As soon as I stepped across the threshold, a solemn and majestic atmosphere hit me in the face. The most sacred place in Qingyun Gate was still as magnificent as it had been before, leaving people in awe.

  On the vast temple, there were many people standing and sitting, but somehow, Zhang Xiaofan's first glance was not on these people, but on the three Qing gods' statues in the deepest part of the temple, which seemed so far away in the shadows.

  In front of the grand hall, the lit incense sticks burned silently, floating up wisps of thin smoke.

  In the great hall, in the main seat, a man of high virtue and prestige, with an ethereal air, sat Dao Xuan Zhen Ren. Next to his seat was a small tea table, on which was placed the very same fire-starter that belonged to Zhang Xiao Fan.

  On his right side, a row of seats for the various branches of Qingyun Gate were arranged, including all the people inside Tian Bu Yi. All of them sat there. The elders and disciples of other branches of Qingyun Gate either sat or stood behind them. Familiar faces like Qi Huan and Lin Jingyu were also present. Xue Qi was standing silently behind Shui Yue Master, next to Song Daren's thoughtful Wen Min, whose bright eyes flowed with waves, gazing at Zhang Xiaofan's figure.

  On the left side of Daoxuan Zhenren, there were many people that Zhang Xiaofan had never seen before. There were monks with kind faces and old men with gloomy expressions. As Zhang Xiaofan's gaze swept across them, he only saw a few familiar faces among the group. Tianyin Temple's Fashang and Fashan were also present, standing respectfully behind an elderly monk who was seated at the very top. It seemed that this kindly-looking old monk was likely another divine monk from Tianyin Temple.

  Chang Jian led Song Dai Ren, Zhang Xiao Fan and Tian Ling Er over, bowed to Dao Xuan Zhen Ren and said: "Master, Zhang Shixiong from Da Zhu Peak has arrived."

  The people around were shocked, and their eyes all shifted over at once. Not only Zhang Xiaofan, but also Song Daren and Tian Ling'er felt a bit uncomfortable.

  Su Rou, who was sitting next to Tian Ye, furrowed her brow and said to them, "You come over here."

  Song Daren and others let out a sigh of relief, responded with a sound and walked over. Just at this moment, the Cangsong Daoist sitting on Tian Buyi's head suddenly coughed.

  Tian's facial muscles twitched, and the corners of his eyes also trembled slightly, but he finally said coldly: "Lao Qi, you stand there, the sect master and the seniors have something to ask you."

  Zhang Xiaofan's footsteps, which had just started, seemed to have hit a wall and stopped abruptly. After a while, he said in a low voice: "Yes."

  Song Daren and Tian Ling'er exchanged a glance, looked at Zhang Xiaofan, and both had worried expressions in their eyes. However, they knew it wasn't the right time, so they quietly walked to stand behind Tian Buyi.

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren's face was expressionless as he looked down, and all he saw was a young man standing alone between the crowds on both sides, with a hint of tension and fear in his eyes, even his fists were clenched tightly.

  Is this really the same unremarkable orphan from Caomiao Village all those years ago?

  He sighed deeply in his heart.

  "Zhang Xiaofan." Dao Xuan Zhenren called out slowly.

  Zhang Xiaofan's body seemed to tremble slightly, and he slowly knelt down, saying in a low voice: "Disciple is present."

  Daoxuan Zhenren looked at him and said, "These seniors beside me are all high-ranking individuals in my Orthodox Dao. They have also come for you this time. This is the abbot of Tianyin Temple, Pu Hong Shen Seng, sitting next to him is also a Shen Seng from Tianyin Temple, Pu Kong Shang Ren, and there's also Shangguan from Fengxiang Valley..."

  Daoxuan Zhenren couldn't lose his courtesy, so he naturally had to mention the names of those famous people in the back. However, Zhang Xiaofan didn't have the heart to listen anymore. For a moment, his gaze fell on the two old monks sitting in the front row with kind faces. The golden silk robes they wore were embroidered with red, and their white eyebrows looked like snow. At this moment, they were also looking at him.

