Chapter 65: Deep in Peril, Searching for the Truth

The sound of dense footsteps outside the attic grew closer and closer, making it obvious that the search party had reached the entrance.

Knowing the situation was critical, Yun Yao felt fine beads of sweat trickle down her forehead.

She swept her gaze across the surroundings in an attempt to find a hiding place, but the dilapidated attic was completely empty, with nowhere to hide besides piles of miscellaneous debris.

"Bang!" With a loud crash, the attic door was kicked open violently. Several disciples clad in black rushed inside, holding sharp swords and scanning every corner of the attic with fierce glares.

"Search! The elder gave the order, not even a fly is to be spared!"

Yun Yao cursed inwardly and tightened her grip on the dagger in her hand.

She knew that fighting head-on right now was by no means a wise choice; she had to find a way to break through the encirclement.

The moment the black-clad disciples closed in, Yun Yao leaped forward, stepping on the piled debris in an attempt to escape through the broken window of the attic.

"Trying to run? Not that easy!" A chilling laugh came from outside the window. A dark figure flashed past, and a mysterious assassin dressed in night-walker garb and masked appeared outside the window, blocking Yun Yao's path.

The assassin held a poisoned dagger that gleamed with a faint, chilling light, pointing straight at Yun Yao's throat.

Caugh between attacks from the front and back, Yun Yao found herself in a difficult dilemma.

The surrounding air seemed to freeze, filled with a murderous intent.

She could feel her heartbeat accelerating rapidly, and fear rushed over her like a tide, threatening to drown her.

At this critical juncture, a fierce sword Qi pierced through the air, striking directly at the mysterious assassin!

"Who dares commit murder here!" With an angry roar, Jun Mohan descended from the sky like a deity, placing himself in front of Yun Yao.

Wielding the long sword in his hand, his sword light shone like a rainbow as he engaged the mysterious assassin in close combat.

The assassin's moves were bizarre and unpredictable, causing Jun Mohan to struggle slightly in parrying for a moment.

However, he quickly steadied his stance, and a powerful surge of spiritual energy burst forth, forcing the assassin back several steps.

"Senior Brother!" Seeing Jun Mohan appear, the surrounding disciples shouted loudly, their morale greatly boosted.

Jun Mohan's eyes turned stern as he grew bolder with every clash. His sword momentum was like a violent storm, completely suppressing the assassin.

"Overestimating your capabilities!" Jun Mohan sneered, and the light on the long sword in his hand flared violently...

He abruptly swung his sword, aiming straight for the assassin's throat!

A flash of panic crossed the assassin's eyes, and though he wanted to dodge, it was already too late...

"Stop!" An elderly voice suddenly rang out...

A cold light flashed as the sword's edge pressed directly against the assassin's throat, coming within a hair's breadth of delivering a fatal blow!

"Stop!" The elderly voice carried a hint of majesty, breaking through the air and causing the attic to vibrate slightly.

Jun Mohan's sword momentum paused, though he did not withdraw it. The tip of the sword remained pressed against the assassin's throat, and the sharp sword Qi left the assassin unable to move, drenched in cold sweat.

A figure slowly walked in from afar. It was none other than the traitorous elder, wearing a hypocritical smile on his face while his eyes remained as cold as a venomous snake.

The traitorous elder looked at Jun Mohan with a fake smile: "Mohan, what are you doing? Why turn your blade against a fellow disciple of the immortal sect?"

Jun Mohan cast a cold glance at him and gave the sword tip a slight flick, causing a trickle of fresh blood to seep from the assassin's neck.

The assassin let out a muffled grunt, his eyes filled with terror. Seeing this, the traitorous elder's complexion turned ashen, and the gloomy look deep in his eyes grew even denser.

"Elder, this person is an assassin who intended to harm Yun Yao. Could it be that the elder still intends to shield him?" Jun Mohan's tone was icy, every word like a knife pointing directly at the traitorous elder.

The traitorous elder gave a sinister chuckle: "Mohan, you mustn't be deceived by this little girl. Her background is unknown, and she might well harbor malicious intentions. I suspect this assassin is just a play she staged herself!"

The surrounding black-clad disciples looked at one another in dismay. Originally, they had harbored some suspicions about Yun Yao, but seeing Jun Mohan defend her to this extent, their hearts began to waver.

Some of the disciples began to whisper and murmur among themselves.

"Silence!" Jun Mohan let out an angry roar, his voice booming like a bell and causing everyone's eardrums to ring.

The long sword in his hand once again emitted a dazzling light, forcing the assassin back several steps.

"Today, if anyone dares to speak nonsense again, do not blame my sword for being merciless!"

