Banfenghe glared fiercely at Jiang Zhiyun. She was itching with hatred in her heart, but didn't dare to show it on her face.
She put on her usual weak demeanor. Tears welled up in her eyes instantly. She complained to the people around her aggrievedly, "I don't know why Senior Sister Jiang has such a deep misunderstanding of me. If the elders really think so, I won't be able to defend myself no matter how much I say."
Although everyone suspected her, she wasn't without a way to save herself. The Sect Master Qingdai had said that she would arrive soon. So all she had to do was hold on until the Sect Master Qingdai came.
Jiang Zhiyun burst into tears and threw herself at Qing Qing, covering Qing Qing's still-bleeding mouth.
"Qing Qing, don't scare me! You've been harmed by a villain, but she still looks so guiltless. It's really unfair!"
Jiang Zhiyun secretly gave Banfenghe a disdainful look. Wasn't this just a competition of acting skills? She didn't believe she would lose!
Elder Lianqiao's face darkened. If such a scandal were to be known by the outer sect disciples, it would be a huge joke.
The young sect master of the Aoki Sect, living in such a place was bad enough. When seriously ill, she couldn't even get proper rest because of a disciple.
Now that the two were each sticking to their own stories, Elder Lianqiao knew that these two in front of her couldn't produce any solid evidence other than arguing. So the best thing to do for now was to settle Qing Qing down first.
"Yo, it's so lively here."
Shen Qing pulled Li Xian and walked over from behind the crowd. When Elder Lianqiao saw Shen Qing, her face immediately darkened.
It was really the case of fearing something and then it happening!
Shen Qing and Li Xian were outer sect disciples. If they saw this scene, they would surely spread it around. Then the Aoki Sect would lose a lot of face.
So Elder Lianqiao pushed through the crowd and blocked in front of Shen Qing and Li Xian before they got closer. She said, "Where have you two been? This isn't the Qingyun Sword Sect or the Five - Element Dao Sect. How can you just wander around casually?"
Seeing Elder Lianqiao's aggressive manner, Shen Qing knew what she was up to. So she ignored her and flashed straight towards Qing Qing.
Shen Qing pretended to be surprised and pointed at Qing Qing on the ground, saying, "Oh, isn't this the young sect master of the Aoki Sect? Why is she lying on the ground and spitting blood!"
Seeing Shen Qing's exaggerated expression, everyone present covered their eyes or turned their heads away, unable to bear to look.
Having their family scandal exposed by an outsider was already embarrassing enough. And now having it blatantly said out made them feel even more ashamed.
Before Elder Lianqiao could turn around and grab Shen Qing, Shen Qing took out an image stone.
Banfenghe immediately thought something was wrong.
Sure enough, Shen Qing gave her a meaningful look and said, "I just happen to have an image that everyone is interested in. Let's take a look together."
It was a familiar scene. Shen Qing nodded proudly at Li Xian.
Fortunately, in her previous life, she had been tortured by Lin Yibai. She was used to pinning a delicate image stone on her chest wherever she went. So Banfenghe's action of forcing the medicine into Qing Qing had been recorded.
Before anyone could stop her, Shen Qing activated the image stone. A huge light curtain floated in the air, clearly showing Banfenghe forcing the medicine into Qing Qing.
"Yo yo yo, isn't this someone forcing the medicine?"
Banfenghe was almost crazy with anger. She quickly defended herself, "My medicine isn't poisonous. It's the medicine for the young sect master's recuperation. Look, the young sect master woke up after drinking the medicine!"
Jiang Zhiyun said, "The medicine you forced down is poisonous. Otherwise, why would Qing Qing spit blood!"
Banfenghe argued, "The image stone only has the first half of the recording, but not the second half. I could even say that it was you who came here later and poisoned the young sect master. This image was taken out by Shen Qing. So it must be Shen Qing who tampered with it."
Shen Qing was not in a hurry. She said slowly, "Since I've already presented the evidence, if you want to prove your innocence, please also present evidence, for example... the dregs of the medicine you replaced."
"The dregs of the medicine..." Banfenghe's face showed some panic. "I've already disposed of the dregs... mixed them with other medicine..."
How could she dare to take out the dregs of the medicine? There were some special things in it!
Banfenghe's stuttering annoyed Elder Lianshan. He shouted angrily, "You're so muddled! Is this your first day in the Aoki Sect? What on earth have you learned under my guidance?!"
"I've told you that as a medical cultivator, although you should first have a right heart, you should also care about the patients you're responsible for. Just like the doctors in the mortal world, you must keep a copy of the prescription and the dregs of the medicine every time you treat a patient. Where on earth have you forgotten what I've taught you?!"
Saying this, Elder Lianshan snorted coldly. "Oh, I understand now. Even after you joined the Aoki Sect, your mind was never on cultivating as a medical practitioner. You've been thinking about all sorts of devious ways all day long!"
"If you're so stubborn, you don't need to call me Master anymore in the future. Just leave on your own. Do you think you're the only one who wants to be my disciple?"
Hearing Elder Lianshan's words, Banfenghe finally panicked. She knelt down on the ground with a thud and begged Elder Lianshan pitifully, "Master, Master, please don't abandon your disciple. I'm not disobeying your teachings. It's just... just..."
Banfenghe stammered but couldn't say what it was just because of.
There was a battle in her heart. On the one hand, she really wanted to beg Elder Lianshan not to say such harsh words to her. On the other hand, she remembered her mission.
How could she openly tell everyone that this wasn't her true intention and that she was being instructed by someone?
But if she said so, the person behind her would surely not let her go!
Thinking like this, her eyes turned red with anxiety. She wanted to prove her innocence but had no way to do it.
Elder Lianshan was so angry that he almost fainted. Originally, he thought that Banfenghe was an orphan girl. Although it was disgraceful for her to get in through the back door, she was still a poor soul.
Seeing her pitiful look, he would think of the hard - struggling days he and his younger sister Lianqiao had in the small village. And when he heard from the Sect Master Qingdai that she was an orphan girl, Elder Lianshan felt pity for her and took her under his wing.
But who would have known that not long after taking Banfenghe in, she showed her true colors.
She didn't cultivate hard. She couldn't even recite the medical scriptures until now. She just fooled around with the male disciples all day long.
At first, he, relying on his status as a master, patiently advised her. But she, relying on the power of the Sect Master Qingdai, didn't take him seriously at all.
So, like everyone else, he gradually began to dislike Banfenghe.
Although he knew that as a master, he shouldn't be like this, his disgust for Banfenghe grew stronger and stronger.
Until now, when he heard that Banfenghe didn't even keep the dregs of the medicine, he even had the idea of expelling his disciple.
He thought so and said so. So Banfenghe could also feel that Elder Lianshan wasn't joking. He really intended to drive her out of the sect. That's why she knelt down to beg for mercy.
"Banfenghe, since you entered my sect, you haven't devoted yourself to cultivation. I don't expect you to be able to cure diseases and save people and become a figure like our ancestors. But you can't even have a proper heart in your path."
Elder Lianshan's tone was full of disappointment. He shook his head. In Banfenghe's pleading eyes, he still said that sentence: "You're not upright. Since it's like this, you don't need to be under my name anymore. Just leave on your own..."