The uproar at Lingbao Pavilion spread like wildfire through the sect. By morning, every disciple was talking about it.
Fraud in the market.Tampered stones.And Ye Zhaozhao's name whispered in the same breath.
Inside the Law Enforcement Hall, the atmosphere was tense. Disciples from multiple peaks gathered to witness the proceedings. At the front stood the sect's appointed enforcers, faces stern as they presided over the dispute.
Li Shuang entered quietly, dressed in her Wuqing Peak robes, her expression calm as still water. Behind her followed Luo Mingyue and several of their fellow peakmates, their presence steadying and warm.
Across the hall, Ye Zhaozhao stood rigid, pale-faced, flanked by disciples of Lingxu Peak, including Sheng Yuan and Lingxu Zhenren himself.
The tension between the two sides was palpable.
A law enforcer struck the gavel. "Order in the hall. The accused: Lingbao Pavilion's Manager Qiu and Ye Zhaozhao of Lingxu Peak. State your cases."
Manager Qiu collapsed to his knees. "I confess! I tampered with the stones, but—" He cast a desperate look toward Zhaozhao. "I was coerced!"
Gasps rippled through the hall.
Lingxu Zhenren's face darkened. "Nonsense! You dare implicate my disciple?"
Li Shuang's gaze didn't waver. "The concealment talisman residue was undeniable. Multiple disciples witnessed it. And Qiu himself testified under truth seal."
The hall erupted again.
Ye Zhaozhao clenched her fists. "Senior Sister," she said, her voice trembling as if hurt, "why are you doing this to me?"
Li Shuang looked at her. Her expression remained unreadable.
"I didn't do anything to you," she replied evenly. "You did it to yourself."
Her words cut sharper than any blade.
Luo Mingyue stepped forward. "Law Enforcers, this isn't the first time her schemes have targeted my junior sister. Shouldn't that be addressed as well?"
One of the enforcers frowned. "If there's precedent evidence, it will be considered. Do you have witnesses?"
A voice rang out from the crowd.
"I do."
Everyone turned as a disciple stepped forward: Shen Yue, pale but resolute, supported by another Lingxu disciple.
He bowed deeply to the enforcers. "Five years ago, during my cultivation deviation, it was Senior Sister Li Shuang who risked herself to suppress my fire. She nearly died. But afterward… everyone credited Ye Zhaozhao."
The hall went utterly silent.
Lingxu Zhenren stiffened. "Shen Yue!"
"It's the truth!" Shen Yue's voice shook, but his conviction didn't falter. "I remember her face clearly, even through the haze. Senior Sister Li saved me, not Zhaozhao!"
Whispers exploded among the disciples.
"Five years ago…? That was a huge event!""If Li Shuang saved him, then—was she wronged this whole time?""Does that mean the rumors about Snow Mountain were false too?"
Ye Zhaozhao trembled violently. "No—he's lying!"
"Enough," a law enforcer said sharply. "Given this testimony and Manager Qiu's confession, further investigation is warranted."
He turned to Li Shuang. "Wuqing Peak's disciple is cleared of all charges. As for Lingbao Pavilion's fraud and Ye Zhaozhao's involvement—both matters will be formally reviewed."
Lin Qingling, who had arrived quietly at the back, spoke at last. Her voice was cool and sharp.
"It's long past time," she said, "for certain peaks to stop hiding their disciples' misconduct behind blind favoritism."
Her gaze slid toward Lingxu Zhenren.
He flinched, but said nothing.
Li Shuang bowed lightly to the enforcers and turned to leave.
Behind her, Luo Mingyue's grin was fierce. "Junior Sister, that was beautiful!"
But Li Shuang remained silent.
Her heart didn't race. Her expression didn't change.
It was over.
For now.
In the shadows of the hall, Ye Zhaozhao stared at Li Shuang's departing figure, her nails digging into her palms until they bled.
[System Alert: Host Emotional Instability Critical. Negative feedback loop detected. Target cultivation resonance confirmed.]
"Shut up," she whispered.
But she couldn't stop trembling.