Chapter 1228 Late Night Visit

Upon hearing this, Zhao Dingshi's expression relaxed a little. He put down the jade pendant in his hand and bowed slightly.

"You are too polite. These are just some complaints. It is not worth mentioning. Please take a seat."

The three of them sat around the table. Zhou Yiqiao and Xu Hanchang began to guide the topic intentionally or unintentionally, but they could not find out the real reason why Zhao Dingshi was dissatisfied with the sect.

As the sun was setting, the two men saw that there was no progress and did not want to alert the enemy, so they got up and said goodbye and left.

After leaving Zhao Dingshi's sight, Zhou Yiqiao and Xu Hanchang did not return directly to the residence of Qing Jimeng and others, but found a secluded place and continued to discuss matters about Zhao Dingshi.

“Although it is obvious that Zhao Dingshi has many dissatisfactions with the sect and Lingxiao Palace, he does not seem to be willing to easily reveal his feelings to outsiders.”

Zhou Yiqiao frowned, with a hint of doubt in his tone.

Xu Hanchang shook his head slightly, a hint of deep thought flashing in his eyes.

"Indeed, people's hearts are hidden, especially in this complicated world of cultivation."

"However, the more unpredictable he is, the more it means that he has important secrets or deep plans in his heart."

"We can't act too hastily. We need to find a more appropriate time and method to pry him open."

After discussing for a moment, the two decided to change their strategy. They would no longer rely solely on direct conversation, but would gradually build trust through more observation and indirect contact, and thus gain a deeper understanding of Zhao Dingshi's inner world.

In the following days, Zhou Yiqiao and Xu Hanchang not only kept an eye on Zhao Dingshi in the teahouse, but also collected information about Zhao Dingshi's background, personality traits, and his relationships with other important figures in the sect through inquiries from various sources.

At the same time, they also left some clues or hints in the places where Zhao Dingshi appeared, such as letting some young children sing some nursery rhymes about sect reform and resistance to Lingxiao Palace, in order to test Zhao Dingshi's reaction.

Finally, in a chance encounter late at night, Zhao Dingshi took the initiative to find Zhou Yiqiao and Xu Hanchang.

At that time, he was alone, wandering in front of a temporary residence rented by Zhou Yiqiao and others under the moonlight. He looked solemn, as if he had gone through a fierce ideological struggle.

Zhou Yiqiao and Xu Hanchang looked at each other, speculating secretly in their hearts, but they remained calm, walked out slowly, and greeted him in as calm a manner as possible.

"Brother Zhao, you came to visit me so late at night. Is there something important you want to discuss?"

Zhou Yiqiao asked softly, with just the right amount of concern in his words.

Zhao Dingshi raised his head, looked at the two of them with a deep gaze, and finally spoke straight to the point.

"You two, I have observed your movements over the past few days and it seems that you are quite interested in the sect's affairs."

His voice was low, and there was a hint of obvious fatigue in his tone.

Zhou Yiqiao and Xu Hanchang looked at each other and nodded tacitly, and Xu Hanchang responded.

"Elder Zhao, you are too polite. We are just traveling here and are curious about everything in the world of cultivation."

"However, if the elder has something on his mind, you may as well tell us. Perhaps we can provide some help."

The two men welcomed Zhao Dingshi into the house, burned incense and cooked wine, and invited Zhao Dingshi to sit down, just like an old friend, and were very polite.

Zhao Dingshi sat down slowly, his eyes flickering in the candlelight. He sighed softly, as if he had let go of his long-standing defenses and disguise.

He once again took out the faded jade pendant that he always carried with him, gently stroking the edge, with a gentle and complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

"This jade pendant was given to me by my senior sister who joined the Spirit Sword Sect with me back then."

There was a barely perceptible tremor in Zhao Dingshi's voice. His eyes, through the candlelight, seemed to travel through time and space, returning to that era full of dreams and passion.

"My senior sister is extremely talented and kindhearted. She is a rare talent in the Spirit Sword Sect."

A glimmer of pride flashed across Zhao Dingshi's eyes, but was quickly replaced by pain and anger.

"However, such a proud girl suffered endless humiliation and torture because of the greed of a Taoist in Lingxiao Palace."

"That Taoist was attracted by Senior Sister's beauty and talent, and regardless of her wishes, he forced the Spirit Sword Sect to send her to Lingxiao Palace."

"My senior sister and I, as well as many fellow disciples from the sect, have tried our best to resist this injustice and protect the people we love."

"But in the end, a word from the top decided Senior Sister's fate."

Zhao Dingshi clenched his hands into fists, his nails digging deeply into his palms.

"For the sake of the sect's interests and to avoid offending High Heaven Palace, they actually sent Senior Sister away!"

"Since then, the only contact between me and my senior sister has been through letters."

"I hate this sect, and I hate those high-ranking officials who betray their companions for the sake of profit!"

Having said this, Zhao Dingshi seemed to have used up all his strength and collapsed in his seat.

"As time went by, I gradually emerged in the sect and became a senior leader."

"And the letters that Senior Sister sent back became fewer and fewer, until finally, there was no news at all."

"I made inquiries from many sources and learned that Senior Sister's life in High Heaven Palace was not as glamorous as the outside world imagined."

"She suffered inhumane treatment and eventually... died."

Zhao Dingshi's voice was extremely low, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, filled with endless sorrow and anger.

Zhou Yiqiao and Xu Hanchang listened to Zhao Dingshi's narration and didn't know how to persuade him for a moment.

After a while, Zhou Yiqiao, who was more individualistic, made up his mind to ask the two people's questions.

"Brother Zhao, if that's the case, why are you still staying in the Spirit Sword Sect?"

Zhao Dingshi was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly.

"The Spirit Sword Sect gave me a new life. If it weren't for the Spirit Sword Sect accepting me as a disciple, I would have to spend an ordinary life in my village, and now I have turned into dust."

"So I want to stay in the sect and change all this, so that the Spirit Sword Sect can become stronger, strong enough to protect its own disciples and no longer be bullied by the outside world!"

After saying this, he smiled bitterly and drank up the wine in front of him.

"It's just Zhao's own wishful thinking. I'm sorry to both of you for making fun of me."

"Brother Zhao, please don't say that."

Xu Hanchang stood up and refilled Zhao Dingshi's glass of spirit wine, comforting him.

"An ant trying to shake a tree is admirable and does not overestimate one's own abilities. It is precious that Brother Zhao has such determination and courage."

He secretly exchanged a glance with Zhou Yiqiao, and then quietly pushed forward their plan.

"To be honest with you, Brother Zhao, the opportunity to change the Spirit Sword Sect may be right in front of you. It just depends on whether you are willing to sacrifice for the future of the Spirit Sword Sect."

After hearing this, Zhao Dingshi's eyes lit up and he suddenly raised his head.