Fairy, I am truly a virtuous gentleman!

Ning Yuan walked ahead with a calm expression, saying without turning his head, "Fairy Chu is in the small courtyard ahead. You two can leave on your own tomorrow morning."

"knew……"

Behind him, the stunningly beautiful Zhu Qixian moved gracefully, like a wronged wife who dared not utter a word of complaint, and answered weakly, showing none of the demeanor of the female sword cultivator she had shown before.

However, what differed from her dignified appearance during the day was not only her demeanor, but also her excessively bright red lips.

Suddenly, Ning Yuan stopped in his tracks, raised an eyebrow, and turned to gaze at Zhu Qixian.

"How did I just teach you?"

Zhu Qixian's beautiful eyes widened, her heart tightened, and she hurriedly changed her words, saying, "Master, this servant understands."

Ning Yuan nodded in satisfaction and said, "That's more like it."

He then continued to lead the way.

Zhu Qixian stood there dumbfounded for a moment, feeling that all the demons she had slain with her sword since embarking on the path of cultivation were not as terrifying as the look in the eyes of the young man in front of her.

The two courtyards are not far apart.

Pass through two front yards, a garden, and a long corridor.

They then arrived at Chu Lingci's residence.

"Go in. Remember, in public, you are still a true disciple of the Sword Sect."

Zhu Qixian nodded to indicate that she understood, and then stepped into the courtyard with Ning Yuan.

A slender, fair-skinned figure came into view. The girl turned around, somewhat surprised and slightly puzzled, and said, "Senior Sister Zhu?"

"Junior Sister Chu."

Zhu Qixian's expression was somewhat complicated. She looked at the girl in front of her, who had a calm and pure temperament, like white jade, and her heart was filled with turbulent emotions.

The two women looked at each other in silence. Their relationship was not close to begin with. Chu Lingci was unaware of the specific situation, and Zhu Qixian felt guilty, so naturally they didn't know what to say.

Fortunately, Ning Yuan came up at this moment, breaking the silence.

"Fairy Chu, I have come to keep my promise."

Chu Lingci's beautiful eyes immediately turned to Ning Yuan, and a clear, melodious voice, like the tinkling of a spring, rang out.

"Could it be that Young Master Ning has already uncovered the truth?"

"Exactly."

Zhu Qixian's delicate body trembled, and she looked at Ning Yuan in disbelief, her mouth opening and closing repeatedly, but she couldn't utter a single word.

But her doubts had already been conveyed to Ning Yuan.

The tall, handsome young man in white smiled, first taking out a recording stone and tossing it to Chu Lingci, then saying leisurely, "I said, it's only for those inside this mansion."

Yes, Chu Lingci was already imprisoned here, so he's not considered an outsider.

Zhu Qixian smiled sadly.

At that moment, she felt neither angry nor regretful; she only felt utterly ridiculous.

"I admit, it was my evil intentions... that I wanted to ruin her image in the eyes of the sect's high-ranking members..."

Although Chu Lingci's cultivation was sealed by the formation, he could still easily draw upon the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to inject into the image-recording stone.

In the blurry light and shadow, Zhu Qixian's voice was so clear and piercing, while she herself kept her eyes tightly closed.

The contents of the photographic stone were only a small part, and it ended abruptly after Zhu Qixian finished her voluntary admission.

After a long silence, Chu Lingci raised his head, seemingly lost in thought, and said, "I see. Thank you, Young Master Ning, for telling me the truth..."

Ning Yuan smiled but did not answer.

However, Chu Lingci's next actions seemed somewhat unexpected.

She gripped the recording stone tightly in her hand, and with a slight exertion, this priceless, rare spiritual object capable of recording images and sounds shattered completely into countless tiny stones, rendering it useless.

Hearing the noise, Zhu Qixian opened her eyes again and was stunned by what she saw.

At this moment, Chu Lingci rose from a distance and slowly walked towards Zhu Qixian.

"Life's path is full of hardships, and the path of self-cultivation is even more rugged. It is both a great road to heaven and a muddy swamp, and the only one who can help others is oneself."

Ling Ci is young, yet not humble, for cultivation requires sharp and progressive efforts. However, Ling Ci is also never complacent, for he knows that everything he has achieved is due to the sect's gifts and his innate swordsmanship; without these two, he might not be able to stand out.

Chu Lingci and Zhu Qixian looked at each other, his clear eyes remaining unwavering.

"I have heard about Senior Sister Zhu's experience and I sincerely admire her. I can also understand her pride. However, a momentary mistake cannot explain everything, especially when the mistake is not irreversible and the result has not yet become a major offense."

Throughout the entire process, Chu Lingci never expressed even the slightest blame or questioning towards Zhu Qixian.

There is only genuine gentleness and tolerance, and the camaraderie among fellow students.

Seeing the harmonious relationship between the female disciples, and the seemingly positive situation, as if they were about to reconcile, Ning Yuan was secretly about to burst out laughing.

Because he had already guessed that Chu Lingci would do this.

Chu Lingci later became known as the Glass Sword Immortal.

It is derived from the idea that the mind is as pure as Bodhi, untouched by dust.

A pure mind makes it easier to see the patterns of things.

Although Zhu Qixian did make a mistake, she did not intend to harm Chu Lingci's life or his cultivation path. She knew that Chu Lingci was protected by a peerless spiritual treasure bestowed by the sect leader, so he was not afraid of any threats and would at most be in a sorry state.

All she wanted was to take another step forward on her spiritual path.

Given the above premise, if Chu Lingci could forgive Zhu Qixian, it would not only prevent infighting among fellow disciples but also prevent others, such as Ning Yuan, from taking advantage of the internal conflict to seize benefits.

There's nothing wrong with this idea and original intention.

It's just a pity that he was still too young.

With a clear and discerning mind, one can distinguish between truth and falsehood, good and evil.

But what about people's hearts?

Nothing in this world is ever simply black and white.

Ning Yuan's dark eyes were deep and unfathomable, awaiting what would happen next.

Faced with Chu Lingci's forgiveness, Zhu Qixian did not immediately express her gratitude and repent.

She merely lifted her eyelids slightly, quietly gazing at the beautiful young woman in front of her.

She was so dazzling.

Talent and innate ability are all superior to one's own.

However, the more perfect Chu Lingci appeared, the more Zhu Qixian's ugly behavior was highlighted.

Like a mirror, it reflects all the shadows and darkness, placing them under the blazing sun and igniting the incense smoke.

Therefore, when that enormous gap is laid bare before us, when that insurmountable chasm leads to utter despair, when that grandeur crushes the insignificant.

A twisted flame of resentment reignited in Zhu Qixian's heart!

Without outstanding talent, without extraordinary connections, and without the support of a sect, Zhu Qixian has come this far solely through a stroke of luck, and has still surpassed countless others.

She will not give up, not now, and not in the future. The view from the mountaintop is not destined to be anyone's. For this, she will stop at nothing!

Tears streamed down her cheeks.

Zhu Qixian smiled, a very soft and bitter smile.

"Junior Sister Chu, it is undoubtedly my fault in this matter, but please forgive me for not being able to tell Uncle Lei the truth. Betraying a fellow disciple is a major taboo in the sect, and the punishment is too severe for me to bear. Please forgive me."

She embraced Chu Lingci with both hands, knelt down beside his head, and said softly, word by word, "From now on, Senior Sister will definitely reform herself."

The ceremony is now complete.

Ning Yuan understood that the female demon lord who had betrayed the Taiyi Sword Sect and roamed freely throughout the Great Xuantian had returned.