The next day at noon, Wan Yunting woke up.
He found himself in a deluxe hospital room in Hua Yin City. As he slowly opened his eyes, Gu Luotang, who had been by his side, exclaimed with joy, "Brother Yunting, you're awake! How do you feel? Are you better?"
Wan Yunting's expression was dazed. Looking at the excited Gu Luotang, he opened his mouth and asked in a hoarse voice, "Why... why am I in the hospital?"
Gu Luotang excitedly held his hand, feeling his pulse, and said, "After you fainted, we brought you to the hospital. Brother Yunting, you've been unconscious for a whole day."
Recalling something, Wan Yunting's emotions immediately surged. He grabbed Gu Luotang's hand and asked, "Where are Sister Lu and Senior Sister Zheng?"
Gu Luotang felt a sharp pain as Wan Yunting gripped her hand. Knowing that he would ask about Sister Lu and Senior Sister Zheng, tears of sadness welled up in her eyes. She choked out, "Sister Lu and Senior Sister Zheng... they're in the morgue..."
Wan Yunting's expression froze. His eyes gradually turned red and filled with tears. A moment later, tears streamed down his face. He cried out in despair, "It's my fault! It's my fault!"
At that moment, the hospital room door opened. Ouyang Zhixin and Yang Jingyi, Zhou Ruoxi and Mistress Yun Bai, along with Qi Miaomiao and Duan Yingying, walked in. Seeing Wan Yunting weeping and crying out apologies to Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong, everyone fell silent, unsure how to comfort him...
"Brother Yunting, don't be like this..."
Qi Miaomiao and Duan Yingying went over, and Gu Luotang followed, crying and comforting the agitated Wan Yunting. Yang Jingyi and Mistress Yun Bai sighed.
For now, the condemnation and questioning from the various martial sects awaited Wan Yunting.
Upon receiving the call, Ouyang Zhixin hurried over with his people. Hearing about the tragic deaths of his son's two confidantes and seeing Wan Yunting's pain, Ouyang Zhixin felt a pang of sympathy.
Finally, with the support of Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao, Wan Yunting was brought to the hospital morgue. Upon seeing the bodies of Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong, Wan Yunting broke down and cried again, his heart filled with remorse and guilt.
If he had immediately handed over the Thirteen Needles of Ghost Gate to Jian Shisan, Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong would not have died.
This became a permanent pain in Wan Yunting's heart. He had failed Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong, and this guilt would forever haunt him...
Under the comfort of his father and Gu Luotang, Wan Yunting gradually regained his composure. He asked his father to arrange for the cremation of Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong's bodies, intending to take their ashes back to the capital for a proper burial later...
Meanwhile, all the major media outlets were reporting on the unexpected events at the Huashan Sect martial arts competition yesterday. Simultaneously, extremely unfavorable news about Wan Yunting began to circulate among the various sects and spread across the media, topping the headlines.
Titles of news articles unfavorable to Wan Yunting, such as claims that he inherited the evil arts of the Carefree Sect and that the Boundless Daoist Temple colluded with the demonic Celestial Eye Divine Cult, garnered widespread attention.
Especially among the members of the major sects, who had witnessed Wan Yunting using the Carefree Sect's Eight Desolations Divine Skill to absorb Han Dongri's internal energy in the woods yesterday, they were convinced of his connection to the Carefree Sect.
Consequently, yesterday, the sect leaders and masters of the major sects convened a martial arts conference within the Huashan Sect to condemn Wan Yunting and label him as a remnant of the Carefree Sect.
Furthermore, the Boundless Daoist Temple was voted out of the orthodox sects by the major sects. They were to be boycotted by all major sects and warned to disband voluntarily within one month, or face a joint eradication by the major sects!
As a result, Yang Jingyi was now powerless and didn't know what to do.
In the afternoon, Wan Yunting, Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, and his father Ouyang Zhixin were at a crematorium. After Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong were cremated, Wan Yunting looked blankly at the two exquisite urns placed on the table before him, lost in thought.
Gu Luotang, Qi Miaomiao, and Duan Yingying, standing beside him, watched him with heartache. Finally, Ouyang Zhixin waved to his assistant to collect the urns of Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong. He then placed a hand on Wan Yunting's shoulder and said, "Yunting, we'll stay one more night. We'll depart for the capital tomorrow morning."
Returning to his senses, Wan Yunting nodded expressionlessly. Gu Luotang linked her arm through his, her eyes filled with concern, unsure how to comfort his wounded heart.
To prevent his women and father from worrying, Wan Yunting forced a smile onto his face and said hoarsely, "I'm fine. Let's go..."
Ouyang Zhixin frowned, watching his son turn and walk away, carrying Lu Xiaodie's urn. How could he be fine...
That evening at the hotel, Wan Yunting appeared somewhat dejected. He sat with his father, Ouyang Zhixin, on the hotel balcony. Several bottles of wine were on the table. Wan Yunting had already finished one bottle, and Ouyang Zhixin silently accompanied him, having a few drinks as well. He asked, "There's a lot of unfavorable news about you in the media now. What do you plan to do?"
