Chapter 14
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Chapter Fourteen
Providing the spiritual energy needed for Yan Hanzhou to refine the power of his divine soul nearly exhausted Ning Yin. Fortunately, he completed the refinement successfully in the end. Under the extreme tempering, even Ning Yin’s spiritual sense grew increasingly powerful, and wielding her natal sword became easier than ever.
Just as Ning Yin was immersed in harmonizing with and sensing the radiance, news of Shi Yunzhao’s awakening quickly spread throughout the Soaring Cloud Sect.
Si Heyu hurried to Soaring Cloud Peak at the first opportunity, only to discover that Shi Yunzhao had not merely awakened—she had also broken through the Golden Core realm and entered the Nascent Soul stage.
“Yunzhao possessed a demon core within her. After being unconscious all this time, she finally refined it and successfully broke through the Golden Core realm.” The sect master gazed at Shi Yunzhao in the hall with immense satisfaction. “Among the younger disciples of our Soaring Cloud Sect, we now have another Nascent Soul senior sister after Heyu. Everyone should take her as a model and cultivate diligently without pause!”
The Soaring Cloud Sect had countless disciples in the Golden Core stage, yet only a handful could successfully advance beyond it. Some had remained stagnant at the Golden Core stage for nearly a century. Shi Yunzhao’s breakthrough not only added another pillar of strength to the sect, but also gave the disciples greater confidence in their paths of cultivation.
The disciples who had hurried to the hall upon hearing the news cupped their hands toward the sect master.
“Yes. We shall take Senior Sister Yunzhao as our model and cultivate diligently without pause!”
No sooner had their unified declaration ended than a plaintive, delicate voice rang through the hall.
“Senior Sister! You’re finally awake!”
With both eyes red, Ning Yin threw herself in front of Shi Yunzhao. Seeing that her senior sister was “safe and sound,” all her grievance burst forth like a flood, becoming a string of tearful laments.
“After you went into the forbidden grounds to find a way out for Yan Hanzhou and me, you encountered demons and your life or death became unknown. From that moment on, I couldn’t sleep at night because I was worried about your safety. Now, you’ve finally awakened!”
The disciples in the hall looked down on Ning Yin’s performance.
“It’s good that you and Yan Hanzhou are unharmed.”
“Of course we’re unharmed. Thank you, Senior Sister, for saving our lives. Ning Yin will never forget your kindness!” Her voice paused, then suddenly caught with sobs. “But, Senior Sister, you were harmed by demons in the forbidden grounds. That day, Senior Brother and the others went to rescue you, yet after they returned, they decided that Yan Hanzhou and I were responsible for what happened to you! These past few days, rumors have spread throughout the sect. They’ve been calling for our deaths. Senior Sister, do you know…”
Her voice was not loud, but every word was clear, each one filled with grievances and bitterness that had nowhere else to go.
Shi Yunzhao glanced at Si Heyu, then cupped her hands toward the sect master and explained, “Master, I encountered Junior Sister Ning Yin and Junior Brother Hanzhou in the forbidden grounds that day. By a stroke of luck, we found the secret realm left behind a thousand years ago by the Transcendent Lord Lingxiao. Later, while searching for the teleportation array, we were ambushed by demons and I suffered severe injuries. None of this had anything to do with Junior Sister Ning Yin or Junior Brother Yan. I ask that you examine the matter clearly.”
One disciple asked in confusion, “Even if Ning Yin and Yan Hanzhou weren’t responsible for this, Senior Sister, you fell from a cliff during the trial in the forbidden grounds, and we found Ning Yin’s jade pendant at the place where you fell. How do you explain that?”
Shi Yunzhao fell silent for a moment before recalling the incident.
“It is true that Ning Yin caused me to fall from the cliff during the trial in the forbidden grounds…”
The hall erupted in an uproar.
“But at the time, Ning Yin had been affected by a demon’s illusion and could not recognize anyone. She mistook me for a demon, which was why she attacked me. She cannot be blamed for it.”
“So that’s what happened.” The sect master looked toward Ning Yin and Yan Hanzhou and sighed. “In that case, I shall clarify the truth for you both and clear your names.”
“No need.” Ning Yin took a deep breath, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and raised her head proudly toward the sect master seated above the hall. “Sect Master, I know that I was once willful and unruly, and that I often acted recklessly. But Heaven and Earth can bear witness: I have searched my own conscience, and I have never committed any act that violated justice or harmed the innocent! The day Senior Sister fell from the cliff, I was to be convicted and severely punished based solely on a single jade pendant. Now that the truth has come to light, I am utterly disheartened and have no wish to argue over right or wrong any longer. I ask to be expelled from the sect. I hope the sect master will grant my request!”
Ning Yin’s voice trembled. Her later words seemed to be choked off by overwhelming grievance, and at last, tears rolled down her cheeks.
The moment she finished speaking, the hall fell silent.
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After a moment, whispers rose from every corner.
“So Ning Yin truly wasn’t responsible?”
“Since Senior Sister said so herself, it seems we really did misunderstand Ning Yin.”
“Who can blame us? Ning Yin used to be arrogant, overbearing, and lawless. Even if she didn’t commit this crime, does that mean she committed fewer evil deeds in the past?”
