Xu Yi did not answer directly this time. Instead, she first gave Zhan Fei a look.
Zhan Fei immediately understood, gave a hearty laugh, and led Xu Yi into the sect, with the two martial uncles, Nan and Bei, following closely behind.
Wang Yang was about to follow when he noticed Chi Xiaoxi standing there blankly, seemingly lost in thought. He reached out and gently poked her. "Junior Sister, what are you thinking about?"
Chi Xiaoxi slowly blinked her eyes and hesitantly asked, "Was that Senior Xu Yi just now?"
Wang Yang nodded. "Yes, don't you remember? It was Senior Xu who avenged our ancestor and helped us revive the divine tree."
"Ahhh! It really is her, it really is her!"
Chi Xiaoxi covered her mouth, shrieked with excitement, and jumped around.
Wang Yang immediately realized that Chi Xiaoxi hadn't failed to recognize Xu Yi; she was just stunned with happiness and only now had she reacted.
He was quite speechless. "Junior Sister, if you don't hurry, they'll be long gone."
"Ah! Then let's go quickly, Senior Brother! What are you dawdling for!"
This time, it was Chi Xiaoxi who grabbed Wang Yang's arm and strode forward, only slowing her pace when she caught up with the two martial uncles, Nan and Bei.
Chi Xiaoxi, hiding behind, quietly admired Xu Yi's profile, her heart thumping.
Senior Xu was as beautiful as ever.
She wondered which wild flower in her medicinal garden could be worthy of Senior Xu.
Xu Yi and Zhan Fei both had something to say to each other. Therefore, after Zhan Fei welcomed Xu Yi into the main hall, he asked Wang Yang and Chi Xiaoxi to take Wen Yi and the others to rest first.
Chi Xiaoxi was somewhat reluctant, but under her master's stern gaze, she still pouted and left with her senior brother.
When only Zhan Fei, Xu Yi, and the two martial uncles, Nan and Bei, remained in the hall, Zhan Fei immediately activated the hall's formation, isolating it from the outside.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, you had something you wished to discuss with me earlier. You may speak freely now."
Zhan Fei suppressed his inner anxiety and looked at Xu Yi with a friendly attitude.
Xu Yi shook her head. "What I have to say can wait. I believe that Sect Leader Zhan has something important to discuss with me. Perhaps you should go first."
Zhan Fei's expression told her that this matter was very important, and Xu Yi did not want to delay.
Zhan Fei was not one to hesitate. Since Xu Yi had said so, he did not decline further and let out a long sigh.
"Fellow Daoist Xu, you may not know, but Ang Zhou has been experiencing turbulent undercurrents recently."
Xu Yi sat up straight. "I am eager to hear the details."
"I only discovered not long ago that Ang Zhou was extremely unsettled. Several major sects not far from the Fire Talisman Sect have recently lost elders, sect leaders, and other important figures, all within a short period. It does not seem like an accident."
Sect Leader Zhan had not taken the first two messages from other sects seriously, but after receiving the third and fourth messages, he had to confront the reality.
To this end, he had personally visited several major sects to pay his respects and inquire about the cause of death of these cultivators.
"Each sect's explanation is that their elders and sect leaders met with accidents during cultivation and unfortunately perished. But this is too coincidental, too coincidental for me to accept.
Therefore, during this period, I have strictly ordered sect disciples not to leave the mountain without reason. And the two elders, Nan and Bei, and I meet frequently, never daring to be alone, to prevent any unforeseen incidents."
Sect Leader Zhan had been under immense pressure during this period, exhibiting a rather skittish demeanor. Upon seeing Xu Yi's wooden boat, his first reaction was to summon the elders to jointly defend against the enemy.
Xu Yi suddenly understood.
No wonder she saw several people eyeing them warily as soon as she disembarked. It turned out they had mistaken her for someone with ill intentions.
What Sect Leader Zhan had just said also stirred Xu Yi's heart.
