"The Master only said it was someone by Miss Chu's side."
The middle-aged man raised his head, a hint of difficulty in his expression. "Miss Chu, if you go to Xuanxin Sect now, it will be a dead end."
"Why?"
Chu Lingwei didn't believe Meng Qinghe's words, and even less so the man in front of her.
"Sect Master Chu caused a great disturbance at Xuanxin Sect that day. Now, Xuanxin Sect has already laid a trap, waiting for anyone who dares to enter again," the middle-aged man truthfully explained.
Chu Lingwei fell silent for a moment. Before she departed, the shopkeeper of Leng Family Restaurant had tried to dissuade her, warning her of the danger if she entered Xuanxin Sect.
"Where is your Master now?"
Meng Qinghe was not a person who repaid kindness with benevolence. Having done what he did, he would surely find a way to satisfy himself elsewhere.
"The Master asked me to tell Miss Chu that you will meet soon." After speaking, the man, along with his subordinates, left like a gust of wind.
"Weiwei, are we still going?" Huan Mao felt that Weiwei had believed these people.
"Of course, we are. We could previously make Xuanxin Sect unable to retaliate. We certainly can now," Feng Ming raised his head. He and Chu Lingwei had single-handedly entered Xuanxin Sect back then, causing great chaos.
"Never mind, let's go back first."
Chu Lingwei looked at the heavily guarded Xuanxin Sect. They had been waiting here for such a long time. The patrolling guards should have come to investigate by now, but they hadn't. Something was amiss.
A flicker of disappointment crossed Feng Ming's eyes. They had an extra person now, yet they were afraid to enter Xuanxin Sect.
"Weiwei, do you really believe Meng Qinghe's words? He's not a good person." Feng Ming thought of Meng Qinghe, who had kept them locked in the Underwater City for so long. He was by no means a good person.
"It's not that I believe his words, but so many people have advised me against going. It indicates that Xuanxin Sect must be extremely dangerous right now."
Chu Lingwei returned to the restaurant and saw a familiar figure sitting on the second floor, drinking tea. She blinked. Wasn't this the person she had just parted ways with?
"Eldest Senior Brother, you haven't returned?"
"If I had returned, who would have saved you?" Leng Xingzhi put down his teacup. He had intended to go back, but the shopkeeper had sent him a message that his junior sister had encountered trouble. How could he stand by and do nothing?
"Eldest Senior Brother, no matter the danger, I can handle it alone." Chu Lingwei sat down in front of Leng Xingzhi. "As cultivators, not encountering danger is the real danger."
Leng Xingzhi chuckled and nodded. "Yes, what Junior Sister said is reasonable."
The next day, Leng Xingzhi directly led Chu Lingwei into the Xuanxin Sect's main gate in broad daylight.
The new Sect Master of Xuanxin Sect, Chang Chuan, met them in the great hall.
Upon seeing Chu Lingwei's face, Chang Chuan wore an unnatural smile.
"Chu Lingwei, are you here to find your father?"
Chu Ze had just left, and Chu Lingwei had arrived with her Eldest Senior Brother. Her purpose was obvious.
The name Chu Lingwei was a taboo within Xuanxin Sect. Chang Chuan's greatest wish was to quickly send Chu Lingwei away.
If the Xuanxin Sect disciples knew Chu Lingwei had returned, the past events would inevitably be brought up for discussion again. Each discussion would cause the sect elders to go into seclusion.
"Yes, Sect Master."
Chu Lingwei's attitude towards Chang Chuan was still good. When she was still in Xuanxin Sect, Chang Chuan was merely a disciple of the Rongtian Realm, holding no official position, and had no connection with her whatsoever.
"Fellow Daoist Chu left more than half a month ago," Chang Chuan said with a look of pity. "I heard he entered the Chenhe Forest."
Chu Ze would not have informed Chang Chuan of his next destination. He had people follow him and obtained this information.
"Why did my father come to Xuanxin Sect?" Chu Lingwei noted down where her father had gone and asked Chang Chuan. There were no enemies of her father here anymore. Did he have unfinished business?
"He took something from here, destroyed his previous cave dwelling, and then left."
Chang Chuan spoke of Chu Ze's actions here with a hint of gnashing teeth. He clearly hated him but couldn't do anything about it, which was infuriating.
"Does the Sect Master know what my father took?" Chu Lingwei was confused. Did her father have anything left here that required him to come personally?
"I don't know."
Chang Chuan was also puzzled. They had already searched Chu Ze's cave dwelling inside and out, and found nothing. He too wanted to know what Chu Ze had taken.
A hint of disappointment flashed in Chu Lingwei's eyes. She knew that even if Chang Chuan knew, he wouldn't tell her.
After leaving the great hall, Leng Xingzhi didn't rush to take Chu Lingwei away. Instead, they walked slowly within the Xuanxin Sect grounds, allowing Chu Lingwei to take in the place where she had grown up.
"Weiwei, would you like to stay here for a few more days?"
"No, I don't want to stay in this place for even a moment." Chu Lingwei shook her head. This place held only painful memories, and she didn't wish to linger.
"Then let's go."
Leng Xingzhi summoned his flying artifact and took Chu Lingwei away.
Chang Chuan sensed their departure and breathed a sigh of relief. Finally, these two were gone. He had been truly terrified.
"Thank you, Eldest Senior Brother, for your help."
Returning to the Xuanxin Sect's marketplace, Chu Lingwei thanked Leng Xingzhi.
"There's no need for thanks. You are my junior sister, and helping you is what I should do." Leng Xingzhi reached out and gently ruffled Chu Lingwei's hair. Knowing she didn't wish to return with him yet, he said, "Take care. Senior Brother must return to the academy."
"Alright."
Chu Lingwei watched Leng Xingzhi leave and entered the restaurant. She saw Mei Ji sitting by the window. Upon seeing her enter, Mei Ji immediately stepped forward. "I didn't expect you to be Chu Lingwei."
"You recognized me."
Chu Lingwei gave a wry smile. Her disguise was useless.
"I wouldn't have recognized you, but Leng Xingzhi is only gentle with one woman, and that is his junior sister. Standing beside him, your identity was instantly revealed."
Mei Ji scrutinized Chu Lingwei, her face full of emotion. "I never expected the little girl from back then to have become so powerful. Truly admirable."
"Fellow Daoist Mei is the same. You should be breaking through soon." Chu Lingwei sat by the window with Mei Ji, watching several fleeting figures outside. "Those people haven't left yet. What do you plan to do?"
A day and a night had passed, and no one had come to her rescue. It seemed she could only rely on herself.
"I've already thought of a plan, but I hope Junior Sister Chu can help." Mei Ji giggled. Her forte was escaping danger.
Chu Lingwei smiled faintly. She had helped once, and helping again wouldn't hurt.
"Is this your plan?" Chu Lingwei's expression twitched as she looked at the completely transformed Mei Ji before her.