Chapter 494: Chapter 154: Ruo Mei Is Suspected

"Master, did you summon me?"

After Leng Jing and Ye Xiyue left, Tantai Mingyue called Su Xin over.

Su Xin was the senior disciple of Danxia Peak, usually overseeing many of Danxia Peak’s affairs and naturally most familiar with the disciples.

Su Xin greatly admired Tantai Mingyue, imitating her master in dress, demeanor, and actions.

At this moment, Su Xin wore a plain long dress similar to Tantai Mingyue’s, with her hair elegantly arranged, appearing dignified and gentle, resembling sisters or a mother and daughter more than master and disciple.

Tantai Mingyue looked at her with a gentle smile, asking softly:

"The sect has encountered several disturbances recently, and you’ve been handling all matters of Danxia Peak for me, it’s been hard on you."

Su Xin quickly bowed, saying, "It is my duty to alleviate the Master’s burdens, and I am pleased to do so without feeling any hardship."

Her manner of speaking closely resembled Tantai Mingyue’s, both gentle and serene.

Tantai Mingyue smiled, saying, "Xin’Er, it’s a blessing to have you."

Su Xin raised her head, seeing the kindness of a senior in her master’s eyes, she felt an overwhelming warmth in her heart. "Master..."

Tantai Mingyue waved her hand, asking, "How is Lin Qingchou doing recently?"

Su Xin thought the Master was concerned that Lin Qingchou might have developed a heart demon after being violated by Zheng Shengmo, replying:

"Master, please rest assured; Junior Sister Lin is very strong. After returning to the sect, she has been even more diligent in her cultivation, and more involved in the sect and fellow disciples’ matters. She just returned from purchasing supplies today."

Su Xin continued, "Junior Sister Lin also mentioned that Junior Sister Ruo had just become a steward disciple, and to familiarize her with sect affairs, she deliberately took her along for this trip."

Ruo Mei had already advanced to the Golden Core Realm and was naturally a key target for sect cultivation, so Su Xin paid considerable attention to matters involving her.

However, this made Tantai Mingyue frown slightly. "Ruo Mei?"

Indeed, she had almost forgotten about this special female disciple.

Originally, Ruo Mei had average cultivation but astonished everyone during the Outer Sect Grand Competition and then reached the Golden Core Realm during the beast horde defense in Zhenlian City.

Her cultivation increased remarkably fast.

If not for Zheng Shengmo’s death, perhaps Tantai Mingyue wouldn’t have found it questionable, possibly attributing it to steady accumulation and sudden enlightenment.

But now, Zheng Shengmo was dead, and Shi Shuhong and Wei Shouyuan had also been killed.

Everything now appeared suspicious in Tantai Mingyue’s eyes.

"Have Lin Qingchou and Ruo Mei returned?"

Tantai Mingyue asked.

Su Xin answered, "Junior Sister Lin returned this morning, while Junior Sister Ruo returned half a day later."

"Half a day late? Why?"

Tantai Mingyue furrowed her brows slightly, and noticing her expression, Su Xin quickly replied:

"The Spirit Marrow they bought wasn’t enough, so Junior Sister Ruo went back to buy more, which caused the delay."

"I understand, you may go."

"Yes, Master."

As Su Xin reached the door, Tantai Mingyue suddenly spoke, "Xin’Er."

Su Xin turned around, "Master, is there anything else?"

Tantai Mingyue looked at her face, concern evident in her eyes, speaking gently:

"There have been many affairs in the sect recently; be careful. If anything happens, don’t take risks, put your own safety first."

Su Xin was taken aback, somewhat puzzled, but still clasped her hands respectfully, "Yes, Master."

After Su Xin left, Tantai Mingyue wore a forlorn expression, murmuring, "Sect Leader Brother, why haven’t you emerged from seclusion yet? So many things have happened in the sect, I’m really worried about Xin’Er..."

A moment later, she raised her head, her face restored to its dignified and gentle appearance, yet a cold gleam flickered in her eyes.

"Lin Qingchou, Ruo Mei..."

...

Nightfall.

Danxia Peak.

Lin Qingchou sat cross-legged in her room, meditating with closed eyes.

Even during recent outings for purchases, Lin Qingchou remained diligent, cultivating at every opportunity.

That night, Chun Ningzhi’s heartless answer had fully awakened her.

No matter how deep her feelings or how much she gave, in Senior Brother Chun’s eyes, she was merely an ordinary junior sister.

Moreover, she was seen as a woman who had lost her chastity, despicable and shameless.

To obtain what she wanted, she had to become strong.

