"Master Qingyu, there is something I must clarify," Mr. Mu Xiuji inquired, "Is Master Xiao unharmed?"

The appearance of Qing Yu naturally signified the failure of Xiao Qianxiu. And now that Xiao Qianxiu had not yet made an appearance, Mr. Mu Xiuji could not help but have some unfavorable suspicions.

"Although Master Xiao and I have our disagreements, I would not take a life over such trivial disputes. Rest assured, Mr. Mu, Master Xiao is unharmed, just... um... his pride is a bit wounded, and he has already returned to Yu Jian Manor," Qing Yu said, lying with his eyes wide open.

Indeed, "Xiao Qianxiu" has already returned to Yu Jian Manor, after burning the corpse that looked similar to him.

In a sense, Qing Yu did not lie. The person "Xiao Qianxiu" is indeed still alive in the worldly society, which Mr. Mu Xiuji could easily verify.

This is why Mr. Mu Xiuji did not doubt Qing Yu's words, though he lamented that the position of the initiator was weakened, making the future somewhat difficult.

"Dean Zhuge, it has been a while," Qing Yu addressed Zhuge Longsu.

"It has indeed been a long time, Daoist Qingyu," Zhuge Longsu replied, "Daoist, you have been away from Northern Zhou for many days, and His Majesty misses you dearly."

"I too miss His Majesty; it's just a pity that my sect's affairs have kept me too busy to visit Northern Zhou and make my oblations. Truly, I'm ashamed," Qing Yu replied.

"But, I wonder, Dean Zhuge, what brings you here?"

"Haha," Zhuge Longsu chuckled lightly, "Senior Brother Mu was once a student of the Academy, and his sense of justice and morality led him to stand up for righteousness. How could I, as his junior brother, not come to lend some support?"

"Ahem," Mr. Mu Xiuji coughed gently, "Junior Brother Zhu Ge, and Master Qingyu, let us refrain from idle chatter. Business is more pressing."

He turned his gaze to the tense Yu Lingchang and others, speaking sternly, "Pavilion Master Yu, I previously asked you about the entanglement between Hundred Herbs Pavilion and Master Xuanzhen; you avoided the subject. It's time to speak, isn't it?"

"Entanglement... no entanglement," Yu Lingchang, despite looking tense, spoke loudly, "It's just that Xuanzhen took the treasured Spirit Core Nine Ruins from my Hundred Herbs Pavilion. Is it impossible for us to retrieve our treasure? Mr. Mu, the Haqi Alliance has always been swift to uphold justice; do you intend to speak for a bandit?"

"Indeed, there is no entanglement, only a transaction," Xuanzhen responded coolly, "In the past, I disguised myself to practice medicine in the worldly society and once encountered an injured elderly man while gathering herbs in the mountains. The old man revealed his identity as the Pavilion Master of Hundred Herbs Pavilion and hoped I would escort him back to the Pavilion. As repayment, he offered me the treasured Divine Needle Spirit Core Nine Ruins.

And I indeed honored the transaction, delivering the elderly man to the gate of Hundred Herbs Pavilion before taking the Spirit Core Nine Ruins to leave. But... "

Xuanzhen gazed meaningfully at Yu Lingchang and others, "Hundred Herbs Pavilion seems not to acknowledge the debt. Or perhaps that elderly man, the previous Pavilion Master, had no intention of engaging in a fair transaction."

The deeper meaning in the words was clear to all the seasoned worldly members present. Qing Yu had previously heard Xuanzhen recount this event and understood the implications of her words.

The previous Pavilion Master of Hundred Herbs Pavilion was gravely injured and met Xuanzhen of unknown identity in the deep mountains. At that moment, the old Pavilion Master was akin to meat on the chopping block; if Xuanzhen harbored ill intentions, the Spirit Core Nine Ruins would undoubtedly be lost.

