"Could it be that if a dog bites me, I have to ask the dog for the reason?"
As soon as these words fell, the surrounding area instantly went quiet. Elder Tang squinted at Chang Le, while Chang Le raised her head and looked back at Elder Tang.
"There is actually some sense to that." Elder Tang suddenly smiled, touched her chin, and continued, "Then let me ask you, why were you in that place? That area is rarely visited by people, what were you doing there?"
Chang Le raised Xiaobai in her arms and said righteously, "I am just a passerby walking a dog. Shouldn't the Elder be asking why they were gathered together in a remote place in a mob, instead of questioning me, a passerby?"
Elder Tang's face was expressionless. Chang Le felt anxious inside and lifted the puppy a bit higher to block her face.
However, such actions were practically useless in front of cultivators; a mere sweep of Divine Sense was enough to see right through it. Only someone like Chang Le, who had just transmigrated, lacked common sense in the first place, and still had no awareness of being a cultivator, would do such a thing.
Yet, unexpectedly, this kind of behavior appeared much more upright and confident in the eyes of others.
"N-Nonsense! We were there because..."
Gou Ren's eyes widened. They had followed Chang Le all the way there, but of course, they could not say that aloud. However, no matter how one thought about it, a group of people doing things on a secluded path leading out of the mountain seemed rather suspicious. Gou Ren gritted his teeth and said, "Instead of talking about me, I wonder why Senior Sister Chang went to a place like that?"
Chang Le hugged Xiaobai tightly. "I said I was walking the dog. What if Xiaobai bites someone? Of course I have to take the dog through places with fewer people."
Elder Tang glanced at Xiaobai in Chang Le's arms, looked at its yellow fur, and was speechless for a moment before saying, "This dog of yours... certainly has some spiritual energy."
Although Gushan Sword Sect was a sect of Sword Cultivators, it did not actually forbid disciples from learning other methods. After all, people's talents and resources varied, and many disciples entered the sect at a very young age. Perhaps it wasn't obvious in childhood, but when they grew up, they would realize their talents lay elsewhere.
As for Chang Le's background, Elder Tang had already been fully aware of it for a long time.
She was an eternal outer sect disciple who remained in the outer sect, unable to reach the Foundation Establishment stage after all this time. Perhaps she had already given up on being a Sword Cultivator and switched to beast taming; that was entirely possible.
Elder Tang nodded. "Drag these people away."
Gou Ren felt unconvinced and shouted even louder, "I refuse to accept this! I refuse! Why are you only arresting the few of us?"
Elder Tang frowned. "So noisy." She brought two fingers together, and a Sword Talisman emerged, sticking to the bodies of the several individuals. At the same time, she sternly demanded, "What on earth did you go there to do?"
Gou Ren's originally angry eyes grew dim, and he dazedly replied, "Wei Zhaoguang gave her a storage bag. We figured that since she could never enter the inner sect anyway, it might as well be given to us so it could actually be of some use."
The moment these words were spoken, Gou Ren abruptly snapped back to his senses. Realizing what he had just blurted out, panic instantly surfaced on his face.
Elder Tang, however, merely remarked, "To shake off my Truth-Compelling Talisman so quickly—it seems Elder Xue has her reasons for taking a fancy to you. It's a pity your intentions are crooked. Send them to the Punishment Hall and execute the punishment according to the code."
Seeing this scene, Chang Le widened her eyes slightly. The cultivation world truly could not be underestimated; although it was different from her own world, it had its own set of investigative rules. She felt inwardly grateful that Elder Tang hadn't used this on her right from the start. Otherwise, not to mention her true origins, if she had blurted out that she wanted to run away, she probably would have been in deep trouble.
"Chang Le."
Elder Tang suddenly called out.
"Here!" Chang Le snapped to attention and shouted loudly.
Her reaction coaxed a smile out of Elder Tang. "What are you afraid of?"
Chang Le buried her face in Xiaobai and whispered, "It's just... I just think this spell is a bit terrifying."
