The commotion didn't last long; a longsword swiftly ended her frantic screeches, a sudden turn of events that left everyone in the great hall momentarily stunned.

Yue Hai, holding the sword, looked down at his wife who was rapidly losing strength, and murmured, "You can continue to scold me when I’m down below!" Then he turned away, unable to face the hatred blazing in his wife's eyes any longer.

"This disciple's failure to discipline properly, and my mismanagement of sect affairs, full of oversights, have driven our Mount Shu Sect into this current predicament... Only death can atone for my sins!" With those words, Yue Hai swiftly turned the sword in his hand, resting the blade against his neck. With a sharp movement, he slumped to the ground with a thud, landing precisely beside his wife.

Ye Wen watched the two fall one after the other and couldn't help but mutter, "Perhaps this is too much..."

But then he recalled the sinister thoughts he had sensed wafting through the hall just moments before. The current state of the Mount Shu Sect was entirely Yue Hai's doing, and his wife had certainly fueled the fire. If these two were not eliminated, how could the remaining traitors be purged?

Waving a hand dismissively, he commanded, "Carry them out and grant them a proper burial..."

"Master Ghost... what shall we tell the outside world?"

Ye Wen shook his head. "The outside world? There's no need to tell anyone..."

Zhou Zhiruo and Guo Jing were confused, but since Ye Wen had given the order, they dared not question it further. They reasoned that since Yue Hai held little renown in the martial world, handling the matter quietly was the best course of action.

Ye Wen glanced at the concubine Yue Hai had recently taken and asked, "What is your name?"

"Replying to Grandmaster Ancestor, I am Ye Ningshuang..." "Your surname is Dong?"

The woman trembled, not daring to lift her head, "I... I was bought by the Master and Madam, so I don't have one..." "Oh." Ye Wen didn't comment; buying and selling servants was a common occurrence in this world. No one thought to change this reality, and many servants even volunteered, knowing that without selling themselves into bondage, they might not see the next sunrise.

He had learned from Nangong Huang that in recent years, wars had raged across the Nine Provinces, resulting in countless broken families. Ning Shuang’s home was north of Pingzhou. Having lost her parents due to the conflict, she was forced into servitude, eventually being chosen by Mrs. Yue and brought back as Yue Hai's concubine, whereupon she was given the name Ning Shuang.

The original plan was to grant her a surname after she bore a son, but Ning Shuang gave birth to a girl, and the matter was simply set aside.

Ye Wen accepted this, only instructing, "Take good care of your child; she is now the sole remaining bloodline of the Yue family!" He wasn't worried about the child falling ill; with his current cultivation, common ailments could be managed through internal energy alone, needing no medicine. If necessary, the elixirs found in the South Sea Immortal Palace could be used—they cured common human ailments instantly.

He motioned for Ning Shuang to step aside and rest before Ye Wen inquired, "As for your Eldest Senior Brother, what exactly caused his passing?"

After hearing the tirade from Yue Hai’s wife earlier, Ye Wen felt that Yue Ning's death was likely not as straightforward as it seemed.

Zhou Zhiruo and Guo Jing exchanged a look, and finally, Guo Jing spoke, "The situation, to be frank, isn't complex. Back when Eldest Senior Brother first achieved the Xiantian Ziqi (Innate Violet Qi), someone specifically demanded a contest to prove superiority..."

"At the Martial Arts Assembly?" Ye Wen mused, realizing that such matters usually unfolded in grand public forums.

"Yes," Guo Jing nodded. "That bout was called a draw. Eldest Senior Brother stopped when he felt enough had been accomplished, but the opponent didn't restrain his power and injured Senior Brother... However, the opponent profusely apologized afterward, and since Senior Brother felt the injury wasn't serious, he didn't press the matter."

Ye Wen frowned, sensing something peculiar beneath the surface.

Indeed, Guo Jing continued, "Unexpectedly, upon returning to Pingzhou, a group of masters suddenly emerged and ambushed Senior Brother. Forced to fight while injured, Senior Brother was gravely wounded, compounding his initial injury... This is what left him with a hidden ailment!" "Your Senior Brother's Xiantian Ziqi couldn't be healed?" Guo Jing sighed, "Senior Brother's Xiantian Ziqi... was not as pure as Master’s. Senior Brother later lamented that it was fate!" Hearing this, Ye Wen remembered that Yue Ning had married before achieving the Great Completion of his Xiantian Ziqi. Once the virgin state was broken, that innate energy would be tainted by worldly influences. Even if he later reached Consummation, the power of his Xiantian Ziqi would be significantly diminished.

