Chapter 13: Public Exposure and Ruined Reputation

Ye Fan’s words left all the disciples from the major sects present utterly stunned.

What was going on? Wasn’t Ye Fan supposed to be close with Chu Ling’er? Why would he say something like that?

If these two were to marry, wouldn’t the fate of the Linghan Sect become the concern of the Lingxiao Sect?

Could Ye Fan really stand idly by and watch the Linghan Sect fall into ruin?

The crowd, confused and unaware of the truth, thought Ye Fan must be joking.

A man surnamed Fang even wore a flattering smile as he said, “Young Master Ye, you must be joking!”

“Isn’t there still your Lingxiao Sect?”

“Besides, what’s this talk about giving and not returning? All of that was given voluntarily!”

Ye Fan sneered coldly. “Voluntarily given?”

“Then I wonder—to whom exactly were you all voluntarily giving?”

“To the Lingxiao Sect? Or to the Hanling Sect?”

Upon hearing this, the crowd became even more bewildered.

Wasn’t there any difference? Weren’t they all family?

“Young Master Ye, we all know you’ll all be one family in the future!”

“When it comes down to it, you’ll all be eating from the same pot…”

“Nonsense!”

The man named Fang was cut off abruptly by Ye Fan. Pointing at the despicable couple, he said sternly, “What is the Hanling Sect worth? How could it possibly be a match for my Lingxiao Sect?”

“Open your eyes and see clearly—what merit does that trash have to be worthy of me, Ye Fan?”

“Seems like you all didn’t know—I've long since broken off the engagement.”

“That shameless wretch was only pretending to be my fiancée to deceive all of you.”

“If I hadn’t appeared in time, you would still be fooled by that treacherous couple.”

Had these words come from anyone else, no one would have believed them.

Throughout the Northwest Territory, who didn’t know that Ye Fan was hopelessly infatuated with Chu Ling’er?

Yet today, hearing it directly from Ye Fan himself, no one could deny the truth.

But such a revelation was so shocking that it took everyone a moment to recover.

“So… that’s how it really is!”

“To think she shamelessly claimed to be your fiancée just now—this is outright fraud.”

“Damn! She really is trash. Look at her shameless face. How could she ever be worthy of Young Master Ye!”

“Fine! How dare you toy with me, you little vixen? Just you wait!”

“Young Master Ye, I’ll deal with that treacherous couple for you right now and vent your anger!”

“Count me in!”

Many straightforward and hot-tempered disciples rolled up their sleeves, advancing toward Chu Ling’er and Lin Yi with the intent to tear them apart.

Once the center of adoration, Chu Ling’er had now become the enemy of all.

Seeing them closing in step by step, Chu Ling’er and Lin Yi panicked.

Still unwilling to accept her fate, Chu Ling’er hurriedly grabbed two outer sect disciples nearby.

“You… you must stop them for me!”

“You swore you’d follow me to the death—help me deal with them! They’re all crazy!”

But the two simply pushed her away, brushing off their sleeves stained by her grip, and spat with disdain, “Ugh! Take your filthy hands off me. I think you’re the one who’s crazy!”

“Do you think everyone’s flattering you just for nothing? It’s only because of Young Master Ye’s face!”

“Without Young Master Ye, what are you, you stinky woman?”

“Don’t be naive enough to think that your identity as the second young miss of the Hanling Sect gives you any command here.”

“To me, your ‘second young miss’ status isn’t worth as much as a courtesan’s.”

“A worthless sect on the verge of being expelled from the Northwest Territory, without even the qualification to enter the secret realm.”

“You being here is an insult to this secret realm itself!”

The sharp words stabbed at Chu Ling’er’s heart like daggers.

Her body faltered, nearly stumbling to the ground.

Recalling every moment shared with Ye Fan, waves of regret surged within her.

If only she had endured a little longer, if she hadn’t been involved with Lin Yi…

Everything would be completely different now. But there was no turning back.

A burly man, his eyes blazing with ferocity, approached her menacingly.

Without a word, he raised his fist the size of a sandbag, ready to strike Chu Ling’er.

Frozen in fear, she lacked even the courage to dodge.

Countless hostile gazes from all around fixed on her; there was nowhere to hide.

Her only hope now was the righteous Lin Yi beside her.

Instinctively, she grasped Lin Yi’s arm tightly. “Senior… senior brother!”

Little did she know, the good senior brother she had always looked up to was at that moment desperate to sever all ties with her.

Lin Yi lifted his other hand, preparing to push Chu Ling’er away.

At that moment, Ye Fan’s voice rang out once more.

“Everyone, there’s no need for this!”

“I know you are all outstanding disciples of the major sects, the young prodigies of the Northwest Territory.”

“A mere piece of trash isn’t worth your efforts; don’t soil your hands.”

“Since they shamelessly sneaked in, let them perish on their own.”

“Of course, if any of you pity them and want to help, I, Ye Fan, will have no objections.”

“However, from now on, the list of sects protected by my Lingxiao Sect will no longer include your sects.”

“In other words, those who ally with the Linghan Sect will be considered enemies of the Lingxiao Sect.”

“I won’t say more; I believe you’ve all heard me clearly.”

Though Ye Fan’s voice was soft and calm, it carried an unmistakable command no one dared defy.

Before, they thought Ye Fan was just a spoiled, unlearned scion, but today they saw he was far from the rumors.

If this was what a spoiled heir looked like, what were they then?

“Young Master Ye, you worry too much!”

“We were blinded by that trash just now, which led us to make a foolish decision.”

“Thanks to your timely intervention, we’ve awakened from our delusion.”

“We will definitely follow you wholeheartedly!”

“Please rest here, Young Master Ye. We will search diligently for treasures here and present them to you!”

One had to admit, their attitude toward Ye Fan was quite flattering.

Yet Ye Fan knew this was just superficial.

They only feared his identity as the young sect leader of Lingxiao Sect, not him personally.

Even so, that was enough. He didn’t care whether their loyalty was genuine.

All he wanted was to obtain the treasures here, nothing more.

Tiring of their sycophantic behavior, Ye Fan waved his hand. “Time is limited; everyone, hurry up.”

With that command, disciples from the major sects immediately set off.

Soon enough, only Chu Ling’er and Lin Yi remained, frozen in place, too afraid to move.

Ye Fan paid them no mind. The despicable couple had now utterly ruined their reputations and would find it difficult to lift their heads anywhere in the Northwest Territory. They no longer posed any threat to him.

Casting a cold glance their way, he then turned and walked toward another direction, seeking his own fortune.