Elder Baili and Elder Xing discussed for a moment and then turned back to the disciples. "Everyone return to their rooms first. We'll talk with each of you after the other. Gongsun Chen, we'll start with your group."
Gongsun Chen nodded and then turned to the others. "Let's follow the Elders then." His gaze lingered on Mei Chao Bing's face for a moment longer but he didn't say anything. Anyway, whatever there was to say would have time until after this conversation.
The two Elders went to Elder Xing's courtyard while the five disciples walked behind them in a row. Well, other than Yun Bei Fen. He didn't quite understand what those disciples before had tried to insinuate but he felt that they hadn't looked at his senior martial brother Mei nicely. He should comfort him a bit!
Thus a certain little bunny clung to his lover's arm, looking up at him with big eyes while Mei Chao Bing tried to make sure that he wouldn't trip.
"You don't have to be sad."
"Mn. I'm not sad." Mei Chao Bing smiled and patted Yun Bei Fen's head. In fact, he really wasn't sad. He had never held much of an expectation for anybody to change their behavior. Especially not for that group surrounding Yang Wu Huang. If they really did, that would instead make him feel worried and suspect that there was something amiss. Thus he was actually positively surprised that Gongsun Chen had stepped out to defend him. That was already exceeding his expectations by far. So what was there to be sad about?
Yun Bei Fen observed his expression, trying to find out if his senior martial brother was only putting on a tough front or if he really wasn't sad. In the end, he couldn't quite decide. "Anyway, if you're really sad, you can tell me."
"Mn, if I am, I'll tell you and ask you to give me a hug." Mei Chao Bing leaned down and kissed Yun Bei Fen's temple.
Yun Bei Fen nodded happily and squeezed his arm before looking back to the front. His Master wouldn't suspect senior martial brother Mei, would he? Thinking of that, Yun Bei Fen puffed up his cheeks. He wouldn't forgive him if he did! When his first senior martial brother came over ... he would ask him for help.
Yun Bei Fen deflated when he thought of that. His Master had said that he would write his first senior martial brother but who knew if he already had? And even then, it would need some time for that message to reach him. Who knew when he'd come here? If he did, wouldn't things be easier? He would certainly be able to help them!
Mei Chao Bing was still watching what Yun Bei Fen did and couldn't help but raise his brows when he saw his tangled expression. Just what was his little bunny thinking about?
The group of seven finally reached the courtyard where Elder Xing stayed and went inside. The two Elders sat down at the table and then looked at the disciples.
"So what happened out there today?" Elder Xing looked at Gongsun Chen. For now, he only wanted a general description of the situation. That way, their questions wouldn't influence what the disciples had to say.
"We went back to the place where we stopped yesterday and then split up. I went with Yuan Lei in one direction while Kui Min, Mei Chao Bing, and Yun Bei Fen went in the other. Then we investigated the place separately. Yuan Lei and I only went back to reconvene with the others when we heard somebody play the flute. When we arrived, we saw all three of them standing together with the flute being in Kui Min's hands."
Elder Xing nodded and then turned to Kui Min. "You played the flute. Why?"
Kui Min uncomfortably shifted on the spot. She felt that she had done the right thing but with both Elders looking at her, she couldn't help but wonder if maybe she had done something wrong after all. Maybe she should have first contacted Gongsun Chen to ask for his opinion?
Elder Xing raised his brows when she didn't answer his question. "Kui Min?"
"That ..." Kui Min looked at Mei Chao Bing, hoping that he could explain in her stead.
"Just tell the Elders how things went from your perspective. Nobody thinks you did anything wrong. They just want to understand how things came about." He gave her an encouraging smile but didn't explain anything to the Elders for her. After all, Elder Xing had asked Kui Min directly. It wasn't his place to speak. Especially since the one who was actually investigated was he himself. Even if the Elders didn't say so, it was indeed the case. Nobody could deny that.
Kui Min gulped but felt a bit better after Mei Chao Bing's words. "Well, we were investigating the place when Mei Chao Bing said that he had felt a change behind us. We figured that there might be an array there that we didn't find and if it had changed, then there should be demonic practitioners there. So we decided to inform the others. I blew the flute to warn Gongsun Chen and Yuan Lei and after they rushed over, we notified the groups next to us and told them to message the others as well so they would be warned. After that, Gongsun Chen led us to meet up with the group of senior martial sister Xi."
Elder Xing and Elder Baili exchanged another glance. It was no wonder that Mei Chao Bing had been able to notice the change in the array since he had also been the one who found it in the first place. The group had also reacted in the right way. There was nothing that could be called a mistake. That still left the question of whether or not there was more to this than met the eye.
Elder Xing turned to Mei Chao Bing. "So what is your take on this?"