Chapter 36

Shen Qingqiu narrowed his eyes and said, "When did the character and conduct of the successors from the Twelve Peaks of Cang Qiong Mountain ever require outsiders to draw conclusions based on hearsay?"

The Old Palace Master responded, "If it were merely hearsay, we naturally wouldn't dare to believe it lightly. However, these words have spread from among your own sect's disciples."

He looked around and continued, "As you all know, it's common for disciples from different sects to form private friendships, and inevitably, some rumors find their way in. Just the matter of Peak Lord Shen deliberately suppressing and harming his own disciples alone cannot bear the term 'noble and upright conduct.'"

Upon hearing this, Shen Qingqiu felt his head spin.

Harming his own disciples?

Now that was the absolute truth. During Luo Binghe’s developmental years alone, Shen Qingqiu’s glorious history of subjecting him to all kinds of abuse and using him as child labor could fill an entire tragic novel. As for the other disciples who were harassed or even expelled from the sect by Shen Qingqiu due to their outstanding talents, they could form a gymnastics team. However, the one who actually committed these acts of harm wasn’t him—it was the original goods!

Yue Qingyuan solemnly stated, "Since we know it’s mere gossip, there’s no use in discussing it further. While my junior brother may not be one to show warmth or concern, to say he harmed them is going too far."

Suddenly, a delicate voice chimed in. Qin Wanyue could no longer hold back and spoke up for the person in her heart: "This young woman dares to ask Sect Leader Yue, does ordering a teenager barely over ten years old to face a demon elder with centuries of cultivation, clad in venomous thorn armor, count as persecution and harm?"

This time, Shen Qingqiu could no longer remain a silent, beautiful spectator.

He remarked indifferently, "Whether it counts or not, I don’t know. But what I do know is that if a master pushes his disciple aside and steps in front to shield him from venomous thorn armor, that probably can’t be considered persecution. What do you think, Luo Binghe?"

Among the cultivators present, some showed astonishment upon hearing this name, particularly those from Cang Qiong Mountain. Some who had merely been suspicious upon seeing this face earlier, such as Qi Qingqi, were now shocked. As for a certain logistics head who had nearly knelt upon first laying eyes on Luo Binghe upon entering Jinlan City, after weathering the storm, he now felt strangely calm.

Amid the crowd, Luo Binghe gazed intently at Shen Qingqiu, his eyes unwavering. Shen Qingqiu tilted his head, opened his folding fan, and even managed to offer a faint smile—though it looked more like a sarcastic curl of the lips.

To say he wasn’t angry at all would be a lie. While Shen Qingqiu was often preoccupied with his own survival and harbored many thoughts about Luo Binghe, when he shielded Luo Binghe from that strike, it was an instinctive act—even if Luo Binghe might not have needed anyone to help him avert danger. No matter how he thought about it, he was the one who had suffered the most in those three matches, and now this incident was being used to smear him. Shen Qingqiu was furious.

Rather than maintaining a cold and aloof demeanor, it was better to take the initiative!

Since Shen Qingqiu had frequently punished Luo Binghe in the past, Yue Qingyuan had seen him a few times, but only when Luo Binghe was still young. Later, when Shen Qingqiu began to rely heavily on Luo Binghe, he was often sent away from Qing Jing Peak to handle various matters, making it even harder to meet. During the Immortal Alliance Conference, Yue Qingyuan had glimpsed Luo Binghe’s face in the crystal mirror, but it was only for a brief moment, and the mirror wasn’t very clear. Thus, he hadn’t recognized that the striking young man beside the Illusory Flower Palace Master was actually Shen Qingqiu’s former "beloved disciple." Previously, Yue Qingyuan had heard that the Palace Master valued his youngest disciple the most, so he had mistakenly assumed Luo Binghe was Gongyi Xiao. Now, following Shen Qingqiu’s gaze, he exclaimed in surprise, "Junior Brother, what did you call him?"

Before Shen Qingqiu could answer, Luo Binghe actually responded first.

He said slowly, "This disciple will never forget the grace of Master shielding me with his own body."

Qi Qingqi said incredulously, "Is it really you? Shen Qingqiu, didn’t you say he was dead?" She then looked at Luo Binghe. "Since you’re alive, why haven’t you returned to Qing Jing Peak? Do you know that because of you, your master…"

Shen Qingqiu broke into a fit of dry coughing, forcing Qi Qingqi to stop and glare at him.

