The aura around Gu Qingyuan grew increasingly menacing. By the time she finished, he was radiating pure killing intent.

’While I was unconscious, Lan Le and Song Wanning actually conspired to frame Chuxue?’

His heart ached even more to learn that her savings, accumulated over many years, were all gone.

Just then, Ye Chuxue added, "Master, to win the bid for that Elixir Pill, I had to borrow three hundred thousand Mid-grade Spirit Stones from the Sect. Now I’m drowning in debt, and I don’t even have the pill to show for it. It’s all because I’m useless!"

Ye Chuxue’s heart felt like it was bleeding. ’If I had known, I would have taken the Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill myself. It would have cured my poison, and I wouldn’t have let someone else get to it first.’

’But now it was too late for regrets!’

"I don’t know how I could have offended Uncle Song for her to bully me like this."

Seeing his disciple shed aggrieved tears, Gu Qingyuan’s fury surged.

The news that she was now in debt to the Sect was more than he could bear.

"Come on. We’re going to find her. I intend to ask that Song Wanning just what she thinks she’s doing!"

He grabbed Ye Chuxue’s arm and dragged her toward Yunxiao Peak.

But to his surprise, when they got there, Song Wanning was nowhere to be found. Only Bai Yang and Li Rao were present, and even Lu Nanfeng hadn’t been seen in a long while.

Gu Qingyuan was radiating killing intent, but one look was all it took for Bai Yang to understand the reason for his visit. Bai Yang calmly and respectfully explained the events of the past few days.

Hearing a version of events completely different from what Ye Chuxue had told him, Gu Qingyuan’s brow furrowed, and his certainty wavered.

Song Wanning had been by his side for over a century; he knew her character well.

While she could be willful and spoiled, she wouldn’t resort to such dirty tricks. A seed of doubt was planted in his heart.

Ye Chuxue’s heart sank. Biting her lip, she felt a flicker of resentment toward Bai Yang.

’Their old friendship seemed to have vanished with the wind, leaving only animosity behind.’

"Forget it. Since the Storage Ring is gone, I will find a way to get you another."

"There’s no proof. You should stop spreading this around, lest you draw Song Wanning’s ire."

Gu Qingyuan was worried about Ye Chuxue, afraid that she would suffer Song Wanning’s retaliation if she continued with the accusations.

But that wasn’t what Ye Chuxue heard.

"So you believe Song Wanning, not me. Isn’t that right?"

She looked at her master with disappointment, suddenly tasting what it meant to be utterly alone and helpless.

’What’s so great about Song Wanning, anyway?’

’Why would they all choose to believe her?’

Gu Qingyuan’s frown deepened as he explained, "That’s not what I meant. It’s just that everyone was there and saw it happen. You must have misunderstood her."

Although he was biased toward his disciple, the facts were laid bare before him. He couldn’t go against his conscience and simply agree with her.

The situation was complicated, and it was not wise for them to confront Song Wanning directly again.

"Heh! Yes, that’s right. I’m the devious one. I’m the one who deliberately framed her. Are you all satisfied now?"

Overcome with rage and sorrow, Ye Chuxue practically roared out the words with tear-filled eyes, then turned and fled.

Worried, Gu Qingyuan had no choice but to go after her.

He instructed Bai Yang not to tell Song Wanning that they had come.

Bai Yang nodded in agreement. He didn’t want the relationship between Gu Qingyuan and Song Wanning to deteriorate any further, so of course he would keep his lips sealed.

After the two of them left, he also instructed Li Rao not to speak carelessly.

Li Rao said nothing. The way she looked at Bai Yang no longer held the respect and fondness it once had.

Ever since that day her two senior brothers had sided with an outsider against her, she no longer had any respect for them. She now treated them as mere strangers who happened to live on the same peak.

’Master was right. There are many kinds of destined bonds in this world; there’s no need to force things.’

’Having Master is more than enough.’

...

News of Gu Qingyuan’s awakening spread quickly throughout the Sect.

