Song Wanning’s words had undoubtedly thrust Ye Chuxue into the eye of the storm.

All eyes turned to her, their gazes burning with anticipation.

In the eyes of the crowd, Ye Chuxue had always been beautiful and kind. She had often encouraged and inspired her fellow disciples, urging them to pursue so-called equality for all.

And so, at this moment, everyone was looking at her with great expectation.

Ye Chuxue, already worried about the poison in Gu Qingyuan, felt her heart sink at those words.

Feeling the expectant gazes surrounding her, a chill washed over her heart.

She snapped her head up to look at Song Wanning, barely able to conceal the fury and hatred in her heart.

’Song Wanning is doing this on purpose! She’s setting a trap for me!’

’No matter what I choose now, it’s going to be bad.’

’That Song Wanning... she’s so incredibly manipulative!’

As she stood there silent, her face grim, the corner of Song Wanning’s mouth lifted again. "What’s the matter, Ye? Finding this a difficult choice?"

"If I were you, I’d choose to save the innocent disciple without a second thought. After all, she’s the most blameless victim in this whole affair."

"But you seem to be having a very hard time with this. I suppose all those slogans you’re always spouting are just empty words, not to be taken seriously."

Everything Ye Chuxue did was to cultivate a good impression among the disciples and build a positive reputation.

’In her past life, these very people became the sharp blades in her hand, which she used to cut me down mercilessly.’

’If she were ruthless enough to seize this opportunity, her fame could reach even greater heights.’

’Too bad for her, she can’t bear to give up Gu Qingyuan.’

"My master’s injuries are more severe. I..."

Ye Chuxue gritted her teeth, feeling utterly aggrieved.

’But there’s nothing for it. I have to ensure my master’s safety.’

’Whether anyone else lives or dies has nothing to do with me!’

So, mustering her courage, she declared, "Please, Uncle Song, give the Elixir Pill to my master! As for the other disciple, I will find a way to compensate her. I’ll make sure nothing happens to her!"

An uproar—

The disciples erupted, their eyes filled with endless disappointment.

They had thought Senior Sister Ye was different from all the other so-called geniuses, but it turned out to all be an act!

What a hypocrite.

The way everyone looked at her changed.

Enduring their hostile stares, Ye Chuxue pressed her lips together, her resolve only hardening.

She straightened her back, not feeling she owed them a thing.

’And as for Wu Dan, she took that Elixir Pill of her own free will. I didn’t charge her a single copper coin, so how is this my fault?’

CLAP, CLAP, CLAP. "Such profound affection between a master and her disciple."

Song Wanning suddenly applauded, her face a mask of deep emotion.

"Gu Qingyuan knelt and begged for a pill for you, and now you abandon a fellow disciple for him... It’s all just so incredibly touching."

She tilted her head with a saccharine smile and glanced at the pill in her hand.

"It’s just a shame, you see. If that other disciple doesn’t take this pill now, she’ll be beyond saving. Gu Qingyuan, on the other hand, can still hold on for a bit. So, he’ll just have to be the one to suffer."

With that, she gave a light flick of her wrist, and the pill shot from her hand into the mouth of the unconscious Wu Dan.

Her movements were swift and decisive, without a hint of hesitation.

The Elixir Pill was gone.

Ye Chuxue froze, her face first a mask of disbelief, which then twisted into a contorted snarl.

"Uncle Song, you—"

’I already chose my master! What right does Song Wanning have to give the pill to someone else?’

’Is she just making a fool out of me?’

She dug her nails into her palm, the killing intent in her heart reaching a fever pitch.

But Song Wanning simply rose to her feet with an air of indifference, smoothed out her skirt, and said in a gentle voice, "What could I do? We are all disciples of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect; we must all be treated equally. I can’t very well stand by and watch someone die, can I?"

"Oh, by the way, there’s an auction in Tianlai City in a few days. I hear a Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill will be on the block. You could try your luck there. Who knows, it might just be the cure for Gu Qingyuan’s poison."

She could no longer suppress the smile playing on her lips as she gave Ye Chuxue a little wink.

’A boomerang only hurts when it comes back and hits you.’

