After that, Li Hanzhou turned around and looked at Lu Li and Chen Yan.
"That's the situation."
Both Chen Yan and Lu Li fell silent for a moment.
"I don't understand what this means."
Chen Yan said.
"The general idea is this."
Li Hanzhou slowly explained:
"Qian Xun is fully aware of all his actions, from speaking disrespectfully to the outer sect disciples to later resorting to violence. He knows it all."
His explanation was still somewhat vague and confusing.
"That does sound very strange."
Lu Li said thoughtfully.
"I suspect, of course, this is just a speculation for now, that Qian Xun's mind was not clear that day."
Li Hanzhou's expression turned serious:
"That's why I invited you two here, to ask if you saw who Qian Xun had contact with that day."
"You suspect someone disturbed Qian Xun's mental state?"
Chen Yan asked.
"You could put it that way."
Li Hanzhou replied.
"I don't understand. If someone did this, what would be the purpose?"
Lu Li said.
Qian Xun was just an ordinary inner disciple, his talent wasn't outstanding, and even among inner disciples, he was somewhat mediocre.
His current cultivation was only at the early stage of the Qi Circulation Realm.
If someone disturbed and influenced Qian Xun's mind, what would be the goal?
What could be achieved by disturbing the mind of an early-stage Qi Circulation Realm cultivator?
"Rather than saying someone disturbed his mind..."
Chen Yan pondered for a moment before saying:
"It seems more like it amplified the emotions deep within his heart."
Hearing this, Li Hanzhou fell silent briefly:
"That does seem more likely."
If it really was caused by an external factor, who could have caused Qian Xun's drastic personality change during the sect mission?
On the journey from the sect, Chen Yan, Lu Li, and their group hadn't encountered many people.
They only had contact with disciples from the outer court's External Affairs Hall at the carriage-and-horse shop at the foot of Kongshan Sect.
Other than that, there were only two other people.
Zheng Fei and Li Xiuxiu.
...It probably wasn't them.
Although there was Zhang Xishun's example beforehand, Chen Yan still felt it shouldn't be like that.
"Instructor Lu and Chen, the Personal Disciple, do you have any leads?"
Li Hanzhou asked.
"Can't think of anything for now. If I find any clues, I'll let you know."
Lu Li said.
"I see."
Li Hanzhou showed a slightly regretful expression:
"Then I've troubled you both."
After exchanging a few more pleasantries, Chen Yan and Lu Li prepared to leave the disciple quarters of Yuanhua Mountain.
"Rest well."
Before leaving, Chen Yan casually said to Qian Xun, who was lying in bed.
"Thank you for your concern, Senior Brother Chen, and also... I'm sorry."
A somewhat ashamed, self-mocking smile appeared on Qian Xun's face.
Deep down, he did look down on and discriminate against outer court disciples.
But that didn't mean he didn't know what should be done and what shouldn't.
...
After leaving Yuanhua Mountain, Chen Yan continued traveling with Lu Li.
Because Chen Yan still had important business and needed to make a trip to Qingchan Peak.
Fu Qian's Qingchan Martial Decree token and Song Mingde's list were still on him.
"Fellow Daoist Chen."
On the road to Qingchan Peak, Lu Li spoke to Chen Yan:
"Recently, I've been pondering a question."
"Please speak, Instructor Lu."
Chen Yan said.
"That day at the Cloud Prince Manor, before the banquet began, Elder Yue suddenly came to the manor because of you, right?"
"Correct."
"And Fellow Daoist Chen, why did you invite Elder Yue Chi to the Cloud Prince Manor? Was it because you already knew the wine was poisoned?"
"More or less."
"Can Fellow Daoist Chen tell me how you determined the wine was poisoned?"
"Elder Yue Chi is the Alchemy Hall elder of Kongyuan Mountain and my martial uncle. His personal disciple, Senior Brother Zhao Bin, also has a very good relationship with me."
Chen Yan casually spouted nonsense:
"Therefore, I have some understanding of matters related to alchemy and poisons."
"I see."
Lu Li nodded, though it was unclear whether he believed Chen Yan's wild fabrication.
"There's one more thing I can't figure out."
Lu Li said:
"Why did Elder Lan Wei also appear in Taiyun City? And what did the conversation between Elder Yue Chi and Elder Lan Wei mean?"
"As for those matters, I'm just a Qi Circulation Realm disciple. I can't understand the affairs between elders."
Chen Yan said with a serious face, feigning ignorance.
He really could only give that kind of answer.
Moreover, Chen Yan didn't know how much Lu Li understood about the conflict between the True Dharma lineage and the Martial Discipline lineage on Qingchan Peak.
At the very least, as an instructor of Qingchan Peak's Scripture Hall, he must have some understanding that Bai Qiming and Fu Qian, the second and third most powerful figures on Qingchan Peak, were at odds.
In this situation, Lu Li, who was in the Scripture Hall under Fu Qian's jurisdiction, still maintained quite close contact with Bai Qiming. This could only mean one thing.
Either Lu Li was foolish, or he was extremely shrewd, playing his own game.
Chen Yan certainly knew it was the latter.
Someone who could become Martial Elder in the future was definitely no pushover.
Most likely, Lu Li was trying to fish for information from him.
Chen Yan was well aware that almost everyone who could make a name for themselves in Kongshan Sect was a crafty old fox.
Compared to them, Chen Yan had no advantage in his own abilities, whether in intelligence or cultivation.
Chen Yan's only advantage was the information he obtained from his cycles of rebirth.
"May I ask what Fellow Daoist Chen's purpose is in going to Qingchan Peak this time?"
Lu Li asked.
"To see someone. There are some matters I wish to discuss."
As he spoke, Chen Yan paused slightly, then smiled as he looked in Lu Li's direction:
"Speaking of which, the person I want to see will probably require Instructor Lu to introduce me."
"Me to introduce you?"
Lu Li showed a puzzled expression.
...
Qingchan Peak.
The grand hall before Chen Yan was much more magnificent and imposing compared to Cangwu Residence.
Its scale was several times larger than the outer court's Fate Inquiry Hall where the outer court elders resided.
After a while, Lu Li walked out from within the grand hall and came before Chen Yan.
"Fellow Daoist Chen, I have announced your arrival."
Lu Li said.
"What's the response?"
Chen Yan asked.
"He said he can see you. You may enter now."
As he spoke, Lu Li took two steps to the side, making way for Chen Yan.
"Thank you, Instructor Lu."
Chen Yan bowed towards Lu Li and said.
Immediately after, he took steps forward and walked into the grand hall.
"You are Chen Yan?"
From within the grand hall came a very calm, yet resonant and powerful elderly voice.
"That is correct."
Chen Yan took two more steps forward, raised his head, looked towards the elderly man sitting upright in the center of the hall, and bowed:
"Disciple Chen Yan of Kongyuan Mountain pays his respects to the True Dharma Elder of Qingchan Peak!"