13: Disappointed Lin Qingxuan

The main hall returned to silence once more as Shen Yueyao departed.

Only Lu Yi and Lin Qingxuan remained in the vast, empty hall.

Lin Qingxuan walked slowly toward Lu Yi with her head lowered, her mind locked in a fierce internal struggle.

Shame, despair, and an ever-deepening disappointment in her brother—all sorts of emotions churned in her heart.

What else could she do?

Her best friend had already stepped forward on her behalf, only to be refuted by Lu Yi until she was speechless.

Now, she was back at the starting point, and every path forward seemed to be blocked.

Then, as if she had reached some sort of resolution, she squeezed her eyes shut and bit her lower lip hard.

She didn't walk any closer to Lu Yi, nor did she continue to plead for help.

Instead, she suddenly broke into a run, heading straight toward the side hall where those countless strange outfits were kept.

She was prepared to take the initiative to "repay the debt"; it was the only bargaining chip she had left.

Just as she was about to run past Lu Yi, his arm shot out, grabbing her by the arm with precision and preventing her from moving another inch.

“Where do you think you’re going?”

Lu Yi's voice was flat, tinged with a hint of confusion.

Lin Qingxuan's body stiffened. She didn't dare look back, answering only with a stammer:

“To... to change clothes... to... to repay the debt!”

“Change clothes?”

Lu Yi raised an eyebrow in surprise.

Good grief, she's already this self-aware without even being trained?

Unfortunately, according to the plan, the "debt repayment" part had to be pushed back a bit.

He then gave a forceful pull, dragging Lin Qingxuan back and pressing her down into a nearby chair.

He looked down from above at the young girl, who looked like she was on the verge of tears.

Then, in a tone full of grief and disappointment, he scolded her:

“Lin Qingxuan! Even at a time like this, all you can think about is sacrificing yourself for that worthless fellow?”

“Look at yourself! For his sake, you degrade yourself again and again!”

“You might be doing right by him, but are you doing right by Elder Shen He, who worked so hard to nurture you?”

“Your brother killed her own grandson, and instead of thinking about how to earn her forgiveness, you’re still thinking about saving Lin Tian?!”

Lu Yi's words were like sharp blades, leaving her scolded into silence.

Grievance, shame, and confusion flooded her heart. Tears could no longer be contained and slid down her cheeks.

Seeing her tears, Lu Yi knew the timing was just right.

He sighed, and both his voice and expression softened.

He reached out and gently patted her head, which was trembling uncontrollably.

“As things stand, there is actually one more way to save your brother.”

He changed the subject, saying slowly:

“It just depends on whether you are willing or not.”

This sudden turn of events caused Lin Qingxuan to snap her head up.

She hurriedly wiped her tears with the back of her hand and looked at Lu Yi, a flicker of hope reigniting in her eyes.

“I am willing!”

She said without hesitation:

“As long as I can save my brother this... this one last time! I’m willing to do anything!”

The phrase "one last time" in her words carried an obvious sense of exhaustion and disappointment.

Lu Yi keenly caught this and laughed inwardly.

He threw out a condition that seemed absurd yet was full of suggestive meaning:

“It’s very simple. After this matter is over, you just need to wear every single outfit in that side hall of mine... once.”

Lin Qingxuan was completely stunned.

The hundreds and thousands of outfits in the side hall—all with sparse fabric and strange styles—instantly flashed through her mind.

Wear them all once? She naturally understood the true meaning behind "wearing them once"; it certainly wasn't as simple as the literal meaning.

What a long and humiliating process that would be. She didn't even dare to think further... She gritted her teeth hard.

In the end, she still nodded with difficulty:

“Fine... I promise you.”

“Very good.”

Seeing her look like a dead pig that didn't fear boiling water, Lu Yi couldn't help but sneer in his heart.

What a joke. The clothes in that side hall were updated regularly; she probably wouldn't be able to finish changing through them all in her entire life!

So, one must always clarify the premises before agreeing to conditions, otherwise, one would only be left at the mercy of others.

Only after she agreed to the condition did Lu Yi unhurriedly state his method:

“Lin Tian has committed multiple offenses. According to the Sect rules, he should be executed.”

His analysis was cold and cruel:

“The only path to survival is to obtain the forgiveness of the primary victim—your Revered Master, Elder Shen He.”

Lin Qingxuan held her breath and listened intently.

“As for how to obtain her forgiveness...”

Lu Yi provided a specific plan:

“You will personally go and request your Revered Master to end her seclusion. Then, in her presence, you will sever your sibling relationship with Lin Tian and draw a clear line between you from then on.”

“You will only beg your Revered Master to spare his life, based on your past Revered Master-disciple bond. Just leaving him with his life is enough.”

Hearing this method, Lin Qingxuan's Face turned pale.

Severing ties and drawing a line... with her brother?

Lu Yi added:

“Don't worry, I will send Ling'er with you. She will explain the 'circumstances' to Elder Shen He, saying that this is my intention as the Saint, and ask her to give me Face.”

“This way, with you, her Personal Disciple, pleading in public, and with the 'favor' of me, the Saint, Elder Shen He will most likely agree.”

“In the end, she will only cripple Lin Tian's entire cultivation and expel him from the Sect to settle the matter.”

Crippling his cultivation and expelling him from the Sect.

Though this result was cruel, compared to being executed, it was undoubtedly a massive mercy.

After a brief moment of hesitation and pain, Lin Qingxuan quickly understood the pros and cons.

She realized that this was indeed the only way to save her brother's life right now.

Perhaps... this was also the best outcome for him.

She looked up at Lu Yi. Although there was still pain in her eyes,

there was more of a sense of resolve that comes after making a decision.

She nodded heavily:

“Fine, I will do as you say.”

“Go then.”

Lu Yi immediately had Ling'er come in from outside the hall and instructed her to go with Lin Qingxuan.

As Ling'er turned to leave, Lu Yi gave her an imperceptible look.

Ling'er nodded understandingly and then silently followed behind Lin Qingxuan.

Outside the hall, Shen Yueyao, who had been waiting anxiously, saw the two of them come out and hurried to meet them.

When she finished listening to Lin Qingxuan recount the entire plan, although she was still confused about what had happened inside the hall, she also recognized the feasibility of this proposal.

“Qing Xuan, this is indeed the best way right now. Given your brother's personality, having his cultivation crippled might not be a bad thing.”

She patted her best friend's shoulder and said encouragingly:

“Don't be afraid, I'll go with you! She definitely won't make things difficult for you!”

Thus, the three women—each with a different status in the Primordial Holy Land yet equally peerless in elegance—flew together toward the peak where Elder Shen He was in seclusion...