The First Book: The Opening of the World Chapter 5: A Scene of Despair Amidst Wind and Rain

  On that day at noon, the rain stopped and the clouds opened up. The sound of the bell from Xuanji Peak echoed through the air as the disciples of Emei gathered in front of the Natural Palace. Tao Yuyan was also brought to the front of the grand hall. At this point, he was still only wearing his pants, his chest and back frozen into a purplish-blue color, but he remained calm and composed, believing that he had done nothing wrong. As he walked, he looked around at the scenery in front of him. The Natural Palace stood tall on the peak, its red eaves and green tiles shining brightly under the sky. The surrounding clouds and mist swirled around it, giving off an air of mystery and fantasy. At the entrance, jade pillars were coiled with dragons, and a couplet was inscribed: "The three peaks of nothingness are not empty, the door to cultivating truth is true." Above the entrance, a plaque hung with four golden characters: "The Tao is Natural." Tao Yuyan looked around in admiration, marveling at the extraordinary atmosphere of the immortal's abode.

  Then he stepped into the grand hall, where the spacious hall was empty and unadorned. The dark wooden floor shone brightly, with two rows of meditation cushions placed on it. The disciples sat cross-legged, while ordinary students stood on either side, leaving a narrow passageway in between. At the head of the passageway, a red wooden chair had been placed. An old man wearing a crane cloak was seated in the chair. His long white beard flowed down his chest, and his face shone with an otherworldly aura. Tao looked left and right at the old man, her doubts multiplying. "Could he be Changshengzi, the senior brother? The junior brother is only over ten years old, but the senior brother is an old man with a white beard...the age difference between the Emei disciples is really huge."

  The Emei disciple behind him pushed his shoulder and shouted, "How dare you be rude! This is the Shangshengzi of the Camera Soul Gate, don't you hurry up and kneel down?"

  Chang Sheng waved his hand, indicating that he didn't need to use force. He glanced at Tao Yao a few times, furrowed his brow and said: "The Natural Palace is the sacred land of Emei, how can you be naked? Find him some clothes to wear." The people around him nodded and obeyed, untying Tao Yao's bonds and throwing him a set of gray robes. Tao Yao felt that Chang Sheng was quite amiable, so after changing into his new clothes, he bowed to him with fists clenched, saying: "Tao Yao, nice to meet you, Chang Shixiong."

  Chang Shengzi nodded, stretched out his arms and gently pressed down. Suddenly, the large hall was silent. He looked around and slowly began to speak: "Before Master closed his meditation, he left a message ordering us to expand the Emei Xuanmen Sect and widely recruit talented individuals to join our school. Over the past two years, the number of disciples in each door has increased several times compared to before, and the affairs have become increasingly complicated. Lingbo Dashi's health has not been good for many years, so the heavy responsibility of rectifying the sect's rules fell on my shoulders. Fortunately, thanks to the strict adherence to the sect's rules by all of you, everyone is safe and sound." As he spoke, a smile appeared on his face, with a hint of encouragement and enthusiasm.

  Everyone was bewildered and didn't understand what he meant. Someone next to him whispered, "Shifu, didn't Dongye Shijie suffer a terrible fate at the hands of a scoundrel? How can you say she's safe and sound?"

  Chang Shengzi's face turned pale, and he said: "Oh, yes! Dong Ye's sister was indeed killed by a wicked thief. This is a great shame for our sect. Our Emei Sect has always been strict in its defenses, and external evil demons cannot invade it. It must be an internal traitor who did this... Hmm, which sect are you from? Why are you wearing such clothes?" He stared at Tao Hua with wide eyes, as if he had just noticed him standing nearby.

  Tao Yao couldn't help but smile, thinking to herself, "How embarrassing for him, a senior brother of the Soul-Seizing Sect, yet he's the one who's lost his soul. He must be getting old and forgetful." She bowed her head and greeted him with a smile, saying: "Greetings, Senior Brother, my name is Tao Yao, also known as the lecherous thief." The other disciples heard her words and were all filled with anger.