Song Wanning heard the news as soon as she returned to the Sect, and the corner of her mouth quirked into a small smile.

’To be so thoroughly played by me... Ye Chuxue must be about to explode with rage, right?’

’Still, I have Lan Le’s cooperation to thank this time. It wouldn’t have been so easy to fool them otherwise.’

Song Wanning lowered her gaze. ’From this perspective,’ she thought, ’Lan Le has become slightly less of an eyesore.’

’But only slightly.’

With a turn, she headed first to the Sect Master Hall to "kindly" remind him about Ye Chuxue’s punishment.

The Sect Master was thus reminded of the Ancestor’s decision: once Gu Qingyuan awoke, Ye Chuxue was to be sent to the Erosion Wind Cave for punishment.

’It seems Song Wanning is now thoroughly set against Ye Chuxue.’

’But then again, it was to be expected. Ye Chuxue had stolen her fiancé, after all. It would be stranger if she just let it go.’

"I understand. Rest assured, Junior Sister Song. This Sect Master will certainly not shield her!"

The Sect Master immediately agreed.

’He couldn’t refuse. Who could have predicted that in such a short amount of time, Song Wanning would advance in her cultivation yet again?’

’At such a terrifying pace, who could possibly contend with her?’

’Not even Gu Qingyuan.’

’The Sect Master was filled with silent regret. If he’d known things would turn out this way, he never would have gotten on Song Wanning’s bad side.’

The moment Song Wanning left, he went to find Gu Qingyuan and inform him of the punishment.

Gu Qingyuan’s face immediately darkened with displeasure. "Sect Master, the poison in Chuxue’s system has not yet been cleared. She has also been running herself ragged on my behalf and has suffered a great deal. It’s not appropriate to punish her now."

"Besides, I am awake now and I don’t intend to hold her at fault. The punishment should be rescinded!"

The Erosion Wind Cave was fraught with danger. In her current condition, sending her there would be like throwing her into a pit of fire.

He refused.

"You may not be holding her accountable, but there is still the victimized disciple to consider."

The Sect Master pressed his lips together, vexed.

"If Song Wanning hadn’t intervened back then, that disciple would have died!"

As he thought back, the Sect Master suddenly realized Ye Chuxue was a true talent for causing trouble.

With that thought, the high hopes he once held for her diminished considerably.

But upon hearing this, Gu Qingyuan’s expression relaxed, his eyes filled with cold indifference. "It was just an ordinary disciple. They didn’t die, in any case. I’m willing to provide compensation."

Anything was fine, as long as Ye Chuxue didn’t have to go to the Erosion Wind Cave.

But this time, the Sect Master just shook his head. "No. This punishment was decided by the Ancestor. I cannot change it." 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

The Sect Master sighed and patted Gu Qingyuan’s shoulder.

"It’s just a year of punishment. It will pass in the blink of an eye. But if she incurs the Ancestor’s displeasure, her life in the Sect will be difficult from now on. You can’t guarantee you’ll always be by her side, can you?"

The Ancestor did not like Gu Qingyuan. They both knew this.

Gu Qingyuan knew it all too well.

He fell silent.

Only after a long while did he nod in agreement.

"Understood."

...

Ye Chuxue was sent into the Erosion Wind Cave, her heart full of disappointment and hatred. She now blamed Gu Qingyuan for it as well.

’I thought my master would save me from this punishment. But what happened in the end?’

’Heh.’

’All my devotion was thrown to the dogs.’

Her heart like dead ashes, Ye Chuxue walked into the Erosion Wind Cave without looking back, her posture one of grim determination.

Gu Qingyuan had given her his Storage Ring, which was filled with treasures to ensure her safety.

She glanced down at it with cold eyes but didn’t refuse.

’It was, after all, the compensation she was owed.’

The white figure quickly vanished into the entrance. Gu Qingyuan, a dazed look on his face, watched for a long time before finally turning to leave.

Little did he know, the moment he departed, Song Wanning appeared with the Ancestor, Liu Lan Yi.