Lin Yi arrived alone at a secluded courtyard on the outermost edge of the Elder Council.
The courtyard, enclosed by a fence, was filled with exotic flowers and plants both inside and out.
This was the renowned Ink Bamboo Pavilion of the Yunhai Sect.
The owner of the Ink Bamboo Pavilion was Immortal Master Yu Ying, who was over 360 years old and had been an unparalleled Fairy who once captivated the world in her youth.
Immortal Master Yu Ying had seven True Disciples, and Yun Shuang'er was her youngest Disciple.
Lin Yi tidied his clothes before stepping into the Ink Bamboo Pavilion.
A beautiful young Fairy in green came forward with a smile and said, “Junior Brother Lin, what brings you to Ink Bamboo Pavilion today? Is something the matter?”
This woman was Immortal Master Yu Ying’s eldest Disciple, named Jin He.
She was much older than Lin Yi, nearly sixty years old, but she looked only twenty-four or twenty-five, and her Cultivation had reached the seventh level of the Shenji Realm, making her fully capable of handling matters independently.
Lin Yi cupped his fist slightly and said, “Senior Sister Jin, I apologize for disturbing you today. I wish to ask Junior Sister Yun about something.”
“Junior Sister?”
A hint of confusion appeared on Jin He’s fair cheeks.
Yun Shuang'er had a rather aloof personality; besides speaking a few words to her Senior Sisters in the Ink Bamboo Pavilion, she rarely interacted with other Disciples.
Jin He was a little surprised by Lin Yi’s visit to her Junior Sister.
Lin Yi nodded and said, “Yes, I wonder if Junior Sister Yun is in the Ink Bamboo Pavilion?”
“The Junior Sister is here, please follow me.”
Lin Yi followed Jin He into a bamboo hut directly facing the fence gate.
The bamboo hut was exquisite, with almost all its chairs and benches made of bamboo.
Immortal Master Yu Ying, dressed as a Daoist nun, sat on a bamboo chair, sternly reprimanding two female Disciples.
Immortal Master Yu Ying was already 360 years old, but due to her profound Cultivation, she still looked very young, only about forty or fifty.
However, time was fair; no matter how high her Cultivation, time had still left its marks on her beautiful face.
Seeing Jin He and Lin Yi enter, Immortal Master Yu Ying frowned slightly.
Lin Yi quickly bowed, “Junior Lin Yi greets Junior Martial Uncle Yu Ying.”
Righteous Path Disciples paid the most attention to hierarchy.
Although Lin Yi was the Sect Leader’s personal Disciple, he still appeared very humble when meeting his Sect Elders.
It was precisely because of this that he had an excellent reputation within the Yunhai Sect, and many Elders liked him.
“Lin Shizhi, why have you come? Does Sect Leader Senior Brother have any instructions?”
Since the Ink Bamboo Pavilion consisted entirely of female Disciples, male Disciples rarely visited, especially Lin Yi, known as the Dragon Subduing Swordsman, who valued his reputation highly and generally avoided places where female Disciples gathered, lest he be labeled a “playboy.”
Jin He spoke, “Master, Junior Brother Lin said he came to see the Junior Sister.”
“Looking for Shuang'er?”
Immortal Master Yu Ying’s eyebrow twitched, and her expression showed some displeasure.
She said indifferently, “Lin Shizhi, are you very familiar with Shuang'er? What do you need her for?”
Immortal Master Yu Ying had seven True Disciples, but only her eldest Disciple Jin He and her youngest Disciple Yun Shuang'er possessed extremely high talent in the Dao of Cultivation.
She held great expectations for these two Disciples.
She had also been young once, and countless young heroes had pursued her. It was because she was entangled in love in her youth that she found it difficult to resolve her inner demons, which delayed her Cultivation.
Immortal Master Yu Ying did not want her Disciples to waste their precious time on romantic relationships, so she was quite strict with her seven Disciples.
Her eldest Disciple, Jin He, was already several decades old and considered a beauty, with both a beautiful face and a good figure, yet she was still an old maiden who had never been in a relationship.
As for her most valued youngest Disciple, Yun Shuang'er, she was only in her twenties this year, a very, very, very dangerous age for the budding of emotions and the awakening of love.
As a prominent figure among the younger generation of the Yunhai Sect, Lin Yi and Yun Shuang'er were indeed a perfect match.
Therefore, upon hearing that Lin Yi had come to see Yun Shuang'er, Immortal Master Yu Ying immediately became vigilant.
Lin Yi also knew Junior Martial Uncle Yu Ying’s character; over the years, countless young heroes who pursued her Disciples had been driven out by her.
Lin Yi quickly said, “Junior Martial Uncle, please don’t misunderstand. I came this time to ask Junior Sister Yun about some matters.”
Immortal Master Yu Ying looked at Lin Yi with a mix of belief and doubt, then nodded and said, “Jin He, go call Shuang'er.”
“Yes, Master.”
Jin He secretly winked at the two Junior Sisters who had just been reprimanded by their Master.
