"Master, something terrible has happened..."
Zhu Yangyu and Zeng Yongchang rushed back to the courtyard where Sima Boyong resided, knocking urgently on his door. Sima Wentang, who had not yet slept in the adjacent room, came out upon hearing the commotion. "Yangyu, what's the matter?"
Immediately after, Sima Boyong, wearing a coat, also opened his door. Zhu Yangyu, looking anxious, said, "Master, we were guarding at Senior Uncle Guanzhu's residence, but suddenly we were hit by silver needles at our vital energy points, rendering us immobile. I suspect Chang Wude and Wan Yunting did this. They must have gone to check on Senior Uncle Guanzhu's condition!"
Upon hearing that Chang Wude and Wan Yunting had already contacted the Guanzhu, Sima Wentang's eyes widened, and he angrily berated Zhu Yangyu, "Useless! How could you have guarded?"
"I apologize, Master, Senior Brother. It was my carelessness," Zhu Yangyu stammered, lowering his head and quickly admitting his fault.
"Enough, now is not the time for apologies."
Sima Boyong's old face was grim, and his narrowed eyes glinted with a sinister sharpness. "Let's go take a look first."
"Alright."
Sima Wentang nodded and immediately followed Sima Boyong out of the courtyard gate, hurrying towards the Guanzhu's residence...
At this time, Wuweizi had already arrived at the Guanzhu's residence. Yang Jingyi emerged from the room and asked, "Where are junior brother Chang and the others?"
"Senior brother Chang and the others have gone to the back mountain to invite Senior Uncle Zong down the mountain," Wuweizi replied, then inquired, "How is Senior Brother doing?"
"Yes, he already knows." Yang Jingyi nodded with a cold expression.
"Damn it."
Wuweizi grew more and more angry as he thought about it, his old eyes widening and his teeth gritting in fury. "We trusted him so much, yet he would do such a thing to Senior Brother. It's pure fratricide, utterly heinous."
"Mistress, what happened?"
Just then, Xu Lingwei, Li Zihang, and Qi Wu entered. Wuweizi had sent his disciple Xue Xinghe to notify them.
Yang Jingyi looked at them and said sternly, "When your Uncle Boyong and the others arrive, you must guard the door and not let them get close to your Master. Do you understand?"
Li Zihang and Qi Wu looked bewildered. Xu Lingwei's sword-like eyebrows furrowed. Although she didn't know what had happened, she nodded and said, "Understood."
Yang Jingyi then said to Wuweizi, "Junior brother Wuwei, hurry and invite Master Huikong of the Shaolin Sect, Abbess Yunbai, and Elder Zhang Qing. Tell them that our Wuliang Daoist Temple is in trouble and ask them to come and help!"
Wuweizi's old eyes lit up, and he repeatedly nodded, "Yes, yes, I'll go invite them now..."
Taking advantage of the fact that the sect leaders and masters, especially Master Huikong and Elder Zhang Qing, were all present, he dared not let Sima Boyong do anything!
A short while later, Sima Boyong, accompanied by Sima Wentang, Zhu Yangyu, Wei Ping, and Zeng Yongchang, arrived. They first approached Yang Jingyi, who stood at the courtyard gate with a somber expression. "Mistress, I heard someone broke into Master's residence at night. Is Master alright?"
Yang Jingyi's eyes were dark and cold. She cast a cold glance at Wei Ping and Zeng Yongchang, knowing well that these two disciples had already sided with Sima Boyong.
"Eldest Senior Brother, Master is fine," Li Zihang told him.
At this moment, Sima Boyong approached and looked at Yang Jingyi. His small eyes narrowed, and his heart sank. However, he put on a concerned expression and asked, "Sister-in-law, did Senior Uncle Chang and his disciple Wan Yunting break in? Did they do anything to my Senior Brother? Why don't you let me go in and see Senior Brother?"
As he spoke, he raised his foot to step forward. Immediately, Xu Lingwei swiftly drew her long sword and stepped out to block Yang Jingyi. Her unsheathed sword pointed at Sima Boyong, just like her cold, icy gaze.
This instantly halted his steps. Sima Boyong's gaze, imperceptibly, turned cold.
"Junior Sister Zhishan, what are you doing? Quickly put away your sword," Wei Ping immediately stepped forward and reprimanded Xu Lingwei.
Yang Jingyi came forward, skirted around from behind Xu Lingwei to the front, and gently pushed the long sword in her hand. Her cold gaze fixed on Sima Boyong, and she said coldly, "Junior Brother Boyong, you have truly chilled our hearts!"
Upon hearing this, Wei Ping's expression was astonished, but he knew in his heart that Mistress and the others likely knew!
Sima Boyong, however, put on a look of bewilderment and smiled at Yang Jingyi, "Sister-in-law, I don't understand what you mean? I am sincere towards Eldest Senior Brother and the sect. I don't know what Senior Brother Chang has told you, but after so many years of doing so much for the sect, is it still not worth as much as Senior Brother Chang's words?"
"You cease your sophistry."
Yang Jingyi's eyes were cold as she stared intently at Sima Boyong. The anger suppressed within her heart was released at this moment. "You call him Eldest Senior Brother one moment, but your heart is as black as a snake's. You used such sinister methods to try and kill your Senior Brother, all to achieve your own goals!"
"Sima Boyong, you are rebellious and a despicable villain!"
