Hearing this, Jiang Ningyi’s face paled in shock. She urged anxiously, “Wan’er, how could you treat Senior Brother Fang like that?!”
Only now did she finally understand why Senior Brother Fang had inexplicably been carrying a zither—he had come to return it.
But she never expected that Fang Chen would be ambushed and framed by Ling Wan’er.
If something had happened, if he had been stripped naked and strung up, wouldn’t Senior Brother Fang have lost all face?
“Senior Sister, why shouldn’t I? Oh, I know. You must think my revenge was too excessive.”
Ling Wan’er hurriedly explained, “But it won’t cripple him! At worst, it’ll embarrass him and teach him a lesson!”
She felt a bit wronged. Fang Chen had always thrown his weight around and bullied Xiao Qing, yet Senior Sister had never intervened!
Now that she was merely returning the favor a little, why was Senior Sister so angry?
“Ah, you… forget it. Go ask Junior Brother Xiao. I’m going to rescue him first!”
Jiang Ningyi knew Ling Wan’er mistakenly thought she was angry because of her extreme methods. However, she was too worried about Fang Chen, so she rushed out without taking the time to explain.
Seeing Jiang Ningyi draw her flying sword and transform into a streak of sword light, completely disregarding the rule prohibiting Sword Flight within Yunyun Peak, Ling Wan’er turned pale with fright. “Senior Sister…”
With that, she chased after Jiang Ningyi’s footsteps.
When Jiang Ningyi anxiously reached the summit, she did not see a naked Fang Chen being dragged out of the Music Forest in bonds. Instead, she saw a group of usually bright and beautiful Yunyun Peak senior sisters standing with reddened eyes, looking heartbroken and sorrowful…
Ling Wan’er, who arrived shortly after, was even more dumbfounded by the sight. What was going on?
Right at that moment.
From within the Music Forest came wave after wave of zither melodies, weeping and sorrowful. The strings’ tempo fluctuated perfectly, low and desolate, causing anyone who heard it to tremble in their hearts with profound grief!
Listening to the continuous melody, Jiang Ningyi and Ling Wan’er felt their delicate bodies stiffen. Their eyes involuntarily welled with sorrow. It was as if they saw a scene of a man and woman, deeply in love but forced to separate. Their love was torn apart; the man grieved in despair, while the woman wept until her tears ran dry and she passed away…
Apart from sadness, the many female disciples of Yunyun Peak also felt an indescribable bewilderment.
Was the person inside the Music Forest truly that arrogant and domineering playboy Fang Chen from the outer sect?
Beside Ling Wan’er, Jiang Ningyi stared blankly at the Music Forest, countless thoughts swirling in her gaze…
Moments later, the sounds within the Music Forest gradually ceased.
“Senior Sister, he… how does he know how to play the zither?”
Ling Wan’er found it utterly unbelievable. She could not accept that Fang Chen was actually capable of playing such a poignant and moving melody.
Jiang Ningyi said calmly, “Not just the zither. Senior Brother Fang has done many things you don’t know about. For example, he hid his cultivation to motivate Junior Brother Xiao, and he gave the recording jade slip he obtained from the Scripture Pavilion to Junior Brother Xiao, solely to help him grow quickly…”
“There are still many things you don’t know.”
“What?”
Ling Wan’er felt as if struck by lightning. Her face instantly turned pale.
Only now did she realize with shock that at the foot of the mountain earlier, she had distinctly sensed Fang Chen’s cultivation was at the ninth level of Qi Condensation! Read the latest chapters at novelping dot com.
But because she had been so eager for revenge, she hadn’t paid any attention to the matter…
Now, awakened by Jiang Ningyi, whom she trusted immensely, she instantly understood everything!
How could Fang Chen, at the ninth level of Qi Condensation, possibly keep fighting evenly with Xiao Qing, whose cultivation had stagnated?
All of this was for another reason!
Moments later.
Within the Music Forest.
A figure dressed in white slowly walked out.
At this moment, everyone’s gaze involuntarily focused on him.