  Pu Hong Sheng Seng is one of the four great divine monks in Tianyin Temple, and has always been ranked alongside Dao Xuan Zhenren of Qingyun Gate and Huixiang Valley's valley master as one of the three greatest figures under heaven. His status is extremely high, far surpassing that of others. Ordinary cultivators find it difficult to even catch a glimpse of him, but this time he unexpectedly broke with a hundred years of precedent, startling the Supreme Law Chariot into arriving at Qingyun Mountain.

  Don't just say that Zhang Xiaofan was shocked, even the news received by Qingyunmen was also surprised. From this, it can be seen that Tianyin Temple attaches great importance to the unexpected appearance of the "Mahavairocana Sutra" true method being leaked out!

  On the grand hall, Dao Xuan Zhen Ren's voice stopped unknowingly, a silence fell, and everyone's eyes were fixed on the figure kneeling on the ground.

  Zhang Xiaofan slowly lowered his head, staring at the green bricks on the ground in front of him. Suddenly, a thought flashed through his mind: Are these monks the same kind of people as Puzhi back then?

  In the distance, the incense stick lying quietly beside Daoxuan Zhenren on the tea table seemed to have sensed its master's thoughts as well, and a faint blue light flickered softly.

  "Zhang Xiaofan," said Dao Xuan Zhenren slowly, "now I'm going to ask you a few things, and you must answer truthfully."

  Zhang Xiaofan said in a low voice: "Yes."

  Daoxuan Zhenren seemed to be weighing his words, and after a while, he slowly said: "This time in the East China Sea, Flowing Waves Mountain trip, there was a fellow Taoist from Tianyin Temple who recognized that when you were fighting against the Qiu Niu, you used the 'Mahavairocana' true method of Tianyin Temple, which has never been passed down outside. Is this true?"

  Zhang Xiaofan didn't say a word, and the atmosphere in the Jade Clear Hall suddenly became slightly tense. Tian Buyi uncomfortably turned his head, only to find that everyone was silently staring at Zhang Xiaofan.

  In the air, as if there were some intangible things lightly jumping around.

  After a while, Zhang Xiaofan's voice slowly said: "Yes."

  "What?"

  At that moment, the entire hall was in an uproar. Although they had expected this answer, when Zhang Xiaofan said it out loud, the monks of Tianyin Temple were still visibly shaken. Only Pu Heng and Pu Kong, who were sitting at the front, as well as Fa Xiang, who was standing behind them, remained expressionless and silent.

  But at the Qingyun Gate, Tian Naiyi's face was getting uglier, and Tian Ling'er's face was also pale to the extreme. In a moment of astonishment, only Xue Qi looked at that silent figure, speechless.

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren furrowed his brow, and his gaze swept slightly towards Pu Heng Shangren of Tianyin Temple. However, amidst the excited expressions of the crowd, Pu Heng Shangren slowly closed his eyes, making it clear that he would not speak for the time being.

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren coldly snorted in his heart, turned to face Zhang Xiao Fan, and raised his hand to signal the noisy crowd to be quiet.

  He was after all a person of great status, and soon the people from Qingyun Gate and other sects quieted down. Only Daoxuan True Person slowly said: "Besides, someone also said that the fire poker in your hand..." As he spoke, he reached out to take the black rod, continuing: "has the demonic Evil Sect's Blood-drinking Pearl on it, is this true?"

  Another silence, Zhang Xiaofan said in a low voice: "Yes."

  This time, however, everyone unexpectedly remained silent. The Blood Devouring Bead, a term filled with bloody evil, actually appeared on the body of a Qing Yun Door disciple!

  Dào Xuánzhēn rén de liǎnsè yě jiànjiàn yīn chén le xià lái, dào: "Nǐ yǒu méi yǒu shén me huà yào shuō?"

  Translation:

  Dao Xuan's face also gradually darkened, and he said, "Do you have anything to say?"

  Although he had long expected to face today's situation, Zhang Xiaofan's heart was still blank at this moment. The fear of the unknown and possible punishment made his body tremble slightly.

  "Me, me, me..."

  Like a small boat struggling desperately in the vast ocean of despair, he muttered simple words, yet had no idea what he was saying.

  The face of Dao Xuan Zhen Ren was stern and he said: "Where did this Blood Devouring Bead come from?"

