In Li Yan's narration, any point that involved even the slightest peripheral connection would be relentlessly questioned by Shuang Qingqing, dragging things on for longer and longer.
Fortunately, some of the matters were public enough to be seen by Li Yan and the others, so they were not considered core secrets. Li Yan managed to answer fluently.
It was just that disciples of other peaks might not have paid as much attention to the history of Little Bamboo Peak and hadn't read it as carefully as Li Yan and the others.
When Li Yan was in the sect, his greatest hobby in his spare time was reading various classics. This time, it really came in handy.
He even recalled many things he hadn't noticed before after being questioned by Shuang Qingqing from different angles.
Some things he hadn't been able to figure out before were now connected, and for a moment he felt as if he was solving puzzles for himself, which made Li Yan give a wry smile in his heart.
Regarding Shuang Qingqing's questions, Li Yan was not as open as he appeared on the surface. Although he knew that what he had seen were not core secrets of the Malevolent Spirit Sect, he was well aware of the principle that disaster comes from the mouth. So, for some issues he felt might involve serious problems, he kept his mouth shut or claimed to know nothing when asked.
Although Shuang Qingqing was suspicious of this, she did not delve deeper. She was just following the clues Li Yan provided to make her own deductions.
In this way, when Li Yan was finally dizzy from the constantly extending questions, Shuang Qingqing finally stopped her inquiries. Seeing this, Li Yan quickly asked to leave. He didn't want to stay here a moment longer.
Moreover, it was already approaching dusk outside, and it was almost time for Wei Zhongran to find him.
Seeing Li Yan ask to go see his master, Shuang Qingqing waved her hand dismissively.
She had also returned from the great battle up front and of course knew that Wei Zhongran was the apparent person in charge at Windy Cool Mountain. He should have been handling the follow-up plans given by the Nascent Soul cultivators in the afternoon.
This master and disciple pair must really have things to discuss. Besides, she had asked almost all the questions she needed to.
Seeing Shuang Qingqing wave her hand to dismiss him, Li Yan quickly bowed in thanks. Then, under Bai Rou's apologetic gaze, he eagerly walked towards the cave entrance.
Bai Rou had been sitting quietly to the side the entire afternoon, not saying another word. She would only occasionally get up to refill the tea for Shuang Qingqing and Li Yan, then sit quietly to the side again.
Seeing Li Yan leave in a hurry, Bai Rou felt a little lost, but she still got up and followed, taking light lotus steps to see him out.
In the main hall of the cave, only Shuang Qingqing was left, her beautiful eyes half-closed, staring at the ceiling, lost in thought.
Outside the cave, the evening glow illuminated Bai Rou's graceful figure, outlining a serene scene. Her stunningly beautiful face wore an apologetic expression as she said, "Junior Brother Li, I'm sorry about today. You know my master's ancestor has always been like this..."
Seeing Bai Rou see him out, Li Yan stopped outside the cave.
"Hehe, Senior Shuang saved my life back then. It is naturally my good fortune to be able to answer some of her questions.
"Oh, by the way, it seems Elder Chigong's injuries must have 'greatly improved'."
Li Yan didn't want to say more about Shuang Qingqing. Every word they spoke would likely fall on the ears of the person inside the cave.
If he accidentally angered her again, it was impossible she would kill him here, but there would definitely be some form of punishment.
Seeing Bai Rou seeing him out, Li Yan didn't feel it was right to just leave directly, so he recalled seeing the change in Bai Rou's expression when he first arrived in the afternoon and immediately asked about it.
He just slightly emphasized the words "greatly improved." Bai Rou naturally understood the meaning in Li Yan's words.
Mentioning Elder Chigong's injuries, her heart was filled with joy. She smiled, making the cave under the setting sun seem magnificent, and for a moment, even Li Yan was stunned.
"Hehe, Junior Brother Li's intelligence should be among the top one or two in the entire sect. I couldn't hide it from you.
