"Immortal Sovereign, please wait."
Yun Qingyi called out loudly to stop him, and quickly stepped forward.
"My junior brother doesn't know proper manners. I ask the Immortal Sovereign to forgive him."
"Immortal Sovereign, Qingyi can testify. My junior brother and this little demon have nothing to do with the missing artifacts," Yun Qingyi said.
SiTu Fanzhi shot back, "Caught red-handed—how can you testify?"
"Immortal Sovereign, please see clearly. Do you remember my junior brother went missing for a few days before?" Yun Qingyi explained calmly.
"I do know a little about that. Earlier, your master came to ask for the Empty Flower Token to open the barrier to the Flatland—was it because of this?" SiTu Fanzhi thought for a moment, then asked.
"Yes, it was because of that," Yun Qingyi replied.
"Then how do you explain that this little demon has nothing to do with the missing artifacts?" SiTu Fanzhi asked again.
Kneeling on the ground, Qingping said in a panic and with grievance,
"I picked this up when I was looking for fruit in Peach Blossom Grove. I've explained it so many times."
It turned out that early this morning, Qingping was truly bored staying in the wooden hut, so he forgot Li Luoning's earlier warning and went alone into Peach Blossom Grove to look for some fruit and flowers.
On the way back, he saw the Yinlü Compass lying in the middle of the road. The moment he picked it up, a squad of immortal soldiers appeared and surrounded him.
When the immortal soldiers saw Qingping was a demon, they barely spoke a few lines before they started fighting, and then he was captured and brought here.
When the soldiers caught Qingping, he really was holding the Yinlü Compass. And even if Qingping truly didn't steal it, the fact that a small demon fought a whole group of immortal soldiers and caused such a big commotion was not a small offense.
"If he wasn't guilty, why would this little demon attack and injure immortal soldiers? Yun Qingyi, how can you prove he has nothing to do with this?" SiTu Fanzhi said.
Yun Qingyi, after all, didn't have much standing, and for a moment he was stuck and didn't know how to argue back.
"I can prove it."
Li Luoning's voice appeared just in time, like rain when it's needed. Yun Qingyi looked over happily in the direction of the voice and saw his master walking in from outside the main hall.
Right after Mi Xingzhe was taken away by the immortal soldiers, Yun Qingyi immediately sent a message to Li Luoning. Luckily, Li Luoning was already on his way back. After receiving the message, he sped up, and once he returned to the Liao Yin Immortal Realm, he went straight to the hall.
When Yun Qingyi saw his master finally arrive, he quietly let out a breath of relief. Mi Xingzhe, standing to the side, also looked a little more relaxed, his eyes fixed on Li Luoning as he walked closer step by step.
Mi Xingzhe originally thought his master had come to help him out. He straightened his posture and felt like he could stand tall again. But unexpectedly, when Li Luoning reached his side, he flicked a finger. A burst of force hit the back of Mi Xingzhe's knee. Mi Xingzhe's legs went weak, and with a "thud," he dropped to his knees.
Li Luoning gave SiTu Fanzhi a deep salute, then said,
"My disciple is unruly. I, Xiao Yi, have failed to teach him well. I ask the Immortal Sovereign to forgive us."
Kneeling on the ground, Mi Xingzhe looked unwilling, puffing his cheeks as he glanced up at his master. Li Luoning lowered his eyes and shot him a glare without saying anything.
When SiTu Fanzhi saw Li Luoning, his tone became much gentler.
"Immortal Master Xiao Yi, how do you prove this little demon has nothing to do with the missing artifacts?"
"There are three reasons. First, with this little demon's cultivation, he simply cannot enter Lord Xuanming's hall. Second, the Yinlü Compass is used to track the location of immortal disciples. He is neither an immortal master nor an immortal disciple—what use would he have for it? Third…" Li Luoning paused slightly and looked around at the people in the hall.
"What is the third?"
SiTu Fanzhi looked at Li Luoning with some confusion and asked.
"This little demon once helped me rescue my disciple from Wuming Demon Mountain. Because he offended the Demon Sovereign, I kept him in Peach Blossom Grove. I can prove that he only came to the Liao Yin Immortal Realm after the Yinlü Compass went missing, so it is impossible for him to have anything to do with the disappearance," Li Luoning explained in a calm, clear, and organized way.
Hearing Li Luoning's reasoning, SiTu Fanzhi lowered his head and thought for a moment, then said,
"If what you say is true, how could this little demon just happen to pick up the Yinlü Compass?" SiTu Fanzhi muttered as he thought, then asked again,
"Rescued from Wuming Demon Mountain? What happened?" The words "Wuming Demon Mountain" stood out sharply to SiTu Fanzhi.
