"Junior Sister, knowing someone’s face doesn’t mean knowing their heart," Zhe Sang replied coolly. "Junior Brother Chong Zhao has only been in our sect for three short years. You really think he has no contact with this Bai Shuo? Or that his progress is purely due to his own cultivation?"
Er Yun frowned. "What are you trying to imply, Senior Brother?"
"Why don’t you ask this little herbalist? Two years ago, how exactly did Chong Zhao manage to defeat me?"
The disciples all turned to Bai Shuo, and she felt a wave of panic.
"If it weren’t for you crafting a pill for Chong Zhao, granting him an overnight surge in power, do you think he could have beaten me?" Zhe Sang’s accusation filled the hall with whispers, as the disciples exchanged uncertain glances. Even Er Yun’s face showed a flicker of doubt and displeasure.
"Senior Brother Zhe Sang, a defeat is a defeat. Even if you’re still bitter, you can’t just accuse others baselessly!" Bai Shuo shot back. "At that time, I had only just begun learning the basics of alchemy. There’s no way I could’ve refined a second-grade spirit pill that would allow Chong Zhao to defeat you in one night!"
It was true that raising someone’s cultivation to such a high level would require a second-grade spirit pill. When Bai Shuo first entered Miao Miao, she hadn’t yet developed her alchemical skills to that level. Zhe Sang couldn’t possibly have known that the secret to her talents lay in her mysterious spiritual blood—an ability that was known only to the Old Turtle, who was the only one aware of her hidden potential.
Er Yun’s expression softened a bit. She sighed, "Enough, Senior Brother. If Bai Shuo truly had such skill, she wouldn’t still be a half-immortal today. Let’s put the past behind us."
The other disciples nodded, some glancing uneasily at Zhe Sang. Zhe Sang’s face darkened, clearly frustrated by Bai Shuo’s resilience. However, he quickly regained his composure.
"Very well. It was merely a suspicion," he conceded. "But Bai Shuo, you can’t deny that you were caught stealing the Zhenshan Jade Scroll tonight. With the upcoming 'Wu Tong Martial Banquet,' where talent from all three realms will gather, even Junior Brother Chong Zhao, despite his accomplishments, would find it challenging to win the top spot. But the first place comes with the honor of joining the Heavenly Palace. Who wouldn’t be tempted by such a chance?"
Er Yun’s face fell, troubled. Her uncle had pinned the entire clan’s hopes on Chong Zhao, aiming for him to bring glory to Miao Miao at the Wu Tong Banquet. But she knew he’d been injured… Even though Fan Yue had erased her memories, she could still vaguely recall how Chong Zhao had sustained grave wounds during the battle against the demon. It was why he’d secluded himself to recuperate, a fact only she and her uncle knew.
Zhe Sang struck his final blow, his voice cold. "Who else could have driven her to steal the scroll except for Chong Zhao?"
"Senior Brother Zhe Sang, don’t try to pin everything on Chong Zhao!" Bai Shuo was indignant, her brow furrowing. But Zhe Sang raised his sleeve, and a spark of spiritual light ignited at her chest. Her collar split open, revealing a small jade flute, its body glistening with a gentle glow.
"Nothing to do with him? Then why would he craft a foundational spirit instrument for you?" Zhe Sang sneered. The spirit instrument bore Chong Zhao’s unique aura, something only those close to him, like Er Yun, would recognize instantly.
Crafting spiritual instruments drains significant spiritual power, and Bai Shuo carrying this bamboo flute signified her importance to Chong Zhao.
Er Yun’s expression shifted; she had actually seen this flute on the Fire and Ice Island, but due to Fan Yue removing her memories of that night, she didn’t remember the details.
Bai Shuo’s face stiffened as she clutched the dangling flute at her chest. "This is just something Chong Zhao gave me for self-defense. Senior Sister Er Yun, please don’t misunderstand…"
Seeing that Zhe Sang’s words were swaying the disciples—and even causing doubt in Er Yun—Bai Shuo realized she couldn’t let the jade scroll theft be linked to Chong Zhao. If this accusation stuck, it would lead to Chong Zhao’s disgrace across the three realms. Three years ago, she had indirectly brought about the destruction of his family; this time, she was determined not to drag him down with her.
"I stole the jade scroll tonight, and it has nothing to do with Chong Zhao. It was…" she began, steeling herself to reveal the truth about Zhe Sang’s malice.
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