After Elder Wu finished recounting his recent experience, no one in the Grand Hall could remain calm. They all began to accuse Zhao Li.
"Even if you are the Sect Master, you have no right to interfere in our private affairs. Don't you consider our feelings at all?"
"Could it be that as soon as you became Sect Master, you want to throw the Danyuan Sect into chaos?"
"You've created such a fuss over something without evidence, causing widespread panic. Could it be that you have another agenda?"
...
This situation was not unexpected for Zhao Li; in fact, it was much milder than he had anticipated. Although some people immediately couldn't accept it and spoke out in opposition, and there were quite a few of them, there were still others who weren't worried at all, their consciences clear.
Zhao Li sighed deeply.
Everyone, more or less, has some secrets they keep hidden in the dark, things they don't want anyone to pry into. If someone could constantly peek into their lives and know their secrets, how could they ever feel at ease?
And this was also the reason Zhao Li had reservations and dared not try the idea in his mind. If he were to easily pry into others, or even fabricate and manipulate their memories, he wouldn't be far from Demonic Deviation.
Zhao Li didn't speak, quietly listening to their verbal attacks against him.
After a long while, as the voices of the crowd slowly subsided, Zhao Li finally said coldly:
"As I said before, if anyone disregards the sect's interests for their own selfish gain, don't blame me for being merciless. If you want to maintain some dignity, step forward now."
He scanned the crowd, an invisible Momentum pressing down, causing several people to lower their heads.
Thump—
Three people couldn't bear the pressure and knelt on the ground. The others collectively breathed a sigh of relief.
Seeing this, Zhao Li didn't press further and simply asked the few individuals to clarify the reasons behind the matter.
The release of Qin Wushuang and his son was the act of only one of them.
Qin Wushuang had promised to teach him the secret method to become a Dou Venerate. Greed arose in his heart, and he secretly released the two. He had originally intended to leave with them but couldn't bear to abandon the towering tree that was the Danyuan Sect. He held onto a sliver of hope, and then there was no "then."
As for the other two, they confessed due to other matters, unable to withstand the pressure.
One had relied on his status and position to threaten and disrupt disciples, while another had colluded with outsiders, selling sect secrets for profit. Neither were good people.
After clarifying the matters, Zhao Li handed the subsequent handling over to Elder Wu and the others. After giving some instructions, he left the area.
Naturally, he wasn't naive enough to believe that the remaining people were all good. However, he had made himself clear, and with this act of Killing the Chicken to Warn the Monkey, he had given them a chance. If they were to offend again in the future, it wouldn't be a matter of lifting it high and letting it fall lightly this time.
"Hopefully, it will have some effect and things will be better in the future."
Zhao Li stood high in the sky, looking at the busy figures within the sect, a sense of emotion rising in his heart.
No matter the place, where there is white, there is also black. He wasn't naive enough to believe that the world would eventually become completely harmonious, but he still hoped that overall, things would get better.
At the very least, people should break the notion that black is the norm and strengthen their awareness of yearning for white and combating black, allowing white to spread across the Continent and black to exist only in the fewest dark corners.
After watching for a while, Zhao Li closed his eyes, suppressing the emotions in his heart, and disappeared.
Myriad Beast Mountain Range, Nameless Valley.
Thanks to Big Xiong's care, this place was not only not desolate or chaotic but had gained a touch of exquisite beauty compared to before.
On both sides of the valley, the peaks were steep and majestic, covered with ancient pines, and the deep ravines were secluded and beautiful. Looking up, one could only see a curved line of blue sky, with white clouds soaring, higher and farther than outside!
The valley was quiet, with a faint, translucent mist floating about. The air was cool and fresh, carrying a subtle floral fragrance.
The secluded valley, the clear fragrance, it was refreshing and invigorating.
Zhao Li stepped into it, a sense of emotion in his heart. It had been over ten years, and finally, this place had a human presence again.
There were many empty rooms in the Zhao Family, but Ye Yunsheng insisted on Returning Home. Zhao Li couldn't do anything about it, but fortunately, his strength was great, and this short distance only took an instant to reach, so he let her have her way.
