Chapter 208: Please Tell Me

Zhai Qingye: "......"

Song Yan said softly, "Let's go, we'll return."

On the way back to the Carefree Sect's Travel Courtyard, Second Elder Zong Rao asked them about their situation inside the Heaven and Earth Domain's Spirit Pool, and they answered truthfully.

When Zong Rao learned they had obtained qualification to enter the Flowing Light Secret Realm, she was unexpectedly startled.

The secret realm also has strict grade classifications.

Moreover, that Flowing Light Secret Realm is classified as a high‑grade secret realm, its rarity in the entire cultivation world being truly as scarce as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns!

"You haven't lost out either," Zong Rao smiled.

After they finally arrived at the Carefree Sect's Travel Courtyard, they rested briefly and then immediately went to see the sect leader.

After some small talk, the sect leader issued the order, "Tomorrow morning set out to return to the Carefree Sect."

The next morning.

The Carefree Sect, the Sacred Gate, and the Grand Void School—all three major sects—chose to depart today.

Yuan Yao and her senior brothers and sisters followed behind their own master and boarded the spirit boat.

As soon as Yuan Yao stepped onto the spirit boat, she sat cross‑legged on the spot and began cultivating.

Seeing his young disciple so diligent, Master Qian Jue Shan glanced up at Song Yan and the others. They instantly understood their master's meaning, then also sat cross‑legged and quickly entered cultivation mode.

The Carefree Sect's disciples, seeing this, exchanged glances and felt they could not waste time on the way back to the sect.

Soon, almost all the young disciples were sitting on the deck, cultivating.

The sect leader saw this scene and a slight smile tugged at his mouth.

"Very good!"

He felt greatly reassured!

The three massive spirit boats had been sailing in midair for several days.

Finally, as the three spirit boats were about to reach the Carefree Sect, a burst of passionate shouts rose from below: "They're back!"

The Great Elder of the Carefree Sect was seen leading many disciples of the Four Peaks, having arrived early at the sect gate, quietly waiting for something.

Excitement lit each face; they all held their heads high, eyes eager, watching the three massive spirit boats gradually approach from afar.

The Great Elder, hands clasped behind his back, stood as straight as a pine, exuding a calm and imposing aura; his mouth corner lifted slightly, revealing a look of contented smile.

In a short while.

The three huge spirit boats docked outside the Carefree Sect's gate, and the young disciples gradually disembarked.

When the Four Peaks disciples behind the Great Elder saw Ying Wuji and the others, their chests warmed and admiration flashed in their eyes.

If the sect leader and elders weren't present, they would surely have rushed around excitedly, talking nonstop.

They knew Brother Ying had become the top of this year's sect-wide competition disciple ranking!

They also knew the junior sister had made a stunning debut in the sect competition, not only ranking sixth on the disciple list but also taking first place in the formation competition!

This year's sect competition, their Carefree Sect was undeniably the champion among all sects!

Yuan Yao stepped off the spirit boat, then waved excitedly, greeting the Four Peaks disciples.

Yuan Yao felt as if she were in another world; after careful calculation, it had been over two months since they left the sect.

After the sect leader, Thousand Mountain Immortal Lord, the Great Elder, and Second Elder concluded the sect council, the Carefree Sect's Four Peaks disciples surrounded Yuan Yao and the others.

"Congratulations, senior brothers and sisters!"

"Little junior sister, when did you start studying formations? To snatch first place in the formation competition! Truly impressive!"

"Brother Ying, I knew early that you would top the disciple list this year!"

"Senior Sister Xiao, I heard your opponent turned into a spinning top and was flung away?"

"Brother Cang Li, Brother Ao Su, I heard you faced each other in the competition?"

"......"

Yuan Yao raised both hands, loudly halting the chaotic scene, smiling as she said, "Senior brothers and sisters, can we first return to the sect's old spot before discussing further?"

The so‑called old spot is the Pure Pavilion within the sect.

In the past, she often went to the Pure Pavilion on Rest Day, telling stories to senior brothers and sisters, and sometimes discussing amusing anecdotes from various sects.

"Alright!" the Carefree Sect disciples naturally replied.

And Yuan Yao knew Second Senior Sister, Fourth Senior Brother, and Youngest Senior Brother didn't like such settings, so she gave them a glance, letting them return to Tianwu Peak first.

Then, with her right hand she seized Song Yan's arm, with her left hand Cang Li's arm, "Go!"