"How old was your Senior Brother then?"

Guo Jing calculated, "Around forty..."

Ye Wen was surprised. It seemed Yue Ning had practiced the Zixia Gong (Purple Mist Art) since his teens and only reached Great Success in his forties. Perhaps his early marriage hadn't been wrong; remaining a virgin until forty? The Yue family certainly wouldn't have permitted that.

Thinking along these lines, Yue Ning's fate seemed truly preordained.

"Who were the people who ambushed your Senior Brother? Did you investigate clearly?"

This time, Nangong Huang answered, "They were the same group who injured this disciple years ago..."

At this, Ye Wen recalled that Nangong Huang also carried an old wound but hadn't yet asked for details. So, both parties were connected to the same aggressors. This meant they could all be dealt with together.

"This matter must be traced back to when Junior Brother Li disappeared... Alas, Junior Brother Li..." Mentioning Li Xiaoyao brought a wave of sorrow over Nangong Huang. Given Li Xiaoyao’s potential, if he had lived, the Mount Shu Sect wouldn't be facing so many troubles. It was a pity he vanished so early; it was likely he met a grim end.

Ye Wen suddenly remembered he hadn't told them about Li Xiaoyao yet. He interrupted, "Your Junior Brother Li is alive and kicking, living quite freely. You don't need to worry about him anymore!"

Everyone froze, then realized the implication. Nangong Huang was astonished, "Martial Uncle, are you saying Junior Brother Li... also shattered the void? But when we investigated back then, we heard he was murdered!"

Ye Wen smiled. "Your Junior Brother Li was blessed with immense fortune. He was driven into a desperate situation, but then he found a heaven-sent spirit fruit. After consuming it, he directly shattered the void, leaving no chance to even bid you farewell!"

He then recounted the events generally, and only then did everyone understand that Li Xiaoyao was well and, frankly, happier than they were, having managed to escape to find their Master much earlier.

Returning to the main topic, Nangong Huang continued the narrative. "We didn't know what had happened to Junior Brother Li, only that he hadn't returned to the mountain for a long time and sent no word. Concerned, this disciple and Senior Brother Guo descended the mountain to search for Junior Brother Li!"

Ye Wen nodded, believing their actions were appropriate.

"Initially, we didn't know where to start. Finally, we decided to head to the capital first to find Senior Brother Liu and get clear information. After meeting Senior Brother Liu in the capital, we learned that Junior Brother Li had gone south to assist Senior Brother Liu in investigating matters. Senior Brother Liu also had a fair amount of intelligence on Junior Brother Li—mostly accounts of him routing waves of heretical outsiders and leaving them in disarray. So, we didn't worry too much, deciding to go south, lend a hand, and then return to the mountain together!"

Ye Wen considered that this was likely an issue of temporal displacement, and the intelligence held by Liu Muyan was not timely enough—no wonder the Imperial Court couldn't stamp out the rebellions. With such efficiency in information transfer, the court might only just be learning that the enemy had mobilized armies while battles were already turning rivers red with blood elsewhere.

"However, as we traveled south, the news we heard became increasingly unfavorable concerning Junior Brother Li. In our haste, we quickened our pace. We happened to pass the residence of Senior Brother Xu and decided to rest there for a while before continuing our journey!"

Ye Wen frowned, suddenly remembering, "How is Xu Ping now?"

Nangong Huang and Guo Jing exchanged glances, finally letting out a long sigh together. Nangong Huang spoke again, "By the time we arrived, Senior Brother Xu had already heard news of Junior Brother Li's misfortune and had left to investigate... Unfortunately, Senior Brother Guo and I were a step too late..."

Ye Wen was shocked, "Ping'er was also killed?"

Nangong Huang and Guo Jing remained silent. This was a deep-seated sorrow for them.

After a period of silence, Ye Wen finally spoke, "Did Ping'er leave behind any descendants?"