Elder Tang looked at Chang Le and let out a slight sigh. "It seems there's a reason why you've stayed in the outer sect all this time."
Chang Le was baffled. Beside her, Xu Yingqi stated, "Page 207, line 3 of *Common World's Myriad Laws*, Chapter on Sword Talismans: The Truth-Compelling Talisman states that this talisman is only effective against those with weak resolve and low cultivation. If a person is on guard beforehand, or carries magical treasures or talismans that can calm the mind, the Truth-Compelling Talisman will have no effect."
Chang Le stared blankly at Xu Yingqi. Pure, unadulterated ignorance bloomed across her face.
What on earth was *Common World's Myriad Laws*? Why couldn't she find it in the original owner's memories?
Xu Yingqi seemed to perceive what Chang Le was looking for and added, " *Common World's Myriad Laws* is included in *Recommended Introductory Readings for Twelve-Year-Old Student Cultivators*."
Which meant it was basically equivalent to popular science and supplementary reading materials for children. Chang Le recalled the original owner: the original owner's soul was incomplete. Although she could use a few spells, for some reason, she couldn't understand Human Race characters, and after struggling to learn for a long time, she could barely write her own name.
Wait a minute, wasn't that the definition of total illiteracy?
Having transmigrated for half a lifetime, the illiterate person turned out to be none other than herself?!
Chang Le's lips trembled slightly. She was a college student! She had won scholarships for four years! She was someone who had fought her way through the brutal gauntlet of high school, only to transmutate and become an illiterate person!
She looked at Elder Tang. On that gorgeous face of Elder Tang, genuine sympathy appeared, and her tone was full of comfort. "Although you don't understand the written word and have been rated by instructors as utterly clueless for ten consecutive years, you still have some talent in cultivation. At least you can cast a few spells, and this dog... is also raised quite well."
Chang Le's face remained rigid.
Elder Tang's voice softened even further. "That path you walked on—perhaps you didn't pay attention, but the characters written on it are 'Mountain Gate'. Don't walk the wrong way in the future." She paused, then offered consolation, "Though walking the wrong way doesn't matter much; there are confusing mists there, and ordinary disciples without an outer sect disciple token cannot walk out. If you happen to encounter patrolling disciples, just explain clearly."
The corners of Chang Le's mouth drooped. She finally understood why Elder Tang hadn't used the Truth-Compelling Talisman on her. It turned out the Elder had assumed she couldn't read and therefore had no idea that was the path leading down the mountain.
This was a blessing in disguise, but she still felt a bit uncomfortable inside...
For a moment, all sorts of emotions surged through Chang Le's heart.
Xu Yingqi reached out and gently patted Chang Le on the back.
Though Senior Sister Xu was a good person, at this exact moment, Chang Le thought, she did not need anyone's comfort!
Xu Yingqi raised her eyes to look at Elder Tang. The corners of Elder Tang's mouth twitched; she hadn't meant to intentionally twist the knife in the girl's heart. When she had looked at the file, she had been shocked too! How could someone study characters for ten years and still fail to learn them?
Ordinarily, even with cultivation talent, someone like that should have long since been expelled from Gushan Sword Sect. She had wanted to look into the reason behind it, but she saw the word "Top Secret" left on the case file.
Given Elder Tang's position as the head of the Punishment Hall, she actually lacked the clearance to view it.
Which meant that Chang Le might harbor an even greater secret.
That was the real reason why Elder Tang had made a big fuss but let Chang Le off lightly. Everything else was just a pretext.
Seeing that the young girl was genuinely heartbroken, Elder Tang sighed, unclasped the bracelet from her wrist, and tossed it toward Chang Le. The bracelet hovered in front of Chang Le, then transformed into a stream of light that slipped onto her wrist, shrinking to a size that fit her perfectly.
"This is..."
This was the first time Chang Le had ever witnessed such immortal-like methods. The storage bag Wei Zhaoguang had given her earlier was already enough to amaze her. Although she had previously traded blows back and forth with Gou Ren and his gang, those were mostly exchanges of martial techniques, and even when talismans were involved, they were merely rather peculiar offensive weapons.
