22 - The Divine Physician’s Overbearing Wife

**Banxia Novel** **Chapter 22** Returning from Xuefeng summit took longer than expected. Yun Mi Xue arrived at the assembly hall just as Gu Chen came from Yiku Cliff. The two crossed paths at the door of the hall. Gu Chen's rigid gaze lingered briefly on Yun Mi Xue, yet he refrained from questioning why she arrived later than he did, despite leaving before him. He nodded to her, and after Yun Mi Xue returned the gesture, they entered the hall together. Yun Mi Xue let out a quiet sigh of relief; had Gu Chen inquired earlier, she would have had no choice but to answer truthfully. In this critical moment, her handling of a nominal disciple over a novice caused unease, potentially affecting Yan Zhu Guang. It was for the best that her senior brother refrained from asking. Seeing the two enter together, the elders in the assembly hall suspected nothing, assuming Yun Mi Xue had been mediating for some time. The elders then took turns expressing their hopes for Gu Chen, urging him not to hold grudges and to take on the position of leader amidst the unfolding chaos, claiming only he had the strength to bear such a burden. During this time, compliments, both overt and subtle, were generously showered upon Gu Chen. Gu Chen remained silent for a while, patiently waiting until the elders had exhausted both flattery and criticism before finally speaking in a measured tone: "I am grateful for the elders' high regard. Given the circumstances, I shall humbly accept the leadership position." "If there are any shortcomings in my role, I hope the elders and my junior sister will offer guidance." It was only then that the elders realized all their prior words were unnecessary. Gu Chen had never intended to refuse, they just hadn't given him a chance to speak. Yun Mi Xue, who had been quiet all along, finally spoke to Gu Chen: "I, Mi Xue, pledge to steadfastly support Master Gu, leading the titled disciples and those of our sect through these trying times." The elders nodded, faces full of reassurance. With the leadership position confirmed, the subsequent tasks could proceed in an orderly fashion. The Fenghua Immortal Sect, as a great sect, despite the incident of the leader's untimely demise, managed to maintain order, thanks to the sect's strong foundation. In typical sects, the leader is usually the most powerful individual or among the strongest, being the highest authority wherein the sect revolves around their decree, possibly with a few elders offering minor checks. Thus, if something befalls the leader, the entire sect can collapse and disperse. However, Fenghua Immortal Sect differs. Here, the leader serves as an administrator, not an absolute ruler. The leader is not necessarily the strongest, as elders and grand elders exceed in power. To prevent chaos, these elders typically refrain from meddling in management but stabilize the sect in significant matters, such as the fall of a leader, where symbolic harm outweighs the practical. Finding a new administrator becomes a relatively straightforward process. Consequently, it only took roughly half a day from the monitoring elders' discovery of the leader's soul lamp extinguishing to deciding on a new leader. By the time other sects received news of Fenghua's leader's demise and began plotting, Fenghua Immortal Sect had already sent out invitations to the new leader's inauguration, while their disciples were still unaware of this news. The previous leader had become history. While investigating the reasons behind their demise remained crucial for the sect, the immediate priority was Gu Chen's inauguration. With Yun Mi Xue, the esteemed senior sister, aiding him, the entire sect quickly mobilized to prepare for the impending ceremony. For now, Gu Chen was unburdened. Firstly, his introspection at Yiku Cliff had kept him distant for years, making disciples somewhat unfamiliar with him. Secondly, his current role was to reassure rather than command, so acting otherwise might seem premature. Thus, he needed only to maintain his presence and ensure the smooth progression of his inauguration. In contrast, Yun Mi Xue was tirelessly engaged, since all matters within the sect passed through her hands. Tiresome as it was, none could be overlooked. While Yun Mi Xue was busy, Gu Chen, during this "leisure" time, gathered insights on the sect’s current state from other titled disciples. As Fenghua's senior brother, Gu Chen, having spent ample time with Yun Mi Xue, was curious about the person she had brought back to the sect. Despite her kind nature, Yun Mi Xue strictly adhered to her identity as the titled senior sister, and even when acting benevolently, her efforts never involved the sect. Yet now, she had brought someone back? And that someone was merely from a small sect? Gu Chen speculated that this servant must have some noteworthy attributes, or perhaps some history with Yun Mi Xue? When Yun Mi Xue had a moment to herself, Gu Chen broached the topic during their conversation. Currently, only Yun Mi Xue, Chu Ning Yan, and a few elders overseeing disciple enrollment knew about Yan Zhu Guang's transformation into a heavenly root being. This information, if disseminated, could invite trouble, regardless of whether Yi Miao Sect could keep the secret. Hence, Yun Mi Xue ensured limited exposure within her influence. Even the titled disciples weren't aware. Gu Chen's inquiry about Yan Zhu Guang surprised Yun Mi Xue. Her familiarity with Gu Chen wasn’t particularly deep, and her understanding was superficial at best. His past demeanor suggested he wouldn’t typically engage in such gossip. Yet, after pondering, she reasoned that his newfound leadership might have prompted a desire for a closer rapport with her as the one handling sect affairs, thus initiating casual talk. Regardless of her assumptions, Yun Mi Xue provided a thoughtful response. As sect leader, Gu Chen couldn't be kept in the dark about Yan Zhu Guang, so she recounted the incident at Yi Miao Sect. After hearing, Gu Chen, to Yun Mi Xue’s surprise—or perhaps it was her imagination—seemed momentarily disappointed, a fleeting shadow across his eyes that disappeared so quickly she doubted her perception. Upon learning the details, Gu Chen remarked, "The inauguration leaves little room for other concerns. Once concluded, let her officially join the sect." Yun Mi Xue nodded, "Understood." Following the exchange, Gu Chen departed. The system's laughter broke its silence in its own little world. It never anticipated that the male protagonist before the story began would exhibit such an amusing demeanor—destined for solitude! As the system chuckled to itself, Yan Zhu Guang, who had been meditating to consolidate her cultivation, suddenly opened her eyes. Startled, the system feared its laughter had disturbed its host and tentatively asked, "H-Host? Is everything okay?" Yan Zhu Guang's brow furrowed: "That nominal disciple is dead." The system paused, "The Qiān Xiāo Gu layered poison was triggered? Well deserved!" Yet Yan Zhu Guang shook her head. "That's not it." She hadn't triggered the poison's deadly effect, and the poison she left remained potent. "She was murdered." No sooner had Yan Zhu Guang spoken than a peculiar prompt resounded: "Would you like to accept the main mission—‘The Death of He Sheng’?" The system weakly responded, "Host, it seems it's not a simple matter..." Yan Zhu Guang closed her eyes briefly and reopened them with renewed determination, "Accept!"