Chapter 30

Chapter 30: Ironclad Evidence

Ye Zhao Zhao pushed down her panic. With tears in her eyes, she spoke in a soft voice: “Steward Qiu, stop talking nonsense. At most, I went to the Artifact Pavilion to buy a few tools, but I never had any secret dealings with you. I… I do not even know why you are slandering me today…”

As she spoke, she glanced at Li Shuang with a hint of grievance.

That look seemed to say that Li Shuang had set her up from the shadows.

Immortal Ling Xu’s face turned cold at once: “Li Shuang, what deep hatred do you have with Zhao Zhao that you keep harming her again and again!”

Calm as ever, Li Shuang looked at Immortal Ling Xu with some curiosity: “Peak Master of Ling Xu Peak, did you not say you trust Steward Qiu’s character? Did you not say that if no one did anything wrong, Steward Qiu would not come knocking?”

Those two lines were Immortal Ling Xu’s exact words.

When he thought Steward Qiu had come for Li Shuang, then Steward Qiu’s character was spotless and his visit must have a good reason.

But once he realized Steward Qiu had come for Ye Zhao Zhao, suddenly Ye Zhao Zhao was innocent and it became Li Shuang’s trick.

Immortal Ling Xu’s double standard showed in full.

Even Meng Yi Fei could not help but sigh.

[How did I not see it before? Ling Xu is this biased?]

If even the Sect Master seemed to feel this way, the nearby disciples began to whisper.

They could not help but wonder: [Did Ye Zhao Zhao save the entire families of everyone on Ling Xu Peak in a past life? Otherwise, why would they be so one sided?]

They had said before that Li Shuang was jealous of Ye Zhao Zhao’s talent and kept suppressing her, yet even under pressure Ye Zhao Zhao still advanced fast, so she must be a rare genius.

But now they could not see what wrongs Ye Zhao Zhao had suffered at all.

The one bearing huge pressure looked more like Li Shuang.

Under so many stares, Immortal Ling Xu felt awkward. He said coldly: “This Steward Qiu is making wild accusations. Can I not question him?”

This time, Li Shuang did not need to speak.

Hong Sheng said mildly: “Steward Qiu already told me the whole story. If we did not have solid proof, I would not be here with him.”

Hong Sheng glanced at Ye Zhao Zhao, then a blue butterfly appeared on his fingertip.

It circled in the air. As it beat its wings, white powder drifted down.

Everyone touched by the powder felt nothing strange.

Only Ye Zhao Zhao…

“Huh, why did Zhao Zhao’s skirt get speckled with blue shimmer?” Luo Ming Yue said with a cheerful smile.

Everyone looked over.

Sure enough, when the powder fell, the pale yellow hem of Ye Zhao Zhao’s skirt glowed with a blue shine.

Ye Zhao Zhao’s expression changed at once.

[What is happening!]

She snapped her gaze to Steward Qiu: [It is him! He planted something on me!]

Hong Sheng spoke with a half smile: “Ye Zhao Zhao, did you think a random rogue cultivator could make Steward Qiu work with him? You thought your disguise was perfect. In truth, the first time you came to the Artifact Pavilion to discuss a deal years ago, Steward Qiu dusted you with Tracking Powder. He learned early that you are Immortal Ling Xu’s Personal Disciple. That is why he kept working with you. After all, you can run, but Immortal Ling Xu cannot always run.”

“Every time you met after that, Steward Qiu would habitually dust you again with Tracking Powder. Today it finally came in handy.”

Hong Sheng’s tone cooled: “This Tracking Powder only lasts for half a day. If you truly never left Ling Xu Peak, how do you explain the marks on your dress?”

Everyone from Ling Xu Peak turned to look.

“Zhao Zhao, what is going on?” Chang Le An asked, unable to hold back.

Even more flustered, Ye Zhao Zhao’s eyes reddened: “I… I do not know. I really did not leave Ling Xu Peak.”

She could not admit to plotting against a fellow disciple no matter what.

Hong Sheng laughed: “Still denying it? That is fine. Steward Qiu is always careful. Every time you met, a Memory Stone was hidden in the room. Steward Qiu, take it out.”

Steward Qiu agreed without hesitation and took out a Memory Stone.

“This must be another trick,” Chang Le An shouted. “Zhao Zhao said she did not do such a thing, so it is impossible! Do not think this will fool us. If you have the skill, play the Memory Stone!”

Chang Le An sounded full of righteous anger.

Ye Zhao Zhao shot him a look with a trace of resentment in her eyes.

[Good thing I already know he was born with no sense. Otherwise I would suspect he is doing this on purpose.]

Ye Zhao Zhao said quickly: “There is no need to show the Memory Stone. Steward Qiu, there must be some misunderstanding between us. We can talk in private…”

“What private talk? Zhao Zhao, you still want to save his face?” Chang Le An cut in. “Let him play it. I want to see how he can fake anything with the Sect Master and Master right here!”

His eyes shone with misplaced wisdom. For his Junior Sister, he would expose these people’s tricks in public.

Ye Zhao Zhao’s heart trembled. She opened her lips to say something.

But Chang Le An kept urging without stopping.

A wave of helplessness washed over Ye Zhao Zhao.

[Such a fool. He is useful as a knife, but sometimes he is too stupid.]

[Does he not realize why First Senior Brother and Master fell silent?]

With things at this point, Steward Qiu no longer hesitated. He let out a cold laugh and played the scene from two hours ago.

In the Memory Stone, a woman in a veiled hat appeared.

Her face was hidden, but she wore the same dress. Once Ye Zhao Zhao spoke, the voice was crystal clear.

Along with her usual little habits, there was no doubt.

If this was not Ye Zhao Zhao, who else could it be?

In the Memory Stone, Ye Zhao Zhao’s voice dripped with spite as she swore to make Li Shuang lose everything.

This was the gentle and kind Junior Sister they often spoke of on Ling Xu Peak?

People’s gazes changed one by one.

Lin Qing Ling and the others were so angry they looked like they could kill with their eyes.

Li Shuang herself stayed very calm.

She had felt Ye Zhao Zhao’s malice long ago. There was nothing to be surprised about now.

“Artifact Pavilion, how shameless to use such tricks against my Junior Sister. How did you fake this recording? Call in your—” Chang Le An began.

“Shut up.” Immortal Ling Xu squeezed out the words between his teeth.

With his Master’s bad tone, Chang Le An fell silent, confused.

[So the recording is not fake? The person inside looks so much like Junior Sister, but it must be an imposter, right? Could Junior Sister really do this?]

He looked at Ye Zhao Zhao.

Her face was already snow pale.

She opened her mouth several times, but in the end only her lips trembled. She could not say a single full sentence.