Chang Le lowered her head and fiddled with the bracelet on her wrist. She couldn't figure out the mechanics of how it had suddenly adjusted to fit her size!
Seeing Chang Le's expression, Elder Tang's gaze grew even softer, akin to how one would treat a curious junior.
"This is a defensive magical artifact. It can help you block attacks below the Golden Core stage. For those at or above Golden Core, it can fend off one attack," Elder Tang explained.
This item wasn't actually worth much, but for an outer sect disciple like Chang Le—who had always stayed in the outer sect, where the cultivation level of those around her could never exceed the Foundation Establishment stage—it was extremely practical.
Chang Le immediately realized this as well. The corners of her eyes curved upward, and she instantly bowed to Elder Tang. "Thank you, Elder Tang."
As she spoke, she even pressed down the head of Xiaobai in her arms, making the puppy bow along with her.
Chang Le possessed a charming and lovely appearance. When she smiled, her eyes curved like crescents, revealing a touch of naive cuteness that softened her overly striking features. Elder Tang laughed heartily, waved her hand, and tossed over another pouch. "Inside are beast pills. I can see this little dog already has some spiritual energy, you can feed them to it."
Chang Le's eyes lit up. There were still plenty of good people in Gushan Sword Sect!
She expressed her thanks once again, fished out a beast pill, and held it to Xiaobai's mouth. Catching the scent, Xiaobai wagged its tail even more briskly, hugged the beast pill with its two front paws, and happily gnawed on it while letting Chang Le hold it.
When Chang Le raised her head again, Elder Tang had already vanished from the platform.
"Elder Tang has left," Xu Yingqi said.
Chang Le nodded and uttered an "Oh."
Xu Yingqi continued, "Let's go, I'll take you back."
Chang Le let out another "Oh" and obediently followed behind Xu Yingqi. She now had an extra layer of protection; although Gushan Sword Sect had many good people, the male protagonist was here. She was still alive and well right now, but she had no idea if she would end up becoming cannon fodder for the male protagonist later on. Lowering her head in thought, Chang Le decided that it would be best for her to leave Gushan Sword Sect altogether.
Xu Yingqi was unaware of Chang Le's thoughts. She led the way ahead, her gaze shifting as she occasionally glanced back at Chang Le.
Chang Le was walking with her head down, wondering about something.
"Don't mind what Tang Huan said."
Xu Yingqi's voice suddenly rang out.
Chang Le looked up at Xu Yingqi in surprise. "What?"
Xu Yingqi lowered her gaze. She raised a hand and touched her ear, which was slightly warm. "I said, Tang Huan always speaks without regard for others and is used to being willful. If you don't understand the meanings in the books, I can help you."
Chang Le didn't know whether to be surprised that Xu Yingqi addressed Elder Tang so familiarly by her given name, or by Xu Yingqi's words. She couldn't help asking, "Why are you being so nice to me?"
Why?
Xu Yingqi lowered her eyes. After a moment, she slowly replied in a tone full of righteousness, "Because you don't understand, don't you?"
...Chang Le felt as though a knife had been stabbed straight through her heart.
She really wasn't an illiterate person!
She rejected the offer with ten motions and a refusal: "No need, I can do it myself."
With that, Chang Le quickened her pace and hurried forward. No wonder everyone in the outer sect treated her with that attitude; in the eyes of others, this was precisely what she looked like—living proof of a mental deficiency.
But upon closer inspection, although the original owner was born with spiritual aptitude, her soul was ultimately incomplete, and she spoke and acted without thinking. She truly would appear somewhat lacking in the brains department. Yet the male protagonist had deliberately deceived and even intentionally lured someone like the original owner—that was simply utterly deranged.
Frowning, she stepped out of the Punishment Hall. As soon as she raised her head, she saw the male protagonist standing right in front of her.
Chang Le's expression changed, and she blurted out, "Why are you here?"
