Goddess Painting

At Tian Shu Peak, the first rays of dawn are just beginning to break through the darkness.

Qin Feng had just finished a night of cultivation and pushed open the main hall door, only to be stunned by the scene before him.

Twenty disciples stood neatly in the once empty square.

But something felt off.

After a few days of renovation, Tian Shu Peak, though still simple, has at least regained some of its former charm.

The square was spotless, and several newly planted spiritual plants swayed in the morning breeze. Although the main hall was not luxurious, it was solemn and dignified, exuding a new vitality.

At this moment, these disciples all lowered their heads, their faces filled with fear and guilt, not daring to even look at Qin Feng.

"Come in, everyone. Don't stand outside."

A bad feeling rose in Qin Feng's heart, but he still spoke gently.

The twenty disciples filed in, and even after entering the main hall, they still dared not raise their heads.

"Greetings, Peak Master!"

Everyone bowed in unison, but their voices were somewhat weak.

Qin Feng sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over everyone, finally settling on Lu Qianlang, who was leading the group:

"Lu Qianlang, what's the matter with all this commotion?"

Lu Qianlang's body trembled, and he knelt on the ground with a thud, his voice choked with sobs:

"Peak Master...we..."

"We...we must all leave Tian Shu Peak!"

As soon as he finished speaking, it triggered a chain reaction.

Splash!

The twenty disciples knelt down in unison, their foreheads pressed against the cold ground, not daring to get up.

Qin Feng's expression darkened, and his voice became sterner:

"Everyone, stand up!"

"Explain yourself clearly! What exactly happened?!"

However, no one dared to make a move.

The hall was deathly silent, save for the occasional sob.

After a long silence, Lu Qianlang finally spoke in a trembling voice:

"We hope that the Peak Master... will grant our request!"

"We are sorry! We are ungrateful!"

"We will repay your immense kindness in our next life, even if we are reborn as your oxen or horses!"

Qin Feng looked at the weeping teenagers, at the deep guilt and helplessness on their faces, and especially at the younger disciples, at the fear and despair in their eyes.

He already understood.

This was not a voluntary departure.

They were forced into it!

Someone has exploited their weakness.

"What exactly happened?"

Qin Feng took a deep breath, trying to make his voice sound calm:

"Has someone threatened you?"

Lu Qianlang shook his head desperately, tears streaming down his face.

"No...no one threatened me!"

"It's our own incompetence that makes us unworthy of Tian Shu Peak! Staying here will only be a burden to the Peak Master!"

"We beg the Peak Master to grant our request!"

Don't you even dare to tell the truth?

It seems the other party's methods are dirty and ruthless!

A surge of anger welled up in Qin Feng's heart, but he felt even more helpless.

Forcibly keeping them here will not only fail to protect them, but may even harm them.

"Get up, everyone."

Qin Feng walked down the steps and personally helped Lu Qianlang up, then helped each of the other disciples up one by one.

"I see."

Qin Feng patted Lu Qianlang on the shoulder, his tone devoid of blame, only filled with a deep sigh:

"This is not your fault."

"You have your reasons, and I won't force you."

Lu Qianlang suddenly looked up, staring at Qin Feng in disbelief, tears instantly streaming down his face.

"Peak Master..."

Qin Feng waved his hand, interrupting him:

"No need to say more."

"Lu Qianlang, according to the peak rules, those who withdraw from the peak midway must return all the resources they have prepaid."

"But considering your extenuating circumstances and the fact that you did indeed contribute to Tian Shu Peak..."

Qin Feng looked around at everyone, his voice gentle:

"Those spirit stones that were borrowed in advance do not need to be repaid."

"Take all the remaining pills with you."

"Be careful what you do when you're out there."

Lu Qianlang and his disciples were completely stunned.

They had expected to face Qin Feng's wrath and were even prepared to be punished.

Unexpectedly, the peak master not only didn't blame them, but even refused to let them return the spirit stones!

"Peak Master!!!"

Lu Qianlang burst into tears and kowtowed three times.

"Thank you, Peak Master! Thank you for your magnanimity!"

"We're so sorry!!"

In less than an hour, the twenty disciples packed their bags and left Tian Shu Peak, looking back every few steps, leaving clean and tidy.

The vast square was once again empty, with only Qin Feng and Lin Wan'er remaining.

The wind blew, swirling up a few fallen leaves, making the scene look particularly desolate.

Lin Wan'er walked to Qin Feng's side, gently took his hand, and wrote in his palm:

My dear husband, please don't blame them; they too have their own unspoken grievances.

Qin Feng grasped her soft hand in return and nodded:

"I know."

"Husband, are you going to recruit new disciples?" Lin Wan'er asked him with some concern.

"Not needed at the moment."

Qin Feng gazed at the winding path below the mountain, a cold glint flashing in his eyes:

"Let's investigate this matter thoroughly first."

"Recruiting more people will be pointless unless we find the mastermind behind it all!"

Lin Wan'er wrote firmly: "I believe in my husband; I'm sure he can handle this matter well."

Qin Feng sneered inwardly.

Besides the Lin family and Wang Tianyi, who else could it be?

That's a truly insidious and vicious tactic!

Just then.

call out!call out!call out!

Three dazzling streaks of light suddenly streaked across the sky, heading straight for Tian Shu Peak like shooting stars!

The light faded away.

A powerful figure hovered in mid-air outside the main hall, and the pressure of a master at the Meridian Opening Realm spread out, causing the surrounding trees to bend over!

"Qin Feng!"

The man looked down at them, his voice cold and indifferent.

"Hurry up and come out to pay your respects to me!"

Qin Feng frowned and walked out of the main hall.

Upon seeing who it was, a strange glint flashed in his eyes.

It turned out to be an acquaintance!

It was Zhou Yuanqing, the head of the Internal Affairs Hall, whom I had seen outside Hua Muyao's cave the day before yesterday!

"Disciple Qin Feng greets Chief Zhou."

Qin Feng stepped forward and bowed respectfully, neither servile nor arrogant:

"What are your orders, Chief, for coming to this desolate place?"

Zhou Yuanqing was dressed in black, with a serious expression, looking utterly impartial.

He stared coldly at Qin Feng and said in a deep voice:

"Qin Feng, you've only been in charge of Tian Shu Peak for a few days, and all twenty of your disciples have already left the peak!"

"This matter has already caused much discussion within the sect, and has even damaged the reputation of our Qingyun Sect!"

"As the peak master, what is your crime?!"

Qin Feng sneered inwardly.

What a huge hat!

"When it's going to rain, a mother is going to remarry."

Qin Feng said calmly:

"Isn't it normal for the disciples to feel that Tian Shu Peak is not suitable for them and to want to seek better opportunities elsewhere?"

"Hmph! Normal?"

Zhou Yuanqing snorted coldly:

"If it were just normal personnel movement, I wouldn't have made this trip myself!"

"I heard that some disciples were crying outside, saying that the future of Tian Shu Peak was bleak and hopeless, which is why they had to leave in tears!"

"As the head of the Internal Affairs Hall, in charge of all the sect's affairs, I have no choice but to investigate!"

Qin Feng looked directly into Zhou Yuanqing's eyes, showing no sign of yielding:

"Then, in your opinion, what should be done, Your Excellency?"

A playful smile curved Zhou Yuanqing's lips:

"In my opinion..."

"Your Tian Shu Peak has been abandoned for too long and lacks resources, making it unsuitable to exist as an independent peak."

"How about... you voluntarily resign from your position as peak master?"

"If you are willing to step down, I can arrange for you to be transferred to another peak as a core inner disciple."

"In this way, your future won't be ruined, what do you say?"