### Chapter 223: I Didn’t Even Lift a Finger, Yet the Villain Disappeared
Everyone thought that the sisters from the Su family had some deep-seated grudges between them; the rift hidden deep within their bloodline seemed harder to heal than any visible scars.
Eldest sister Su Xiaoxiao had been abandoned in Suzhou City since childhood, drifting like a leaf on the wind, suffering constant humiliation and disdain. Her world appeared forever shrouded in darkness.
Meanwhile, her younger sister was like fate’s chosen one, whisked away to a life of luxury, surrounded by admiration, basking in endless praise.
This extreme imbalance and disparity would undoubtedly give rise to a nameless jealousy and resentment in anyone’s heart.
When younger sister Su Xinghe learned that their parents had experienced misfortunes because of Su Xiaoxiao’s “bad luck,” she must have been filled with unspeakable hatred for her sister. After all, why else would she ignore her existence completely, showing no concern for her life or d*ath?
Their relationship couldn’t possibly be worse.
But Meng Yao couldn’t understand why Su Xinghe had come to trouble him over Su Xiaoxiao.
Su Xinghe’s reasoning was exceptionally simple: this was the Xuantian Sect, a place where countless progenies of influential families gathered, strong as forests.
Here, everyone’s actions reflected their family’s reputation and honor.
Meng Yao’s shenanigans in Suzhou City might be overlooked – after all, it was just a remote little place with limited impact.
But here, any contempt or insult directed at the Su family was a direct attack on her prestige and honor!
Even a dog from the Su family wouldn’t tolerate being bullied.
As the successor of the Su family, Su Xinghe naturally had to defend its reputation and glory.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry, Miss Su, I was wrong! I was reckless and didn’t think things through. I hope you can forgive me!”
In less than a few minutes, Meng Yao had been beaten to a pulp by three burly men, his face bruised and bloodied, mumbling incoherently, looking particularly pitiful and wretched.
At that moment, he was kneeling at Su Xinghe’s feet, clinging to her leg with both hands, his eyes filled with fear and despair as he desperately begged, “Miss Su, I did this for you! That Su Xiaoxiao is always clinging to the Su family, refusing to leave – she clearly wants to return one day and take power from you! I’m just trying to…”
“Shut up!”
Su Xinghe shouted angrily, lifting her foot and slamming it hard into Meng Yao’s cheek. He instantly saw stars, bl**d again oozed from the corner of his mouth, and he flew backward like a kite with a broken string, crashing heavily to the ground.
Su Xinghe stood tall and proud in a pristine white robe, her posture straight like a spear, looking down at Meng Yao with cold, indifferent eyes, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Her voice was icy and steady: “When did my Su family’s matters become something a mere outsider like you can comment on? How I deal with Su Xiaoxiao is my decision alone. Who do you think you are to decide anything for me?”
Her demeanor was cold and arrogant, like a noble queen looking disdainfully over her subjects.
To her, Meng Yao was nothing more than an ant, an ant she could squash at any moment.
After being kicked down, Meng Yao crawled backward for a few steps before finally struggling to his feet, holding his aching stomach and looking like a ghost as he paled to a paper-white hue. Lowering his head in shame, he stammered, “I’m so sorry, Miss Su… it’s my fault… I shouldn’t have spoken out… Please forgive me…”
“Get lost!” Su Xinghe merely shot him a glance, her tone filled with undeniable authority.
Under that look, Meng Yao felt his heart race, and his face drained of all color. He turned to flee but suddenly remembered that this was his residence. Where exactly could he run to?
Realizing this, Su Xinghe couldn’t help but chuckle disdainfully: “And where do you think you’re going? Get out of the Xuantian Sect on your own, or it won’t just be a matter of me letting you off easy. Your Meng family… hmph!”
As she said this, her brows arched, eyes flashing with extreme danger, as if she could already envision the Meng family’s downfall.
Meng Yao snapped his head up, gritting his teeth, pain swirling in his eyes.
He was unwilling to accept it, unwilling to think he would be forced out of the Xuantian Sect because of a Su Xiaoxiao?!
But clearly, Su Xinghe meant every word; if he didn’t comply with her plans, the entire Meng family could face catastrophic disaster.
Though he bristled with indignation, the situation left him no room for choice.
“Miss Su, I really didn’t mean it! Please spare me! I want to continue cultivating in the Xuantian Sect…” He bent his legs and knelt again while pressing his forehead to the cold ground, repeatedly banging his head in apology.
His voice trembled and was barely audible, filled with pleading and desperation.
“Keep you around to continue insulting my Su family?” Su Xinghe waved her hand, clearly annoyed.
She tossed out a dismissive remark, “Just get out of the Xuantian Sect, consider it a privilege. Otherwise, I’ll ruin your immortal path!”
“!”
Meng Yao shuddered at her words, an undercurrent of viciousness and fury flaring in his eyes.
“I… got it. I’ll leave the Xuantian Sect tomorrow…”
After saying that, Meng Yao shakily stood up, each movement accompanied by sharp pain, but he forced himself to move slowly.
Each step seemed to drain his last bit of strength, leaving him hunched over and gloomy, like an elderly man nearing the end of his days.
His gaze was hollow and dazed as he watched Su Xinghe’s back as she left, the depths of his heart brimming with endless resentment and unwillingness.
“I hope you stick to your word and I don’t see you again.”
Su Xinghe replied coldly, not bothering to glance at Meng Yao again, then turned to leave with her three attendants.
On their way, one attendant couldn’t help but whisper, “Miss, how do you plan to handle expelling Su Xiaoxiao from the Su family…”
His tone carried concern and curiosity.
With a sidelong glance, Su Xinghe silenced him immediately; he dared not ask further.
