The Unraveling Plan

The crowd of onlookers grew denser, their gazes shifting like a restless tide across the unfolding scene.

Leaning casually against the ornate jade railing of the main hall’s terrace, Nangong Xuan gently fanned herself with a folding fan, her eyes on Qiu Yue. “Oh my, Disciple Qiu,” she remarked, “would you believe such utter fools exist in this world?”

Nangong Xuan continued to fan herself, casting a fleeting glance at Qiu Yue, who stood silently beside her.

‘This must be what they call lifting a rock only to drop it on one’s own foot.’

‘No, neither she nor Qiu Yue could have anticipated Wei Qing’s astounding foolishness, ignoring Qiu Yue’s presence entirely and blurting out the fabricated tale.’

‘Now, her meticulously crafted plan was undoubtedly in complete disarray.’

Nangong Xuan understood perfectly well that branding Lin Wan’er with such infamy was intended to diminish the crowd’s sympathy and pity for him.

When confronting someone perceived as good, one might naturally feel a psychological burden, let alone resorting to insidious schemes.

However, if the target was an evildoer, then all such worries vanished.

With justified actions, even brutal murder could be lauded as “righteous retribution.”

Among a select few, whispered accusations required no concrete proof.

Yet, exposing such claims in the full glare of public scrutiny was an entirely different matter.

Wei Qing’s impulsive act had undoubtedly shattered Qiu Yue’s meticulously refined plan into a million pieces.

‘If she had been saddled with such a presumptuous teammate, she would have long since exploded in a fit of rage, wishing to tear them limb from limb.’

Yet, this predicament had nothing to do with Nangong Xuan, whose heart was now filled with nothing but schadenfreude.

Qiu Yue’s face still bore a gentle, elegant smile, her lips unmoving, as if the turmoil unfolding before her was entirely inconsequential.

Having witnessed countless individuals adept at masking their true feelings, Nangong Xuan observed the subtle shift: though Qiu Yue’s smile remained unwavering, a glacial glint flickered deep within her eyes, and her slightly narrowed eyelids seemed to promise the complete annihilation of Wei Qing.

Her hands, in particular, were clenched tightly around the railing, her knuckles stark white, and the veins on the back of her hands pulsed like enraged dragons.

No one could fathom the tempest brewing within Qiu Yue’s heart at that moment; yet, with a few measured breaths, she meticulously regained her composure.

“Miss Nangong, isn’t life truly fascinating precisely because of the myriad unexpected events we encounter?” Qiu Yue offered a faint smile. As she turned, Nangong Xuan could no longer discern the storm that might be raging within her eyes, nor the true depth of her current emotions.

An unsettling, almost terrifying, calm radiated from her.

“Truly, Young Miss Qiu lives up to her reputation for composure. If I were in your shoes, I would have long since been incandescent with rage.” Nangong Xuan, having spoken, snapped her fan shut, her words of admiration entirely sincere.

Such a profound level of self-restraint even earned a measure of respect from Nangong Xuan.

“If the plan is disrupted, we simply formulate a new one. Losing one’s temper is the true defeat. For now, let us observe how this spectacle concludes.”

The commotion within the crowd persisted, as did Wei Qing’s inflammatory pronouncements.

“Look! He’s sweating profusely now—if that’s not a guilty conscience, then what is it?”

Wei Qing was utterly triumphant, holding the recording stone aloft as if it were a priceless treasure, unwilling to lower it even after the playback had concluded.

“You’re a liar! A prisoner who defiles true reputation!” Wei Qing relentlessly accused.

Lin Mo’s incessant cold sweat seemed to corroborate her every word, prompting the onlookers to cast increasingly suspicious glances his way.

“Wei Qing!” Lu Ping’an surged forward, intent on snatching the recording stone. “What in the world are you doing?!”

Lu Ping’an was utterly bewildered. ‘This diverged completely from Young Miss Qiu Yue’s plan! By revealing those words now, was Wei Qing trying to—’

A sudden realization struck Lu Ping’an, and a wave of unease washed over her.

‘No… this cannot be allowed!’

‘Wei Qing must not ruin this!’

‘Wei Qing must not ruin her own future!’

Yet, still injured, her movements lacked their usual agility. With a mere twist of her body, Wei Qing easily evaded Lu Ping’an.

“I must act on behalf of Heaven today!”

“I will expose this—”

Before Wei Qing could finish her declaration, a sharp reprimand instantly cut her off.

“Hold your tongue!” Li Xin, unable to remain silent any longer, stepped forward. Her intervention was not for Lin Mo’s sake, but for her naive friend, who seemed utterly blind to reality. “Without a shred of proof, you dare to frame a Personal Disciple? Do you even comprehend the consequences of such an act?!”

As she spoke, Li Xin moved to stand before Lin Mo, shielding him with her body.

“I have the victim’s testimony! Is that not enough?” Wei Qing demanded, utterly baffled. “Li Xin! What are you doing? Why are you protecting that scoundrel?!”

The air seemed to solidify. Wei Qing stared at Li Xin, her shock and fury at the sudden obstruction palpable, her voice rising to a sharp, piercing pitch.