  "Scoundrel? You... what have you done? Why are you called a scoundrel?" He looked around, patted his forehead with his left hand, and muttered to himself: "Today's gathering should be about planning the welcome for our master's return from his journey. Could there be other matters to discuss? Alas, who are you? You look familiar." His gaze shifted to Tao Mengmeng, and he stared at him in a daze.

  He was dazed and confused, when a lean man stood up from the crowd on the left and said loudly: "Due to Brother Changsheng's cultivation of 'Dream Dispelling True Method', his mind is wandering and he cannot handle affairs. Today, I will temporarily act as his agent. What does everyone think?"

  Everyone nodded in agreement. He Gong, a disciple of the Wind and Thunder Gate, said: "Brother Hou has always been fair in his handling of affairs, we have no objections." Someone else said: "With Brother Hou from the Qiaoqiao Gate stepping forward, I believe justice will be upheld." Chang Shengzi returned to his original seat, nodding repeatedly: "Please ask Tianji Shidi to help me clean up the door, if there is any bias, I will speak out to correct it."

  Tao Yuyan was slightly startled upon hearing this, remembering that the "Wooden Ox and Flowing Horse" were created by Hou Tianji. She carefully examined this extraordinary scholar, noticing his dark complexion, appearing to be over thirty years old, with a stern and cold expression, exuding an intimidating aura that sent shivers down one's spine.

  Hou Tianji pointed at Tao Wanwan and said, "This person is not a descendant of the 'Attached Three Villages', but rather someone who entered from the old cave behind the mountain. Then who led him through the 'Stop Barrier'? And who was his guide?" Immediately, he strictly investigated and questioned Xing Xianxi, Yang Lin, and Huang You one after another. He also summoned Hua Huapo, Ding Zhixuan, and Lu Kuan to ask questions. Ding Zhixuan truthfully replied that the two people's behavior was a bit strange; Lu Kuan was flustered and repeatedly clarified that he had no deep relationship with Tao Wanwan. Hua Huapo's words were confusing and contradictory, insisting that Tao Wanwan was her nephew-in-law and had made a lifelong promise to Shui Xian Jie. Later, they brought Tang Duoduo to the main hall. The child loved lively scenes and jumped up and down in front of everyone, repeatedly calling Tao Wanwan "Shui Xian Brother-in-law". He also said that he had given a jade pendant to Shui Xian Jie as a token of their engagement.

  It's reasonable to say that "children's words are innocent", and even if Tangtang makes a fuss, she won't understand the relationship between men and women. It seems that Taoyao's pursuit of Shuixian sister is indeed without doubt. Everyone looked at each other in shock, thinking that even Shuixian sister was admired by him, this person's lust had reached an extreme, and it's no wonder that he committed the evil act of violating Xiaoxue.

  The crowd was in an uproar, all saying that the licentious thief was extremely bold and presumptuous, daring to disguise himself as a seeker of immortality and commit evil on Mount Emei. Tao Yao had a hard time defending herself, her eyes narrowing as she meditated. Hou Tianji made a gesture for everyone to quiet down, walked up to Tao Yao, and asked: "Did you hear their words clearly? Is it true?"

  Tao Yan's eyelids didn't even lift, lazily saying: "You guys love to arrange however you want, just arrange it however you want. I'm a fish on the chopping board, feel free to chop me into pieces."

  Hou Tianji's eyes were bright and piercing as he said, "Many mouths can make a false accusation, it's hard to avoid being wronged. What they say is irrelevant, I only ask one question, if you answer truthfully, perhaps the truth can be clarified - this morning you rang the disaster bell to summon the monkeys, then secretly climbed up Xuanji Peak, your actions seem to have been premeditated, what was your intention?"