Shen Qingqiu glared back discreetly. He had a premonition that he was about to hear the phrase "lost and desolate" again—damn it, he really didn’t want to hear that term anymore! The thought alone gave him goosebumps. If Luo Binghe heard it, wouldn’t he crack up with laughter on that perfect protagonist face of his?

The Old Palace Master, like a lingering ghost, remarked, "This is precisely what’s puzzling. Why claim someone is dead when they’re clearly alive? And why refuse to return when they could easily come back?"

Shen Qingqiu was thoroughly annoyed by his insinuating tone and replied indifferently, "If he doesn’t wish to return, there’s nothing I can do. If he comes, we’ll welcome him; if he leaves, we’ll let him go. It’s up to him. If the Palace Master has something to say, please speak plainly."

The Old Palace Master smiled. "What I want to say, Peak Lord Shen already knows in his heart. Anyone here with a clear mind can also understand. While these demonic seed-sowers certainly deserve to be burned to ashes, if there is a mastermind behind them, someone who stirred the waters, they should not be spared either. In any case, we must give an explanation to the entire Jinlan City."

His words successfully ignited the hatred of the surviving residents of Jinlan City present. Having just endured a major disaster, their hearts were filled with fear and resentment, eager for a target to vent their fury upon. Many joined in the outcry.

Luo Binghe said, "Master detests evil and would only wish to slay demons with his own hands—how could he possibly collude with them?"

Shen Qingqiu glanced at him sideways. Probably, among those present, only he could truly understand the real meaning behind Luo Binghe’s words about "slaying with his own hands."

Having nothing left to lose, Shen Qingqiu decided to address the issue head-on: "Luo Binghe, do you currently consider yourself a disciple of Qing Jing Peak or a member of the Illusory Flower Palace?"

The Old Palace Master sneered, "At this point, is Peak Lord Shen willing to acknowledge this disciple again?"

Shen Qingqiu replied, "I never expelled him from the sect. Since he still addresses me as Master, he must be willing to acknowledge it as well."

He said this purely to annoy Luo Binghe, but it didn’t seem to have the intended effect. Instead, Luo Binghe’s eyes flickered, and it might not have been an illusion—his gaze seemed to soften slightly.

For a moment, the two opposing factions were clearly drawn, and the air crackled with tension, thick with the scent of impending conflict. As for the seed-sowers who had initially sparked this confrontation, they were now forgotten, with no one concerned about how to deal with them.

Suddenly, a charming female voice called out, "Shen Jiu? ... Are you Shen Jiu?"

Upon hearing this name, the calm and composed expression on Shen Qingqiu’s face nearly cracked like the Great Rift Valley.

Damn, damn, damn!

Is today destined to be my downfall?!

I’m done for. It’s this woman. It’s Qiu Haitang!

In the original work, Qiu Haitang’s appearance signaled only one thing: Shen Qingqiu’s complete and utter ruin.

Although Qiu Haitang was no longer a young girl, her face was as fair as a magnolia, her makeup was stunning, and with her slender figure and full bust, she was undeniably beautiful. And since she was beautiful, naturally, she couldn’t escape her fate of becoming one of Luo Binghe’s harem members.

The trouble was, she had once been involved with Shen Qingqiu.

Congratulations! To have ambiguous relationships with two of a harem protagonist’s wives—the original Shen Qingqiu truly was unprecedented!

At least in all the harem novels Shen Yuan had read, there was no second one like it!

It was easy to imagine that this was precisely the origin of the second wave of reader comments demanding, "Castrate Shen Qingqiu! No castration means a negative review!"

In Shen Qingqiu’s mind, a flood of panicked exclamations swept across the screen like raging waves. Meanwhile, Qiu Haitang held a sword across her chest, looking as though she would rather kill him and then herself: "I’m asking you a question! Why don’t you dare to look at me?"

Big sister, how dare I look at you?! You’re here to take my life!

Qiu Haitang’s face was filled with sorrow and beauty. "I should have known, no wonder, no wonder I searched for so many years and never saw you again. So, you had already climbed to great heights, becoming the lofty master of Qing Jing Peak. Haha, how glorious!"

Shen Qingqiu truly didn’t know where to look or what to say, so he stared straight ahead, doing his best to maintain an aloof and detached expression.

Everyone began whispering among themselves. Yue Qingyuan asked, "Qingqiu, what’s going on? Is this young lady an old acquaintance of yours?"

Senior Brother... please don’t ask...

