Bai Wuji turned his head away: "Regardless of the success of this trip, the sect will take in your two disciples and allow them to enter the Inner Sect for cultivation..."
Chen Ye wanted to laugh. Forget about the Inner Sect; even the Spirit Hidden True Inheritance couldn’t match his disciples’ talents.
He spoke firmly, "But, I hope Guardian Bai understands. My going is not to prove any innocence. True Inheritor Bai has shown me kindness, and I, Chen Ye, always repay kindness. This journey is for her, unrelated to the sect, and even more so to the Bai Family."
"You... fine," Bai Wuji said wistfully.
"But I’m not sure, with my Dantian sealed, how much help I can be. Am I also supposed to pave the way with fists like this Iron Tiger?" Chen Ye remarked coolly.
"Rest assured. Once inside the Grotto Heaven, someone will unlock the Spiritual Lock for you."
Bai Wuji hesitated and then frowned,
"However, this time, Wei Shu from the Wei Family volunteered to lead the way, and he’s the only Foundation Establishment Cultivator going... if you want the Spiritual Lock undone..."
Chen Ye twitched at the corner of his mouth.
Good grief, stepping in might just be entering his grave.
Bai Wuji knew Chen Ye’s concerns, so he pondered, "But, the Spiritual Lock is set by sect regulations, and... there are those who fear you might escape in secret once unrestrained. How about this? You join one of the family teams?"
"Other families?" Chen Ye was perplexed.
"Yes. The Wei Family, Ji Family, and Xu Family all have teams entering. We can transfer control of the Spiritual Lock to these families, which is still compliant with the rules. Bai... ahem, they won’t worry about you fleeing. Ha, this might also be why Wei Shu volunteered, perhaps to support the Wei Family."
Bai Wuji explained.
Goodness, with so many cultivators, aren’t they missing just one Chen Ye?
What superstition is this Elder playing! Is there really such a thing as karma in this world?
Besides, what karma does he have with Bai Susu... wait, on reflection, he indeed has many fateful coincidences with that girl.
Chen Ye laughed bitterly, "Guardian Bai, but I’m at odds with all three families... Ji Yueze’s Flying Light Sword fell into my hands, and I suspect Wei Shu will surely inform the Ji Family of this. As for the Xu Family, I’ve had constant friction with Xu Buhui’s lineage."
"You brat..."
Bai Wuji clicked his tongue, marveling that a Loose Cultivator could have offended so many families yet survive till now—it could only be said his luck was great,
"How about this, go to the Xu Family. There’s internal news in the Bai Family that the Xu Family’s patriarch, Xu Henshan, knowing his lifespan is limited, plans to explore the Secret Realm... and he wouldn’t hold any malice toward you because of one lineage of the Xu Family..."
...
Luoli Courtyard.
The familiar courtyard appeared especially tranquil under the moonlight, with the branches of the old pear tree gently swaying in the night breeze, casting mottled shadows on the ground.
Chen Ye stood before the door, momentarily feeling disoriented.
It had only been half a year, yet it felt like a different lifetime.
"Who’d have thought Taoist Friend Chen also had private ties with Guardian Bai?"
Bu Feifan followed behind him, with mixed feelings of joy and sorrow, but ultimately relieved to be freed from the dungeon.
With Bai Wuji’s influence, Chen Ye managed to escape the dungeon and was allowed to reside at Luoli Courtyard.
However, during this period, he was not permitted to leave the courtyard.
After all, given that he was set to go to Songyang Cave Heaven, there was no justification for keeping him locked in the dungeon any longer.
"Do you think I should be grateful to the Bai Family?"
Chen Ye stretched and spoke with a melancholic tone, as he was all too familiar with the tactic of hitting with a stick and then offering a sweet date.
Yet, he hadn’t expected to be treated this way by others.
At this moment, he started to somewhat believe in the karmic cycle.
In the past, he indeed used Bai Susu and gained many benefits from her.
Today, he’s fallen into prison because of her and now faces a near-death trip to the Secret Realm.
"Well, what else can I do but be grateful? However, this time in the Grotto Heaven might be a bit safer, wasn’t it said that three families are sending disciples... There’s even the Xu Family patriarch, so it might be true that Xu Henshan’s lifespan is indeed running out."
Bu Feifan clicked his tongue and secretly breathed a sigh of relief when he heard this news.
Having a Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer cultivator around definitely adds some measure of safety.
He ceremoniously bowed to Chen Ye and said, "I am truly grateful to Taoist Friend Chen for helping me escape the dungeon this time!"
"That was Guardian Bai’s intention... and it was probably him who arranged your imprisonment in the first place,"
Chen Ye shook his head. He’s seen clearly that Bai Wuji indeed harbors some goodwill towards him. Even during the evaluation at Lisong Valley, there was an apparent intention to give a higher assessment, and now he’s operating behind the scenes, using Bu Feifan’s mouth to convey much information to him.
"Hmm... anyway, I owe much to Taoist Friend Chen’s kindness,"
Bu Feifan nodded.
After entering Luoli Courtyard with Chen Ye, he sensibly chose not to enter the house and instead sat by the pond in meditation:
"Taoist Friend Chen, I’ll just rest in the courtyard these days. After being confined for a month, it’s nice to be back outside..."
Chen Ye did not extend an excessive invitation.
Being a cultivator, enduring the elements is second nature.
He walked into the house where he once playfully teased his two disciples, touching the cold tables and chairs, as if their presence still lingered in the air.
However, it was probably just Chen Ye’s illusion.
The house was spotless, clearly regularly cleaned.
Even if there had been traces of the two girls, they had long been swept away.
"Zhiwei, Qing Jun..."
Chen Ye murmured to himself; he would not sit idly and await doom.
According to Bai Wuji, lately, Golden Core Demon Beasts in the Three Thousand Great Mountains were stirring up beast tides, making it temporarily impossible to enter Songyang Cave Heaven. It is expected to take two months before entry is possible.