Yao Linglong yawned, "I won't go."

She had been cultivating these days and was a bit tired.

Ao Su, however, was in high spirits and followed to the Pure Pavilion.

Today happened to be the Carefree Sect's Rest Day.

Thus, most of the Carefree Sect's disciples went to the Pure Pavilion.

In the pavilion, Song Yan sat helplessly, watching Yuan Yao, Cang Li, and Ao Su narrate the events that occurred in the Heaven and Earth Domain, while animatedly acting them out.

The Carefree Sect disciples were amused.

As the atmosphere was relaxed, a female disciple suddenly spoke, "Junior sister, I heard Lu Xiangxiang tried to poison you? Is it true?"

The words caused the previously joyful atmosphere to freeze instantly.

Yuan Yao's smile briefly faltered; her gaze unintentionally swept the present peers, noticing that Shiziwen was absent.

Presumably, Shiziwen had already been summoned by the sect leader.

Shiziwen was to be punished.

Song Yan, Cang Li, and Ao Su all looked toward Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao nodded, "Yes."

"Was Senior Brother Li Hang also killed by him?" That female disciple's eyes had already reddened.

Yuan Yao also recognized this female disciple; she was none other than Yi Xinwen, one of the disciples of Astronomy Peak. Senior Sister Yi Xinwen and Senior Brother Li Hang were childhood sweethearts, their families having arranged their marriage from a young age.

One could say, Senior Brother Li Hang was Senior Sister Yi Xinwen's fiancé.

"Nine times out of ten." Li Hang's death, Lu Xiangxiang is definitely involved!

Upon hearing this, Senior Sister Yi Xinwen's tears fell involuntarily.

She walked toward Yuan Yao's direction.

Everyone made way for her.

Just as she was about to kneel before Yuan Yao, Yuan Yao reacted quickly, stepping forward to support Yi Xinwen.

Yi Xinwen's tears kept falling as she lifted her head and said, "Junior Sister, Li Hang is inherently good; he would never do anything to harm you. He must have been coerced. Please, clear Li Hang's name."

"Junior Sister..." Seeing Yuan Yao remain silent, she called out heartbrokenly.

Yuan Yao hurriedly steadied Yi Xinwen and comforted her, "Senior Sister Yi, if I ever uncover the full truth of this incident, I will certainly tell you."

Earlier, in the Carefree Wandering Court, having witnessed Li Hang using harsh, unpleasant words to blame Yuan Yao's younger disciples, I couldn't help but frown.

Leaving aside whether Li Hang was coerced, the fact that he could utter such harsh words is truly chilling……

They wanted to say something, but seeing Yi Xinwen's endless tears, they found themselves unable to speak.

But Yi Xinwen suddenly changed her expression, lifted her eyes, and gritted her teeth: "Junior Sister, Lu Xiangxiang has gone missing—how can you possibly uncover the truth? If you just say one sentence, that Senior Brother Li Hang died under coercion and did nothing to wrong you, that would clear his name! Why, why, are you unwilling?"

Having said that, she shoved Yuan Yao away.

Yuan Yao, caught off guard, was pushed and staggered a few steps.

Seeing this, everyone's expressions shifted slightly.

Yi Xinwen accused, "I knew it—you're just pretending, putting on a facade of getting along with everyone in the sect, when in fact you're merely enjoying everyone's flattery. In your heart, have you always looked down on us?"

"Senior Sister Yi, what are you saying?!" Zong Yu'er never expected the usually gentle and kind Yi Xinwen to utter such words.

She stepped forward to pull Yi Xinwen, but was shaken off by her.

A disciple from Heavenly Martial Peak said, "Senior Sister Yi, how can you speak like that? Junior Sister has never looked down on us!"

Yi Xinwen angrily looked at everyone and said, "You've all been deceived by her! Is she good to us? In what way is she good to us? If she were good to us, would she not let the reputation of the dead rest in peace?"

Yuan Yao's expression shifted, gradually becoming calm, even somewhat aloof, under Yi Xinwen's wailing.

She spoke in a cold tone: "Li Hang was indeed coerced by Lu Xiangxiang to follow me; he followed me in order to drug me."

She took out the recording stone on which Li Hang's pleas and truthful confession had been recorded, and then released it to the crowd.

After everyone watched, their expressions varied.

She stepped toward Yi Xinwen and said, "If not for my vigilance and defenses, what would my fate be now? Senior Sister Yi, please tell me."