No Wails of Grief, Surprisingly

Before long, Zhang Xiaohua and Li Chengxiu encountered a carriage coming down the mountain. Zhang Xiaohua did not stand on ceremony and climbed aboard, still looking sickly and weak.

On Baiyue Peak, within the Pill-Refining Hall, everything was much the same as before. There was absolutely none of the wailing grief Zhang Xiaohua had imagined. Every disciple they passed hurried along, not even sparing Zhang Xiaohua in the carriage a glance, as though nothing whatsoever had happened.

When the carriage reached Herb Hall, Zhang Xiaohua got down. Li Chengxiu smiled and said, "Junior Brother Ren, wait here for now. I'll go announce your arrival. The Hall Master will surely reward you later."

Zhang Xiaohua smiled faintly. "Let us hope so."

Li Chengxiu turned and entered the courtyard.

Within Herb Hall, Elder Purple Ginseng was drinking tea with a furrowed brow, as though some difficult matter weighed upon him. Hearing someone report in, he casually told them to enter.

Li Chengxiu entered the room and respectfully said, "Congratulations, Hall Master. Another disciple from our Pill-Refining Hall who participated in the You Lan Twilight Trial has returned safely."

"Hm?" Elder Purple Ginseng was taken aback. Raising his brows, he said, "That fellow had rather good luck, to have returned alive? I thought there were only eight. Oh, what spirit herbs did he bring back?"

"Well..." Li Chengxiu hesitated. "This disciple suffered grave injuries and was escorted back by disciples of Wuming Hall. It seems... he did not bring the carriage back, so as for the spirit herbs..."

Elder Purple Ginseng gave a cold "Heh-heh" laugh. "Since he did not gather any spirit herbs, that means he failed the trial's task. According to past practice, he should be punished. But this time is different. Escaping with his life is already not bad, so