"Replying to the Immortal Sovereign, after my disciple was set up and injured, it was this little demon who brought him back to Wuming Demon Mountain to recover, so he would not end up dead in the wilderness," Li Luoning said, and even while speaking, he still looked down and shot Mi Xingzhe a glare.
"So it seems this matter truly has nothing to do with the two of them," SiTu Fanzhi sighed and said.
"The Immortal Sovereign sees clearly," Li Luoning said firmly.
"Fine. Since it has nothing to do with him, release him. It's just your disciple… sigh. Alright, everyone, withdraw," SiTu Fanzhi said, glancing at Mi Xingzhe kneeling on the ground, his words carrying a pointed meaning.
When everyone heard SiTu Fanzhi say this, the people in the hall withdrew one after another. Behind Mi Xingzhe, a tiny firefly flew out and disappeared where no one could see it.
Before long, only Yue Ruling, Yun Qingyi, Li Luoning, and the kneeling Mi Xingzhe and Qingping were left in the hall.
Yue Ruling hurried forward to untie Qingping's ropes and helped him up. Yun Qingyi also walked to Li Luoning's side. Only Mi Xingzhe, still kneeling, wore a wronged expression, lips pouting as he looked at Li Luoning.
"Master, can I get up?" Mi Xingzhe asked pitifully.
Li Luoning gave him a stern look and did not answer. He flicked his sleeve and turned away. Seeing this, Yun Qingyi quickly went up to help Mi Xingzhe to his feet and followed after Li Luoning.
The group returned to Mirror Cloud Residence. They did a simple treatment for Qingping's wounds, told him to take a few packets of medicine, and sent him back.
Now, in Mirror Cloud Residence, only Yue Ruling, Yun Qingyi, Mi Xingzhe, and Li Luoning remained.
Ever since they entered the study, Li Luoning had spoken to everyone—except Mi Xingzhe. After Qingping left and the room grew quiet, Mi Xingzhe very sensibly knelt down.
Li Luoning kept a cold face, drinking tea with one hand and flipping through a book with the other.
Yue Ruling glanced at Yun Qingyi and gave him a look.
Yun Qingyi shook his head, then quietly pointed at Mi Xingzhe kneeling on the floor, signaling her not to get involved.
Neither of them dared to speak. They just stood there exchanging silent signals. Mi Xingzhe, like a sealed jar, knelt in the middle with his head down, fiddling with the red ribbon at his waist.
"Immortal Master Xiao Yi, junior brother didn't mean to offend the Immortal Sovereign. Don't blame him," Yue Ruling said. She was smart enough to know why Li Luoning's face was so dark. So she tried to speak up for Mi Xingzhe, even though Yun Qingyi kept shaking his head at her to stop talking.
"Commander Ruling, are you not on patrol today? Do you need me to tell your master that you're staying to eat dinner?" Li Luoning continued reading, and with a light tone, he sent her away.
He knew that at this time, Yue Ruling should have been on patrol. She had only stayed because she was worried about Mi Xingzhe.
Hearing Li Luoning's words, Yue Ruling stuck out her tongue, then looked at Mi Xingzhe and shrugged, meaning: [I tried. I can't help. Good luck.]
"Then I'll go first. Junior brother, I'll come find you another day,"
Yue Ruling said. Seeing she really couldn't help here and couldn't stay to watch the show either, she left wisely.
Mi Xingzhe, kneeling on the ground, secretly waved at Yue Ruling.
After Yue Ruling left, the study became quiet again. Yun Qingyi simply stood to the side, grinding ink and pouring tea. From his understanding of Li Luoning, it was best to keep his mouth shut right now.
Mi Xingzhe, kneeling there, didn't actually feel he was wrong. He was only kneeling because his master had a dark face at him. Even though he didn't know what his master was angry about, he was sure it had something to do with him. From experience, kneeling first was the safest choice.
About half a cup of tea later, Mi Xingzhe couldn't hold back the grievance in his heart anymore and finally spoke.
"Master, what exactly are you angry about today?"
Mi Xingzhe always felt he wasn't wrong, and his tone carried a bit of disdain.
"Is that how you speak to your master?" Li Luoning's lowered eyes didn't change at all, and his voice was strict.
"I… I wouldn't dare. I just wanted to reason with that Immortal Sovereign. Look, he beat Qingping until he was covered in wounds without even asking. I was standing up for a friend—was that wrong? Why does Master have to hold on to such a small thing?" Mi Xingzhe didn't think it was a big deal. He muttered with a stubborn, unhappy tone.
