The moment Zhao Wuji spoke, Ye Danxia immediately understood. Her eyes lit up—Zhao Wuji intended to help her cover this up.
Ye Danxia couldn't help but look toward Ma Hongyu, face full of anticipation.
As long as Ma Hongyu accepted the handoff...
Then this blame—whether he liked it or not—would be his to bear.
But Ma Hongyu didn't move.
His emotions were complicated.
He had already been warned by Yun Jin, and Ye Danxia's behavior had been suspicious from the start. If he still couldn't sense that something was off, then his hundred years of cultivation might as well have been for nothing.
Yet the clearer things became, the colder his heart grew.
He had served under Zhao Wuji for over a century.
In that time, how many disciples had he trained? How many spirit plants had he cultivated?
It wasn't a small contribution.
And what was the result?
To save the life of his proudest disciple, he had been forced to sever their ties completely. And now, compared to Ye Danxia, his own life was just another pawn, ready to be discarded at any moment.
Ma Hongyu had already come to terms with this truth. But now, the realization simply cut deeper.
Instead of stepping forward, he took a step back.
"Ma Hongyu? What's the meaning of this?"
Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes.
Ma Hongyu spoke slowly, his voice calm. "I can give the report on this year's spirit plants right now. If the Sect Master has doubts, you can take the plants out of the storage pouch, and we'll compare them one by one."
Zhao Wuji's eyes flashed with anger. "Do you think I have time for such petty matters? Ma Hongyu, I told you to take it—so take it!"
But Ma Hongyu stepped back again. "Is there a problem with the number of spirit plants inside the pouch?" he asked directly.
"Whether there's a problem or not—that's for you to find out, isn't it?" Zhao Wuji said coldly.
"I've recorded last year's records in a jade slip," Ma Hongyu said. "The Sect Master may compare them yourself—or let Martial Niece Ye do it."
Zhao Wuji's eyes narrowed even further.
So Ma Hongyu had already taken precautions.
Did he really think that would get him out of this?
With a wave of Zhao Wuji's hand, the doors slammed shut and sealed.
Ma Hongyu's expression darkened slightly. "Sect Master, what's the meaning of this?"
"Ma Hongyu, I entrusted you with the spirit plants out of faith. Yet you embezzled from the sect and committed a grave crime." Zhao Wuji's voice was frosty. "Do you admit your guilt?"
Ye Danxia let out a long breath of relief. A trace of joy flickered in her eyes.
Her master still cared for her in the end.
As for Ma Hongyu, all she could say was "sorry." If she rose to power in the future, she would naturally repay him somehow—as compensation.
Ma Hongyu had mentally prepared himself, yet there was still pain in his heart. He spoke slowly, "Sect Master. I've managed the spirit plants with diligence for over a hundred years, without a single mistake. I wouldn't claim any great merit, but I've at least put in the effort. For the Sect Master to treat me like this—it chills the heart."
Zhao Wuji sneered. "Ma Hongyu, do you really think I haven't seen through your schemes? You think I don't know there was more to Ye Cheng joining Tianjian Peak? That whole scene—wasn't it something you two cooked up together? He went to Tianjian Peak, and your loyalties shifted as well. Keeping you here would just mean helping them deal with me!"
He was laying it bare now.
Ma Hongyu was silent for a moment before responding, "I've never done anything to harm the Sect Master."
His past communications with Yun Jin had been only to secure Ye Cheng's future.
Since then, he hadn't stepped foot on Tianjian Peak.
But Zhao Wuji wouldn't listen. He sneered again. "You know what you've done. I won't argue. Embezzling that many spirit plants is a major crime! Hand over all your possessions. If the amount doesn't cover the loss, you'll be sentenced to labor service until you repay it in full. Every day it's not repaid, the sentence continues."
With a motion of Zhao Wuji's hand, the storage pouch flew toward Ma Hongyu like it had eyes of its own, landing squarely in his arms.
No chance to argue.
Ma Hongyu stood there, numb.
Zhao Wuji looked down at him from above. "Anything else you want to say?"
"I do." Ma Hongyu's voice was steady. "My position is equivalent to that of an official. If I don't accept the punishment, I have the right to request a sect-wide tribunal. I request one now."
Zhao Wuji frowned. "That pouch is already in your hands. What good would a sect tribunal do you now?"
Ma Hongyu answered calmly, "Then consider it... a dying struggle."
Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes. He didn't want to deal with a full tribunal—it would only create more obstacles. He was just about to pressure Ma Hongyu into a confession when—
A disciple's voice called from outside. "Sect Master, the ten Peak Lords have come together requesting an audience."
Zhao Wuji's face changed instantly.
He shot a sharp glance at Ma Hongyu, who remained calm and composed.
"Very well. You're good, very good." Zhao Wuji seethed. "And you still claim you haven't betrayed me?"
Ma Hongyu said nothing.
From outside, Lin Ya's voice rang in. "Sect Master, we seek an audience on urgent business."
Zhao Wuji glared hard at Ma Hongyu, but had no choice—he opened the doors. With so many visitors, meeting in a private residence was no longer appropriate.
He had to relocate to the main hall. He swept a cold gaze over the assembled Peak Lords. "What is the meaning of this joint visit? Are you trying to pressure me?"
The ten Peak Lords stood divided. Three stood with Huo Lie, while the remaining seven clearly followed Lin Ya's lead.
Zhao Wuji's face darkened further at the sight.
Lin Ya stepped forward with a smile. "Sect Master, we do have something to report."
"You'd better," Zhao Wuji said, his tone ice-cold.
Lin Ya remained unruffled. "It concerns you, Sect Master. Recently, someone filed a formal complaint stating that the criminal Ye Danxia has been openly moving about the sect—worse still, she's been flaunting the Sect Master's command token. Doesn't that seem improper?"
His sharp gaze landed squarely on Ye Danxia.
Her face went pale. She couldn't help but speak up, voice aggrieved. "But I already received punishment for what happened before! And this time, when I came out, even Yun Jin didn't object!"
Lin Ya raised a brow. "My disciple has a kind heart and let you off. But you're still under punishment. Staying quietly within the sect is one thing, but who allowed you to parade around so boldly? Moreover! I had someone investigate, and it turns out Ye Danxia used the Sect Master's command token to increase the required spirit plant tribute from the three smallest peaks by thirty percent. Sect Master, those peaks were already struggling. Now you've raised the quota by nearly a third—are you trying to squeeze them dry?"
"What?!"
Zhao Wuji's face changed drastically.
He turned abruptly toward Ye Danxia.
She had unilaterally raised the quotas by three tenths?
What did that mean?
It meant the amount she had skimmed off the top was far greater than he had imagined.
Where had she found the gall to do this?
"Sect Master, you seem surprised. Could it be she was wielding your authority without permission?" Lin Ya pressed.