Jingqiu was already close to qi deviation. If she were kept, it might lead to future trouble.
However, the other party was also a sect leader, and Xu Yi did not have a blood feud with Mingyue Pavilion.
If Xu Yi were to kill Jingqiu, her reputation among Xuanji Sect would definitely be affected.
Just as Xu Yi was hesitating whether to end the opponent with a single palm strike, Xiao Yi stumbled over from a distance, crying out, "No! Sister, no!"
Xiao Yi was very sensitive to changes in the emotions of others, and she sensed the fleeting killing intent from Xu Yi.
She certainly couldn't stand by and watch the master who had raised her be killed by Xu Yi.
She ran forward and hugged Xu Yi's thigh tightly, shaking her head repeatedly, her tears falling like a string of pearls.
"Wuwu, Sister, please don't kill my master, please don't kill my master. I'll apologize to you on behalf of my master, okay? I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
"Wen Yi! You are not allowed to beg her! You are not allowed... cough, cough!"
Jingqiu's heart ached as she saw Xiao Yi crying heartbrokenly, but her pride would not allow Xiao Yi to beg for her.
She was not afraid of death; her only fear was not being able to vindicate Mingyue Pavilion before she died.
She had failed her master's expectations and the trust of the Mingyue Pavilion disciples. She was an incompetent sect leader.
From the day she took over Mingyue Pavilion, she had vowed to develop and strengthen Mingyue Pavilion. To achieve this, she had changed her way of acting and her demeanor.
However, things went against her wishes. Mingyue Pavilion not only did not improve as she had imagined, but it also declined day by day.
Now, even the most treasured artifact of Mingyue Pavilion had been stolen. How could she face the ancestors of Mingyue Pavilion with any dignity?
At this moment, Jingqiu felt as if her heart had turned to ash, and a gloomy pallor covered her face.
"Master, you're wrong. The reason Sister hit Senior Sister Wang is because Senior Sister Wang wanted to kill me and steal my little lock!"
Xiao Yi finally had the chance to speak the words she had held in her heart for a long time.
Jingqiu was stunned and smiled bitterly, shaking her head. "Xiao Yi, you've been deceived by Xu Yi. Biyun has deep affection for you, how could she possibly harbor murderous intent towards you?"
Jingqiu found it absurd. It must be that she had doted on Xiao Yi too much, making her naive and unable to distinguish right from wrong.
"It's true, Master, please believe me, Senior Sister Wang really wanted to kill me!"
Xiao Yi was finally able to confirm Senior Sister Wang's intentions because the look in Senior Sister Wang's eyes was the same as the look Sister had just given Master.
They both harbored murderous intent.
However, no matter how Xiao Yi explained, Jingqiu refused to believe it. Instead, she hated Xu Yi even more, believing that Xu Yi was manipulating everything.
Seeing that she couldn't persuade Jingqiu, Xiao Yi could only place her hope on Xu Yi.
"Sister, please, don't kill my master, my master, she's just..." Xiao Yi couldn't find words to describe Jingqiu's actions, so she could only hug Xu Yi and beg incessantly, her eyes swollen like walnuts.
Xu Yi reached out and stroked Xiao Yi's head, saying softly, "You're not even as good as a child. Sect Leader Jingqiu, with a sect leader like you, it's no wonder Mingyue Pavilion is in decline."
Jingqiu glared hatefully at Xu Yi and closed her eyes, resigned to her fate.
"Don't close your eyes. Let me show you something."
Xu Yi took out a recording stone from her storage ring and infused it with spiritual energy.
A light screen suddenly appeared on the recording stone, with several figures appearing in the center. At the same time, sounds of clinking and clanging could be heard.
Xu Yi's expression was initially blank, but upon seeing the scene in the light screen, her eyes widened, and she quickly retrieved the recording stone into her storage ring.
"Ahem, I picked up the wrong recording stone."
Xu Yi guiltily thought that it was fortunate that Long Haotian and the other two were not present, otherwise she wouldn't know how to explain it to them.
Jingqiu had almost opened her eyes, but upon hearing Xu Yi's words, she believed that Xu Yi was deliberately toying with her. She snorted coldly and resolved not to open her eyes again.
Xu Yi ignored her reaction and directly took out a second recording stone.
The image reappeared, and this time the scene shown was the banquet hall of the Jian family.
"Sister, can you send me back to Mingyue Pavilion? I can give you all the spirit stones I have."
Xiao Yi's voice came from the recording stone.
Xiao Yi looked at Xu Yi with surprise, her mouth agape, her expression filled with disbelief.
Xu Yi reached out and rubbed Xiao Yi's head.
She had originally kept this scene prepared in case the Jian family patriarch questioned her, so that she could present evidence. She never expected it to be used here.
Upon hearing Xiao Yi's words, Jingqiu's eyelids twitched. Why did Xiao Yi voluntarily ask to leave with Xu Yi?
The voice in the recording stone continued.
"Why did you ask me to send you back?"
"Because you said you were very capable. Senior Sister Wang is terrifying, and I don't want to go back with her. She doesn't let me eat enough and also chokes me."
"How can this woman be so wicked!"
"..."
Jingqiu opened her eyes at some point, and she stared blankly at the scene in the light screen where Xiao Yi rolled up her sleeve to show the bruises on her arm. Her mind went blank.
The image on the recording stone abruptly stopped the moment the Jian family patriarch appeared.
"To let you know that it was Xiao Yi who voluntarily asked me to take her away, and the disciple you trusted implicitly is a black-hearted, lying scoundrel. Sect Leader Jingqiu, do you think what I said earlier was correct?"
Jingqiu subconsciously recalled Xu Yi's earlier words, and it was as if a heavy hammer struck her mind, making her dizzy and utterly devastated.
"You're not even as good as a child. Sect Leader Jingqiu, with a sect leader like you, it's no wonder Mingyue Pavilion is in decline."
She had truly made a mistake.
Jingqiu couldn't bear such a heavy blow. The pent-up frustration could not be released, and her chest felt like it was about to explode with unbearable pain. She let out a cry and vomited another large chunk of blood. Her vision went black, and she completely fainted.
"Master! Master!"
Xiao Yi's little face turned pale with fright. She quickly rushed forward to hug her master, helpless, and could only look at Xu Yi pleadingly.
Xu Yi helplessly sent a wisp of her divine consciousness to circle within Jingqiu's body.
"She won't die. A year or two of rest will suffice."
Xu Yi did not finish her words.
Although Jingqiu's injuries were not fatal, the combination of external and internal injuries erupting simultaneously would cause her cultivation to plummet, and she would stagnate thereafter, unable to advance further.
This was undoubtedly a cruel punishment for a cultivator.
Xiao Yi did not know any of this. Upon hearing that her master would not die, she immediately breathed a sigh of relief.
Xu Yi did not concern herself with the subsequent matters.
Jingqiu was unable to move and had to stay at Huofu Sect to recuperate. Xiao Yi also remained at Huofu Sect.
As for Wang Biyun, no one cared whether she lived or died. It was unknown if she was still lying in some corner or if she had already woken up and left on her own.
Xu Yi stayed at Huofu Sect for five days. During this time, she discussed formations with the sect leader Zhan Fei, exchanged sparring, and occasionally took time to guide the disciples of Huofu Sect.
On the last day, Xu Yi distributed the prepared gifts to the people of Huofu Sect and, under their reluctant gazes, left Huofu Sect and returned to Kunlun Academy.
The arduous seven-year training finally came to an end.