“You… you… you intend to protect him? Just like Lu Ping’an? Is it for money? For status? Or for cultivation resources?”

“Have you forgotten our promise? Even… even that, you’ve forgotten…?”

Wei Qing’s cheeks flushed crimson, her blood ignited by a scorching fury that burned her fair face. Her eyes seemed to spew flames as she glared fixedly at her friend.

Just then, Lu Ping’an also moved to stand beside Li Xin.

“You… both of you…”

In a daze, Wei Qing heard a faint, crisp shattering sound echoing in her ears—like childhood vows, suddenly dashed to the ground. Memory, without warning, tore open a chasm: a distant twilight, an old, withered tree silhouetted against the sky.

Two clumsy children had once huddled around her, fresh from the devastation of losing her family. “I will definitely become a cultivator in the future!” little Lu Ping’an had declared, thumping her chest. “I’ll punish evil alongside you, ensuring no one in this world is ever harmed again!” She had sought to comfort the young Wei Qing, whose family had been utterly destroyed by villains.

“I… I’ll also stay by your side!” Li Xin’s voice had been choked with tears, yet her resolve was unwavering. “Though I’m not skilled in combat, I know medical arts! If you get hurt, Ping’an, I’ll heal you!”

They had grown up together, bound not by blood, but by a bond stronger than family.

Never to condone wickedness.

Never to let a villain escape justice.

This shared conviction, like a guiding beacon, had led them to the Xuan Nv Sect, where they hoped to hone their abilities and bring justice to the world.

What grand, sweeping vows they had made.

Yet now, the very vessel carrying those sacred vows trembled precariously before the surging tide of reality, having become so small… it could no longer accommodate two souls standing shoulder to shoulder.

‘What about their promise—never to condone wickedness? What about their promise—never to let a villain escape justice?!’

Wei Qing couldn’t comprehend it. They were still themselves, still the figures from her memories, merely a little more mature, a little taller… that was all.

Li Xin couldn’t understand her friend’s stubbornness.

They had discussed it just last night… to proceed according to the plan! Wei Qing had even agreed!

‘…Why, after all this time, can she still not exercise patience? This isn’t just for Lu Ping’an’s sake… it’s for her own safety too…’

‘Lu Ping’an had earned the appreciation of Disciple Qiu! One day, she could rise to prominence and revitalize her family!’

‘She knew!’

The tragedy of her family’s ruin at the hands of villains had left Wei Qing with an impetuous nature, making it impossible for her to patiently await the culprits’ just punishment.

It was precisely that waiting that had allowed the villains to escape, ultimately leading to the deaths of everyone but her.

She loathed waiting, and she particularly abhorred “waiting for a villain to be judged.”

‘But… in your heart, is our friendship of no consequence compared to this?’

Li Xin, taking the initiative, sharply retorted, “Where is this ‘victim’s testimony’ you speak of? Your so-called evidence is nothing more than a recording stone image of unknown origin, utterly devoid of corroborating proof! The identity of the person in that image remains obscured; how can you, based solely on a single testimony, definitively conclude that Disciple Lin is the perpetrator? Moreover, how can you be certain that the words spoken in that image are factual, rather than a deliberate fabrication intended to frame him? Is it merely because Disciple Lin appears anxious and is sweating at this moment that you’ve condemned him as the villain who tarnished Xuanji Zhenren’s reputation? Can you then declare him a rogue who defrauds various sects?”

“Wei Qing! I understand that the torment inflicted upon you and your family has left you unable to tolerate injustice! But even now, we must still adhere to evidence!”

“I beg you, just be patient.”

With each question Li Xin posed, her voice grew louder, her words sharp and cutting, striking at the heart of the matter. Her impassioned speech was like drops of water thrown into a simmering oil pot, instantly erupting into a clamor among the crowd.

Even those who had initially been swayed by the “victim’s testimony” now showed signs of doubt on their faces.

“Indeed, from beginning to end, there’s only one person speaking, with no identity and no chain of evidence. It all relies on Wei Qing’s one-sided account and that recording stone in her hand, whose authenticity is impossible to verify.”

“That… that does make sense…” someone in the crowd hesitantly agreed.

“Right, you can’t even clearly see who that person is…”

“Just a few words from an image… the weight of that evidence is truly insufficient…”

Wei Qing’s face instantly flushed crimson. She pointed at Li Xin, her finger trembling, her voice distorted by fury. “You! Why do you side with him? We are the best of friends! Are you going to betray our years of friendship for an outsider?!”

“The recording stone in my hand is—”

“I demand evidence! It is precisely because of our friendship that I cannot stand by and watch you make a grave mistake, leading to disaster!” Li Xin stood her ground, meeting Wei Qing’s enraged gaze directly, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible pain. “Wei Qing, do you realize what a grave crime it is to falsely accuse a Personal Disciple? With your baseless accusations, relying on an image whose authenticity even you cannot be 100% certain of, you seek to condemn him. Think for yourself, is that reasonable? Where are the sect rules? If everyone acted like you, condemning based solely on suspicion, wouldn’t the sect descend into chaos? As for the truth… it must be thoroughly investigated and verified by the Law Enforcement Hall, not by you carrying out private vengeance and inciting the masses here!”

