Time was of the essence, and the two wasted no more words.

Hearing this, Yu Qingwu nodded and immediately went out to the neighboring room.

A moment later, Yan Qingqing emerged from the adjacent room, dressed in more suitable attire.

The three quickened their pace, almost running, and finally caught up with Hu Die, Su Qing, Ning Yu, Xiao Fengyun, Zhou Shuangshuang, and several other junior disciples who had recently joined the sect at the foot of the mountain.

It seemed that their master, Xiao Rongqi, must have instructed them to guide the newcomers.

Seeing Xie Jin Yan and Yu Qingwu, a flicker of unease crossed Xiao Fengyun's eyes. He subconsciously stepped aside, avoiding direct eye contact.

Su Qing and Zhou Shuangshuang also seemed uncomfortable, especially Su Qing, who used to be closest to Yu Qingwu but now addressed her with a distant, "Second Senior Sister..."

"Se... Second Senior Sister..." Zhou Shuangshuang, in comparison, was nervous and guilty.

The junior disciples who had just joined the sect were even more hesitant to speak.

They exchanged awkward glances.

Only Hu Die and Ning Yu seemed natural.

Ning Yu, ever cheerful, greeted Yu Qingwu and the others, "Senior Sister Yu, Junior Brother Xie, Junior Sister Yan, what's the rush that you're chasing us so urgently?"

"It's nothing. We just rarely get to return, so we wanted to take a look at the scenery in the mountains with you all. After all, who knows if we'll have another chance to come back and appreciate the beauty of our sect?"

Xie Jin Yan's tone was calm, but he deliberately glanced at Xiao Fengyun.

The implication was clear.

He was alluding to the fact that their matter had implicated Xiao Fengyun in the sect's internal scandal, causing them to be ostracized by their master and unable to return to the sect in the future.

Xie Jin Yan's gaze made Xiao Fengyun, who was already embarrassed, even more so.

If there was a hole in the ground, he would have gladly burrowed into it.

He gritted his teeth, enduring the embarrassment, and glanced at Xie Jin Yan with resentment, then secretly stole a look at Yu Qingwu.

Seeing that Yu Qingwu showed no intention of defending him, he felt extremely dejected.

His hatred for Xie Jin Yan deepened.

After a pause, without waiting for others to speak, he pretended not to understand and urged, "Ning Yu, it's getting late, don't dawdle."

Ning Yu was extremely frustrated to be made a scapegoat for no reason.

If it weren't for the fact that Xiao Fengyun was the eldest senior brother and their master's nephew, he wouldn't have given him any face.

Since joining the sect, although everyone outwardly thought that their master was fair and the eldest senior brother was kind and upright, in reality, everyone knew that their master favored his nephew the most.

This wouldn't have been a problem, but the so-called kindness and uprightness of this eldest senior brother were all an act.

Although it was currently said that Qu Shanshan and Yan Qingqing were framing him, or that Xiao Yucheng had instructed them, just looking at Xiao Fengyun's reaction that day, everyone knew.

Xiao Fengyun had indeed embraced Qu Shanshan.

Despite all that, he still pretended to be upright and lectured everyone all day long.

While enjoying the convenience brought by the seventh junior brother Xie Jin Yan's status as the crown prince, he also looked down on him, always thinking that the seventh junior brother's abilities were due to his status as the crown prince, and his jealousy was all too obvious.

Perhaps because Xiao Fengyun's image had collapsed in the past few days, things that Ning Yu hadn't thought much about before were now surfacing in his mind.

A hint of dissatisfaction flashed in his eyes, and he replied to Xiao Fengyun somewhat unhappily, "Eldest Senior Brother, aren't we talking as we walk? It's not delaying anything, is it? Besides, the reason we've been here for so long is because you were late. Weren't we all waiting for you?"

"Exactly, it's just a few words, who's dawdling? I don't know who was the one dawdling the most just now," Hu Die couldn't help but retort, seeing Xiao Fengyun acting all high and mighty.

Xiao Fengyun originally wanted to salvage some face and appear dignified in front of the new disciples.

After being refuted by Ning Yu and Hu Die one after another, his face turned as red as a pig's liver.

"Do you two still know how to respect your elders?"

Heh?

He was at a loss for words, so he became angry and embarrassed, putting on the airs of the eldest senior brother?

Others might fall for that, but Hu Die wouldn't.

Especially since she couldn't stand Xiao Fengyun's hypocritical and jealous face, she didn't give Xiao Fengyun any face at all, coldly snorting and mocking, "Oh, Senior Brother Xiao is putting on the airs of the eldest senior brother now? Where was your demeanor as the eldest senior brother when Senior Brother Xie and Senior Sister Yu were being slandered? How come you always tried to smooth things over when we junior disciples were being ridiculed? When we were out and needed silver, why didn't you act like the eldest senior brother and always make Senior Brother Xie pay?"

"Oh, I almost forgot. Senior Brother Xie is rich, and he's the crown prince. It would be a waste to use that money on such a foolish crown prince. Who said that again? I wonder if that counts as insubordination..."

The more Hu Die spoke, the harsher her words became, and she revealed all the bad things that Xiao Fengyun had said about Xie Jin Yan in secret.

As soon as these words came out, the atmosphere around them became even more delicate.

Even the new disciples revealed expressions of surprise, followed by a faint hint of contempt in their eyes.

Xiao Fengyun's face was flushed red, and he wanted to retort, but as soon as he opened his mouth, he realized that if he retorted at this moment, he would be admitting to the accusation.

But if he didn't retort, it would be equivalent to admitting it...

He clenched his teeth, his face full of anger, unsure whether to speak or not for a moment.

"Hu Die, you're going too far!" Just as Xiao Fengyun was in a dilemma, Su Qing spoke.

Even though she was dissatisfied with Xiao Fengyun's entanglement with Qu Shanshan, she still remained infatuated with him. Seeing Hu Die's blatant humiliation of Xiao Fengyun, she couldn't bear it.

But as soon as she finished speaking, Hu Die scolded her as well.

Hu Die's face became even more mocking as she chuckled and replied to Su Qing, "Senior Sister Su Qing, I didn't say anything about you, why are you so angry? Could it be that you're also being insubordinate? Or... do you and Senior Brother Xiao have some unknown relationship? Seeing me scold him, you feel sorry for him..."

"You... Hu Die! I'm your senior sister!" Su Qing was furious. If there were no one else around, she would have probably gone up and fought with Hu Die, but seeing all the fellow disciples around, she had no choice but to swallow her anger and simply stormed off.

Seeing this, Yu Qingwu also pulled on Hu Die and said gently, "Alright, Hu Die, don't argue anymore, let's hurry up the mountain."

"You too, why are you adding fuel to the fire?" After speaking, Yu Qingwu glared at Xie Jin Yan with a dissatisfied expression. Seeing him spread his hands, looking shameless and innocent, she slapped his arm again and asked, "Xie Jin Yan, I'm talking to you, did you hear me?"

"I heard you, I heard you. It wasn't me who scolded him, why are you getting angry at me?" Xie Jin Yan's tone was helpless, and his face was still that innocent expression. In between his words, he glanced at Xiao Fengyun in front of him, and seeing Xiao Fengyun turning his head to peek at Yu Qingwu, his eyes couldn't help but turn cold. He deliberately asked Yu Qingwu unhappily, "Senior Sister, I think you're also feeling sorry for Eldest Senior Brother, aren't you?"