Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Ye Chu Xue’s Reputation Collapsed
Song Wan Ning’s words shoved Ye Chu Xue straight onto the knife’s edge.

Every gaze turned to her—hot, sharp, expectant.

In everyone’s eyes, Ye Chu Xue had always been beautiful and kind. More than once, she’d encouraged disciples, preaching that so-called “equality of personhood,” insisting no one should be looked down on.

So now, everyone watched her like this was the moment that would prove what she truly believed.

Ye Chu Xue’s heart sank.

Already terrified for Gu Qing Yuan, she now felt the weight of the crowd press down until her breathing turned thin. Under that hopeful gaze, something in her went cold.

She looked up, eyes snapping to Song Wan Ning’s face, and she almost couldn’t hide the fury and hatred burning there.

Song Wan Ning was digging a pit for her.

No matter what she chose, it would be wrong.

Song Wan Ning—vicious, calculating—

Ye Chu Xue’s jaw clenched. She said nothing.

Song Wan Ning’s lips curved. “What, Martial Niece Ye? Is this difficult for you?”

“If I were you, I’d save the innocent disciple without hesitation,” Song Wan Ning went on, voice mild, eyes bright. “After all, she’s the most innocent one in this whole matter.”

“But you look so conflicted.” Her smile sharpened. “I suppose all those slogans you shout are just for fun—not something you truly believe.”

Ye Chu Xue’s throat tightened.

All she’d done—the pills, the encouragement, the carefully crafted image—had been for the disciples’ admiration. In her past life, those same people had become sharp blades in her hand, hacking down Song Wan Ning.

If she steeled her heart and seized this chance, her reputation could soar even higher.

But she couldn’t bear to lose Gu Qing Yuan.

“Master’s injuries are more severe,” Ye Chu Xue forced out, voice strained. “I…”

There was no choice. She had to ensure Master’s safety.

Everyone else’s life and death had nothing to do with her.

So she lifted her chin and declared loudly, as if volume could crush doubt, “Please, Martial Uncle Song—give the pill to Master. As for that disciple, I will find a way to compensate her. I will not let anything happen to her!”

The response was instant.

Disappointment rippled through the crowd like a sigh turned into anger. Faces that had once looked at Ye Chu Xue with admiration now held something colder.

They thought she was different.

Turns out it had all been a mask.

“How hypocritical,” someone muttered.

Ye Chu Xue heard it anyway.

She pressed her lips together, forcing her back straight. She refused to believe she owed them anything.

And Wu Dan—hadn’t she taken the pill willingly? Ye Chu Xue hadn’t charged a single coin. How was it her fault?

Then Song Wan Ning began to clap.

Slow. Deliberate.

“Clap, clap, clap,” she said, sounding deeply moved. “What devotion between master and disciple.”

Her gaze turned to Ye Chu Xue, almost gentle. “Gu Qing Yuan knelt and begged for medicine for you, and you choose Gu Qing Yuan over your fellow disciples. Truly touching.”

Ye Chu Xue’s face tightened.

Song Wan Ning tilted her head, still holding the pill. “What a pity. If that disciple doesn’t take it now, she’s done for. Gu Qing Yuan can hold on a bit longer—so he’ll just have to endure.”

Before Ye Chu Xue could even process the words, Song Wan Ning flicked her hand.

Clean. Decisive.

The pill slipped straight into the mouth of the unconscious Wu Dan.

It was gone.

Ye Chu Xue went stiff, disbelief flashing across her face before it twisted into fury.

“Martial Uncle Song, you—”

She had chosen Master. Why did Song Wan Ning get to give the pill to someone else?

Wasn’t this treating her like a monkey on a string?

Ye Chu Xue dug her nails into her palm until pain bit through her rage.

Song Wan Ning rose calmly, smoothing her skirt as if nothing had happened.

“No choice,” she said warmly. “We’re all disciples of the Heaven-Questioning Sect. We should be treated the same.”

Her eyes lifted, bright and clear. “I can’t just watch someone die, can I?”

Then, as if remembering something pleasant, she added, “Oh, right. In a few days, there’s an auction in Tian Lai City. I heard there will be a Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill.”

