Senior Sister treats me with sincerity

Countless eyes fixated on Su Yan and the wounded Yang Kai, whom she was gently supporting. A wave of envy and jealousy surged among the crowd, its acrid taste palpable in the air.

Until this day, no one had seen Su Yan exhibit such familiarity with any man. Even the most esteemed disciples of the core sect hadn't earned this honor.

Su Yan, who practiced the Ice Heart Technique, had kept her heart sealed for years. Not only was it rare to see her close to any man, but she rarely even spoke to others. Regardless of their strength or status, every disciple of the Lingxiao Pavilion treated her with reverence, fearing to offend her. Yet, at this moment, she willingly supported a young man at the third stage of the Opening Origin Realm, her snow-white hand resting gently on his waist. The subtle blush on her icy countenance made her even more alluring.

Someone usually unreachable was suddenly within grasp, or so it seemed. But to countless male disciples of the Lingxiao Pavilion, it felt like their idol had been desecrated.

And the one who desecrated their goddess was right before them, being supported by her, basking in her fragrance, feeling the softness of her hand, enjoying a privilege no one else dared to dream of.

"I sense murderous intent," Yang Kai remarked, a strange smile playing on his lips. With a calm demeanor, he followed Su Yan forward, exuding the air of one who hides behind a powerful ally.

A figure stepped out in front of them, blocking their path. It was a man, handsome and elegant, his eyes full of tender affection for Su Yan but laced with a hidden bitterness and displeasure.

Su Yan halted, lifting her gaze to meet his.

"Step aside," she ordered, her voice as cool and indifferent as ever, devoid of any emotional undertones.

The man forced a bitter smile and shook his head. "Junior Sister, please don't make things difficult for your senior brother. I'm simply fulfilling my duty."

This was Jie Hongchen, the second strongest among the younger generation of the Lingxiao Pavilion.

"Step aside," Su Yan repeated, unwilling to waste another word.

Jie Hongchen sighed. "Junior Sister, these individuals cannot leave yet. They have violated sect rules. Until the Council of Elders reaches a decision, no one can take them away."

"Sect rules?" Yang Kai stepped forward, a mocking smile on his lips. "May I ask, senior brother, which sect rule have we violated?"

Jie Hongchen shot him a disdainful look and sneered, "Engaging in group brawls, attempting murder, and showing contempt for the Hall of Enforcement. Any one of these offenses is grounds for expulsion from the Lingxiao Pavilion."

"A group brawl?" Su Yan interjected, "Who were they brawling with? If it was a group fight, there must be an opposing side, right? Why did your Hall of Enforcement only arrest one side? Where are the others?"

Jie Hongchen's face fell, and he found himself at a loss for words. The other party involved was Wei Zhuang and his companions, whom they dared not apprehend.

"Attempted murder? Where is the body of the person allegedly killed?"

Jie Hongchen offered a forced smile and quickly explained, "It was an attempt, an attempt at murder. Fortunately, the Hall of Enforcement intervened in time to prevent a serious incident."

"Disciples of the sect spar at their own risk. By your logic, every pair of sparring disciples would be guilty of attempted murder. Is the Hall of Enforcement so idle that it plans to arrest every disciple in the Lingxiao Pavilion?" Su Yan's expression was indifferent, her voice icy. "As for contempt for the Hall of Enforcement, if you truly upheld justice and fairness, who would dare to show disrespect? It seems the so-called Hall of Enforcement, which claims to represent the sect rules, has long been reduced to a tool for certain individuals to vie for power, losing its dignity and inviting others to trample it underfoot."

"Junior Sister," Jie Hongchen's smile was strained, his handsome face etched with deep helplessness, "Must you be so forthright?"

"Right and wrong, you know it well in your heart."

Jie Hongchen's expression darkened, and he spoke in a low voice, "Junior Sister, I have always been sincere towards you. Why do you make things difficult for me?"

Su Yan replied coolly, "If Senior Brother's words were to reach the ears of Junior Sister Zhao Feixue, I wonder how she would feel."

Zhao Feixue, like Jie Hongchen and Su Yan, was also a core disciple of the Lingxiao Pavilion. However, her relationship with Jie Hongchen had always been ambiguous.

Jie Hongchen trembled, casting a long, sorrowful look at Su Yan, his face filled with regret and helplessness. Then, he shifted his gaze to Yang Kai, his eyes suddenly brimming with venomous hatred.

Yang Kai stood unflinchingly, meeting his gaze with equal resolve.

"Your name is Yang Kai?" Jie Hongchen suppressed his jealousy and spoke, unable to tolerate the closeness between the woman he adored and another man.

"What advice do you have, senior brother?"

"I know you instigated this incident. Without you, there wouldn't be this trouble. If you don't wish to implicate Junior Sister Su, go back to the prison on your own, and save me the trouble of using force," Jie Hongchen stated coolly. He couldn't persuade Su Yan and dared not act against her, so he turned his focus to Yang Kai.

Yang Kai chuckled lightly.

"Why are you laughing?" Jie Hongchen asked, frowning.

Despite his bloodied appearance, Yang Kai extended his hand, gently grasped Su Yan's delicate hand resting on his waist, and placed it in his palm. He patted it tenderly, then turned to Su Yan with a look of deep affection. "I don't wish to burden my senior sister, but she treats me with such sincerity. How can I let her down? I have no choice but to indulge her whims."

Jie Hongchen's face turned pale instantly, while Su Yan stood rooted to the spot, her face a picture of bewilderment.

Li Yuntian and the others were left dumbfounded, strange noises escaping their throats, unable to utter a coherent word.

The surrounding disciples of the Hall of Enforcement felt their hearts shatter as they witnessed the scene, stunned into silence.

"Isn't that right, senior sister?" Yang Kai appeared oblivious to the danger, seemingly adding fuel to the fire.

Jie Hongchen anxiously watched Su Yan, dreading an unfavorable response from her.

Su Yan suddenly snapped out of her daze.

Never before had a man been so bold with her. The feeling of his rough calloused hands against her skin was both painful and warm.

Anger surged within her, and she nearly flung Yang Kai away, but she quickly understood his intentions. Suppressing her fury, Su Yan nodded slightly, openly acknowledging, "Yes."

As she spoke, she directed a surge of energy into Yang Kai's meridians.

Yang Kai grunted, blood trickling from his nostrils.

"Why is he bleeding?" Su Yan asked, pulling out a clean silk handkerchief to gently wipe the blood from Yang Kai's face.

"It's nothing, nothing at all!" Yang Kai felt a chill run through him. He realized that his senior sister, despite her calm demeanor, would show no mercy if provoked.

"You…" Jie Hongchen was nearly driven insane by jealousy. If he had doubted Su Yan's earlier declaration, he couldn't deny her feelings after witnessing this display.

When had Su Yan ever been so tender to a man? When had she allowed her hand to be held without resisting?

If she hadn't willingly submitted, how could Yang Kai have succeeded, given her strength?

"Junior Sister, you're a natural prodigy. How could you be attracted to such a worthless person?"