Chapter 82: She Had Suffered So Much
“It is not mere conjecture on my part, it is…”
“What gives you the audacity to assume that I have feelings for you? Is it simply because I walked a little closer to you? And for that, you dare to taint my intent with your own filthy thoughts?” Shen Sang Ruo fixed her gaze upon Lu Shi Qing, her voice like a blade cutting through his assumptions.
Lu Shi Qing felt those words slam into his chest like a hammer. How could this be? Impossible.
She—she must have liked him back then.
He could not have been mistaken. How could she accuse him of such baseless speculation, of harboring vile thoughts?
Lu Shi Qing opened and closed his mouth, trying to voice the proof he clung to so desperately.
“You were always clinging to me, holding onto my arm. And if you did not harbor affection for me, why would you act in such a manner?”
As though convincing himself, his voice grew more resolute with every word.
“I was but fifteen at the time. I saw you as an elder brother. Tell me, which of those actions exceeded the bounds of propriety?” Shen Sang Ruo’s eyes bore into him, as if already anticipating his next excuse.
Before he could speak, she continued, her tone unwavering.
“Fine. If you insist that my actions were proof of an impure heart, then how do you explain Bai Mu Mu? She treated you the same way. Why did you not assume she was enamored with you?”
“Is it truly so difficult to admit that you were merely being self-indulgent and obstinate?”
Lu Shi Qing stood frozen, as if struck by lightning, unable to move. Could it be… he was wrong?
“Because of your narcissism, you spread rumors throughout the entire sect that I was infatuated with you. You placed me at the heart of a storm, subjected me to scorn and ridicule from countless mouths.”
“Lu Shi Qing, you are truly disgusting.”
Her final words were like a heavy blow, sinking deep into his chest. His expression crumbled into one of desolation, his once-bright eyes dimming as if all light had been snuffed out.
Disgusting? She actually said he was disgusting?
Even the strength to explain why he had twice planted the Seven Emotions Gu within her abandoned him.
Both Shen Dao Chen and True Master Ling Xiao had long been aware of this matter, yet neither had realized the truth behind it. Shen Sang Ruo had suffered an unwarranted calamity simply because of Lu Shi Qing’s baseless assumptions.
Shen Dao Chen’s chest rose and fell violently, his fury barely contained.
He still remembered the disappointment that had gripped him upon hearing the rumors back then. In his anger, he had even confined Shen Sang Ruo for a full month, demanding that she reflect on her actions.
And now, he discovered—it was all nothing more than Lu Shi Qing’s slanderous gossip.
With a sweep of his spiritual energy, Shen Dao Chen inscribed Lu Shi Qing’s transgressions upon a confession scroll and forcibly seared an indelible mark upon him.
Then, his piercing gaze turned to Luo Chu, his voice carrying an unshakable authority. “And what have you done to Sang Ruo?”
He now understood—Shen Sang Ruo had not been making an empty show of demanding apologies from her four senior brothers. There was indeed just cause for her request.
Though she was but his adopted daughter, he would not allow anyone to sully her name.
Luo Chu stammered, “I-I didn’t do anything too terrible…”
Compared to the others, what he had done was, indeed, trivial—nothing that had threatened her life or cultivation, nothing that had caused her great suffering.
The worst attempt at framing her had, in the end, been turned back upon himself.
“I merely sneaked out to play at times and committed some minor transgressions, then asked her to take the blame in my stead…”
Shen Dao Chen’s expression softened slightly.
“Why don’t you tell us exactly how many of these so-called ‘minor mistakes’ you’ve made?” Shen Sang Ruo’s voice was cold and cutting from the side.
Luo Chu had originally wanted to warn Shen Sang Ruo not to add fuel to the fire, but under the combined gaze of Shen Dao Chen and True Master Ling Xiao, he could only shrink his neck and, with a guilty conscience, mutter, “Not even a hundred times…?”
“What?” Shen Dao Chen felt his temples throbbing violently.
If Luo Chu sneaked out once a month, that meant Shen Sang Ruo had taken the blame for him for years.