Otherwise, how could Zhao Li let her leave him? He wished they could stick together every day.
Ye Yunsheng seemed to know Zhao Li was coming and was busy in the kitchen, even though they had long since achieved Inedia.
Zhao Li had been coming here frequently these past few days and was already familiar with the way. He went straight to the kitchen, not offering to help, just watching from the side.
At first, Ye Yunsheng didn't feel anything and continued to busy herself, relaxed and at ease. But gradually, Ye Yunsheng became a little uncomfortable being watched by him. She stopped what she was doing and, as usual, chased Zhao Li out of the kitchen:
"What are you looking at? You're not helping! If you want to freeload, go wait over there."
Zhao Li chuckled, his words bold despite being unreasonable, and retorted:
"How can you call this freeloading? This is clearly Returning Home to eat!"
A surge of joy rose in Ye Yunsheng's heart, but she ignored whatever he said and pushed him out of the kitchen.
Zhao Li sat by the table, listening to the clanging of spatulas and the sizzling of oil and salt, a smile on his face, his heart at peace:
"This is truly wonderful!"
Rare ordinariness, rare happiness.
Time flowed by, and dishes appeared one after another on the table.
About two quarters of an hour later, Ye Yunsheng came over with two bowls of rice and sat down beside him.
A strange sense of emotion rose in Zhao Li's heart, and his chest felt a little tight.
He understood that this seemingly simple ordinariness was actually an ordinariness that only the strong could choose.
Seeing Zhao Li just burying his head in his rice, Ye Yunsheng asked:
"What's wrong?"
Zhao Li smiled:
"Nothing, I just hope things can stay like this."
Ye Yunsheng affirmed:
"They will."
Zhao Li added:
"Not just for us."
Ye Yunsheng was silent for a moment, then also affirmed:
"They will for them too."
Zhao Li looked up and saw her firm, bright eyes. He was momentarily taken aback, then smiled.
Why dwell on something that was already decided?
He nodded, took a piece of what looked like a bird's wing that Ye Yunsheng had put in his bowl, tore off some meat, and chewed it while praising:
"Delicious."
His muffled words broke the solemnity of the moment.
Ye Yunsheng saw right through him, knowing he wasn't as relaxed as he seemed. Her complicated thoughts finally condensed into one sentence:
"From now on, no matter what you have to face, I'll be there."
Zhao Li paused slightly, swallowed the food in his mouth, then took another large bite of rice. He still spoke indistinctly:
"I'm really fine. Don't you dare underestimate me."
Ye Yunsheng bloomed into a smile, her eyes curving like crescent moons. She agreed:
"Yes, yes, yes, you're perfectly fine."
Zhao Li stopped talking, picked up a nicely prepared dish from the table, let it cool for a bit, and brought it to Ye Yunsheng's mouth:
"Here, eat properly, or I'll eat it all."
A blush instantly spread across Ye Yunsheng's face, clearly flustered. Her small mouth slightly parted, and she ate it with lightning speed, then lowered her head like Zhao Li had earlier.
Amidst Zhao Li's happy and joyful laughter, her face grew redder and redder...
...
Night fell, and the mountain forest was silent.
In the valley, the sound of a bamboo flute was faint and mournful, like weeping and yearning.
When Zhao Li lowered the bamboo flute from his lips, Ye Yunsheng said:
"Zhao Li, I'm going back. Do you want to come with me? The Great Li Dynasty has been yours from the beginning."
Zhao Li naturally nodded:
"Of course. When are you leaving?"
Ever since he heard about Ye Yunsheng from Big Xiong, he had the idea of seeing her. Now, although he still had anticipation and wanted to see what she had experienced over the years, his mood was vastly different from before.
As for the latter half of what Ye Yunsheng said, he selectively ignored it. With his personality, he really wasn't suited to managing a faction.
Ye Yunsheng had asked casually, not holding much hope. Hearing his reply, her heart filled with joy:
"Tomorrow, then."
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