"Having said that,
he turned to look at the Inner Valley. Although the Songyang Cave Heaven had just closed, and the situation was complex, with Bai Susu inside, it should be safe.
With this in mind, he mounted his sword and departed.
Soaring through the air on his sword, Chen Ye’s discontent grew more intense.
Absurdity!
The outside world is so perilous now, with the Wei family watching like a hawk. Does she keep running to the market time and again as if she’s tired of living?!
Could it be that her nature hasn’t changed?
Chen Ye’s heart turned cold.
He recalled the first time he met Lin Qiongyu. Back then, she seemed focused on climbing social ladders, even willing to trade her charms.
Could it be that now that I’ve fallen from grace, she’s reverting and seeking new opportunities at the market?
But her sister is still in the valley!
I’ve even taken Lin Jin as a nominal disciple, and yet she’s so careless, leaving her paralyzed sister alone in the valley... without even asking someone else to care for her?
The more he thought about it, the colder Chen Ye’s eyes became.
"Easy to change rivers and mountains, but hard to change one’s nature."
Taking a deep breath, Chen Ye found his first impression of Lin Qiongyu too vivid, leaving him inevitably frustrated.
But without seeing the facts, he decided to give Lin Qiongyu a chance first.
If things were as he suspected,
he would expel her from Lisong Valley regardless of Lin Jinghua and Lin Jin’s feelings!
...
At noon, the scorching sun hung high, casting its light on the bustling market streets.
People hurried by, cultivators like always.
At this moment,
the Songyang Cave Heaven had just collapsed, and Chen Ye had positioned the first space portal deep within the Three Thousand Great Mountains.
Thus, most cultivators remained inside the mountains, and the news of the cave heaven’s end had not spread yet.
Lin Qiongyu tightened the gray scarf covering most of her face, revealing only her clear autumn eyes. She lowered her head slightly and carefully emerged from the side of the Herb Pavilion.
Just moments ago, she had faced another setback inside.
"Steward Chen? Do you mean that person from Lisong Valley... tch, I heard he got into big trouble outside!"
"Indeed! Rumor has it... consorting with Demon Cultivators? Such audacity!"
"Sigh, he’s probably not coming back... out of ten, nine would..."
"The Wei family has been on a roll lately, looks like Lisong Valley is going to change owners..."
"Wait, you’re a maid from Lisong Valley? Get out, out, out, quickly get out of here..."
If it weren’t for Steward Liu speaking on her behalf, those people would have almost driven her out, for fear of offending the Wei family.
Recalling the conversations of those in the Herb Pavilion, Lin Qiongyu felt more desperate.
These cultivators were from the Lingyin Sect, so their words carried much weight.
Could Steward Chen really have died in the cave heaven?
Her heart tightened, instinctively clutching the edge of her scarf.
This news must absolutely not reach others in the valley.
Otherwise, Lisong Valley would surely be in turmoil...
Lin Qiongyu kept her head down, walking swiftly.
Who could have guessed, suddenly someone blocked her path:
"Yo! Isn’t this the former great beauty of the Peach Mountain District, Fairy Lin!"
Lin Qiongyu’s steps came to an abrupt halt, as if nailed to the spot.
A few steps ahead stood a seductive woman, none other than Zhang Qiaoyue, the youngest of the Zhang family’s three sisters.
Speaking of the Zhang family trio,
the Lin family had been pressured into Lisong Valley because of the Zhang family’s Spirit Stone loans.
Zhang Qiaoyue covered her mouth with a light laugh. She had long heard that this woman frequented the Herb Pavilion to gather news.
She was just too cautious, always accompanied by a Mao Family female cultivator, making it hard to get at her.
Ever since that Mao Family cultivator left, she hadn’t been seen in the Peach Mountain District for who knows how long.
Until today, she couldn’t resist coming out to inquire!
Zhang Qiaoyue deliberately raised her voice, drawing the attention of passersby:
"Look, look, isn’t this the Lin lady who forgot her old acquaintances after getting close to the Lisong steward? Oh, I forgot, she’s in trouble herself now..."
Lin Qiongyu’s body started to tremble slightly, her head hung even lower, wanting only to bypass her.
But just as she moved, Zhang Qiaoyue purposely stepped over, blocking her path.
"Why are you leaving? Feeling guilty?"
Zhang Qiaoyue stepped closer with a light laugh,
"Tsk tsk, I’ve heard you’re the personal maid of the Lisong Steward, it’s so hard for you. Such delicate skin, yet you have to flatter an old man."
Her gaze swept over the snow-white neck and sharp jawline of Lin Qiongyu, and those beautiful eyes that, despite being full of panic, still shimmered, filled with both jealousy and satisfaction.
