Chapter 39: The Crime Does Not Merit Death

Lin Yixin narrowed her eyes slightly.

The grand-uncle of her enemy was standing right before her, and her enemy’s rival was in the back courtyard!

If she could just hold her ground through this conversation, she would achieve her goal. She would save Ye Chen, then find a way to assist him in stirring up trouble for the Yaoguang Sacred Land. In doing so, the Yaoguang Sacred Land would never know peace again, and her master’s vengeance would finally be served.

With her resolve hardened, Lin Yixin suddenly looked up at Xiao Chenxin.

"Peak Master Xiao, your romantic frustrations all stem from Liu Ruyan, and Ye Chen is Liu Ruyan’s lover. Why would you speak up to save him? This makes no sense logically. Could it be that you have ulterior motives and have already set a trap, intending for Ye Chen to die here at my Haoyue Sect?"

Hearing this, Xiao Chenxin replied without changing his expression.

"I have heard that when the founder of the Haoyue Sect traveled the world to practice medicine, a motto of his was widely known: 'This is a human life; I cannot watch him die.' Though three rules were later established, the general principle remains that one should not withhold aid from those who are not cold-blooded butchers. I simply hold to that spirit."

Lin Yixin studied Xiao Chenxin with curiosity, waiting for him to continue. To be so well-versed in her sect's ancestor's history—could Sacred Master Su Yao be guiding him from the shadows? But knowing Su Yao’s temperament, if she had come here, she would never have been so silent. Could Xiao Chenxin have uncovered this himself? Had the Yaoguang Sacred Land produced another gossip-mongering chronicler?

The moment this thought crossed her mind, Lin Yixin felt a jolt of alarm. If that were true, she should just use the sect’s rules to save Ye Chen, heal him, and throw him out! One Su Yao had already infuriated her master to death; if she had to deal with an accomplice, would she not be destined to follow in her master’s footsteps?

Xiao Chenxin’s voice cut through her train of thought.

"I came here to tell the members of the Haoyue Sect: though Ye Chen and I have our differences, he has not harmed others, nor has he slaughtered the innocent. While I dislike his method of ambushing me, if I choose not to hold it against him, surely no one else needs to pursue it, right? Besides, Ye Chen has potential. If he can be guided properly onto the right path, it would be a gain for our righteous sects."

After saying this, Xiao Chenxin glanced at Su Yao, who was standing beside him. *Your brain is truly useful!* With just a few whispered instructions, he had snatched the credit for saving Ye Chen right out from under the Haoyue Sect. By coming here today to announce that he was letting bygones be bygones, he had ensured that no one would think the Haoyue Sect had done anything significant—on the contrary, his own merit would shine the brightest.

The credit had landed on him silently and effortlessly. He hadn't spent a single penny; his only "loss" was a bit of time and a few words. After this, if Ye Chen tried to move against him again, he would have to weigh the consequences of being reviled by the entire world.

Having finished his speech, Xiao Chenxin took a deep breath and sighed, "If it does not enter my heart, it naturally causes no hindrance."

As soon as these words were spoken, the elders of the Haoyue Sect began to chime in.

"I thought you had come to stop us from saving Ye Chen. I never expected you to be so magnanimous. We wronged you in the past; please forgive our previous offenses."

"I never thought I would see such benevolence from someone of the Yaoguang Sacred Land. It is a pity you are already the Peak Master of Red Dust Peak; otherwise, I would gladly recommend you as an elder of the Haoyue Sect."

"Peak Master Xiao, don't just stand there. Come, sit and have some tea. Our sect is quite busy, and we were unaware of your arrival, so we failed to arrange a proper welcome. Please excuse us."

The elders greeted Xiao Chenxin warmly, serving tea and water in a lively display of hospitality. Lin Yixin stared in disbelief. Was Xiao Chenxin actually here to save Ye Chen? Yet, no matter how she looked at it, something felt wrong. Liu Ruyan had offended the Yaoguang Sacred Land and died miserably within its walls, yet Ye Chen, who had followed up with such insolence, faced no punishment and even had the Peak Master of Red Dust Peak himself pleading on his behalf. Why was there such a disparity in how they were treated? And if he truly wanted to let Ye Chen go, couldn't he have just stayed silent? Why come here specifically to declare it? Was there some other scheme?

Lin Yixin’s mind was filled with confusion; she simply could not fathom Xiao Chenxin’s maneuvers.

Xiao Chenxin handled the elders' greetings with practiced ease—after all, this was his predecessor's greatest talent. In the gaps of conversation, he stole glances at Lin Yixin. Seeing her bewildered expression, he thought to himself, "Blame it on the fact that you are a native of this world. Without outside knowledge or perspective, you cannot realize the power of a Child of Destiny, nor why one must spare Ye Chen instead of rooting him out entirely. If it weren't for the protection of the Heavenly Dao, I would have wiped him out long ago."

With these thoughts dismissed, he refocused on the elders' obsequious hospitality. If he could establish his image as a virtuous man, when Ye Chen was healed and saw everyone praising his adversary's magnanimity, he would surely be incensed—perhaps even causing his fortune to wane!

Suddenly, Xiao Chenxin thought this was a brilliant idea. He would keep Ye Chen under house arrest at the Haoyue Sect, influencing his temperament day and night to siphon away his Heavenly Dao fortune!

With this in mind, Xiao Chenxin gave a light cough.

"I do not believe Ye Chen is beyond redemption. I ask that you elders instill some proper values in him while he recovers. Using a fiancée to gain resources is, after all, despicable. His ambush was likewise unbefitting of our righteous path, but it is not a crime punishable by death. If you can educate him well, you will be saving his future."

The elders nodded in succession. "Well said. Rest assured, Peak Master Xiao, we will provide him with the necessary guidance."

Just as the matter was being settled and Xiao Chenxin was starting to find their enthusiasm tedious, looking for an excuse to leave, a hearty laugh echoed from outside the hall.

"Peak Master Xiao, I never expected to meet you here!"

The man speaking was Qiu Changsheng, the senior disciple of the Sword Immortal Sect.

Xiao Chenxin felt a warning bell go off in his mind. He could not gauge Qiu Changsheng’s strength; if his prowess were truly as rumored, Xiao Chenxin would have to hold back for now. There was no need to provoke someone of superior strength.

Before Xiao Chenxin could respond, a disciple of the Sword Immortal Sect stepped out from behind Qiu Changsheng, pointing at Xiao Chenxin and shouting:

"You are just here playing the hypocrite! Ye Chen’s injuries were caused by you. If you truly wanted to save him, you should have sent someone to treat him back in Zhenyue City, not wait until now! You have an ulterior motive! You are nothing but scum! How could you possibly have a heart of mercy?"

An elder beside Xiao Chenxin immediately stood up, sternly declaring, "Young man, you are mistaken. How can you make such accusations without proof? Or is it that Peak Master Xiao’s plea for Ye Chen just now was a lie? If you cannot provide a reasonable explanation, I shall have to ask my disciples to show you the door."