“This matter is mine to handle; you needn’t worry.”
Su Xinghe’s voice was calm and resolute, her sapphire-blue eyes, nearly identical to Su Xiaoxiao’s, gazed into the distance, flickering with determination and ruthlessness.
“I will make her sever ties with the Su family and ensure she never has a chance to return!”
…
The next day, just as dawn broke, a figure hurriedly made its way towards a cold ice cave deep within the Xuantian Peak.
Master Youyue was supervising Mu Jixue’s training in the cave when she sensed the commotion outside, her brows furrowing slightly.
Her eyes seemed to hold a world of frost within them.
Master Youyue opened the cave door, gazing at the person in front of her, and coolly uttered, “What brings you, Manager Meng?”
It was Meng Yao’s uncle, who had recently been taught a lesson by Yun Zhonghe; he looked anxious, eyes flickering with unease and pleading.
Upon seeing Master Youyue, he took a deep breath, trying to steady his voice: “Aunt Bai…”
The way he addressed her felt a tad awkward!
Although Meng Yao was older than Master Youyue, their masters were siblings, so by seniority, he should call her “Aunt.”
However, given Master Youyue’s profound cultivation, having a mere Golden Core cultivator address her as “Aunt” was already quite a compliment.
Master Youyue gave him a cold glance, her voice still cool as ever: “What’s got you all flustered?”
Her tone suggested she didn’t care much for Manager Meng.
If it weren’t for their minor familial connection, she wouldn’t bother with someone like Manager Meng at all.
“Aunt Bai, you should have heard about the incident these past few days. That Yun Zhonghe from the Outer Sect hit me, and the sect hasn’t given any explanation! He’s forcing my nephew to leave the sect. This kid is really getting too bold; you have to stand up for us!”
As he spoke, Manager Meng’s eyes darted around, secretly plotting how to use Master Youyue as his pawn against Yun Zhonghe. This way, he could get revenge and save face for the Meng family.
He knew Meng Yao had been forced out of the sect due to Su Xiaoxiao confronting him, but they couldn’t mess with the Su family, so they had to take it out on Yun Zhonghe.
Upon hearing his words, Master Youyue furrowed her brows even tighter. A hint of displeasure crept into her icy voice: “This matter has already been assigned to the Law Enforcement Hall for impartial handling; why do you feel the need to come here and complicate things?”
Manager Meng ground his teeth and whispered, “I understand the authority of the Law Enforcement Hall, but you also know that Yun Zhonghe has a special status; his father is an old friend of the sect master. What if the Law Enforcement Hall shows him favoritism…”
“What do you want to say?” Master Youyue interrupted.
“I… I want to ask you to speak on our behalf in the Elder Hall and pressure the sect master under the name of the Elders!” Manager Meng hurriedly replied. “Of course, I won’t let Aunt Bai do this for nothing…”
However, he hadn’t finished his sentence before Master Youyue decisively slammed the cave door shut!
Bang! She locked him out.
Childish!
What benefits did she need from this?
Why should she help him?
Manager Meng didn’t expect to be met with a closed door, and he felt a bit panicked.
“Aunt Bai, this is also my master’s intention… He’s concerned this incident might affect our Meng family’s standing within the sect…”
Before he could finish, Master Youyue’s voice rang out coldly from inside: “Foolish! Naive! You think someone as mediocre as you can command me?”
“Get lost!”
Master Youyue was livid, her anger boiling over.
She was typically cool and composed, rarely expressing anger, but at that moment, Manager Meng’s words had pushed her over the edge.
This Manager Meng was quite the character.
An ignorant fool who attempted to exploit her identity for his self-serving desires.
Master Youyue had always looked down on the Meng family’s arrogance and opportunism. When Manager Meng brought Meng Yao to her in the past, hoping she would take him as a disciple, she had seen the hypocrisy and greed of the Meng family.
At that time, she had refused his request without hesitation because she knew Meng Yao simply wasn’t cut out for cultivation, let alone becoming her disciple.
Now, it seemed her initial assessment was correct; the Meng family was filled with profit-driven, rusty-headed morons. They expected to drag her into their petty revenge against Yun Zhonghe?
Were they out of their minds?!
Yun Zhonghe was someone she held in high regard; a promising youth with a bright future. She regretted not meeting him sooner and bringing him under her wing.
How extraordinary Yun Zhonghe was—hardworking, reliable, and possessing a calm demeanor; he never sought out trouble. The idea that he would provoke Meng Yao and the others was absolutely absurd to Master Youyue.
To her, Yun Zhonghe was the type who would gladly devote all his time to training; how could he have the spare time to stir up trouble?
It was clear that Meng Yao and his ilk had deliberately provoked Yun Zhonghe, forcing him to retaliate, and now they were experiencing the consequences of their actions.
And as for Manager Meng, here he was, a mere Golden Core manager, beaten up by a Foundation Establishment disciple, left searching for his teeth, and still had the nerve to come to her for help?
Could he have any shame?
The more she thought about it, the angrier she got. Why did such a talented individual as Yun Zhonghe have to be dragged into the mess created by the Meng family, adding unnecessary trouble and complications?
Her desire to protect Yun Zhonghe swelled, intensifying her bias toward him.
She couldn’t forget all those astonishing moments she’d witnessed while secretly observing his training.
That focused expression, those determined eyes, and that terrifyingly rapid learning speed…
In contrast, the so-called “elites” of the Meng family seemed utterly worthless in Master Youyue’s eyes.
Even if the entire Meng family were to pay a price, it wouldn’t compare to a single hair of Yun Zhonghe.
If the Meng family didn’t recognize their place, she didn’t mind taking action herself.
A bunch of morons, the further they rolled away from her, the better!