  The sound suddenly rose to the end, the tone turned severe, Zhang Xiaofan was shouted by him, and his mind buzzed, instantly chaotic, finally opened his mouth and started talking: from being teased by a monkey named Xiao Hui when he was young, to later chasing with Tian Ling'er to the back mountain valley, the Blood Pearl and the Black Strange Stick suddenly fought each other, and in the end turned into this shape...

  On the grand hall, everyone looked at each other in dismay. Even Dao Xuan Zhenren and Pu Hong, Pu Kong, including the old man from Fengxiang Valley, all furrowed their brows. The matter of the Blood Devouring Bead and the Soul Capturing Bead being refined with blood as a medium was something that even these accomplished cultivators had never heard of before, showing just how vast the world was, and indeed, nothing was impossible.

  Many people had doubts in their hearts, but seeing Zhang Xiaofan's eyes slightly dull and his expression lost, he didn't seem to be lying either.

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren sank into thought for a moment, then looked at Zhang Xiao Fan and said: "Alright, I'll temporarily believe your accidental smelting theory. But before that, the Blood Devouring Bead was already on you. You're just a small child, how did you come to possess such an evil object? Moreover, the Blood Devouring Bead has always absorbed the vital energy of living things, and at that time it hadn't even merged with the Soul Capturing Furnace. How were you able to remain unharmed?"

  Zhang Xiaofan was speechless, the real reason for this matter was that Puzhi had used the Buddhist true method to temporarily suppress the Blood Devouring Bead at the beginning, and on that day, Puzhi also reminded him to find a desolate cliff where no one was around to throw it away. However, Zhang Xiaofan himself kept the bead as a memento.

  At this moment, speaking out Pu Zhi is equivalent to saying everything, only this is what Zhang Xiaofan deeply does not want to say in his heart.

  That kind and gentle old monk, with whom he had only a one-night connection, was someone he called "Master" just once when his oil lamp was about to go out. Yet, all these years, no matter what, he couldn't forget that person.

  In an instant, the gazes and voices of the people around seemed to become so distant. The scene before his eyes seemed to have returned to many years ago. He was facing that old monk again. The small boy stood strong and firm, saying to him: "I know, I'd rather die than say!"

  I'd rather die than say!

  Would rather die than say... Would rather die than say... Would rather die than say...

  "Speak!"

  A loud shout, the sound shook the four sides, but suddenly it was Tian Bu Yi who furrowed his brow tightly and stood up in anger, startling everyone. His face was extremely stern, but the worried look in his eyes grew heavier by the second. At this moment, Zhang Xiaofan had already admitted to committing a grave offense against the Qingyun Gate and violating the great taboos of the righteous path. According to normal reasoning, he would probably be put to death without exception.

  Tian was shocked and angry in his heart, but saw that this little apprentice seemed to be completely unaware of the danger he was in. Especially with people from Tianyin Temple and Fengxiang Valley present, Qingyun Gate could not help but maintain a good relationship, and there was no way to save him. If things continued like this, Zhang Xiaofan's life would really be in danger!

  Helpless, Zhang Xiaofan was like a possessed person at this moment, slowly lowering his head, not making a sound. The others were fine, but Su Rou and the people from Da Zhu Peak who had watched him grow up were all stunned and lost their color. Zhang Xiaofan's temperament had always been calm and tenacious, but at this critical moment, he seemed to be completely unresponsive.

  Tian did not easily take a step forward, but before he could say or do anything, Pu Heng, the abbot of Tianyin Temple who had been silent all along, suddenly opened his eyes and said: "Master Tian, let's discuss this matter slowly, don't be rash."

  Tian didn't expect Pu Heng to suddenly speak up for Zhang Xiaofan, but as a respected and powerful monk, even Tian, who was from the Qingyun Sect, couldn't afford to disrespect him. He grunted and sat back down.

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren glanced at Pu Hong with a faint expression, his eyebrows slightly furrowed as if deep in thought. He then turned to Zhang Xiao Fan and asked: "Also, the Mahavairocana True Dharma on your body, where exactly did you learn it from?"

  As soon as this was said, everyone immediately became tense. The key to this matter vaguely stirred up the undercurrents of the two major factions of the righteous way, and this answer must be earth-shattering!

  But Zhang Xiaofan remained silent and knelt there for a long time without saying a word.

  Dao Xuan Zhenren's pupils contracted and he said coldly: "You still don't tell the truth?"

