At this moment, the remaining Blue Scarf members threw out round balls and retreated, completely indifferent to their leader's safety.

The poison powder dispersed.

Zhang Rongfang took a few steps forward, holding his breath, only to see that the female leader had already stopped breathing.

Her waist was kicked at a strange angle, her internal organs were completely crushed, and blood was gushing from her mouth.

Immediately, he had no time to chase the Blue Scarf members, instead turning around and approaching Zhang Xuan, Xiao Qingying, and the others. He waved his hand to scatter the poison powder.

"Are you okay?" he said in a deep voice.

Just as he turned around, Zhang Rongfang's body suddenly paused, a trace of disbelief in his eyes.

Beside Flying Bear King and Master Zhang Xuan and the others, there stood a person at this very moment.

That person... was Ran Xinyue.

"Are they chaotic forces? Why are you... doing this?"

The gentle forest breeze blew, lifting the white veil covering the lower half of her face.

Under the veil was a face full of blood-red scars.

But at this moment, Zhang Rongfang didn't care at all what the other person looked like.

His thoughts surged in his mind, instantaneously realizing that someone had set this up, although he couldn't possibly have imagined.

The opponent actually managed to track both his and Ran Xinyue's whereabouts simultaneously.

What does this mean?

It means that on the Wushan Prefecture side, the opponent has a grasp over everything beyond his own capabilities. It means that he, Ran Xinyue, and Master Zhang Xuan, everyone's whereabouts are under that person's watch!

At this moment, the wind howled in the forest, shadows of trees shook.

Outside, the water flowed turbulently, with dense ripples breaking on the water's surface.

It was raining.

"Flying Bear, take them and go first." Zhang Rongfang stood on the spot, looking at Flying Bear King.

Flying Bear King glanced at Ran Xinyue; this woman was too terrifying. Just now, he couldn't even see how she appeared, and she was by his side in the blink of an eye.

He wanted to run, but with a single hand pressed by the other, he couldn't move.

He tried to shift his body, squirming on the ground, finding Ran Xinyue ignoring him.

He immediately quickened his movements, twisting out a short distance, and then took the severely injured Zhang Xintai, along with Zhang Xuan and Xiao Qingying, leading them to quickly leave.

As they walked, they looked back, their hearts full of anxiety.

"That person..." Zhang Xintai gritted his teeth, wanting to ask something but was stopped by his father Zhang Xuan, raising a hand to halt him.

"The only thing we can do now is quicken our pace and leave!" Zhang Xuan said harshly.

This was the third time, the third time they were saved by Zhang Rongfang.

It was obvious now; they had completely become the weakness others exploited against Zhang Rongfang.

This cannot go on!

Zhang Xuan knew in his heart that a good solution must be found...

And the best solution was to distance themselves, to leave! Not to be near Zhang Rongfang again!

"We... should leave the Righteous Alliance..." Xiao Qingying suddenly spoke.

Upon these words, Zhang Xuan and Zhang Xintai fell silent.

But soon, as they exchanged a glance, they nodded firmly.

"Alright! We'll arrange to leave when we return, and then find a place to hide well!"

Once they thought the Righteous Alliance was the light illuminating the world.

But now... the more they understood, the darker it seemed, and it felt that the Great Spirit was beyond saving...

Moreover, once breaking away from the identity of the Righteous Alliance, their relationship with Zhang Rongfang would no longer be his weakness!

The group quickly departed, gradually disappearing at the end of the riverside, blocked by the forested bend.

Only Zhang Rongfang and Ran Xinyue remained at the original spot.

The two were ten meters apart, yet neither made any movement.

Though Zhang Rongfang wore a black mask and altered his image and demeanor, Ran Xinyue somehow recognized his identity with just a glance.

"I initially thought the person secretly transmitting information was framing us, but now... I see I was wrong." Ran Xinyue said in a deep voice.

She stared at Zhang Rongfang opposite her.

"Now that the people are gone, you have no worries. Can you tell me your reason?"

"..." Zhang Rongfang was silent for a moment, "Those few people just now, once helped me when I was weak. I'm repaying the favor, nothing more."

"Do you know they are chaotic forces?" Ran Xinyue asked.

"I didn't know."

"You do." Ran Xinyue laughed. "Do you know what the relationship is between our Great Dao Teaching and the Righteous Alliance?"

"I don't know," Zhang Rongfang replied again.

"We killed so many high-ranking members of the Righteous Alliance... and the Righteous Alliance's counter-group, likewise, killed many of our experts. The two sides have long been enemies soaked in blood. And now... do you know what will happen if it gets out that you aided the chaotic forces of the Righteous Alliance!?"

Ran Xinyue's voice gradually became severe.

"..." Zhang Rongfang fell silent.

"You don't know. We were led here, it's all part of someone's setup. What is their purpose??" Ran Xinyue's gaze grew sharper.

"You think that by wearing a mask and using the Bone Shrinking Skill, you can make it flawless. Ridiculous!

Before you do something, can you think about your master!? They helped you, but the Sect Leader is your master! How much has he helped you!? How much has he taught you!? Can you discern what's more important!?"

Ran Xinyue's chest rose and fell continuously, evidently very agitated.

"I believe." Zhang Rongfang said, looking up, "If I truly failed to save them, Master Yue would no longer appreciate me or value me."

