C10 Strange

At the moment, there was a matter that merited some serious thought: who had reported him for practicing a forbidden technique?

Fu Chengyang was somewhat perplexed. Was it his archenemy, or someone else?

Yet, he had been devotedly cultivating in this place for many years without making any enemies. He was practically invisible, more transparent than a bubble.

Could it be that he had been too ostentatious lately?

Upon reflection, he was at ease. His rapid progress in cultivation could indeed attract envy, but it was irrelevant to him. He had been exceedingly discreet, although Yu Yaolu had unfortunately crossed paths with him.

Only highly skilled elders could detect the nuances of his progress. As long as he kept a low profile, the average person would be unable to penetrate his facade.

Besides, everyone had grown accustomed to considering him a failure. Who would have imagined that this once deemed worthless individual would transform into a phoenix overnight?

As he passed by the Sword Pavilion, he noticed a crowd gathered at the entrance. Drawing closer, he could hear the hushed conversations.

"How could this happen? This is just too tragic..."

"Who would have thought that stepping outside could lead to being crushed by a pillar?" remarked one disciple, tucking his hands into his sleeves. "What's meant to be will be; it's all in the hands of fate."

"Move aside, move aside! Why are you all congregating here?"

A booming voice rang out from behind the crowd. It was a group of inner court disciples arriving to handle the situation, with Shen Yueluo among them.

Fu Chengyang observed that Shen Yueluo seemed to be there merely as a spectator, showing no intention of getting involved. The other disciples were the ones bustling about.

From the snippets of conversation, it was easy to deduce that a disciple had been fatally struck by a toppled pillar upon exiting.

Holding the script, Fu Chengyang was not taken aback by these events. It seemed to be a twist of fate. Although he had the inclination to assist, intervening could entangle him in karma, potentially turning the surviving disciple into an unpredictable factor.

Given the disciple's abilities and status, his survival would offer little benefit to Fu Chengyang. Furthermore, speaking ill of others behind their backs didn't exactly speak volumes about the disciple's character.

Fu Chengyang made to leave without looking back, but he suddenly felt a piercing gaze on him.

Turning around, he caught sight of Shen Yueluo staring intently at him through the crowd. Her expression held a hint of surprise, yet it was predominantly marked by indifference.

Her gaze was a stark contrast to the curious onlookers in the Sword Pavilion; it was icy cold. Fu Chengyang was baffled, feeling as though he had committed some heinous crime, her intent inscrutable.

She only held his gaze briefly before looking away.

Once her chilling gaze lifted, Fu Chengyang breathed a sigh of relief. Truly, she had the aura of an immortal reincarnate; even a fleeting glance from her felt as weighty as a mountain, pressing down on him.

He couldn't fathom what her glance implied. Had she perceived something amiss?

He had no time to ponder further as he watched her approval of him plummet to nothing.

Deep in thought, Fu Chengyang recalled how she had shown interest in him, which he had immediately recognized. Yet, he hadn't anticipated such a drastic decline in her favor.

And it seemed to keep dropping.

The question was, what had he done to disappoint her so?

...But nothing came to mind. Fu Chengyang scratched his head as Shen Yueluo disappeared into the Sword Pavilion, her elegant silhouette vanishing from view.

The incident of someone being crushed to death by a building was a first in the cultivation world and quickly became the subject of animated gossip.

Amidst the buzz of conversation, Fu Chengyang pieced together the aftermath of the event.

The incident would have to be chalked up to an unfortunate accident. Wang Rong, it seemed, had no parents and had come here to cultivate on his own volition. In the wake of the accident, there was no one to receive any compensation, and he was hastily given a simple grave.

The other cultivator who had accompanied him was nearly scared out of his wits by the ordeal. When Fu Chengyang saw him, the man had dark circles under his eyes, clearly having not slept well since. The fear had taken its toll, leaving him gaunt and terrified. Upon seeing Fu Chengyang, he looked as if he had encountered a monster.

"Why is he still allowed to cultivate within the sect? Why hasn't he been expelled?"

After concluding the investigation into the fatal building collapse, Shen Yueluo found her thoughts drifting back to the day she encountered Fu Chengyang. Coincidentally, it was Fu Chengyang who had been overheard speaking ill of others from behind the bookshelf. The more she pondered the connection between his eavesdropping and the tragic accident, the more she suspected his involvement.

In this world, such coincidences are rare. Besides, even if the sect's buildings were ancient and had stood the test of time, they shouldn't have toppled like a poorly constructed project, should they? Moreover, the library was under the protection of a formidable guardian and was a heavily fortified area. How could the structure have simply collapsed?

"He has not practiced any forbidden arts; that much is certain," one of the elders stated, as he sat in the room, savoring a sip of tea.

"Yet his cultivation has soared remarkably. Haven't you looked into it further?" Shen Yueluo was incredulous. Could there have been an oversight? How could the sect's elders allow a practitioner of dark arts to continue his cultivation here? Was the sect's reputation not at stake?

The elder gave the young woman before him a sidelong glance. Her features were delicate, her demeanor serene, and she seemed lost in thought. The individual before him was not only intelligent and talented but also possessed an exceptional constitution, making her a promising candidate for cultivation.

Indeed, Shen Yueluo was adored by all within both the inner and outer pavilions, akin to a star surrounded by the moon's glow. Even the elders took her words into serious consideration. This was precisely why, when she had accused Fu Chengyang of practicing forbidden arts, the elders had summoned him without hesitation for immediate justice—not just because of his rapidly growing powers but also out of trust in Shen Yueluo.

"How is your cultivation progressing?" the elder inquired, steering the conversation away from Fu Chengyang.

Shen Yueluo was initially baffled by the shift in topic but responded earnestly, "With the guidance of the elders, my cultivation is steadily advancing."

"That's good to hear," the elder replied, stroking his beard with a contented smile. "In that case, continue your practice and don't let these distractions cloud your focus."

"I can't simply stand by and watch an evil cultivator stir up trouble," Shen Yueluo said, furrowing her brow. The elder's message was clear: he wanted her to back off from the situation. But there was no way she could just look the other way.

From a young age, she had been a champion of justice, always ready to draw her sword to aid those who were wronged, with zero tolerance for wickedness.

The sect was a place of equity, where the dreams of many took root and flourished. The valor of those who fought tooth and nail for their aspirations was commendable. However, those who resorted to nefarious means to fulfill their dreams were utterly disgraceful!