Chapter 23

The night was hazy, and a faint mist gradually spread through the air.

Zhang Rongfang ran back with Xiao Qingying, asking why she had wanted to sneak out and go down the mountain so late at night. There were countless wild beasts below the mountain after dark. Even highly skilled Martial Cultivators would not dare enter the forest in pitch-black darkness at such an hour.

She was only at Tendon Forging and had no real combat experience. Going down the mountain and into the woods at this hour was extraordinarily dangerous.

"I just... just wanted to see Red Mountain at night by myself. Why are you meddling so much?" Xiao Qingying was unwilling to reveal the truth.

"Senior Sister, do you know how dang—"

Suddenly, Zhang Rongfang felt a savage gust strike from behind.

The other party had not concealed themself at all. The attack was tremendously loud, and with such a huge commotion came immense power.

Zhang Rongfang felt goosebumps rise across his back.

At once, he flung Xiao Qingying to the left and rolled left along the ground.

"You still dare dodge!?" A thick, overbearing voice exploded from behind him.

Zhang Rongfang turned his head and saw Senior Brother Jiao Teng rushing out of the darkness, his face full of fury.

Under the thin moonlight, Jiao Teng said nothing and threw another punch at him.

The move was too fast. Zhang Rongfang had not even risen from the ground yet. With nowhere to evade, he could only take it head-on.

But if he took it head-on at a time like this, he would inevitably expose the strength he had been hiding. "Stop!! Senior Brother!"

Before Jiao Teng could get close, another burly figure rushed out from the side and grabbed his arm.

That figure was no smaller than Jiao Teng. As moonlight fell upon her, it was Senior Sister Zhao Dacong.

"The situation has not been clarified. Do not act rashly and create a misunderstanding!" Zhao Dacong said hurriedly.

"I saw with my own eyes that he was abducting Junior Sister Xiao Ying! How could that be false!?" Jiao Teng roared. "Get the hell out of my way, or I'll beat you too!"

"Calm down!" The muscles in Zhao Dacong's arms bulged as she forcibly held back Jiao Teng's strength. "Whatever it is, let Master deal with it. It is not for us disciples to decide!"

As soon as those words fell, Jiao Teng struggled a few times but failed to break free.

He could only snort angrily and fling her hand away.

In the darkness, his eyes could vaguely be seen gleaming as though they were glowing. He stared at Zhang Rongfang with an icy gaze.

Zhang Rongfang got up from the ground, patted his slightly wet Daoist robe, and cupped his fists.

"Then let us go to Master together and let him decide."

His instincts told him that Jiao Teng was extremely dangerous right now.

The man had said nothing before suddenly attacking him. He was also a Second Grade expert. Something did not feel right.

Had Zhao Dacong not stepped in to stop him, he would certainly have had to expose himself and fight the other man just now.

And with the trump cards he possessed at present, he might not necessarily win. The odds of losing were greater.

This made his desire for strength grow even stronger.

If he had been stronger than Jiao Teng, he would not have had to endure such stifling humiliation.

"Thank you, Senior Sister." Zhang Rongfang thanked Zhao Dacong again.

"No need. Let's go. Master is already waiting for us." Zhao Dacong's expression was not pleasant either.

Junior Sister Xiao Ying had suddenly vanished in the middle of the night, disrupting everyone's sleep. No one was in a good mood.

Seeing this, Xiao Qingying hurriedly went over to stand beside Jiao Teng and Zhao Dacong without saying anything.

The shouting just now had also awakened quite a few Daoists nearby.

The Daoists on night patrol came over and asked a few questions, but Jiao Teng turned them away. They did not pry further.

So long as no rules had been broken and no real incident had occurred, minor matters such as sneaking down the mountain were naturally handled by each Mage's own branch.

They returned all the way to Xiao Rong's Small Pavilion.

The pavilion was brightly lit, and quite a few people were already inside.

There was still rainwater clinging to Sun Yuanfeng's hair. Clearly, he had gone around waking everyone up.

