Chapter 1670: Missing

Yan Xuehen had never considered this question before. Prompted by Chu Chuyan, she began to ponder it.

Zu An had risked his life to save her several times, pushing his body to the brink of collapse. Could she truly stand by and watch that man die?

Thinking this, she slowly said, "I suppose I would still do it."

Chu Chuyan smiled faintly and said, "If that's the case, what is your friend still worrying about? Even if it was an unintentional mistake, it's enough that she doesn't regret it. As for the consequences, she can figure out how to resolve them later. When the cart reaches the mountain, there will be a road; when the boat reaches the bridge, it will naturally straighten. Things will always work themselves out."

Her master was usually aloof, like a snow fairy on an iceberg, untouched by worldly desires. So, Chu Chuyan never imagined that the master she revered like a goddess could be the 'friend' Yan Xuehen was talking about. Her first thought was to guess it was an acquaintance within Yan Xuehen's circle.

However, given her master's temperament, there were only a few people who could barely be considered friends, but none of them fit the description she had just given. It couldn't possibly be the Demon Sect's leader, Yun Jianyue, could it?

After hearing Chu Chuyan's comforting words, Yan Xuehen inexplicably felt better. "Chuyan, thank you."

Chu Chuyan smiled, "It's a pleasure to be able to ease Master's worries."

Yan Xuehen's heart skipped a beat. She quickly said, "I'll find an opportunity to tell my friend."

Chu Chuyan didn't suspect anything else and happily chatted with her about the grand competition.

Early the next morning, disciples from various sects gathered at the Golden Summit, awaiting the final championship bout.

They discussed animatedly who was more likely to emerge victorious.

After several days of observation, everyone favored Peng Wuyan more. After all, Pei Mianman had a tough time winning against Zhi Yin in the group stage and suffered considerable injuries.

Zhi Yin's cultivation had not even reached the Grandmaster level!

Peng Wuyan, on the other hand, had a much stronger record, having defeated several chief disciples, including Wu Xiaofan, who was widely considered the top contender before the competition.

Of course, Pei Mianman's supporters argued that because Zhi Yin possessed an immortal-grade weapon, his combat power was no less than that of Grandmaster-level contestants like Wu Xiaofan and Wan Guiyi.

On the referee's platform, the officials gradually took their places. Wang Wuxie naturally sat in the lead position. His gaze subtly drifted towards Yan Xuehen's seat. Upon seeing her familiar white figure, his mood instantly brightened. Although he had long come to terms with it and no longer truly hoped for any outcome with Yan Xuehen, simply seeing her was pleasing enough.

At this moment, Yan Xuehen's gaze drifted, intentionally or unintentionally, towards Zu An. Yesterday's so-called hour of romance had not brought her inner peace or allowed her to sever emotional ties; instead, it had left her even more confused.

Fortunately, with Chu Chuyan's guidance, she was now thinking of taking things one step at a time.

Zu An noticed Yan Xuehen's gaze, gave her a slight nod, and then continued chatting with the person next to him.

Yan Xuehen suddenly felt a pang of disappointment. She was used to him shamelessly calling her "Sister Yan" and taking all sorts of "brazen" liberties with her. Now that he was acting like a stranger, she found herself unaccustomed to it.

Suddenly, her heart jolted as she recalled yesterday's agreement about an hour of romance. It had been said that afterward, they would each go their separate ways, with no further involvement. Was he truly planning to do that?

Originally, this was the outcome she sought, yet now that the day had truly arrived, she felt somewhat caught off guard.

Seeing her delicate brows slightly furrowed, Guan Chouhai of Li Hentian couldn't help but say, "Temple Master Yan, do you have something on your mind? Tell us, and we'll help you sort it out. With the combined cultivation and power of so many of us, there's nothing in this world that can't be solved."

With so many fellow Daoists present, he couldn't bring himself to address her as 'Immortal Yan' repeatedly.

Wang Wuxie, however, frowned slightly. He had almost forgotten that Guan Chouhai had also relentlessly pursued Yan Xuehen back then.