  "Your tone is like interrogating a prisoner, do I still need to answer? Anyway, the innocent will be cleared, and I'm not afraid of being framed. You can decide whether to kill or execute me, it's up to you."

  Hou Tianji stopped asking questions and instead called out Zhou Tianshi, letting him recount what he had seen in the bamboo forest that morning. Zhou Tianshi stepped forward with a solemn expression, his face filled with grief and indignation, and said loudly: "Fellow disciples, brothers and sisters! Our Emei Sect has been through countless trials and tribulations since its establishment, overcoming numerous dangers and subjugating countless demons..." The other disciples shook their heads in disdain, thinking to themselves that this newcomer who had only just entered the sect was already trying to evaluate their achievements.

  Zhou Tian Sheng's face was thick-skinned, his mouth quick, and he bluffed: "...... Our Emei Sect is strict and solemn, with male and female disciples being humble and respectful to each other. When have we ever had the ugly rumor of bullying a female disciple? It's a pity that this surname Tao scoundrel secretly hid in Emei, set up a sinister plot, and raped Dong Ye Sheng Jie, ruining our Emei Sect's thousand-year reputation in an instant..."

  Tao Yao looked at him with a mixture of amusement and annoyance, her smile fading as she heard the words "raped Dong Ye's sister", her face suddenly changing color as she shouted: "Hey! Watch your mouth! What rape?"

  Hou Tianji waved his hand to stop Zhou Tian Shi and said: "Just clarify what happened, no need to drag things out."

  Zhou Tian Sheng sighed: "Master Ming Jian, it's not that I'm making a fuss, but the situation at the time was too much, and it's really hard to mention! Alas, this morning I followed Master Chang Sheng Zi's orders and led the Sword Immortal disciples to search for mountains. When we passed by the Jiē Yǐn Bridge, I felt a commotion in the bamboo forest, walked in to investigate, and saw that Taoist nun Peach was on top of Dong Ye Shi Jie, kissing wildly, both of them naked..."

  Taoyao didn't care about her own life and death, honor and humiliation, but when she heard the slanderous words against Xiaoxue, she suddenly became furious, shouting loudly: "Shut up! You can falsely accuse me if you want, but don't tarnish Xiaoxue's reputation!"

  "...the lustful villain fondled Dongye Sheng's breasts with both hands and spread her legs apart..."

  Her pretty face turned red with rage, her forehead bulging with blue veins, she gritted her teeth and cursed: "You damned bastard!" She suddenly rushed towards Zhou Tian's messenger, clenched her fist and struck his face.

  Zhou Tian Sheng was waiting for this punch, and with a swift movement of his left hand, he drew out the sword manual. His right finger pointed at the air, and a burst of sword energy shot out from his fingertips. Tao Yan's nose was stuffy, and her body flew out five feet away, like a kite that had its string cut off. She crashed to the ground with a thud, and threads of fresh blood flowed from the corner of her lips. The crowd watched in amazement, thinking that if this villain couldn't even withstand one blow, what other skills did he have to abduct the Emei female disciples?

  Hou Tianji's face sank as he rebuked, "This is the Temple of Nature, a sacred place! How can you engage in such unseemly behavior? Zhou Tian Shi, you are being far too presumptuous!"

  Chang Shengzi interjected, "Heavenly Machine, it's crucial to investigate the truth, don't divert attention. Besides, this person struck first, how can you blame Zhou Shidi?" Hou Tianji saw his master's words and could only nod in agreement and retreat. Zhou Tian Shi, relying on his powerful backer, proudly raised his head, looking around with a slanted gaze.

  The peach blossoms were still unhealed from the old wounds, and now they had added pain. Covering her chest, she coughed, and occasionally caught a glimpse of Zhou Tian's majestic face, her mind flashing with inspiration. She secretly exclaimed, "Ah, so that's it! No wonder he looked familiar!" With great effort, she stood up and said, "Zhou Tian, is the Zhou Tian from Guanxian City your brother or uncle?"