She pondered for a moment before suddenly giving a wry smile. "Originally, I intended to state my purpose after hearing what Sect Leader Zhan had to say. But now, it seems I must speak some things in advance."
Zhan Fei looked thoughtful.
Xu Yi continued, "My visit this time was also by chance. I encountered Wen Yi being chased by a senior sister from her sect on the road and simply saved her. It was then that I learned that True Master Jing Qiu had also died during her cultivation seven days ago. Now, the Bright Moon Pavilion is headless, leading to ensuing disasters."
"What! True Master Jing Qiu also..." Zhan Fei's pupils contracted, and his body involuntarily leaned back.
Xu Yi's news further confirmed his previous suspicions.
The deaths of those people were definitely suspicious.
Martial uncles Nan and Bei exchanged glances, their expressions equally solemn.
The fallen elders and sect leaders had cultivation realms similar to theirs. Since the perpetrator could cause their deaths so silently, could they also face the same danger?
"And I brought Wen Yi and the others because I pity her, like a rootless duckweed, drifting and helpless. Therefore, I wanted to ask if Sect Leader Zhan would be willing to take them in.
Of course, by 'take them in,' I mean providing them with a place to stay. As for how they are arranged, it will be entirely up to Sect Leader Zhan. Xu Yi will not interfere."
Xu Yi roughly described the situation of her chance encounter with Wen Yi and the others to Zhan Fei, and also casually praised Wen Yi and the others' character.
The Fire Talisman Sect had strict requirements for accepting disciples, and Xu Yi did not want to cause any flaws in the Fire Talisman Sect's lineage because of herself.
"Taking them in is certainly not a problem. However, whether they can be accepted into the Fire Talisman Sect will depend on their own performance."
Zhan Fei did not agree immediately. Although he liked Wen Yi, that was many years ago.
Zhan Fei also had a concern: True Master Jing Qiu had an unpredictable temperament, and he worried that she might corrupt Wen Yi.
Therefore, even for Wen Yi, whom he had praised highly in the past, she would now need to pass an assessment to enter the Fire Talisman Sect.
"That is only natural."
Zhan Fei's answer made Xu Yi very happy.
She also did not want Zhan Fei to compromise because of her. It was best to handle things according to the rules.
After arranging for Wen Yi and the others, Xu Yi brought the topic back to the death of True Master Jing Qiu.
"When I learned of True Master Jing Qiu's cause of death from Wen Yi earlier, I was also very surprised. True Master Jing Qiu had a volatile temper, but she was not someone who sought quick success in cultivation. How could she have made such a mistake? It truly defied logic.
However, because I had a past grievance with her, I did not inquire further. Now that I think about it, there was indeed something amiss."
"Fellow Daoist Xu is right. Among the cultivators who died this time, there are also my old acquaintances. It is hard for me to believe that they would die during their cultivation," Sect Leader Zhan said, shaking his head slightly.
Zhan Fei was both unafraid of death and afraid of death.
He was unafraid of death because he was naturally carefree and felt that if his time had come, he should not force it.
And he was afraid of death because he was deeply worried that without him, the Sect Leader, there would be no one capable of shouldering the responsibility for the Fire Talisman Sect.
Therefore, his emotions had been particularly unstable during this period.
Xu Yi furrowed her brows. It seemed that her plan to return to the Xuanji Sect would have to be delayed for some time.
At this critical juncture, with the successive deaths of several high-ranking and powerful cultivators, Xu Yi feared it might be related to the demon race. She was determined to stay and investigate this matter thoroughly.
She looked up at Zhan Fei. "Sect Leader Zhan, there must be a hidden cause behind this matter. I would like to invite you to accompany me to those few sects again. I want to personally investigate the scene."
Zhan Fei was surprised at first, then overjoyed.
This was something he could not have wished for more.
"This is excellent! Excellent! I am willing to go with you!"