Guo Jing nodded. "Before Third Senior Brother was killed, he had a son with Junior Sister Nangong, named Xu Fan. The original intention was that he might live an ordinary, peaceful life..." Ye Wen knew something was amiss upon hearing this. He pressed, "And what happened to this Xu Fan?"

This time, Nangong Huang explained, "It was because my older sister wasn't careful during the pregnancy. As a result, Fan'er’s body was poor from birth. If Elder Chen hadn't continuously worked to regulate his health, coupled with the many longevity arts of the Mount Shu Sect, he might have perished long ago..."

He paused, knowing his Martial Uncle would need the full story, and rushed through all the details.

Apparently, Xu Fan was incredibly frail and suffered from intermittent illnesses. If not for the protection of the Mount Shu disciples, he likely wouldn't have survived past the age of three.

Later, when Elder Chen reached the end of his lifespan, they followed the methods Chen left behind while desperately trying to extend Xu Fan's life. Regrettably, they could not sustain it, and he passed away a year ago.

"Fortunately, because we consistently used the prescriptions Elder Chen provided, Fan'er managed to leave behind a son before he died, preserving the Xu family line..." Nangong Huang always believed that Xu Fan knew he had finally left an heir for the Xu line; with that burden lifted, his health rapidly declined beyond recovery over the next two years, and he passed away peacefully afterward.

After instructing the attending young disciple and receiving the child, Nangong Huang wore a pained expression. "It’s just a pity that this child, like his father, is frail, showing signs of an early demise. Thankfully, Martial Uncle has returned; perhaps Martial Uncle has a way to handle this!"

If this were in the past, Nangong Huang might not have said this. Although Ye Wen was powerful, he wasn't a physician; he had means for healing injuries, but managing sickness and recuperation relied on Chen Yizhong.

Alas, Chen Yizhong had passed away years ago. Though he passed on his knowledge, no one had reached his level. Barely keeping the child alive was already the limit of their capability.

Soon after, the young disciple who had left returned carrying a small child. Ye Wen saw a boy perhaps one or two years old, thin and small, with sunken cheeks, vacant eyes, and a spirit utterly depleted. The child showed signs of fatigue just from the short journey carried by the young man.

"It's a good thing I returned in time!"

Ye Wen subtly checked the pulse and realized that if the boy continued like this, he wouldn't live past two more years. Luckily, he had returned, and he did possess suitable elixirs for treatment.

Casually reaching into his pouch, he took out one of the pills he usually fed his cat. This elixir was perfectly suited for regulating the body. Ye Wen fed it to his cat not because the pill was inferior, but because none of the Mount Shu disciples needed it. Now, this boy could receive the same treatment as his Garfield.

"It's best not to mention this to the other disciples..."

Taking out the pill, he asked for a bowl of warm water, dissolved it, and had the boy swallow the mixture. Watching the child gradually fall into a deep sleep, Ye Wen ordered him sent back to rest.

"And his mother?"

"She died during childbirth; they saved the child but couldn't save her..." Ye Wen was about to comment when he recalled that Xu Fan had passed away in his forties, nearly fifty. How old was his wife? Giving birth at that age was inherently risky, especially in this environment.

At the same time, he understood why the child's constitution was so poor; it wasn't solely due to Xu Fan's condition.

Sighing over the misfortunes of the Xu family, Ye Wen asked, "Has the child been given a formal name?"

The disciples exchanged glances. Finally, Guo Jing spoke, "We intended to, but seeing how weak his body was, we only gave him a temporary nickname..." As he said this, Guo Jing looked somewhat embarrassed.

Ye Wen understood. This was a last resort born of desperation—even resorting to the baseless superstition that a 'lowly name keeps one alive.'

Perhaps this tactic had actually worked, though. Just as the child seemed on the brink of collapse, Ye Wen returned and truly saved his life. Thinking of this, Ye Wen murmured about the marvelous nature of fate and said nothing more, allowing Nangong Huang to continue.

"Later, Senior Brother Guo and I investigated for a long time, eventually being lured into one of their branch strongholds where we were ambushed from all sides. It was Senior Brother Guo who led me out. However, this disciple also suffered an internal injury during the escape; although I survived, it left me with a lingering ailment..."

