Chapter 2339 — Chapter 2339 Like a Cult

"That's all I have for you now. If you don't have any other questions, you may leave. I have already assigned a servant to you, and she's waiting outside," said Patriarch Sun.

Yuan silently nodded and left the room shortly after.

Once outside, his servant greeted him with a polite bow, "I will be in charge of you, Master Tian."

Yuan raised an eyebrow after seeing the servant.

"Jing Ruye?" he muttered with a surprised expression.

The person before him was none other than Jing Ruye.

"What are you doing?" he subconsciously asked.

"I was asked to take care of you by Patriarch Sun," she calmly replied. "Aren't you Rouxi's servant, though?"

Although Sun Rouxi never treated Jing Ruye as a servant and only made her one in name to protect her, Jing Ruye's official status within the family was only slightly above ordinary servants.

"Yes, but Master Sun is currently in seclusion, and I am already familiar with you, so I was chosen for this job," she explained.

"..."

Jing Ruye's unfamiliar demeanor made Yuan uneasy. When she lived with him with Sun Rouxi, she'd been carefree and friendly, like an outgoing neighbor. However, she was the opposite at this moment, acting serious and distant, as if they were complete strangers.

"May I guide you to your living quarters now?" Jing Ruye asked, still in a bowing position.

"You don't have to act so formal with me, you know?" Yuan said.

"Sorry, but that is not possible," she replied instantly, almost as if she had already anticipated he'd say such a thing to her.

"Alright."

Yuan understood her position, and not wanting to trouble her, immediately dropped the matter.

"Bring me to my room," he then said.

"Yes, Master Tian."

Jing Ruye finally straightened her body and began leading Yuan to his living quarters, located only a few minutes away from the main household.

"We've arrived."

"Let's have a chat inside, or are you not allowed to follow me inside?" Yuan asked.

"There is no problem with your request," she said. Once they entered the building and closed the door, Jing Ruye immediately released a deep sigh.

"What a pain in the ass," she muttered out loud, returning to her usual demeanor.

"It's good to see you again," Yuan said to her with a smile, acting like their initial meeting never happened.

Jing Ruye rubbed her eyes and sighed again, "It's only been about five hundred years since we last spoke, but it feels like an eternity. After spending so much time outside of this place, I completely forgot how suffocating this place can be."

Jing Ruye walked to a nearby couch and immediately collapsed onto it.

"You have no idea how much I have suffered since returning to this place," she continued in a trembling voice.

Yuan took a seat beside her and asked, "Tell me about it."

"Since Sister Rouxi is the eldest and nearly untouchable in the family, she wasn't punished for her actions. I, on the other hand, was punished for allowing her to run away, even saying things like I helped her escape. Does that even make sense? Who am I to tell her to return? It's not like I can force her."

"How were you punished?" Yuan looked at her with a pitiful gaze.

"They didn't really do much to me at first because I had Sister Rouxi's protection. However, once she entered seclusion, they started treating me like a lowly servant. Even though I am a servant, I am Sister Rouxi's servant, so I barely did any chores, only ones related to her. But now that I am alone, they make me do everything, from washing clothes to cleaning the bathroom, chores usually done by the lowest ranked servants!"

"That's it?" Yuan raised an eyebrow. "I was anticipating something much worse."

"Do you have any idea how humiliating that is?!" Jing Ruye snapped at him. "I am an Immortal! I may be a servant, but I am still an Immortal cultivator! How can they make an Immortal do such mundane chores?!"

Yuan shook his head with a smile and said, "Alright, I get it. Now, tell me about Rouxi."

"There's really not much to say. After returning to the family, she focused on recovering, which didn't take long. Then, she was questioned about her relationship with you. Of course, I was also questioned. She wanted to leave again, but she'd have to leave without me this time since I am under constant surveillance. She eventually gave up and entered seclusion."

"Is that so…"

"Now, it's your turn to explain." Jing Ruye then said, glaring at him.

"I came here to see Rouxi, but I also wanted to investigate her family, specifically the one they call 'Enlightened One'," he said.

Jing Ruye's eyes widened at his words, and she hastily responded, "The Enlightened One?! Are you insane?! That'll get you killed!"

Before Yuan could speak, she continued, "The Enlightened One holds unparalleled influence and authority within the Three Pillars of Heaven. If he wishes to kill someone, they will fulfill it without question or hesitation. In a way, this place is like a cult, and they all serve the Enlightened One like he is a real god." "Have you seen him before?" Yuan asked.

"I have. Once. However, no matter how hard I try, I cannot recall his facial features."

After a moment of silence, she asked, "Why are you investigating the Enlightened One?"

"I just have a few questions for him, that's all." Yuan shrugged.

"I don't know why you're so interested in him, but I advise you to stay away from him. Almost everyone who has spoken to him became a different person afterward, almost like they're possessed by something," she sighed.

"Who are these people?"

"Mostly clan heads, sect leaders, and people in prestigious positions. They were all convinced to join the alliance and serve the Three Pillars of Heaven by the Enlightened One." Hearing this, Yuan wondered if the Enlightened One had some sort of mind-controlling technique, which would definitely be troublesome to deal with.