However, he wasn't worried. Compared to himself, an unctuous man like Guan Chouhai was utterly uncompetitive. He didn't believe that a woman as noble and ethereal as a cloud fairy would ever take a liking to him.

As expected, Yan Xuehen coolly replied, "Sect Master Guan, you've misunderstood. I was merely curious why the other contestant hasn't arrived yet."

When Chuyan had said similar things to her yesterday, she had found it somewhat comforting, but what relationship did this Guan Chouhai have with her? What right did he have to help her resolve her worries?

Feeling the coldness in her tone, Wang Wuxie almost chuckled aloud. This Guan fellow was truly overestimating himself. Even Wang Wuxie himself wouldn't dare make advances, so how could Guan be worthy?

However, he quickly thought about what Yan Xuehen had said and looked towards the stage. Sure enough, only Pei Mianman had appeared; Peng Wuyan was nowhere to be seen.

Not only her, but even Elder Peng of Kongming Island and the other disciples from Kongming Island hadn't arrived.

Wang Wuxie frowned, then beckoned to Feng Wuchang. "Junior Brother, go and check on the situation."

Feng Wuchang nodded and then flew directly towards the direction of Kongming Island's villa.

At this moment, the disciples from various sects below the stage erupted into a commotion:

"Could it be that Peng Wuyan got scared and didn't dare to come?"

"What a joke! Peng Wuyan's cultivation is clearly higher; why would she be scared?"

"Then something must have happened. Surely, this Miss Pei won't win by default again, will she?"

Hearing the various discussions from below, Zu An was also startled. The Lucky Pill's effect shouldn't last until now, should it?

How could she get another bye?

Just then, a figure rushed over agitatedly. It was Elder Peng of Kongming Island, with Feng Wuchang barely able to keep up behind him.

"Elder Peng, what happened?" Seeing his agitated state, everyone on the referee's platform felt a jolt in their hearts and quickly asked. "Wuyan is missing!" Elder Peng said, his face grim.

At these words, the entire venue erupted in an uproar. Was Pei Mianman's luck truly this good?

Guan Chouhai asked curiously, "What do you mean by 'missing'?"

Elder Peng glared at him directly. "Are you deaf? What else could 'missing' mean? This morning, when I went to speak with her, I found she wasn't in her room. My disciples and I searched everywhere, but we couldn't find her."

Guan Chouhai was instantly speechless. If it weren't for the fact that the other party was genuinely anxious, he might have turned hostile on the spot.

The many grand figures on the referee's platform exchanged glances. In all the years of the Daoist Sects Grand Competition, something like this had never happened before.

Wang Wuxie couldn't help but ask, "Could it be that she encountered something and left on her own?"

"How could that be?" Elder Peng retorted directly. "She has no relatives or friends here, and with the championship match today, how could she possibly leave? Someone must have abducted her."

"How is that possible? Mount Zi is heavily guarded, making it difficult for outsiders to enter. Moreover, Junior Nephew Peng's cultivation is top-tier among her peers, and she was staying in the same courtyard as Elder Peng. Who could have silently abducted her?" Wang Wuxie directly countered. This was Mount Zi's territory, and if a security incident occurred, he bore the greatest responsibility.

Elder Peng sneered, "Indeed, among her peers, there are few who could threaten Wuyan. But what about the older generation? I suspect some people don't want our Kongming Island to win the championship."

At these words, the expressions of the Nine Sect representatives on the referee's platform instantly changed.

Even Wan Guiyi couldn't help but look at his father. If Peng Wuyan disappeared, who would benefit the most? Naturally, it would be Biluo Palace, as Pei Mianman would then get another bye and directly become the champion.

He still had a considerable fondness for Peng Wuyan's powerful beauty, and furthermore, his nature disliked such underhanded manipulations.

Wan Tongtian was almost choked by his son's gaze. If even his own son looked at him that way, what about everyone else?

