Chapter 24: Scheming

## Chapter 24: Scheme

Stepping out from the back mountain, Ye Chen rushed back to the Heng Yue Sect in a single breath.

By now, the sky was already bright.

The disciples of the Heng Yue Sect were once again emerging to absorb the essence of heaven and earth. Seeing Ye Chen in such a state of disarray, a flicker of doubt crossed their eyes.

"So close, so close." Ignoring the strange glances around him, Ye Chen slowed his steps, his breathing ragged. He cast a look back at the mountain, his heart still gripped by lingering fear, as if he had just walked through the gates of hell.

It was a long while before his emotions settled.

"She doesn't remember me?"

"Could it be someone else?"

"Impossible! How can someone in this world be so alike?"

Ye Chen mumbled to himself along the way. If the woman from that night was indeed within the Heng Yue Sect, then he would have no choice but to leave this place. But if it was truly just a startling resemblance, then there was no need for such worry.

"I didn't go in, I didn't go in, I just stood outside the gate of Ling Mountain." As he pondered, a familiar voice in the distance interrupted his thoughts, followed by a clamor of scolding.

"Little rascal, still lying!"

"Instead of staying at the foot of the mountain, you sneak up here to steal things!"

"Don't even look at who you are!"

"Little Tiger." From afar, Ye Chen spotted the familiar figure. Was it not Little Tiger from the spirit garden?

At this moment, a group of Heng Yue Sect disciples had already surrounded him, some scolding, some mocking, some cursing. Little Tiger's frail body was curled up, his nose bruised and face swollen, not daring to lift his head, like a criminal who had committed a grave offense.

"I didn't come up, I just stood at the gate looking." Little Tiger seemed to have suffered a great injustice, sobbing with his head bowed.

"Still dare to argue? You're looking for a beating!" A disciple, fierce and malicious, immediately raised his palm.

However, before it could fall, his arm was seized by a hand.

"Do you seek death?" An icy voice suddenly rang out. The one who had acted was naturally Ye Chen. He regarded Little Tiger as family and naturally could not bear to see him bullied.

Seeing that it was Ye Chen, the surrounding disciples subconsciously took a step back.

Although only an outer disciple, Ye Chen was an anomaly. Zhao Long from Di Yang Peak and Wei Yang from Tian Yang Peak were bloody examples.

"Instead of properly absorbing the essence of the sun and moon, you come here to bully a child who cannot cultivate? You're all quite capable indeed." Ye Chen's cold gaze swept over them, and he sneered, "Have the guts? Fight me."

Hearing this, the group of disciples hurriedly huddled together.

"He was the one who violated the sect rules first." Perhaps because there were many people, the leading white-robed disciple named Xu Ming sneered.

"Exactly, those who are not Heng Yue Sect disciples are not allowed to ascend Heng Yue Sect's Ling Mountain. This is a longstanding rule. This little rascal named Little Tiger snuck up here. Who knows if he came up to steal things?"

Ye Chen's brows furrowed. He had indeed heard that the Heng Yue Sect had such a rule.

Furthermore, although Little Tiger lived at the foot of the Heng Yue Sect mountain, he was different from Zhang Fengnian. While Zhang Fengnian had been demoted down the mountain, he was still a member of the Heng Yue Sect. Little Tiger, being adopted by Zhang Fengnian, was in a sense not a member of the Heng Yue Sect.

"I didn't." Little Tiger's small face was covered in tears. "I only stood outside the big gate. I didn't come in. It was them who dragged me in."

Hearing this, Ye Chen's icy eyes swept over the group of disciples.

"Little rascal, you still dare to lie!" The leading white-robed disciple named Xu Ming scolded again, "Believe it or not, I'll break your leg."

*Buzz!*

With a buzzing sound, Ye Chen suddenly drew out the Tian Que heavy sword.

"Try and hit him." Ye Chen stared coldly at Xu Ming.

"What? You still want to rely on strength to bully others in broad daylight?" Xu Ming howled at the top of his lungs.

His shout attracted more onlookers.

With more people present, Xu Ming became even more unrestrained. "Quick, come and see! This Ye Chen wants to rely on his strength to bully people!"

