Chapter 26: Foolish or Malicious?
Li Shuang’s face was serene, her eyes deep as an ancient lake, showing no ripple of feeling.
She spoke quietly but firmly, “All cultivators know the grave danger of qi deviation. Shen Yue’s fire-root cultivation makes his backlash especially fierce. Five years ago, Ye Zhao Zhao claimed she struggled hard to care for him during that critical moment. But tell me, was her care simply standing aside while he lay helpless?”
“No… it wasn’t like that…” Ye Zhao Zhao’s face turned pale as snow. She desperately looked toward the disciples of Spirit Void Peak. “When I saw Senior Brother unconscious, I panicked terribly. I fed him spirit pills and spiritual water, carefully looked after him, and after a few days, he recovered on his own. His condition… was different from now.”
Her lips trembled as she turned pleadingly toward True Immortal Ling Xu. “Master, I swear, I spoke truthfully. When I found Senior Brother Shen Yue, he was merely unconscious. Under my care, he truly recovered.”
True Immortal Ling Xu’s gaze softened slightly at her tearful words. Calmly, he said, “Zhao Zhao had been in the sect only five years at that time. How could she know the true signs of qi deviation? She did not lie.”
“Little Junior Sister would never lie!” Chang Le An declared confidently.
Sheng Yuan lowered his eyes, his lips quivering, unable to speak. He wanted to trust Ye Zhao Zhao. Perhaps she had indeed spoken truthfully. Yet…
Something felt amiss.
Lin Qing Ling laughed coldly, breaking the heavy silence. “If overcoming qi deviation were so easy, countless cultivators would not have perished from it. Five years ago, Shen Yue was already at Golden Core Stage. To calm the fire qi of a Golden Core cultivator experiencing deviation would require a Nascent Soul expert—one whose attribute directly counters his. Ye Zhao Zhao? A mere tri-spiritual root disciple who hadn’t even reached Nascent Soul Stage back then? Yet you believe she was the one who saved Shen Yue?”
How utterly laughable!
Even from the few clues she’d heard, Lin Qing Ling understood clearly.
Among Spirit Void Peak disciples, only Li Shuang could have saved Shen Yue!
Back then, Li Shuang’s cultivation had stalled for five years, even showing signs of decline. Yet she still stepped forward without hesitation, suppressing Shen Yue’s fiery qi. To achieve this, she must have sustained severe internal injuries.
But these Spirit Void Peak disciples gave credit to Ye Zhao Zhao?
Lin Qing Ling could not help but wonder—were they simply fools, or was there hidden malice?
Her words struck deeply, and the disciples of Spirit Void Peak instinctively turned questioning gazes toward Ye Zhao Zhao.
Ye Zhao Zhao shivered, panic flooding her eyes. “I… I don’t know… I truly don’t understand…”
Tears filled her eyes as she turned once again toward True Immortal Ling Xu. “Master, I swear I told no lies! When I found Senior Brother Shen Yue, he was unconscious. Under my care, he truly recovered!”
Sheng Yuan slowly lifted his head, his voice rough with emotion. “Eldest Senior Sister… was it you?”
Five years ago…
When Shen Yue finally awoke, only then did Li Shuang appear.
Little Junior Sister had been exhausted from caring for Shen Yue—her face pale, her body visibly thinner. Everyone’s eyes had been red with worry for Shen Yue’s health.
Only Eldest Senior Sister remained untouched, her complexion healthy and bright as ever. Compared to her, resentment naturally grew.
Sheng Yuan remembered clearly.
Back then, he had been the first to harshly question Eldest Senior Sister, demanding, “Where were you?”
Everyone knew ice and fire qi opposed each other, and her cultivation was perfect for treating Shen Yue. Yet at the crucial moment, she had vanished.
What kind of Eldest Senior Sister abandoned her junior brother in need?
In the face of his anger and Shen Yue’s disappointment, Eldest Senior Sister had tried explaining.
She claimed she had found Shen Yue, treated him, and left only after confirming he was safe.
But none believed her.
Sheng Yuan recalled bitterly accusing her, “If you truly found Third Junior Brother and treated him, why leave immediately? Eldest Senior Sister, is this how you claim credit? If Little Junior Sister hadn’t cared for him day and night, Third Junior Brother might never have awakened!”
At that moment, Li Shuang merely looked startled, offering no further protest.
He had thought it was guilt.
Yet now, looking back, could there have been another truth?
“Li Shuang? How could it be her?” Chang Le An blurted, disbelief clear in his voice. “Back then, Little Junior Sister exhausted herself day and night caring for Second Senior Brother until she nearly fainted! But Li Shuang? She looked untouched and healthy!”
“Eldest Senior Sister, explain yourself.” Sheng Yuan ignored Chang Le An, his gaze fixed like a sword upon Li Shuang, determined to cut through all illusions.
Li Shuang met his gaze calmly, her voice steady as a still pond. “To suppress the heartfire was a path fraught with peril. Even though my cultivation surpassed Shen Yue’s by an entire realm, I still suffered severe internal injuries. In the days I was absent, I sought seclusion to heal my wounds. Upon my return, I consumed a Vitality Pill beforehand to spare you unnecessary worry.”
Her words were clear and simple, holding neither pride nor complaint.
Sheng Yuan’s lips trembled. His footing wavered as if struck by an unseen blow, and he nearly stumbled.
Chang Le An’s eyes widened in disbelief. “Impossible! It can’t be true! You’re never that kindhearted!”
To him, Zhao Zhao was gentle warmth itself, always sincere and caring toward them, her Senior Brothers.
But Li Shuang?
She was ever as cold as winter ice, unreadable, her heart hidden behind a mask of frost.
Could someone like her truly suffer grievous injuries to save Shen Yue?
“How laughable you all are!” Luo Ming Yue’s voice cut through sharply, dripping with scorn. “Aside from Li Shuang, who else on Spirit Void Peak had the strength to rescue Shen Yue? Did you truly believe those random elixirs and spirit waters, or your ceaseless bedside vigils, could have healed him? Can you not see how absurd you sound?”
Liu Jun Cheng’s expression turned icy. “Li Shuang even swallowed a Vitality Pill just to shield you from worry. Yet how do you repay her sacrifice? Remember clearly—from now on, all should know that on Spirit Void Peak, honeyed words are treasured more highly than deeds done in silence.”
As he spoke, Liu Jun Cheng cast a cold, mocking glance at Ye Zhao Zhao.
Ye Zhao Zhao shuddered and helplessly sought Sheng Yuan with pleading eyes.
But Sheng Yuan appeared lost, his soul seemingly departed from his body.
She turned instead toward Chang Le An.
Chang Le An stood frozen, eyes wide and uncomprehending, as though reality had slipped beyond his grasp.
Finally, Ye Zhao Zhao turned tremblingly toward True Immortal Ling Xu. “Master… I truly didn’t know…”
True Immortal Ling Xu had been silent all along.
Yet, seeing Ye Zhao Zhao in such distress, his heart softened.
This little disciple had always been the most obedient among his students.
Only she had ever shared whimsical stories, bringing laughter to his secluded mountain.
Only she had tirelessly crafted new ways to brew wine, gifting him exquisite spirits.
Only she had always searched for novel wonders, simply to delight him.
A heart made of flesh cannot remain unmoved. After a decade, how could he not favor her?
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