Chapter 41 Purging the Sect

The year-end was fast approaching, and Qinghe Town was already immersed in a state of jubilation. Look, red lanterns were hung high everywhere, and colorful ribbons drifted leisurely in the wind, bustling like a pot of boiling water.

The major streets and alleys were entirely swallowed by that festive vermilion red. On the doors and windows of every household, spring couplets were meticulously pasted. The brush-written characters on the couplets were as vigorous and unyielding as ancient pine and cypress, and the blessing phrases shone with a charming brilliance like dazzling stars.

In the streets and alleys, a group of little children played and laughed happily. Dressed in brand-new clothes like bright and tender flowers in spring, their joyous and delighted laughter rang out one after another, as crisp and pleasant as silver bells.

Inside the shops, all kinds of goods were piled like mountains; vegetables and fruits were so fresh and tender that they seemed ready to burst with water, while the meats were so plump and appetizing that they made one's mouth water. Wisps of intoxicating wine fragrance drifted out from the tavern from time to time.

People coming and going were all busy rushing around preparing items for the New Year. The sounds of bargaining rose and fell, filled with a rich, earthly atmosphere—bustling and brimming with the flavor of life.

On New Year's Eve, a special day, the whole family happily gathered together. Xiao Yunyao and Li Baoping cleaned the courtyard to immaculate perfection, making it shine like a mirror.

In the main hall indoors, a warm stove burned fiercely, sending up dreamy and illusory wisps of fragrant mist.

The newly reorganized extended family sat affectionately and cozily around the table, happily enjoying the delicious dishes together. Sounds of laughter and joy rippled through the house like a spring breeze.

On the street, the children ran about wildly like untethered little wild horses, shouting at the top of their lungs, jumping and hopping with joy as they scrambled to set off firecrackers. Amidst the deafening crackles, the old year happily passed by just like that.

Lin Chen's already meager lifespan was reduced once again, dropping from ten years to nine years like sand in an hourglass.

Inside the Cliff of Repentance at Peach Blossom Temple, Liu Ruohan wore a gloomy expression and said coldly, "Su Xiangling, out of the magnanimity of my heart, I am giving you a chance to leave the Cliff of Repentance. Are you willing?"

Su Xiangling was slightly stunned at first, knowing clearly in her heart that this master of hers did not possess such kindness. Then, she asked with a face full of suspicion, "What chance? Master, you might as well state it clearly."

"That ignorant and audacious good-for-nothing killed Wenyun and heavily injured Ye Ling'er. I now order you to purge the sect of this scum," Liu Ruohan said in an unquestionable tone.

However, Su Xiangling smiled bitterly, shook her head, and said firmly, "Master, you had better find someone else more capable! This disciple truly cannot do it."

Hearing this, Liu Ruohan turned her head to look at Mei Xiulan beside her and asked, "How about you? Could it be that you are unwilling as well? This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."

"Master, you should dispel this absurd notion as soon as possible! Otherwise, you will surely plunge into a state of eternal damnation," Mei Xiulan warned without any fear, speaking with stern righteousness.

"Audacious! How dare you defy your master!" Liu Ruohan's eyes bulged with anger, and she rebuked loudly.

As soon as her voice fell, an extremely overbearing pressure burst forth from her body.

However, Su Xiangling and Mei Xiulan stood up together without hesitation to resist. Facing this overwhelming pressure, they did not fall behind in the slightest.

Liu Ruohan was so furious that she flew into a rage, roaring, "You two rebellious disciples who defy your master! I truly regret taking you in back then!"

Having said that, she could only leave in exasperation. Now, her two disciples with the highest cultivation levels were both locked up by her on this Cliff of Repentance.

Could it be that she really had to take matters into her own hands to deal with that unappreciative good-for-nothing?

The moment Liu Ruohan left, the two women finally felt a sense of relief and let out a collective sigh.

Both of them were physically and mentally exhausted, as well as extremely weakened, by the torment of the Yin lightning. Were it not for this, given their current strengths, they truly wouldn't have feared Liu Ruohan.

"Thank you, Senior Sister. It's all thanks to you helping me out of this predicament," Mei Xiulan said with a sincere expression full of gratitude.

"No need to be polite with me. Now that the two of us have fallen to such a destitute state, if we don't support each other, no one will truly care whether we live or die," Su Xiangling smiled bitterly with resignation.

"Senior Sister, do you think Junior Sister Wen was really killed by Junior Brother Lin?" Mei Xiulan asked with a heart full of doubt and disbelief.

"It probably wasn't him. Perhaps it was the person by his side who committed the foul deed!" Su Xiangling shook her head gently and guessed.

"That's true. Junior Sister Wen is at the seventh realm after all, so Junior Brother Lin shouldn't be her match," Mei Xiulan nodded in agreement.

Just as Liu Ruohan stepped out of the Cliff of Repentance, Ye Ling'er and Qin Hao impatiently and expectantly rushed forward to ask, "Master, how did it go? Did the Senior Sister agree?"

Liu Ruohan was filled with disillusionment. The Taoist temple that was once thriving and infinitely glorious had now become so foul and unpresentable.

When all was said andotten, the root cause of all this trouble was that unappreciative good-for-nothing Lin Chen. If he hadn't left the sect without authorization, how could there have been this subsequent series of frustrating events?

Thinking of this, she gritted her teeth and viciously blurted out, "I will personally kill this lawless rebellious disciple!"

Hearing this, Ye Ling'er's eyes instantly lit up, and she said with flattery, "Master, you are truly wise and mighty!"

On the other hand, Qin Hao looked ashen-faced and extremely ugly.

He was scheming in his heart, only wanting Lin Chen to continue providing him with karmic fortune. If Lin Chen were to be killed just like that, all his previous efforts would be completely wasted.

Therefore, he put on a smiling face and said softly, "Master, can you not kill Senior Brother Lin? Even if you beat him until his hands and legs are broken, as long as he stays alive, it will do. Otherwise, the karma I absorbed from him won't be recoverable."

"Enough, both of you go back and rest properly. Don't give me any more cause for worry; I know what I'm doing," Liu Ruohan dropped these words and left Peach Blossom Temple without looking back.

When she reappeared, she was already inside Lin Chen's courtyard in Qinghe Town.

She looked around this way and that, sizing the place up from top to bottom, and muttered to herself that life was being lived quite comfortably here.

She chanted under her breath, "Rebellious disciple! You live such a good life yet you are still unsatisfied, injuring your fellow disciples everywhere. What on earth is your intention?"

Passing through the quaint, winding veranda, she saw Lin Chen and the others sitting together indoors, laughing and chatting merrily.

Seeing this scene, a raging fire instantly ignited in Liu Ruohan's eyes. Beside herself with anger, she barked, "Rebellious disciple, you have some nerve! You've ruined the sect into such a miserable state—what wicked scheme are you hatching?"

This shout scared Hu Mei'er so much that her anger flared up instantly, and she was about to rush forward to fight to the death. Lin Chen hurriedly grabbed her, lowering his voice to say, "Don't be impulsive for now; let's see how things develop."

Hu Mei'er forcefully suppressed the anger in her heart and reluctantly sat down.