Qiu Haitang then said sorrowfully, "An old acquaintance? More than that... I grew up with this hypocritical man since childhood... I am his wife!"

Upon hearing this, Luo Binghe raised an eyebrow.

No!

You’re supposed to be Luo Binghe’s wife! Wake up!

Shang Qinghua exclaimed in great surprise, "Huh? Is that true? Why have I never heard Senior Brother Shen mention it?"

Shen Qingqiu forced a stiff smile at him: Can you please not add fuel to the fire?

Who wrote this melodramatic plotline that racks up his scumbag points and hatred value? And they have the nerve to watch from the sidelines like it’s a show!

And those people around here—aren’t they all cultivators? Why are there so many gossip lovers? Everyone, disperse, scatter, get lost!

Qiu Haitang sneered, "A beast in human clothing like him naturally wouldn’t dare to speak of his guilty conscience."

Master Wuchen, who had spent some time with the three from Cang Qiong Mountain and had been cared for by Shen Qingqiu, held a favorable impression of him. Unable to intervene earlier during the dispute between Cang Qiong Mountain and the Illusory Flower Palace, he now spoke up: "Amitabha, if this female benefactor has something to say, please speak clearly and thoroughly. Merely making accusations will not convince anyone."

Shen Qingqiu’s heart wept rivers of tears: Great Master… I know you mean well, but I need her to spell it out clearly before I can properly feel the torment!… Even with a clear conscience, one fears the knock of a ghost at the door!

At this moment, Qiu Haitang had become the focus of everyone’s attention. Her face flushed with agitation, she drew herself up and declared loudly, “If a single word of what I, Qiu Haitang, am about to say is false, may I be pierced by ten thousand demonic poison arrows and die a wretched death!” She pointed directly at Shen Qingqiu, her eyes blazing with fury. “This man is now Shen Qingqiu, Peak Lord of Qing Jing Peak of Cang Qiong Mountain Sect, the renowned Xiuyajian. But who knows what he once was!”

Her phrasing was rather crude. Qi Qingqi’s willow-thin eyebrows shot up. “Mind your language!”

Qiu Haitang, now merely a hall master of some minor, obscure sect, took a step back under the rebuke from one of the heads of a giant organization like Cang Qiong Mountain.

But the Old Palace Master said, “Why must Peak Lord Qi be so angry? Let this young lady speak. What harm is there? We cannot simply gag her.”

Qiu Haitang gritted her teeth, hatred overwhelming her fear. Her voice rose again. “At twelve years old, he was nothing but a little slave my family bought from out-of-town traffickers. Because he was the ninth, they called him Xiao Jiu. My parents, seeing how the traffickers had abused him, took pity and brought him home. They taught him to read and write, provided him food, clothing, and shelter—he wanted for nothing. My brother treated him with great affection as well. By the time he turned fifteen, my parents had passed away. My brother, now head of the household, not only freed him from slavery but also acknowledged him as a sworn brother. And I… because I grew up with him, was deceived by him… I actually believed… that our feelings were mutual… and thus we became engaged.”

Shen Qingqiu stood there, forced to listen alongside a thousand others to the “black history” of “himself.” A thousand thoughts and words condensed into a single, silent sentiment: Speechless.

Tears began to well in her eyes. “The year my brother turned nineteen, a wandering cultivator came to our city. He found the local spiritual energy nourishing and set up an altar at the city gates. Young men and women under eighteen could go to test their spiritual aptitude; he wished to select one of outstanding talent as his disciple. This cultivator possessed immortal arts, and everyone in the city marveled and praised him. Shen Jiu also went to the testing altar. His aptitude was good, and the cultivator took a liking to him. He came back overjoyed, wanting to leave my home.”

“My brother, of course, disagreed. In his eyes, the path of cultivation was pure fantasy. Moreover, how could he just abandon the family and leave after becoming engaged to me? He had a huge argument with my brother. He was gloomy and despondent afterward. We thought he was just being stubborn for a moment and would accept it once he thought it through.”

Her expression changed abruptly. “Who could have known that very night, his vicious nature would be revealed? He went mad, killing my brother and several household servants, leaving their corpses strewn about the manor, and fled the city overnight with that cultivator!

“After this catastrophe, I, a weak woman, had no strength to hold things together. Our vast family fortune just… scattered. For years I searched desperately for this vile man, but found no trace. The cultivator who took him as a disciple back then had long since met a violent death, severing the last clue… If I hadn’t come to Jinlan City today, I might never have known in this lifetime that this ungrateful wretch, this murderer of his benefactor, had actually climbed so high, all the way to become one of the Peak Lords of the world’s greatest sect! Though he is vastly different from before… this face—this face I would never mistake even if it were reduced to ashes!”

