Manager Qiu looked at Ye Zhaozhao coldly."Do you recognize this photo stone? If not, I don't mind producing more for your Sword Sect's Law Enforcement Hall to examine carefully."
After all, he had taken photos every single time Ye Zhaozhao came.
He had even sent someone to follow her and record her entering the Sword Sect.
There were so many images—The evidence was irrefutable.
If Ye Zhaozhao still dared to deny it, he had her written oath. At worst, he could have her swear on it and see if she had the courage.
Pang Zhixue looked at her solemnly."Ye Zhaozhao, what do you have to say about this?"
Let's not speak of the earlier incident.
But this—deliberately setting up a scheme to murder a fellow disciple—was a serious crime within the Sword Sect.
Previously, those from Wuqing Peak and Lingxu Peak had argued back and forth. Without concrete evidence, Pang Zhixue couldn't make a judgment.
But now—Manager Qiu had brought forth piece after piece of undeniable proof.
Ye Zhaozhao's face turned pale. She subconsciously wanted to deny it, but the video played again and again.
In the recording, her cold voice rang out clearly.
Ye Zhaozhao's body trembled."I… I…"
Her eyes instinctively sought out Lingxu Zhenren, silently pleading.
Lingxu Zhenren's expression was cold. He gritted his teeth."Even if… even if this video is real, Li Shuang hasn't suffered any loss. Isn't she standing here perfectly fine?"
Even in the face of such irrefutable evidence, Lingxu Zhenren still chose to protect her.
Sheng Yuan looked up in a daze.
Master had always claimed he was never partial to the junior sister—That he treated them all equally.
Sheng Yuan remembered that first mission clearly.The junior sister had gone with the senior sister.When they returned, the task was completed, and the junior sister came back with an abundance of spiritual herbs.
Among them was a poisonous herb. Unaware of the danger, the junior sister had almost eaten it.
Master had intervened, but then flew into a rage and punished the elder sister by sending her to the forbidden area.
Master's reasoning at the time was that Zhaozhao, being new, could not be expected to know the difference between poisonous and spiritual herbs. But the elder sister had known—and placing a poisonous herb in the junior sister's storage bag could only have been done with malicious intent. Such a sinister act deserved severe punishment.
Back then, none of them questioned it. They all sympathized with Ye Zhaozhao and condemned Li Shuang.
Whether the elder sister had done it intentionally that time was unclear.
But this time—Zhaozhao's intent to harm her senior sister was unmistakable.
Back then, Master had said:"Even if no harm was done, the intent to harm is still wrong and must be punished."
This time, Master said:"Since no harm was done, there's nothing to punish."
Sheng Yuan's heart ached. He pitied Zhaozhao, but this time… she was in the wrong.
Master… is it really true you have never been partial?
He glanced subconsciously at Li Shuang.
Her eyes were calm, without even the faintest ripple.
Lin Qingling sneered."Lingxu, Lingxu… don't you feel ashamed hearing yourself? Ye Zhaozhao tries to harm someone, and I, her fellow disciple, should just stand there and let her frame me? Is that your idea of the perfect victim? Li Shuang avoided her trap because she's skilled—not because Zhaozhao suddenly grew a conscience."
"According to your logic, as long as no harm is done, there's no guilt. Then the Sword Sect should just abolish all its rules! Let disciples kill and frame each other. If the other party dodges, you're innocent. If they don't, you succeed! Either way, you win!"
Lingxu's face darkened."Lin Qingling, I won't argue with you."
He turned to Li Shuang."You and Zhaozhao are from the same sect. Today's incident can be considered a blessing in disguise. I'll take responsibility—let's end it here. How about it?"
If the victim forgave her, there would still be room to maneuver.
Chang Le'an finally realized the truth. The person in the image wasn't an imposter—it was his junior sister.
The revelation shocked him, but he instinctively tried to defend her."Senior Sister Li, Zhaozhao is still young. Don't hold it against her."
Li Shuang remained calm. She turned and saluted the Hall Master.
"Hall Master Pang," she said evenly,"Whatever is, is. All I seek in life is fairness."
She had never asked for favoritism—only fairness.
But at Lingxu Peak, even this simple request had never been granted.
She had once believed that patience would bring understanding.
Instead, patience had only brought more violations against her.
So why endure anymore?
Her stance completely infuriated Lingxu Zhenren."Li Shuang, must you be so aggressive? Do you really want to see Zhaozhao punished? Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning for having such a cruel heart?"
Li Shuang turned to him.
She spoke each word with unwavering clarity."May the blazing sun bear witness.May the glorious heavens bear witness.If seeking fairness is a sin—Then punish me. Let lightning strike me. Let me be damned for eternity. Let me never know peace!"
Her voice rang out, steady and resolute.
Lingxu Zhenren's pupils contracted sharply.
Cultivators feared making oaths before the Heavenly Dao.Though the Heavenly Dao was ruthless and rarely concerned itself with trivial matters… what if it did?
Li Shuang actually dared to speak such words. Was she mad?
The sun still blazed overhead.The breeze remained gentle.
After a long silence, Li Shuang spoke softly."I beg for justice. May Heaven find me not guilty."
She turned toward the gathered masters."Master, Hall Master, and all disciples of the Sword Sect—please, decide for me."
The silence deepened.
Everyone's eyes were on the girl in the center—pure and serene as the moon.
What she asked for… was justice.
And in this world, who does not long for justice?
Wrongdoing should be punished—That is justice.
Guilt should be punished—That is justice.
"Master, Hall Master, I ask you to convict Ye Zhaozhao," Lin Qingling said coldly.
According to sect rules, peak masters handled matters within their own peaks.
But Li Shuang was no longer of Lingxu Peak.
In such cases, only Pang Zhixue, head of the Law Enforcement Hall, and Meng Yixin, head of the Sword Sect, could decide.
"Headmaster, please convict Ye Zhaozhao!" Luo Mingyue and Liu Juncheng said in unison.
Even Jiang Yi, who had been trying to keep quiet, spoke softly.
Lingxu Zhenren snapped,"Wuqing Peak disciples, what are you trying to do? Force a decision?"
But before his words faded—
"Headmaster, please convict Ye Zhaozhao!" another voice called out.
Who was it?
Lingxu Zhenren scanned the crowd.
And then—one by one, disciples began to speak.
The calls for Ye Zhaozhao's conviction rose together, echoing into the sky.