  From head to toe, the Dharma form that had been staring at Zhang Xiaofan suddenly lowered its head and stopped looking at him. Even Pu Hongpu, who was sitting in front of him, also glanced over, with a hint of light flashing in his eyes, but it was unclear what he was thinking.

  The world around is silent, but it seems to have transformed into an endless and gigantic invisible wall that has itself sandwiched in the middle, coldly squeezing.

  Zhang Xiaofan slowly felt suffocated, but he still didn't say a word.

  Maybe even he himself doesn't know what he's insisting on.

  Bang!

  A loud noise, everyone was shocked, Zhang Xiaofan also looked up to see that it was Daoxuan Zhenren heavily slapping the teapot on the tea table, suddenly standing up, frowning, obviously enraged, shouting: "You wicked creature! Don't think that just because you don't speak, I won't be able to do anything to you!"

  Zhang Xiaofan's body trembled, his face was extremely complex, but in the end he did not speak.

  Dào Xuán grew even angrier, his anger reaching its peak, and he laughed instead, saying: "Good, good, good, you this wretch, today I will let you..."

  "Put down your anger!"

  Suddenly, a shout came from among the disciples of Qingyun Gate, and instantly, there was a commotion in Qingyun Gate. Everyone's faces changed color. Daoxuan Zhenren had been sitting at Qingyun for over a hundred years, and his power had always been unmatched, but unexpectedly, someone dared to block him today. Even Zhang Xiaofan turned his head to look.

  Among the noise, suddenly only 6 Snow Chi decisively stood out from the crowd, walked to the middle, and knelt down beside Zhang Xiaofan.

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren was taken aback, and Shui Yue Da Shi was also extremely surprised. He stood up and hastily said: "Qi Er, have you gone mad? Come back quickly!"

  Xue Qi's face was slightly pale, but she knelt beside Zhang Xiao Fan without any intention of retreating. Her peerless beautiful face had her snow-white teeth lightly biting her lower lip as she quietly said: "Master Uncle, I, Xue Qi, disciple of Shu Zhang Peak, have something to say."

  Shuǐ Yuè furrowed her brow and shouted, "Qí ér, Zhang Xiaofan is a disciple of Dà Zhú Fēng, guilty of a serious crime. The sect leader will decide his fate, don't interfere, come back quickly!"

  Xue Qi's mouth seemed to twitch, and Zhang Xiaofan, who was beside her, also clearly heard her sudden heavy breathing, apparently the pressure of kneeling beside him in front of everyone at this moment was not trivial.

  Yet, in this solemn and majestic great hall, under the gaze of all strangers, this beautiful woman still did not retreat.

  The mountain wind outside the Jade Clear Palace had somehow blown in at some point.

  A few strands of her hair fluttered up and floated gently.

  Zhang Xiaofan gazed at the woman beside him, without saying a word.

  "Master Shifu, may I say a few words?"

  Daoxuan Zhenren glanced around and saw that the fellow Daoists from other sects were all looking at him, so he coldly said: "Alright, you speak."

  Xue Qi nodded and said: "Thank you, Master. Masters, I don't have a deep relationship with Zhang Xiaofan, but after the Seven Veins Gathering, we went down the mountain together. In the empty mulberry tree cave of Wansang Mountain and on the Flowing Wave Mountain in the East Sea, I personally saw Zhang Xiaofan fight to the death against the remaining demonic cultists. He is absolutely not a traitor within the demonic cult. At this moment, with outsiders present, Zhang Xiaofan may have secrets that are hard to speak of. Please, Master, think thrice before acting, and by no means..."

  "Wait!"

  Suddenly, a voice interrupted Xue Qi's words. Everyone looked over and saw that it was the old man with the surname Shangguan from Fengxiang Valley, who was sitting below the two divine monks of Tianyin Temple. Earlier, Zhang Xiaofan had focused all his attention on the two divine monks and hadn't noticed him. Now, looking at him, he saw that his face was thin and gaunt, his body quite tall and lean, and even his words were somewhat sharp.

  "This young lady's 'outsiders' probably refers to me, as well as Pu Hong Dao and Pu Kong Dao brothers, and all of you fellow practitioners, right? Heh heh, the Qing Yun Sect has made such a big deal out of this, yet you still claim to be the orthodox sect. Don't you even want to give us an explanation?"