So that was why! Shen Dao Chen had always wondered why Shen Sang Ruo, disciplined and law-abiding within the sect, somehow managed to stir up endless trouble outside its walls.
“So that’s how it is… so that’s how it is…” Shen Dao Chen gritted out each word through clenched teeth.
He couldn’t even recall how many times he had punished Shen Sang Ruo for these matters. To think that all of it had been Luo Chu’s doing!
Following the same process as before, he inscribed Luo Chu’s sins onto a confession scroll and branded it with Luo Chu’s soul imprint.
Wen Xuan, listening to each revelation, had turned utterly pale, his heart filled with but one thought—
The heavens were collapsing.
Without realizing it, they had inflicted so much harm upon their little junior sister.
Not one of them—four senior brothers in total—had managed to protect Shen Sang Ruo from suffering. Instead, they had each played a role in wounding her.
Shame. Regret. Resentment toward the others. These emotions roiled within Wen Xuan’s chest.
How could they ever make it up to Shen Sang Ruo?
“Ling Xiao,” Shen Dao Chen’s tone had lost all of its former patience as he now wielded the authority of the Sect Master, “is this the kind of disciple you have trained? With Sang Ruo under your tutelage, subjected to such mistreatment, do you not owe me an explanation?”
True Master Ling Xiao was the greatest cultivator in the cultivation world, but Shen Dao Chen was his senior brother and had even once saved his life.
It was precisely because of this trust that he had entrusted Shen Sang Ruo to Ling Xiao’s care.
But now, it seemed that her departure from Thunder Scale Peak had been the wisest decision she had ever made.
“You four, head to the Discipline Hall of your own accord. Do not make me act personally.” Ling Xiao’s gaze was as cold as frost. “Leave.”
With a sharp flick of his sleeve, he sent all four of them flying out of the cave abode.
He had once declared with certainty that Thunder Scale Peak had never wronged Shen Sang Ruo. And yet, his own disciples had delivered a resounding slap to his face.
Even so, Ling Xiao’s perception of Shen Sang Ruo did not change.
Jealous. Malicious. Heart filled with hatred—turning a blind eye to her own junior sister’s plight. Could all of this have been a misunderstanding as well?
No. No matter what pain she had suffered, it did not erase the cruelty in her heart.
With a wave of Shen Dao Chen’s hand, the four confession scrolls floated into Shen Sang Ruo’s grasp.
“Sang Ruo,” his voice carried an uncharacteristic gentleness, “these years have wronged you. I will see that justice is done.”
His gaze softened, his expression tinged with regret. “But you, child… why did you bear all of this alone? Why did you never come to me?”
He was the Sect Master, her father—he could have stood up for her!
Shen Sang Ruo merely chuckled mockingly, saying nothing.
For him to utter such words now only proved one thing—
He had already forgotten the times she had pleaded and wept before him.
Justice? She had long since claimed it for herself. What need did she have for Shen Dao Chen’s intervention?
Seeing that Shen Dao Chen’s attention was fully on Shen Sang Ruo, Ling Xiao finally reminded him, “The Fire Scale Vine—you can bring it out now.”
Only then did Shen Dao Chen remember—his precious Mu’er was still bedridden.
His emotions toward Shen Sang Ruo twisted once more.
“Take me to Bai Mu Mu. Once I see her, I will naturally give you the Fire Scale Vine.”
Neither Ling Xiao nor Shen Dao Chen hesitated; they immediately led Shen Sang Ruo to Bai Mu Mu’s quarters.
Ling Xiao wasn’t worried. There was no way Shen Sang Ruo could do anything to Bai Mu Mu under their watchful eyes.
Shen Dao Chen, on the other hand, thought even better of the situation—
He believed Shen Sang Ruo had come to her senses and wished to repair her relationship with Bai Mu Mu.
Within the secluded mortal dwelling reserved solely for Bai Mu Mu on the Main Peak—
Upon seeing the visitors, Bai Mu Mu struggled to rise.
“Greetings, Papa… Master…”
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