Suddenly, there was another person in the room. Lin Qingchou was startled, opened her eyes, and quickly stood up to salute:

"Peak Master, why have you come?"

The unexpected visitor was none other than Tantai Mingyue, who usually appeared gentle and kind, but this time, she entered Lin Qingchou’s room without even knocking, her expression somewhat stern: 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Lin Qingchou, although Zheng Shengmo was despicable, he has always liked female disciples with exceptional Spirit Root talents. I asked Su Xin, and you only have an Upper Grade Spirit Root. Why would Zheng Shengmo be interested in you..."

Tantai Mingyue’s words were extremely sharp, nothing like her usual demeanor. Lin Qingchou’s face turned pale, and she suddenly knelt down:

"Replying to Peak Master, Zheng Shengmo targeted me because... I modified my Spirit Root into a Top-grade Spirit Root."

"You modified your Spirit Root to Top-grade by yourself?" Tantai Mingyue’s eyes instantly turned from gentle to stern:

"Nonsense, how could you do this on your own?!"

Lin Qingchou’s forehead touched the ground, trembling, "Forgive me, Peak Master. I took advantage of having access to the Spirit Pill Pavilion’s Spirit Key, sneaked in, and stole several pills to enhance Spirit Root talents."

"Initially, they had little effect, but later, I found various ancient methods to modify Spirit Roots. After several failures, by a twist of fate, I succeeded in attaining a Top-grade Spirit Root."

"However, this Top-grade Spirit Root is rather weak, far inferior to an Innate Top-grade Spirit Root."

"I admired Senior Brother Chun and told Zheng... Zheng Shengmo about this, hoping he would facilitate my union with Senior Brother Chun. He readily agreed, but unexpectedly he suddenly..."

Tantai Mingyue remained silent for a moment. Lin Qingchou hurriedly took out several manuals from herself, detailing several ancient secret techniques to modify Spirit Roots, though all were somewhat incomplete.

This corresponded with what Lin Qingchou said about "failing several times."

Tantai Mingyue’s voice regained its gentleness: "Qingchou, this is a turbulent time for the sect, so the theft of the Spirit Pills will be put aside for now. Focus on your cultivation to atone for your transgressions."

"Yes, Peak Master!"

Lin Qingchou answered while kneeling, and when she raised her head, Tantai Mingyue had already disappeared.

...

The night was dark, the wind high, and the dew heavy.

Qiu Zhihe sat in her room, her petite face pale and without color.

On that day at Cyan Lotus Mountain, she had slain two Nascent Soul Eighth Layer cultivators with her Golden Core Eighth Layer cultivation, forcefully deploying the Ten Thousand Swords Array, causing considerable damage to herself and suffering significant injuries.

She then hurried back from South Demon’s territory to Zhenyang Mountain within half a day, exacerbating her injuries.

Upon returning today, she immediately saw the red signal smoke from the Six Peaks, indicating that Tantai Mingyue and Leng Jing had already deduced that something had happened to Shi Shuhong and Wei Shouyuan.

Although their cultivation was lesser than the three of Zheng Shengmo, their minds were more meticulous, especially Tantai Mingyue, who always seemed to harbor something beneath her gentle and dignified exterior.

During the Three Great Sects’ massacre of Cyan Lotus Mountain, these two refrained from killing innocent villagers and women and children.

In the Celestial Ridge Mountain battle, Tantai Mingyue was responsible for quickly healing the elders of the Three Great Sects, maintaining their combat power.

Though she didn’t act directly, she was an accomplice, and Leng Jing had even crossed paths with her once.

These two deserve to die.

But they should die swiftly.

As Qiu Zhihe pondered, she sent a message to Qin Gengyun: "Husband, I plan to enter seclusion for cultivation the next two days, so don’t come over tonight. I’ll seek you out once I exit seclusion."

Qin Gengyun, knowing she had returned, quickly replied, saying he would come over tonight, causing a sweet feeling in Qiu Zhihe’s heart.

But she understood clearly that since Tantai Mingyue and others knew about Shi Shuhong and Wei Shouyuan’s deaths, they would surely be suspicious.

Her cultivation progress was too fast, and she had also conveniently been out of the mountain recently, perhaps there was someone watching outside her house at this very moment.

Qiu Zhihe didn’t want to involve Qin Gengyun, so she declined her husband’s offer to visit her.

"Alright then, my wife, cultivate in peace, and inform me as soon as you exit seclusion."

Qin Gengyun’s reply came through, and Qiu Zhihe sighed softly, placing the Sound Transmission Talisman back in her bosom. Suddenly, her expression turned cold, and she turned around.

She saw an elegant and graceful figure appear in the room.

It was Tantai Mingyue.