Amidst the crowd’s gasps and murmurs, Shen Qingqiu found himself growing strangely calm instead.

The story Qiu Haitang narrated was dramatic at first listen, but upon careful consideration, it had quite a few holes.

It wasn’t that Shen Qingqiu was prejudiced against the original goods, but the original work had always been dedicated to portraying Shen Qingqiu as an unlikable personality: stubborn, petty, poor with words, incapable of flattery, aloof, and pretentious. It was hard to believe that a teenage Shen Qingqiu could have been so endearing as to be treated like family by those unrelated to him by blood.

But to outsiders, they wouldn’t pick up on such nuances.

Originally, Shen Qingqiu had been wary of this plot point, but not excessively so. This was ancient history. Without concrete evidence, just Qiu Haitang’s word, if he stubbornly denied it and made her think she’d mistaken her man, it would merely be a big stain on Shen Qingqiu’s personal record.

There was no helping it. Shen Qingqiu had wronged Qiu Haitang, but that was the original Shen Qingqiu! He didn’t want to carry that blame! He’d rather compensate Qiu Haitang properly in other ways later. He hadn’t killed Liu Qingge, hadn’t molested Ning Yingying. No matter what, it shouldn’t lead to a hundred-zhang tower collapsing overnight, to the point of being denounced by everyone.

But now it was different.

With the Seed-Spreader’s accusation first, followed by the Old Palace Master’s, Qiu Haitang’s indictment could now perfectly serve as corroborating evidence of his flawed character. A scoundrel who abandoned his lover + a collaborator with demons—a standard package, adding icing to the cake.

When coincidences piled up so perfectly, calling them mere coincidence was just self-deception.

The Old Palace Master said, “Sect Leader Yue, in handling such matters, favoritism is unacceptable. Otherwise, if word gets out that the mighty Cang Qiong Mountain Sect shelters a man with a tarnished record, how will it command respect?”

Yue Qingyuan said woodenly, “So what does the Palace Master suggest?”

“In my view, why not temporarily place Immortal Master Shen in Huan Hua Palace, pending an investigation to determine the truth?”

Everyone knew what this “placement” really meant.

Huan Hua Palace had a special function. Beneath the ground where its branch palaces were situated lay a water prison. The terrain was complex, augmented by Huan Hua Palace’s illusion arrays. This trump-card formation was not on the same level as those simple barriers used to keep out non-cultivators. The interior of the water prison was even more heavily guarded, its punishment halls fully equipped and highly professional. Those imprisoned there were without exception cultivators who had committed heinous crimes in the cultivation world, had blood on their hands, or violated forbidden taboos.

In short, Huan Hua Palace’s water prison was the cultivation world’s public jail.

Furthermore, if a cultivator was suspected of posing a threat to the human realm and needed a place for temporary detention pending trial, they would also be sent there to await a joint public trial by the four great sects before judgment was passed.

Liu Qingge sneered. “Had enough?”

Having patiently listened to this nonsense for so long, he had long been simmering with anger. He gripped the Cheng Luan sword behind his back, ready for a fight. Across from him, Huan Hua Palace disciples also drew their swords, glaring fiercely.

Yue Qingyuan said, “Junior Brother Liu, stand down.”

Though reluctant, if there was one person Liu Qingge would listen to, it was Yue Qingyuan. He reluctantly removed his hand from the hilt.

Seeing him retreat, Yue Qingyuan nodded. “Such accusations cannot be validated by mere words.”

The pitch-black longsword at his waist suddenly slid an inch from its scabbard, revealing a blinding white sliver of blade.

In that instant, it felt as if an invisible giant net had been cast over the entire plaza. The fluctuations of spiritual power within it surged like tidal waves.

The sword’s hum seemed to ring directly in their ears. Quite a few of the younger disciples instinctively covered their ears, their hearts pounding wildly.

Xuan Su Sword!

Shen Qingqiu truly hadn’t expected that Yue Qingyuan had Liu Qingge stand down so that he could step forward himself?! This was worldview-shattering!

It was said that since taking office, Yue Qingyuan, master of Cang Qiong Mountain’s Qiong Ding Peak, had only drawn his sword twice. Once during his inauguration ceremony, and once when facing a descendant of the Heavenly Demon bloodline (Luo Binghe’s father).