“Rules…” Wei Qing’s eyes were bloodshot. ‘Always waiting for rules, always waiting.’

‘Then giving villains a chance to escape and continue their wicked deeds.’

‘Villains must be punished on the spot, killed on the spot.’

This was Wei Qing’s creed.

But Li Xin understood that Wei Qing wasn’t driven by justice; she was driven solely by hatred.

Li Xin understood, yet she was powerless to change it.

Li Xin had once thought that perhaps time would heal.

But now… Wei Qing… she was still that same person…

This was not their hometown, where people, more or less, understood or respected the families behind them. But here… there was no such understanding.

‘Her own family… could be seen everywhere here.’

“Isn’t the evidence quite obvious? Why not have the person whose voice is on it come forward for a confrontation?”

“That would be a death wish!” Li Xin instantly panicked! ‘Wei Qing is acting as if she has no brain right now! If she enrages that Disciple, will they even survive?’

‘Young Miss Nangong’s family is already completely subservient to that person; do they have any power to resist her?’

‘Was she wrong?’

Li Xin had always protected her childhood friend, allowing her to pursue her convictions and beliefs, enabling her to immediately punish every villain she wished to…

She had believed this would wear away Wei Qing’s hatred… but ultimately… when she finally opened her mouth, she realized what could not be worn away was her own guilt.

Just as Li Xin was about to speak, Lu Ping’an, who had been silently observing until now, suddenly interjected, “If you wish to prove it, it’s quite simple. Did not the recording stone state that this scoundrel spreads rumors and deceives, possessing no talent whatsoever? If you just fight him, if you fight Disciple Lin, won’t the truth be revealed? If he truly is as weak as you claim, then your recording stone… and if you are defeated, then it would prove… Look! Are you attempting to frame him?!”

Li Xin abruptly turned to Lu Ping’an, completely perplexed as to why she would say such a thing!

Lu Ping’an’s words were a clear provocation, practically urging Wei Qing to immediately attack Lin Mo! While Li Xin’s thoughts were still frozen, Wei Qing shot forward like an arrow released from a bowstring! “Wei Qing!”

Li Xin cried out in alarm. Almost simultaneously, Lu Ping’an also lunged forward!

Her fist tightened abruptly, slicing through the air with a forceful gust, aiming for Wei Qing’s vulnerable face! However, just as that thunderous strike was about to connect with Wei Qing’s cheek—Lu Ping’an’s tightly clenched fingers suddenly splayed open!

Her fist transformed into a palm!

That hand, abruptly flattened, slammed down forcefully over Wei Qing’s entire face!

For some reason, as Li Xin watched Wei Qing get slapped across the face, she felt a strange swallowing sensation in her throat.

Before she could react, Wei Qing had already charged forward again.

“Wei Qing!”

But her shouts could not rein in the spoiled Wei Qing.

“Hiss—!”

“So cold!”

“What… what is this?!”

A collective gasp erupted from the crowd, and they instinctively recoiled like a retreating tide! The sudden burst of bone-chilling Profound Yin energy was utterly terrifying!

He abruptly yanked Li Xin, who was in front of him, behind his back for protection, immediately following with a lightning-fast, fierce high kick!

The leg-shadow whistled through the air, like a frigid wind sweeping past!

Wei Qing, who had charged forward recklessly, was struck by that vicious kick as if she were a withered blade of grass snapped by a gale, sending her crashing heavily onto the cold ground!

With a single kick, all the murmurs and doubts were shattered.

However, Lin Mo’s gaze did not linger on Wei Qing, but instead fixed on Qiu Yue, who was far away on the terrace, currently observing him with a sweet smile.

Qiu Yue still wore that perfectly sweet smile, and even waved casually at Lin Mo, her demeanor so gentle it was almost like an innocent girl next door.

Yet only Lin Mo knew that one couldn’t judge Qiu Yue merely by her face; all her true intentions were concentrated within her eyes—the depths of her pupils seethed with a pathological possessiveness, an almost obsessive desire for control, a hidden, unreleased madness, and… a trace of all-consuming rage, fiercely suppressed yet still on the verge of erupting to incinerate everything!

Inside Lin Mo, the ‘Bright Jade Profound Yin’ cultivation technique surged with unprecedented intensity, forcefully suppressing the fear and anger that threatened to engulf him—this raw, explosive power, born from an extreme sense of danger, was so potent that Lin Mo himself hadn’t immediately realized it: wisps of terrifyingly cold Profound Yin energy were uncontrollably seeping from the pores all over his body, silently coiling and freezing the air around him!

The thing he feared most had already come to pass.

Yet… Lin Mo had not lost his will to fight.

He stepped directly over Wei Qing; no one dared to stop him.

That one kick had already proven his strength.

He ascended the steps, one by one, meeting Qiu Yue’s gaze, until he stood before her.

“Long time no see, Lin Wan’er~” Qiu Yue said, smiling brightly.

“Long time no see…” Lin Mo’s expression was grim.