At this moment, Nan Sinning couldn’t help admiring Luo Qingyao’s strong mental fortitude. Even cornered, she still put on such an innocent face that some male cultivators clearly believed her.
Nan Sinning was very curious—how would Shen Tangyuan handle her next? Luo Qingyao was not easy to deal with.
But Shen Tangyuan did not move. He said calmly, “You are not a disciple of our Medicine King City. I have no authority over you, nor the duty to teach you. Therefore, I will not examine your storage ring.”
Luo Qingyao was stunned. Could it be… he was going to let her go so easily?
She had indeed hidden the incriminating artifact even more carefully, but she was still uneasy. Yet Shen Tangyuan wasn’t going to check her at all? For a brief moment, joy welled up inside her.
Then Shen Tangyuan continued, “That being the case, I cannot clear you of suspicion. For the safety of everyone aboard this flying ship—and to spare your dignity—I can only ask you to disembark. We’ll stop at the next safe city, where you may leave. After that, you can travel back to Canglan Sect on another ship or take a teleportation array.”
Luo Qingyao’s mind went blank. She cried out, “No! I won’t go down!”
She was only at Qi Refining stage. Alone in this dangerous world of ambushes and murder for treasure, she would be utterly defenseless. She could already imagine the miserable fate awaiting her.
Worse, Nan Sinning was headed to Medicine King City and might seize the Ziwei Heavenly Flame! Luo Qingyao would never allow that—she was the true owner of that flame! She had to reach the city first.
Xiao Jingwen, who had been silent, panicked. “Senior Brother, you mustn’t! Luo Junior Sister is only a Qi Refining girl, and so beautiful—she’d be targeted instantly! Besides, she’s my invited guest to Medicine King City. I cannot abandon her!”
Shen Tangyuan’s expression didn’t change. “Since you take responsibility for her safety, you can disembark with her.”
Xiao Jingwen’s eyes turned red. He himself was a fragile alchemist, weaker than Luo Qingyao in combat. The two of them leaving together would only make them easier prey!
Knowing his senior brother’s iron will, he burned with desperation. If Shen Tangyuan could not be moved, he could only turn to Luo Qingyao. “Luo Junior Sister, if you really did it, just admit it! At least then you can stay on board! If you go down… it will surely be nine deaths out of ten!”
Luo Qingyao nearly fainted from rage. This man couldn’t protect her, and now he wanted her to take the blame? She, Luo Qingyao, bow to Nan Sinning? Never!
She sneered coldly. “Since Senior Brother Xiao doesn’t trust me, stop pretending it’s for my good. How could I possibly do such a thing?”
Xiao Jingwen’s heart was full of worry. To him, even if she had done it, what of it? Admitting fault wasn’t the end of the world. But he ignored her icy tone.
Some male disciples, seeing her straight back and pale, tear-brimmed face, softened. “Senior Brother, how can she admit to something she didn’t do?”
“That’s right. Why not just have Luo Junior Sister let Senior Brother Shen check her storage ring? She doesn’t have many things—it won’t take long.”
“She doesn’t look like such a petty schemer to me.”
“To force her off the ship without proof does seem unfair.”
…
Their words made Xiao Jingwen even more frantic. They didn’t understand his intentions!
Suddenly he remembered. “Luo Junior Sister, didn’t you once receive an artifact that could produce ice and snow?”
Luo Qingyao nearly choked. This idiot! How could he expose that now?
“No! You’re mistaken!” she denied instantly.
But Xiao Jingwen only grew more certain. “You did! Chen Jingshu gave it to you. He said he was an artifact cultivator and couldn’t use it, but it matched your heavenly-grade ice spiritual root perfectly. In your hands, it would be even stronger!”
The hall fell silent. She really had such a weapon? And a heavenly-grade ice root?
Everyone’s eyes turned complicated. They recalled her earlier quarrel with Nan Sinning, and how this whole duel stemmed from her desire for a first-class cabin. Her shadow was everywhere in this affair.
Even the men who had defended her moments ago fell quiet.
Shen Tangyuan’s gaze turned sharp. “Daoist Luo, is what my fifth brother says true?”
Luo Qingyao bit her lip. Tears welled as she swayed pitifully, as though grievously wronged.
Nan Sinning nearly applauded. What acting!
But Zhou Lixing clamped a hand over Liang Xiao’s mouth before he could speak in her defense. “Fourth Brother, shut up!”
Liang Xiao struggled but gave up, only casting a pitying look at Luo Qingyao.
Shen Tangyuan wasn’t fooled by her act. His voice was stern. “Daoist Luo, will you still not tell the truth?”
Seeing her trick fail, Luo Qingyao abruptly dropped the pitiful mask. In a flat voice, she said, “I have nothing more to say. It was indeed me.”
Gasps rippled through the crowd. So it really was her!
Shen Tangyuan looked unsurprised. Nan Sinning suspected he had known all along, but for fairness’ sake, he had taken the long way around to prove it. That was the burden of being a sect’s first disciple.
