Yun Wan'er's face turned ashen, her lips trembled, but she couldn't utter a single word.
Shen Zhaozhao's calm and unwavering gaze filled her with immense fear!
"I...I didn't..."
Faced with weak rebuttals, Yun Wan'er instinctively wanted to retreat, to escape from the source that left her with nowhere to hide and filled her with fear.
Her eyes darted around in a panic, instinctively seeking that most familiar protection—usually at times like this, she only needed to gently hide behind her master, and he would naturally shield her from all the storms.
But when he turned his head, what came into view was the back of Lingxiao Zhenren, who was still kneeling upright on the ground.
The invisible pressure emanating from the paper talisman of Grandmaster Xuanji still lingers... Damn it! Even True Master Lingxiao himself is in dire need of protection, there's nowhere for her to hide!
"Strange, very strange... You guys are really too strange!"
With nowhere to retreat, Yun Wan'er's eyes darted around, her voice sharp with extreme guilt and panic. She pointed at Shen Zhaozhao, trying to draw everyone's attention back to her, her tone stiff as if she were forcibly changing the subject.
"We're clearly talking about Senior Sister Zhao Zhao right now! She...she broke the seal on the Yellow Springs, a grave crime that endangers the Three Realms!"
"She must have realized she couldn't explain the possible marks on her body, so she's making baseless accusations against me! Trying to divert attention!"
The more she spoke, the more she felt she had found a reason. A sickly flush rose on her pale face, and her voice rose a few decibels, carrying a hint of agitation at being "wrongfully accused."
"Why?! Why did this have to be dragged into me for no reason?!"
"Shen Zhaozhao, are you implying that I myself broke the seal, and therefore know every detail about the mark?!"
"Where's your evidence?!"
"Without evidence, you just make baseless accusations and fabricate stories—is this how you behave?!"
Looking at her blustering yet cowardly and self-deprecating manner, Shen Zhaozhao sneered, "What, now you know you need evidence?"
"When you were so certain that you claimed I broke the seal and brought catastrophic disaster to Lingzhou, did you provide any evidence?"
"What else do you have besides your pathetic imagination and malicious speculation?"
With each question Shen Zhaozhao asked, Yun Wan'er's face paled a little more.
Just as she staggered backward, Shen Zhaozhao grabbed Yun Wan'er's wrist, leaving her with nowhere to retreat!
"Don't you always like to talk about 'the safety of Lingzhou' and 'the balance of the three realms'?"
"Excellent! The sealing of the Yellow Springs is indeed a matter of great importance concerning the safety of Lingzhou!"
Without allowing the little white flower swaying in the wind to break free even an inch, Shen Zhaozhao said in an icy tone, "Since these are all 'big matters,' come on, don't even think about extricating yourself! Today, in front of everyone, let's make this clear!"
"You keep saying you haven't broken the seal and are completely innocent? Fine, tell me, where did you get such specific, almost secret details?"
"If you found it in an ancient book? Which ancient book? What's its name? Go to the library now and retrieve it for comparison!"
She didn't give Yun Wan'er a chance to breathe or fabricate anything, and changed the subject again: "Also, don't think that just because you're making trouble, the matter of Elder Qingxuan being framed by you can be easily forgotten!"
"Previously, it was Master Lingxiao, who was blind to the truth, who severely injured Elder Qingxuan and threw him into the water dungeon without distinguishing right from wrong in order to protect you! Saving people is the priority, so this trivial matter of yours was put aside for later!"
“Now, Elder Qingxuan is personally protected by Dao Ancestor Xuanji, so his life is not in danger. We have plenty of time right here to confront you one by one.”
Shen Zhaozhao's words were like knives, each sentence cutting to the bone, completely shattering Yun Wan'er's last defenses.
The complete collapse of her mental state, coupled with her lingering serious injuries, finally pushed both her body and mind to their limits.
"Thump—"
Yun Wan'er's legs went weak, as if she could no longer support herself. She collapsed to her knees in front of Shen Zhaozhao like a lump of mud, splashing up a cloud of muddy water.
Not far from Yun Wan'er, Ling Xiao Zhenren, who was also kneeling, was in a predicament, but that did not stop the turmoil surging in his heart.
He stared blankly at Yun Wan'er, who was kneeling on the ground with a pale face, his mind buzzing and in complete chaos.
how so?
His doting on Wan'er was partly due to the fact that his master had once glimpsed the secrets of heaven and hinted that this girl was related to the sect's fate and was "destined by heaven."
However, it's impossible to say that there was absolutely no selfish motive.
Over the years, he watched Yun Wan'er grow from a tiny little girl into a gentle and charming young woman, nestled obediently beside him, gazing at him with adoring eyes, and softly expressing her admiration and dependence... Even a stone would have been warmed by now.
He even secretly rejoiced that the chosen one was Wan'er, who was gentle and knew how to please him.
If it were someone else, these years would probably have been much more dull and dry.
But now... Shen Zhaozhao's piercing questions, Wan'er's panicked and flawed reactions... all felt like cold needles, piercing through his long-held beliefs.
Wan'er... she might not only have framed Junior Brother Qingxuan... but she might even have broken the Yellow Springs Seal without authorization?
Why?
The Tianyan Sect has devoted almost all its resources to nurturing her, giving her access to the best resources, and protecting her so closely that she is completely shielded. What more could she ask for?
Why did she do that?
An indescribable chill, mixed with the fury of being deceived and a deeper, bewilderment of collapsing faith, swept over Lingxiao Zhenren's entire body.
This chapter is not finished yet. Please click on the next page to continue reading the exciting content!
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