"Why!? Are those few people truly more important to you than your master!?" Ran Xinyue asked puzzledly.

She could already imagine that if this matter were exposed, the entire Great Dao Teaching, after finally finding a suitable Daoist, might be forced to break ties!

A dignified Daoist, colluding with chaotic forces against his own sect.

Once this scandal spreads, the Spirit Court and Snow Rainbow Pavilion, along with other sects, might use it as a weakness for a severe attack.

"You are too naive," Ran Xinyue shook her head, "At our level, simple vendettas require considering righteousness first! You no longer represent just yourself but many others in the group behind you..."

"If you still want to reclaim the identity of a Daoist, go and kill those people just now!" She raised her hand and pointed in the direction of Zhang Xuan.

"If you still consider the Sect Leader as your mentor, don't let him fall into a passive situation! Now is the crucial time for our Great Dao Teaching's century-long plan, not a moment of error is allowed!

"I won't do it." Zhang Rongfang inhaled gently. Suddenly, he understood.

Why he lived heavier and heavier.

Why, despite his growing strength, he felt increasingly exhausted.

Why?

"Why!?" Ran Xinyue stepped closer, her eyes like a hawk, staring hard at him.

"If you can't do it, I will help you!"

"Because." Zhang Rongfang suddenly felt as though he had laid down many things in his heart.

He understood... that he was always worrying about this and that, thereby constantly suppressing and hiding himself.

And now...

"Because Yue Shi is my mentor, and among those people just now, there were also my mentors."

His voice was calm. Meeting her confused gaze, he continued.

"I actually am not called Zhang Ying."

He took off the mask on his face, and his body naturally emitted a cracking sound, returning to its original form.

"You..." Ran Xinyue wanted to speak.

"My real name is Zhang Rongfang." Zhang Rongfang showed a gentle smile on his face.

"Zhang Xuan is my teacher, so I must save him. No one can stop me."

"That's all there is to it."

"Additionally, my real age is twenty-two, not thirty-six.

And my background actually was all fabricated by that departing Zhang Xuan teacher through the Golden Wing Pavilion back then."

"So, I am not Zhang Ying Daoist at all. I am merely an ordinary civilian from a humble class, wanting only to do what I think is right."

"If you believe I am unqualified to be a Daoist, you can propose to Yue Shi for withdrawal."

Ran Xinyue widened her eyes, wondering if her ears were buzzing, causing an auditory hallucination.

Zhang Ying? Real name Zhang Rongfang!? Fake identity? Fake age? Entirely fake background!?

"You...!?" She could not anticipate encountering such a completely unexpected situation on this investigation trip.

She stared at Zhang Rongfang as if she wanted to peel him apart to see the truth inside.

The prestigious Daoist of Great Dao Teaching, even his name and identity are fake!?

This is simply ridiculous!?

"You're lying to me!? Aren't you afraid I might kill you on the spot!?"

Ran Xinyue's arm already began to swell with blood, expanding several times within a few breaths, skin turning from pale to dark red, sprouting lumps of tumors, looking deformed.

She knew Zhang Rongfang since Yue Dewen asked her to also check on Zhang Rongfang's family situation and even advised her to help a little.

So upon hearing, she understood clearly.

"I'm not lying to you, you..." Zhang Rongfang was about to speak.

"No way!" Suddenly, a sharp light flashed in Ran Xinyue's eyes. "You said your age, identity, and origin are fake, but your Cultivation of Literature proficiency is definitely real!?"

"What did you say your age was!?" She suddenly recalled something, her voice beginning to tremble.

"Twenty-two...." Zhang Rongfang blinked and replied.

"Twenty-two.... Late-stage Nascent Soul....!!?" Ran Xinyue trembled all over.

"I....." She bowed her head, expression twisted.

"Yue Shi knows all this, if you are certain, from now on you can return to the Great Capital and tell Yue Shi, I'm sorry for him...." Zhang Rongfang said in a deep voice.

"No!" Ran Xinyue raised her hand and shouted. "Stop talking!!"

The woodland went silent, only the faint sound of the wind, rain, and Ran Xinyue's heavy breathing was heard.

"You....."

She breathed deeply... feeling the should-have-been-astoundingly-powerful body after worshipping gods having trouble breathing due to emotional upheaval.

"I damn well, right now... feel like beating you to death..."

"You... okay!?" Zhang Rongfang was somewhat astonished.

Ran Xinyue lowered her head, pressing her chest. At this moment, she only felt one thing: heartache.

"No need to ask the Sect Leader. You certainly won't be in trouble...."

She paused.

"Because your talent is simply too high....!"

She looked up, observing the baffled Zhang Rongfang, contrasting with her own past, feeling more suffocated.

"Do as you please... Anyway, geniuses like you... can be forgiven for anything!"

"But I am from a humble class..."

"It doesn't matter if you're from pigs and dogs!"

"You are insulting me!?"

"I'm sorry, I was wrong...." Ran Xinyue felt she had suffered a massive blow.

She finally understood why the Sect Leader valued this Daoist so much, that even three out of four Grandmaster aides came to serve him as bodyguards and delivery of tokens.

While Zhang Qingzhi's comparison was extremely different.

"You can go." Ran Xinyue waved her hand, powerless not wanting to see him.

"Pretend I've never seen you."

Zhang Rongfang: "...."