Guo Jing added, "If Junior Brother Nangong hadn't sacrificed himself to protect me, I wouldn't have broken out that day either; I probably would have died at the hands of those villains, just like Third Senior Brother!" At this point, the situation became clear: the ones who killed Xu Ping and severely injured Yue Ning and Nangong Huang—the root cause of Nangong Huang's decades-long stagnation and Yue Ning's death—were that same group who pursued Li Xiaoyao. These people might not have initially intended to oppose the Mount Shu Sect, but when Li Xiaoyao vanished, they seemingly kicked a hornet's nest and found themselves in direct conflict with Mount Shu.

The ambush on Yue Ning could have been a retaliatory act, but the timing suggested more complexity. For the attack to occur precisely when he was injured at the Martial Arts Assembly—Ye Wen absolutely did not believe there wasn't foul play involved!

Furthermore, why had Zhou Zhiruo and the others never sought revenge for their Senior Brother? If that group of heretical outsiders were responsible, there seemed to be no reason for the Mount Shu Sect to endure such silence.

When he posed the question, Zhou Zhiruo lowered her head in silence, but Nangong Huang spoke up, "This matter is not Sister Zhou's fault. For years, this disciple was injured and couldn't even leave Mount Shu. While Senior Brother Guo's cultivation gradually deepened, Senior Brother Ghost..."

He hesitated to finish, so Guo Jing concluded, "My mind is slow, and Sister Zhou feared that if I went down the mountain alone, the enemy might use schemes against me..."

Ye Wen raised a hand, signaling they didn't need to elaborate.

Thinking it over, that was indeed the reality. Despite the appearance of many high-level experts in Mount Shu, only Zhou Zhiruo was truly capable of acting independently. In earlier years, when Yue Ning needed recovery, Zhou Zhiruo had to remain at Mount Shu to manage affairs. After Yue Ning died, she dared even less to leave! What about leaving Guo Jing to guard the mountain? If Zhou Zhiruo left, those villains would simply go into hiding, and she couldn't spend years wandering the martial world; she would inevitably have to return to Mount Shu to stay put.

Moreover, the Mount Shu Sect hadn't been idle. When Yue Ning was ambushed, they mobilized the sect's full strength to fight that faction. Countless battles erupted, and the Mount Shu Sect lost numerous disciples, but they simply couldn't eradicate the enemy entirely.

As for Yue Hai’s wife, in Nangong Huang's words: "This woman has used this incident as leverage all these years, constantly claiming we refused to truly avenge Eldest Senior Brother... Sister Zhou has always felt guilty for failing to avenge Eldest Senior Brother, and since he was the only direct blood relative left, she kept indulging this couple..."

In the end, the root of the problem lay with that troublesome, instigating woman. Ye Wen now felt confident he hadn't been wrong to kill them. As for Yue Hai, he grew increasingly dissatisfied with him; being indecisive in matters of governance was bad enough, but it turned out he was also henpecked, following his wife’s will in everything. He couldn't discern right from wrong, making him useless to keep around.

"Have you ascertained the details regarding the sect that challenged Yue Ning and inflicted grievous harm?"

Ye Wen considered that the key lay here. If they could uncover the connection, a thorough revenge would not be difficult.

Nangong Huang sighed, "That sect... has a slight connection to our Mount Shu Sect?"

"Oh?"

Nangong Huang asked, "Does Martial Uncle remember the Thunder Sword Gate?"

Ye Wen was startled, then said, "Could it be that the inheritors of the Thunder Sword Gate are trying to reestablish their sect?"

Nangong Huang shook his head and immediately provided the answer: "Not exactly. It was a fellow claiming to be a descendant of the Thunder Sword Gate who initiated a duel with Eldest Senior Brother under the guise of reclaiming the Thunder Sword Gate's banner. After Eldest Senior Brother returned the banner, that person announced the Thunder Sword Gate was merged into the Hundred Swords Sect! This Hundred Swords Sect is one of the more powerful rising sects of the last few decades." Zhou Zhiruo pondered for a moment. "This Hundred Swords Sect seems to have the shadow of the Imperial Court behind it, but... I inquired, and the Hundred Swords Sect doesn't appear to be the force Junior Brother An planted in the martial world!"

"Wei Hong? He's still alive?" Ye Wen was startled, his first reaction being that the boy was lying, but he immediately realized, "The court... it seems things are not very peaceful there either!"