When the three Grand Elders said nothing, Zhao Wuji knew they had resigned themselves to his will.
Only then did he smile faintly and say, "Then I shall take my leave. When Sect Master Lin Xiao arrives, I hope to hear the full nine rings of the Tianxing Bell."
With that, Zhao Wuji rose and left, a smug smile still playing at the corners of his lips.
The Grand Elders exchanged glances, managing only bitter smiles. They had no hopes for reward now. All they wished for was that Tianxing Sect could make it through this storm intact.
After all, when immortals clash, mortals always suffer the most.
Zhao Wuji left and made his way straight to Heshan.
When Ruan Jun died, he had briefly blamed Ye Danxia.
But now, thinking of her being imprisoned in Heshan for so long, enduring hardship and humiliation, that flicker of blame vanished like smoke. He had already lost one disciple. He couldn't let another suffer unfairly.
"Sect Master," the disciples guarding the mountain bowed quickly when they saw him.
Zhao Wuji said calmly, "You may return. There is no need to guard this place anymore."
No need?
The disciples blinked in confusion.
Zhao Wuji couldn't be bothered to explain. He waved a hand dismissively. The disciples didn't dare question him and hurried off. He climbed the mountain directly. Normally, to unlock the barrier and release Ye Danxia, the Sect Master and at least half of the Peak Lords would have to perform a joint ritual. But Zhao Wuji had no intention of waiting.
His father was arriving soon, and he was bringing Sect Master Lin Xiao with him. They were here to back him up. If he couldn't act boldly in this moment, what kind of Sect Master was he? Might as well go home and grow sweet potatoes.
"Master!" Ye Danxia had been cultivating, but the moment she saw Zhao Wuji, her eyes lit up. She stumbled to the mouth of the cave, only to be stopped by the barrier.
Tears sprang to her eyes. "Master, you finally came to see me? Are you here to save me?"
Seeing her like this tugged at Zhao Wuji's heart.
Heshan was a bitterly cold place, and she was only at the Qi Refining stage. How could she possibly endure it?
She had clearly lost weight, her skin pale and her usual glow long gone. Although Danxia was often clingy, this was the first time she had ever wept so bitterly in front of him.
She truly had suffered.
"Danxia," Zhao Wuji steadied himself and spoke gently. "You've endured much. I'll release you now."
Even without the Peak Lords, he used the Sect Master's token to weaken the barrier, then forcibly broke it. As the barrier dissolved, a look of sheer joy flashed in Ye Danxia's eyes.
She... she was free?
But why?
Zhao Wuji hadn't even visited before, and now he was just letting her out?
"Master, I... I can really leave?" she asked nervously, not stepping out just yet.
Zhao Wuji felt a deeper pang of guilt at her caution. "Don't worry. The Tianxing Bell has rung nine times. All disciples, even those being punished, must assemble. Your release is justified."
"Nine rings?" Ye Danxia blinked in surprise.
She had faintly heard the bell from inside her cave before, but only six rings at most.
Now that she thought about it...
A thought struck her. She looked at Zhao Wuji with anticipation. "Master, the three-month period is over. The Sect Assembly should have concluded. Did Yun Jin get executed? Has Tianjian Peak been completely ruined? Is that why you're releasing me?"
The more she thought about it, the more certain she became. Her eyes brightened. She hadn't forgotten how Yun Jin had mocked her before. Victory in the short term meant nothing. Look at how gleeful Yun Jin had been back then. And now? Her head must have been chopped off by Senior Brother!
"Master, where is Yun Jin's body?" Ye Danxia asked excitedly. "She and I were once close. I'd like to see her one last time."
Zhao Wuji had been smiling, but her words made his face turn cold, even a little embarrassed. Ye Danxia froze, a bad feeling creeping up her spine.
Her voice trembled. "Master... don't tell me... Yun Jin... won?"
As soon as the words left her lips, she shook her head instinctively.
Senior Brother was at the Nascent Soul stage.
Yun Jin had only cultivated for three months. How could she possibly fight him?
Zhao Wuji looked at her and said calmly, "Later, burn a stick of incense for Xiao Jun."
Ye Danxia's lips trembled.
Yun Jin really had won?
She had defeated a Nascent Soul cultivator?
And her?
She was still stuck at Qi Refining.
Even if she walked free today, she would always be beneath Yun Jin.
What was even the point of living?
Despair surged through her, and she collapsed, wailing.
Why was her life so miserable?
Ruan Jun had been a top disciple. How had he lost so easily?
He hadn't dared fight Yue Zhao before, and now he had lost to Yun Jin? And died?
Wasn't that just useless?
Tears streamed down her face. She wasn't crying for Ruan Jun. She was crying for her own doomed future. Zhao Wuji, misreading her grief, felt his last sliver of doubt fade away.
He gently wiped her tears. "Danxia, your Senior Brother is gone. Crying won't bring him back. All we can do now is remember this hatred... and make Yun Jin pay."
Ye Danxia knew he had misunderstood, but of course she wouldn't correct him.
Tears streaked her face as she said, "Master, in the end, Senior Brother died because of me. I... I truly..."
She choked on her own words, as if overcome with sorrow.
Zhao Wuji was even more moved. "It was Yun Jin who killed Xiao Jun. What does that have to do with you? Don't worry. I will make sure you and Xiao Jun receive justice."
Ye Danxia wiped her tears at just the right moment, then asked, "And what about Lin Ya? He was gravely injured. He couldn't have been a match for Martial Uncle."
Zhao Wuji's expression turned ugly again.
Ye Danxia blinked.
Wait. Lin Ya won too?
"Lin Ya used some unknown technique. His power actually advanced further," Zhao Wuji said grimly.
Ye Danxia was about to lose it.
Seriously?
What was the point of her even taking this master?
She had thought she was climbing high. But since joining Zhao Wuji, she had lost every single battle against Yun Jin.
Yun Jin might be lucky or strange, but Zhao Wuji was clearly useless too.
She buried her frustration, replying softly, "Master, don't worry. They can gloat for now... but only for now."
Zhao Wuji snorted coldly. "Exactly. Their moment of pride won't last long. Come with me down the mountain. A fine show is waiting for you."
Ye Danxia no longer believed Zhao Wuji could accomplish anything. But outwardly, she still nodded sweetly and followed.