Chapter 117: The Righteous and Warm-Hearted Hall Master Gu

With both the Sect Master and the head of the division in seclusion, there were only two ways to get someone out of the Demon Monitoring Division’s observation cells. The first was to obtain a release order signed by the masters of all five halls. The second was to have a Hall Master from an unrelated hall personally come to verify the disciple’s innocence.

Master Xuanji sighed. He couldn’t very well explain the Nature Hall’s secret support for Qin Haoxuan. Such things could be done in private, and everyone understood, but they could never be spoken of openly, as that would be breaking the rules.

Having been politely stonewalled, Xuanji could only leave, preparing to seek help from the other Hall Masters. After all, even the heads of the other four great halls had to abide by the rules of the Taichu Sect when trying to get their own disciples released.

Because… this was… Taichu.

Just as he was leaving, Xu Yu arrived.

“Disciple Xu Yu pays her respects, Hall Master.” She bowed respectfully, her face filled with gratitude. “Thank you for coming to see Brother Haoxuan.”

Xuanji had heard Pu Hanzhong mention Xu Yu many times. Seeing her polite and well-behaved demeanor, he smiled kindly. “The rules of the Demon Monitoring Division are very strict. I must go find the other Hall Masters for help. You wish to see Qin Haoxuan, don’t you?”

Xu Yu nodded. She had heard that the people of the division were completely inflexible and had been worrying about how she would get to see him.

Xuanji smiled faintly and called over a disciple from the Nature Hall, instructing him to take Xu Yu to see Qin Haoxuan. While Xuanji didn’t have the authority to order a release, he had enough standing to arrange for a visit. Qian Guang could only watch and glare.

“Brother Haoxuan.” Xu Yu wrinkled her nose as she stepped into the damp observation cell, a musty odor assaulting her. “Take these packs of Qi-Circulating Powder. I don’t know how long you’ll be held here. I’ll bring you more when these run out.”

She took out ten packs of the powder Qin Haoxuan had entrusted to her. “Don’t worry,” she added, “I’ll go ask Luo Jinhua to have her master come and save you.”

Qin Haoxuan smiled and shook his head. “There’s no need. With these, I have enough to cultivate for ten days. The environment here is a bit lacking, but we cultivators can’t be so picky. Besides, it’s quiet here. I can focus on my practice. I’ll just treat it as a secluded retreat.”

He paused, then added, “Senior Brother Pu’s injuries haven’t healed yet. Please help me take good care of him when you go back, and tell him not to worry about me. I’ll stay here for a while and let them investigate thoroughly. It’s better than having them bother me every other day. I can’t afford that kind of trouble.”

Standing guard outside the door, Qian Guang and the others saw the large bundle of Qi-Circulating Powder and their eyes burned with greed.

They had long heard of the powder Xu Yu refined but never had the chance to obtain even a single pack. Yet here was Qin Haoxuan, getting ten packs at a time. How could they not be jealous?

In the Dianjing Pavilion, Master Guyun sat on a carved mahogany chair, his face dark and gloomy—a sign that a thunderous rage was brewing.

Qian Guang and the other disciples from the Demon Monitoring Division who belonged to the Ancient Cloud Hall stood in the middle of the hall, not daring to even breathe too loudly.

Just as they were wondering how their Hall Master would erupt, Guyun suddenly shot to his feet, strode over to Qian Guang, and delivered several vicious slaps across his face. Blood immediately began to trickle from the corner of Qian Guang’s mouth.

The arrogant air Qian Guang usually held was completely gone. He hung his head, terrified of angering Guyun further.

After striking Qian Guang, Guyun was not finished. He walked over to the other disciples and gave each of them two slaps as well. He then threw himself back into his chair, his sharp gaze sweeping over them as he roared, “Disgraceful! Just continue bringing shame upon this master!”

