The Lin couple looked at each other and thought Pei Rumo was going to treat them leniently because of Bai Luochu and was immediately about to thank him. Even Lin Qianqian felt that things were taking a turn for the better.
They fell from heaven to hell in a single second.
"The Lin Family's master and madam colluded with outsiders to frame a descendant of a loyal subject. According to the law, the entire family shall be executed. Seeing that it is your first offense, the entire family shall be banished into the northwest Barrens, you shall start moving today."
Once Pei Rumo finished his statement, numerous imperial soldiers marched in and surrounded them. It was obvious that there was no room for negotiations.
The trio were shocked by the sudden change in events as they were immediately banished without any chance to struggle. Pei Rumo watched as they were being taken into custody and felt that it was meaningless as the Lin Family didn't have any moral integrity at all. After keeping the betrothal gifts, Pei Rumo was preparing to leave but didn't expect someone to actually call out to him.
"Your First Highness, do you also think that my Mistress will never return?" The person who spoke up was none other than Cai Ling who was tasked with taking care of the residence.
Pei Rumo was shocked when he saw Cai Ling again. He thought that the general’s residence was empty but someone was actually left inside.
"I have no idea as well. However, I shall clean the residence so that if she returns, she will have a place to stay." Pei Rumo left without turning back after leaving his explanation.
...
Back at Lu Wenshu’s side, Hua Sen sealed his acupoints and dragged him back to the sect. Despite returning to their sect, no one cared about Lu Wenshu’s wellbeing. Instead, Hua Sen was dragged before the elders and questions about the treasures in the ruins rained down on him.
Hua Sen refused to say anything. He simply removed his spirit ring before throwing it at the elders.
Hua Sen was enraged when he learned that everyone was fixated on the treasures rather than Lu Wenshu’s injuries. "Is none of you worried about what happened to Senior Lu Wenshu?"
Hua Sen's voice wasn't loud but every single word echoed through the hall clearly. "Your senior should be fine, after all, he’s strong enough to endure those injuries. He’s fine.”
After the reply, they treated as though Hua Sen didn't exist and continued to study the treasures. A chill crawled up Hua Sen’s heart. He didn't think that his senior who had lost almost everything because of the sect, ended up abandoned for several treasures… Are they all heartless creature
Silence filled the hall and everyone stared at the enraged Hua Sen. After a moment, the Sect Patriarch finally asked, "Wenshu went crazy… are you following in his footsteps?”
Hua Sen was struck silly by the heartless response. He didn't think that everyone would actually look down on his most respected senior. From the start, they had treated him as a lunatic ready to be forsaken for the sect’s gains.
Feeling the sorrow in his heart, Hua Sen’s personality changed. "Crazy? What rights do you have to say that we have gone crazy?! You turned senior into bait to destroy the Thousand Brilliance Temple, but promised him to spare Bai Luochu’s life. What happened to her?! You killed her anyway!”
In the end, it was Lu Wenshu's master who personally killed Bai Luochu without the slightest bit of hesitation, breaking his promise to Lu Wenshu. From that moment on, Lu Wenshu turned his back on the sect and turned into the lunatic they were talking about.
"For the sake of the sect, he lost the person he loved, carried infamy, only for you to look down on him. Who are you to criticize him?!”
Hua Sen truly felt sorry for Lu Wenshu. He knew that he was offending the entire sect by doing so, but he no longer cared about his future. He no longer wanted to be the coward who listened to everything the sect said. He didn’t care if he was expelled from the sect or imprisoned for speaking his mind. The only thing he cared about was not becoming like Lu Wenshu, forsaken by the sect after giving his all for them.
Everyone’s eyes landed on him as he raged on.
A long moment later, they realized that Hua Sen was simply venting the grievance in his heart and the commandment hall’s elder laid down the order. "Hua Sen, I originally thought you are a person who will achieve great things in the future. I never expected for you to be as disappointing as your senior. It seems like you have lost your way, just like your senior. You shall go to the Reflection Cliff to think things through thoroughly. Once you realize your mistake, we shall allow you to return to the sect.”
Hua Sen felt the presence of the disciples of the commandment hall and he was immediately taken into custody.
He had already expected everything that would happen as he was clear about the way the elders dealt with things. They would simply suppress and punish any disciples who didn't listen to their orders. After the punishment, disciples would no longer dare to go against the elders...
As for the other disciples, some felt sorry for Hua Sen who had been sent to the Reflection Cliff right after he had returned from the Desolate Region. Some were rejoicing in Hua Sen's misfortunate. After all, in the eyes of some disciples, Hua Sen was simply a dog that was nurtured by Lu Wenshu.
No one understood the true meaning behind Lu Wenshu’s treatment of Hua Sen. Despite Lu Wenshu threatening to kill him, Hua Sen remained by Lu Wenshu’s side till the very end. He knew that he was the same person as Lu Wenshu, just luckier.
If someone was to ask Hua Sen if he regretted saying all those words in front of the elders, Hua Sen would definitely reply, "No."