Even if Lily Sutton didn’t like Edward York, and didn’t know how to face Edward York’s frivolous teasing, the fact remained that Edward York had clearly fallen off the cliff while trying to save her. Yet when she rushed to report to Leonard Brooks and Evelyn Brooks, why did she say that Edward York accidentally slipped during a struggle between the two?

Lily Sutton’s account seemed to have only minor differences, but the impression it left on others was completely different, causing Evelyn Brooks and the others to believe he harbored ill intentions and tried to force himself on Lily Sutton.

This not only made Evelyn Brooks resentful and hostile toward him, but even Leonard Brooks, who had always doted on him, couldn’t hide the disappointment in his eyes.

Yet Henry Brooks was at a loss for words to defend himself. He had committed a grave crime in the past, which led to his expulsion from the York clan and his fall to the Taiwei Sect. After arriving at Taiwei Sect, he still failed to restrain himself, earning a notorious reputation. What could he possibly say in his defense now?

Who would believe his explanation?

Is this the outcome Lily Sutton wanted?

In fact, from the fragmented memories of Edward York, Henry Brooks couldn’t piece together exactly what unforgivable crime Edward York had committed in the York clan. Not wanting to give himself away, he couldn’t ask Leonard Brooks or Evelyn Brooks either. The mystery of what he had done back then in the York clan left him deeply frustrated.

Thinking of the pain Grace Sutton had caused him, Henry Brooks secretly felt that Lily Sutton might be that kind of venomous, scheming woman, and he must not be deceived by her alluring and innocent face.

Perhaps she thought that as long as Edward York, this useless man, accidentally slipped and fell, and as long as Leonard Brooks and the others couldn’t find any clues, she could find someone better, or continue cultivating with Evelyn Brooks in the Taiwei Sect—a much better choice than tying her life to a useless man like him.

Countless doubts churned in Henry Brooks’s mind, but knowing that Leonard Brooks and Evelyn Brooks probably wouldn’t believe him, and lacking any direct evidence, he realized he had to play dumb for now, to avoid provoking Lily Sutton into desperate action and silencing him for good...

...

“Leave the medicinal soup on the table. I’ll drink it later...”

Henry Brooks was worried that Lily Sutton, in desperation, might tamper with the soup, so he asked her to set the jade bowl down first.

Lily Sutton put down the soup but didn’t leave. Gritting her teeth, she said, “The family head had urgent business and rushed back to Wuyi. Miss said your injuries are almost healed, and this courtyard is too small to house too many people. Coincidentally, the Ironstream Ridge Dao Institute outside the mountain is recruiting Dao soldier disciples from various families. Miss wants you to drink the medicine, then have someone escort you to Ironstream Ridge!”

Henry Brooks’s face immediately darkened. He had hoped Lily Sutton would obediently comply, but he hadn’t expected Leonard Brooks to leave on urgent business, and as soon as he was gone, Evelyn Brooks would be so ruthless as to drive him out of Jianyun Cliff.

“Since Evelyn Brooks doesn’t want me here, I might as well not drink this medicine!” Henry Brooks said angrily, thinking he’d just been looking for an excuse to dump the soup anyway. He flung his sleeve and walked out of the courtyard, thinking that since Lily Sutton was likely harboring ill intentions, it was best for him to leave Jianyun Cliff now.

As Henry Brooks walked out of the courtyard, he saw two middle-aged warriors in light armor at the gate. They approached with troubled expressions and said, “Young Master Xing, Miss has instructed us to escort you to Ironstream Ridge...”

One was named Samuel Clark, the other William Carter, both once fierce soldiers of the Wuwei Army who had followed Leonard Brooks in earlier years. Their faces were gaunt, but they exuded a rock-like determination. After offending the powerful in the army, they had followed Leonard Brooks to the Taiwei Sect to avoid disaster, staying on as household guards and watching over the Jianyun Cliff cave residence with Edward York.

Since Leonard Brooks had left the Taiwei Sect on urgent business, Evelyn Brooks was now in charge, and they would only obey Evelyn Brooks’s orders.

Edward York had always relied on his status as a young master and never acted like a servant. He would order Samuel Clark and William Carter around, and though they said nothing out of respect for Leonard Brooks, they secretly despised him.

Henry Brooks was no longer the self-destructive, temperamental Edward York, and wouldn’t vent his anger on Samuel Clark and William Carter. He politely said, “Sorry to trouble you, Uncle Zhao, Uncle Qian...”

Hearing Henry Brooks speak so courteously, Samuel Clark and William Carter were both a bit puzzled, but said nothing. Their task was simply to keep a close eye on him and escort Young Master Xing to the Dao Institute at the foot of the mountain.

Seeing that Samuel Clark and Qian Yi weren’t giving him a chance to get close, Henry Brooks stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, gazing around. Only then did he realize the world outside was truly extraordinary.

Above the sea of clouds, seven peaks stood tall, like seven giant islands shrouded in spiritual radiance, suspended between heaven and earth, making one feel utterly insignificant. On the seven peaks were pavilions and halls of various sizes, all emanating waves of spiritual light from the array formations and restrictions.

This was the Upper Seven Peaks of the Taiwei Sect, the location of the seven core spiritual veins of the Taiwei Mountains.

The seven peaks, seemingly floating above the sea of clouds, were extremely lofty and majestic, filled with abundant spiritual energy. The barrier formations, refracting the sunlight, looked like seven golden, translucent domes covering the peaks, making the place appear like a realm of immortals from afar.

The seven peaks were also the true inner sect of the Taiwei Sect.

Although Leonard Brooks also served as a general in the Wuwei Army, as a third-generation true disciple of the Taiwei Sect, he had not yet left the sect and was able to open a cave residence for cultivation at Jianyun Cliff on Qingxi Peak, one of the seven peaks.

Jianyun Cliff was not large, a protruding stone cliff halfway up Qingxi Peak, with a depth of over a hundred zhang.