After returning to Kongyuan Mountain, Chen Yan was issued a prohibition by Kongyuan Mountain's True Dharma Elder, his martial uncle Zhong Yin, forbidding him from leaving Kongyuan Mountain.
The reason given was to punish Chen Yan for leaving his post without authorization.
Of course, this was merely a superficial punishment.
In reality, it was to protect Chen Yan and prevent him from having too much contact with the Imperial Law Court.
Over a year ago, He Furen had slapped his personal disciple Lin Xinyang into a bloody mist on Heavenly Summit Mountain, all to release the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul sealed within him.
Now, that remnant soul was inside Chen Yan.
Who knew what the Imperial Law Court might do to Chen Yan?
In truth, the worries of Zhong Yin and the others were quite practical, not unfounded paranoia.
But Chen Yan didn't care.
Because the Outer Court Cataclysm was now only thirty-three days away.
Early morning.
The door to Chen Yan's residence was knocked on from the outside.
"What is it?"
Chen Yan said.
A somewhat nervous and cautious voice of a young disciple came from outside:
"Reporting to Chief Disciple Chen, I am the mountain-guarding disciple on duty for Kongyuan Mountain today. Just now, an outer sect disciple came to the mountain gate, saying he has something and wishes to see you. Therefore, I have come specifically to report this."
An outer sect disciple wanted to see him?
Chen Yan's brow furrowed slightly. He couldn't think of who it might be for the moment.
"Did he say what his name is?"
Chen Yan continued to ask.
"Yes."
The young disciple outside responded:
"He said his name is Sun Lu."
...
After roughly the time it takes for one incense stick to burn, that youth whom Chen Yan was quite familiar with appeared respectfully before Chen Yan's courtyard.
"Outer court Spirit Plant Workshop disciple Sun Lu, greets Chief Disciple Chen!"
Sun Lu bowed quite properly towards Chen Yan's direction.
"Call me what chief disciple."
Chen Yan said:
"Just address me the same way you did when we were in the outer court."
"Yes, Senior Brother Chen."
Sun Lu didn't stand on excessive ceremony either.
Although he was in a lower position, sometimes being overly polite could have the opposite effect.
"What is it?"
Chen Yan asked.
"Reporting to Senior Brother Chen, two days ago, a young female disciple came to find me. She said you sent her to me, wanting me to help her, to find her a job."
Sun Lu said.
It should be Li Xiuxiu.
Chen Yan thought to himself.
"And then?"
"I told her no problem, but she'd have to wait a few days, because it might be difficult to find a suitable position right away."
Sun Lu said.
Chen Yan's brow creased slightly.
This wasn't Sun Lu's usual style of handling things, unless there was something else going on.
"There's a problem?"
Sun Lu's face showed difficulty, then he nodded and lowered his voice:
"Recently, some unpleasant rumors have been circulating in the outer court."
"Unpleasant rumors?"
"Yes. These rumors are related to the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm. Lately, people in the outer court keep saying that Qin Yue, the personal disciple of Qingchan Peak's True Dharma Elder Bai Qiming, didn't die in the cataclysm. They say there's another real culprit."
Sun Lu said.
"Oh?"
Chen Yan looked as if he was quite interested:
"So then, who is the real culprit in the rumors?"
Sun Lu's expression began to look increasingly troubled, then he said:
"If I say it, I beg Senior Brother Chen not to be too angry."
"Speak."
Chen Yan said.
"They say the person who killed Qin Yue is your master, Kongyuan Mountain Alchemy Hall Elder Lin Qifeng."
Master?
This answer made Chen Yan pause slightly.
"Why is there such a rumor?"
Chen Yan asked.
"It's a long story. This rumor isn't just a simple sentence saying the murderer is Elder Lin. There's a whole set of statements behind it..."
Sun Lu said:
"They say that when Princess Qin was still in Taiyun City, she once met a traveling Offering Elder from the Star Heaven Sect. That Star Heaven Sect Offering Elder took a liking to Princess Qin's constitution and wanted to take her as a disciple.
"But due to various reasons, Cloud Prince Qin Ming politely declined the Star Heaven Sect Offering Elder's request. Then, that Star Heaven Sect Offering Elder left Princess Qin with a single sentence."
At this point, Sun Lu suddenly paused, as if waiting for Chen Yan to continue asking.
"What sentence?"
"That Offering Elder said, to let Princess Qin be careful of one person. That person's name was Elder Lin."
Sun Lu said.
Chen Yan narrowed his eyes slightly.
There was such a thing?
Sun Lu, who had been keeping his head lowered to the side, raised his eyes slightly, as if observing Chen Yan's expression, then continued:
"After I heard of this rumor, I believed that if it were to spread widely, it would definitely affect Elder Lin's reputation. So, I secretly began an investigation into this rumor."
Lin Qifeng's reputation?
To be truly honest, his cheap master probably didn't have much reputation to speak of.
First, he was exiled by the Sect Leader to serve as an elder in the outer court, then he was thrown into Kongyuan Mountain's Rear Cliff because of "fraud."
And now, he was already on his second confinement.
But no matter how tarnished his cheap master's name might be, pinning the hat of killing a fellow sect disciple on him was a bit too much.
"Did you find out anything?"
Chen Yan asked.
"The person who initially started spreading the rumor was that very Li Xiuxiu who came to me for help two days ago and mentioned your name, Senior Brother Chen."
Sun Lu said.
Chen Yan knew very well that Sun Lu was a smart person. Back when they were in the outer court, the tasks he entrusted to him were always handled beautifully.
Including the discovery of Song Mingde's list, it must be said Sun Lu had contributed greatly.
"So, Senior Brother Chen, what do you think about this matter..."
Sun Lu said.
"First, find her a job. As for what to arrange, something slightly decent will do."
Chen Yan said.
"Understood. Then, I shall take my leave first."
Sun Lu said.
What Sun Lu had just said truly raised some suspicion in Chen Yan's mind, as well as some displeasure towards Li Xiuxiu.
Because such talk could indeed cause quite adverse effects.
Even, if used by those with ulterior motives, it might overturn the truth behind the Heavenly Summit Mountain Cataclysm.
But he didn't vent his anger on Li Xiuxiu.
Because Chen Yan didn't believe that Li Xiuxiu, who had no grudge or grievance, would spread rumors and slander Lin Qifeng, with whom she had no interaction whatsoever.
Unless...
Chen Yan suddenly remembered Qin Yue's attitude when she saw Lin Qifeng back on Heavenly Summit Mountain.
Perhaps, that Star Heaven Sect Offering Elder really did say something to Qin Yue.
But, why tell Qin Yue to be careful of Lin Qifeng?
Chen Yan didn't know.
"If there's something you don't understand, why not go ask Supreme Pivot Elder Li?"
A solitary young figure suddenly appeared at the stone table in his courtyard.
The Grand Elder, dressed in pure white Daoist robes without any peak insignia, smiled and said this:
"After all, that one exhausted the secrets of heaven, finally fighting for the only path of survival from among countless destinies, isn't that right?"