a connection, what would she do?

Little did she know, her father and brother's deaths were indeed related to Shi Chun. From the moment she had clearly told Shi Chun that she wanted to become the Wu Kang Mountain Sect Master, their fates were sealed, especially after they had become involved in an intimate relationship.

Shi Chun still remembered the whispers under the starry sky, when they had embraced. Knowing he couldn't take her with him, the only thing he could do was to try and fulfill her wish.

For Shi Chun, to get Xia Fu's fish, one could think of other ways. Who said that getting rid of the Bian grandfather and grandson was necessary? But without their deaths, how could Bian Weiyin ascend to power? It was impossible; it would be nothing but a dream. Continuous infighting would ruin her life.

At the base of the mountain, Shi Chun glanced back at the peaks, keeping a secret in his heart, his tender way, irrelevant of good or evil, betraying none but his heart, a truth no one would ever know.

Looking out the window at the foot of the mountain was Bian Weiyin.

She was no longer who she used to be; she was no longer the City Lord of Lankang City but the Sect Master of Wu Kang Mountain.

From the perspective of a Sect Master, she had to contemplate whether Shi Chun, who knew the secrets of the Wu Kang Mountain talisman refining method, might have disclosed it to others, and whether she should silence him.

Whether for personal benefit or from the Sect's standpoint, she must consider this.

Yet, she ultimately did not act on it. Their fateful first night together was etched in her heart, too profound for her to bring herself to commit such a venomous deed. This too was her form of tenderness...

After descending the mountain, Shi Chun and his companions soon met up with Feng Chi, who had been waiting for them.

It was only after speaking with Feng Chi that Shi Chun and the others learned of the recent turmoil on Wu Kang Mountain, the mother and daughter had broken ties with the Demon Path, and becoming the target of its malignance was inevitable.

The Demon Path was equally disgusted, never anticipating that Bian Weiyin had been designated the heir within the mountain.

Did they need their help to ascend to power?

What were they busy with?

No wonder the mountain did not receive their gestures of goodwill or succumb to their threats. They held a trump card.

"Fuming over Yin Huixin's resolute stance, the higher-ups initially suspected that one of you leaked the news of Xia Fu's death. It wasn't until last night, when Bian Weiyin revealed the secret of the refining method and declared the truth, that we understood what was happening."

"The father and son Bian Que were too cunning. That useless Bian Weikang was just a distraction, and we've all been fooled, all this time for nothing."

"Let them act out their drama. This time their act was so good, they staked their own lives on it," said Feng Chi, clearly resentful and cursing for quite a while.

It wasn't just her; even Xiang Laner, recalling all her experiences since leaving the Cloud Building, alongside various manipulations and concessions, realized that Bian Weikang had long been abandoned. They nearly exposed themselves and were almost uprooted. Thinking about the times she called someone "my man," all while she was so close to continuing the charade of producing children for Bian Weikang, she was thoroughly disgusted.

"Rest assured, their mother and daughter won't have an easy time. Even with the secret refining method, their grip on the Sect Master's position is far from secure. The rumors of Xia Fu's daughter and the 'usurping the nest' have already shaken the unwavering attitude of the Royal Court. Once internal strife and external threats converge, Wu Kang Mountain will surely descend into chaos. The mess will be too great to clean up, and a change in leadership is inevitable, regardless of the secret technique. As far as I know, sects like Jieyun Mountain are already planning to kick Wu Kang Mountain while it's down and cause trouble," continued Feng Chi, unleashing her dissatisfaction.

Listening to Feng Chi's complaints, Shi Chun remained silent, realizing that things were not as straightforward as he thought and that Bian Weiyin's situation was perilous.

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