Chen Hui lowered her head and secretly yawned.

Hong Da's eyes were half-closed, as though he was asleep yet somehow still awake.

Xiao Rong sat in a Grand Tutor's Chair, holding a cup of hot tea. Yet cracks ran along the rim of the cup, fresh enough that they had clearly just been squeezed into it.

He looked calm, but his heart was clearly far less peaceful than his appearance suggested.

The two Servant Disciples carefully tidied up the surroundings. Seeing Jiao Teng, Zhao Dacong, Zhang Rongfang, and the others enter, they tactfully left on their own and shut the door.

Only those from Xiao Rong's branch remained.

After the three of them entered with Xiao Qingying, they each bowed in greeting.

"Master!"

Xiao Qingying, meanwhile, appeared somewhat restrained and did not dare look her father in the eyes.

"Father..."

Xiao Rong swept his gaze over them one by one. His eyes paused briefly on Zhang Rongfang, who looked the most bedraggled.

"Speak. What happened? How did Xiao Ying nearly disappear again?"

His gaze turned toward Senior Brother Jiao Teng.

Silence.

From the incense burner by the wall, smoke slowly rose from a single incense stick.

The faint musk-like fragrance should have calmed the mind and soothed the spirit.

Yet at this moment, it only made the atmosphere feel more oppressive.

"I heard a disturbance and came out to investigate. Then I found Zhang Rongfang holding Junior Sister Xiao Ying and Sneaking Around. Who knows what he was trying to do!? I was enraged and prepared to act immediately."

Jiao Teng drew a deep breath and was the first to speak.

At once,

everyone's gazes gathered on Zhang Rongfang.

Zhang Rongfang's eyelids twitched. Being stared at simultaneously by several experts of different grades made goosebumps rise faintly across his skin.

In the dim yellow lamplight, he cupped his fists and bowed.

"Reporting to Master. While keeping watch in the middle of the night, this disciple discovered that Senior Sister Xiao had suddenly gone out for no reason, so I followed her closely. Later, I found that she was actually attempting to go down the mountain and was suddenly knocked unconscious by someone. I rushed out, startled that person away, and rescued Senior Sister."

"Nonsense! It was clearly you who wanted to abduct and deceive Junior Sister Xiao Ying!" Jiao Teng accused sharply.

"Before the truth has been investigated, could you be quiet! I believe Rong Fang is not that kind of person!" Zhao Dacong raised her voice as well.

"I had long suspected that something was wrong with Zhang Rongfang! What happened last time was also—" Jiao Teng still wanted to continue. Zhao Dacong alone could not suppress him.

"Enough!" Xiao Rong suddenly shouted. "What happened can be made clear with a single word from Xiao Ying herself! It is not your place to argue wildly!"

"Xiao Ying, is this true?" Xiao Rong looked at Xiao Qingying.

Xiao Qingying bit her lip and lowered her head. For a moment, her thoughts were tangled like hemp.

"Xiao Ying?" Xiao Rong spoke again, his brows tightly furrowed. The hand holding his teacup trembled faintly, gripping tighter and tighter.

Jiao Teng, Zhao Dacong, and the others all fixed their eyes on Xiao Qingying.

What she said now would clearly decide whether Zhang Rongfang had been wronged.

But seeing Xiao Qingying remain silent, Zhang Rongfang's heart sank deeper and deeper toward the valley bottom.

"Senior Sister Xiao, was it really me who deceived you and intended to take you down the mountain? When one speaks and acts, one should ultimately have a conscience." He spoke up.

Xiao Qingying's body trembled.

She knew perfectly well that she herself had secretly slipped away and wanted to go down the mountain. But if she said so outright, Brother Wuyou would inevitably be dragged into it.

Brother Wuyou had already been misunderstood by her father enough. If this happened again, how could she possibly be with Brother Wuyou in the future? Guilt filled her heart, yet when the words of clarification reached her lips, she simply could not say them.