The sect master’s brows drew together slightly.
“Ning Yin, this was my fault. I blamed you before investigating the truth. If you have any requests now, state them. I will certainly fulfill them and make amends.”
Ning Yin wore a stubborn expression.
“I already said that I don’t need any compensation. I only want to go home. I hope the sect master will grant my request.”
This was a renowned and righteous sect, yet it had driven one of its disciples to request expulsion through false accusations. If word of this spread, no one knew how many rumors and scandals it would provoke.
“You came to the Soaring Cloud Sect to study under a master and learn the arts of cultivation. You have yet to complete your studies. If you simply leave now, would all those years of effort not be wasted?”
Ning Yin lowered her head in silence. Though her expression was aggrieved and pitiful, her heart was secretly blooming with delight.
Now that the truth had finally been revealed, of course she had to claim the moral high ground and manipulate everyone’s sympathies. If the matter were brushed aside in just a few words, would all the disdainful looks and rumors she had endured these past days—and the bitter cold she had suffered at the Cliff of Reflection—have been for nothing?
After a moment, she raised her head and looked toward the sect master.
“Then I have three demands.”
“Tell me.”
“First, everyone who wronged me must apologize.”
“Certainly.”
“Second, the matter must be announced throughout the entire sect and publicly displayed for one month.”
“That is only proper.”
“Third, during the days I was unjustly accused, I was sent to the Cliff of Reflection twice. I endured countless rumors and suffered tremendous mental and physical anguish. The sect must compensate me.”
“What compensation do you want?”
“I want…” Ning Yin truly had no idea what to ask for at first. Then she thought of all the valuable items that appeared in novels and blurted them out in one breath. “One hundred high-grade spirit stones, fifty supreme-grade pills, fifty immortal herbs, and fifty spiritual treasures…”
“Your demands are outrageously excessive!”
Ning Yin glared angrily at the disciple who had spoken.
“Excessive? I endured so many contemptuous looks and vicious rumors. Do you know what I’ve been through all these days? I’d rather have nothing at all!”
“Enough!” the sect master said sternly. “I agree to all of it.”
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That very day, under the sect master’s authority, notices clarifying the truth and listing Ning Yin’s demands were posted throughout the entire Soaring Cloud Sect.
The truth behind Shi Yunzhao’s fall from the cliff during the forbidden-ground trial, as well as her severe injuries at the hands of demons within the forbidden grounds, spread through the entire sect in less than the time it took for a single incense stick to burn.
On the way back to Twilight Cloud Peak from the main hall, Ning Yin strode forward with her head held high, unafraid of any gaze directed at her. For the first time, she felt that the wind of the Soaring Cloud Sect was astonishingly sweet.
She had now survived the most difficult stage. This was the crucial period in which the original Ning Yin had planted the inner demon that would eventually lead her down the path of darkness. From here on, all she needed to do was mend her ways, conduct herself properly, build a good relationship with the heroine, and make the most of the protagonists’ halo. She refused to believe that she could not safely coast all the way to the ending!
“You’re very happy.”
Ning Yin hummed an off-key tune.
“My senior sister testified for me and cleared me of all accusations. Of course I’m happy about something this important. What about you? Si Heyu came looking for trouble today and even attacked you. Are you all right?”
“I’m fine.”
“That’s good. Si Heyu was simply looking for trouble. He wanted to arrest someone without any evidence—what kind of logic is that? I originally wanted him to apologize to you in front of everyone in the main hall, but when you shook your head at me, I understood what you meant. You’re right. We can’t push people too far. With so many disciples present, he’s still the senior brother, so he has to be shown at least a little respect in public. After all, he’s the male lead.”
Yan Hanzhou sneered. “What use is an apology?”
“That’s true. The most important thing is to find the real culprit and restore your innocence.”
Innocence? Yan Hanzhou made no comment. After a moment of silence, he asked, “What are your plans for the future?”
Ning Yin thought seriously for a while.
“In the future, I want to change everyone’s first impression of me, cultivate diligently, become a member of the protagonist group, and completely escape the fate of being a vicious supporting female character. If I could be like Senior Sister and slay demons, eliminate evil, and uphold justice, that would be best. If I can’t… then I hope I’ll at least have the ability to protect myself and live peacefully in this chaotic world of cultivation!”
“You want to remain in the Soaring Cloud Sect forever?”
Ning Yin frowned uneasily.
“The entire Nine Provinces Continent is a complete mess of humans, immortals, demons, and monsters. It’s dangerous outside.”
“Whether the truth of this world is real or false, never tell anyone else about it again. You’re far too careless. If you encounter someone with evil intentions, they could have refined you into a puppet long ago.”
“I understand.” If it were not because Yan Hanzhou and she both did not belong to this world, she would never have spoken of it aloud. She patted him on the shoulder, feeling more and more that her future was bright. “Don’t worry. As long as you don’t cause trouble, stick with me, and I’ll guarantee that you remain safe and sound!”
Looking at Ning Yin, who was filled with beautiful fantasies about the future, Yan Hanzhou did not expose them.
She had never left the Soaring Cloud Sect and had never experienced the dangers and cruelty of the mortal world. Naturally, she still harbored a blind idealization of people and things.
Once she experienced it for herself, she would understand everything.