Zhou You retrieved his flying knife and ran to rescue others. Kicking at the door, the building began collapsing, blocking the exit. Zhou You swiftly broke the nearest wall and crawled out.

The commotion had drawn the attention of Chongjian Sect's disciples. As Zhou You emerged, he was surrounded. Recognizing him and the two he held, Ye Lipei's eyes narrowed and he ordered, "Kill them!"

With a collapsing building behind him, Zhou You shouted, "Your sect leader is half-dead inside! Aren't you going to save him?"

All paused, turning their gaze to their senior.

A sinister thought crossed Ye Lipei's mind. If his master died, Chongjian Sect would be his. Considering Hu Shi'en's increasing madness, there's no telling whom he might kill next.

Raising his heavy sword towards Zhou You, Ye Lipei exclaimed, "Don't be fooled! If our master was alive, wouldn't he have emerged? This man must have killed him. Let's avenge our master!"

"Avenge our master!" The crowd surged towards Zhou You, with Li Yunxi anxiously shouting, "Zhou You, go! We'll hold you back. Get reinforcements."

Hovering in front of Zhou You were twelve flying knives, forming a spinning Bagua formation, darting towards the crowd. Their swift movement slashed many throats before they could react.

Witnessing his brothers fall, Ye Lipei urgently commanded, "Retreat! He's a psychic manipulator!"

All retreated rapidly, staring fearfully at Zhou You. Ye Lipei wanted a united Chongjian Sect, not a devastated one, hesitant to face the flying knife formation.

"Master, if you came to save lives, please leave with your people. We promise no interference. In light of our brothers' innocence, please spare us," Ye Lipei reasoned, hoping to shift the blame to the deceased Hu Shi'en.

Zhou You coldly retorted, "You're no saint either," suspecting Ye Lipei's involvement in the imprisonments and deaths.

Ye Lipei signaled a disciple, admitting, "I've erred. If you wish to punish, let it be only me. Please spare my brothers. I swear Chongjian Sect will abide by righteousness henceforth."

"Righteousness? I wonder if the world can handle your 'blessings'. Who's your second senior?"

A middle-aged man stepped forward, brandishing his sword, urging, "Senior brother, enough talk. We can overpower him. Let's avenge our master!"

Suppressing his urge, Ye Lipei frowned, "I won't risk our brothers' lives." Suddenly, outer sect disciples stormed in, armed with firearms, boosting everyone's morale.

Changing his earlier demeanor, Ye Lipei coldly challenged, "Master, made up your mind? Leave peacefully or face total annihilation?"

Having exerted much of his internal energy controlling the knives, Zhou You realized escaping amidst this mob would be tough. However, he couldn't show weakness.

"How many of you know what Hu Zhangmen did? Secret dungeons, unlawful imprisonments, torture. Your senior brother here was an accomplice. Do you still follow him?"

Many junior disciples, unaware of these events, were skeptical. But seeing a man and woman with Zhou You made them reconsider.

The rescued man slowly lifted his head, voice raspy, "Do you recognize me?"

His face obscured by blood and grime, none could. He laughed weakly, introducing, "I'm Cheng Suyanran."

The name was familiar. Cheng Suyanran, the prodigious disciple from Wanjian Sect, had made waves upon his arrival at Jiangnan base. But he disappeared a month prior, leaving a note about venturing out. Cheng Ziang, deeply concerned, had deployed many resources searching for him.

Cheng Ziang, a distant relative, valued Cheng Suyanran immensely. The disappearance nearly cost him his position.

"That old scoundrel, Hu Shi'en, coveted the secret martial arts techniques of various sects. He kidnapped us... cough cough... and tortured us ruthlessly, forcing us to reveal our secrets. Many couldn't withstand and confessed... Yet even after revealing, he showed no mercy. The attractive ones, he toyed with until their deaths; the others, he brutally killed." The man took a ragged breath, locking eyes with Ye Lipei, and asked ominously, "Do you know how I was captured, Brother Ye?"

When Cheng Yuran first arrived at the Jiangnan base, he challenged many, including Ye Lipei. Their martial arts skills were closely matched, leading to a tie. Thus, they often sparred together, developing a close bond.

So, when Ye Lipei invited him to visit the Heavy Sword Sect, Cheng Yuran readily agreed without a second thought. Little did he expect that Ye Lipei would drug his drink. When he awoke, he found himself imprisoned in a cage in the basement.

For the past month, his life had been a living hell. Now that he was finally free, even if it meant death, he would expose Ye Lipei and his disciples' wicked deeds to the world.

Many in the crowd began to edge away. They might not believe just anyone, but Cheng Yuran was a renowned prodigy. Seeing him in such a state, they knew he wasn't lying. It was terrifying.