Thus, she could only remain silent, turning her head away and not daring to meet Zhang Rongfang's eyes.

"Zhang Rongfang, what do you have to say?" Xiao Rong lowered his eyes and looked at him.

"...I have nothing to say." Zhang Rongfang truly had nothing to say.

Xiao Qingying's silence had placed him in the most impossible position to clear himself.

At this moment, no matter what he said would only be regarded as sophistry.

"It must have been him secretly causing trouble behind everyone's backs!" Jiao Teng said coldly. "Master, let me beat such a disloyal, unrighteous man to death!!"

He immediately wanted to step forward.

"Where is the evidence!? If Junior Brother Rong Fang was truly saving and protecting someone, then what you are doing now is a grave mistake!" Zhao Dacong stepped forward as well, angered.

"You are still speaking for him even now. I think you are in league with him too!" Jiao Teng's face twisted viciously as he pointed at Zhao Dacong.

"Jiao Teng!! Say that again if you dare!!?" Zhao Dacong was furious too. The muscles all over her body rippled and tightened, ready to strike at any moment.

"So what if I say it again!?"

"Enough!"

Xiao Rong suddenly rose to his feet and roared.

The room instantly fell silent once more. Zhao Dacong and Jiao Teng glared at each other, but neither dared speak again.

Xiao Rong glanced at Xiao Qingying, and a complicated look flashed through his eyes.

What kind of person his own daughter was, he naturally knew very well. He had seen her behavior just now with his own eyes.

With his hands behind his back, he slowly walked over to Zhang Rongfang, who was bowing before him.

"Zhang Rongfang."

"This disciple is here."

"From today onward, it will no longer be convenient for you to remain by Xiao Ying's side. Before this matter is clarified, go back and wait." Xiao Rong said solemnly.

"This disciple obeys."

Zhang Rongfang bowed again, rose, cupped his fists toward Zhao Dacong once more, glanced at Jiao Teng, then turned and walked toward the door.

He understood that from this moment on, whatever the reason, Xiao Rong would no longer trust him.

"Also, I promoted you back then for Xiao Ying's sake. Now that you have failed to handle this matter properly, return to where you came from."

Xiao Rong's voice suddenly came again.

Whether Zhang Rongfang had done anything wrong or not, Xiao Rong no longer had the energy or time to investigate it clearly.

Rather than drag things out, he might as well cut this extra expense, free up the position, and find someone new.

Zhang Rongfang halted. He understood that Xiao Rong had decided to abandon him completely. Once those words were spoken, he was essentially being driven out.

Still, that was fine. This damned Dao Palace offered no road ahead at all. He had never quite been able to make up his mind before, so he might as well leave completely now.

He turned around and stood in the doorway, giving one final deep bow.

"This disciple obeys."

After completing the salute, he turned and strode away. Before long, his figure disappeared into the night.

"Master! I said this last time—during the poisoning incident, the time before that, and this time, it was all thanks to Junior Brother Rong Fang. Otherwise, Junior Sister Xiao Ying would certainly have come to harm. If you drive him away like this, are you not simply fulfilling those schemers' wishes! If something happens in the future, you will regret it!" Zhao Dacong said anxiously.

"Enough. Everyone, disperse." Xiao Rong did not answer. After glancing at the furious Zhao Dacong, his gaze fell on Jiao Teng.

"From now on, Jiao Teng, you will be responsible for watching over Xiao Ying. Dacong, calm yourself first."

"This disciple obeys, Master!" Jiao Teng's expression did not change as he cupped his fists and bowed.

"Ah!" Zhao Dacong stomped her foot heavily, yet there was nothing she could do.

Master had always possessed a carefree and unrestrained nature, but whenever matters involving his daughter arose, he became indecisive and suspicious of everyone.

Whose responsibility was this, exactly? Could he still not see it clearly?

Even if Zhang Rongfang had many suspicious points, nothing had happened after all these incidents. Driving him out like this truly made one feel that it was far too cold-hearted.