Ha, I’ve heard the Lisong Steward is a Spirit Plant Cultivator, over fifty, with two children under his knee...
She’s seen many such Spirit Plant Cultivators, sounding nice, but aren’t they just old farmers?
Lin Qiongyu used to act all virtuous, yet isn’t she just submitting to an old man?
Zhang Qiaoyue’s tone turned even more venomous, quickly blocking Lin Qiongyu’s attempt to flee, pulling off her headscarf:
"Don’t think covering your face makes you unrecognizable with that foxy appearance! What are you pretending as a chaste lady? You’re just a prostitute trading your body for a meal and Spirit Stones! Now that your backing might be gone, what will you use to keep pretending! Oh... or are you looking for another master?"
The crowd, hearing this, looked on with interest, whispering to each other.
It’s one thing if it’s ordinary gossip.
But this gossip is about that Lisong Steward who was on the rise half a year ago but later had an affair with a Demon Cultivator!
The word ’prostitute’ was like a sharp blade stabbing into Lin Qiongyu’s heart.
Facing the various gazes of the crowd, immense humiliation instantly overwhelmed her.
Her previously pale face turned bright red, and her beautiful eyes quickly blurred with tears.
"I didn’t... I’m not..." she tried to argue, but her voice was as soft as a mosquito’s buzz.
"Really, you can’t change the nature of a dog that’s used to eating shit, weren’t you a dancer at the Cloud Clothing Pavilion before?"
Zhang Qiaoyue was even more pleased, her finger almost poking Lin Qiongyu’s nose,
"Oh, it’s nothing, at worst go back to the Cloud Clothing Pavilion, maybe a customer will take a fancy to you again?"
Seeing Lin Qiongyu panic and turn away, a fierce look flashed in Zhang Qiaoyue’s eyes, and seeing more onlookers gathering, her smile widened with satisfaction as she reached to tear off the black-haired girl’s clothes, saying:
"Tsk tsk, rather than letting others take advantage, why not first give the fellow cultivators a treat..."
Determined to completely ruin Lin Qiongyu’s reputation!
"Let go of me!"
The girl, in a rush of anger, slapped her across the face, gripping the Magic Sword at her waist, and drew it out.
Zhang Qiaoyue was stunned but then sneered: "Alright, alright, you made the first move, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
She signaled to the crowd, and two men in the Qi Cultivation Middle Period emerged, stretching their muscles.
One of them smirked, "Zhang Qiaoyue, this time we’ll credit you, finally letting us catch the person... hehe, and it’s the personal maid."
Lin Qiongyu’s delicate body trembled, holding her Magic Sword and taking a panicked step back, determination flashing in her eyes.
Just then,
Suddenly, a gentle breeze swept down the bustling street.
Where it passed, the voices stopped, and all eyes followed the wind in unison.
Only to see the greenish sword light flash across the sky like a startled swan!
"This is... a Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"
Someone in the crowd exclaimed.
Judging by the Spiritual Light, it was a Wood Series Cultivator.
But among the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the market, none have a Wood Series Spiritual Root.
Could it be a Guardian from the sect visiting the Peach Mountain District?
The sword light gradually moved away from everyone’s sight.
Who would have thought, at the next moment, the sword light stopped, seemingly aware of the incident before the Herb Pavilion, suddenly turning back.
The sword light disappeared, leaving an upright figure like a pine tree standing quietly in the midst.
The newcomer was elegant and gentle, wearing a simple jade crown and clad in green robes unsullied by dust.
With clear features, a prominent nose, and a faint smile on his lips, he left the female cultivators dazed—Chen Ye’s proficiency panel enabled him to approach perfection and even break through limits, to the point that even Mao Qingzhu would be mesmerized, let alone ordinary Loose Cultivators?
Chen Ye felt satisfied, this was his deliberate act, fully displaying his aura.
Usually, he concealed his presence to keep a low profile.
But today, breaking free from the Grotto Heaven, preparing for a grand display, naturally he had to appear prominently.
He glanced at the hesitant, tear-streaked black-haired girl, faintly frowning.
"Sir, which True Inheritor of the sect might you be?"
Zhang Qiaoyue, seeing Chen Ye’s frown towards the black-haired girl, slightly relaxed,
the sinister smile on her face turned into a charming seductive smile in the blink of an eye.
This man before her, with his profound aura and extraordinary looks,
was worlds apart from Foundation Establishment Cultivators like Wei Zong from the Wei Family or Guardian Zhao from the Herb Pavilion!
He was in the sky, while the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators were on the ground!
Surely, he must be a True Inheritor of the sect appearing in the world!