Cao Zheng Wen smiled, shaking his head. "I never thought you would be this stupid. You were gathered together and brawled, so you were preoccupied. How are you able to testify?"
"Gathered together to brawl?" Zhou Hu jumped up and bellowed, "It was Wei Zhuan commanding his underlings to challenge us! How could it be described as a group brawl?"
"Impudence!" Cao Zheng Wen reprimanded. "The Disciplinary Hall represents the school's rule and upholds the regulations, so they are always just and impartial. You actually dare to question the Disciplinary Hall's authority? Your crimes are increased by one!"
Yang Kai chuckled coldly, his eyes narrowing. "If you want to condemn me, there's no need to dress it up with excuses, right? Just do it. Why waste time pretending this is about fairness and justice?"
Cao Zheng Wen sneered, his voice filled with mockery. "Arrest them all! After discussions with the Grand Elder, the punishments will commence!"
Wei Zhuan, standing nearby with a smug grin, walked in front of Yang Kai and whispered, "Let's see what the future holds for you now."
"Take them away!" Cao Zheng Wen ordered. The Disciplinary Disciples moved in swiftly, shackling Yang Kai and the others, dragging them off towards the Forest Prison.
However, when Cao Zheng Wen's gaze landed on Su Mu, who lay unconscious on the ground, his brows furrowed. He hesitated. Arresting Yang Kai and the rest was easy, but touching Su Mu was another matter. Offending the Second Elder directly was a risk he didn't want to take.
After some thought, he waved his hand. "Take Junior Brother Su to the Second Elder's place."
"Yes!" One of the disciples acknowledged and gently picked up Su Mu, carrying him away.
The Forest Prison was a dark and foreboding place, filled with the damp scent of decay. Li Yun Tian and the others had never imagined they would find themselves locked up like criminals. Sitting against the cold stone walls, the group shared bitter glances.
"Senior Brother Kai, we've dragged you into this," Li Yun Tian said, his voice filled with guilt.
Yang Kai smiled faintly. "This isn't your fault. I made my own choice. I promised Su Mu that whenever he needed my help, I would give it. That's all."
"You're right… But, Senior Brother Kai, don't worry. Young Master Su won't abandon us. We just need to wait a few hours, and he will come to rescue us," Li Yun Tian said with confidence.
Yang Kai leaned his head back against the wall, his expression calm. "Don't trouble yourself over it. Rest while you can."
Although they were locked up, Yang Kai knew that news of this incident was already spreading like wildfire. It wouldn't be long before the right people heard about it.
The prison itself was eerily silent, save for the occasional distant sounds of guards patrolling. The walls were lined with torches, their flickering flames casting ominous shadows. Despite the grim surroundings, Yang Kai remained composed.
At the Contribution Hall, Xia Ning Chang rushed inside, her breath coming in quick, frantic gasps. Her master, Meng Wu Ya, looked up from behind a pile of records and chuckled. "My dear disciple, have you come to visit your master again? Such a good girl. I am pleased."
"Master! Save Yang Kai!" Xia Ning Chang pleaded urgently.
Meng Wu Ya raised an eyebrow. "What happened?"
Xia Ning Chang quickly recounted everything that had occurred—how Yang Kai had stepped in for Su Mu, how Wei Zhuan had manipulated the situation, and how the Disciplinary Hall had imprisoned him.
Meng Wu Ya's expression darkened. "You're saying that brat Yang Kai has already reached the Initial Element Fifth Stage? And that he even defeated Wei Zhuan?"
"That's right!" Xia Ning Chang nodded vigorously. She had personally helped Yang Kai with his breakthrough, after all.
Meng Wu Ya stroked his beard, his eyes glinting with interest. "Hmph. That boy must have had some fortuitous encounter to grow at such a speed. Astonishing."
"Master, stop analyzing and think of a way to save him!" Xia Ning Chang urged.
Meng Wu Ya studied her, his gaze becoming amused. "My dear disciple, why are you so anxious?"
Xia Ning Chang hesitated, her face heating up beneath her veil. "I-I'm not anxious! I just… I just don't want his cultivation journey to suffer such a major setback."
Meng Wu Ya smirked knowingly. "You care for him more than you admit, don't you?"
"We are not close!" Xia Ning Chang quickly denied, though her flustered expression betrayed her. "I've simply watched over him for two years as part of my duties as a Dark Hall Disciple. That's all!"
