Lowering Elder Xia's limp form to the marble floor, Ji Wuye's once pristine white martial robe clung to his body, the fabric now saturated with his own blood. The crimson stains mirrored the bloodshot hue of his eyes as he scanned the surroundings with a fluttering, unfocused gaze.

'He should be here by now,' Ji Wuye thought inwardly, his brow furrowed. Under the tense, hostile stares of those around him—eyes narrowed as if ready to pounce and devour him at any moment—a shadow suddenly appeared before the bloodied disciple.

"This is the most exciting thing I've seen besides the things inside the Tower," announced an old man who emerged without warning. His unkempt black beard merged with the tattered hanfu hanging loosely from his wiry frame, while mismatched patches adorned the ancient garment like a faded tapestry. He stepped lightly onto the marble floor, worn sandals making no sound, exuding an almost comical appearance that seemed at odds with the gravity of the situation.

Cupping gnarled hands together, the old man flashed a wide, toothy grin—a single missing tooth giving his smile a lopsided quirk. "Greetings, everyone. I'm Ma Tang, an Elder from the Beggar Sect." His casual demeanor and irreverent manner only seemed to further incense the already tense group, whose eyes narrowed in suspicion.

"The Beggar Sect..." One of the gathered Elders scoffed, exasperation dripping from his tone as he mockingly commented, "So many intruders, and yet, Kunlun can't even identify them."

"Y-you..." A disciple from other faction pointed an accusing finger at the unkempt old man. "You're the old man who kept laughing!" They had clearly noticed how, while ordinary people fled in abject terror, this peculiar Elder and a few others remained oddly calm and unmoving amid the chaos.

Finally breaking his prolonged silence, Ji Wuye cupped his hands formally before the gathered Elders. "As Elder Qiao mentioned earlier, Senior Ma Tang will now explain everything." All eyes instantly shifted from the bloodied Ji Wuye to the ragged old man, who met Ji Wuye's gaze with a sidelong glance before addressing the assembled crowd.

Meanwhile, hostile gazes burned into Ji Wuye from all the Kunlun Inner Disciples present, their eyes narrowed in accusation - all except Elder Qiao's disciples.

However among the undercurrent of simmering anger filled the air,one disciple in particular radiated a very different emotion.

Mu Lan Rou's wide, anguished eyes anxiously peered around the imposing form of her father - one of the Elders who had swiftly pulled her aside when the conflict erupted. Though physically restrained, her gaze desperately sought Ji Wuye's bloodied figure, brimming with naked worry.

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'Don't show those eyes of affection...it's already too late,' Ji Wuye thought fleetingly, his own eyes catching her distraught expression for the briefest moment before resolutely turning away.

Moments later, Li Rong and a group of Elder Qiao's disciples materialized. Among them was a young woman with flowing, silk-like brown tresses - Su Xinyi, who regarded Ji Wuye with furrowed brows and worried eyes.

"You really are something, Junior Brother..." She exhaled, looking him up and down as if seeing the extent of his injuries for the first time. "You told us about your plan, but...is this part of it? Are you okay?" Su Xinyi's hands trembled faintly, as if fighting the urge to rush to his side and clean the blood herself. "We could have found another way that didn't involve you getting hurt like this..."

Ji Wuye waved off her concern with a dismissive flick of his wrist. "I'm fine, Senior Sister."

Before he could say more, another hand reached out, gingerly touching the bloodstained folds of his once pristine robe. Wei Xun, her plump figure bent slightly to scrutinize his bloodied state, peered up at him with a furrowed brow. Raven-black tresses framed her face, half styled up with the rest cascading freely, only heightening the open concern mirrored in Su Xinyi's expression.

"Junior Brother, you've gone too far this time," she chided, maternal tones softening the rebuke. "At least let me help you treat these wounds. As your Senior Sister, I cannot stand idly by while you're in such a state."

Li Rong remained a silent onlooker behind her two Senior Sisters, her face an inscrutable mask despite the concern flickering in her eyes. Unconsciously, her fingers tightened around the fabric of her sleeve as she took an aborted half-step forward before visibly reigning herself in. After a momentary hesitation, she spoke in her characteristic flat monotone, though an uncharacteristic edge laced her words.

"Your methods are...excessive. Next time, consult us first."

Watching the open displays of worry from his senior sisters, Ji Wuye couldn't help but feel an uncharacteristic twinge resonate within him. Despite their limited interactions, their naked concern struck an unexpected chord.

If this was their reaction, then how would his beloved Senior Sisters perceive his bloodied state?

‘I don’t want to think about it,’ Ji Wuye shook his head. Such thoughts were quickly banished as his focus inevitably shifted elsewhere.

'The Wudang Elder and Emei Elder are still unaware...' His crimson gaze flicked over the heated discussion unfolding between the gathered Elders. Their expressions shifted dramatically with every revelation from Ma Tang's forthcoming explanation, which systematically unveiled the entire story from the beginning.

'The Wudang will probably laugh it off, but the Emei...' Ji Wuye's eyes narrowed imperceptibly, noting the conspicuous absence of the Emei disciples, likely still tending to the injured Xing Shufen's wounds.

For now, he merely needed to bide his time and wait for the discussion to conclude and...for the final piece of his plan...

His bloodshot eyes flicked sideways as the telltale sound of approaching footsteps finally reached his ears.

"Junior...?"

The soft voice was laced with disbelief, the newcomer's eyes widening as if hollowed by shock as they settled upon Ji Wuye's bloodied form. Raised eyebrows and a fluttering white martial robe - accented with dark blue stripes that mirrored her midnight tresses stirring in the breeze - painted a picture of stunned incomprehension under the bright sunlight.

It was his Senior Sister, Lian Rougang...

She approached with halting steps, as though struggling to process the gruesome sight before her. Her disbelieving gaze remained transfixed on the vivid crimson staining Ji Wuye's ragged clothes, a jarring contrast against his pallid complexion and the runnels of blood seeping from his eye sockets.

"Senior Sister," Ji Wuye greeted weakly, his voice a hoarse rasp barely above a whisper.

The endearment seemed to shatter the dazed trance enveloping Lian Rougang's elegant features. A tremulous breath escaped her parted lips as she closed the remaining distance between them in two swift strides. Delicate hands hovered restlessly, as if torn between reaching out to staunch the bleeding and recoiling from the macabre sight.

"J-Junior..." Her usually melodious voice emerged strained and trembling. "What...what happened to you?"

Wild, terrified eyes raked over the gore-spattered state of her beloved Junior, drinking in every lurid detail as if to sear the memory into her very soul.