127: Chapter 127 Shifting the Blame Eastward: Liu Ruyao's Plan

Three hundred miles outside the Hehuan Sect's mountain gate, Heifeng Ridge.

Amidst the miasma-filled mountain path, a group of five was trudging along in a sorry state.

At the head was a beautiful woman with an enchanting figure but a livid complexion—it was none other than Liu Rurao, the Sect Master of the Meiying Sect, who had just returned in defeat from the Hehuan Sect.

Within her peach-blossom eyes, which usually overflowed with charm, a rage and humiliation that were almost ready to erupt were burning.

Behind her followed three Disciples.

The closest was her Personal Disciple, Fairy Caidie, whose face was currently pale and eyes filled with fear; she clearly hadn't recovered from the brutal duel on the Law Execution Platform.

In her arms, she held a youth with a weak Aura—it was the "Cauldron" she kept, "Ergouzi," who was currently unconscious, his chest wrapped in thick gauze with faint bloodstains seeping through.

Further back were two Inner Sect Disciples, both wearing expressions of terror as if they had just survived a disaster, their very steps trembling.

And trailing at the very end, with unsteady steps and a deathly pale face, was the Lei Family scion, Lei Xuan.

Lei Xuan's heart was currently pounding like a drum, and with every step, he felt his legs go weak.

He stole a glance at Liu Rurao's back; her crimson-purple dress billowed in the miasma like a venomous python that could turn and devour someone at any moment.

"It's over... everything is over..."

Lei Xuan felt a chill in his heart.

How could he have imagined that the "trash" Xu Ruyu he had constantly whispered about in Fairy Caidie's ear would actually possess such terrifying methods!

Not only could he withstand Fairy Caidie's Charm Technique on the Law Execution Platform, but even more terrifyingly—that "Acetylene Great Array" he set up had instantly burned ten whole Core Disciples of the Meiying Sect to death!

Ten of them!

Those were all elites at or above the Foundation Establishment Stage, the mainstays of the Meiying Sect for decades to come!

Just like that... they were reduced to ashes.

Lei Xuan still remembered that scene: the cyan flames soaring into the sky, instantly swallowing the ten Disciples, who didn't even have time to scream before they were turned into charcoal in the intense heat.

If Liu Rurao hadn't reacted quickly and protected Fairy Caidie and Ergouzi in time, they probably wouldn't have escaped either.

And the cause of all this...

Lei Xuan didn't dare think further.

A large part of the reason Liu Rurao had sought trouble with the Hehuan Sect at this critical juncture was because he, Lei Xuan, had been constantly nagging in Fairy Caidie's ear—saying how much of a waste Xu Ruyu was, how he wasn't fit to enter the Hehuan Sect, and how he might be hiding some secret...

Fairy Caidie had grown annoyed with his talk and only then mentioned it to Liu Rurao.

And the result?

Liu Rurao had already wanted to cause trouble for the Hehuan Sect, and this gave her a pretext; she immediately gathered her people and aggressively charged to their doorstep.

And then... it ended like this.

"The Sect Master will definitely vent her anger on me..." The more Lei Xuan thought about it, the more terrified he became, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. "The loss of ten Core Disciples, such a huge responsibility, someone has to bear it... I, I'm afraid..."

Just as his mind was racing, Liu Rurao, who was walking ahead, suddenly stopped.

Snap!

She suddenly turned around, her crimson-purple sleeves bringing a gust of pungent wind, and her peach-blossom eyes, burning with rage, stared fixedly at Lei Xuan at the back.

Lei Xuan trembled all over, his legs going soft, nearly kneeling on the ground.

"Sect... Sect Master..."

"As for your matter," Liu Rurao's voice was bone-chillingly cold, each word squeezed out from between her teeth, "once we return to the Sect, this Sect Master will settle the score with you properly."

Lei Xuan's face instantly turned as pale as paper; he opened his mouth, but couldn't utter a single word.

Seeing his pathetic state, Liu Rurao's anger flared even more, but she ultimately didn't explode again. She just gave him a fierce glare and turned to continue walking.

However, after a few steps, she stopped again.

This time, a sinister light flashed in her eyes.

"We're not going back to the Sect yet," Liu Rurao suddenly spoke, her voice carrying an eerie calmness. "First, we're going to the Jile Sect."

"The Jile Sect?" Fairy Caidie was startled. "Revered Master, why are we going to the Jile Sect? That Situ E..."

"Hmph!" Liu Rurao snorted coldly, her lips curling into a malicious arc. "Didn't Xiao Nianyin take in a 'good Disciple'? Not only did she let this male Disciple live in Ningyin Hall, she even went as far as to consult the 'Heavenly Charm Mysterious Maiden Heart Sutra'—which she always looked down upon—for his sake..."

She paused, the resentment in her eyes nearly overflowing:

"This matter, her 'old flames' must be made aware of it."

"Especially Situ E—that madman who was heavily injured and humiliated by Xiao Nianyin in public hundreds of years ago, and who swore to either possess her or destroy her."

Liu Rurao turned and looked toward the direction of the Jile Sect, her smile growing colder:

"Tell me, if Situ E knew that the woman he has pursued for hundreds of years without success has now taken a male Disciple and broken so many rules for him... how would he react?"

Fairy Caidie's expression changed slightly: "Revered Master, you're planning to..."

"Exactly." Liu Rurao nodded, a flash of satisfaction from a successful scheme in her eyes. "We're going to tell Situ E all about how that 'pure and noble' Grand Sect Master Xiao of the Hehuan Sect is currently doting on her male Disciple."

"Surely... after hearing this, Situ E will be 'very interested' in Xu Ruyu!"

"When that time comes," Liu Rurao's smile was grim, "I'd like to see how Xiao Nianyin protects her precious Disciple!"

With those words, she no longer hesitated. With a sweep of her sleeves, she transformed into a crimson-purple light, enveloping Fairy Caidie and the others as they sped toward the Jile Sect.

Enveloped by the light, Lei Xuan's heart settled slightly—at least, for now, he didn't have to face the Sect Master's wrath.

But immediately after, he felt a wave of coldness.

Liu Rurao was going to... divert the trouble?

To have the Jile Old Ancestor, Situ E, go and cause trouble for Xu Ruyu?

That Situ E was notoriously cruel and overbearing, and his cultivation was unfathomable. It was said he had already stepped into the Late Stage of the Saint Realm and was one of the top titans in the Demonic Path!

If he truly became "interested" in Xu Ruyu...

Lei Xuan didn't dare to think further.

But in his heart, a hint of twisted satisfaction faintly emerged.

Xu Ruyu...

You made me lose all face in the Hehuan Sect and made my Lei Family a laughingstock.

Now, your retribution has come!