538: Chapter 538 Since they're so eager to make amends, then let them stay outside and face the enemy.

As Sect Leader Xu's voice fell, the area in front of the mountain gate fell into silence.

Yun Hezi knelt on the ground, his face pale and his body trembling.

Qingfengzi and Mingyuezi also knelt to the side, heads bowed, not daring to look up.

Behind them, those hundred or so Disciples also knelt down one after another, each one terrified and silent, not daring to even breathe loudly.

Sect Leader Xu watched them without speaking.

His gaze was as calm as water, but within that calmness lay a chill that made one's blood run cold.

The members of the Hehuan Sect stood behind him, coldly watching these former traitors, with no one speaking. Only the wind blew past the mountain gate, carrying the scent of blood.

Yun Hezi's mind was in chaos.

He knew that if he did not provide a reasonable explanation, he might not be able to leave this mountain gate today.

He gritted his teeth, looked up at Sect Leader Xu, and said in a hoarse, trembling voice, "Sect Leader Xu, please listen to me... back then, we didn't intend to leave."

Sect Leader Xu raised an eyebrow, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly into a smile that was not quite a smile, "Oh? Not intentional? Then what was it?"

Yun Hezi swallowed hard and braced himself, "Back then... back then, the Hehuan Sect was ambushed by the Meiying Sect and besieged by the Jile Sect and the Tianshu Sword Sect. We... we only left because we had to preserve some seeds for the Hehuan Sect."

"We were afraid... afraid that if everyone died there, the Hehuan Sect would truly be destroyed."

"That is why we led the Disciples to break out, thinking that once the heat died down, we would return to rebuild the Sect."

Qingfengzi also hurriedly chimed in, his voice full of urgency, "Yes, yes, yes. Sect Leader Xu, we didn't defect. We were breaking out. It was to preserve the sparks of the Hehuan Sect."

"Think about it, if everyone had stayed there and been wiped out by the Jile Sect and the Tianshu Sword Sect, the Hehuan Sect would truly be finished. We... we were making long-term plans."

Mingyuezi also nodded repeatedly, "Sect Leader Xu, our loyalty to the Hehuan Sect is known to the heavens and the earth."

"We have been struggling to hold on outside all these years just to wait for an opportunity, to wait for the day when the Hehuan Sect would rise again."

"Now that Sect Leader Xiao has reached the True Immortal Realm, we have finally waited for this day."

"That is why we rushed back impatiently to clean up the Sect for the Hehuan Sect and drive away those villains who occupied the mountain gate."

The more they spoke, the more excited they became, and the more they felt justified, their fear gradually replaced by a sense of self-righteousness.

It was as if they were truly loyal subjects enduring humiliation and suffering to achieve a great goal, rather than cowards who fled the battlefield and betrayed the Sect.

Sect Leader Xu watched them and smiled.

He did not expose their lies, did not bring up the fact that they had sold information about the Hehuan Sect's internal emptiness to the Meiying Sect, and did not mention that they had taken Spirit Stones and run away.

He simply watched them, listening quietly to their performance.

The Grand Elder stood behind Sect Leader Xu, trembling with rage.

He certainly remembered what had happened back then.

These people were not breaking out; they had snuck away with the Disciples when the Hehuan Sect was in its most dangerous moment.

Before leaving, they had even sold information about the Hehuan Sect's internal emptiness to the Meiying Sect in exchange for a large sum of Spirit Stones. The only reason the Meiying Sect could find the Hehuan Sect's weaknesses so accurately was because of their betrayal.

Hua Xunhuan's eyes were almost spitting fire, her hand gripping her short sword until her knuckles turned white.

Zhao Yan was gritting his teeth, wishing he could rush up and smash Yun Hezi's head with one punch. Ning Caihe's sword was already three inches out of its sheath, cold killing intent flowing along the blade.

Sect Leader Xu did not turn around; he could feel the anger of everyone behind him. But he did not let anyone take action.

He simply looked at Yun Hezi, at his hypocritical face, and at the smugness gradually emerging in his eyes.

"Oh? So that's how it was." Sect Leader Xu nodded, his voice very soft, "You left because you had to, in order to preserve the sparks of the Hehuan Sect?"

Yun Hezi nodded repeatedly, his eyes full of anticipation, "Yes, yes, yes, Sect Leader Xu is wise."

"We left while enduring humiliation for the sake of the Hehuan Sect's future. We have always kept the Hehuan Sect in our hearts and have never forgotten it."

Qingfengzi also hurriedly said, "Sect Leader Xu, you must believe in our loyalty to the Hehuan Sect. We have suffered so much outside all these years, just to wait for this day."

Mingyuezi even wept, "Sect Leader Xu, it hasn't been easy for us. We..." He wiped the corners of his eyes, only to find that there were no tears at all.

Sect Leader Xu watched them and smiled.

He did not expose them, did not mention their betrayal of the Hehuan Sect, and did not mention how many Spirit Stones they had taken.

He simply nodded and said indifferently, "Very well."

Yun Hezi was stunned, a flash of surprise appearing in his eyes. He had not expected Sect Leader Xu to believe him so easily.

He hurriedly said, "Sect Leader Xu, are you willing to take us back?"

Sect Leader Xu shook his head, "Take you back? You were originally people of the Hehuan Sect, why speak of taking you back?"

Yun Hezi's eyes were full of wild joy, and Qingfengzi and Mingyuezi were also trembling with excitement.

They thought their scheme had succeeded and that Sect Leader Xu had truly been deceived by them.

They were already calculating in their hearts how to curry favor with Xiao Nianyin after returning to the Hehuan Sect, and how to regain their former status and power.

However, Sect Leader Xu changed the subject; his voice remained soft, but every word felt like a knife, "Since you want to make amends so badly, and since you are so loyal, I will give you another chance."

Yun Hezi hurriedly said, "Please speak, Sect Leader Xu. We will definitely go through fire and water, without hesitation."

Sect Leader Xu looked at him, the corners of his mouth curling up slightly into a meaningful smile.

"You should have also heard that those Sects of the Righteous Path have established some Demon Slaying Alliance and are coming to encircle and suppress our Hehuan Sect."

Sect Leader Xu spoke slowly, his voice not loud, but every word clearly entered everyone's ears.

"Although our Hehuan Sect is not afraid of them now, we are also unwilling to be entangled with them."

"Since you are so loyal and want to make amends so badly, then stay outside and defend against that incoming Righteous Alliance."

Yun Hezi's smile froze on his face.

His face instantly turned pale, his eyes filled with fear.

Sect Leader Xu continued, his voice still very soft, "Didn't you say you would go through fire and water for the Hehuan Sect? Now the opportunity has come."

"The people from the Righteous Alliance will arrive soon; you will guard the mountain gate and block them for our Hehuan Sect."

"This time, I hope you won't run away again."