With the last sentence, Yang Jingyi gritted her teeth and spat out each word heavily at Sima Boyong.
Instantly, Sima Boyong's heart turned grim. He knew the matter had been exposed, but he still maintained a hypocritical smile and said, "Sister-in-law, I truly don't know what you are talking about."
"Of course, perhaps Senior Brother Chang has told you something that has caused you to misunderstand me, but please rest assured, Sister-in-law, I will prove my innocence. Now, can you let me in to see Eldest Senior Brother?"
"Sister-in-law, Master Huikong and Elder Zhang Qing have arrived with Abbess Yunbai..."
At this moment, Wuweizi brought Master Huikong, Abbess Yunbai, and Elder Zhang Qing of the Kunlun Sect, along with many of their disciples. Hearing that the Wuliang Daoist Temple was in crisis, they had also rushed over to see what was happening.
At the same time, Liu Bing, the leader of the Qingcheng Sect, Shi Yizhen of the Huashan Sect, Lu Chenzi of the Kongtong Sect, and other sect leaders and masters, along with many of their disciples, also arrived. "Brother Boyong, what happened?"
Liu Bing and his group stood with Sima Boyong, while Master Huikong, Abbess Yunbai, and Elder Zhang Qing went to Yang Jingyi's side and inquired, "Madam, I heard from Junior brother Wuwei that the Guanzhu is in trouble. What exactly is the matter?"
"Could someone still be harming the Guanzhu?"
Sect leader Li Feiyu of the Xingyi Sect, standing beside Sima Boyong, glared and exclaimed.
"Who dares to harm the Guanzhu? Since everyone is here, let's capture that person. We'd like to see who has such audacity," exclaimed Meng Zixiang, the sect leader of the Bajiquan Sect, with his loud voice.
Hou Feiying, the sect leader of the Eagle Claw Sect, narrowed his eyes and said, "Recently, there have been rumors in your temple that the person named Chang Wude has returned and intends to seize your Guanzhu's position. Could it be that he is the one harming Duan Guanzhu?"
"So it was him! Humph, during the martial arts competition today, he was so arrogant and rude. I figured it was him!" snorted Deputy Sect Leader Ma Boren of the Tan Tui Sect.
"Where are their master and disciple? How dare they harm Duan Guanzhu! We'll execute them on the spot and take them down the mountain to the police station," shouted Tan Song of the Taishan Sect.
"Who the hell wants to send me to the police station?"
Suddenly, a curse came from behind everyone. It was Chang Wude and Wan Yunting returning.
Accompanying them was Guiye Song Yuanzong, dressed in black Daoist robes, with silver hair, a thin and emaciated body, and a grim old face!
Disciples from various sects parted ways. Chang Wude and Wan Yunting led Guiye forward. Guiye's old eyes glared as he surveyed the sect leaders and masters from various sects who were standing with Sima Boyong. Chang Wude snorted and walked to Yang Jingyi's front. Then, the three of them turned around, their gazes fixed directly on Sima Boyong!
Seeing Senior Uncle Zong standing between Chang Wude and Wan Yunting, Sima Boyong's heart sank. He knew there was likely no turning back for this matter.
Moreover, with Master Huikong and Abbess Yunbai from the Shaolin Sect, and Elder Zhang Qing present, Sima Boyong could not resort to force even if he wanted to.
"Don't you want to know who wants to harm my Senior Brother Duan Wuyu and seize his Guanzhu position?"
Chang Wude scanned the sect leaders and masters present, then pointed a finger at Sima Boyong and shouted sternly, "It's him, Sima Boyong! It's this despicable villain who wants to seize my Senior Brother's Guanzhu position!"
"What..."
"This... How is this possible..."
The sect leaders and masters present were all shocked. Master Huikong, Abbess Yunbai, and Elder Zhang, who were on Yang Jingyi's side, also showed expressions of shock. They looked at each other, and finally, their gazes focused on Sima Boyong, seemingly disbelieving that it was he who wanted to seize the position of Guanzhu of the Wuliang Daoist Temple.
Sima Wentang, Wei Ping, Zhu Yangyu, and Zeng Yongchang, along with others, showed a hint of nervousness. They glanced at Sima Boyong, only to see that his usual smile had disappeared from his old face, replaced by a grim expression and those sinister, cold eyes staring intently at Chang Wude.
At this moment, Sima Boyong knew that no explanation he offered would be useful anymore.
"Madam, how is this possible? How could Brother Boyong harm Duan Guanzhu?" Sect Leader Liu Bing of the Qingcheng Sect recovered and asked Yang Jingyi.
Sect Leader Hu Yidao of the Great Saber Sect also said disbelievingly, "Exactly. Brother Boyong has contributed so much to your Daoist temple, and if he hadn't invited us to this ancestral ceremony, we wouldn't have come."
"Yes, we believe in Brother Boyong's character. How could he do such a rebellious thing..."
For a moment, Sect Leaders like Li Feiyu nodded in agreement, expressing their firm disbelief that Sima Boyong would do such a thing.
Seeing Sect Leader Liu Bing and these sect leaders still defending and believing in Sima Boyong, Yang Jingyi's face was cold. She said coldly, "Senior Brother Chang is correct. The one who truly wants to harm my husband is Sima Boyong!"
"He has been poisoning my husband all along, causing his old ailment to relapse. Now his life is in grave danger!"