  The faces of Dao Xuan Zhen Ren and the other elders of various sects suddenly turned ugly, and Cang Song Dao Ren, who was sitting next to him, said coldly: "Shang Guan Ce Dao brother, since our leader has decided to hold a public trial for this person in front of you all today, it is to give you an account!"

  Shangguan Ce sneered coldly and said in a low voice, "Cangsong Daozhang, your Qingyunmen's disciple Zhang Xiaofan has too many secrets hidden on him. Not only does he possess the evil object of the demonic sect, but he also knows the untransmitted true method of Tianyin Temple. Moreover, it is likely that he is related to our Huixiang Valley's supreme treasure, the Xuanhuo Mirror." He paused here and turned his gaze towards Daoxuan Zhenren, saying, "I'm putting my words out first, the Xuanhuo Mirror is the most precious treasure of Huixiang Valley, and we must get it back!"

  Tian Bu Yi's face turned red with rage as he listened, and he let out a cold laugh. "Officer Dao," he said, "if this treasure is so important, how could you people from the Valley of Burning Incense be so careless? You just threw it away randomly, and it ended up being connected to my disciple? It seems that the people guarding the treasure are also useless!"

  Shangguan Ce was furious and suddenly stood up, Tian Bu Yi didn't show any weakness and also stood up, the atmosphere in the field suddenly became tense to the point of swords being drawn.

  "Dao Xuan shouted: 'Tian Shidi, what are you doing? Sit down!'"

  Tian did not dare to disobey the sect leader in public, so he slowly sat down. Dao Xuan turned his head and said to Shangguan Ce, "Shangguan Dao brother, we will naturally give you an explanation, don't worry."

  Shangguan Ce coldly laughed and sat back down.

  The water moon beside her said angrily: "Qi'er, aren't you coming back yet?"

  Unexpectedly, the 6th Snow Chi, who had always listened to and obeyed Master's words in the past, today seemed like a different person. She raised her head towards Dao Xuan and said: "Master Door, no matter what mistakes Zhang Shixiong has made, please investigate carefully, but he is absolutely not a spy infiltrating our Qingyun Gate!"

  She gazed forward, her expression calm and composed, as if she had no fear of the entire world. With determination, she said: "Disciple Xue Qi, I guarantee with my life!"

  Everyone was shocked at the same time!

  Even Zhang Xiaofan himself slightly opened his mouth, staring blankly at the woman kneeling with him. On her snow-white skin and icy face, there suddenly seemed to be a hint of warmth.

  "Disciple Lin Jingyu also wishes to pledge his life for Zhang Xiaofan's guarantee!"

  Just as Xue Qi finished speaking, Lin Jingyu could no longer hold back and rushed out, kneeling in the great hall. Without looking at his master, Cang Song Daoist, whose face had turned beet red, he loudly said: "Zhang Shidi went through life and death with Qingyun, absolutely not an internal spy sent by outsiders! As a fellow disciple who grew up with him since childhood, I know this is impossible. Please reconsider, Master!"

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren's face was as ugly as it could get, but at this moment, he seemed to have received some kind of stimulation. Suddenly, a commotion broke out among the Qing Yun disciples. In an instant, disciples from Feng Hui Peak, Long Feng Peak, and Da Zhu Peak all rushed out together, knelt down, and shouted in unison: "We disciples are also willing to stake our lives to vouch for Zhang Shixiong!"

  Everyone's face changed color, and upon looking around, these three people turned out to be Zeng Shu Shu, Qi Huan, and Tian Ling Er. At this moment, except for the Tian Bu Yi couple, Long Feng Zuo Cang Song Dao Ren and Feng Hui Feng Zuo Zeng Shu Chang, all stood up, extremely shocked.

  At this moment, the situation in the Grand Hall was chaotic. Dao Xuan Zhenren's heart was filled with rage, thinking to himself: "Can it be that all these disobedient disciples are going to rebel today?" Coincidentally, many fellow Taoists were present, making it impossible for him to act. The leader of Qingyun Gate had truly lost face. His anger surged up to his chest, but suddenly he didn't know what to do.

  At this moment, he suddenly heard a slight cough behind him. It was his disciple Xiao Yicai who softly said: "Master, why don't you go back and rest for a while, and then come back to deal with it later?"

