Leaving Prison

After Yue Chi left the Detention Center, Chen Yan sat alone in the Cell and pondered for a long time.

The Sect was filled with factions, engaged in overt and covert struggles.

But based on the information Chen Yan had gathered so far, it was difficult for him to determine who was right and who was wrong.

However, whether someone was right or wrong was completely unimportant to Chen Yan.

What did these messy power struggles have to do with him, a mere Outer Court Disciple?

Oh, he was a Kongyuan Mountain disciple now.

But if he were to die again, in the next reincarnation, it was still unknown whether he would be an Outer Court Disciple or a Kongyuan Mountain disciple.

To Chen Yan, what was important was the conspiracy brewing deep beneath the surface.

The calamity in the Outer Court that occurred more than two years later should have been the result of this conspiracy.

That calamity led to Cheng Ziying's death.

He had gone through twenty reincarnations just to save Cheng Ziying from that death; it had even become a fixation for Chen Yan.

And just as Chen Yan was about to give up and distance himself from Cheng Ziying, he made a new discovery.

Qingchan Peak, Caiyun Tower, the Black Flood Dragon Remnant Soul, Steward Song's list...

Chen Yan believed he was gradually getting closer to the truth.

"Crack!"

A crisp sound came from the Cell door.

It was the sound of the lock being opened from the outside.

The familiar Law Enforcement Hall disciple stood at the entrance of the Cell, bowing with a fawning smile towards Chen Yan, who was sitting inside.

"Senior Brother Chen, you are free to go."

The Law Enforcement Hall disciple said.

Chen Yan remained silent, merely shaking his leg lightly.

The shackles on his ankles jingled.

"Oh, please forgive me, Senior Brother Chen. Look at my memory, hahahaha..."

The Law Enforcement Hall disciple quickly rushed to Chen Yan's side and knelt on one knee to remove Chen Yan's shackles.

Chen Yan stood up and stretched his body slightly.

So heavy, so burdensome.

These shackles were made of a special type of iron and were inscribed with the Qi Suppressing Art to interfere with the wearer's True Qi circulation.

Perhaps the effect was not very significant for cultivators above the Spirit 통 Realm, but for cultivators at or below the Qi Sea Realm, wearing these shackles was equivalent to having their cultivation crippled.

True Qi surged from his Martial Spring, flowing through every meridian in Chen Yan's body.

As True Qi rapidly filled Chen Yan's meridians, his limbs, stiff from not having moved for too long, regained normal sensation.

"Thank you for your trouble these past few days."

Chen Yan said slowly, his back to the Law Enforcement Hall disciple behind him.

"Not at all, this is what a disciple should do."

The Law Enforcement Hall disciple rubbed his palms together, still with a fawning smile.

"Mm, I'll mention your name to Steward Wu later and have him promote you."

Chen Yan said.

Steward Wu's full name was Wu Kuan, and he was a Steward in the Outer Court's Law Enforcement Hall.

"How could I possibly accept such a favor? Thank you, Senior Brother Chen."

The smile on the Law Enforcement Hall disciple's face widened even further.

"It's just a small matter."

Chen Yan said, then stepped out of the Cell.

It wasn't until Chen Yan's figure had walked away that the Law Enforcement Hall disciple suddenly remembered something important:

"Senior Brother Chen, he doesn't even know my name..."

After Chen Yan left the Detention Center and retrieved his Po Bing Needle, he headed straight for his residence.

The twilight had already dyed the mountains a dark green. According to Uncle-Master Yue Chi, Zhao Bin would pick him up before sunset.

There wasn't much time left.

Chen Yan returned to his residence and walked to the tea table by the window. He brushed away the dust on the tabletop with his fingertips, carefully examining the subtle changes in the room.

During the half month he was confined in the Detention Center, no one had entered.

Afterward, Chen Yan began to pack his belongings.

He didn't have many things he absolutely needed to take with him. The only useful items were probably the high-grade Qi Guiding Pills and the unfinished Ice Soul Grass.

Searching the book title didn't work, you can try searching the author instead, maybe they just changed their name!

"Senior Brother Chen."

A familiar young voice came from outside the door.

Chen Yan walked towards the door and opened it, finding Sun Lu, a disciple of Steward Zheng Fuyue of the Outer Court's Spirit Herb Workshop, standing there with a smile.

"I heard Senior Brother Chen was released from the Detention Center today, so I came specifically to visit you, Senior Brother," Sun Lu said.

"You're quite well-informed," Chen Yan replied.

"Don't mention it, Senior Brother Chen," Sun Lu said, shaking his head with a smile. Then, his tone became somewhat meaningful: "However, I know what I should know, and also what I shouldn't know."

"Oh?"

"For example, aren't you packing your luggage to go to Kongyuan Mountain right now?" Sun Lu said slowly.

"...That's right." Chen Yan had no choice but to admit it.

"Besides that, I also know that Elder Lin was removed from his position as an Outer Court Elder, and Steward Xue is temporarily acting as the Outer Court Elder."

"I apologize," Chen Yan said. "My Master is in trouble himself now, so the matter I promised Steward Zheng back then, I'm afraid..."

"Senior Brother Chen doesn't need to apologize. My Master and I completely understand," Sun Lu said, shaking his head with a smile. "I didn't come here today to discuss these things with you, Senior Brother Chen."

"Then what did you come to talk about?"

"Steward Song Mingde's matter," Sun Lu said.

Chen Yan's breath hitched slightly, and his heart began to beat faster.

"Did you find something?" he asked.

"Yes," Sun Lu replied. "It was quite a coincidence. During the Outer Court Grand Competition a few days ago, a group of disciples were gambling in a corner of the viewing platform. Coincidentally, one disciple bet on Senior Brother Chen to win in the second round, which piqued my interest. Later, during my conversation with him, I accidentally learned some astonishing news."

Chen Yan raised an eyebrow slightly. "What news?"

"That disciple once saw Steward Song at an immortal gambling house in Taiyun City. Steward Song lost all the Shang Gong Hall's accounts there."

"And then?"

"The disciple said that after Steward Song lost all his spirit stones at the gambling house, he went into the inner area. What happened inside, I don't know," Sun Lu said. "Shortly after Steward Song left Taiyun City and returned to the Sect, he surrendered himself to the Law Enforcement Hall and was imprisoned."

"Are you implying that..."

"Senior Brother Chen might consider making a trip to Taiyun City. You might be able to uncover more of the truth," Sun Lu said, pausing slightly. "With Senior Brother Chen's cultivation progress, you'll likely break through to the Qi Condensation Realm soon."

According to the rules of the Empty Mountain Sect, disciples in the Body Tempering Realm were not allowed to leave the Sect without being led by a cultivator in the Martial Spring Realm or above.

"Thank you," Chen Yan said, cupping his fists towards Sun Lu. "Unfortunately, the matter that Steward Zheng and you asked me and my Master to handle probably won't be completed."

"It's alright!" Sun Lu said.

"My Master and I have never wanted just the position of Elder of the Outer Court. In the future, I'll be counting on your care, Senior Brother Chen."

As he spoke, Sun Lu bowed deeply in Chen Yan's direction once more.

As for his true thoughts, perhaps only he himself knew them.

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