Zhao Wuji's expression immediately turned terrified.
The locations of those formations were extremely secret. Through generations, they had only been passed down verbally between sect leaders.
The previous sect leader had already fallen. In theory, in the current Tianxing Sect, only he knew the locations of the formations.
So, after the banquet began.
He had sent Han Xiaoyu to secretly remove the spirit stones from the formations.
This task had originally carried little risk.
After all, everyone else was tied up at the banquet, and they didn't even know the locations of the formations.
As long as Han Xiaoyu acted secretly, he could complete the task easily.
But now.
The formation was still activated.
This could only mean that Han Xiaoyu had been discovered.
A trace of anxiety flashed across Zhao Wuji's face.
He wanted to ask about it.
But he was afraid that if things weren't as he thought, he might instead implicate Han Xiaoyu, so he didn't dare speak.
"Sect Leader Zhao." Yun Jin smiled again. "Are you worried about Han Xiaoyu?"
Zhao Wuji's complexion turned pale.
How did Yun Jin know about this too?!
The others also looked at Yun Jin curiously.
Yun Jin smiled faintly and said softly, "For the sect-protecting formation to activate, several formations within the sect must simultaneously provide energy through spirit stones. As long as those stones are removed, the formation naturally cannot be activated. That was your plan, wasn't it?"
Zhao Wuji's complexion worsened, he clenched his teeth and said nothing.
Yun Jin didn't mind and continued, "You don't have many usable people under you now, the only one you can fully trust is probably Han Xiaoyu. You sent him to remove the spirit stones, but unfortunately, his movements were discovered. Now, your plan has completely failed."
Even Lin Ya grew curious hearing this.
He had also arranged for people to monitor Zhao Wuji's disciples, but so far, there had been no reports, either they had lost track, or something unexpected had occurred.
Yun Jin had just returned, yet she seemed to understand everything clearly.
In comparison, he, the master, felt somewhat useless.
"Xiao Jin, just how did you…" Lin Ya couldn't help but ask.
"They should be arriving soon," Yun Jin said.
They?
Everyone was puzzled.
Then they saw.
Zhou Li and Zhou Dai escorting Han Xiaoyu and Ye Danxia over!
Han Xiaoyu seemed to have been beaten up severely and was now barely recognizable.
He was tightly bound from head to toe, looking utterly miserable.
Ye Danxia's condition was somewhat better.
She looked confused, as if she had no idea what was happening.
"Xiaoyu!" Zhao Wuji couldn't resist crying out in distress.
Han Xiaoyu looked up and froze!
He was still thinking that once his master succeeded, he would come to rescue him.
As a result, Zhao Wuji's condition seemed to be even worse than his own?
At least.
His body was still intact.
But Zhao Wuji?
One arm was gone.
One ear was missing.
His condition looked far worse.
"Master, you…" Han Xiaoyu suddenly felt despair.
Zhao Wuji gritted his teeth and glared at Zhou Li and Zhou Dai, "You two, what have you done to your junior brother?!"
Zhou Li and Zhou Dai ignored him.
Zhou Li looked gratefully at Yun Jin and said, "Thank you for your reminder, Junior Sister Yun. We secretly observed Han Xiaoyu and master, and indeed noticed some strange behavior. After the banquet began today, we followed Han Xiaoyu the entire time. He seemed to have something that concealed his tracks, we nearly lost him several times. Later, we captured that laborer Ye Danxia, which forced him to reveal himself. After interrogation, we learned that he was trying to steal the spirit stones to disable the sect formation."
Zhao Wuji's expression darkened.
Han Xiaoyu was originally able to successfully complete the task.
It's all because of this Ye Danxia!
She was the reason he was caught.
Ye Danxia, being glared at by Zhao Wuji, felt wronged and couldn't help but say, "I don't even know what's going on! They suddenly captured me and even said they would kill me. Then, in order to save me, Senior Brother Han appeared. I don't know anything about what they're saying, I'm completely innocent!"
This time.
Ye Danxia really thought she was innocent.
She had already been reduced to labor duty.
During these past few days, her life had been miserable.
Mainly because Yang Yun had run away!
Because the supervisors couldn't find Yang Yun, they took it out on her. She had to do even more work than before and suffered even more.
And then.
Even in such a miserable state.
Zhou Li and Zhou Dai suddenly took her away.
Then it somehow involved the sect-protecting formation and the demons.
She didn't understand any of it.
Yet she ended up tied up as well.
Who could she complain about this to?!
But now, no one paid attention to Ye Danxia.
Everyone coldly stared at Zhao Wuji and Han Xiaoyu.
Under their gazes, Han Xiaoyu's legs weakened, he said nervously, "I don't know! I really don't know anything! Master only told me to retrieve some spirit stones, how would I know it was something so serious? And besides, a disciple cannot disobey their master, I was also being forced!"
"Xiaoyu, you…" Zhao Wuji looked at him in disbelief.
Among all his disciples, he had poured his heart into Han Xiaoyu, his illegitimate son, wanting to give him everything!
And yet.
At the first sign of trouble, Han Xiaoyu immediately betrayed him?
Han Xiaoyu didn't care about that anymore and hurriedly said, "It's true, I don't know anything! It was Zhao Wuji, he colluded with demons and coerced me! I'm a victim too!"
As he spoke, he burst into tears.
Zhao Wuji's face turned ashen, and couldn't say a single word.
Lin Ya looked at Han Xiaoyu with some disgust. He flicked his hand slightly, and Han Xiaoyu could no longer speak.
"This one is too noisy," Lin Ya said. "Neither of them can escape, we'll deal with them after the Demon-Destroying Alliance arrives."
"That is appropriate." A Supreme Elder looked at Zhou Li and Zhou Dai, his tone softening. "You two are Zhao Wuji's disciples. Originally, you would've been implicated in this matter. However, since you reported it, your merits can offset your faults. When the Demon-Destroying Alliance arrives, we will speak on your behalf."
In the world of cultivation.
The relationship between master and disciple was sometimes equivalent to that of father and child.
If Zhao Wuji committed a crime, all his disciples would be implicated.
Gu Jinghong had already followed Yun Jin early on, so he wasn't involved.
Zhou Li and Zhou Dai would've originally faced some trouble.
Fortunately, they captured Han Xiaoyu, which counted as making amends.
With this merit, they should be able to withdraw unscathed.
Zhou Li and Zhou Dai were overjoyed and repeatedly expressed their thanks.
Under Zhao Wuji, they had gained little benefit, yet if something happened to Zhao Wuji, they also wouldn't be able to escape the consequences.
Fortunately, Yun Jin had warned them in advance, allowing them to earn this merit.
Both of them couldn't help but look at Yun Jin with gratitude.
Yun Jin simply smiled.
She had once said that she would help them break free from Zhao Wuji.
This time, she had fulfilled that promise.
And in the end, it was because they made the right choice that they were able to save themselves from the mire.