Fu Sinian was carried back to his residence to recuperate. As the Eldest Senior Brother, Lin Yunan had just finished looking after Yun Xiange when he heard that Fu Sinian was also injured.
The culprit behind both of their injuries pointed directly to Wen Jingshu.
After all, Fu Sinian and Yun Xiange had spent much more time with him. When Lin Yunan saw Wen Jingshu, he subconsciously carried a hint of blame in his tone.
“Little Junior Sister, what exactly happened in the secret realm? How did Xiange get so heavily injured?”
Wen Jingshu asked indifferently, “Why don't you tell me first, what did Yun Xiange say to you?”
Hearing this, Lin Yunan frowned slightly. He fell silent for a moment before replying truthfully:
“Xiange... she didn't actually say anything. She just called out your name while unconscious.”
Wen Jingshu was instantly amused by Lin Yunan's words. “Oh? So Fu Sinian assumed I was the one who hurt her? And then he came at me like a mad dog, trying to slash me the moment he saw me?”
Could they not tell whether the wounds on Yun Xiange's body were caused by a demon beast or a cultivator?
Looking at his youngest disciple's guarded posture, Beili sighed and said, “Sinian and Xiange have a close relationship in private, and you and Xiange have some friction...”
So? Was that Fu Sinian's excuse for attacking her?
Wen Jingshu closed her eyes. The tiny sliver of affection that had begun to sprout in her heart for her master and fellow disciples completely vanished at this moment.
Indeed, the cultivation world was inherently cruel, and human hearts were naturally biased. She had climbed up from the very bottom, yet she still harbored illusions until now.
Perhaps in this cultivation world, only her sister was truly sincere toward her.
Opening her eyes again, Wen Jingshu stated coldly, “After I entered the secret realm, Third Senior Sister tried to lure me to another area to look for opportunities. By some twist of fate, I ran into her again. Knowing there was danger behind me, not only did she fail to warn me, but she also gave me a push.”
“I didn't let her succeed and instead made her reap what she sowed.”
As soon as Wen Jingshu said this, the two men froze.
They both knew that Yun Xiange and Wen Jingshu did not get along, and most of it was Yun Xiange unilaterally targeting Wen Jingshu.
They had originally thought it was just petty jealousy between children. Who would have thought that Yun Xiange actually tried to kill Wen Jingshu?
It was only because Wen Jingshu had her own means. What if she didn't? Would Wen Jingshu be the one lying in bed right now?
But Yun Xiange wasn't that kind of person!
Having spent the past few years with Yun Xiange, they believed they knew the young girl very well.
She always held a sense of kindness in her heart—she was so kind that she seemed completely out of place in this cruel cultivation world.
They did not want to believe Yun Xiange was that kind of person, yet they did not feel Wen Jingshu was lying either.
Fu Sinian dragged his heavily injured body as he barged into the hall, shouting, “You must have done something to make Xiange attack you!”
Crossing her arms, Wen Jingshu sneered, “Since you've already convicted me in your heart, why bother listening to my excuses?”
Fu Sinian stared intently at Wen Jingshu and barked, “It is clearly your fault! How can you still act so self-righteous?”
“Do you have any idea? Xiange's face was disfigured by the demon beast's venom, and even her foundation was damaged!”
“As the culprit, do you not feel even a shred of guilt?”
She, feel guilt?
Toward someone who wanted to kill her, the fact that Wen Jingshu hadn't directly ended her life was already giving Beili face.
“So? What do you want me to do?”
Fu Sinian demanded, “Heal Xiange, and kneel down to apologize to her!”
The moment Fu Sinian said this, Beili was the first to fly into a rage. “Fu Sinian, that's enough!”
Demanding the sister of an Eighth-Grade Alchemist to kneel and apologize—did Hidden Star Peak want to be wiped off the face of the earth?
“Fu Sinian, you attacked your fellow junior sister without any proof. You are hereby sentenced to reflect on your actions at Spiritless Cliff for ten years. Considering your severe injuries, you will go after recuperating for half a month.”
“As for the rest, we will discuss it once Xiange wakes up!”
“Shushu, you worked hard during your trial in the secret realm. Go and rest first. Rest assured, I will never let you suffer even a bit of injustice.”
What answered Beili was Wen Jingshu's emotionless sneer.
Spiritless Cliff had no spiritual energy and was bone-chillingly cold year-round. Cultivators who entered could only rely on their physical bodies to resist it, suffering from the relentless cold day and night. Making Fu Sinian stay there for ten years without being able to cultivate would indeed be a severe punishment.
However, while Beili's words seemed fair, his bias actually stretched all the way to the Northern Dark Continent.
It was only because she had the means and capability that Fu Sinian failed to harm her.
Just because she was unharmed, was Fu Sinian's attempt to harm her supposed to be brushed under the rug?
Fu Sinian's injuries were entirely of his own making, yet Beili still wanted him to recuperate before serving his confinement.
Did he apologize to her even once throughout this entire ordeal?
Seeing the discord among his fellow disciples, Lin Yunan felt a headache coming on. He reprimanded Fu Sinian, “Second Junior Brother, you are in the wrong here. Apologize to Little Junior Sister.”
“Little Junior Sister, you have been wronged. It's just that Xiange's body is covered in festering wounds, her spiritual root has been corroded, and she is still unconscious. Your Second Senior Brother only acted out of desperation.”
To Beili and Lin Yunan, both Yun Xiange and Wen Jingshu were their disciple and junior sister. They desperately wanted harmony within the peak and tried their best to remain completely impartial.
Wen Jingshu had not wanted to make things difficult for them either. That was why, before Yun Xiange attacked her, she had never even spared Yun Xiange a second glance.
Even when Yun Xiange later tried to use a demon beast to harm her, Wen Jingshu merely let her reap what she sowed, refraining from taking her life when she had the chance.
Wen Jingshu bowed to Beili with cupped hands and said, “Take care, Master. If there is nothing else in the future, your disciple will not come to disturb you again.”
Beili froze upon hearing Wen Jingshu's words.
What did she mean by that? Was she trying to draw a clear line between them?
But Yun Xiange was also a disciple he was proud of. Was he supposed to severely punish one disciple just for the sake of another?
Besides, Yun Xiange's cultivation path had been ruined, and he hadn't blamed Wen Jingshu for it at all. What more did she want from him?
The young sword cultivator pinched the bridge of his nose and said wearily, “Shushu, calm down first. I will give you an explanation for this matter.”
“An explanation? Since Daoist Lord Beili cannot provide fairness and justice, then I will.”
Accompanied by a powerful, resonant female voice, Xu Haoguang strode grandly into the main hall of Hidden Star Peak, bringing along the Discipline Elder.
“Elder Huangfu, according to our sect's rules, how should one be punished for using their higher cultivation to wantonly bully a junior sister, even attempting to take her life?”
Elder Huangfu replied in a matter-of-fact tone, “To answer the Sect Master, depending on the severity of the offense, the culprit shall be sentenced to ten to thirty lashes of the Soul-Scourging Whip and confined to Spiritless Cliff for five to fifty years.”
“Fu Sinian used his Golden Core Stage cultivation to bully his own junior sister, who is only at the Qi Refining Stage. Given the severity of the circumstances, he should receive the maximum penalty.”
Hearing this, Xu Haoguang gave an approving hum and said, “Then what are you waiting for? Take him away and carry out the punishment immediately!”
Beili's expression had already turned extremely unsightly when Xu Haoguang arrived. Hearing her words now, he quickly stood up. “Wait!”
“Sect Master, this disciple of mine has already received his due punishment. Can we not show some leniency?”
“If...”
Beili gritted his teeth and forced himself to continue, “If Shushu is willing to forgive him, could this matter be handled as a mere dispute between fellow disciples?”
Seeing how desperately Beili wanted to protect Fu Sinian, Xu Haoguang sneered, “Of course.”
With that single sentence, everyone's eyes fell upon Wen Jingshu.
The nine-year-old girl stood straight despite having no one backing her. Her gaze was sharp as she cast a deep look at the pleading Beili, and she said:
“I do not agree to a private settlement.”
It was the same as before—the fact that she had not directly beaten Yun Xiange and Fu Sinian to death in front of Beili was already giving plenty of face to Beili and the Qingyun Sect.
If her sister were to handle this matter...
Heh.
Rate on N.U.
