Sun Mingyue put down the memorial and glanced at him. "What's wrong?"
"I didn't manage to come out in time." Chu Li fist saluted and sighed. "I had a sudden realization during my isolated cultivation and felt that it was a golden opportunity, so I couldn't help but extend my isolated cultivation. I initially planned to go into isolated cultivation for ten days, but I didn't expect to be so immersed in it that I couldn't bear to come out until now. Nonetheless, my cultivation level has improved tremendously, so it's worth it."
"Why didn't you tell your subordinates about your isolated cultivation location?" Sun Mingyue stared at him coldly. "You're not an idle Branch Leader. If you can't be found during crucial moments, what's the point of having a Branch Leader like you?"
Chu Li nodded helplessly. "Yes."
"Since you're not good at being a Branch Leader, you can replace someone else. Don't just sit around and do nothing," Sun Mingyue said. "The Holy Church can keep idlers, but a Branch Leader can't be an idle one!"
She sized Chu Li up and noticed that his cultivation level had improved tremendously. It seemed like he was telling the truth, and he did gain a lot from his isolated cultivation.
Nonetheless, she could not forgive Chu Li for putting his cultivation level above the Holy Church and neglecting his duties for personal reasons. He was not qualified to be a Branch Leader. Zhao Dahe was only suitable to fight for power, not to defend it. He could not sit still and do nothing.
Chu Li said, "It's fine if I lose my position as a Branch Leader, but the newcomer, Zhao Chun, killed two Gale Branch disciples just to establish his authority!"
"He killed someone?" Sun Mingyue frowned.
Chu Li scoffed. "The selection of Gale Branch disciples is very strict. I carefully selected each of them, and they're all loyal and precious!"
Sun Mingyue said, "I'll investigate."
Chu Li said, "I'm here to ask for forgiveness from the Saint because of Zhao Chun."
"You didn't kill him, did you?" Sun Mingyue stared at him with a frown.
She had a bad feeling when she heard that Zhao Chun had killed someone. Based on Zhao Dahe's temper, he would definitely kill Zhao Chun once he heard the news.
He would not be Zhao Dahe if he could hold it in!
Chu Li scoffed. "The church rules are very strict. I wouldn't dare to disobey them, so I didn't kill him!"
"That's great. It seems like you've improved!" Sun Mingyue let out a long sigh of relief and leaned back on the armchair. She said plainly, "Then what crime are you pleading for?"
"Although I didn't kill him, I didn't spare him either. I gave him a good beating!" Chu Li scoffed. "I gave him some superficial wounds so that he would suffer!"
"Are his injuries serious?" Sun Mingyue's gaze sharpened.
Chu Li shook his head. "They didn't injure the tendons or the bones. They're just flesh wounds!"
Sun Mingyue snorted coldly and said, "If you're angry and want to take revenge on him, why don't you come and complain to me first? I'll naturally make a fair judgment!"
Chu Li replied, "I trust that the Saint will mete out a fair punishment, but I can't control my temper! He's too much. He doesn't value human lives at all. He's cruel and heartless. Just because they disobeyed him, he killed them without hesitation. Although the disciples of Gale Branch aren't disciples of the Holy Church of Light, they're still one of us! "
"He's at fault." Sun Mingyue frowned. "But you shouldn't have done it!"
It was indeed inappropriate to kill the disciples of Gale Branch.
Chu Li scoffed. "Would the Saint be able to tolerate it?"
Sun Mingyue frowned at him. "Don't drag me into this. No matter what, you've violated the church's rules!"
"Yes, that's why I'm here to accept my punishment!" Chu Li replied.
Sun Mingyue said, "Don't be in a hurry to accept your punishment. I have to figure out what's going on first … You're no longer the Branch Leader of Gale Branch, do you understand?"
Chu Li scoffed. "Yes!"
"Are you dissatisfied?" Sun Mingyue looked at him. "You can tell me if you're dissatisfied. If you're right, you might be able to retract your appointment!"
Chu Li knew that this was a trap. As the Saint, how could she change her mind so easily? Even if she was wrong, she had to be wrong to the end.
Chu Li said, "Saint, there's something I don't understand!"
"Speak!" Sun Mingyue's voice became softer.
Chu Li pretended not to notice the change in her emotions and asked in a serious manner, "Does Zhao Chun have a grudge against me? Or was he instructed by someone to target me?"
"Why do you say that?" Sun Mingyue asked.
Chu Li scoffed. "The disciples of Great Light Peak know my temper, so Zhao Chun should know it too. However, he wanted to provoke me as if he wanted me to kill him. Otherwise, he wouldn't have dared to kill my people. If he didn't have ulterior motives, he wouldn't have killed his subordinates so easily!"
Sun Mingyue frowned and pondered.
She felt that it was inappropriate too, but she did not say anything. Instead, she planned to investigate in secret.
She sized Chu Li up. It seemed like Zhao Dahe had been enlightened after his isolated cultivation. His temperament did not change, but he was much calmer. He did not kill anyone even when he was enraged.
However, it was not surprising that he could think of this. Zhao Dahe had always been an intelligent person. Most people were blinded by his ugly appearance and bad temper.
Chu Li said, "I think this matter isn't as simple as it seems!"
"I'll investigate!" Sun Mingyue said. "If there's nothing else, you can return to Small Light Peak!"
Chu Li's expression turned grim.
Sun Mingyue asked, "What's wrong?"
Chu Li took a deep breath and shook his head. "I don't want to return to Small Light Peak."
"Why?"
"Whenever I return there, I'll think of Senior Sister Li."
"It's rare that you still think of her." Sun Mingyue's voice became gentler.
Although Zhao Dahe was impulsive, he was a sentimental person. Otherwise, she would not have valued him so much and put in so much effort to train him.
Chu Li said, "Saint, I want to return to Gale City."
Sun Mingyue said, "I'll give you a chance to perform a meritorious deed."
Chu Li shook his head. "I don't want to perform a meritorious deed. I just want to return to Gale City."
Sun Mingyue frowned and stared at him.
Chu Li said, "Gale City is my root. I don't want to leave that place. I can't let people like Zhao Chun do as he pleases either. He's made the disciples that I've recruited lose their morale and become disorganized!"
"You've established Gale Branch, but that's not your private property." Sun Mingyue said coldly, "Gale Branch belongs to the Holy Church of Light."
Chu Li scoffed. "Saint, aren't you being too unreasonable? Just because I went into isolated cultivation, a new Branch Leader was forcibly created! "
"Zhao Dahe, it seems like you're quite resentful."
"Yes, I'm not convinced!"
"There's nothing you can do about it." Sun Mingyue said, "Unless you perform a meritorious deed and regain your position as Branch Leader."
Chu Li scoffed and turned his head away.
Sun Mingyue said, "You don't want to go to Falling Autumn City, do you?"
Chu Li remained silent.
Sun Mingyue said, "Because it's a sad place?"
Chu Li looked up at her.
Sun Mingyue said, "I'm not going to Falling Autumn City this time."
"What is it?" Chu Li asked.
Sun Mingyue cast a sidelong glance at him. "An important person from Jade Capital wants to travel to the Zheng Dynasty."
This was the boldest disciple of the Holy Church of Light who dared to disobey her.
Chu Li asked, "Which important person?"
"A prince," Sun Mingyue answered.
Chu Li quickly said, "Let's change our mission."
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