“Since you admit it, hand over the artifact for inspection,” Shen Tangyuan said evenly.
Luo Qingyao tossed him a conch-shaped tool.
He ignored her rudeness, examined it with divine sense, and announced, “Recently used. It indeed produces frost and cold poison.” He activated it—freezing winds and blue frost spilled out, exactly like before.
The low-grade artifact couldn’t withstand his Golden Core cultivation. It quickly crumbled to dust.
Everyone breathed easier. Dangerous to alchemists, but now destroyed.
Shen Tangyuan cleaned the remnants. “Apologize to Junior Sister Nan and compensate her with a treasure or spirit stones. This matter will end here. But I will report this to my master, and to your Canglan Sect. Learn from this—correct your heart and cultivate properly.”
Luo Qingyao stood expressionless, saying nothing.
Xiao Jingwen tried to pull her forward to apologize, but she shook him off.
Tormented, he turned to Nan Sinning. “Junior Sister Nan, I’ll give you the Soul-Nourishing Pearl as compensation. Will that suffice?”
Nan Sinning smiled sweetly. “Of course. Such a treasure? How could I refuse? Thank you, Daoist Xiao.”
A forced apology couldn’t raise her cultivation. A Soul-Nourishing Pearl was far more valuable. As for humiliating Luo Qingyao—there would be plenty of chances later.
Shen Tangyuan didn’t stop his junior brother. This was his own doing.
Seeing the greed in Luo Qingyao’s eyes, Shen Tangyuan thought grimly that the pearl had finally found its rightful owner.
Nan Sinning accepted it happily. Xiao Jingwen, relieved, asked, “Then… Luo Junior Sister can stay on the ship?”
“If she wishes, yes. Just mind her behavior,” Shen Tangyuan replied, voice complicated.
Shame burned Xiao Jingwen’s face. He quickly led Luo Qingyao away.
Only when they were gone did the hall buzz again. So it really was her! And she didn’t even apologize? What sort of person was that?
The others fumed. Nan Sinning, the victim, looked unbothered.
“Third Brother, I’m starving. Let’s go back!”
At once, her seniors rushed to escort her back to their first-class cabin.
Inside, the room was lavish—rich spiritual qi flowed, ideal for healing and cultivation, with fine teas and fruits. A small paradise. No wonder Xiao Jingwen had fought for one for Luo Qingyao.
In the reception hall, the Sword Peak group finally relaxed.
Qin Sangyue smiled as Zhou Lixing clattered about in the kitchen, filling the room with lively warmth. Today had been tumultuous, but the ending was good.
She turned to Yuan Qing’an. “Second Brother, how do you feel? Should you rest?”
He shook his head, eyes bright as he looked at Zhou Lixing and Nan Sinning. “Feeling life’s vitality again makes me happy. Much better than lying stiff like the dead.”
She nodded. “As you wish.”
Meanwhile, Liang Xiao tried to join the seated guests but was dragged off to help.
“Why me?” he grumbled.
Nan Sinning lifted her chin. “Senior Sister is entertaining. Second Brother is frail. Seventh Sister is counting spirit stones. Only you are free.”
Liang Xiao was speechless.
Qin Sangyue noticed her seventh junior sister—Hua Shengqing—happily stacking and counting her mountain of winnings. Using divine sense would be faster, but she was savoring the joy of sudden wealth.
Nan Sinning fully understood. When she once struck it rich from scavenging, she too had withdrawn cash from the ATM, counted it a hundred times, even slept on it, before finally depositing it again.
They weren’t counting money—they were counting happiness.
Qin Sangyue flushed, murmuring to Shen Tangyuan, “They won so much from your disciples. Should I have them return half?”
He waved it off. “No need. They won by skill—and because my disciples judged by appearances. Losing stones is a cheap lesson. Better this than losing their lives someday.”
She nodded, reassured.
Soon after, Hua Shengqing finished her counting, and Zhou Lixing’s dishes were ready.
Hua Shengqing happily handed out the divided spirit stones to her fellow disciples. She and Nan Sinning got the most, Zhou Lixing, Yuan Qing’an, and Qin Sangyue got equal shares, and the smallest share went to Liang Xiao.
“Fourth Senior Brother, this time you didn’t bet on Little Junior Sister or cheer for her, so you get the smallest portion. You don’t have any objections, do you?”
Liang Xiao accepted with a complicated look. “Of course not.”
Nan Sinning snorted softly. “Next time, if your eyes aren’t all glued to your Luo Junior Sister, maybe you’ll earn a bigger share.”
Liang Xiao’s embarrassment deepened.
Hua Shengqing tucked her winnings away with satisfaction. “Little Junior Sister is right—distribution must follow contribution. She put in the most effort and even risked danger. It’s only right she got the largest share.”
Nan Sinning gave her seventh senior sister a big thumbs up. “Seventh Senior Sister, you’re not bad either. I was worried you wouldn’t act well enough and mess up my plan, but you actually did better than I expected. You’re amazing!”
