Duan Zhengchun transmigrates to Yin Zhiping

Duan Zhengchun frowned slightly, filled with doubt, and decided to report back to Qiu Chuji first.

But just then, Lin Zhiyuan ran over from afar and pulled him toward the back garden.

"What are you doing? I haven't gone to pay my respects to my master yet."

Duan Zhengchun frowned and asked a question, looking at Lin Zhiyuan, who looked somewhat flustered.

"The situation has changed. Master is in a bad mood, so it's best not to show yourself for the time being."

"Let's go back to the back garden first and talk about it when the time is right."

Without saying a word, Lin Zhiyuan forcibly pulled Duan Zhengchun and continued walking towards the backyard.

"What happened?"

"Why do I feel like everyone in the church is looking at me strangely?"

Duan Zhengchun pushed Lin Zhiyuan away and asked in a deep voice with a frown.

"Senior brother, you shouldn't have come back so soon. Now is really not the right time!"

"When you left without saying goodbye in Huai'an County, the disciples in the sect began to suspect that the person they encountered on the street was Xiaolongnu!"

"After you returned to the sect, some bastard with a loose tongue spread the news, and now everyone is saying all sorts of things. Some even suspect that you eloped with Little Dragon Girl!"

"It would have been better if you hadn't come back. Master was trying to suppress this matter, but now things are even worse. I'm afraid the rumors will only get more out of control."

"That's why I said now is not the best time to see Master. Let me report to Master privately first."

Lin Zhiyuan sighed helplessly, moved closer to Duan Zhengchun, and earnestly tried to persuade him.

Upon hearing Lin Zhiyuan's answer, Duan Zhengchun narrowed his eyes and frowned instantly.

In fact, he was never worried about people finding out about his relationship with Xiaolongnu. It was just that he didn't want to disappoint Qiu Chuji, that old man, so he deliberately concealed the fact that he had a woman outside.

He just didn't expect that even though he was being so careful, the news still leaked out, and it was all baseless; no one had any evidence to prove it.

His intuition told him that the rumors must be related to Zhao Zhijing and his disciple, because as long as they could find a way to drive him out of the Quanzhen Sect, Lin Zhiyuan would be no match for them!

"Unexpectedly, even now, they still refuse to give up the opportunity to compete for the position of sect leader!"

Thinking of this, Duan Zhengchun gritted his teeth and squeezed out a sentence from between his teeth in an icy voice.

"Who is Senior Brother referring to?"

Lin Zhiyuan hesitated before pressing for an answer.

"It's alright, let me see my master first."

Duan Zhengchun did not answer, and then prepared to continue walking towards the backyard.

"Oh dear, senior brother! Just listen to me, don't show yourself yet, Master is furious..."

Lin Zhiyuan shook his head helplessly, grabbed Duan Zhengchun again, and pulled him desperately toward the back garden.

"Senior Brother Yin, Master wants to see you."

However, at that moment, a voice suddenly came from behind. A disciple of Qiu Chuji had been ordered to come and inform Duan Zhengchun.

Upon hearing this, Lin Zhiyuan had no choice but to release Duan Zhengchun, his face showing a solemn expression, unsure of what to do.

"It'll be okay."

Duan Zhengchun smiled, gave him a reassuring look, and walked straight to the backyard.

"Master?!"

At this moment, Yang Guo, having heard that his master had returned to the mountain, ran quickly from the direction of the back garden, waving and shouting at Duan Zhengchun who was leaving.

But Duan Zhengchun had already left without looking back.

Lin Zhiyuan grabbed Yang Guo, who had rushed forward, and looked at Duan Zhengchun's departing figure with some worry.

"Uncle-Master Lin, what's wrong? Why is Master ignoring me?"

Yang Guo looked at Lin Zhiyuan with a puzzled expression, then at Duan Zhengchun, who had already disappeared around the corner, a hint of disappointment on his face.

"Don't disturb him yet, your master has important business to attend to the sect leader."

Lin Zhiyuan frowned, looking somewhat helpless.

"Is it related to the recent rumors circulating in the church?"

Yang Guo hesitated for a moment, then immediately understood.

In the past few days, he has had many conflicts with his followers because of the rumors, and he has been defending his master.

Lin Zhiyuan didn't reply, but turned and left with a serious expression.

After pausing for a moment, Yang Guo went to the backyard alone and waited silently for his master.

In the alchemy room.

