In the depths of the forest, there was a clear and shallow stream. A grill was placed on a rock by the stream, and there were some leftover fish.
Qiushan Jun took a freshly roasted fish from the grill and stuffed it into Bai Cai's hands. "Let's see if you can learn to keep your mouth shut when eating fish."
Bai Cai was a little nervous. He took the fish and began to eat seriously, not daring to make any comments.
The disciples of the Mount Li Sword Sect unsheathed their swords and went into the stream to stab the fish. For a moment, the sound of water splashing could be heard, accompanied by endless laughter.
Qiushan Jun used the stream water to wash his hands and sat on a rock with Gou Han Shi.
Gou Hanshi replied, "I didn't expect that after you left the Mount Song Army headquarters, you actually took a detour from Hanqiu City. You arrived several days later than stated in the letter."
Qiushan Jun replied, "I left Sloping Cliff and went to the Mount Song Army headquarters. I saw my family, so I followed them."
With Gou Hanshi's intelligence, he immediately realized the problem in this sentence and asked, "Who is it?"
Qiushan Jun was silent for a moment, then said, "Chen Chang Sheng."
When he and Gou Han Shi began to talk, the noise in the stream became much quieter.
When he said Chen Chang Sheng's name, he attracted the attention of all his juniors.
And when he finished telling the story of Sloping Cliff Horse Farm, the stream became even quieter, everyone silent for a very long time.
Gou Han Shi was also speechless. He looked at him as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn't say anything.
Bai Cai's face was completely red, and he almost choked to death on the unchewed fish.
"What do you want to say?" Qiushan Jun said expressionlessly.
Gou Hanshi smiled and shook his head, indicating that he had no comment on this matter.
With great difficulty, Bai Cai swallowed the fish, then repeatedly shook his head, indicating that he didn't dare make any evaluation of Eldest Senior Brother.
Qiushan Jun looked at him and said, "If you want to say it, say it."
Bai Cai hesitated for a very long time, then whispered, "Eldest Brother … isn't your eyesight a bit too bad?"
…
…
"Chen Chang Sheng is a good person."
Qiushan Jun paused for a moment, then continued, "Unfortunately, we can't be friends."
He didn't know that Chen Chang Sheng had the same feeling.
Gou Hanshi smiled and said, "In this aspect, I am stronger than all of you, because I can be friends with all of you."
Bai Cai squeezed onto a rock and squatted beside Qiu Shan Jun, saying: "Eldest senior, you're the truly amazing one. No matter how strong Chen Chang Sheng is, he still had to rely on you to escape unscathed today."
This was referring to how Qiushan Jun had used ten-some paintings to convince Bie Yanghong and break the Great Western Continent's scheme.
However, there was no pride or complacency on Qiushan Jun's face. Instead, there was some sadness.
"I don't like Bie Tianxin, so I didn't care too much at the start and treated this matter too lightly. I didn't think that the people of the Great Western Continent would actually dare to act against him."
After a moment of silence, he said, "If I had been more vigilant, perhaps he wouldn't have died."
Gou Hanshi was quiet for a while, then patted him on the back and asked, "South Stream Temple has closed. Should we do anything?"
"Junior Sister has never needed anyone to worry about her."
"Zhexiu seems to have some problems."
"We'll talk about it when we get back."
Qiushan Jun stood up and walked out of the forest.
The Mount Li Sword Sect disciples in the stream hurriedly came out of the water and used their true essence to dry their clothes. Carrying ten-some fresh fish, they followed.
The mountain path was still quiet and secluded. The birds felt safe and returned to the forest. Clear and pleasant chirps could be heard from all around.
From some distant cliff, the playful cries of monkeys could be heard.
Qiushan Jun listened for a few moments, then took a sip from the wine pot and led his junior brothers down the mountain path, his robes fluttering in the wind.
… …
… …
The plateau at the summit was already empty, but the plateau in front of South Stream Temple was packed with people. Several hundred inner sect disciples of South Stream Temple quietly stood amidst the trees and flowers. They were no longer as nervous as they had been a few days ago. When they smelled the fragrance of the flowers, some young girls couldn't help but take a whiff.
The problem had still not been resolved, but since the Holy Maiden had come out of seclusion, what did these disciples have to worry about?
In the deepest part of South Stream Temple, at the very top of the thatched cottage, two prayer mats had been placed. Xu Yourong and Chen Chang Sheng sat on them.
Huai Shu slightly frowned at this sight, somewhat displeased. Huai Bi was silent, seemingly thinking about something.
Huai Ren slowly said, "His Holiness the Pope has suffered significant injuries. It is best if he first goes to rest."
The meaning of this extremely senior martial grandaunt of South Stream Temple was crystal clear.
No matter what Xu Yourong thought about the closing of the temple, what she thought about their actions after returning from their travels, this was still an internal matter of South Stream Temple.
Since it was an internal matter, it should be resolved by South Stream Temple itself. Even if Chen Chang Sheng was the Pope, he should not be sitting here.
However, her words did not receive any response.
The several hundred South Stream Temple disciples standing within the thatched cottage and amidst the flowering trees were calm and silent, as if they had not heard.
Xu Yourong also seemed not to hear. She only quietly gazed at Ping Xuan and Yi Chen.
Before entering seclusion in the stone wall at the summit, she had placed the affairs of South Stream Temple in the hands of these two senior sisters.
Her calm gaze clearly indicated that she wanted them to give an explanation for today's events.
Huai Ren sighed, wanting to say something.
Xu Yourong continued to ignore her, only quietly gazing at Ping Xuan and Yi Chen.
Although they were all disciples of the same generation, Ping Xuan and Yi Chen had long ago gotten down on their knees.
Yi Chen's eyes were moist as she said in a trembling voice, "I truly do not know what to do."
With these words, tears began to flow from her eyes.
Xu Yourong knew that Yi Chen had always had a gentle personality. Presumably, she had been forced by her teacher last night to the point where she could not hold on any longer, which was why she had agreed to the closing of the temple on the plateau.
Ping Xuan was much calmer. "This disciple knows her wrongs, but Master is still old and weak, and she does not have evil thoughts. Temple Master, please show mercy."
Huai Ren was taken aback. She had not expected that this disciple who had defied her several times today on the plateau would now plead for mercy on her behalf.
But she did not accept these words, because even now, she still believed that she was correct.
She calmly recounted the events of the last few days to Xu Yourong. Just like last night and today, she explained why she wanted South Stream Temple to close for ten years.
From start to finish, Xu Yourong said nothing, only quietly listened.
Huai Ren said, "Today's matter seems to have been peacefully resolved, but Holy Maiden, in breaking out of seclusion, you must have paid an enormous price."
Chen Changsheng glanced at Xu Yourong.
Huai Ren continued, "What if this sort of thing keeps happening in the future? Holy Maiden, how many more times can you pay this price? How many more times can Holy Maiden Peak pay this price? The Imperial Court and the Li Palace, the war between master and disciple, why must the disciples of our temple bleed? "
At this moment, Xu Yourong finally spoke.
Her voice was very soft, but it was also very clear. All the disciples of South Stream Temple in the flowering trees could clearly hear it, and it went straight into Huai Ren's heart.
"Martial Aunt is a senior, so it's only right that she is concerned about the affairs of the temple, but you are not the temple master, or do you mean … you want to sit in my position?"
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