“That useless Yan Dong already brought us enough shame by losing to someone from the Nature Hall! And you lot had to join in on the fun? You think the Ancient Cloud Hall isn’t humiliated enough? We just had to wait six months to crush them! Does our hall need to resort to such low-life methods to get revenge on a new disciple? You may not feel any shame, but this master is too embarrassed to even show his face!”

Guyun’s voice was sharp with condemnation, but his heart was filled with a different kind of fury: These idiots almost ruined my grand plan! If they found out Qin Haoxuan’s strength came from my Corrosion Pills, I’d be finished! Using a disciple to refine a corpse soldier is a major taboo in the Taichu Sect! The Nature Hall would raise hell, and even without them, Sect Master Huanglong would never tolerate it! I’d be thrown into Jie Prison for eternity!

Qian Guang and the others repeatedly admitted their mistake. Only then did Guyun’s expression soften slightly. “Go to the Demon Monitoring Division,” he commanded. “This master will personally inspect Qin Haoxuan!”

“Yes, Hall Master is truly broad-minded. We will remember today’s lesson,” Qian Guang and the others said, flattering him as they led the way.

They thought to themselves, Qin Haoxuan brought great shame to our hall. The master has always been overly protective. His words sound nice, but he’s going to inspect him personally? I’m afraid things are about to get much worse for that Qin Haoxuan!

When they arrived at the observation cell, Guyun pretended not to recognize Qin Haoxuan. He sent a strand of spiritual energy into his body, putting on a show of a thorough examination.

After a long moment, he withdrew and announced to all the disciples of the division, “After my careful inspection, there is no demon in Qin Haoxuan. He is innocent!”

With that, he signed a release order. “Release him immediately. In the future, do not let your suspicions injure the harmony of our sect!”

Qian Guang and the others who were familiar with Guyun were completely stunned. They thought, Why the sudden change of heart? This isn’t like him at all! Given his protective nature, even if he didn’t frame him for demonic possession, he would never have let him leave so easily.

But since the master of the Ancient Cloud Hall himself had personally cleared Qin Haoxuan, who would dare to object?

The news of Master Guyun personally vouching for Qin Haoxuan’s innocence spread quickly through the Spirit Field Valley, adding another layer of mystery to his name. No one could figure out the inside story, but they knew it had to be significant.

After that, no one in the Spirit Field Valley dared to provoke Qin Haoxuan again.

Upon his return, Qin Haoxuan became even more reclusive, spending his days either cultivating or helping Pu Hanzhong heal.

Pu Hanzhong, who had always had a cough, seemed to decline rapidly after his injury. His graying hair turned completely white within a few days, and his body aged at a visible rate. He now looked like a man of seventy or eighty.

The final month passed quickly. In three days, it would be time for the final stage of the Trial of the Immortal Path—entry into the Aqueous Manor.

That morning, Pu Hanzhong looked at Qin Haoxuan with an increasingly melancholic gaze. “Junior Brother Qin,” he urged, “in three days you will enter the Aqueous Manor. You must use this time to cultivate. It would be best if you could break through to the First-Leaf of the Spirit Sprout Realm! Remember, in the cultivation world, only strength is the foundation of survival, and only by breaking through can you gain more lifespan! A long life is the most fundamental resource for a cultivator!”

Though he found it strange that Pu Hanzhong was repeating these old adages, Qin Haoxuan nodded seriously.

“Remember,” Pu Hanzhong continued, “if one day I am no longer here, you must support the Nature Hall. Take care of our junior brothers and sisters, and protect them from being bullied. And if you have the chance, find some life-extending spiritual medicine for our Master.”

Hearing these words, Qin Haoxuan felt a pang of unease, and a sense of foreboding rose in his heart. Still, he responded earnestly, “Don’t worry, Senior Brother Pu. I will remember.”

“Good. Let’s begin our cultivation. I must also tend to my wounds,” Pu Hanzhong said, settling into a meditative posture.

After Pu Hanzhong began, Qin Haoxuan also cleared his mind of distracting thoughts and began his own cultivation.