It was early morning, two days later.
Chen Xun was sweeping the mountain path.
Qian Laifu stood to one side, miserably bent at the waist, and said respectfully:
"Senior Chen, with your exalted status, surely you needn't do such tiring work?"
Chen Xun glanced at Qian Laifu as he swept, stuck out his tongue, and said rather excitedly, "I'm warning you! Don't bother this humble scholar!"
Qian Laifu immediately fell silent.
Bitterness filled Qian Laifu's heart.
For the past two days, he had pleaded tirelessly with Senior Chen to stop living in that straw hut. He had arranged a fine place for him to stay, but Senior Chen simply wouldn't listen.
Nor did he dare let Senior Chen do the sweeping, yet no amount of pleading had helped.
As Chen Xun swept, he suddenly snapped in irritation, "Hey, hey, hey! Could you stop following this humble scholar around? Aren't you annoying!"
Qian Laifu shuddered and hastily offered an awkward smile. "Yes, yes, yes! This lowly one will leave right away!"
Just then, Zhao Ting came running toward them.
"Brother Chen! Brother Chen!"
Qian Laifu had never met Zhao Ting, but the sight of his Heavenly Purple Mystic Gauze Robe startled him. A Purple-Robed Disciple!
He immediately realized who the newcomer was.
He hurriedly bowed and called out, "Greetings, Senior Brother Zhao!"
Qian Laifu normally had no opportunity to interact with Purple-Robed Disciples. Even catching a glimpse of one was difficult.
Fortunately, he had met even the sect master two days ago, so he managed to keep his composure.
"Brother Chen, I'll take you to my master today and have her examine you!"
Zhao Ting smiled as he reached them.
Qian Laifu stood bowed beside them, smiling bitterly inwardly.
Well, well. I thought that after Zhao Ting became a Purple-Robed Disciple, he would hardly have any contact with... Yet look how enthusiastic he is! Damn it, every last prediction I made was wrong. No wonder I'm forever stuck as a lowly steward of Servant Disciple Peak.
It seemed the rumor that Senior Brother Zhao of Heaven Mystic Peak had stepped forward to vouch for Senior Chen two days ago was true.
From the looks of it, Senior Brother Zhao genuinely considered Senior Chen a friend.
And notably, Senior Brother Zhao probably still had no idea how much weight this friend of his carried...
He was someone even the sect master had to treat with respect!
Of course, Qian Laifu would say nothing about that. A mere steward of Servant Disciple Peak like him had no place to speak.
Chen Xun scratched his head.
Seeing this, Zhao Ting snatched the broom from Chen Xun, tossed it to Qian Laifu, and pulled Chen Xun away.
"Come on, Brother Chen, let's hurry. We mustn't keep Master waiting."
Qian Laifu watched the two leave, looked down at the broom in his hands, and silently began sweeping.
Some Servant Disciples passed by just then, staring at the scene in shock.
Heavens, what madness has seized this fat steward who never does any work?
For the moment, the Servant Disciples naturally knew nothing. The two Servant Disciples who had met Nangong Yao two days ago had buried the matter deep in their bellies, not daring to spread a word.
Heaven Mystic Peak.
The Punishment Hall.
Zhao Ting pulled Chen Xun into the hall and saw Chu Ningshang already standing there.
"Master, Brother Chen is here."
Zhao Ting bowed.
"Hehehe." Chen Xun looked at Chu Ningshang, laughing for no apparent reason.
Chu Ningshang paid it no mind. Zhao Ting had already told her the basics of Chen Xun's condition.
Besides, everyone in the sect now knew of this unusual figure, Chen Xun.
Chu Ningshang stepped forward, looked Chen Xun over, and said coolly, "Chen Xun, you should count yourself fortunate. After what happened at the Martial Arena on Heaven Mystic Peak two days ago, the sect master actually let you off so easily."
"Had Zhao Ting not pleaded repeatedly, I would never have agreed to examine you."