’Today, Ye Chuxue will get a taste of what I went through back then.’

"Grandmaster Song is the fair one, after all!"

"Exactly! Wu Dan was on the verge of death, why shouldn’t she be the one to get the pill?"

"Grandmaster Gu is a Nascent Soul Ancestor Master. He has countless ways to deal with poison, unlike ordinary people like us..."

"Senior Sister Ye is such a disappointment. She caused this whole mess with the poison, and yet she was still going to abandon someone. So selfish!"

"..."

Her reputation, once so sterling, was now collapsing just as spectacularly.

Who would have thought that in the end, it would be Grandmaster Song—the one they had all disliked at first—who would be the one to stand up for Wu Dan?

The irony was palpable.

As the hurtful words bored into her ears, Ye Chuxue bit down hard on her lower lip, her heart filled with grievance and disappointment.

’Over the past six months, I’ve given out so many Elixir Pills.’

’I’ve stood up for other disciples so many times in the past, and for what?’

’They turn on me in an instant! No one remembers all the good I’ve done for them!’

Her heart turned completely to ice.

Seeing the matter of the Elixir Pill settled, the Sect Master was furious, looking as if he’d just been forced to eat shit.

However, if the auction truly had a Heavenly Yuan Nourishing Heart Pill, it could solve their immediate crisis.

He turned to Song Wanning to confirm, "Can Junior Brother Gu’s poison truly hold out until the auction?" 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

At this point, he was genuinely afraid that Song Wanning was trying to get Gu Qingyuan killed.

"Of course," Song Wanning said. "You’re underestimating Gu Qingyuan."

Song Wanning shot Gu Qingyuan a cryptic glance. ’If he hadn’t been severely injured saving Ye Chuxue, and then wounded by me on top of that, this little bit of poison wouldn’t have been enough to fell him.’

"Good, that’s good!"

The Sect Master breathed a sigh of relief.

"Ye, take him back and get some rest for now. In a few days, you must win that Elixir Pill at the auction. If you don’t have enough Spirit Stones, you can ask the Sect for help!"

"Yes! Thank you, Sect Master!"

A wave of gratitude washed over Ye Chuxue. She quickly thanked the Sect Master and stood up, holding Gu Qingyuan in her arms.

Just as she was about to leave, Song Wanning’s voice stopped her once again.

"Ye, have you forgotten something?"

"The Elixir Pill you refined was poisonous, causing both an innocent disciple and Gu Qingyuan to be poisoned one after the other. You have yet to receive your punishment."

Her words jolted everyone’s memory.

They remembered that Ye Chuxue had made a bet, promising to accept punishment if she lost...

They had almost let her get away with it.

"Junior Sister Song, don’t push it. Junior Brother Gu is poisoned right now and needs Ye to look after him!"

The Sect Master frowned, his patience wearing thin.

’Why does Song Wanning have to be so aggressive?’

"The Sect Master is absolutely right."

Song Wanning nodded in agreement. "Gu Qingyuan needs her now, so we’ll just have her face her punishment after he has woken up."

’Either way, there’s no escaping punishment. Not a chance!’

"The Sect Master wouldn’t want to be accused of playing favorites and bending the rules, would he? That would be truly disheartening for all the disciples."

She gave a sudden, playful smile and leaned against Liu Lan Yi’s leg. "Grandmaster, I think the Wind-devouring Cave sounds like a fine place for it."

Her bright eyes blinked up at her, her delicate frame draped against her leg. Liu Lan Yi’s heart softened, and she reached out to pat Song Wanning’s head.

"This entire affair began because of Ye Chuxue, so she must indeed be punished. Considering it was an unintentional mistake, we will sentence her to one year of self-reflection in the Wind-devouring Cave."

"Sect Master, what are your thoughts?"

Her light, almost casual gaze fell upon the Sect Master, who shivered and immediately replied with the utmost respect, "We will follow Grandmaster’s arrangements completely."

"Mm. Then this matter is concluded. All of you are dismissed."

Liu Lan Yi gave a slight, satisfied nod and stood up, taking Song Wanning’s hand.