These two clever young girls lowered their heads and followed their Senior Sister out, to avoid being lectured by their Master again.
Immortal Master Yu Ying said to Lin Yi, “Lin Shizhi, please wait a moment.”
Lin Yi nodded and sat on a bamboo chair below.
Immortal Master Yu Ying asked, “I haven’t left the Sect for a while. How is the Sect Leader recently? Is he still in seclusion?”
“Yes.” Lin Yi, sitting, bowed slightly and said, “Master has recently gained some insight into the Heavenly Dao and is still in seclusion.”
A glimmer of light flickered in Immortal Master Yu Ying’s eyes, and she said lightly, “I heard Chang Kong and Jing Hong have been quite troublesome recently. You haven’t joined in, have you?”
Lin Yi’s body trembled slightly; he seemed not to have expected Immortal Master Yu Ying to say such words directly.
He immediately shook his head and smiled, “Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother… during Master’s seclusion, they are handling the Sect’s affairs. There might be some differences of opinion, but both Senior Brothers are doing everything for the Sect’s benefit.”
Immortal Master Yu Ying was clearly dissatisfied with Lin Yi’s ambiguous answer.
Her personality was quite fiery, and she spoke directly. She immediately said, “Lin Yi, you are a rare talent. It’s best not to get involved in Chang Kong and Jing Hong’s affairs.
I experienced succession struggles in my youth and know how deep the waters are. How many Sect Masters of the Yunhai Sect throughout history haven’t ascended by stepping over mountains of corpses and seas of blood?
You and Xiao Rou were the latest to join the Sect, and you are both good children. It’s best to remain neutral. If not, go travel down the mountain for a few years and return after Chang Kong and Jing Hong have determined a victor, understand?
I am the only one in the entire Yunhai Sect who will tell you these things; others won’t.”
Lin Yi slowly nodded, stood up, and bowed, saying, “Thank you, Junior Martial Uncle, for your guidance. This Junior will remember it.”
In truth, how could he not want to hide?
But now it was too late; he had already become involved in this cruel struggle for succession.
Immortal Master Yu Ying motioned for Lin Yi to sit down, then asked, “Why have you come to see Shuang'er this time?”
Lin Yi said, “After Master went into seclusion, I have been assisting Junior Martial Uncle Yuheng with matters in the Beast Spirit Yard. Some time ago, several hundred Spiritual Plants and four Thousand-Year Immortal Zhi were stolen from Medicine Garden A-7. I am investigating this matter.”
“Oh.” Immortal Master Yu Ying frowned, “How does this involve Shuang'er?”
Lin Yi showed a bitter smile and said, “Junior Martial Uncle, please don’t misunderstand. This matter has absolutely nothing to do with Junior Sister Yun, but… Junior Brother Ye Feng, who is suspected of embezzlement, has encountered some issues…”
“Ye Feng? Ye Feng, a Disciple of Yu Long? Are the people in the Beast Spirit Yard out of their minds? Letting that boy guard the Medicine Garden? I didn’t hear that wrong, did I?”
Immortal Master Yu Ying interrupted Lin Yi’s words, a hint of incredulity on her still charming face.
Sending Ye Feng to guard the Medicine Garden, what was the difference between that and letting a big rat be a granary manager?
The current Chief Grand Elder of the Beast Spirit Yard, Jade Balance Wanderer, was not a foolish person; how could he do such a thoughtless and stupid thing?
Suddenly, Immortal Master Yu Ying seemed to recall something, her brows furrowing slightly, and she said, “Lin Shizhi, why would Ye Feng’s offense lead you to question Shuang'er? They shouldn’t know each other.”
Just as Lin Yi was about to elaborate, two figures entered through the doorway.
Jin He in green, and Yun Shuang'er in white.
Both were exceptionally beautiful women, yet they gave off completely different feelings.
As Immortal Master Yu Ying’s eldest Disciple and the Senior Sister of Ink Bamboo Pavilion, Jin He often had to shoulder the responsibility of teaching on behalf of her Master.
For such an eldest Disciple, most Elders would choose someone with a gentle disposition and a benevolent character.
Thus, Jin He gave off a refreshing feeling, like an Elder sister from next door, always wearing a gentle smile, making people feel an irresistible sense of closeness.
Yun Shuang'er, however, was the exact opposite. She possessed unparalleled beauty but was unsmiling, like the cold ice on the back of a snow mountain that never saw sunlight.
An aura of aloofness, warning others to keep their distance, radiated from her eyes and spread to every pore of her body.
It seemed even every strand of her hair was cold.
After the two entered, they bowed slightly to Immortal Master Yu Ying.
Jin He said, “Master, the Junior Sister has arrived.”
Immortal Master Yu Ying nodded slightly, glanced at Lin Yi, and said, “Lin Shizhi, since Shuang'er is here, you may ask whatever questions you have. My Disciples of Ink Bamboo Pavilion will absolutely not do anything that violates Sect rules.”