Kick You Out and I'll Be the Leader

"My life is in your hands, Senior. Whether I live or die is entirely up to you! Why bother slandering me further?"

Meng Li shed her look of terror, her voice brimming with resentment. "Whether I'm a demon or human, you can peel my flesh and break my bones to find out."

Her tone was sharp and furious, as though an innocent person had resigned herself to death.

Xu Jin remained expressionless, his sword unwavering despite Meng Li's raw emotions.

He also didn’t believe that Chu Xingchen—who had once declared, "Even lychees have lives"—would kill an innocent person based on mere suspicion.

Chu Xingchen pressed the mirror against Meng Li’s face and demanded harshly:

"Then explain what this is in the mirror!"

"It’s your desire to kill me!" Meng Li shot back without hesitation. "If you have a grudge against the Buddhist sects, why take it out on me? I’m just a wretched soul, trapped here doing things against my will!"

Her gaze shifted to Xu Jin, but all she saw was his unwavering resolve.

That useless Jiang Yuan had been so fierce earlier—why was he nowhere to be found now that she was pinned here, waiting to die? Had he no awareness at all?

Were these two men’s cultivation levels beyond comprehension, or was Jiang Yuan seizing this chance to eliminate her as well?

Chu Xingchen’s expression darkened. Shielded by immense spiritual power, he forcibly probed Meng Li’s body with his divine sense.

Meng Li let out a sharp cry of pain. Her body felt as though it were being torn apart, agony searing through her very soul, every inch of her skin screaming in torment.

Yet, this near-unbearable pain filled her with inexplicable joy.

It meant… she would live.

Time stretched endlessly, her body and soul forcibly wrenched apart.

After what felt like an eternity, the tearing sensation faded.

Like a drowning person gasping for air at the last moment, Meng Li opened her mouth wide, sucking in desperate breaths.

As air filled her lungs, her consciousness slowly returned.

Her eyes snapped up to meet Chu Xingchen’s impassive face, and instinctively, she shrank back in fear.

This man truly had no mercy.

After a pause, Chu Xingchen finally spoke, his voice measured:

"My apologies… The Evil Spirit Sect takes full responsibility for this matter."

Meng Li froze, unsure how to react.

How shameless could he be? Even his excuse was this flimsy?

She was certain—if Chu Xingchen really belonged to the Evil Spirit Sect, she wouldn’t have survived.

Being part of the Evil Spirit Sect and staying alive weren’t mutually exclusive, after all.

But the quality of the excuse didn’t matter—only her will to live did.

Feigning resignation, she lowered her eyes to the floor, silently accepting whatever he said.

After a long silence, Meng Li cautiously lifted her gaze, only to find the room empty.

All expression drained from her face as she stared at the still-steaming teacup, lost in thought.

In the pleasure house’s main hall, Xu Jin watched as Chu Xingchen not only lingered but even paid for a private room to settle back in.

During the mission, Xu Jin had followed orders without question.

But now that it was over, he knew far too little.

Frowning slightly, Xu Jin asked, "What’s the situation now? I traced the flow of karmic power in the room, but it led nowhere inside."

Chu Xingchen’s eyes drifted to the stage, where a new courtesan was playing a tune—far more flirtatious than Shanghua had been. He sighed softly:

"I have no concrete evidence, but I’m certain the madam is a demon. I just don’t know how she evaded divine sense detection. Do you believe me or not?"

Xu Jin met his gaze and, after a moment, replied firmly:

"I believe you."

Chu Xingchen turned to him, surprised by the unwavering conviction in his tone.

"You’d believe that?"

"Why wouldn’t I?"

"You… don’t have some other interest, do you?"

Xu Jin answered with utmost sincerity:

"You’ll understand when I have time to personally invite you to the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect."

Chu Xingchen nodded slightly, accepting his words, then changed the subject:

"In that case, how does the Mysterious Purity Heavenly Sect plan to handle relations with the Buddhist sects?"

Xu Jin regarded him frankly. "Truthfully, besides investigating the Buddhist sects, we’re also looking into whether other sects—even the Tianyan Sect—have ties to demons."

"And you dare to work alongside me?" Chu Xingchen asked curiously.

Xu Jin smiled faintly. "Naturally, it’s also to assess you and the Tianyan Sect. Since you’re here, we might as well handle it together."

Chu Xingchen clicked his tongue. "You seem honest, but your heart’s quite cunning."

Xu Jin redirected the conversation: "Since you’ve confirmed the madam is a demon, how will you proceed?"

Chu Xingchen shook his head slightly.

"I need to return to the Tianyan Sect first. Some things must be reported personally."

Xu Jin stood. "In that case, I’ll continue the investigation alone. I’ll share any findings with you."

"Then I’ll await good news." Chu Xingchen rose as well, then asked with a grin, "Where will you start, Brother Xu?"

Xu Jin glanced at the courtesan on stage. "Didn’t you already give me a lead, Brother Chu?"

Chu Xingchen clapped him on the shoulder. "Until next time."

"Until next time."

Wanhua Ridge

The sect’s reconstruction was now complete, all buildings restored to full functionality.

Aside from the shifted location, it was nearly identical to the original sect in Yuzhou City.

With a little adjustment, it would feel like home again.

Li Yingling strode briskly toward the main hall. Though the construction’s conclusion had lightened her workload, it didn’t mean her duties had vanished.

For instance, Third Junior Sister Chen Baiqing had decided to embark on a solo journey.

Fortunately, Lv Xuan had volunteered to ensure her safety. Beyond that, Chen Baiqing promised to send regular updates on her whereabouts.

Chen Baiqing was reliable—far more so than Li Xingtian, who vanished the moment he stepped outside.

Still… worry lingered.

And what exactly was their master busy with?

Li Yingling entered the hall, where Zhang Miaoyu had already laid the most important letter on the desk.

As she approached, she addressed Zhang Miaoyu:

"With fewer tasks now, you don’t need to come daily. Focus on your cultivation—or else Fourth Junior Sister might surpass you soon."

Zhang Miaoyu murmured, "I just want to help with whatever I can, Leader."

"Weren’t you always complaining about poor cultivation conditions before?" Li Yingling opened the letter. "Now that things are better, seize the chance. Show me how a prodigy like you can astonish the cultivation world."

Zhang Miaoyu pouted slightly. "Leader, stop teasing me."

Li Yingling finished reading the letter, then turned her gaze to Zhang Miaoyu with a smile.

"Alright, alright, go and cultivate now..."

Before Li Yingling could finish her sentence, a voice from outside the hall abruptly interrupted.

"Alright, alright, you should go and cultivate too. If you keep dawdling, even Li Xingtian’s cultivation will surpass yours."

Recognizing the familiar voice, Li Yingling’s eyes lit up with delight as she looked toward the hall’s entrance.

There stood her master, wearing his usual warm smile, eyebrows slightly raised as he regarded her.

Li Yingling replied with a tone of mock annoyance,

"If you’d stayed away any longer, your junior brothers and sisters would’ve unanimously elected me as sect leader and banished you from the sect."