Chapter 1398 - Fengmin Mountain's Door

With Elder Hua Feng’s ‘enthusiastic help,’ Fairy Water Mound received the news firsthand.

Jiang Hetian rushed to the academy at the fastest speed.

Ling Xiao Academy was still in a crucial period and had heavy defenses, not allowing anyone to come in and out casually. According to Elder Bo Yan, he wanted to send Jiang Zhiyuan out of the academy directly and let the Jiang family’s people pick her up in Fangzhou City.

But considering that it wouldn’t be good for the academy’s reputation if the matter was blown up, he still allowed them to come in. Of course, only Jiang Hetian was allowed into the academy alone. The other Jiang family people that came along were all rejected outside the door.

Jiang Hetian felt deeply humiliated, but it was an urgent matter, and he couldn’t care too much.

…

In some hall in the academy.

The moment Jiang Hetian walked in, he saw the elders sitting there while his precious daughter, Jiang Zhiyuan, stood in the middle of the hall in a lonely manner.

The atmosphere was stiff as if every inch had frozen.

Jiang Hetian’s heart sank. Such an atmosphere can explain too many things! 

“Fairy Water Mound’s Jiang Hetian greets the elders.” Jiang Hetian forcefully suppressed the uneasiness in his heart and still greeted them politely.

When Jiang Zhiyuan heard the voice, her body trembled as she slowly turned her head.

The father-daughter duo’s eyes met.

Jiang Hetian’s heart harshly shuddered! This was because the current Jiang Zhiyuan was indeed too frail and disheveled!

Her face, neck, and even her wrist had clear wounds. Her pair of charming watery eyes were bloodshot and even slightly dazed. There were two patches of black beneath her eyes, clearly showing that she hadn’t slept well.

“Zhiyuan!”Jiang Hetian’s heart ached. He hurriedly took a few steps over and walked to his daughter. “W-what happened to you?!”

Seeing his anxious look, tears welled up in Jiang Zhiyuan’s eyes and fell. “Father, I let you down!”

Her reaction made Jiang Hetian even more worried and nervous. He patted her shoulders lightly and softly comforted her. “Don’t worry. I’ll definitely uphold justice for you!”

As he spoke, he took a step forward and cupped his fists toward the few elders present. “Elders, you must have a reason to expel Zhiyuan, right? If you do it in such an ambiguous manner, what is she supposed to do in the future?”

In the news that Ling Xiao Academy sent me, they only talked about expelling her and didn’t state a reason. This is the part I’m most confused about. I know that Wei Xiping was also expelled not too long ago, but everyone knows the reason, causing Wei Xiping not to have the face to go back to Qinggu Slope’s Wei family even now. Yet, why did it become so muddled on our end? I need an explanation! 

Elder Hua Feng laughed. “Master Jiang, you traveled a long way to get here, and it must’ve been hard on you. Sit down first, and then we can talk!”

Jiang Hetian refused. “I won’t sit. Elders, if you have something to say, just do so directly!”

He was furious, so he wasn’t willing to give them any face at all.

However, Elder Hua Feng didn’t mind this. He just nodded and didn’t continue. “Master Jiang, to be honest, it’s precisely because we gave Fairy Water Mound face that we didn’t publicize the reason. If you must know… Why don’t you ask Jiang Zhiyuan personally?”

When Jiang Hetian heard this, his heart suddenly sank. The other party’s attitude is so calm. Did… Jiang Zhiyuan really do something wrong? 

“Oh right, there’s something you might not know yet.” Elder Hua Feng informed him, “Before she was expelled, Elder Dan Qing had already broken his mentor-disciple ties with her.”

This was undoubtedly adding fuel to the fire.

Jiang Hetian was originally filled with anger, but when he heard this, he couldn’t help but feel doubtful. Thus, he glanced at his daughter in disbelief. “Zhiyuan, what exactly is going on?”

Putong! 

Jiang Zhiyuan kneeled on the floor. “Father, it was really a moment of folly! Please help me beg the elders and beg Mentor. I don’t want to leave the academy! I can’t be expelled!”

The remaining half of Jiang Hetian’s heart turned cold when he saw his daughter’s face filled with snot and tears.

“If you don’t want to say it, I will.” Elder Dan Qing—who had been quiet the whole time—finally spoke. His gaze slowly swept past Jiang Zhiyuan, and his tone was calm as if he were saying something irrelevant. “Back when we reached the Flood-Desert Northern Region together, we were attacked by others. In order to survive… Jiang Zhiyuan betrayed us.”

Jiang Zhiyuan had a face of defeat.

“Back then, everyone planned on splitting into two parties and escaping on their own. Jiang Zhiyuan was first caught by the other party, then… She told all of this to the other party. Later on, she took advantage of the other party not paying attention and escaped on her own.”

With every word that Elder Dan Qing said, another hint of hopelessness overwhelmed Jiang Zhiyuan’s face before finally swallowing her whole.

“…She’s also lucky as well. After that torment, she actually survived. However, I heard that she had also brought Hua Feng and the rest quite a bit of trouble.”

“Hah! Compared to your troubles, ours is nothing!” Elder Hua Feng waved his hands as if he didn’t care. “She just killed a nine-tailed green crow and almost caused us to die under that group of nine-tailed green crows’ claws.”

This nonchalant rebuttal caused Jiang Hetian to choke, and his face flashed white and green.

Elder Dan Qing looked at him and slowly sipped on his tea. “Master Jiang, is there anything you want to say now?”

…

Fengmin Mountain.

This place was as quiet as usual. No matter how many storms had brewed outside, nobody would dare to disturb this area casually.

Inside the empty room in the pagoda, seven doors floated quietly. A faint light reflected on the black stone surfaces in a holy and pure manner.

Suddenly, a soft ripple was heard from one of the doors. This commotion immediately attracted Elder Meng’s attention.

“Hm?” The old and weak voice sounded in the room, with a hint of confusion.

The ripple on the door gradually spread as time passed, and even the entire door frame started to tremble slightly. It was as if something was about to rush out from within.

“Could it be that the girl came back?” Elder Meng’s voice was filled with shock and doubt. Other than her, nobody else can cause such a commotion. However… Why isn’t there any news from outside at all? If that girl really came back, Bo Yan and the rest should’ve long rushed over and told me about it. 

Dong!

The force within started slamming the door, wanting to break free from inside!

“It’s indeed as much of a troublemaker as she is,” Elder Meng grunted.

A tremendous and invisible force suddenly gathered from all directions and enveloped that door!

Feeling the restriction, the ripple gradually became smaller. Then, after a moment of silence, collisions could be heard behind the door again.

Dong dong! 

Dong dong! 

The sounds—the knocks—were very regular. In the calmness, it burned with intensity!