Wan Yunting leaned back in his chair, holding the wine bottle, his expression one of despair. Yang Jingyi had already told him that the major sects had unanimously decided to remove him and the Boundless Daoist Temple from the ranks of orthodox sects, completely branding him as the successor of the evil Carefree Sect.
Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao also entered and sat silently beside him. Wan Yunting looked desolate, took a sip of wine, and turned to his father with a smile, saying, "It doesn't matter. Anyway, they already see me as a heretic. Let them say whatever they want."
Ouyang Zhixin raised an eyebrow, looking at his son's dispirited and lonely appearance. He knew he hadn't recovered from the deaths of his two confidantes. He comforted him, "Alright, don't worry about those people. When we return to the capital, our family will live our own lives peacefully. Let them be."
Gu Luotang also nodded and comforted him, "Brother Yunting, you still have us..."
Wan Yunting turned to look at Gu Luotang beside him, his hand involuntarily reaching out to caress her cheek. He managed a weak smile and nodded...
Ouyang Zhixin got up, patted his son's shoulder, and went out to meet with the local police chief. After all, Wan Yunting had killed Han Dongri and his group in the mountains yesterday, and Feng Xian was also being held at the local police station.
As for Jian Shisan, a warrant had been issued, but he had not yet been apprehended...
A moment later, Zhou Ruoxi, dressed in a snow-white long dress, walked in. Seeing Wan Yunting sitting in a chair, looking dejected with a wine bottle in his hand, Gu Luotang signaled Qi Miaomiao to leave, allowing Zhou Ruoxi to have some private time with him.
Mainly, she wanted Zhou Ruoxi to properly comfort Wan Yunting...
"Sit down."
Seeing Zhou Ruoxi approach, Wan Yunting gestured for her to sit. He offered a smile that was more painful than a cry and said, "I haven't implicated your Emei Sect, have I?"
Zhou Ruoxi, who had sat down, looked at the man in this state and felt a pang of sympathy. She asked, "Can you pull yourself together?"
Wan Yunting waved his hand, took a sip of wine, and chuckled, "I'm fine. You don't need to worry, right?"
Zhou Ruoxi's brow furrowed. "Now all the major sects have determined that you are the successor of the Carefree Sect, a remnant of a demonic cult. Can't you think about what you're going to do next?"
Wan Yunting looked utterly dejected and said with a careless laugh, "What else can I do? At most, they'll restrict someone like me, who practices unorthodox arts, from entering the martial arts world."
"What about the Boundless Daoist Temple?"
Zhou Ruoxi glared at him, annoyed. "Do you intend to watch the Boundless Daoist Temple be removed and disbanded?"
Mentioning the Boundless Daoist Temple, Wan Yunting's expression flickered. He shook his head and gave a bitter laugh, "Now that things have come to this, I can do nothing."
Zhou Ruoxi stood up, gritting her teeth in anger. "So, are you going to continue wallowing in despair and do nothing?"
Wan Yunting looked dejected, drank his wine, and remained silent.
Seeing this, Zhou Ruoxi understood that the man was in such a state of despair because of the deaths of Lu Xiaodie and Zheng Rong. However, she was still angry that Wan Yunting wasn't pulling himself together. In a fit of pique, she turned and left.
Gu Luotang and Qi Miaomiao, who had seen this happen outside, stood up. Zhou Ruoxi waved her hand and left directly.
Just then, Yang Jingyi arrived with Duan Yingying. Xu Lingwei, Li Zihang, the injured Qi Wu, Lin Dachun, Zhao Xuewu, Wang Zhuyu, Tang Doudou, and Huang Shaoqing were all staying at this hotel.
After all, the Boundless Daoist Temple had been boycotted by the major sects and removed from the orthodox ranks, so they could no longer stay at the Huashan Sect to participate in the competition.
Yang Jingyi brought her daughter to the balcony. Duan Yingying immediately snatched the wine bottle from Wan Yunting's hand. "Stop drinking..."
Wan Yunting turned his head and greeted Yang Jingyi, "Master's wife..."
Yang Jingyi looked at his dejected and forlorn expression and sighed. "We'll return tomorrow. Then we'll discuss what to do with Uncle Wuwei and Patriarch Zong, alright?"
Wan Yunting looked full of apology. "I'm sorry, Master's wife. I've caused everyone trouble..."
Yang Jingyi waved her hand. "This is not your fault. This is the karma sown by the previous generation. It was bound to happen sooner or later. So, it's not your personal fault. Don't blame yourself, understand?"
But with the Boundless Daoist Temple reaching this point, Wan Yunting felt immense guilt, acknowledging his own responsibility. He frowned and asked, "So, Master's wife, are you planning to obey them and dissolve the sect?"
Yang Jingyi shook her head. "That depends on what Patriarch Zong decides."
Wan Yunting nodded. "After I settle down in the capital, I'll go back to see Master Ghost."
Yang Jingyi nodded, then stood up and said no more, giving Duan Yingying a look before turning to leave...
Duan Yingying also stood up and said to Wan Yunting with reluctance, "Don't be sad. Sister Lu and Senior Sister Zheng wouldn't want to see you like this. You need to be well, understand?"
Wan Yunting nodded and waved for Duan Yingying to quickly return to her mother and rest, telling her not to worry about him...