Chapter 30: Ironclad Evidence
Ye Zhao Zhao fought to calm the storm within her heart. Tears shimmered softly in her eyes as she spoke, her voice trembling slightly with sorrow.
“Manager Qiu, please do not utter such reckless accusations. At most, I’ve merely purchased a few artifacts from the Spirit Artifact Pavilion. I’ve never had private dealings with you. Why would you suddenly slander me today…?”
She cast a sorrowful glance toward Li Shuang, silently accusing her of plotting in secret.
True Immortal Ling Xu’s expression grew icy. “Li Shuang! What deep grudge do you bear toward Zhao Zhao that you must harm her again and again?”
Li Shuang’s heart remained still as tranquil water. She turned calmly to True Immortal Ling Xu. “Peak Master of Spirit Void Peak, did you not just say you trust Manager Qiu’s virtue? You yourself said if one is innocent, Manager Qiu would never wrongfully accuse them.”
These were exactly True Immortal Ling Xu’s earlier words.
When he believed Manager Qiu had come to confront Li Shuang, he praised Manager Qiu’s honesty. Yet, the moment Ye Zhao Zhao was accused instead, the Peak Master immediately declared her innocence and blamed Li Shuang.
This glaring double standard made Meng Yi Fei quietly sigh.
[Why did I never notice before?]
True Immortal Ling Xu was deeply biased!
Even the Sect Leader thought the same. The gathered disciples exchanged knowing glances and murmured softly.
Had Ye Zhao Zhao saved all of Spirit Void Peak in a past life? Why else would everyone trust her blindly?
Previously, they believed Li Shuang oppressed Ye Zhao Zhao out of jealousy. But despite apparent suffering, Ye Zhao Zhao had soared through her cultivation, proving herself a rare genius.
Now, it appeared Ye Zhao Zhao never suffered at all. Instead, Li Shuang seemed to bear the true burden!
Under everyone’s scrutinizing eyes, True Immortal Ling Xu grew flustered, his tone turning sharp and cold. “Manager Qiu makes wild accusations—can I not question him?”
Li Shuang did not need to respond.
Instead, Retainer Hong spoke calmly. “Manager Qiu explained everything clearly to me. Without solid proof, I would not accompany him here.”
He swept his gaze toward Ye Zhao Zhao and extended his hand. A delicate, azure butterfly emerged from his fingertips, its wings gently fluttering as it danced in the air.
With each flap of its wings, a fine white powder drifted downward.
As it touched everyone, nothing unusual occurred.
But when it landed upon Ye Zhao Zhao…
“Hmm?” Luo Ming Yue chuckled softly. “Why does Ye Zhao Zhao’s dress now glow faintly blue?”
All eyes turned swiftly to her.
Indeed, her pale yellow robe shimmered strangely with blue powder.
Ye Zhao Zhao’s face turned deathly pale.
[What’s happening?!]
She whipped around sharply, glaring at Manager Qiu.
It had to be him!
He tampered with her clothes!
Hong Sheng’s lips curled into a knowing smile. “Ye Zhao Zhao, did you truly think a mere rogue cultivator could easily form a partnership with Manager Qiu? You thought your disguise was perfect, but the first day you visited the Spirit Artifact Pavilion years ago, Manager Qiu had already placed tracking powder on you. He knew from the start you were True Immortal Ling Xu’s disciple. He cooperated because even if you escaped, True Immortal Ling Xu could not.”
His voice grew colder, sharp as a blade. “Every time you met afterward, Manager Qiu added more powder. Today, it finally fulfilled its purpose.”
His voice hardened further. “This powder only lasts half a day. If you truly never left Spirit Void Peak today, explain how it is on your robes.”
All disciples turned their gaze to the troubled Ye Zhao Zhao.
“Zhao Zhao! What is going on?!” Chang Le An shouted in disbelief.
Ye Zhao Zhao’s heart raced wildly, panic clear in her reddened eyes. “I… I do not know! I swear, I’ve never left Spirit Void Peak.”
She could never admit scheming against a fellow disciple—not now, not ever!
Hong Sheng coldly chuckled. “Still denying? Manager Qiu is thorough. Every meeting, he placed a Recording Stone in secret. Manager Qiu, bring it out.”
Without hesitation, Manager Qiu retrieved the Recording Stone hidden within his robes.
Chang Le An roared indignantly. “Another trick! Zhao Zhao said clearly she didn’t do this. Impossible! You won’t deceive us easily. If you have proof, play it now!”
His righteous voice echoed through the air.
Ye Zhao Zhao shot him a glance filled with quiet resentment.
Fortunately, she had always known Chang Le An was a fool. Otherwise, she might suspect him of deliberately sabotaging her.
Ye Zhao Zhao steadied her heart and softly spoke, “Manager Qiu, there must be some misunderstanding. There’s no need for the Recording Stone. Shall we not discuss this privately?”
“Privately?” Chang Le An cut in sharply, his voice fierce as a sword. “Zhao Zhao, even now, you wish to protect his dignity? Let him play it! With Master and Sect Master present, we’ll see if he dares conjure lies in plain view!”
His eyes burned fiercely, driven by a righteous fury. For his Little Junior Sister, he would expose deceit in broad daylight.
Ye Zhao Zhao’s heart shuddered. She opened her lips, ready to speak—
But Chang Le An pressed forward, unstoppable as a storm.
A wave of helplessness swept through her.
[This fool.]
A blade may protect its owner.
Yet sometimes…
it can be too dull.
Had he truly not seen?
Did he not notice Eldest Senior Brother and Master’s sudden silence?
Now, matters had spiraled beyond control.
Manager Qiu no longer hesitated. He sneered coldly, activating the Recording Stone.
An image appeared, a veiled woman standing clearly within.
Her face was hidden, yet her robes betrayed her identity. When she spoke, her voice was unmistakably familiar.
Her gestures, her voice—
Who else but Ye Zhao Zhao?
From the Recording Stone came words sharp as knives, dripping with bitterness. Each sentence revealed venomous intent, speaking cruelly of utterly ruining Li Shuang, leaving her with nothing.
Could this truly be the gentle Little Junior Sister of Spirit Void Peak, whose kindness was famed throughout the sect?
Faces darkened among the crowd.
Lin Qing Ling and the others trembled with anger, eyes fierce like blades aimed at Ye Zhao Zhao, ready to strike.
Li Shuang alone remained calm, unshaken.
She had long known the truth hidden beneath Ye Zhao Zhao’s gentle mask. Today’s revelation did not surprise her.
Chang Le An’s voice rose, sharp with disbelief, “How noble the Spirit Artifact Pavilion claims to be, yet you stoop to framing our Little Junior Sister! How did you forge this recording? Confess your schemes at once—”
“Silence.”
A single, commanding word cut through the air, sharp and final as a sword strike.
It was True Immortal Ling Xu.
His tone left no room for argument.
Chang Le An halted, confusion flickering across his face as his voice fell away into silence.
[The recording… is it truly not a lie?]
The woman was remarkably similar to Little Junior Sister. Yet surely someone disguised themselves to deceive everyone!
Or was it…
Could it really be true?
Had Little Junior Sister truly committed such cruelty?
Chang Le An turned slowly, his eyes landing heavily upon Ye Zhao Zhao.
Her face was pale as death.
Her lips trembled slightly, parting with a struggle.
Yet no words came.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation