Mei Jiji looked eager to try.
Since everyone else had taken a turn hitting Ye Yan, he couldn’t just fall behind. But just as he raised his hand, Ye Yan suddenly grabbed his wrist.
“Enough!” Ye Yan covered his burning, swollen face and shouted angrily. “I’ve already said, the innocent need no defense. Since you all believe I stole, fine—by chance, I placed Memory Stones in my quarters. Once you see them, the truth will be clear!”
As he spoke, he took out a Memory Stone.
Li Changju’s heart sank. Damn it, he had forgotten about this part. Even though the system mission was already completed, if Ye Yan presented evidence, he would still end up beaten and thrown into confinement.
“Who knows if you forged it?” Xiao Hongyan snatched the Memory Stone from his hand.
“You think I only have one?” Ye Yan sneered and produced another.
“Despicable!” Xiao Hongyan gritted her teeth and glared at him fiercely.
Ye Yan didn’t understand why she suddenly showed such hostility. Judging by how she defended Li Changju, it was obvious her dislike stemmed from him.
Had this woman gone mad?
Wasn’t she the one who hated Li Changju most before?
“Can Memory Stones be forged?” Ye Yan mocked. “Second Senior Sister, you can’t speak such nonsense with your eyes open.”
“Enough! Stop arguing. Since it’s about evidence, then we’ll watch the Memory Stone!” Bai Shuyue declared.
Li Changju’s stomach lurched. It was over. Xiao Hongyan, too, braced herself to take the blame.
Ye Yan smirked coldly and began to form a seal, activating the Memory Stone’s recording.
“Everyone, look! Isn’t this Senior Brother Changju? Senior Brother, how do you explain this?” Ye Yan pointed at the projection, his tone icy.
Li Changju forced out, “I… I have no defense!”
“It’s only a back view. How can you confirm it’s him?” Lin Xiaowan quickly stood up for him.
“His figure, his robes, his hair ornament—all identical to Senior Brother Changju’s today. Who else could it be?” Ye Yan said calmly.
“Secretly sneaking into my chamber—what was your intention? Senior Brother Changju, explain yourself!” Ye Yan pressed closer.
Li Changju racked his brain but knew there was no escape. The evidence was nailed right onto his forehead. “I have no defense!”
“Clothes and figure alone can’t condemn him. What if someone framed him? Relying on such flimsy evidence is absurd!” Xiao Hongyan said forcefully.
“Whether it’s framing or not, we’ll see when he turns around,” Ye Yan sneered. “Once his face shows, the truth will be known!”
“Continue watching,” Bai Shuyue said coldly, her eyes sliding toward Li Changju.
Li Changju trembled but forced himself to remain composed.
“Yes!” Ye Yan urged the Memory Stone to continue.
The violet-robed figure in the recording seemed to reach into his robe, pulling something out.
“Li Changju, let’s see how you deny it this time!” Ye Yan laughed sinisterly.
Xiao Hongyan’s face paled as she prepared to step out and claim everything was done under her orders. But suddenly, the projection went dark.
“What’s this?” Ye Yan froze. Li Changju was stunned as well, while Xiao Hongyan quietly sighed in relief.
“Are you toying with me?” Bai Shuyue’s voice was calm, but danger laced her tone.
“No, I wouldn’t dare!” Ye Yan quickly denied. “Senior Sister, I still have more Memory Stones. There must be one showing the thief’s face!”
He hurriedly laid out several more stones and activated them. Yet every single one turned black at the critical moment—just as the figure was about to turn.
“This…” Ye Yan stood dumbfounded. What was going on?
“No, someone must have tampered with them!” he cried.
Xiao Hongyan sneered.
“It was you, wasn’t it? You rigged them to frame me!” Ye Yan suddenly snapped, grabbing Li Changju’s collar. “Explain yourself!”
“I have no defense!” Li Changju spread his hands.
“Pu chi—” Blood spurted from his mouth as he crashed to the ground.
“Ye Yan, you stole from me and tried to frame your fellow disciple. What punishment do you deserve?” Bai Shuyue’s killing intent surged in her gaze.
Crushed under her aura, Ye Yan could hardly breathe. He pointed a trembling finger at Li Changju. “It wasn’t me—it was him!”
“Still unrepentant!” Bai Shuyue’s cold voice rang out. She clenched her right hand, shattering Ye Yan’s spiritual power in an instant.
His pupils shrank in horror. “Senior Sister, spare me! I didn’t do it, I swear it wasn’t me!”
“You don’t admit it? No matter. Mei Jiji, speak!” Bai Shuyue turned her gaze.
Mei Jiji broke into a sweat and trembled as he stammered, “It was him, it was Ye Yan who told me to frame Senior Brother Changju. The person in the recording was me in disguise. Ye Yan promised that if I did it, I could walk sideways in the sect!” His voice cracked as he turned to Li Changju. “Senior Brother, it really wasn’t my idea! All of it was Ye Yan’s fault!”
Li Changju: ??? This… this isn’t how the plot was supposed to go. Wasn’t the novel written differently? Did I read a fake version?
Bai Shuyue’s expression hardened. “The truth is clear. Send Ye Yan to the Punishment Hall to suffer six piercings and a thousand cuts, then confine him for three months. If he offends again, he will not be spared!”
At her decree, Xiao Hongyan’s lips curled upward in joy. “Thank you, Senior Sister!”
Bai Shuyue gave her a cold nod.
Ye Yan, however, collapsed in despair. The punishment might not cripple him, but it was enough to skin him alive. This time, he was finished.
Xiao Hongyan rejoiced inwardly. Thankfully, this lifetime did not repeat the old mistakes. Ye Yan, this time I’ll let you suffer first. I have plenty of time to settle the score slowly.
“Wait!” Ye Yan shouted, struggling to his feet. He knelt before Bai Shuyue, kowtowing desperately. “Disciple knows his wrongs! Please, Senior Sister, show mercy!”
“Out of my sight!” Bai Shuyue looked at him with disdain and flicked her sleeve, blasting him out like a fly.
Then her gaze softened as she turned to Li Changju, who was still lost in thought. Smiling gently, she said, “Changju, come with me. I have something to say to you.”
“Me?” Li Changju pointed at himself in surprise.
“Yes, you.” Bai Shuyue nodded, her smile warm.
Xiao Hongyan frowned. Something wasn’t right. Senior Sister wasn’t acting like herself… Could it be that she had lived through the same dream as me?!