"When my master's ancestor came to see me this morning, I mentioned my master's injuries. Master's ancestor later went to see my master.
"She casually lent a hand, and my master's injuries have already improved a lot. This time, I estimate that after another three or four years of secluded cultivation, he will be fully recovered."
Bai Rou said with a light laugh. In reality, things were not as simple as she made them sound. When Shuang Qingqing came to see this successor of the Wood Flow Sect, she saw Bai Rou's red-rimmed eyes and listless expression.
Of course, she knew what it was about, but with her personality, she had no intention of saving anyone outside the Wood Flow Sect.
After much thought, and with Shuang Qingqing deliberately avoiding the topic, Bai Rou still knelt on the ground and begged, which angered Shuang Qingqing greatly. She gave Bai Rou a harsh scolding.
She said that with such a personality, how could she manage a sect in the future, and that Elder Chigong wasn't going to die anyway, just needed to be in seclusion for a few more years.
The Malevolent Spirit Sect naturally had plenty of top-grade medicinal pills and also had Nascent Soul cultivators. How was it her business to meddle?
But Bai Rou just remained kneeling. If it had been someone else, Shuang Qingqing would have either ignored them or sent them flying. But with Bai Rou, she still cherished the successor as she would the sect, so apart from scolding, she really couldn't bring herself to lay a hand on her.
She knew Bai Rou's personality well. If she didn't resolve this, it might leave an indelible scar in her heart, which would definitely affect her cultivation.
Shuang Qingqing was both angry and resentful. But a genius in the art of mechanisms and puppets like Bai Rou was one in ten thousand. How could she truly give her up?
So, how could she leave the "Wood Flow Sect" with peace of mind in the future? Helpless, she had no choice but to stiffly accompany Bai Rou to Elder Chigong's place.
When Elder Chigong saw Shuang Qingqing arrive, he was immediately startled. How did this ruthless, murderous senior come to his Cave Residence?
Previously, although he knew that the former Grand Elder of the "Wood Flow Sect" had returned, he had just assumed she was an ordinary Nascent Soul.
But ever since Bai Rou brought back that jade slip last time, which was eventually given to Ancestor Mo Qing to look at, he knew that this Nascent Soul from the "Wood Flow Sect" was definitely not simple. But at that time, it was all just his speculation.
That was because Ancestor Mo Qing had personally ordered that when conscripting cultivators from various sects, not a single cultivator from the "Wood Flow Sect" was to be conscripted, and he had to strictly ensure that other conscription envoys did not go there either.
At first, Elder Chigong didn't understand, because many first-rate sects that were several times more powerful than the "Wood Flow Sect" not only had their Nascent Soul Ancestors come, but their sects had also had quite a few Golden Core and Foundation Establishment cultivators conscripted.
Although the Malevolent Spirit Sect treated these sects slightly more leniently, they wouldn't go so far as to not conscript a single cultivator, as was the case with the "Wood Flow Sect."
It wasn't until the great battle a few days ago that Elder Chigong personally witnessed the methods of this "Wood Flow Sect" Grand Elder who had suddenly joined the battle. Only then did he know why Ancestor Mo Qing had given that order.
Clearly, Ancestor Mo Qing and the others knew about the "Wood Flow Sect's" past and might have even heard of this Nascent Soul cultivator named Shuang Qingqing.
The contents of the jade slip that Shuang Qingqing had Bai Rou bring back, if he hadn't guessed wrong, should have been the terms of a deal proposed to the Malevolent Spirit Sect for the war against the Demon Clan.
It must have been that Shuang Qingqing would personally take action, and not a single cultivator from the "Wood Flow Sect" could be conscripted. But these terms were too generous.
In the end, during the great battle these past few days, Shuang Qingqing's fame was unparalleled for a time. Among the two Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators from the demonic cultivator side that were slain in the great battle, one of them was blown up by this seemingly delicate Initial-stage Nascent Soul female cultivator.
