Chapter 199: Chapter 199: Then I’ll Also Leave the Sect with Her

With that, she displayed the scene of Ye Chuxue brutally killing Lu Nanfeng.

"Who are they?"

The Hall Master asked, raising an eyebrow.

"My disciple. The other is Ye Chuxue, my former fiancé’s disciple."

Song Wanning’s simple reply was packed with an immense amount of information.

The Hundred Ghosts Sect’s primary business was selling information, so the Hall Master was naturally well aware of the bitter entanglement between Song Wanning, Gu Qingyuan, and Ye Chuxue. She just hadn’t expected the killer to be Ye Chuxue.

Her gaze shifted from the image of Ye Chuxue to Song Wanning, her eyes filled with astonishment.

"Gu Qingyuan certainly has... unique taste."

’To think he’d reject Song Wanning for Ye Chuxue...’

Song Wanning remained noncommittal.

She couldn’t care less about any of that. Her only thought was how to condemn the pair to a doom from which they could never recover.

She rose, walked to the Hall Master’s side, and explained the deal she was proposing.

The Hall Master was taken aback for a moment, then her expression turned serious as she nodded.

"Don’t worry. I’ll handle this matter for you, and I’ll do a perfect job. As for the Spirit Stones, you can keep them. Let’s just say we’re making a friend today, shall we?"

In truth, she was the one who was gaining the more valuable connection.

However, Song Wanning didn’t seem to mind and flashed her a brilliant smile.

For a moment, the Hall Master was captivated. She found herself smiling back unconsciously.

’After offending someone like her, Gu Qingyuan and Ye Chuxue... I’m afraid their lives are over.’

...

In less than a day, news that Ye Chuxue had murdered Lu Nanfeng spread far and wide. Rumors also began to circulate that the Heavenly Inquiry Sect Master was attempting to protect Ye Chuxue.

The news, once released, caused a massive uproar.

It was a critical time for disciple recruitment—how could the Heavenly Inquiry Sect possibly have such a scandal?

"Hiss... The Heavenly Inquiry Sect has gone too far this time. Lu Nanfeng was a True Disciple, and Song Wanning’s student at that! If they’re willing to protect his murderer, what about an ordinary disciple? You could be killed and have no one to appeal to for justice!"

"Exactly! The sect rules are right there in plain sight. If the Heavenly Inquiry Sect Master doesn’t act according to them, he’ll find it hard to command respect!"

"Have you guys heard? This happened more than half a month ago, but the Heavenly Inquiry Sect kept it hidden. Apparently, even the disciples within the sect didn’t know!"

"Tch, seriously? Looks like they’re dead set on protecting Ye Chuxue!"

"What kind of Magic Power does that woman have? First it was Gu Qingyuan, and now the Heavenly Inquiry Sect Master. Why is everyone protecting her?"

"I know, right? They’re just relentlessly bullying True Monarch Song. First, they steal her fiancé, and now they kill her disciple. It’s utterly outrageous!"

"Song Wanning definitely won’t let this slide. You all just watch!"

"Never mind Song Wanning; the Lu Family probably won’t stand idly by, either..."

Many people began to sympathize with Song Wanning. It was clear Ye Chuxue was targeting her specifically!

With the Sect taking Ye Chuxue’s side, life must have been very difficult for Song Wanning these past few years.

Still, most people wanted to know why Ye Chuxue would kill a fellow disciple, especially since some from the Heavenly Inquiry Sect had said she and Lu Nanfeng were extremely close.

They wouldn’t have turned on each other unless something major had happened.

Many people sensed a juicy story unfolding.

Meanwhile, the Heavenly Inquiry Sect itself was in an uproar over the matter.

"What is the Sect playing at? My older brother killed a fellow disciple and was immediately stripped of his Cultivation and kicked out. His entire life was ruined. Why the double standard now?"

"Exactly! Are they going to bend the rules for Ye Chuxue just because she’s talented? We won’t accept it!!!"

"The Sect must give us an explanation!"

Many people were clamoring for the Sect to punish Ye Chuxue.

True Disciples already enjoyed all sorts of privileges. If they could now be pardoned for murdering a fellow disciple, how could anyone accept that?

But many who had received help from Ye Chuxue in the past continued to defend her.

"Lu Nanfeng must have done something. Otherwise, why would Ye Chuxue kill him?"

"Exactly. The Sect Master must know what happened, which is why he’s keeping it quiet. What’s everyone so worked up about?"

"Let’s wait until the investigation is complete before jumping to conclusions. I’m sure Ye Chuxue has a reason she can’t speak of."

In truth, many felt it was impossible for Ye Chuxue to have murdered Lu Nanfeng. And even if she had, it must have been because something terrible had happened.

But with the Sect Master being so secretive, it inevitably led people to suspect the worst.

Seeing the rumors within the Sect spiraling out of control, the Sect Master could only swallow his resentment and promise to announce a final decision within a few days.

This deadline of a few days was, in reality, for Gu Qingyuan...

"There is a reason for what happened! Not only did Song Wanning attack Chuxue, she even condoned Lu Nanfeng’s attempt to defile her! Chuxue only killed Lu Nanfeng out of self-preservation, she had no other choice!"

"If the Sect insists on punishing Chuxue over a person like that, I will be the first to object. If it comes to it, I’ll leave the Sect with her!"

Gu Qingyuan’s message, delivered via Sound Transmission Talisman, echoed clearly in every elder’s ears. Hearing it, their hearts sank.

"Is Gu Qingyuan threatening us?"

An elder shot to his feet, furious at Gu Qingyuan’s attitude.

"Even with something this serious, Junior Sister Song, for all her quick temper, still spoke to us properly. What right does Gu Qingyuan have to be so belligerent?"

"Is he afraid the whole world doesn’t know how much he adores his disciple?"

Gu Qingyuan’s infatuation with his disciple was already a scandal in the Heavenly Inquiry Sect. Now he was threatening them all? Who could tolerate such behavior?

It wasn’t as if any of them owed him anything!

The Sect Master and the other elders looked equally displeased. They all agreed that Gu Qingyuan had gone too far.

"Here we are trying to buy them time, and what do they do..."

The Second Elder sighed pointedly, gazing at the ceiling in exasperation.

’And this is the kind of person the Sect Master’s faction favors time and again, isn’t it? All because they don’t want Song Wanning to become the sole dominant power.’

’These families were always suspicious of one another, each holding the others in check.’

’She had long since grown used to it.’

"Hmph. If he’s in such a hurry to abandon the Sect, then let him go. I’d like to see how well he does for himself once he’s out on his own!"

an elder said in a fit of anger.

The Sect Master’s face darkened further. "This is not the time to be emotional. After all, there is a reason for what happened. I will first seek confirmation from Junior Sister Song. If it’s true that Lu Nanfeng was in the wrong, then the punishment can be waived."

With that, he took out a Communication Talisman and sent a message to Song Wanning.

This time, unusually, Song Wanning did not reply.

One hour passed, then two...

By nightfall, Song Wanning still hadn’t replied.

The Sect Master snorted. "It seems what Gu Qingyuan said was true. Song Wanning has a guilty conscience!"

’In that case, things just became much simpler.’

"Someone, come! Announce to the entire Sect that Lu Nanfeng attempted to defile Ye Chuxue and was killed by her in the process. Although there was a cause, she did, in the end, kill a fellow disciple. As punishment, she is sentenced to one year of solitary confinement to reflect on her actions."

The Sect Master’s eyes narrowed slightly. On second thought, he decided not to drag Song Wanning into it.

’That woman was not someone he could afford to provoke.’