Chi Ling's brazen words angered Chi Yu as well.
"What are you doing, trying to kill my disciple out of nowhere? What kind of logic is that?"
Staring at her sister, Chi Yu felt a surge of anger.
She had originally thought that with Chi Ling coming out of seclusion, she could share the joy of having taken in a talented disciple with her sister.
But this incident made it impossible for Chi Yu to feel happy.
However, seeing her sister's flushed and angry face, Chi Yu sensed something was amiss. She pulled Zhang Ergou from behind her to the front.
"Brat, did you do something shameful?"
Chi Yu stared intently at Zhang Ergou, her tone leaving no room for doubt.
Upon hearing this, a hint of embarrassment flashed across Zhang Ergou's face. He helplessly touched his nose, looking at Chi Yu then at Chi Ling.
The two peerless beauties, who looked identical, made him dizzy.
But now was not the time for him to consider such things. Zhang Ergou hesitated whether to tell the truth to his master.
There was a saying: "Confess and be lenient, but stay in jail; resist and be severe, and go home for New Year's."
Zhang Ergou was no longer the clueless simpleton he once was; he knew what to say and what not to say.
Just as he was hesitating, a telepathic voice echoed in his ear: "If you dare to speak, I'll kill you right now!"
Zhang Ergou turned his head and saw Chi Ling's murderous gaze.
Observing their reactions, Chi Yu's eyes were full of gossip. If something hadn't happened between these two, she wouldn't believe it even if she were beaten to death.
"Brat, quickly tell this master what happened between you and my sister, your martial aunt!"
Chi Yu coaxed him, realizing by now that her sister had definitely met Zhang Ergou before.
And that something untold had occurred between them.
Gossip was a woman's nature, and even someone as powerful as Chi Yu couldn't escape it.
Smiling at her disciple, Chi Yu wished she could be a worm inside Zhang Ergou's stomach to eavesdrop on their secrets.
"Cough, cough!" Without turning around, Zhang Ergou knew it was Chi Ling standing behind him making the sound.
Chi Yu looked up and glared at her sister: "You don't need to worry about her. Tell this master, and I'll be your advocate. I doubt she can do anything to you!"
Zhang Ergou was not a three-year-old child. His master said nice things, but when she beat him, she held nothing back.
Believing her would be idiotic.
Just as Zhang Ergou was trying to think of an excuse to get out of it, Chi Ling spoke.
"Oh, sister, don't make it difficult for this little fellow. We were just playing around. Since I just came out of seclusion, I wanted to give you a surprise!"
"Yes, I also think Martial Aunt was just playing with us. We've never met before." Zhang Ergou nodded vigorously.
"Little fellow, were you scared when your martial aunt was playing with you just now?" Chi Ling walked over, patted Zhang Ergou's shoulder, and smiled playfully.
Zhang Ergou was furious internally. Scared? He'd be lying if he said no.
However, in front of Chi Yu, he had to maintain an innocent facade: "Martial Aunt, please don't joke like that next time. This disciple has a weak heart."
Chi Yu crossed her arms and watched the two of them acting with a knowing smile, her expression inscrutable.
But she didn't expose their clumsy acting.
"Master, I've been in the inner sect for so long, but I haven't been down Lingyu Peak. I wonder how those disciples who entered with me are doing. I want to go and see."
In this awkward atmosphere, Zhang Ergou finally found a reason to leave.
"Go down the mountain?" Chi Yu's expression changed. "Do you promise not to cause trouble for this master when you go down the mountain?"
"This disciple promises absolutely not to cause trouble, I just want to see Xiao Qingyu, Wang Teng, Lin Yichen, and my senior sisters."
Zhang Ergou quickly assured her.
"Unless someone provokes me, then I won't be the one initiating trouble."
However, this last part was only in his heart.
"Very well. When you go down the mountain, remember not to act rashly, and you must not leave the inner sect. You must return to Lingyu Peak within a day."
Chi Yu warned Zhang Ergou, staring at him.
"Okay, Master. This disciple will certainly remember." Zhang Ergou nodded repeatedly. At this moment, no matter how many conditions Chi Yu had, he would agree.
"Also, you are not allowed to use spiritual energy or magical skills, or all your training these past few days will be in vain."
Upon saying this, Chi Yu's expression became very serious.
Hearing this, Zhang Ergou's expression turned serious. He clearly hadn't expected Chi Yu to care so much about this.
Although he didn't know why Chi Yu forbade him from using spiritual energy and magical skills during this period, Zhang Ergou still kept it in mind.
Judging by his progress during this time, Chi Yu wouldn't have said such things without reason.
Seeing that Zhang Ergou wasn't being perfunctory, Chi Yu smiled knowingly and patted her disciple's shoulder.
"Go ahead, brat. You must be back before tomorrow night."
Although it was night, there was still a difference between the inner and outer sects. The inner sect of Misty Sect was open in various places at night.
So there was no worry about Zhang Ergou having nowhere to go if he went down the mountain at night.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Ergou bowed to the two of them, immediately turned, and ran down the mountain. His speed was so fast that the two behind him gasped.
...
"Ouch, holy crap, what's the situation here?" As soon as Zhang Ergou ran down Lingyu Peak, ready to look for Lin Yichen and the others, he saw two people hanging from a tree.
Upon closer inspection, weren't these two Lin Yichen and Wang Teng?
"Brat, what are you looking at? Hurry up and get us down!" Lin Yichen, seeing it was Zhang Ergou, quickly called out.
"What happened to you? How did you get hung on a tree?" Zhang Ergou quickly untied the ropes binding them.
*Plop!*
*Plop!*
The two fell to the ground with a loud thud.
"It's all because of you!" Almost simultaneously, Wang Teng and Lin Yichen said in unison.
"Because of me?" Zhang Ergou looked confused, utterly bewildered.
"Naturally, because of you. Ever since the inner sect beast forest trial ended, you haven't left Lingyu Peak for half a step. You've really put us, who entered with you, in a terrible spot."
Wang Teng glared at Zhang Ergou speechlessly, his tone slightly resentful.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Since the beast forest trial ended that day, Jiang Tian, Zhuge Wen, Zuo Tian, and the others returned to their respective peaks and remained in seclusion."
"In this way, the matter could have been considered over. But who knows which damned person spread the rumor that you single-handedly fought three early-stage Golden Core cultivators in the beast forest."
"You actually defeated three early-stage Golden Core cultivators. The story became more and more exaggerated, until eventually, the entire inner sect was talking about it."
"Those three naturally felt insulted and insisted on finding you to regain their honor. But you, brat, haven't left Lingyu Peak for so many days. This is why we are suffering."