Hua Lianxin's steps were hurried as he entered the gates of the **White Lotus Sect**, Lin Changsheng unconscious in his arms. The sect's pristine beauty, with its snow-covered trees and serene courtyards, was a stark contrast to the turmoil within him. He called out urgently, his voice echoing through the stillness.
"Elder! Elder!" he shouted, his tone laced with desperation.
The same elder who had assigned them the mission appeared, her expression cold and unyielding. Her gaze fell on Lin Changsheng, battered and bleeding, and then on Hua Lianxin, who was holding her hand and cradling her in his arms. Her eyes narrowed, suspicion flashing across her face.
"She used your sect's forbidden technique to protect me," Hua Lianxin explained, his voice steady but urgent. "She risked her life to save mine."
The elder's expression hardened. "Do you expect me to believe that Lin Changsheng, one of our most disciplined disciples, would risk her life for a man?" Her voice was sharp, her disbelief evident. The White Lotus Sect's strict customs forbade interaction with men, let alone physical contact. The sight of Hua Lianxin holding Lin Changsheng was an affront to everything the sect stood for.
Before Hua Lianxin could respond, the elder stepped forward and snatched Lin Changsheng from his arms. Her movements were rough, almost hostile, and Hua Lianxin froze for a moment, shocked by her rudeness. But he quickly pushed his feelings aside—Lin Changsheng's life was more important than his pride.
"How is she?" he asked, his voice trembling with concern.
The elder's glare was icy. "You are an outsider. Behave like one," she snapped. Then, turning to the guards, she commanded, "Arrest him. He has violated the sanctity of our sect and taken advantage of our disciple."
Hua Lianxin's heart sank. The accusations were baseless, but he didn't resist. He allowed himself to be taken, his mind consumed by worry for Lin Changsheng. As the guards dragged him away, the disciples of the White Lotus Sect whispered and sneered.
"Pervert."
"Cruel Verdant Wood Sect disciple."
"He dared to touch one of us."
The words stung, but Hua Lianxin remained silent. He sat in the cold, damp prison, his body recovering slowly. His only concern was Lin Changsheng's condition. He trusted that if she or his master, Elder Fang Zhiming, learned of his imprisonment, they would come for him. The White Lotus Sect wouldn't dare execute him without the Verdant Wood Sect's permission.
---
Fifteen days passed. Hua Lianxin's name had spread throughout the White Lotus Sect, twisted into a tale of cruelty and cunning. The disciples gossiped endlessly, their disdain for him growing with each passing day. But Hua Lianxin endured, his focus unwavering.
Finally, word of his imprisonment reached **Elder Fang Zhiming**. The elder wasted no time, storming into the White Lotus Sect with an air of authority. The disciples whispered and laughed as he passed, mocking the idea that he would defend such a "disgraceful" disciple.
Elder Fang Zhiming entered the main hall, his presence commanding. "Release Hua Lianxin," he demanded, his voice firm.
The elder of the White Lotus Sect, the same woman who had imprisoned Hua Lianxin, stood her ground. "Your disciple has committed a grave offense. He took advantage of Lin Changsheng and violated the sanctity of our sect."
Elder Fang Zhiming's eyes narrowed. "I know Hua Lianxin. He would never do such a thing, even if I don't know the full story. Release him."
The two elders argued, their voices rising as the tension in the hall grew. Finally, the White Lotus Sect elder refused. "I will not release him," she declared.
Elder Fang Zhiming's patience snapped. His aura erupted, filling the hall with a suffocating pressure. "Then I will take him by force," he said, his voice cold. "If I cannot protect my disciple, then I am his master in vain."
Before the situation could escalate further, a voice interrupted them. "Elder!" A disciple rushed into the hall. "Lin Changsheng has awakened!"
The White Lotus Sect elder immediately left to see her, with Elder Fang Zhiming following close behind. When they reached Lin Changsheng's room, her first words were, "Hua Lianxin! Where is he? Where am I? Is the fight over?"
Her words shattered the elder's doubts. Lin Changsheng's concern for Hua Lianxin was evident, and as she recounted everything that had happened, the truth became undeniable. The elder felt a pang of shame, while Elder Fang Zhiming's pride in his disciple grew.
"Where is Hua Lianxin?" Lin Changsheng asked, her voice trembling. "Is he all right?"
The White Lotus Sect elder hesitated, unwilling to admit her mistake. But Elder Fang Zhiming spoke up, recounting everything that had happened. Lin Changsheng's eyes widened in horror. Ignoring her injuries, she ran from the room, determined to find him.
---
Outside the main hall, a crowd of disciples had gathered, waiting for the elders' decision. Hua Lianxin stood on a raised platform, his body weak and trembling. The poison from the Demon Fruit coursed through his veins, causing unpredictable bleeding and excruciating pain. He needed a special herb from the Verdant Wood Sect to survive, but his imprisonment had worsened his condition.
Lin Changsheng saw him and froze. His pale face, his trembling form—it was too much. Tears welled in her eyes as she ran to him, throwing her arms around him in a tight embrace. "You protected me with your life, and this is how they treated you," she whispered, her voice breaking. "I'm so sorry."
Her tears and her embrace silenced the crowd. The accusations against Hua Lianxin dissolved in an instant, the truth laid bare for all to see.
---
Later, as Hua Lianxin prepared to leave, the White Lotus Sect elder approached him. "I owe you an apology," she said, her voice heavy with regret. "I misjudged you."
Elder Fang Zhiming nodded approvingly, his pride in Hua Lianxin evident. Lin Changsheng, now recovering, said her goodbyes. "I'll be waiting for our next mission together," she said with a warm smile, her demeanor a stark contrast to the cold, distant girl Hua Lianxin had first met.
Hua Lianxin blushed, surprised by her change in attitude. He bid her farewell and began his journey back to the Verdant Wood Sect. But as the days passed, his condition worsened. By the time he reached the sect, blood dripped from his mouth, and his body trembled with weakness.
And thus, the chapter ends.