So he hastily stepped forward to explain, "Last night, I was with Junior Sister Huoling, training Manman and teaching her how to handle today's match. How could I possibly do something like that?"

"With Master Huoling?" Guan Chouhai exclaimed, winking and giving a gossipy look.

Seeing the ambiguous expressions on others' faces, Master Huoling, for the first time, blushed. Wan Tongtian, however, grew anxious. "Guan, it's not as sordid as you think! We were having a proper conversation."

Watching his anxious defense, Master Huoling only felt a wave of irritation, her temper flaring rapidly.

"Sharing a room in the middle of the night and chatting all night—yes, that's certainly 'proper'," Guan Chouhai said mockingly. Li Hentian and Biluo Palace had always been at odds, so naturally, he enjoyed stirring up trouble.

"Guan, you really do only speak ill!" Master Huoling roared in fury, slamming the table and cursing.

Guan Chouhai, being the head of a sect, couldn't tolerate being cursed at in front of so many people. He also slammed the table and rose, saying, "You do such things yourselves, yet you won't allow others to speak of them?"

"Enough!" Seeing two influential figures arguing so undignifiedly in front of their juniors, Wang Wuxie finally couldn't bear it anymore. "We are discussing Junior Nephew Peng's disappearance, let's not digress."

After speaking, he looked at Elder Peng. "Junior Nephew Peng's cultivation is not weak, and you were guarding nearby. I truly can't comprehend who on Mount Zi has the ability to abduct her so silently."

At these words, everyone's gaze fell upon Elder Peng. Indeed, there were people on Mount Zi with higher cultivation than Elder Peng, but to abduct someone without his knowledge? That was utterly impossible.

"Yesterday, a mysterious person left a letter, saying they had important matters to discuss with me, related to today's competition. Although I found them suspicious, given that it concerned the grand competition, I didn't dare to take it lightly, so I went to the agreed-upon location," Elder Peng said with a look of regret. "Unfortunately, when I arrived, I didn't see anyone."

At this, Wan Tongtian and Master Huoling both gasped, seemingly having recalled something similar.

Wang Wuxie looked at them. "Have the two of you thought of any clues?"

"No," they both replied in unison. How could they let others know about their embarrassing incident? They would become the laughingstock of the Daoist sects!

Elder Peng then continued, "After that, I simply returned, thinking nothing had happened, just assuming it was a prank. Now that I think about it, Wuyan must have gotten into trouble at that time."

Li Changsheng of White Jade Capital asked curiously, "You didn't even check if your disciple was in her room after you returned, only discovering she was missing today?"

"Wuyan has been through consecutive battles; what she needed most at that time was rest, not last-minute cramming like some people," Elder Peng said, casting a cold gaze at Wan Tongtian and Master Huoling.

Wan Tongtian and Master Huoling felt displeased, both letting out a snort of protest.

Elder Peng then caused a great commotion at the Golden Summit, repeatedly asserting that some sects were unwilling to accept their disciples' defeats, and thus, older generation masters had disregarded their status and intervened.

As a result, the faces of those from Kunlun Void and Taixuan Cave immediately darkened. Even Wang Wuxie's expression changed, as their disciples had all lost to Peng Wuyan.

However, everyone instinctively looked towards Wang Wuxie. It wasn't a big deal for disciples from other sects to lose; they wouldn't resort to such undignified actions.

But Wang Wuxie was different. Wu Xiaofan was Wang Wuxie's disciple and widely regarded as the most likely candidate for the championship. Wang Wuxie had even lent him the Green-Scaled Armor, indicating how desperately he wanted him to win.

Moreover, this was Mount Zi's territory, and Wang Wuxie's cultivation was high. He truly had the strongest motive and ability to carry out such an act.

Seeing their suspicious glances, Wang Wuxie's face turned purple with anger. It was truly difficult for him to defend himself against such an accusation.

Just then, Yan Xuehen spoke. "Could it have been Yun Jianyue of the Demon Sect? This kind of act feels quite like her style."