Han Dong knew that going there was undoubtedly walking into a trap. Getting out would be as difficult as ascending to heaven, and whether she could rescue her master was even more uncertain. But that was, after all, the master who had raised her. Even if there was a sliver of hope, she would not give up.
All along the way, she tried to persuade Qianshan and Ouyang Ye, hoping the two would not get involved in this matter. However, both Qianshan and Ouyang Ye had already made up their minds. No matter how Han Dong tried to persuade them, she could not change their determination.
The three arrived at Yao Yue Palace and entered directly through the main gate.
But just as they ascended the mountain, a group of several dozen people blocked their path.
It was none other than Second Elder Feilu, Fourth Elder Feisha, First Direct Disciple Zhong Yulong, and other core members of Yao Yue Palace.
"Traitor Han Dong! To think you were once the Heir Apparent of our Yao Yue Palace! You actually colluded with outsiders, first scheming to harm Ancestral Patriarch Fenglie, then killing Elder Ziyu, Ye Fei, and other disciples!"
"Traitor! You think you can hide after killing people? You might hide for a while, but can you hide forever?"
"Audacious traitor! Today, we will not spare you!"
As soon as the elders and disciples of Yao Yue Palace saw Han Dong, they surrounded her tightly, each one emotionally agitated and angrily denouncing her.
Facing everyone's accusations, Han Dong responded expressionlessly, "I will definitely give everyone an explanation for this matter!"
"Ancestral Patriarch Fenglie, Elder Ziyu, Leng Yefei... several lives in total! What explanation can you possibly give?"
Ouyang Ye couldn't stand it anymore and defended Han Dong, "It was Young Lord Chiyan who killed them! What does it have to do with Han Dong?"
Although saying this made Ouyang Ye feel somewhat unethical and disloyal, right now, to help Han Dong, she could only do this.
"Hmph! If I remember correctly, it was you who kept saying Young Lord Chiyan was Han Dong's Dao companion, wasn't it? Since they are Dao companions, how could they not be related?"
This was truly reaping what one sowed. Ouyang Ye now regretted it so much her intestines were turning green. If she hadn't asked Lao Jiu to impersonate Young Lord Chiyan back then, if she hadn't said Young Lord Chiyan was Han Dong's Dao companion, there wouldn't be so much trouble.
But regret was just regret.
Now, it was too late to say anything.
Ouyang Ye could only brace herself and say, "Even if Young Lord Chiyan is Han Dong's Dao companion, she doesn't necessarily have to be responsible for what Young Lord Chiyan did, right?"
"Little girl, since when is it your place to speak here!"
Someone from Yao Yue Palace made a move.
One person moved, and others followed suit. For a moment, the scene descended into chaos.
"All of you, stop right there!"
An angry roar rang out, shaking the entire Yao Yue Mountain.
Everyone looked over and saw three people appear out of thin air.
All three were elderly men—they were the Feng-generation Ancestral Patriarchs of Yao Yue Palace.
The leader had white hair and beard, his expression solemn. He was also the most senior Ancestral Patriarch of Yao Yue Palace—Fenghua.
Although the three Ancestral Patriarchs had not shown themselves since the opening of the Present Era, Han Dong recognized them at a glance, because only the few Ancestral Patriarchs of Yao Yue Mountain could possess such profound Yao Yue spiritual aura.
The only thing that puzzled Han Dong was that she had been searching for Yao Yue Palace's Ancestral Patriarchs all these years but had never found them. She never expected three to appear today. Without overthinking, Han Dong immediately bowed.
"Disciple Han Dong of Yao Yue pays respects to the three Ancestral Patriarchs."
"You are Feiyan's disciple, Han Dong?"
Ancestral Patriarch Fenghua looked solemnly at Han Dong, his voice very low.
Han Dong nodded in affirmation.
"Dong'er! Dong'er!"
Immediately after, a weak yet excited and worried voice called out. Han Dong looked up and saw an elderly woman with graying hair being supported by Elders Feihe and Zihao as she walked over.
"Master!"
As soon as she saw her master, Han Dong's eyes instantly reddened. She rushed over without regard for anything else and threw herself into Daozun Feiyan's embrace.
"Silly girl! You shouldn't have come! You shouldn't have!"
"Master, it's all your disciple's fault. I've implicated you..."
"Your master is already someone with one foot in the grave. What does implication matter? But you... ah!"
Daozun Feiyan looked very haggard, even more frail than before. As if remembering something, she quickly asked, "Dong'er, these past few days... have you been with Chi... Young Lord Chiyan?"
"Your disciple has not been with him, nor do I know his whereabouts."
"So that's how it..." Daozun Feiyan murmured, then pressed further, "Then when he left Wuse Mountain, was he... well? How was his mood? Was it... very bad?"
Daozun Feiyan's question left Han Dong truly unsure how to answer, and it also confused both Qianshan and Ouyang Ye.
Ouyang Ye simply couldn't understand. The fire was at their eyebrows right now; they didn't even know if they would survive later. How could Daozun Feiyan still be concerned about whether Young Lord Chiyan was well? And concerned about his mood? What if he was well? What if his mood was bad? Was it important? Probably not, right? Shouldn't she be worried about her own safety at a time like this? Could it be that until now, Daozun Feiyan still believed Young Lord Chiyan was real? Was she still counting on Young Lord Chiyan to save Yao Yue Palace?
"Dong'er, speak quickly! How... how was Young Lord Chiyan's mood? This is very important! It concerns the survival of our Yao Yue Palace!"
Young Lord Chiyan's mood concerned the survival of Yao Yue Palace? Why?
Qianshan didn't understand. Ouyang Ye didn't understand. Han Dong understood even less. She shook her head, truly unsure how to answer.
"Ah! I hope his mood isn't too bad... I hope so... Otherwise, this time our Yao Yue Palace will be doomed..." Daozun Feiyan clasped her hands together, raised her head as if praying for something, and murmured, "I hope he will not hold it against us, for the sake of Her Ladyship's past affection..."
"Han Dong, this old man asks you: at Wuse Mountain, did that Young Lord Chiyan truly kill several of our Yao Yue Palace's direct disciples and elders?"
The question came from Ancestral Patriarch Fenghua. Han Dong did not conceal it; she knew the events at Wuse Mountain could not be hidden anyway, so she nodded, acknowledging it.
"What about Fenglie? Did he kill him too?"
Han Dong shook her head. "Whether he killed Ancestral Patriarch Fenglie... this disciple truly does not know."
"Ancestral Patriarch."
At this moment, Fourth Elder Feisha stepped forward and said, "Madam Qinghua of Hunyuan Gate, the Blackwind Twin Fiends of Blackwind Cave, and even Daozun Xuanxin of Wuse Mountain all witnessed it with their own eyes and came forward to confirm at Wuse Mountain that Ancestral Patriarch Fenglie was indeed killed by that Young Lord Chiyan."
"No! Impossible."
Daozun Feiyan said expressionlessly, "He would absolutely not kill Ancestral Patriarch Fenglie. Absolutely not..."
"Feiyan, why are you so certain?"
"He is Young Lord Chiyan. His surname is Gu. He represents... the Monarch... in coming. Ancestral Patriarch Fenglie once showed kindness to the Monarch... He would not... could not possibly kill Ancestral Patriarch Fenglie... absolutely impossible."
Daozun Feiyan's words made both Han Dong and Ouyang Ye's expressions freeze. They never expected Daozun Feiyan to be so unshakably convinced of Gu Qingfeng's identity—and with an almost fanatical conviction. This made Han Dong feel utterly heart-wrenching and immensely guilty.