C11 Perseverance

"It would be unjust not to execute him," Shen Yueluo concluded firmly.

"But you lack evidence to prove he employed a forbidden technique," the elder remarked, puzzled by Shen Yueluo's tenacity. Yet, upon reflecting on her character, he understood her resolve.

"This issue doesn't require your intervention; we have our methods."

"Today, I saw him strutting by the College. A disciple was crushed to death in the library, a fact I'm sure the elder is aware of." Shen Yueluo recalled the suspect's presence at the crime scene and felt an odd reluctance to abandon this lead, opting instead to confront the elder before her.

"Are you suggesting the disciple who spoke ill of Fu Chengyang behind his back was struck down by that column upon leaving?" The elder's eyes narrowed, his face betraying no emotion, though his mind was in turmoil. He seemed on the verge of a decision, yet unable to voice it.

"Exactly." And despite that disciple's mediocre talent, he was still a member of the sect, capable of cultivation. How could he fail to evade a mere column in the College and be crushed to death beneath it? Any cultivator should have easily avoided such an accident—this incident doesn't withstand scrutiny and seems more like foul play than a mishap.

The elder sighed deeply, indicating his lack of concern for the incident. To the sect, the deceased disciple had real potential worth nurturing, whereas the Outer Sect members were only marginally above commoners in status, hardly catching the elder's attention. Only the peculiarity of this case had brought it to the elder's notice.

As long as the deceased was not from the inner council, the elder was content to overlook the matter.

Shen Yueluo, however, was baffled. The prime suspect was at large within the sect, and yet there was no rush to bring him to justice, allowing him to roam freely. Such permissiveness was baffling...

Was there truly no one capable of reining him in?

Upon voicing her doubts, the elder furrowed his brow and addressed Shen Yueluo deliberately, "It's not that we wish to abstain from this matter, but an elder from the Sword Pavilion has vouched for him, claiming he is not a practitioner of evil. Therefore, we spared him; otherwise, he would not be present here today."

"Why would someone from the Sword Pavilion step forward to vouch for him?" Shen Yueluo was taken aback. She was aware of the person's identity within the Sword Pavilion. Despite their gentle and easy-going nature, the title of elder carried undeniable weight. Even as the youngest among the three, an elder is still an elder, and for one to advocate for an Outer Sect disciple was telling.

It certainly spoke volumes about his stance!

"What could Fu Chengyang possibly have offered the elder to win him over like this?"

During his investigation, a disciple had already compiled a list of everyone who had visited the academy during that period. Fu Chengyang's name was on that list, and he had visited the Sword Pavilion just before going to the academy!

Despite the mounting evidence, the elder would not acknowledge it. The significance of an elder's word was self-evident, especially coming from someone who rarely made public appearances.

"This issue is minor. Don't trouble yourself with it. I have everything under control. Take this and study it. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me or the Second Elder."

Observing her disheartened demeanor, the elder sighed, retrieved a book from his sleeve, and solemnly handed it to Shen Yueluo. She quickly grasped the situation and departed with her new assignment.

Her nature was virtuous, and coupled with her intelligence and eagerness to learn, she would soon advance her cultivation to a formidable level. Eventually, the three elders would no longer be in a position to guide her; she might even sit as their equal.

Her fiery spirit and sense of justice, however, often led her to unsheathe her sword to right the wrongs she encountered, which wasn't always wise. A sword too rigid is prone to break, and with her temperament, she was bound to face setbacks.

Meanwhile, Fu Chengyang, the subject of Shen Yueluo's suspicions, was earnestly meditating in his room. After channeling his energy through twelve meridian cycles, he felt rejuvenated. This was the advantage of dedicated practice. After more than a decade of aimlessness, unable to grasp the essence of cultivation, he was now experiencing a surge in strength, seemingly more potent than ever before.

What is an opportunity?

It's the kind of chance that others can only hope for but never seek!

Fu Chengyang was on the verge of bursting into laughter. This was the advantage of diligent cultivation. The elusive technique he'd been searching for had resurfaced after he acquired the Goldfinger. But then again, how could he possibly increase Shen Yueluo's favorability?

Puzzled, Fu Chengyang scratched his head, wondering where he might have gone wrong. Given her talents...

Forget about weekends, just being under her tutelage could significantly boost his cultivation, not to mention the innate fortune he could gain by merely being in her presence.

Now that he could see the destiny and essence of others, it was imperative to keep a tight hold on those with immense potential.

Even a stranger couldn't be allowed to become an enemy! As for those with mediocre abilities, they were inconsequential. They weren't the ones he was looking to win over, so their fates were irrelevant to him. The real challenge was Shen Yueluo, especially since she was the sect's darling. It wouldn't be wise to invite her out rashly.

He went over his past actions meticulously. Aside from her abrupt change in demeanor and odd remarks, there was nothing else that merited scrutiny.

Remembering how he was once accused of practicing deviant cultivation methods, Fu Chengyang had an epiphany—Shen Yueluo must have been the one who snitched to the elders.

If he considered it from this angle, everything clicked into place. Yet, it seemed out of character for her. With her abundant innate Qi, she had no reason to pick a fight with him.

Why did she seem to have an issue with him? Could it be that she coveted the Goldfinger? After all, she was the main heroine in the story.

He chuckled at his own speculation. After taking a brief pause, he began to strategize on how to neutralize her threat.

In the meantime, he had to exhaust all options to win her over. His memory of Shen Yueluo was limited to her being a prodigy; he was clueless about her preferences.

Without knowing how to approach her, he had to start with the small things. If he couldn't win her over, he'd have to resort to more drastic measures. Whatever the case, he couldn't afford to make an enemy of her.

Otherwise, it would be of no benefit to either him or the other party.

As he pondered this, a sudden knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.

"Who's there?"