The Girl Rongrong . . .
Cha Eun Xiao responded, "I know. I understand. I am new to this world, yet I have already realized how vast the sky can be and how high the clouds can reach. I will dedicate myself to cultivation and treasure this opportunity."
He recognized the need to show deference while residing in another's domain.
Satisfied with Cha Eun Xiao's humble response, Zhan Yunfei turned to Xiao Mufei and cautioned, "Do not disclose his physical condition to individuals from other sects. Inform your group of over twenty disciples that leaking this information would be met with the penalty of death!"
Xiao Mufei affirmed, "Yes, I understand the importance of this matter. I have never shared Cha Chongxiao's secret with anyone."
Zhan Yunfei nodded, expressing his approval. He then addressed Cha Eun Xiao, "Cha Chongxiao, will you kneel before me and become my disciple from this moment on?"
Cha Eun Xiao was taken aback.
[His disciple?]
[Seriously?]
[What is this nonsense?]
[In my past life, we were mortal enemies. This man even wounded me with his sword, causing lingering pain in my thigh. If his pet bird hadn't intervened, he wouldn't have survived our encounter. Now, he wants to be my master? Can't you change mortal foes into disciples with just a smile? How audacious!]
While he vehemently opposed the idea, Cha Eun Xiao had little choice in the matter.
He hadn't yet responded when Xiao Mufei interjected quietly, "Master Zhan, this might not be entirely appropriate..."
Zhan Yunfei rolled his eyes and retorted, "Why not?"
Xiao Mufei continued in a hushed tone, "You must bear in mind, a talented disciple like Chongxiao is highly sought after by the elders in the sect. Even the most esteemed elders, perhaps even the Senior Grand Master, will desire to mentor him. If they discover that you've taken the initiative..."
Zhan Yunfei made a perplexed noise.
Xiao Mufei elaborated, "Additionally, anyone seeking to join our sect must pass the destination trial. If you accept him as a disciple before he completes the trial, and his aptitude doesn't align with your martial art, it could jeopardize his exceptional potential. This would reflect poorly on your benevolence and not benefit the sect."
Zhan Yunfei displayed an awkward expression as he realized the validity of Xiao Mufei's arguments. Infuriated by the loss of his disciples, he urgently redirected his rage elsewhere, snapping, "Who killed our disciples? Audacious scoundrels!"
He understood that forcing Cha Eun Xiao into discipleship wasn't a feasible option, so he changed the subject abruptly to channel his frustration.
Xiao Mufei's expression remained somber as he whispered, "I suspect... the other six great sects may have played a role."
Zhan Yunfei's eyes widened, and he immediately delved into deep thought. While he possessed substantial power, he was no match for Xuan Bing. Confronting the six sects might result in a brutal defeat.
After pondering for a while, he clenched his teeth, and his hawk-like nose almost drooped. His face contorted with anger as he declared, "We must not tarry here any longer. We need to return to the sect as quickly as possible and report this to the Prime Master!"
The six other individuals accompanying Zhan Yunfei were all Dao Origin Stage cultivators, slightly weaker than Xiao Mufei. The loss of over three hundred disciples was a significant blow to Cold Moon Palace, and they felt the weight of this loss.
Sacrificing more than three hundred Dream Origin Stage cultivators was a substantial setback for not just Cold Moon Palace but for all the great sects.
"The seven great sects are likely to close their doors for some time. We'll have to postpone our revenge for the future," Xiao Mufei grumbled, recognizing the grim reality.
With great sects closing their gates, it became impossible for people to enter or exit freely. Those seeking to infiltrate a sect would first have to overcome formidable guardian arrays, a perilous undertaking that often ended in death. Without a means to gain entry, revenge remained a distant possibility. Their current priority was to return swiftly to the sect. With eight Dao Origin Stage cultivators among them, conquering the remaining thousand miles would be a less daunting task.
Not even the combined forces of the other six sects would dare to confront these eight individuals recklessly. While they possessed the collective strength to defeat these eight, it was considered too risky. Cold Moon Palace couldn't afford to sustain such a significant loss, and the other six sects were unwilling to make an enemy of Cold Moon Palace for the sake of eliminating a new disciple.
They had assumed that Cha Eun Xiao might eventually meet his end due to improper cultivation methods...
...
As the group made its way through a forest, they encountered an unexpected occurrence. A young girl came running towards them, stumbling and shouting, "Don't go that way..."
The girl appeared weak and disoriented, and she suddenly collapsed to the ground, blood oozing from her wounds.
"It's her!"
The surviving disciples regarded her with anger in their eyes, gripping their weapons as if they were ready to tear her apart.
Xiao Mufei wore a perplexed expression, while Zhan Yunfei maintained a stern demeanor but sounded somewhat unusual.
At first glance, Zhan Yunfei recognized the girl's face, and even though he remained as composed as any other level eight Dao Origin Stage cultivator, his eyes flickered.
"That devious woman! She previously deceived Master Xiao and poisoned him with the Nine Destination Dark!" one disciple exclaimed in anger. "Now she's pretending to be pitiful again. She must be trying the same trick once more!"
"Humph! Does she take us for fools? Does she truly believe we would fall into her trap again?"
Cha Eun Xiao furrowed his brow as he observed Xiao Mufei. While the others might not fall for her ruse a second time, he suspected that Xiao Mufei was different. Despite having been deceived once before, he was still susceptible to falling into her trap again.
Xiao Mufei's expression remained peculiar, as if he were lost in thought and could only see the girl before him.
Zhan Yunfei scrutinized Xiao Mufei for a moment before inquiring, "Mufei... What is your decision?"
Xiao Mufei appeared to snap out of his trance, struggling to respond. He eventually spoke with a bitter tone, "Master..."
Zhan Yunfei let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes. He offered his advice, "Just go and handle it, but be cautious."