Zhu Xian: The way of heaven collapses, and I only have one sword!

Chapter 40 Wan Jianyi, he is still alive, the truth about Cao Miao Village!

Lu Xueqi's fingertips moved nimbly, and in a short moment, she had braided a neat braid for Chen Qiye. She picked up the jade hairpin on the table and gently inserted it into the hair, securing it. Her movements exuded a gentle aura. When she was finished, she looked at the result with satisfaction, her lips curling slightly.

Chen Qiye reached out and touched his braid, then turned to look at Lu Xueqi, his eyes full of smiles: "Qier's craftsmanship is really good, much better than what I could do myself."

Lu Xueqi felt a little embarrassed by the compliment and spat softly, "You just try to make me happy."

"I'm almost well now. I want to go out and take a look." Chen Qiye nodded and said.

Lu Xueqi heard this, a trace of worry flashed in her eyes, but seeing the expectation in Chen Qiye's eyes, she finally nodded: "Okay, but you just woke up, you must not be stubborn. If you feel any discomfort, you must tell me immediately."

The two walked out of the room hand in hand. The sun was pouring down, and the flowers and plants in the courtyard were swaying gently in the breeze. At this moment, a sound of footsteps was heard. The two turned their heads and saw Taoist Master Daoxuan and the other six elders walking towards them.

"Qiye, greetings to the master and all the uncles." Chen Qiye said with a slight bow.

Taoist Master Daoxuan looked at Chen Qiye gently and said, "Qiye, you look good. I think you have recovered well. I am relieved now."

The other six elders nodded in agreement, their faces etched with concern. Cangsong, Suru, and Shuiyue were especially keen. Ever since Chen Qiye had unleashed the True Art of Slaying Ghosts and Gods, they had been eager to learn the truth. After all, they didn't believe that Sect Leader Daoxuan would teach Chen Qiye the technique.

"Master, I want my Golden Light Mantra to spread throughout the Qingyun Sect. Is that okay?" Chen Qiye said after thinking for a while.

Taoist Master Daoxuan was slightly stunned, a thought flashing in his eyes. He then nodded and smiled, "Qiye, it is a blessing for our Qingyun Sect that you have such an idea. Since you created this Golden Light Mantra, you naturally have the right to decide its inheritance. However, do you have any plans for passing on this technique?"

Chen Qiye pulled out the bamboo slips he had prepared long ago and respectfully presented them to Daoxuan Zhenren with both hands: "Master, these bamboo slips record in detail the practice method, operation channels, and precautions of the Golden Light Mantra."

Taoist Master Daoxuan took the bamboo slips with both hands, his eyes slowly scanning them, his expression gradually becoming solemn. He gently stroked his beard and exclaimed in admiration, "Qiye, this technique is extremely exquisite. You are truly fortunate to have been able to create such a remarkable feat. Well, let us old fellows study it first."

The group chatted for a while, and after Taoist Master Daoxuan left first, the several clan leaders followed suit. However, Cangsong, Suru, and Shuiyue did not leave with Taoist Master Daoxuan. They exchanged glances, each with unconcealed confusion in their eyes.

Seeing this, Chen Qiye was not surprised. After all, the relationship between Wan Jianyi and the others was more complicated than he had imagined. He looked at Lu Xueqi and said softly, "Qier, go back to your room first."

Although Lu Xueqi was full of doubts, she looked at Chen Qiye's determined eyes, nodded obediently, and turned to walk towards the room.

After her figure disappeared around the corner, Cangsong spoke first, his voice filled with urgency: "Qiye, where did the true art of beheading ghosts and gods that you used come from?"

"Uncle Cangsong, do you want to ask about the secret of beheading ghosts and gods, or do you want to ask about a certain person, such as Wan..." Chen Qiye nodded slightly.

Before Chen Qiye could finish, the expressions of Cangsong and the other two suddenly changed. Su Ru took the lead, her expression nervous yet also filled with a bit of anticipation, and asked anxiously, "Qiye, don't keep us in suspense. Do you really know the news about Senior Brother Wan?"

"Master Uncle Wan is still alive." Chen Qiye said calmly.

Upon hearing this, Cangsong and the other two stood there in shock. After a long moment, Cangsong's eyes welled up in tears, his voice trembling slightly. "Where is he now? Why hasn't he contacted us in all these years?"

Chen Qiye took a deep breath and said slowly, "Uncle Wan has been living in seclusion in the ancestral temple for many years, sweeping the floors for a living. Back then, he was punished due to various misunderstandings. Although my master sentenced him to death, he secretly rescued him and hid him there just to save his life."

Cangsong's heart trembled when he heard this, his eyes instantly reddened, his lips trembled, and he was speechless for a long time. Su Ru raised her hand to cover her mouth, tears flashing in her eyes. Shui Yue was also moved, her eyes full of complex emotions.

"I have said everything I should and shouldn't say. I know nothing about anything outside this courtyard. You all have misunderstood my master." Chen Qiye shook his head and said.

Cangsong calmed himself down, trying to calm the turmoil in his heart. For so many years, he had wrongly blamed the Sect Leader and done so many foolish things. Thinking of this, his face was filled with regret, and his hands were clenched tightly into fists, his nails almost digging into his palms.

Su Ru wiped the tears from her eyes and asked anxiously, "Qi Ye, is Senior Brother Wan okay now? Can we go see him?"

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Qiye said, "Although Uncle Wan has lived in seclusion in the ancestral temple for many years, he's been quite safe. However, if we rashly go there, I'm afraid it will cause trouble for Master and Uncle Wan. It would be better to find a suitable time, with Master arranging it, so we can meet again." Cangsong, Su Ru, and Shui Yue nodded silently, knowing full well that Chen Qiye was right. The courtyard fell silent for a moment, with only the rustling of the flowers and plants in the breeze.

