Did I Fall for a Fake Story?

"..."

The Flame Hall elder's eyes grew wet.

Listening to the apologies, he looked toward the place where Huo Fei was in seclusion.

Sect Master, did you hear them?

After all these years, your name has finally been cleared.

The system said, [Host, that's true, but Wen Yun deliberately manipulated the whole thing. Everyone else was deceived by him.]

At the system's words, the guilt weighing on the powerful cultivators' hearts felt as though it had sunk into a muddy swamp and been

redeemed

at last.

If they failed to deal with such intense guilt, it might become the greatest stumbling block on their paths of cultivation.

[Wen Yun spent years cultivating an image for the outside world. He seemed aloof and proud, detached from worldly affairs. After marrying, he appeared to cherish his wife and remain utterly faithful. But in private, he shut Huo Fei out and deliberately flaunted his affection for other women in front of her. He drove a woman as proud as Huo Fei to the brink of a breakdown. After she left, he pursued her, turning up at her door again and again to make himself look devoted.]

[Wen Yun deliberately built his entire reputation. Huo Fei had no knack for managing hers. After she lost her temper a few times, she was branded jealous, affected, and hot-tempered. Wen Yun deceived the world, and everyone else was taken in. They weren't entirely innocent, but Wen Yun was the true culprit.]

Tears welled in many eyes.

They knew the harm they had done Huo Fei could not be erased. Their apologies had come too late.

Still, the system's words gave them somewhere to direct their anguish, keeping their guilt and self-reproach from breeding inner demons.

They would do what they could to make amends.

And Wen Yun? They would never let him off!

The Flame Hall elder patted Gong Lin's shoulder. "You've suffered all these years. Back then, you were so proud and solitary, always challenging powerful cultivators with your sword. It must have been agony when Wen Yun destroyed your cultivation."

Gong Lin lowered his eyes and gripped the sword in his hand.

"What I suffered is nothing. I only hope you'll let me spend the rest of my life by Fei'er's side."

Flame Hall's Sect Master sighed softly. "Very well. We'll allow you to return to Flame Hall."

Li Zi looked down. The Sect Masters had gathered and were talking together.

She could not hear what they were saying, but they no longer looked ready to draw swords on one another. That was enough to put her somewhat at ease.

[See? It's so much better when they sit down, talk properly, and share what they know.]

The system agreed. [Exactly. They really needed to communicate.]

Flame Hall's elders knew Wen Yun's true nature.

Li Zi felt that if they could sit down and talk, they ought to be able to expose Wen Yun, that scourge of the Cultivation World.

The big shots were talking. Li Zi stayed out of it.

She was about to ask the system where Wen Yun was. With Gong Lin making such a public appearance at Flame Hall's gates, Wen Yun was unlikely to sit back and do nothing.

Suddenly, she sensed a gaze filled with murderous intent.

Li Zi turned and saw the master of Rosy Cloud Palace staring at her, his eyes bloodshot.

[Huh? Why is Rosy Cloud Palace's master staring at me? System, can you dig up any dirt on him?]

Thud!

A cudgel struck the back of Rosy Cloud Palace's master's head.

The powerful cultivator carrying it followed up with a kick to his stomach, sending him flying several yards.

The man's movements were swift and decisive, and he had struck hard. Rosy Cloud Palace's master passed out on the spot.

He kept cursing under his breath. "You old bastard, even an eight-year-old girl catches your eye? What kind of beast are you?"

Li Zi shuddered.

[Don't look him up. I don't want to see anything disgusting.]

The system replied, [The way he looked at you was pretty disgusting. But there are still more good people than bad in the world! That senior brother stood up for you. If only they'd beat Wen Yun like that. He's the real villain.]

Li Zi nodded. [You said before that he wasn't a bad person.]

The system said, [I was wrong.]

The powerful cultivators heard Li Zi's attention shift elsewhere.

They all breathed a sigh of relief.

Several gave the cudgel-wielding cultivator a thumbs-up.

He had reacted so quickly. He had averted a crisis.

If the system had actually looked into it, it might have exposed the fact that they could hear Li Zi's thoughts.

In the middle of the square, the Sect Masters were discussing how to deal with Wen Yun and compensate Flame Hall.

Then a floral fragrance drifted over. A group approached from afar on a lotus.

The people aboard were too far away to make out, but the faint scent of lotus was delicate and elegant, leaving everyone feeling refreshed.

Someone cried out, "It's Wen Yun! People from Painting Pavilion!"

Li Zi looked over curiously.

As the lotus drew near, she saw the man at its head. He wore white robes, and his black hair spilled across his shoulders. With red lips, white teeth, and handsome features, he was striking.

The Cinnabar Mark between his brows was especially vivid and eye-catching.

Seeing him in person, Li Zi finally understood why everyone in the world of immortal cultivation thought he was a good man.

His features were sharply defined, yet his bearing was gentle. He had a pair of amorous, peach-blossom eyes, but no worldly desire showed in them—only distance and cool reserve.

Now he wore a smile, and an air of otherworldly detachment suffused him from head to toe.

Ordinarily, the moment Wen Yun appeared, people from the major Sects would crowd around to speak with him warmly.

Others would gaze at him with admiration and praise.

This time, though, Wen Yun sensed something indescribably strange about the atmosphere.

There was wariness in the way they looked at him, mixed with a tension he could not quite place.

Had he dressed improperly today?