It was March, with bright sunlight and all creation basking in its radiance.
The Sword Hiding Hermitage had taken on a fresh new look. The mountains were high, the forests dense, and a hundred birds sang in chorus.
Zhou Xi, Liu Jiangxue, and Liu An'an stood at the entrance of the Sword Hiding Hermitage, craning their necks in anticipation as they waited for Lin Bai to return.
The sect's campaign into Joy Province to exterminate the Joyous Union Sect was no longer a secret.
The news that Lin Bai had secretly released the wife of the Joyous Union Sect's Sect Leader had also spread throughout the Eternal Thirteen Provinces like wildfire.
Zhou Xi and Liu Jiangxue knew perfectly well that today would be Lin Bai's most difficult trial.
Releasing a criminal was no minor offense under the iron laws of the Eternal Devil Sect.
At dusk, Lin Bai returned on his sword. Zhou Xi hurried forward to greet him. "Thank heavens you came back safely, Master. This is truly a blessing."
Liu Jiangxue and Liu An'an walked over and asked worriedly, "Young Master, did the sect make things difficult for you?"
Lin Bai smiled carefree. "Although they didn't punish me too harshly, I still have to spend half a year reflecting on my mistakes at Contemplation Cliff. After that, I must accompany the sect's forces to the Evil Moon Sect for the Evil Moon Grand Feast and secure a ranking there before my merits can offset my transgressions. Otherwise, all my crimes will be punished together, and I won't escape calamity!"
"Ah!" Zhou Xi and Liu Jiangxue turned pale with fright, their bodies swaying as if they might collapse.
Although the sect had not punished Lin Bai severely this time, Zhou Xi and Liu Jiangxue could both hear the reason