Han Xiao Zūnzhě could not accept that her young disciple had fallen, and fallen after being possessed by a fallen evil cultivator. Rubbing her temples, she said, "Han Lian, first put away your junior sister's body. And this soul—"
Before she finished, Zuo Qiu's blackened soul began to dissolve, then scattered before them. The storage bangle clutched to his chest dropped with a clang, drawing every eye.
Yunxi raised a hand and drew out a black token from within the bangle, letting it hover on her palm for inspection. Its material matched the other three she had obtained, though the pattern was different. She flipped her hand and stored it away.
Han Xiao frowned. "Ran Xi Daoyou, the items in that bangle still need to be examined by Jihan Gate."
"That was seized by Haoran Sect while tracking evil cultivators and was smuggled out by Zuo Qiu. This Zūnzhě must take it back."
"How do you prove it was seized by Haoran Sect?"
Unruffled, Yunxi showed a second, similar black token. "The Law Enforcement Hall, while tracing evil cultivators, found four such tokens on those captured. This one was the piece Zuo Qiu stole, which cut off our line of investigation.
I carry this token when I travel to search for their traces. It was also through this token that I confirmed Hao Miaoling's identity."
Yunxi was lying through her teeth. Regardless, she would never leave the token with Jihan Gate. Trusting Han Lian did not mean she trusted the entire sect, and their handling of the formula had hardly been admirable.
Han Xiao swallowed her frustration. "Ran Xi Daoyou already knew Hao Miaoling's true identity. Why did you not tell me?"
Yunxi arched a brow. "Tell you what? That your young disciple was possessed? Would you have believed it? For 'Hao Miaoling' to enter your tutelage, her identity must have been checked, or she would never have reached you.
Judging by when Zuo Qiu betrayed Haoran Sect, if he wanted to evade Jihan Gate's scrutiny, he would have seized Hao Miaoling not long after her spirit root was tested. Ten years is more than enough for his soul to fully meld with the body. You sensed nothing when you took her in. Would you have believed me on a single word?"
Han Xiao knew she was right. Neither side was truly at fault; each had its own position and concerns.
Han Ying, silent till now, spoke at the right moment. "Ran Xi Daoyou, where did you place the poison?"
"In the jade slip."
"Then Senior Sister Han Xiao—"
Yunxi handed over a porcelain vial. "This is the antidote."
Han Xiao drew a deep breath and swallowed it. She had no wish to die as stiflingly as Zuo Qiu. Even so, she could not help saying, "Ran Xi Daoyou, if Zuo Qiu had not acted, would I not have been the only one poisoned?"
Yunxi was forthright. "You are Han Lian's master. If Zuo Qiu did not bite, I would have delivered the antidote myself. Besides, I was certain he would. Once the sect purchased the formula, he would never get close again. This was his best chance to steal it.
The moment he moved, his identity would be exposed. Then the facts would speak, and I would not need to explain."
She nodded to Han Lian, retrieved the jade slip that contained the formula, cupped her hands to those present, and turned to leave.
Han Lian swept up Hao Miaoling's corpse and bangle, saluted her master, and followed her out.
Only Han Xiao and Han Ying remained. At last Han Xiao could not help herself. She struck the jade table at her side and shattered it. "Too arrogant. This is Jihan Gate, not Haoran Sect."
Han Ying glanced at her and soothed, "Senior Sister, Han Lian is a Divine Transformation cultivator now. She can handle what follows. Having this come to light is a blessing in disguise. At least a great hidden danger is gone.
If the possessed Hao Miaoling had grown stronger, then acted under your disciple's name, the consequences would have been unthinkable. It would not only implicate you, but all of Jihan Gate."
"I know. Still, with something this serious, Han Lian should have told me first. Am I the kind of master who cannot tell right from wrong?"
Han Ying coughed lightly. "Perhaps Han Lian did not know either."
Elsewhere, Ran Xi and Han Lian returned one after the other to the guest peak. Xun Kun and Yun Chen were already waiting. Today was their agreed departure, but when Ran Xi was suddenly summoned by Han Lian, they had no choice but to wait.
Yun Chen had guessed the poison Yunxi gave Hao Miaoling might have taken effect, which was why Han Lian had asked her to come.
When Ran Xi walked in, he asked first, "How did it go?"
Yunxi smiled. "We caught a big fish."
She had barely sat when Han Lian arrived and took a seat at Yunxi's side, frowning. "Ran Xi, since you already noticed something was wrong with Hao Miaoling, you could have told me. Why go to such lengths to poison her? And you did not tell me the plan. What if I failed to coordinate?"
Hearing Han Lian's tone so sharp, Xun Kun and Yun Chen thought they were quarreling. Yun Chen, who knew a bit of the inside story, hurried to smooth things over. "Han Lian, Ran Xi, if there is a misunderstanding, sit and clear it up. Quarreling solves nothing."
Xun Kun added, "Han Lian, your temper is running high.
"Ran Xi, did you do something without telling us?"
Yunxi slid a cup of spirit tea toward Han Lian, trying to placate her. "Cool down. It is not that I would not tell you. I truly do not trust your master. Huaxian Gate's Hua Bai is the cautionary tale. And earlier Han Xiao favored you taking Hao Miaoling as a disciple. Only after you refused did she take her in.
If, and I stress if, your master knew Hao Miaoling's identity, then her purpose bears scrutiny.
My earlier concerns were real. Though I was sure Hao Miaoling had a problem, I had no proof.
If I told you, you might have searched her soul. That would brand you as killing a fellow disciple. We would believe you, but your peers might not. If your master used that as pretext to punish you, then what?
To tell you the truth, I did not know the one who took Hao Miaoling's body was Zuo Qiu. I could only confirm ties to evil cultivators through the black token. So I used a poisoned formula as bait and made her jump.
As soon as she showed signs of poisoning, it proved she tried to steal the formula. Then you had evidence and would not be torn between sides. At worst I carry a reputation for arrogance.
This Zūnzhě is still young. I can bear that reputation."