After blocking the attack, Bai Suyan's expression turned ugly. She glared at the elder of the Punishment Department and asked coldly, "You dare lay a hand on me? Do you even know who I am?"
"I don't care who you are. You dare touch a disciple of my Green Wood Mountain — that alone is a capital crime."
The head elder of the Punishment Department refused to let it go. His figure flashed and he vanished, reappearing behind Bai Suyan in the blink of an eye. A palm crackling with destructive power was already sweeping toward her back.
Yet facing this fierce and decisive blow from behind, Bai Suyan stood motionless — not only refusing to dodge, she didn't even turn her head. Instead, she spoke: "You dare strike the woman of Nangong Longjian? In my eyes, the ones who've committed a capital crime are you."
However, what no one expected was that this single sentence made the Punishment Department elder freeze, his expression changing drastically. He ultimately halted his descending palm, stopping short of striking down.
"You know Nangong Longjian?" the Punishment Department elder asked in shock.
"Not only do I know him — I'll tell you plainly: Ruochen is Nangong Longjian's own daughter."
"You should realize now what a catastrophe you've brought upon yourselves."
"I don't wish to trouble Longjian over this yet. I can handle it myself. Go bring out that Qin Lingyun for me — have him apologize to my family face to face, and I'll pretend nothing ever happened."
"Otherwise, if Longjian comes here, you know full well what the consequences will be," Bai Suyan said coldly.
At that moment, the head elder of the Punishment Department wore a grave expression. His flickering eyes were filled with shock, fear, and deep suspicion.
"You claim to be Nangong Longjian's wife? What a joke — how could Nangong Longjian's wife become the wife of the Yuhua Sect Master?"
"Are you trying to tell me that the Yuhua Sect Master is actually Nangong Longjian? Or perhaps you put a nice green hat on Nangong Longjian?" the Punishment Department elder said sarcastically.
"Heh, that's my family affair — none of your concern. I'll ask you one thing: that Qin Lingyun, will you hand him over or not?" Bai Suyan said.
"You want Lingyun to apologize? Dream on!" the head elder refused flatly.
"Very well. Then just wait for Nangong Longjian to come settle the score with you." Having said this, Bai Suyan looked toward Bai Ruochen and Chu Feng. "Let's go."
At this, Chu Feng, Bai Ruochen, and Sima Ying hurried to Bai Suyan's side.
Bai Suyan was about to leave with the three when, at that moment, the numerous elders of Green Wood Mountain surrounded the four of them, cutting off their path.
"What — you want to detain me?" Bai Suyan narrowed her eyes, a glint of killing intent flashing within.
"Green Wood Mountain is not a place you come and go as you please," the elders of Green Wood Mountain declared in unison.
Bai Suyan had dared to beat a disciple of Green Wood Mountain right in front of them, which made them lose face. Naturally, they would not let her go easily.
"Let her go." Yet unexpectedly, it was the head elder of the Punishment Department who suddenly spoke up to release them.
Hearing the head elder's words, though the other elders were perplexed, they ultimately stepped aside one by one, clearing a path for Bai Suyan.
"Hmph." Without another word, Bai Suyan let out a cold snort and led Chu Feng and the other three away.
In that moment, the mission plaza fell utterly silent. Most of those present stared in the direction Bai Suyan had vanished, wondering who this Nangong Longjian she had mentioned could possibly be.
In truth, not only were the disciples unaware of who Nangong Longjian was — the elders didn't know either. Only that head elder of the Punishment Department knew.