She smiled at Ye Chu Xue like a blessing.

“You can try your luck. Maybe Gu Qing Yuan’s poison will be cured.”

She couldn’t quite suppress her smile, and she even winked.

A boomerang only hurts when it comes back and hits you.

Today, she made sure Ye Chu Xue felt it.

“Grandmaster Song is the fair one!”

“Yeah! Wu Dan was practically dying. Why wouldn’t she get it?”

“Grandmaster Gu is a Nascent Soul Stage ancestor. He has plenty of ways to detox—unlike us ordinary people!”

“Senior Sister Ye is such a letdown. This poison was caused by her in the first place, and she still wanted to abandon someone. So selfish!”

The praise had been loud before.

The collapse was louder.

Who would’ve thought that in the end, it was Grandmaster Song—whom they’d disliked—that chose to stand up for Wu Dan?

How ironic.

The words drilled into Ye Chu Xue’s ears. She bit her lower lip hard, tasting blood, feeling wronged and furious all at once.

In the past half-year, she had given out so many pills.

She had also stood up for disciples again and again.

And this was what she got?

They flipped on her in an instant. No one remembered her kindness at all.

Her heart went cold, hardening into something brittle.

The Sect Master’s face looked like he’d swallowed filth. He was furious—but if the auction truly had a Heaven-Origin Heart-Nourishing Pill, it could solve the urgent problem.

He forced himself to speak, voice tight. “Can Junior Brother Gu really hold on until the auction?”

Now he was truly afraid Song Wan Ning would deliberately let Gu Qing Yuan die.

“Of course,” Song Wan Ning replied lightly, her gaze flicking to Gu Qing Yuan. “You’re underestimating Gu Qing Yuan.”

If he hadn’t been badly injured saving Ye Chu Xue before—and then injured again—this little poison wouldn’t have dropped him so fast.

“Good!” The Sect Master finally exhaled.

He turned to Ye Chu Xue. “Martial Niece Ye, take him back first and let him rest. In a few days, you must win that pill at the auction.”

“If you don’t have enough spirit stones, the sect will help!”

“Yes. Thank you, Sect Master!” Ye Chu Xue’s voice shook with gratitude. She hurried to thank him, then tightened her hold on Gu Qing Yuan and staggered to her feet.

Just as she turned to leave, Song Wan Ning spoke again, stopping her with a single sentence.

“Martial Niece Ye, did you forget something?”

Ye Chu Xue’s steps faltered.

“The pills you refined were poisonous,” Song Wan Ning said, voice calm. “An innocent disciple and Gu Qing Yuan were poisoned one after another—and you still haven’t been punished.”

At once, everyone remembered.

Ye Chu Xue had made a bet. If she lost, she would accept punishment.

She had almost slipped away in the chaos.

“Junior Sister Song,” the Sect Master said sharply, impatience flaring, “don’t push your luck. Junior Brother Gu is poisoned right now and needs Martial Niece Ye to care for him!”

“What the Sect Master says is true.” Song Wan Ning nodded as if agreeing. “Since Gu Qing Yuan needs her now, then when he wakes up, she can take her punishment.”

Her smile turned sweet again, the kind that made people uneasy. “The Sect Master doesn’t want people saying you play favorites and twist the law, do you?”

“That would chill everyone’s hearts.”

Then she shifted closer to Liu Lan Yi with sudden softness, leaning against her like a child seeking shelter. “Ancestor, I think the Wind-Devouring Cave is pretty good.”

Her bright eyes blinked up, and Liu Lan Yi’s expression softened for a heartbeat. She raised a hand and rubbed Song Wan Ning’s head.

“This matter happened because of Ye Chu Xue,” Liu Lan Yi said evenly. “She should indeed be punished.”

“Since it was unintentional, she will be sent to the Wind-Devouring Cave for one year of reflection.”

Her gaze drifted to the Sect Master.

“What does the Sect Master think?”

The Sect Master shuddered. “All according to Ancestor’s arrangement.”

“Good.” Liu Lan Yi nodded. “Then it’s settled. Everyone, disperse.”

She rose, taking Song Wan Ning’s hand, and led her away.