Su Ru looked at Chen Qiye deeply and said softly, "Brother Wan, you have suffered a lot over the years." After that, she sighed softly, turned around and left slowly. Her steps were a little heavy and her back was full of melancholy.

Shuiyue turned around and walked a few steps before stopping again. She turned back and said to Chen Qiye, "I'll leave this matter to you. Also, our Xueqi is quite simple-minded, so please don't bully her."

Chen Qiye nodded slightly. Shuiyue then turned around, her posture still straight, but her steps lacked her usual carefreeness, and she walked away with a bit of worry on her mind.

At this moment, only Cangsong and Chen Qiye were left in the courtyard.

Chen Qiye came to sit at the stone table. Cangsong looked at Chen Qiye, his heart filled with guilt and regret. He slowly walked over to sit across from Chen Qiye.

"Uncle Cangsong, do you know something about the destruction of Cao Miao Village?" Chen Qiye said calmly.

Cangsong's expression instantly turned extremely ugly. He subconsciously clenched his hands, his knuckles turning white from the force. Upon hearing Chen Qiye's question, his eyes evaded a bit. After a long silence, he slowly spoke, "You know everything?"

Chen Qiye nodded and said, "I knew it a long time ago. The day I first came to Qingyun Sect, in the Jade Purity Palace, what I said was half true and half false. At that time, even though I was picking herbs in the back mountains, I knew that something had definitely happened in Cao Miao Village. When I saw Senior Sister Lu perform the Divine Sword Controlling Thunder Art, I actually confirmed it. Because on the day Cao Miao Village was destroyed, there was a loud thunder, which was the opening move of the Divine Sword Controlling Thunder Art. I vaguely saw that the person was a tall and thin man, and he knew all six meridians of the Divine Sword Controlling Thunder Art."

Cangsong's breathing suddenly stagnated, and a trace of panic and struggle flashed in his eyes. He opened his mouth, but it seemed as if thousands of words were stuck in his throat and he couldn't spit them out.

Chen Qiye stared at Cangsong with a scorching gaze. His voice remained steady, yet it carried an undeniable sense of oppression. "That day in Yuqing Palace, I secretly observed the expressions and behavior of the uncles. Uncle Cangsong, you were acting strangely, and I saw it. All signs indicate that you are responsible for all this, but I also know that it couldn't be you who killed the villagers of Caomiao Village. It must be someone else. The head of Qingyun Sect usually doesn't go down the mountain. If he could do that, it must be something he cares about."

Cangsong's face was as pale as paper, with beads of sweat rolling down his forehead. Under Chen Qiye's gaze, he spoke with difficulty: "It's... it's Puzhi."

"To be precise, it should be for the Bloodthirsty Pearl." Chen Qiye said in a calm voice.

When Cangsong heard Chen Qiye say the three words "Bloodthirsty Pearl", his body shook violently and an expression of pain and struggle appeared on his face.

"It seems that I guessed right. I don't need to tell you what happens next, right? Uncle Cangsong, I think you know better than me what happened back then." Chen Qiye said.

Cangsong took a deep breath and nodded.

"It was because of the destruction of Cao Miao Village that Zhang Xiaofan, Lin Jingyu and I were able to join the Qingyun Sect. At the beginning, I only wanted to become stronger and kill my enemies, but Pu Zhi, who actually killed the villagers of Cao Miao Village, is already dead. Uncle Cangsong, in fact, you did not attack the villagers of Cao Miao Village, which made my revenge a joke. I knew I had enemies, but I couldn't find a reason." Chen Qiye said with a wry smile.

"What should I do now?" Cangsong said bitterly.

"Judging from the fact that you snatched the Bloodthirsty Pearl, Uncle Cangsong, have you betrayed Qingyun Sect? The reason for the betrayal should be Uncle Wan, but Uncle Wan is not dead now. There are only two choices before you. One is to confess to my master, and the other is to continue going further and further on the wrong path. But how long do you think you can hide it?" Chen Qiye's eyes were fixed on Cangsong, his voice low but full of deterrence.

Cangsong's body trembled violently, his hands clutching his head, his face a face filled with agony. He had been drifting deeper and deeper into error over the years, believing his secrets to be forever buried. He hadn't expected Chen Qiye to have seen through everything. His mind reeled back to Daoxuan Zhenren's trust in him and the memories of their past battles alongside Wan Jianyi. Guilt and self-reproach washed over him like a surging tide.

"Qi Ye, I... I was confused!" Cangsong suddenly raised his head, his face full of tears, "I have been living in pain and regret all these years. I was blinded by hatred and did too many wrong things." His voice was tearful and full of endless regret.

Chen Qiye looked at Cangsong with mixed emotions. He stood up, slowly walked over to Cangsong, and patted his shoulder. "Uncle Cangsong, it's not too late to turn back now. As long as you confess everything to Master, perhaps you can still make up for your mistakes. For now, there hasn't been any irreparable damage to Qingyun Sect. As long as Master can forgive you, you will still be Master Cangsong of Qingyun Sect, our Uncle."

Cangsong raised his head, his eyes full of struggle and pain. He looked at Chen Qiye and said in a hoarse voice, "Qiye, I... do I really still have a chance?"

Chen Qiye looked back at him with a determined gaze. "Uncle Master, as long as you truly repent, you will definitely have a chance. Master is magnanimous and always considers the friendship between fellow disciples. I don't blame you for the Cao Miao Village case. The person is gone, the past cannot be undone, and the future still needs to be explored."

(End of this chapter)