Hua Shengqing’s smile nearly split her face. She tried to sound modest: “You flatter me! Honestly, I wasn’t sure if I could fool them. But now I know alchemists are even easier to trick than I thought.”
Qin Sangyue: …
Their sect’s eldest senior brother is sitting right here, and you dare say that out loud?
Shen Tangyuan: …
This is the first time I’ve ever heard people openly discussing how stupid the victims were—right in front of the victims’ kin.
Zhou Lixing nearly dropped his chopsticks. “What? Seventh Sister, all your worry about Little Junior Sister was fake? You were acting?”
Hua Shengqing laughed. “Not entirely fake! I was worried, but I exaggerated to make others think she’d lose, so they’d bet more. Deep down, I trusted Little Junior Sister.”
Everyone finally realized the betting ploy had been Nan Sinning’s idea.
Qin Sangyue sighed. Our Little Junior Sister is clever now… maybe a bit too clever.
Liang Xiao frowned. “If it was all an act, why didn’t you tell us beforehand? You made me panic for nothing.”
Nan Sinning said bluntly, “Only Seventh Sister knew. Not even Eldest Senior Sister was told. Why should I tell you? Could you have acted?”
Hua Shengqing sneered, “If he didn’t run off and spill everything to Luo Qingyao, that’d already be a miracle.”
Nan Sinning beamed. “Seventh Sister, you’re wise! Secrets succeed in silence—once leaked, they fail.”
Between the two of them, Liang Xiao was left speechless.
Yuan Qing’an smoothly diverted the conversation: “So, Little Junior Sister, you planned all this from the start?”
Nan Sinning nodded proudly. “Of course! A good performance must be complete.”
Hua Shengqing gasped. “So using that old rickety cauldron and peeking at the alchemy book mid-way… that was all acting?”
Nan Sinning admitted, “The first failure was real—I mishandled the fire. But the rest, yes, was intentional.”
Her seniors were full of admiration. Without her show, the Medicine King disciples wouldn’t have bet so heavily.
Even Shen Tangyuan had to admit, this girl had sharp insight into people’s hearts. Was Heaven compensating her with doubled wit after years of foolishness?
Nan Sinning, worried they’d think her too scheming, quickly said, “Third Senior Brother worked hard cooking this feast. Let’s eat!”
The table returned to its food.
Qin Sangyue invited Shen Tangyuan warmly: “Senior Brother Shen, please don’t be polite in our Sword Peak’s quarters.”
Zhou Lixing added, “These beast meats were hunted by me and Little Junior Sister. She taught me cooking methods. Please, taste more.”
As a pill cultivator, Shen Tangyuan rarely ate. But he obliged, taking a round meatball. The flavor stunned him. “Such deliciousness?!”
Zhou Lixing flushed. “It’s all thanks to Little Junior Sister’s teachings.”
Nan Sinning corrected, “I only taught the method. You perfected it. Your skill is the hidden salt—unseen, but the true reason for the taste.”
Her words struck deep. Zhou Lixing, once a downtrodden kitchen apprentice, had always hidden in others’ shadows. But now, he realized—these dishes are mine. I created this taste!
Pride surged. Spiritual qi suddenly converged around him, forming little whirlpools.
Nan Sinning exclaimed, “Third Senior Brother—?”
Qin Sangyue smiled. “He’s in enlightenment.”
Enlightenment! Harder than cultivation breakthroughs, a rare chance for true growth.
Shen Tangyuan, envious, shielded him with a formation plate.
Hua Shengqing blinked. “So… was he enlightened because Little Junior Sister praised him?”
Yuan Qing’an chuckled. “Exactly. Her words struck his heart and broke a shackle.”
All eyes turned to Nan Sinning, who nearly choked on her food under their stares. “Can we please finish eating first?”
The meal continued. Zhou Lixing meditated, untouched.
Later, after the table was cleared—Liang Xiao obediently cleaned up—Shen Tangyuan approached Nan Sinning.
“Junior Sister Nan, may I ask about your spirit-replenishing pill recipe?”
Nan Sinning readily showed him the list. He quickly spotted her substitutions—ungraded bell grass for first-grade nurturing flower, common purple dawn grass for ivy.
Her point was simple: every plant has use. Grades are man-made.
Shen Tangyuan’s eyes lit with realization. She had succeeded with harder ingredients—her skill was greater than he’d guessed.
Her analogy of travel—direct airship versus multiple transfers—made him beam. “Brilliant! This broadens my view.”
Already, he planned to train his disciples by forcing them to use substitutes. Nan Sinning shivered inwardly. Poor Medicine King disciples…
Their discussion deepened, her shallow knowledge enriched by his mastery. Truly, a single conversation surpasses years of study.
Finally, Shen Tangyuan offered, “Do you have more pill recipes? I’ll trade you this array plate.”
She gave him a dozen low-grade ones. He was delighted, even exchanging messaging jades with her.
At the door, he hesitated, then turned back. “Junior Sister Nan, your alchemy talent is extraordinary. Consider joining our Medicine King City. If you became my master’s disciple… he would never accept another.”