“Unrepentant fool! Even now, you refuse to see your error!” Another lash of the soul-scattering whip struck me harshly. I clenched my teeth, barely suppressing a groan. The sect leader demanded sharply, “Do you admit your fault?”
“…No fault.”
“Fine! Fine! A worthy disciple of Mu Jin indeed!” The sect leader laughed in fury. “You led your fellow disciples into the Valley of Death to steal spiritual medicine, causing one to suffer grave injuries—no fault?”
I remained silent.
Master had been gravely injured, his life hanging by a thread. Only the spiritual medicine from the Valley of Death could save him. But no one who ventured there ever returned alive. Master, with his stubborn temperament, would never have allowed anyone to risk their life for him. So while he was unconscious, I took the risk myself. I hadn’t expected Senior Sister Fushuang to follow me.
In the end, the medicine was retrieved, and Master’s life was saved. But Senior Sister was gravely injured protecting me as we escaped. I had no choice but to seek the elders’ help. That’s when everything came to light—my forbidden feelings for Master, my trespass into the Valley of Death… all of it.
"Because the spiritual medicine from the Valley of Death can cure all poisons and even regrow flesh from bone, it can save only the one closest to your heart."
A voice from the elders below declared, "Such an unrepentant traitor cannot remain in the sect! Sect Leader, I urge you to expel her on behalf of Mu Jin Zun Zhe!"
"Please, Sect Leader, clean house!" The chorus of agreement grew louder.
The Sect Leader gazed at me, and a flash of murderous intent passed through his eyes. A chill ran down my spine. Clean house—if that happened, I would no longer be my Master’s disciple.
"Sect Leader!" Aunt Qi Ling stepped forward, her eyes red with emotion. "Qin’er… Zi Qin was personally taken as a disciple by the Venerable One. Why not wait until he awakens to handle this matter himself?"
"Impossible!" Another elder stepped forward in protest. "The Venerable One is too kind-hearted. If left to him, he might simply let her go. If Zi Qin is cast out of the sect, and word of this incident spreads, it will tarnish our sect’s reputation!"
Aunt Qi Ling glared angrily at the elder, then abruptly flicked her sleeves and stormed out.
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