"No respect for seniority, rude words, arrogant and impolite—so this is the 'good disciple' I, Li Luoning, taught?" As Li Luoning spoke, he slammed the book in his hand onto the table.
Yun Qingyi, standing nearby, was startled. He didn't expect Master to be so furious over this.
"Master, Nian'nian isn't usually like this. Maybe he was just anxious in the moment. Please, since today it was only because he cared too much, don't argue with him," Yun Qingyi quickly stepped in to smooth things over.
"Cared too much? Do you know who you were talking back to? Do you know that if he truly wanted to punish you, even I couldn't protect you?" The more Li Luoning spoke, the angrier he became. He grabbed the book and threw it toward Mi Xingzhe.
Mi Xingzhe instinctively shut his eyes and flinched. The book landed on the floor very close to him.
Yun Qingyi quickly stepped forward to pick it up. He knew Li Luoning never meant to hit Mi Xingzhe with it, but what he said was true. If it hadn't been for Li Luoning's face, Mi Xingzhe's attitude alone would have been enough to get him punished today—let alone trying to save Qingping.
Mi Xingzhe was surprised that Li Luoning cared this much about seniority and respect. He couldn't really explain why, either. He only knew that the moment he saw SiTu Fanzhi, he couldn't control his emotions, like a fire rushing from the inner core in his body straight into his head.
"I'm sorry," Mi Xingzhe said softly, head lowered.
Li Luoning was still angry and didn't respond. He only pinched the bridge of his nose with two fingers, looking a bit of a headache.
Seeing Li Luoning still ignore him, Mi Xingzhe shuffled forward on his knees, reached out and tugged at Li Luoning's sleeve, and said with an apologetic face, half whining and half acting cute, "Master, don't be mad. I am sorry ,I mean it."
Yun Qingyi froze for a second, then tried hard not to laugh. Master's "soft works, hard doesn't" temper—when did junior brother figure that out?
Li Luoning also froze. He didn't know what Mi Xingzhe was playing at. But seeing him kneeling at his feet and apologizing, most of the anger in his chest faded right away.
"You… I really…" Li Luoning pretended to raise his hand to hit him, but instead he just poked Mi Xingzhe's forehead hard with a finger. "One day you'll anger me to death."
"Master, next time I'll be more polite to him," Mi Xingzhe quickly raised his hand and promised when he saw Li Luoning wasn't as angry anymore.
Li Luoning shook his head helplessly and signaled that Mi Xingzhe could get up. Mi Xingzhe stood and brushed the dust off himself.
"Master, where did you go? Why is there mud all over the bottom of your robe?" Mi Xingzhe asked as he patted the dirt off his own hands.
"The Flatland," Li Luoning said, and as he spoke, he pulled out the letter he had taken from Nan Zhe earlier.
"Ah, this is…?" Seeing the mark, Yun Qingyi couldn't help exclaiming. "Master, why is your seal on this letter?"
"I took this from someone in the Flatland," Li Luoning explained. He was also very curious why Nan Zhe would receive a letter stamped with the Li family seal.
"So Master went to rob someone?" Mi Xingzhe asked.
"Master went out last night because of this letter?" Yun Qingyi asked.
"Not entirely. When I was looking for Nian in the Flatland before, I fought that person once. By accident, I heard his ghost guards report something about an inner core. Then Qingping and Hua Ruoying also heard people in the Liao Yin Immortal Realm talking about inner cores. During this time, Nian was taken out of the Liao Yin Immortal Realm twice. So I felt this might be connected to that person, and I went again to find out who he really is," Li Luoning explained while looking at the letter.
"So Master really thinks someone is after the golden core inside me?" Mi Xingzhe asked from the side.
"I can't be sure yet. But the seal on this letter…" Li Luoning stopped mid-sentence.
"Your family seal," Yun Qingyi added.
"Family seal?" Mi Xingzhe asked.
Li Luoning nodded thoughtfully, considering whether to open the letter.
"Could it be you wrote this letter, Master? That's why you went to take it?" Mi Xingzhe asked, confused.
"What kind of nonsense do you think about all day?" Yun Qingyi shot back.
"Then if it's not that, how can it have the same seal as Master's? Could it be something Master's dead family left behind? Or does Master have family in the Flatland?" Mi Xingzhe argued stubbornly.
"Shut up,"
Yun Qingyi said, truly helpless with this brainless junior brother.
Li Luoning looked at the envelope in his hand. He hesitated, rubbing the envelope with his fingers. After taking a deep breath, he still opened it.
As the letter unfolded, Li Luoning's calm expression instantly turned into shock. His hands began trembling uncontrollably, and the paper slipped from his fingers and fell to the ground.