Xuan Su Sword had only been drawn an inch, yet it suddenly made everyone understand somewhat.

To sit at the highest seat in Qiong Ding Hall, composure alone was not enough!

The Old Palace Master commanded, “Formation!”

Were they really going to fight?!

What was going on? The demon realm hadn’t even attacked yet, and humans were fighting among themselves first. Seeing the situation turning sour, Shen Qingqiu quickly removed his own sword and threw it forward.

Xiuyajian plunged straight into the ground before the Huan Hua Palace Master.

Abandoning one’s sword was equivalent to surrender. The Old Palace Master was taken aback, then waved for his disciples to return to their positions.

Yue Qingyuan said in a low voice, “Junior Brother!”

Shen Qingqiu said, “Senior Brother, no need to say more. Clarity comes from innocence. Qingqiu is willing to be bound.”

This Old Palace Master seemed like a senile fool, dead set on pinning him down. With the one-two punch of the Seed-Spreader and Qiu Haitang, he wouldn’t let go of such a perfect opportunity. Since it was a nailed-down fact, there was no need to cause a rift between the two giants, Cang Qiong Mountain Sect and Huan Hua Palace. Shen Qingqiu insisted, “More words are useless. Proving oneself is paramount.”

After speaking, he didn’t look at Yue Qingyuan’s expression. Instead, his gaze swept over Luo Binghe.

His face showed neither joy nor anger, standing firm in place, a stark contrast to the cultivators around him covering their ears or swaying dizzily.

After a long moment, Yue Qingyuan finally sheathed his sword. In the air, it felt as if an invisible net had been withdrawn.

Shen Qingqiu turned and bowed deeply to Yue Qingyuan. Truth be told, he had caused this Sect Leader no small amount of trouble. It was truly shameful.

Qiu Haitang continued to sob. Qin Wanyue, passing by her, comforted, “Young Lady Qiu, no matter how things turn out, the three sects will give you an answer.”

Qiu Haitang, emotionally stirred, tears in her eyes, looked up to thank her. Seeing Luo Binghe standing nearby, a faint blush crept onto her cheeks.

Blinding! Here we go again! Shen Qingqiu rolled his eyes inwardly. You’d think I was being publicly cuckolded here, so why do I feel not the slightest displeasure!

Led by Gongyi Xiao, several Huan Hua Palace disciples stepped forward, holding something very familiar.

Hello, Rope of Binding; goodbye, Rope of Binding!

Gongyi Xiao said apologetically, “Senior Shen, I must offend. This Junior will certainly treat you with courtesy. Once the truth comes to light, I will not allow Senior to suffer the slightest neglect.”

Shen Qingqiu nodded, his reply crisp. "I leave it in your hands."

Your courtesy means nothing. Just look at the eyes of these Huan Hua Palace disciples.

Every one of them looked ready to tear him apart on the spot. Their sect had suffered the heaviest casualties during the Immortal Alliance Conference, after all. He was in for a world of torment.

The moment the Binding Ropes coiled around him, his body grew unnaturally heavy. Before, the effects of the 'No Cure' poison had come in fits and starts, his spiritual flow merely clogged—like a faulty connection, a remote control that might still sputter to life if you banged it hard enough. But the Binding Ropes were a total severance. It felt like being stripped down to mere mortality in an instant.

The Old Palace Master spoke. "We shall set the date for the public trial one month from now. Are there any objections?"

"Five days," Liu Qingge cut in.

The longer one spent in the Water Prison, the more petty suffering one endured. By proposing five days, Liu Qingge was compressing all trial preparations to their absolute minimum.

The Old Palace Master, of course, would not yield. "Such haste would inevitably lead to oversights."

A mediating abbot from Zhao Hua Temple, professional peacemaker that he was, offered, "Then how about ten days?"

"Seven," Yue Qingyuan stated, his tone brooking no argument. "Not a day longer."

Watching these Sect Leaders haggle over the date, Shen Qingqiu found himself perversely amused. Then he remembered something urgent. "Enough discussion," he interjected. "We will follow the Palace Master's arrangement. One month."

A longer delay was actually beneficial—it gave the Dew Mushroom more time to mature. He glanced toward Shang Qinghua out of the corner of his eye, arching a brow in silent question.

Shang Qinghua caught the signal. With his hands hanging loosely before him, he subtly gestured: No problem. Leave it to me.

If only he can actually survive a whole month in Huan Hua Palace, with Luo Binghe holding all the cards.