Chapter 42

Chapter 42: Ancestor Backing Her Up!
“Ancestor, it happened like this…”

The Sect Master stepped forward at once, clearly afraid Song Wan Ning would twist the truth.

But Liu Lan Yi swept her eyes over him.

Just that look made his heart seize. Humiliation burned his throat, and he swallowed his words.

Only then did Song Wan Ning walk out. She cast the Sect Master a cool glance and spoke, crisp and clear.

“This disciple just came out of seclusion and saw Gu Qing Yuan about to Soul-Search my little disciple.”

“The reason was that someone poisoned the pills of his precious disciple.”

“But they had no physical evidence and no witnesses. They wanted to use mere guesswork and Soul-Search to convict my disciple.”

“And the Sect Master couldn’t tell right from wrong. Not only did he refuse to uphold justice, he even sided with Gu Qing Yuan’s faction.”

Her voice didn’t rise. She didn’t embellish. She simply laid it out.

“It’s truly hard to convince the crowd.”

Liu Lan Yi’s brows and eyes turned cold. She looked at Gu Qing Yuan, and her voice cut like steel. “Gu Qing Yuan. Is what Wan Ning said true?”

“And do you still remember she is your fiancée?”

Before her friend ascended, she had warned and warned again: Gu Qing Yuan must take good care of Wan Ning. Never let her be wronged.

And yet—

Gu Qing Yuan pressed his lips together, head lowered. “Martial Uncle… Song Wan Ning and I already annulled the engagement.”

“What?”

Liu Lan Yi’s shock was sharp enough to crack. She turned to Song Wan Ning.

Song Wan Ning nodded. “Martial Uncle, Gu Qing Yuan fell in love with his little disciple.”

Her gaze was steady, voice colder than ice.

“A man like that—Song Wan Ning would never accept. I used to be blind. The moment I learned the truth, I proposed ending the engagement.”

“Now he and I have drawn a clear line. There’s nothing between us anymore.”

She wanted the whole world to hear it. To know exactly how “devoted” Gu Qing Yuan was.

“Bastard!”

Liu Lan Yi flew into a rage. The pressure of the Divine Transformation Stage crashed down on Gu Qing Yuan like a mountain.

Thud.

His knees buckled. He dropped to his knees before her.

“You actually committed such rebellion—falling for your own disciple?”

Compared to ending an engagement, that was far more serious.

It would bring scorn from the world.

Ye Chu Xue’s face went white. She hurriedly knelt as well. “Ancestor, no… Please don’t believe Song Wan Ning’s one-sided words. Master only has a master-disciple bond with his disciple, nothing more!”

“It was clearly her vile conduct that made Master end the engagement…”

She tried to explain, fast and desperate, but the looks around her grew complicated.

Because Gu Qing Yuan had already admitted it.

The more she spoke, the more ridiculous she sounded.

“This was clearly Song Wan Ning ordering her disciple to poison them!” Ye Chu Xue lifted her head, eyes stubborn. “Please, Ancestor, handle it fairly. Don’t let the disciples lose heart!”

Liu Lan Yi’s face sank. She raised her palm.

Smack.

Ye Chu Xue was sent flying. Half her face swelled instantly as she crashed to the ground. Blood welled at the corner of her mouth.

She covered her cheek in shock, unable to believe Liu Lan Yi would show favoritism so openly, in front of everyone.

“Chu Xue!” Gu Qing Yuan’s heart jolted. He tried to rise, but his body felt nailed to the earth.

No matter how he struggled, he couldn’t move.

“Hmph.” Liu Lan Yi’s gaze was sharp. “Gu Qing Yuan, this is the disciple you taught?”

“No respect for rank, and she dares call elders by their names.” Her voice went colder. “This venerable one will teach her for you. Do you have objections?”

Who did Ye Chu Xue think she was, pointing fingers at them?

Gu Qing Yuan’s hand pressed into the ground, fingers curling tight. He swallowed his anger. “…This disciple has no objections.”

Martial Uncle Liu had never liked him. Not once in all these years.

Naturally, she wouldn’t like his disciple either.

Bitterness flooded his lowered eyes.

From childhood to now, no matter where she went, Song Wan Ning was always cherished and protected. Loved openly, loved fiercely, loved without restraint.

No matter what situation she was in, she never had to hesitate or hold back.

Compared to her, he was nothing but a pitiful worm.

And the person who had once loved him most had actually been Song Wan Ning.

Thinking about it now, it was laughable.

Good thing he had Chu Xue now.

“Hmph.” Liu Lan Yi’s voice rang again. “And you—the matter of you falling for your disciple. This venerable one will settle it with you in private.”

“Now, immediately investigate the truth of this poisoning!”

She strode to the stone table, lifted her robes, and sat. “With this venerable one here, no one will be wronged.”

With her seated there, let’s see who still dared to play tricks.

“Yes! This disciple will find a way to uncover the truth!” the Sect Master said, forcing a smile.

Then he turned, face snapping stern, and ordered Li Ruo and Ye Chu Xue to be brought forward together.

His head pounded.

He couldn’t Soul-Search, and there were no witnesses. Both of them insisted on different stories—how was he supposed to judge?

Worse, the Ancestor’s gaze burned between his shoulder blades like needles.

If Song Wan Ning hadn’t dragged the Ancestor out, how would he be standing here in this passive position?

He hated Song Wan Ning more than ever.

“Sect Master,” Li Ruo said, voice steady now that she had backing, “this disciple only delivered the Thousand Mountains Spirit Springwater. I never poisoned anyone.”

She stood straight, eyes clear. “This disciple is willing to swear a Heart-Demon Oath.”

A ripple ran through the crowd.

“She’s willing to swear a Heart-Demon Oath… could it really have nothing to do with Li Ruo?”

Whispers rose.

A Heart-Demon Oath was not empty words. Once sworn, it would alert the Heavenly Dao. If the one swearing lied, heavenly punishment would follow—in severe cases, their soul could scatter and vanish.

If Li Ruo weren’t truly innocent, she wouldn’t dare.

Gazes slid, subtle and sharp, toward Ye Chu Xue.

Could Ye Chu Xue have framed Li Ruo?

Ye Chu Xue’s expression tightened at once. “This disciple also dares to swear a Heart-Demon Oath,” she said quickly. “I absolutely did not poison anyone, and I did not frame anyone!”

She had acted with a clear conscience.

She wasn’t afraid.

“Huh? They’re both swearing?”

“Then… neither of them is the culprit?”

Confusion rippled through the disciples like a disturbed pond.

Off to the side, An Ze clutched his chest, face twisted with discomfort. He tried to step out, but Bai Yang grabbed him and held him down.

“Senior Brother, it was clearly Li Ruo!” An Ze hissed. “She’s pretending!”

“Why are you stopping me? I’m going to expose her true face!”

Bai Yang’s eyes were dark. He swept a glance over Song Wan Ning before speaking in a low voice. “The Ancestor will handle it.”

He understood Master too well. Right now Master still wore a smile, but Bai Yang knew what was behind it.

Fury.

If An Ze charged out again, he would only become the one who paid for it.

“Hmph.” An Ze glared toward Song Wan Ning, bristling with indignation for Ye Chu Xue. “The Ancestor is obviously on Master’s side. Fair treatment—my ass.”

Bai Yang pressed his lips together and said nothing, but his silence was agreement.

Now he could only hope the truth would be uncovered quickly and Li Ruo would be expelled from the sect.

The matter teetered on stalemate.

Song Wan Ning stepped forward and, unhurried, sat down beside Liu Lan Yi.