Zhao Wuji's expression darkened as he looked coldly at Ye Danxia.
This disciple of his... her appetite was truly outrageous.
He couldn't make sense of it. She was only at the Qi Refining stage—what could she possibly need so many resources for? Surely she hadn't already used them all?
Yet even now, in front of so many people, he couldn't bring himself to pass harsh judgment on Ye Danxia.
If he didn't shield her now and this matter was thoroughly exposed, Ye Danxia, already a convicted offender, would have another crime added to her name. And this time, the consequences would be far more severe.
"Master, Junior Sister would never do something like this!" Han Xiaoyu couldn't hold back.
Panic had begun creeping in.
Now that things had come to this point, he clearly understood what Ye Danxia had done. But she was the first woman he'd ever liked. He still wanted to help her, just a little. Besides, hadn't they already found a scapegoat?
As long as the few of them stuck to their story, they could push the blame onto Ma Hongyu. It would work. It had to.
Facing Han Xiaoyu's pleading gaze, Zhao Wuji finally spoke in a steady tone. "This matter... it seems to be a misunderstanding. That token—I personally gave it to Danxia. As for the increase in collection shares, perhaps she misheard the instructions. Huo Lie, Long Yi, Du Wuqing, the rest of you need not worry. I'll return the difference to you shortly."
A misunderstanding?
She misheard?
Everyone wore different expressions.
They all had a pretty good idea of what had happened. But since Zhao Wuji wanted to protect his disciple, fine—let him. Let's see how long he can keep it up.
Lin Ya chuckled and said, "Such a simple matter, and she misheard it? Looks like the Sect Master's little disciple with a heavenly spiritual root isn't very bright after all."
Ye Danxia clenched her jaw and glared at Lin Ya with grief and anger.
Lin Ya!
She had already gone out of her way to avoid Tianjian Peak.
Why was he still pressing her so hard?
But Lin Ya ignored her completely and pressed on, "If this was a misunderstanding, then why not return the extra collection shares right now? Why wait?"
With those words, not only did the other six Peak Masters, who were already quietly siding with Lin Ya, grow more silent, but even the three Peak Masters from Zhao Wuji's faction stood by in silence, clearly waiting for an answer.
Zhao Wuji's face darkened slightly. He spoke in a low voice. "Ma Hongyu! Didn't Danxia hand you the storage pouch after collecting the spirit herbs? Go ahead and take inventory. Return the extra shares to the three Peak Masters."
The storage pouch was indeed in Ma Hongyu's possession.
Ma Hongyu answered calmly, "I haven't touched anything in this storage pouch."
Zhao Wuji's tone turned sharp. "It's in your hands. That makes it your responsibility. Are you implying there's something wrong with the spirit herbs?"
Ma Hongyu gave a bitter smile.
He stopped arguing and simply laid everything out in front of everyone. The spirit herbs were stored using various methods, most placed inside boxes suited to their elemental properties.
Without hesitation, Ma Hongyu opened every box and let everyone see for themselves.
And as they looked—
The expressions of those gathered began to subtly shift. They had suspected that a portion of the herbs had been withheld. But now, seeing everything laid bare—
If this was truly the full amount, then what had been withheld was absolutely staggering.
Even Lin Ya found himself glancing at Ye Danxia.
When Xiao Jin told him about this incident, he had only half believed it. After all, Ye Danxia was just a Qi Refining stage disciple. Where would she find the courage to do something like this?
Besides—
At her cultivation level, many of these herbs were completely useless to her.
Why take such a massive risk for something she couldn't even use?
Yet now, looking at the herbs laid out before him—barely half of what they received in past years—Lin Ya could only sigh. Xiao Jin probably did have some kind of prophetic ability. Her warning had been terrifyingly accurate.
Ye Danxia... was she mad, or just a fool? To actually go through with something like this?
"Ma Hongyu! How dare you!" Zhao Wuji suddenly slammed the table, glaring fiercely at Ma Hongyu. "Three full peaks of spirit farms, and you collected thirty percent more than previous years. How could this possibly be all that's left? Where are the rest of the herbs? Did you steal them for yourself?
All the Peak Masters are here. If you return them now, I can consider your years of hard work and lighten your punishment. But if you insist on denying it, don't blame the sect rules for being merciless!"
Ma Hongyu looked at Zhao Wuji with utter calm.
At this point—
There was no longer any reason to cover for him.
Ma Hongyu spoke in a quiet, clear voice. "I only just learned how much was inside this pouch. Ye Danxia held onto it the entire time. She even personally handed it to the Sect Master. Only just before the Peak Masters arrived did the Sect Master force it into my arms. I didn't understand it then, but now, everything makes sense."
He was about to continue—
But Zhao Wuji burst into rage. "Still making excuses at a time like this?"
He suddenly slammed his palm on the table, sending a blast of spiritual force hurtling toward Ma Hongyu's chest.
Lin Ya let out a cold laugh and stepped forward.
With a casual flick of his sleeve, Zhao Wuji's attack vanished into nothing.
Zhao Wuji's expression changed. He barked, "Lin Ya, what do you mean by this? I'm still the Sect Master of Tianxing Sect. Are you openly defying me?"
Lin Ya smiled faintly. "Sect Master, I just think we don't yet have the full picture. Striking before the matter is settled makes it seem... like you're trying to force a confession."
Zhao Wuji's face turned dark. "He is one of mine. I'm furious over what he's done—shouldn't I be allowed to punish him?"
Lin Ya's voice was flat. "Then let him finish speaking. If there's a misunderstanding, we might end up punishing the wrong man."
He stood in front of Ma Hongyu, showing no intention of moving aside.
Zhao Wuji's expression grew even uglier as he glared at Lin Ya. But he couldn't find a better response.
Ma Hongyu gave Lin Ya a grateful glance, then continued. "Yesterday, Ye Danxia offered to collect the herbs on my behalf. I told her I'd need the Sect Master's token to authorize that. Not long after, she really did bring it. With the token in hand, I had no choice but to obey. I never expected her to increase the collection shares on her own. And afterward, she took most of the spirit herbs for herself. When the Sect Master found out, he didn't punish her. Instead, he's trying to pin the blame on me!"
"I, Ma Hongyu, have lived my life with a clear conscience! I won't accept the charge of theft. I won't carry that burden."
With just a few sentences, Ma Hongyu laid everything bare.
Ye Danxia's expression instantly turned to panic. She trembled and cried out, "Lies! You're lying! I'm just a Qi Refining stage disciple—what could I possibly want with so many herbs? It was you! You took them and now you're trying to pin it on me! I only wanted to help, but you're trying to ruin me!"
She immediately dropped to her knees in front of Zhao Wuji. "Master, please... please stand up for your disciple!"
Zhao Wuji looked at her, wishing he could kick her away, but for now, he could only try to get her through this storm.
Expressionless, Zhao Wuji turned to Ma Hongyu. "Danxia only just joined the sect. She has no need for such a large amount of herbs. You, on the other hand—your cultivation has been stuck at the Divine Transformation stage for years. You're eager to break into the Unity stage. That's your motive. And now you dare twist the truth? Do you know what that means?"
Zhao Wuji straightened, trying to appear righteous and imposing.
"It means your crime is even greater."