Fang Chen did not say much else. He merely said indifferently, “The zither has been returned. Farewell!”
“Senior Brother Fang, I apologize on behalf of Junior Sister Ling…”
Jiang Ningyi said hurriedly.
“There’s no need! I only hope that neither of you will ever appear before me again!”
Dropping those heartless words, Fang Chen gave Jiang Ningyi a deep look before descending the mountain without looking back.
That look caused Jiang Ningyi’s face to turn instantly pale. Her heart felt as if it were being cut by a knife.
What kind of emotions were contained in Senior Brother’s look?
Grievance?
Sadness?
It seemed to contain everything!
At this moment, Jiang Ningyi felt such intense grief in her heart that she could hardly breathe.
Ling Wan’er was equally overwhelmed with guilt!
After giving so much in secret without complaint or regret, he had been misunderstood, framed, and even faced a punishment that would have utterly humiliated him!
If Senior Brother Fang hadn’t known how to play the zither himself, how much agony would he be suffering right now!
“Senior Sister, I’ll go apologize immediately. I can’t let Senior Brother Fang misunderstand you because of me!”
Looking at her distressed Senior Sister, Ling Wan’er hurriedly chased after Fang Chen…
She knew she had implicated her Senior Sister!
“There’s no need.”
Jiang Ningyi took a deep breath and firmly pulled her back. She shook her head. “Go explain clearly to the Senior Sisters. Just make sure they no longer misunderstand Senior Brother.”
“Then… alright…”
Seeing Jiang Ningyi holding her back so resolutely, Ling Wan’er had no choice but to agree.
After Ling Wan’er went to explain the truth about Fang Chen to the others, Jiang Ningyi looked at Fang Chen’s receding back, a thought flashing through her mind… Follow the newest chapters on g.com.
You’ve secretly given so much, yet you were targeted like this. You must be very heartbroken now, right?
…
“Damn it, I forgot to collect the Music Forest’s reward…”
Only after Fang Chen descended the mountain with an air of effortless grace did his heart suddenly skip a beat.
He had been so focused on drawing a clear line with Jiang Ningyi that he completely forgot about it!
Fang Chen felt terrible. After all, the pills Hua Qirong refined might have had a chance to salvage his dreadful aptitude!
However, if he turned back now, his earlier posturing would seem a bit pretentious!
Fang Chen weighed his options and decided that not having any further ties with Jiang Ningyi was more important than getting the reward. “Forget it. Can’t I just come back and ask for it later? Surely an Elder wouldn’t renege on a debt!”
Following that, Fang Chen stroked his chin, wondering whether he had conveyed his feelings well enough with that look.
That look of disgust, hatred, and loathing—surely Jiang Ningyi had got the message?
A normal person wouldn’t dare approach him after seeing a look like that!
Earlier inside the Music Forest, Fang Chen had learned the rules. One had to play a melody that resonated with the Music Forest to break the formation.
Otherwise, he would be stripped naked and become the number one celebrity of the Danran Sect!
This had forced him to choose between two options.
Either suffer a social death by being naked, or directly break the formation!
At that moment, Fang Chen had no choice.
Playing the zither might not necessarily kill him.
But being hung up stark naked truly would kill him!
Thus, Fang Chen could only play the zither. At the same time, he made up his mind that if he encountered Jiang Ningyi chasing after him when he left the formation, he would show extreme disgust toward Ling Wan’er and feign harboring resentment toward Jiang Ningyi as well!
This way, no matter what Jiang Ningyi felt for him—whether admiration breeding affection or guilt producing fondness—none of it mattered!
Because he now had a legitimate reason to avoid seeing Jiang Ningyi!
As long as they didn’t meet, there was no way she could end up killing him, her husband, to prove her Dao!
Thinking of this, Fang Chen felt he was truly a genius.
Haha!
System, you’ve lost after all!
Right at that moment.
A soft, charming voice abruptly rang out from behind Fang Chen. “What are you laughing about?”
Fang Chen, who was grinning broadly, suddenly had a drastic change in expression…