408: Chapter 408 Even jumping into the Yellow River won't clear my name!

"Cough, cough—!"

Su Chen felt a sweet taste in his throat, a rush of metallic tang hitting the back of his mouth, forcing him to swallow back the mouthful of old blood.

He had been beaten silly by the Hehuan Sect's master and disciples' set of "Combo Fatal Strikes," his head buzzing, his whole system crashing.

【The Spiral Floor-Wiping Technique?!】

【Wipe your big-headed ghost! Has your Hehuan Sect switched to housekeeping services?!】

【Also, could you please not use that 'as a matter of course' tone to say such mind-shattering things?!】

【Did I forget to check the almanac before leaving home today? Why, of all people, must I bear all this?!】

Su Chen's world instantly turned monochrome. He seemed to see a massive, glittering green title floating above his head—

—"The Mysterious Origin Continent's Number One Flower-Stealing Rogue."

It's over.

Completely over.

This time, even jumping into the Yellow River couldn't wash him clean.

Even if he grew mouths all over his body, he'd never be able to prove his innocence with these three 'she-demons.'

He knew the tens of thousands of Cultivators present had probably already stamped him with the 'flower-stealing rogue' conviction. Their gazes, wishing they could devour him alive, felt even more agonizing than being drained dry by Ji Hongxue.

Seeing Su Chen's devastated, utterly hopeless, miserable state, a gleam of triumph flashed through Hua Nongying's fox-like eyes.

The corner of her mouth lifted slightly; even through the mask, one could sense that 'mission accomplished' arrogance.

【You little rascal, trying to fight me?】

【Don't you love watching the show? Don't you love being an amused spectator?】

【Today, this Sect Master will make you the lead actor! Let you have a good taste of being in the spotlight, publicly executed!】

She wanted to use this most direct, most brutal, and most shameless method to tie herself and Su Chen together completely.

So he could never shake her off!

Su Chen took a deep breath, then another deep breath.

He knew he was utterly done for today.

Done in by this 'madwoman's' completely unorthodox, 'shameless fighting style.'

To explain is to make excuses.

To make excuses is to admit guilt.

Anything he said now would be wrong.

If that's the case...

Then he might as well throw caution to the wind!

Since the hat of 'Mysterious Origin's Number One Flower-Stealing Rogue' was already forced on him, could he possibly take it off?

Might as well go with the flow; perhaps amidst the chaos, he could find a sliver of hope.

"Ahem!"

Su Chen cleared his throat, forcing himself to calm down.

He subtly glanced at the two maids beside him. Chunhua and Qiuyue were currently covering their mouths, trying hard to stifle their laughter, yet their eyes couldn't hide their heartache.

Elder Su Qi kept nodding with immense satisfaction, as if Su Chen had once again performed an immortal feat for the Su Family.

Su Chen scanned the surroundings, looking at the Cultivators still staring at him with complex gazes.

Their eyes held a mix of envy, admiration, shock, and curiosity, the flames of gossip burning fiercely.

Suddenly, a profound, serene smile blossomed on Su Chen's face.

The smile carried a touch of enlightenment and detachment from worldly affairs, and a hint of transcendent indifference towards all the beauties under heaven.

He slowly raised his hand and gently patted the back of Hua Nongying's hand, which was still clinging to his arm and refusing to let go.

The gesture was full of a senior's doting affection towards a Junior, mixed with a subtle trace of helplessness and resignation.

Then, in a magnetic voice tinged with a hint of indulgence, he slowly spoke:

"Alright now, stop fooling around."

"With so many people watching, what kind of impression is this?"

The entire square instantly fell into another deathly silence.

Everyone was dumbfounded, utterly frozen in place.

Including Hua Nongying, who was still hanging onto Su Chen.

Her captivating fox eyes widened slightly in extreme shock. The triumphant expression on her face instantly stiffened, turning into bewilderment.

【He... what kind of reaction is this?!】

【Shouldn't he be panicking, desperate to clear his name?】

【What's with this calm, composed demeanor as if he has everything under control?!】

【The script... the script wasn't written this way!】

For the first time, Hua Nongying felt that things seemed to be slipping beyond her control.

She had imagined countless reactions from Su Chen, but never expected him to respond with this 'fatherly' attitude, effortlessly turning the tables and seizing the initiative.

She stared intently at Su Chen's profile, trying to find a flaw in his serene expression, but saw only a calmness that seemed to see through everything.

And Su Chen didn't give her much time to think.

He ignored everyone's jaw-dropping expressions and Hua Nongying's stupefaction.

He turned his head and gave a slight nod to Chunhua and Qiuyue, then waved to Elder Su Qi, whose old face was beaming with joy.

Then, with a grand sweep of his hand, he declared in a voice full of heroic and unrestrained leadership:

"Since everyone has arrived."

"Then, let's not waste any more time here."

"Let's go in!"

After speaking, he paid no more attention to the crowd of onlookers who had turned to stone, nor did he attempt to explain the 'left embrace, right hug' scene.

Just like that, with Hua Nongying clinging to his arm and Hua Yingxue tugging at his sleeve, and with Mei Xinnu following in worshipful attendance, he led this utterly bizarre Ascension team—composed of a 'monk, swordsman, enchantress, and scholar'—

and marched grandly towards the enormous stone gate radiating boundless immortal light.

His back was the epitome of dashing (dashing).

The epitome of Cool (cool).

Leaving behind tens of thousands of Cultivators with their worldviews utterly shattered, utterly bewildered in the wind.