Shuang Qingqing's attack was extremely explosive, not even giving the opponent's Nascent Soul a chance to use Instantaneous Movement. This was also the most surprising and unexpected scene in this great battle.
An Initial-stage Nascent Soul completely crushing a Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator was like being in a dream. And Elder Chigong later heard something that he found extremely absurd.
It was said that when this "Wood Flow Sect" Grand Elder killed that Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, she didn't seem to be using her full strength at all, appearing very relaxed and casual.
This made Shuang Qingqing stand out like a new force rising abruptly, attracting a Late-stage Nascent Soul demon general to chase after her directly. But the result was that Shuang Qingqing still managed to get away.
This once again made all the cultivators gasp. A Late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator actually couldn't kill an Initial-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. Could it be that Shuang Qingqing had hidden her cultivation?
Until that Late-stage Nascent Soul demon general was intercepted by the divine monk Liaoyuan, Shuang Qingqing still looked full of energy, leaving everyone speechless.
Afterward, she single-handedly held off two of the opponent's Mid-stage Nascent Soul demon generals, freeing up her side's Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator to successively kill two of the opponent's Initial-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.
It wasn't until those two Mid-stage Nascent Soul demonic cultivators, in a desperate move, used a secret art at the great cost of their essence blood, that they forced Shuang Qingqing to retreat. Only then did they manage to hold off the attack of the Windy Cool Mountain Nascent Soul cultivators.
For a time, the ancient ape puppet that Shuang Qingqing controlled became the most dazzling existence in this battle, like a peerless ferocious beast.
So even though he knew that Bai Rou had a very close personal relationship with this "Wood Flow Sect" Grand Elder, Elder Chigong had never expected that she would personally come to check on his injuries.
He was so shocked that he couldn't speak. In the end, under Shuang Qingqing's murderous, bone-chilling gaze, Elder Chigong tremblingly finished the examination.
Shuang Qingqing just casually pointed a few fingers, and Elder Chigong felt the congested Spirit Power in his body melt like ice and snow, instantly flowing freely.
If he had to unblock these necrotic meridians himself, even with the help of top-grade medicinal pills, it would have taken at least several years.
Now, in just a few short breaths, he had been saved several years of arduous closed-door cultivation.
Those seemingly simple finger-points, Elder Chigong felt were incomparably profound, as if it were some kind of ancient technique, but he didn't dare to ask.
With a mix of incomparable apprehension and pleasant surprise, under Shuang Qingqing's icy gaze that seemed to freeze the heavens and earth, he respectfully saw off this god of death who had stayed for less than ten breaths. Elder Chigong felt as if he was about to collapse on the ground.
He knew that this was because Bai Rou had pleaded for him. He hadn't expected to owe his own disciple a favor. In the end, he quietly waved at Bai Rou and quickly closed the entrance to his Cave Residence.
"Well, that's good. But Elder Chigong and the others probably won't be staying at Windy Cool Mountain, right?"
"That's right. Master and the other seriously injured cultivators should be teleported back to their respective sects or jurisdictions tonight."
Next, Li Yan exchanged a few more simple words with Bai Rou. Seeing the time, he then flew away.
Watching Li Yan's departing back, Bai Rou felt a mix of emotions. Logically, Li Yan should have understood Shuang Qingqing's hints today, but Li Yan had remained as he was before, joking casually with her without any change in his demeanor.
Bai Rou felt a little empty inside, but with her personality, she naturally wouldn't show it on her face. She waved goodbye to Li Yan.
Li Yan didn't think too much about it. He flew directly towards the mountain peak where Wei Zhongran's Cave Residence was located.
When he arrived in front of Wei Zhongran's Cave Residence and saw the completely still formation restrictions, Li Yan knew that his master had not yet returned.
But it was already getting dark. He didn't plan on going back and forth again, so he found a spot on the platform and sat down cross-legged to meditate.