Xie Zhaolin's lips curved slightly, a glint of amusement flashing in her eyes.
"What brings Senior Sister here?"
The yellow-robed female cultivator snorted coldly. "I don't dare claim to instruct. I just heard Elder Mo brought back a genius, so I came to see for myself." She sized up Xie Zhaolin from head to toe. When she noticed the token at her waist proving Mo Yan as her direct master, her face darkened further.
"Looks like it's nothing special after all," she muttered under her breath.
Mo Yan's expression stiffened. "Martial Nephew Wei, watch your words."
Wei Qingwu, however, showed no fear. "Elder Mo, my master is the Alchemy Peak Master. Are you really going to go against Alchemy Peak over a new disciple?"
Xie Zhaolin's eyes flickered. So that's it. She's a disciple of the Alchemy Peak Master—no wonder she's so arrogant.
"Senior Sister Wei must be joking." Her voice was soft, but carried an undeniable authority. "I'm just a newly admitted disciple. How dare I oppose Alchemy Peak?"
"Cut the act!" Wei Qingwu sneered. "I heard you injured three of Elder Liu's top disciples yesterday? Really showing off!"
A ripple of whispers ran through the surrounding disciples, many glancing over in surprise.
Xie Zhaolin's mind worked quickly.
The news of Liu Feng and the others' injuries had clearly spread, though it was probably just rumor and exaggeration.
"Senior Sister Wei must have misheard." She kept her expression calm. "I'm only a Qi Refining stage six disciple. How could I injure Foundation Establishment stage senior brothers?"
Wei Qingwu froze, glancing at Xie Zhaolin with suspicion. "Qi Refining stage six?" She turned to her two followers. "Weren't they saying she—"
One of the male disciples leaned over and whispered something into her ear. Wei Qingwu frowned deeply, clearly puzzled by Xie Zhaolin's sudden apparent drop in cultivation.
Mo Yan stepped forward at just the right moment. "Martial Nephew Wei, my disciple is indeed only Qi Refining stage six. Where did you hear these rumors?"
Wei Qingwu's face flushed red and white in turns. Yesterday, she'd been told that Elder Mo brought back a genius at the peak of Qi Refining, and today it's suddenly stage six?
"I…" She stammered, then, embarrassed and furious, snapped, "Who knows what tricks she used to hide her cultivation!"
"If Senior Sister doesn't believe me," Xie Zhaolin offered her wrist, "you can have the Administrator Elder verify it."
This left Wei Qingwu even more trapped.
Testing a fellow disciple's cultivation was a huge offense, especially against a direct disciple of an elder. More and more curious disciples had gathered around, whispering among themselves.
Wei Qingwu's face reddened, a flash of shame in her eyes. She whipped her sleeve sharply, raising her voice. "But it's still true that Liu Feng and the other three were injured! They got hurt right after you joined, how could it be unrelated to you?"
Her gaze flicked to Mo Yan. "Maybe Elder Mo did it for her!"
A cold light sparked in Mo Yan's eyes. "Martial Nephew Wei! Slandering fellow disciples and elders without evidence—is that Alchemy Peak's rule?"
"Elder Mo!" Wei Qingwu refused to back down. "Alchemy Peak's rules aren't for you to meddle in!"
The atmosphere became tense, like a drawn sword.
At that moment, Xie Zhaolin let out a light laugh. "Since Senior Sister Wei is so concerned about Senior Brothers Liu and the others, why not ask them yourself, see who really harmed them?"
"Don't play dumb!" Wei Qingwu's voice shrilled. "Senior Brothers Liu said—"
Halfway through, she realized she'd misspoken and hastily stopped.
A cold glint flashed in Xie Zhaolin's eyes. Clearly, Mo Yan's lesson yesterday hadn't been enough, but she kept her expression perfectly calm.
"Oh? What did Senior Brothers Liu say?" she asked innocently, glancing at Mo Yan. "Master, did they come yesterday?"
Mo Yan caught on immediately, his voice low. "They've never been here. Martial Nephew Wei, you claim I attacked them—do you have any proof?"
Wei Qingwu was speechless, her face turning even uglier. She couldn't admit she'd overheard Liu Feng and the others complaining privately; if word got out, her standing in the sect would be ruined. Before she could fabricate an excuse, Xie Zhaolin's voice rang again.
"You're being so aggressive, Senior Sister. Are you trying to deliver justice for Elder Liu? Or…" Her voice was gentle but sharp, "do you think Elder Liu isn't strict enough and needs you to clean up his disciples?"
The surrounding disciples quietly stepped back, afraid of getting caught in the crossfire.
Wei Qingwu's face went pale.
Elder Liu held a high position in the Inner Sect. If he heard this…
"You… stop sowing discord!" she stammered, her voice weak. "She's just a new disciple, and yet she dares to be this arrogant?"
Xie Zhaolin stepped forward leisurely. "Then why is Senior Sister Wei so concerned about Elder Liu's disciples? Could it be…" She drew out the words, deliberately slow. "There's some secret agreement between Alchemy Peak and Elder Liu?"
Gasps of shock rippled through the onlookers.
Wei Qingwu went pale, lips trembling. "You! You're slandering!" She spun toward Mo Yan. "Elder Mo, are you just going to let a new disciple defame fellow disciples?"
Mo Yan stood with his hands behind his back, his voice icy. "Martial Nephew Wei, you were the one accusing my disciple without reason. And now you question the elder?"
Wei Qingwu was left speechless, sweat beading her forehead. She glanced around, noticing everyone staring at her strangely, and panicked. "I…I just—" She stammered, unable to finish.
Xie Zhaolin smiled casually. "Now that I think about it, I am curious… Why, the moment I joined, did someone rush to pin crimes on me?"
At that, the surrounding disciples looked at Wei Qingwu with suspicion, some whispering among themselves.
Wei Qingwu's face turned red and white as she fumed. "A sharp-tongued new disciple! We'll see about this!"
With that, she turned to leave, but stumbled slightly. Her two followers rushed to help, only to be roughly pushed away.
"Get lost!" Wei Qingwu snapped, storming off without looking back.
Xie Zhaolin watched her retreating figure without expression, then turned to Mo Yan. "Master, let's go."
Mo Yan understood and led her away immediately.
The surrounding disciples parted, eyes now holding a mix of awe and respect.
A little distance away, Mo Yan sent a silent message. "Master, shall I—?"
Xie Zhaolin shook her head lightly. "No need. Senior Sister Wei suffered a big loss today; she won't let it go quietly."
"But…" Her lips curved slightly. "This works too. With her charging ahead, the waters will only get muddier."