"Bully people?" Ye Chen sneered, taking a large step forward and swinging the Tian Que heavy sword. "Then today, I'll just bully you!"

Seeing this, Xu Ming hurriedly drew out his spiritual sword and held it horizontally in front of him.

*Crack!*

A fracturing sound immediately rang out. Xu Ming's spiritual sword was shattered on the spot, and even he was sent staggering back, spitting blood.

"Murder, murder!" Xu Ming hid in the crowd and howled loudly, seemingly trying to escalate the situation. "Murder, Ye Chen wants to murder!"

"Since you all say so, then today I will first exterminate you." With a cold snort, Ye Chen charged forward with the Tian Que.

Seeing this, the surrounding disciples began to curse one after another.

"In broad daylight, you still dare to commit such a crime?"

"No wonder Senior Sister Su says you have a heavy killing intent. It is indeed so."

"Why can't you speak properly? Must you resort to force?"

"Get lost!" Ye Chen roared violently, immediately swinging the Tian Que.

The scene immediately descended into chaos. With the white-robed disciple and his hidden accomplices adding fuel to the fire, more and more disciples surged forward, some pointing fingers, some scolding, some cursing.

"Send him to the Discipline Hall!" When the first disciple unleashed his true qi, others followed suit.

A melee was on the verge of breaking out, and soon, blood was drawn.

Ye Chen's face was like frost. Any disciple who rushed forward was sent flying by a single swing of his sword.

Vaguely, he still saw the treacherous smirk on Xu Ming's face as he hid in the crowd. Looking at the scene before him, he had already anticipated it, and it all seemed to have been premeditated.

The gathering of disciples and the fight alarmed the people of the Discipline Hall.

Soon, people from the Discipline Hall strongly intervened.

The one who came was a purple-robed disciple, fair-faced, holding a folding fan. It was the chief disciple of the Discipline Hall, Yin Zhiping.

"Sect rules prohibit private fighting. Do you not know this?" Yin Zhiping lightly fanned himself, sweeping his gaze over the injured disciples, then glancing at Ye Chen.

"Senior Brother Yin, you must uphold justice for us!" It was Xu Ming again, clutching his chest, his voice tearful. Although his cultivation was ordinary, his acting skills were first-class.

"Senior Brother Yin, this Ye Chen disregards sect rules! You cannot indulge him!"

"Relying on his strength, he arbitrarily bullies disciples of the same sect!"

"In broad daylight, truly hateful!"

The scene was indeed filled with surging emotions. Some people gnashed their teeth, wishing they could immediately drag Ye Chen out and execute him by slicing.

Listening to the surrounding clamor, Yin Zhiping looked at Ye Chen with a playful smile. "Ye Chen, come with me to the Discipline Hall!"

"I dare to do, then I dare to bear." Ye Chen's expression was indifferent. He put away the Tian Que and was about to lift his foot, but was blocked by Little Tiger in front of him.

"It's all my fault, it's all my fault. If you have to punish, punish me!" Little Tiger was very panicked.

Saying this, he knelt down with a thud, begging for Ye Chen while kowtowing. He kowtowed until blood flowed from his forehead, only wanting to rely on his frail body to bear all the sins for Ye Chen.

This scene made Ye Chen's heart tremble.

"Young people don't understand things. Please forgive him this once!" An old voice rang out. Zhang Fengnian, leaning on his walking stick, hurried over. His old body was very hunched, and he repeatedly bowed to apologize.

Hearing this, Yin Zhiping lightly fanned himself, sizing up Zhang Fengnian, and with a playful smile, said, "Zhang Fengnian, you have already been demoted down the mountain. You should understand the rules here. Don't cause yourself trouble."

"Senior Nephew Yin, just let the past be..."

Zhang Fengnian still wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Ye Chen.

Ye Chen forcefully pulled up the kneeling Little Tiger and then pulled him behind him. Looking at the old Zhang Fengnian, his heart was full of surging warmth. He smiled and said, "Old Grandpa, take Little Tiger back! I'm fine."

Saying this, Ye Chen took a large step and walked towards the Discipline Hall.