Realizing the situation was lost, the assassin executed a feint and took advantage of the chaos to flee.

Following the shifting winds, the black-clad disciples also turned tail and fled, vanishing without a trace in the blink of an eye.

Looking at Jun Mohan's majestic back, a warm current surged through Yun Yao's heart. No longer able to control her emotions, she threw herself into Jun Mohan's embrace, hugging him tightly and feeling the warm aura emanating from him.

"Mohan, I..." Yun Yao choked back her words as tears streamed down uncontrollably.

Jun Mohan gently patted her back and spoke tenderly: "It's alright now, I'm here." His voice was low and magnetic, acting like a miraculous medicine that smoothed away the fear in Yun Yao's heart.

He could feel the trembling of the person in his arms, and his heart ached for her even more.

The disciples who had once suspected Yun Yao felt a sense of introspection upon seeing this scene; perhaps they really had wronged Yun Yao.

She was not spreading bewitching lies; rather, she was risking her very life for the sake of justice within the immortal sect.

Jun Mohan led Yun Yao away and quickly took refuge in a secluded cave.

He lit a bonfire, illuminating the interior of the cave brightly.

With a furrowed brow and eyes full of tender concern, he meticulously inspected the wounds on Yun Yao's body.

Taking out a medicinal ointment, he applied it gently to Yun Yao's wounds, moving with utmost care for fear of hurting her.

Feeling the love in Jun Mohan's eyes, Yun Yao felt a enveloping warmth in her heart.

Looking at Jun Mohan's focused expression, she could not help but reveal a happy smile.

"Hiss—" Yun Yao gasped softly as the wound stung.

Jun Mohan's movements halted. He raised his eyes to look at her and asked tenderly, "Does it hurt very much?"

"Just a little bit, but I'm fine." Yun Yao shook her head, smiling brightly.

Jun Mohan sighed lightly and muttered under his breath, "You..." He reached out, his thumb gently rubbing Yun Yao's cheek, his gaze dark and unfathomable.

"Mohan, do you believe me?" Yun Yao's voice was very soft, yet carried an undeniable seriousness.

"Naturally I believe you." Jun Mohan withdrew his hand, his burning gaze affirmative.

Just as the two were pouring their hearts out to one another and the atmosphere grew warm and tender, an elderly voice came from the cave entrance: "Yun Yao, do you know what you are doing?"

The bonfire crackled, casting flickering light and shadows within the cave.

Elder Lingyu leaned on his walking stick as he slowly walked in from the entrance. With white hair and beard, and a face covered in wrinkles, his cloudy eyes flashed with a sharp light as he stared intently at Yun Yao.

"Yun Yao, do you know what you are doing?" Elder Lingyu's voice was low and hoarse, carrying an unquestionable majesty.

A chill shot straight from the soles of Yun Yao's feet to the top of her head, making her heart skip a beat.

She knew that Elder Lingyu was a representative of the neutral faction within the immortal sect, and his attitude was of vital importance.

"Elder, this disciple merely wishes to uncover the truth and bring justice back to the immortal sect!" Yun Yao's tone was firm, without a single trace of retreat.

"The truth? Hmph! A mere disciple like you is worthy of speaking of truth?" Elder Lingyu sneered coldly, a flash of disdain crossing his eyes. "Your actions right now have severely disrupted the order of the immortal sect. If you remain obstinately lost, do not blame this old man for expelling you from the sect!"

The surrounding air instantly froze, so oppressive that it was hard to breathe.

Yun Yao felt an immense sense of grievance, tears swirling in her eyes, yet she stubbornly held them back.

She knew that showing weakness at this moment would only make the enemies more arrogant.

Suddenly, a flash of inspiration struck Yunyu. She realized she might be able to find a breakthrough point through Elder Lingyu.

Taking a deep breath, she regulated her emotions, put on a sincere expression, and spoke slowly: "Elder, this disciple did not intentionally disrupt the order of the immortal sect. It is simply that I have discovered certain clues and had no choice but to investigate further. Does the elder still remember..." Yun Yao recounted the clues she had investigated and her own deductions to Elder Lingyu one by one.

Elder Lingyu's originally knitted brows gradually unfurled. Seeing a glimmer of hope in his cloudy eyes, Yun Yao felt a ray of dawn ignite in her heart.

However, just as Yun Yao thought she had persuaded Elder Lingyu, a chilling voice suddenly came from the cave entrance: "Lingyu, could it be that you have been bewitched by this little girl?"

The traitorous elder appeared at the cave entrance. With a sinister smile on his face, he walked closer step by step, his gaze fixed on Yun Yao like a venomous snake as he slowly spoke: "Yun Yao, you certainly have a lot of nerve..."