Hence, he offered the Spirit Core Nine Ruins as repayment, asking Xuanzhen to escort him back to Hundred Herbs Pavilion. As for whether the Spirit Core Nine Ruins would end up in Xuanzhen's hands after reaching Hundred Herbs Pavilion, it would depend on her strength.

Given the influence of Hundred Herbs Pavilion, unless facing Divine Communication, taking the Spirit Core Nine Ruins from them would be impossible.

This plan is akin to snatching victory from the jaws of defeat, a typical instance of reneging, which completely contrasts with the benevolent image of Hundred Herbs Pavilion. Yet, in the treacherous worldly society, such thoughts are normal for the old Pavilion Master; anyone would find this method rather prudent.

In the worldly society, trust does not come easily. Who knows if Xuanzhen is a gentleman?

If she were indeed a gentleman, the solution would be simple: the old Pavilion Master could explain his plight and apologize with generous gifts as repayment.

Regardless of the generosity of the gift, as long as the Spirit Core Nine Ruins remained intact, it was enough.

The old Pavilion Master calculated meticulously, but Xuanzhen wasn't a fool. She simply delivered the old Pavilion Master to the doorstep of Hundred Herbs Pavilion and took the Spirit Core Nine Ruins, without any dealings with the Pavilion's people.

Generous gifts, no matter their abundance, how could they compare to the Spirit Core Nine Ruins?

After all, the old Pavilion Master personally promised it, and Xuanzhen accepted it with peace of mind.

The general situation was readily apparent to all, but Yu Lingchang still refused to relent. He loudly proclaimed, "My master devoted his life to healing the world; how could he employ such tactics? Xuanzhen, I respect you as a high expert of the Divinity Realm; but if you intend to tarnish my master's reputation, my Hundred Herbs Pavilion will stop at nothing to make you pay!"

With no concrete evidence and witnesses like Mr. Mu Xiuji present, Yu Lingchang spoke boldly and firmly.

"Enough!"

The abrupt shout drew everyone's attention. Suddenly, a figure resembling a thin bamboo pole leapt out from among the people behind Yu Lingchang, pointing at him and yelling, "Pavilion Master, it was previously agreed by the old Pavilion Master as payment; how can you renege?"

"Elder Jia, you..." Yu Lingchang pointed at the elder who unexpectedly sided with the opposition, his face full of shock and surprise.

"What do you mean, 'I'? Yu Lingchang, I've put up with you for a long time," Elder Jia roared, "You blamed the old Pavilion Master for giving away the Spirit Core Nine Ruins, leading to his melancholy and the eventual exacerbation of his injuries until he untimely passed away. What right do you have to speak of protecting the old Pavilion Master's reputation; what right do you have to boast here?"

His words thoroughly stunned the crowd. No one expected that at such a moment, someone from Hundred Herbs Pavilion would suddenly rebel, directing blame at Yu Lingchang, who had always professed himself as the victim.

"Jia Gui, you..." Yu Lingchang, nearly incoherent with rage, responded, "You're spewing nonsense, you..."

The old Pavilion Master indeed died in melancholy, but not due to Yu Lingchang's blame; rather, he regretted giving away the Spirit Core Nine Ruins, causing mental distress leading to eventually vomiting blood and dying.

Now Elder Jia directed this back at Yu Lingchang, nearly driving him mad.

"Humph," Jia Gui sneered coldly, "I, Jia Gui, have acted openly and honestly all my life, without deceit. It's you who reverse black and white, spouting nonsense; never have I seen such shamelessness!"

"You... pah––" Yu Lingchang finally spat blood in rage, staggered back two steps, his bloodshot eyes locked onto Elder Jia, "Jia Gui, may you die a miserable death!"

"Mr. Mu, the truth is now clear; if anyone still has doubts, my uncle is well-versed in acupuncture methods and can make people speak the truth without the side effects of Soul Search. Since this Elder Jia is so urgent for righteousness, surely he won't mind being needled, right?" Qing Yu said.

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