When Duan Zhengchun pushed open the door and entered, he sensed an invisible pressure permeating the entire alchemy room.

Qiu Chuji sat on the futon, staring at him expressionlessly.

"Disciple has met the master."

Duan Zhengchun clasped his hands in a respectful salute and greeted him.

"Close the door!"

Qiu Chuji's face was gloomy, and he said in a cold voice.

Duan Zhengchun turned around and went to the door. He glanced at Yang Guo sitting in the corner not far away, and silently closed the door.

"You still know how to come back?!"

Qiu Chuji glared at Duan Zhengchun and spoke again.

"I am a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect. Where else can I go if I don't return here? Does Master miss me?"

Duan Zhengchun said jokingly, his lips full of smiles.

He knew that this hurdle wouldn't be easy to overcome.

"Stop joking around with me! I'm asking you, has Little Dragon Girl really appeared in Huai'an?!"

Qiu Chuji waved his hand and asked in a deep voice.

Duan Zhengchun frowned slightly, his smile faded, and after a moment of contemplation, he slowly nodded.

He had originally wanted to lighten the mood, but judging from Qiu Chuji's angry expression, he was terrified of dying, so he could only nod in agreement.

He didn't want to deceive Qiu Chuji anymore.

Upon seeing Duan Zhengchun nod, Qiu Chuji froze on the spot.

He guessed that this was likely the answer, but he didn't want to hear it, even if his good-for-nothing protégé lied to him one more time.

Looking at Qiu Chuji's complicated expression, Duan Zhengchun felt a pang of sadness. After all, this old man was the person he respected most in the world.

It can be said that without Qiu Chuji, there would be no Qiu Chuji as we know him today.

"Tell me the truth, haven't you been having an affair with that Little Dragon Girl all along?!"

"You've been lying to me all along?!"

After a moment of silence, Qiu Chuji stared intently at Duan Zhengchun and pressed for an answer once more.

Duan Zhengchun sighed and nodded again.

At that moment, all he could do was nod, not knowing what to say or wanting to explain anything further.

He knew this day would come, but he didn't expect it to come so soon.

Seeing Duan Zhengchun nod again, Qiu Chuji closed his eyes, his face full of disappointment and struggle.

"Please, Master, expel me from the sect."

Duan Zhengchun pondered for a while, then suddenly spoke.

Upon hearing this, Qiu Chuji suddenly opened his eyes, staring at Duan Zhengchun in shock, and exclaimed, "What did you say?!"

Duan Zhengchun smiled with a hint of helplessness and said calmly, "Things have come to this point, and I have no choice but to leave. Having broken so many precepts, staying would only make things more difficult for my master, and I would also be unable to explain myself to the sect and to the spirit of my master in heaven."

"Only when I leave will the rumors gradually fade away, and Master will no longer be pointed at and gossiped about, thus preserving the reputation of my Quanzhen Sect."

"But please rest assured, Master, I will always be a member of the Quanzhen Sect, and you will always be my master!"

He didn't apologize because he believed he had done nothing wrong, and leaving was his only option.

After hearing Duan Zhengchun's answer, Qiu Chuji fell silent, a trace of unresolved pain showing between his brows.

He valued his disciple highly, but things had come to this point, and it seemed that this was indeed the only way. He could no longer protect him as he had in the past, otherwise he would be risking the entire Quanzhen Sect.

"It's better for everyone if I leave. These troublesome things won't bother you anymore. With Zhiyuan here, I can rest assured."

“Master can train him well in the future. Although his martial arts are not as good as mine, he is definitely a more suitable candidate to become the sect leader.”

Duan Zhengchun smiled and continued speaking with a sincere expression.

"Where are you going?"

After a long silence, Qiu Chuji finally spoke again.

These words prove that he has made a decision.

"The world is vast, and there are many places I can go, but no matter where I am in the future, as long as the Quanzhen Sect is in trouble, I will definitely rush back!"

Duan Zhengchun paused for a moment, then smiled and said.

He never imagined that he would feel so distressed when Qiu Chuji made the decision.

"You have made great contributions in Huai'an, and I have heard about it. I hope you will not forget the great righteousness in your heart, and from now on you will be a person who stands tall and has a clear conscience."

"Wherever you go in the future, please take good care of yourself."

"If you have the chance in the future, please come back and visit often..."

Qiu Chuji said helplessly, then slowly turned around, his back to Duan Zhengchun, and said nothing more.

Not trying to stop him is the best way to protect my beloved student...