Chapter 40: The Interrogation by the Master of the Lone Star Sect

Wang Chu had only summoned the old man because he was feeling lazy and wanted him to concoct a medicinal pill to treat Chuxue. However, upon hearing the old man’s words, he simply went along with them.

Hearing Wang Chu’s acknowledgment, the old man looked solemn. "Rest assured, Master. During the days you were away, Hua Tuo has been diligently studying medicine. While my current level still cannot compare to yours, I am at least second to none in the world."

Wang Chu nodded. "Very well, let me test you."

The old man braced himself. "Very well, Master. How do you wish to test me?"

Wang Chu said, "I have a patient here afflicted with the Seven Killings poison. Do you have the confidence to cure her?"

Hua Tuo smiled confidently. "Had you asked me before, I would have been helpless. But after these years of study and research, the Seven Killings is no longer an incurable poison in my eyes."

Wang Chu was satisfied with this answer. "Good, I will take you to see the patient now."

Hua Tuo cupped his hands. "Understood."

Suddenly, Wang Chu paused. "Oh, it seems that will have to wait."

Hua Tuo looked puzzled. "Why?"

Wang Chu squinted and smiled. "Someone has already taken my patient away."

A killing intent rose from Hua Tuo. "Shall I go and bring the patient back?"

Wang Chu waved his hand. "No need. We shall treat her later."

...

Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—

Heavy snow began to fall again outside Ling City. Chuxue stood on a small path some distance from the city gates, gazing toward the entrance with eyes full of reluctance and lingering affection.

"I never thought I would be the one to break our promise," she muttered with a bitter smile. "I thought you wouldn't come. After all, I don't have many days left to live."

Suddenly, two figures appeared out of thin air beside her. Both wore bamboo hats, obscuring their faces, but their silhouettes revealed them to be a man and a woman.

The man in the bamboo hat spoke in a voice colder than the ice and snow. "Even if you are to die, you must die within the Star Gate. You cannot die out here."

The woman's voice was surprisingly sweet, contrasting sharply with her attire and demeanor. "You’ve delayed my sleep. I should have been lying in bed by now."

Chuxue bowed slightly. "I apologize for the trouble."

"Why kill your fellow disciples and defect from the Lone Star Gate? You were already dying; this was entirely meaningless," the woman in the bamboo hat asked with curiosity.

Chuxue did not explain. "You wouldn't understand."

The woman did not press further. "Let's go. Return to the Star Gate with us."

Chuxue stepped between them. "Very well."

"Wait." The man in the bamboo hat raised his hand, stopping them just as they were about to leave. "I smell the scent of a stranger on you."

Chuxue felt a tightening in her chest and quickly explained, "I have been wandering around the city, so I have picked up the scent of mortals. That is only natural."

The man reached up to adjust his hat. "It is natural, but the fact that you felt the need to explain it is not. Tell me, who have you been in close contact with in the city?"

Chuxue gritted her teeth and began to channel her spiritual energy. "Don't push me!"

The man remained unfazed. "And you, do not push me!"

As the tension escalated, the woman spoke, "What relationship do you have with that person? Why are you protecting him? This is a direct violation of the Star Gate code."

In Chuxue's mind, a handsome face appeared, seemingly smiling at her. A terrifying aura of a Transformation God realm expert began to radiate from her. "He is my friend."

This statement stunned the woman, who fell into silence.

The man, however, grew angry. "A friend?" He repeated the words with evident disgust. "Before your death, you actually broke the Star Gate’s taboo to make a friend?" A terrifying aura began to emanate from him as well. "It seems you have truly fallen."

Chuxue smiled. "I don't know about 'fallen,' but at the very least, I have felt unprecedented happiness these past few days."

The man felt only disappointment and rage. "You have completely betrayed the sect's cultivation of you. I will capture that person and drag him back with you to be dealt with by the sect!"

"You can take me, but you shall not touch him!" Chuxue’s gaze was firm, her tone resolute.

After these words, the two fell silent, ready to strike at any moment. But just then, the silent woman spoke again. "Forget it."

She had no intention of joining the fray; instead, she was trying to mediate. The man, who had been about to attack, was taken aback. "What do you mean?"

Chuxue also looked at her with confusion.

The woman explained, "A large number of experts have gathered in Ling City recently. If we fight here, it will likely lead to complications. Let’s just bring her back to the sect first."

The man hesitated, then retracted his aura and asked Chuxue, "You haven't told that person anything you shouldn't have, have you?"

Chuxue immediately raised her hand. "I swear upon my Dao heart: if I have leaked any of the sect's secrets, may my Dao heart shatter and may I die from a cultivation deviation this very instant!"

An oath sworn on one’s Dao heart is governed by the laws of Heaven. If Chuxue had lied, she would have suffered immediate backlash. Seeing that she remained unaffected after the oath, the man felt slightly relieved.

"Hmph, then we shall spare him for now."

Upon hearing this, Chuxue let out a long sigh of relief. Truth be told, even in her prime, it would have been difficult to defeat either of these two, let alone in her current state. Ensuring Wang Chu’s safety without a fight was the best possible outcome for her.

She took the initiative and said, "Let’s go. I will return with you to face the sect’s judgment."

...

The distance between Yun Prefecture and Ling City was neither far nor near; a carriage ride would take at least two days. But for the man in the bamboo hat, who could fly and possessed high-level flight artifacts, they reached Yun Prefecture in just a quarter of an hour.

During their journey, as they crossed the border of Ling City, a small incident occurred. A powerful and overbearing divine sense swept over their bodies and souls through their artifact. Both the man and woman were very nervous, feeling as if they were facing a formidable enemy. They knew that if the owner of that divine sense intended to attack them, their situation would be dire.

Fortunately, after scanning them and inspecting their bodies, the divine sense retreated without further action, allowing them to depart.

Back at the sect, Chuxue was quickly brought before the Master of the Lone Star Gate, Dugu Jue. This was her first time meeting him. He wore a mask that concealed his face, engraved with a single lonely star. Based on the aura he radiated, his cultivation was clearly above the Integration stage.

"Lone Star Seven, do you know your crime?" Dugu Jue’s question echoed through the great hall.

Chuxue’s eyes were dull, her gaze lowered. "This disciple knows her crime."

Her reaction only made Dugu Jue feel that this was the norm. Whether they were defectors or not, Star Gate disciples were always this timid and submissive when facing their superiors, especially him, the Master.

He continued with his usual tone, "Since you know your crime, accept your punishment according to the sect rules."

Chuxue showed no sign of resistance. "Very well."

"But before that, you will reveal the identity of that person to me," Dugu Jue commanded coldly.

Chuxue looked up, a fire instantly igniting in her eyes. "What does that have to do with him?"

Dugu Jue was taken aback. Startled, he barked, "Have you forgotten the rules of the Lone Star Gate?"

Chuxue’s gaze was like a torch. "The rules forbid making friends, but they do not state that the friends one makes must die."

Dugu Jue’s eyes widened slightly in complete shock. Prior to this, Chuxue had been just like any other defector of the Lone Star Gate. Even after fleeing the sect, her ingrained subservience—the slavery of the mind—had always compelled her to obey him. Why, now, did she show such strong resistance when he mentioned that person?

He knew that Chuxue had only known that person for a few days since leaving the sect. And yet, the sect had been cultivating that sense of slavery in her since she was a child...

Dugu Jue felt inexplicably annoyed. He raised his voice and said harshly, "If I say he must die, he must die! Tell me his identity now, or I will ensure that you suffer a fate worse than death while you tell me everything you know!"