Beside her, Zhao Ting's expression shifted slightly, but he dared not say anything.
Chu Ningshang looked at Zhao Ting. "I can examine this friend of yours, but remember, you have only just embarked on the path of immortality and drawn spiritual energy into your body. From now on, you must devote yourself to cultivation. Do not let outside matters distract you."
Zhao Ting immediately bowed. "This disciple will remember!"
Chu Ningshang nodded, then reached out to take Chen Xun's wrist, intending to check his pulse first.
Yet the next instant, her pupils contracted. She released his wrist as though electrocuted, retreated half a step, and looked up at him in disbelief.
Seeing this, Zhao Ting asked in both confusion and concern, "Master, what's causing Brother Chen's madness? Can it be cured?"
Chu Ningshang tucked the hand she had used to check his pulse behind her back. Hidden inside her sleeve, it trembled slightly.
Zhao Ting could not see this.
Chu Ningshang drew a light breath, gave Chen Xun a searching look, and said, "Zhao Ting, go outside first."
"Uh, yes."
Zhao Ting naturally dared not disobey. After glancing at Chen Xun, he hurried out of the Punishment Hall.
Chu Ningshang stared at Chen Xun. "You are no mortal... Speak. What are you after, infiltrating the Heavenly Dao Sect?"
When she had checked his pulse just now, her heart had suddenly lurched, and her palm had felt as though an arc of lightning had struck it!
Chu Ningshang believed Chen Xun's madness was all an act.
This Chen Xun was also a cultivator-and an extraordinarily formidable one!
Chen Xun gave Chu Ningshang a suspicious look and muttered, "Lunatic."
"You!" Chu Ningshang faltered. Though her face betrayed little, anger stirred in her heart.
She was a lunatic?
Chen Xun couldn't be bothered with Chu Ningshang. He took the wordless book from inside his robes and walked outside, reading it fervently while humming a little tune and bobbing his head.
"Did I give you permission to leave? Unless you reveal your purpose for infiltrating the sect today, don't dream of leaving the Punishment Hall."
Chu Ningshang turned her head toward Chen Xun and spoke coldly.
Chen Xun did not pause, intent on leaving.
Chu Ningshang's gaze chilled. A coil of rope appeared in her hand. She silently recited an incantation, and the rope shone with an eerie light, darting toward Chen Xun like a flying snake!
Crack!
Yet just as the rope was about to reach Chen Xun, without him appearing to do anything, it shattered inch by inch and fell to the floor!!
"Ngh!"
Chu Ningshang staggered back a step with a pained grunt. A thread of blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, and the way she looked at his retreating figure finally changed completely.
A mighty expert!
Chu Ningshang took a deep breath. Not daring to stop Chen Xun again, she quickly produced a talisman and poured spiritual energy into it. Once it lit up, she said gravely:
"Sect Master, a mighty expert has infiltrated the sect! It's that friend of my disciple Zhao Ting whose origins are unknown-Chen Xun! Before my Spirit-Binding Lock could even reach him, he shattered it inch by inch!"
Meanwhile, on Heavenly Dao Peak.
As Nangong Yao listened to Chu Ningshang's message, his expression was initially icy. But when he heard that it was Chen Xun, he could only smile bitterly.
Ah, Senior Chen. Then there's no problem.
Although Chu Ningshang had not explained the incident clearly in her message, Nangong Yao had already guessed the gist of it.
Presumably, Zhao Ting had taken Senior Chen to Chu Ningshang for treatment, resulting in this incident.
Nangong Yao likewise took out a talisman, infused it with spiritual energy, and offered only one cold reply.
"Fourth Elder, do not panic. That is Senior Chen. Let him do whatever he wishes, and do not obstruct him. Otherwise, if you displease him and bring suffering upon yourself, I have neither the ability nor the courage to help you settle the score."
Back at the Punishment Hall on Heaven Mystic Peak, Chu Ningshang froze where she stood upon hearing Nangong Yao's words.
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