Xiao Haotian turned his head, smiled at Chang Le, and blinked his eyes subtly before speaking in the refined tone of a cultured gentleman, "Senior Sister Chang, I heard that you had a dispute with Gou Ren and the others. Are you alright?"
Too greasy.
Chang Le's expression turned unpleasant, and she took a step back. Someone behind her steadied her shoulders to keep her balanced. Chang Le looked up and saw Xu Yingqi looking down at her. Only then did she realize that Xu Yingqi was a whole head taller than her; facing each other like this, the height difference was just right.
"Senior Sister Chang?" Seeing Chang Le stay silent, Xiao Haotian took another step forward.
Chang Le hurriedly hid behind Xu Yingqi and poked her head out. Although she disliked the male protagonist, his rise to prominence was paved with face-slapping others; she had no desire to transform from an early-dying supporting female character into a face-slapped cannon-fodder character. Hesitating for a moment, she suppressed her disgust and said politely, "Thanks for asking, but I'm fine. It's already been resolved."
Seeing Chang Le's reaction, Xiao Haotian's expression darkened slightly. He was about to step forward when Xu Yingqi pivoted her feet and blocked his line of sight.
Xiao Haotian raised his head, his gaze dark and heavy as he looked at Xu Yingqi. The two locked eyes, neither speaking a word.
Chang Le, however, felt somewhat worried. Although Xu Yingqi had a nice name that didn't sound like a mere supporting character, her face wasn't particularly striking. In male-oriented web novels, an unattractive female supporting character had even less status. She didn't want to let the good person Xu Yingqi become cannon fodder. Thus, she gently tugged at Xu Yingqi's sleeve, hoping she wouldn't come into conflict with Xiao Haotian.
Xu Yingqi turned to look at Chang Le, a hint of confusion in her gaze.
"Umm..." Chang Le whispered, "Aren't you going to walk me back?"
Xu Yingqi's gaze brightened, and she nodded. "Yes, let's go now."
"Hey, wait a moment." Xiao Haotian instantly stepped in front of the two of them to block their path.
Xu Yingqi frowned. "What do you want?"
Xiao Haotian glanced at Xu Yingqi, a trace of disdain flashing in his eyes. He was always surrounded by all sorts of beauties; seeing someone with Xu Yingqi's utterly plain appearance made him feel that the other person belonged to a lower class. Ignoring Xu Yingqi entirely, he simply said to Chang Le, "Senior Sister Chang... have you gotten back the storage bag that Senior Sister Wei gave you? If not, I can act as a witness to help you get it back."
So that was it—this guy was eyeing the storage bag Wei Zhaoguang had given her!
Chang Le frowned. "Don't trouble yourself." She pulled on Xu Yingqi's sleeve. "Let's go."
Xu Yingqi acknowledged the prompt, summoned her long sword, and motioned for Chang Le to stand on the blade.
Xiao Haotian moved to grab Chang Le, but a gust of wind from a sword swept forth, knocking him straight to the ground. Standing upon the long sword, Xu Yingqi held Chang Le with one hand, lowering her gaze to look down at Xiao Haotian from on high: "You are an outer sect disciple. Who gave you permission to enter the inner sect?"
A flash of viciousness crossed Xiao Haotian's eyes. Clutching his chest, he shouted loudly, "Although I am an outer sect disciple, I am still a disciple of Gushan Sword Sect! Could it be that you look down on us outer sect disciples?"
Xu Yingqi frowned and flicked her sleeve. "Outer sect disciples are strictly forbidden from entering the inner sect without cause. Drag him out and administer ten cane strikes according to the code."
A black-robed youth outside the Punishment Hall immediately rushed out with a group of men and shouted in response, "Understood! Senior Sister Xu!"
With his eyes split wide in fury, Xiao Haotian yelled, "You look down on outer sect disciples! One day, I will make you realize that thirty years are up in the east, thirty years in the west..."
Before he could finish his sentence, a wave of sword Qi descended from Xu Yingqi, and Chang Le watched with her own eyes as Xiao Haotian's head slumped to the side and he passed out cold.
"Noisy."