108: Chapter 18 Departure

Chen Zilong wore a cyan long robe, his posture as upright as a pine tree. He stepped steadily over the threshold and entered the main hall on the first floor of the Yingxian Pavilion.

Ye Xishui and Lu Bingyun followed closely behind him, like two fluttering butterflies.

Because of the scare last night, Tu Shan Xiaoxiao appeared somewhat exhausted.

Thus, Chen Zilong decided to let her stay in her room to have a good rest.

Meanwhile, Ye Xishui moved her feet lightly, as elegant as a lotus flower.

Her snow-white skirt fluttered gently with her movements, as if ripples were undulating in the morning sunlight.

When she lifted her head, her long, thick eyelashes cast faint shadows on her jade-white face.

She looked like a fairy walking out of a beautiful ink painting, making everyone's eyes light up.

In contrast, Lu Bingyun appeared much more composed.

She followed Chen Zilong silently, always maintaining a perfect sense of distance between them.

Her clear and bright eyes were now quietly gazing at the hazy landscape outside the window, as if she wanted to engrave all of it deep within her mind.

Before long, the three of them walked together to an exquisite and elegant sandalwood table in the corner of the pavilion and sat down noiselessly.

The entire hall was suddenly filled with an ancient and mysterious atmosphere.

The air was filled with the unique fragrance of old wood and the faint scent of sandalwood from last night that had not yet fully dissipated.

Occasionally, the crisp and pleasant chirping of birds could be heard from afar.

But instead of breaking the tranquility, these sounds made the space feel even more quiet and solemn.

By now, many disciples from both the Righteous and Demonic Paths had gathered inside the Yingxian Pavilion. They clustered in twos and threes, their low whispers rising and falling like the tide.

Lin Yue of the Qingyun Sect stood at the very front of the crowd, her plain white Daoist robe accentuating her upright posture.

When she raised her hand to signal for silence, the jade bracelets on her wrist clinked together with a crisp sound.

"Fellow colleagues."

Lin Yue's voice was clear as she swept her gaze over everyone present. "The Demon Suppression Grand Array concerns the safety of this village. I ask everyone to go to the various Formation Eyes to channel your spiritual power and help the grand array regain its power."

As soon as these words were spoken, the room broke into an uproar.

Disciples from various sects looked at each other, many with hesitation in their eyes.

Some couldn't stop stroking the swords at their waists, some instinctively took half a step back, and some even quietly moved toward the door.

"Two Golden Core Cultivators were lost just last night..."

Whispers in low voices came from the crowd; the words were like pebbles thrown into a still lake, stirring up ripples.

Most disciples had already developed the desire to retreat, wanting only to return to their respective sects as soon as possible.

Although a few fellow Qingyun disciples spoke up in support, they were ultimately outnumbered.

In just a moment, the crowd dispersed, leaving only the sound of faint footsteps echoing in the empty hall.

Lin Yue sighed softly, and as she turned her head, she happened to spot Chen Zilong in the corner.

A faint, imperceptible light flashed in her eyes, and she immediately stepped forward with a perfectly curved smile on her lips.

"Is Senior Brother Chen here to help us suppress the demons?" she asked in a soft, gentle voice, her fingertips inconspicuously smoothing the creases of her sleeves.

Chen Zilong smiled indifferently, his gaze passing over Lin Yue's shoulder to look out the window.

"To be honest, Junior Sister Lin, the matter of suppressing demons is secondary."

"A disciple of my sect perished here; this trip is mainly to uncover the truth."

As he spoke, Ye Xishui gently pulled back her sleeves, revealing half of her jade-like wrist, as she quietly watched the two converse.

"If the two disciples from other sects who died last night were killed by the same culprit as our disciple..."

Chen Zilong paused, his tone turning somber. "We must immediately report this to the sect elders."

"As for whether to assist in suppressing the demons, we must wait for instructions from the sect."

A hint of gloom flashed in the depths of Lin Yue's eyes.

Although it was gone in an instant, it did not escape Ye Xishui's keen eyes.

She quickly broke into a smile again and nodded repeatedly.

"Of course, of course."

After a few more pleasantries, Chen Zilong turned and left with his two junior sisters.

As Ye Xishui passed by Lin Yue, her skirt swirled slightly, carrying a faint scent of lotus.

Lin Yue stood in place, watching them climb the stairs. Not until the three figures completely disappeared around the corner did a strange curve suddenly hook her lips, and a cold light flashed in her eyes.

Upon reaching the sixth floor, Chen Zilong immediately gathered all the Xuantian Sect disciples.

The morning light filtered through the pillars, casting a golden edge around him. His voice was clear but carried an unquestionable authority.

"Pack your belongings immediately. We are returning to the sect at once to report this matter."

While the others dispersed to prepare, Ye Xishui walked up slowly.

Her black hair fell like a waterfall over her shoulders. When she spoke softly, it sounded like jade beads falling onto a plate.

"That Lin Yue is very suspicious."

"I noticed," Chen Zilong nodded, his gaze thoughtfully sweeping over the clouds and mist outside the corridor.

Hearing this, Lu Bingyun furrowed her beautiful brows, her slender fingers unconsciously twirling the silk ribbon at her waist.

"What do you mean by that?"

Chen Zilong turned to face her, a faint, almost imperceptible smile on his lips.

"The Qingyun Sect has always considered itself the Leader of the Righteous Path, but Senior Sister Lu should have seen their actions these past few days. They are nothing but a bunch of hypocrites."

As he spoke, Ye Xishui was leaning against the railing, looking into the distance, her profile appearing exceptionally clear and beautiful in the morning light.

Lu Bingyun suddenly understood, a look of surprise flashing in her bright eyes.

The few of them discussed in low voices for a while longer before each returning to their rooms to pack.

An hour later, the members of the Xuantian Sect were ready to depart outside the Yingxian Pavilion.

The morning sun was just rising, yet it inexplicably carried a hint of chill.

"Depart."

At Chen Zilong's command, everyone took to their swords and rose into the air, their robes fluttering like clouds.

Ye Xishui's black hair fluttered lightly in the wind like an ink wash painting. Lu Bingyun followed closely behind, her expression focused.

In the blink of an eye, the group had flown out of the boundaries of Tianji Village.

However, a thick fog suddenly surged ahead. This mist appeared strangely, and in an instant, it permeated the surroundings, becoming so dense it wouldn't disperse.

Everyone was forced to slow down, struggling forward through the white fog where they couldn't even see their own hands.

After an unknown amount of time, just as the group was becoming anxious, the thick fog suddenly thinned a little.

However, when they saw the scene before them clearly, all the disciples couldn't help but gasp—

The three ancient characters for "Tianji Village" loomed in the thin morning light, as if silently mocking their futile efforts.

This is...

A Ghost Wall!