"Master! How... how could he beat the junior brother to such a state!! Does he have no heart?!"
Liu He cried, holding the severely injured Ye Tian, her tears streaming down like rain: "Junior brother has already been confined due to the issue with the demonic energy, and he hasn't stepped out of the cultivation room for three years! Yet he still rushed into the cultivation room to hit the junior brother..."
Xiao Yu's expression was also cold; her ruthless demeanor had become increasingly unstable.
This situation had persisted since Yu Mu defeated her in the sect's grand competition.
Hatred? It couldn't be said; she didn't even understand what she truly felt inside or what kind of taste it was.
He... should still have her in his heart, right? He should still care about the junior sister; otherwise, why would there have been such a huge commotion that day, such a terrifying hurricane! Why didn't it hurt them at all...
Xiao Yu lowered her head in silence, her heart in turmoil.
She even completely overlooked that the reason the hurricane didn't harm them was because of Fairy Zi Li, who was at the peak of Nascent Soul, protecting them.
"He Er..."
Fairy Zi Li frowned slightly: "Tian Er is not seriously injured; it's just some superficial wounds."
In a moment of daze, she seemed to see the past.
Before... Mu Er had also been punished, and it was because of Liu He's mistake that he was punished. At that time... she hadn't seen Liu He care so much.
And previously, regarding the matter of the earth vein energy, she had felt justified in corroborating it just because she vaguely saw a figure similar to Mu Er's?
Why?
Her gaze slightly blurred; had she really been biased? Or had everyone's hearts turned away, causing Mu Er to feel cold?
"Tian Er, take good care of your injuries; you will recover by tomorrow. He Er and Yu Er, you are both disciples."
After saying this, Fairy Zi Li turned and left the cultivation room directly. Liu He and Xiao Yu had no choice but to follow.
Only Ye Tian remained, watching the graceful backs of the three women with fiery eyes.
"Yu Mu... they ultimately lean towards me. You only know brute strength and how sharp your spear is for killing! Yet you do not know that the knife of human hearts is the most painful one."
"In that case, let us compete! You say you have never lost, but how could I concede!"
...
In the great hall, Fairy Zi Li waved her hand, and a powerful barrier rose, completely isolating the hall from the outside world.
Liu He still looked tearful, while Xiao Yu frowned: "Master, is there something wrong?"
She had followed Fairy Zi Li for the longest time and had long noticed something unusual about her recently. Even she felt something was off but didn't know where those feelings came from.
"He Er."
Fairy Zi Li sat in the main seat, her slender fingers rubbing her temples: "Are you concerned about Tian Er?"
"Ah!"
Liu He suddenly blushed deeply as she fidgeted with her clothes: "Why does Master ask this... I... I don't..."
"If it were not so, do you remember when your senior brother was punished for your mistake? Why didn't you plead for him? Why didn't you worry like this?"
Fairy Zi Li sighed: "We have been unfair to Mu Er."
"What does that have to do with us?"
Xiao Yu spoke coldly: "He is our senior brother; everything he does is what he should do. Hasn't Master always thought so?"
But as soon as these words left her mouth, Xiao Yu felt an inexplicable pain in her heart.
Was Yu Mu's meticulous care for her and his selfless contributions to the sect truly just what he should do?
The spirit stones, resources, and reputation of the sect were earned by him; he fought for them... but just because he was a senior brother, they... indeed enjoyed his kindness without guilt.
Enjoying it until they lost it.
Now most matters in Fairy Zi Li's sect were handled by Ye Tian; it just wasn't as before.
Before, it felt like home; now... it was merely Ziyun Hall.
"Master... I miss senior brother."
Liu He's tears fell like rain: "I... I have feelings for senior brother! But senior brother only likes senior sister. Yet senior sister doesn't like him; I... I feel like I have a chance..."
"I am close to junior brother just because senior brother is not around; junior brother treats me well... Master, let's bring senior brother back..."
As she spoke, Liu He became choked with sobs. Xiao Yu and Fairy Zi Li also showed signs of discomfort on their faces.
Fairy Zi Li even repeatedly questioned in her heart whether her feelings for Mu Er were truly just those of a teacher and disciple? The way she had previously criticized Mu Er seemed to be after Mu Er treated Xiao Yu too well.
"Don't mention it again; now... I only wish for Mu Er's well-being."
Fairy Zi Li waved her hand: "Pay more attention to Tian Er over there; that demonic energy... truly has an unknown origin."
They were all quite perceptive.
"Master, do you suspect junior brother?" Liu He wiped her tears away, disbelief filling her big eyes.
"The demon race is our mortal enemy! In this regard, I cannot tolerate any sand in my eyes."
Fairy Zi Li spoke and then smiled: "Tian Er's confinement won't last long; didn't Mu Er come out too? You all should focus on your cultivation. There will be martial arts demonstrations in the sect later; don't tarnish Ziyun Hall's reputation."
"Yes, another martial arts demonstration is coming up."
Xiao Yu smiled slightly.
In previous demonstrations, Yu Mu was always at the forefront. The rewards from the sect were quite generous; he shared them with himself and junior sister.
But now...
"Don't think too much. Matters of fate are like clouds in the sky—who can explain them clearly? Just adapt to circumstances."
Fairy Zi Li looked up at this moment. The ethereal Fairy Zi Li fairy seemed to carry a hint of loneliness that those two disciples could sense.
Yes, without him around, Ziyun Hall ultimately lacked something.
Even when he merely returned seeking trouble or appeared in Ziyun Hall, it made this contrast even more apparent.
Adapting to circumstances...
Just adapt to circumstances then.
...
"What are you doing here?"
In Xingyun Hall's wine cellar, Elder Yun Buqi glared at Yu Mu with an unfriendly expression on his old face.
He clearly saw Yu Mu let out a burp!
"Master, a mouse came in here and stole your wine."
Yu Mu said seriously as he casually tossed a dead mouse to Elder Yun Buqi. Elder Yun Buqi took a closer look...
Good heavens!
This rat must have been dead for several days; it was already dried out!
"You little brat."
Elder Yun Buqi ground his teeth together; his precious collection had ultimately been found—three layers! Three layers of barriers! A formation!
All just to protect a jar of wine that had now been completely consumed! And he blamed it on a mouse that had been dead for at least five or six days!
"I'll beat you to death!!!"
The wine cellar was small; Elder Yun Buqi was half-step into God Transformation! Soon enough, he caught Yu Mu and gave him a good beating...
After some chaos, on top of Xingyun Hall's main hall roof, Yu Mu lay back looking at the bright moonlight while occasionally touching his swollen head.
Elder Yun Buqi held a small jade flask and took sips of wine from time to time.
"The sect's martial arts demonstration is about to start. This time... you might not be able to participate. First, you're still under confinement; second, as a young master, it's inappropriate for you to mingle with those inner disciples and true disciples."