Meng Wu Ya chuckled. "Oh? Is that so?"
Xia Ning Chang clenched her fists. "Master! If you don't act, the Grand Elder might do something terrible to him! You know how powerful the Grand Elder is—if there's no one to counter his influence, Yang Kai might never recover from whatever punishment he's given!"
Meng Wu Ya sighed, rubbing his temples. "My disciple, this is not an easy situation to interfere in. This is an internal conflict within High heaven. I am merely an outsider, a caretaker. If I interfere, it could be seen as an act of aggression."
Xia Ning Chang said nothing, only lifting her gaze to her master, her large, watery eyes filled with desperate pleading.
Meng Wu Ya groaned, feeling his resolve waver. "You really know how to make things difficult for your master... Fine! However, I won't act directly. We must be subtle about this. Besides, the Second Elder is sure to take action. Su Mu is his nephew, after all. He would not stand by and let Yang Kai suffer."
Xia Ning Chang exhaled in relief. "Thank you, Master!"
Meng Wu Ya grumbled. "Hmph. If that brat somehow convinces you to remove your veil for him, I will personally kick him off a cliff."
Xia Ning Chang's face turned a deeper shade of red. "Master! Stop spouting nonsense!"
Meng Wu Ya only chuckled as he leaned back in his chair. "Alright, alright. Let's see how this plays out. If things get too out of hand, I'll step in. But for now, let's let the Second Elder handle it."
Xia Ning Chang nodded, her heart still uneasy. She could only hope that Yang Kai would be alright until help arrived.
Meanwhile, in the depths of the Forest Prison, Yang Kai sat quietly, his expression unreadable. He was neither afraid nor restless; in fact, there was a trace of amusement in his eyes. He knew how these stories played out—a powerful benefactor, a twist of fate, or a timely rescue was inevitable. It was only a matter of time before someone came to set him free.
-------------------------------------------------------------
The night sky above Black Wind Trade was painted in hues of dark indigo, the crescent moon casting an eerie glow over the scattered wooden houses. A cool breeze rustled through the trees, carrying the faint scent of pine and damp earth. In front of one of the more refined wooden houses, a young man stood, his robes soaked with sweat, his breathing still unsteady from his hurried journey.
With a trembling hand, he knocked lightly on the door.
"Senior Sister Su," he called, trying to steady his voice.
There was silence for a moment before a pleasant yet frigid voice rang out from within. "What's the matter?"
The voice was captivating—gentle yet piercing, like a winter wind slicing through bare skin. The young man swallowed hard, his forehead damp as he struggled to deliver his message.
"Young Master Su Mu… has been beaten unconscious. His subordinates have been captured by the Disciplinary Hall and imprisoned in the Forest Prison."
The words barely left his mouth before the wooden door abruptly swung open. A bone-chilling cold spread outward as a figure dressed in pristine white emerged.
Su Yan stood at the threshold, her long, silken hair cascading down her back like a waterfall of midnight, contrasting sharply with the pure whiteness of her robes. The moonlight reflected off her flawless face, her gaze sharp and unyielding as if capable of freezing the world in an instant.
The young man instinctively stepped back, lowering his eyes. He dared not meet her gaze, not when standing before this celestial beauty who was as untouchable as an ice lotus blooming atop a frozen lake.
"Say it clearly. What happened?" she demanded, her tone as icy as the air surrounding her.
The young man hastily recounted the incident, ensuring every detail was as concise as possible. He dared not waste her time. Su Yan listened in silence, her expression unreadable, though the temperature seemed to drop even further with every word.
Once he finished, he waited, heart pounding in his chest. But there was no response.
"Senior Sister Su—?"
Before he could finish, Su Yan had already vanished, her departure so swift that it left behind only the lingering trace of frost in the night air.
He let out a deep breath, shoulders slumping. "Too cold…" he muttered under his breath, rubbing his arms. He could still feel the icy pressure she exuded, as if winter itself had brushed past him.
Shaking his head, he sighed. "Whoever marries Senior Sister Su will need a quilt even in the hottest summer to avoid freezing to death. But… is there any man worthy of someone like her?"
With a final glance at the empty doorway, he turned and left, disappearing into the night.
Su Yan moved like a streak of silver across the moonlit night, her steps so light they barely disturbed the ground beneath her. Her expression remained cold and indifferent, but a glint flickered in her eyes.
Su Mu had been beaten unconscious? Who would dare?