“This is…”
The pupils of the elders contracted sharply, and an almost absurd possibility arose in their hearts simultaneously.
As the figure drew closer and closer, the elders—stunned—finally saw his face clearly.
He wore a simple white robe, his hands clasped behind his back, and his lips curled into a faint, relaxed smile.
It was none other than Gu Han!
The minds of the elders went completely blank.
Wait a minute…
The Demon Suppression Tower was their sect’s forbidden ground!
Anyone who entered had to wait at least a month before they could come out!
Not to mention, they had just finished reinforcing the seals, extending that waiting time even further!
So how could a young disciple like Gu Han walk in, take a casual stroll, and come out as if nothing happened?
And if they remembered correctly…
The reason Gu Han had entered the Demon Suppression Tower in the first place was because the force inside had dragged him in against his will, right?
Forget preserving a whole corpse—
He came out alive?
What was next? Claiming that the being sealed at the bottom of the tower took a liking to him, helped him escape, and even developed feelings for him?
Soon, news that Gu Han had returned safely after just a day inside the Demon Suppression Tower spread through the entire Wandering Sword Sect.
The sect was in an uproar. Everyone was shocked!
[Ding! Detected host has completed a segment of the villain plot. Congratulations, host, you have received 1,500 Villain Points.]
Just as Gu Han stepped out of the Demon Suppression Tower, he heard the system prompt in his mind, making him pause slightly.
“When did I complete a villain plotline?”
He hadn’t even started enacting his plan to crush the protagonist Ye Qingyun yet.
Soon, Gu Han learned the truth.
Several disciples who had been guarding near the Demon Suppression Tower saw him come out and quickly rushed forward, elated.
“Senior Brother Gu! You’re alright! Thank heavens!”
“The truth has been exposed. We all know now that you were framed by that despicable Liu Ruyan!”
Through their chatter, Gu Han learned the full sequence of events.
He hadn’t expected the situation to escalate to the point where the sect actually brought out the Heaven-Questioning Mirror.
In his past life, when he had been falsely accused, he had also pleaded for the sect to bring out the Heaven-Questioning Mirror.
But his master never listened. No one in the sect cared enough to investigate.
Now, in this life, he had already decided to be a thorough villain—and only now did these people bring it out on their own.
Truthfully, he felt no gratitude—only irony.
“Senior Brother…”
One of the disciples timidly continued, “Just now, the Grand Elder from the Law Enforcement Hall sent word… He wants us to bring you to the hall to discuss the next steps…”
“Not going,” Gu Han replied flatly, ignoring the stunned expressions on the disciples’ faces as he walked away.
What did it matter if it was true or false?
Since he had chosen the path of a villain, he no longer cared about public opinion.
Besides, Ye Qingyun had already taken every step possible to cleanly remove himself from the scandal.
Given the sect’s usual behavior, even if Gu Han pointed out that Ye Qingyun was the true culprit, no one would believe him. They might even think Gu Han was stirring up trouble.
So that so-called resolution or clearing his name?
He didn’t care. And he didn’t need it.
“Senior Brother…” the disciples tried again, unwilling to give up.
But as Gu Han paused and turned his gaze slightly, a terrifying pressure locked onto them, frightening them so badly they didn’t dare step forward again.
Not until his figure completely vanished from view did their stiff bodies slowly regain movement.
Their Senior Brother had truly changed. He was no longer the gentle, approachable person he once was.
“It’s all that damn Liu Ruyan’s fault!”
Their resentment toward Liu Ruyan only deepened.
If it weren’t for her, how could their Senior Brother have turned into someone so cold?
…
Inside the main hall of the Wandering Sword Sect.
When news of Gu Han’s return reached everyone, even Sword Master Tai Xu and the high-ranking elders were frozen in disbelief.
“This… How in the world did that brat get out of the Demon Suppression Tower in just one day?”
“Let’s not even mention the ancient demonic beasts sealed within… After the recent upheavals, even the Sect Master would struggle in there—”
“I-I didn’t mean that, Sect Master! I was just giving an example!” The Grand Elder of the Law Enforcement Hall quickly explained, flustered.
Sword Master Tai Xu didn’t respond. His gaze—along with those of all the other top elders—shifted toward Mu Bailin.
Regardless of what had happened inside the Demon Suppression Tower, the truth was now exposed.
What’s more, several junior sisters whom the Sword Master had taken a special interest in had all blindly supported Ye Qingyun—whether they knew the truth or not.
Even Mu Bailin, his master, had believed Liu Ruyan and Ye Qingyun’s one-sided statements without investigating the matter at all. She had handled it with extreme bias.
To be framed, abandoned, and isolated by those closest to him… anyone would be heartbroken.
Moreover, they had just received word from some disciples.
Gu Han had refused to go to the Law Enforcement Hall.
Clearly, he harbored resentment toward the sect.
And honestly, they couldn’t blame him.
After all, the situation had escalated wildly right before their eyes—and they had taken no action. By the time they tried to fix it, it was already too late.
Still, the reason wasn’t that Gu Han hated the entire sect.
All eyes slowly turned toward Mu Bailin. No one said a word, but the message was loud and clear.
Mu Bailin now understood that she was the root of the problem.
When she recalled how Gu Han had returned her sword, Bai Xiao, before entering the Demon Suppression Tower—symbolically severing ties with her—her heart twisted with pain and deep regret.
Only after taking several deep breaths did she finally manage to suppress the emotions in her chest.
“Rest assured, Elders. I will give Han’er… and the sect… an explanation.”
With those words, she rose and transformed into a streak of rainbow light, soaring toward the direction Gu Han had gone.
…
On the other side, Gu Han had casually glossed over what he’d encountered in the Demon Suppression Tower when questioned by the sect elders.
He wasn’t about to reveal anything about what lay within.
The tower contained far too many secrets. No way he’d share those.
Just then, he suddenly paused, his relaxed demeanor vanishing in an instant. His expression turned cold.
He slowly lifted his head.
Not far from him, a stunning figure floated in mid-air.
Clad in a snow-white robe, she looked like moonlight descending from the heavens. The radiant glow fell over her graceful figure, her natural coldness and pride resembling a blooming snow lotus atop the Tianshan Mountains.
Mu Bailin had prepared countless words during her flight. She had rehearsed multiple times in her heart, determined to apologize with sincerity and admit the failure of her role as a master.
But the moment her eyes met his deep, pitch-black gaze—eyes as frigid and ancient as eternal ice—
Her heart felt like it was pierced by needles. A tidal wave of suffocating pain spread through her entire body.
For the first time in all these years… she saw her beloved disciple look at her with eyes full of coldness and unfamiliarity.
As though, in his eyes, she was nothing more than a stranger—one he loathed.