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren immediately woke up, heavily hummed a sound, slammed the table, and instantly the chaotic Qing Yun disciples quieted down, their eyes all looking over here.

  Dao Xuan Zhen Ren took a big step towards the inner hall without saying a word, and everyone looked at each other in dismay. Only Xiao Yi smiled and stepped forward, saying to the crowd: "Hmm, there was an urgent matter on the back mountain just now, and my master is needed to deal with it. Please wait for a moment."

  Shangguan Ce's face had a hint of mockery, and he said: "Xiao Shixiong, I've long heard that the rules of your Qingyunmen are quite grand. Today, seeing it for myself, indeed it's not ordinary!"

  Xiao Yizai's eyes flashed with anger, but he immediately smiled and said, "Senior is joking." He turned around, coughed lightly, and walked to the front of the seats of the various sects, saying in a low voice, "Fellow seniors, why don't you let them get up?"

  Zeng Shu and others reacted, immediately went forward to call back the disciples, pulled to one side to scold them severely. Tian Ling'er was pulled back by Su Rou, but she didn't get scolded, instead she had a belly full of grievances, with hidden tears in her eyes, calling out: "Mother..."

  Su Ru let out a long sigh, shook her head, and signaled for her to stop talking. Tian Ling'er looked at Tian Bu Yi, but saw that his face was ashen, his eyebrows furrowed, not saying a word, silently sitting in the chair.

  Xue Qi was pulled out of the Jade Clear Hall by her senior sister Wen Min, surrounded by people's curious gazes. They walked to a secluded corner outside the hall, where Wen Min whispered complaints, but Xue Qi hung her head and remained silent.

  After a moment, Master Shuimeng walked over slowly.

  Wen Min, after all, loved and protected his sister, so he went forward to welcome her, speaking in a low voice to Shui Yue, trying his best to explain, but Shui Yue's face was solemn, and she walked straight to Xue Qi.

  Xue Qi didn't dare look at her, hanging her head low and calling out softly: "Master."

  Shuǐ Yuè gazed at her, his most accomplished and beautiful disciple, for a long time without speaking. Then, he suddenly let out a sigh, his voice tinged with helplessness, as if still carrying a hint of faint sorrow.

  Wen Min and Xue Qi were both startled at the same time.

  Shuǐ Yuè shifted her gaze away from Xuě Qí's body, walked to the railing outside the Yù Qīng Diàn, and gazed outwards. All she saw were mountain peaks reaching for the sky, white clouds drifting by, and a majestic aura of immortals.

  "Kiki, you did something wrong today, do you know?"

  Xue Qi lowered her head and said softly: "Yes, Master, I've caused you trouble, it's my fault. But that Zhang Xiaofan really won't be..."

  Shuizui suddenly turned around and stared at her, saying: "Why would you stake your own life as a guarantee for him?"

  Xue Qi's face suddenly turned pale and she couldn't say a word.

  Shuǐ Yuè Wàng looked at her for a long time, shook his head and sighed: "A grievance!"

  Xue Qi said in a low voice: "Master, I...I am not..."

  "Did you know that when I said you did something wrong just now, it wasn't because I couldn't get off the stage?"

  Xue Qi and Wen Min were both shocked, Wen Min exclaimed: "Master, what did you say?"

  Shui Yue smiled wryly, her eyes gazing into the distance once again, as if she too had fallen into a long-forgotten memory: "You young people, unaware of the heights of heaven and the thickness of earth, showing off your bravery for a moment, I'm afraid you'll only end up pushing that Zhang Xiaofan to his death!"

  Xue Qi's face lost color and she whispered: "Master?"

  The sound of the water gradually subsided, as if it had seen again the events deeply buried in memory: "It's been many years, and in the blink of an eye, nearly a century has passed! In those days, there was also someone like him who made a big mistake, but we...we begged for mercy for him without regard for anything, yet in the end..."

  She slowly turned around, facing the eyes of Xue Qi and Wen Mian, and said softly: "The situation of that person back then, although not exactly the same as Zhang Xiao Fan's today, is extremely similar. However, that person has always been the one your Master hates the most!"

  She spoke in a low and melancholic tone, with a hint of pain. For the first time in her life, she revealed a wounded expression in front of her disciple.