The air on the high platform crackled with tension.

The killing intent radiating from Gu Qingyuan could barely be contained.

Just then, Bai Yang finally staggered his way onto the platform.

"Master..."

"I beg you, please save Junior Sister Ye!"

He walked straight to Song Wanning’s side, his body covered in shocking wounds, barely able to stand.

But his gaze was stubborn, though it was unclear what he was hoping for.

’At first, he resented Song Wanning. He resented her for being jealous of Ye Chuxue and constantly making trouble for her.’

’Later, he hated Song Wanning. He hated her for refusing to save a life, for framing him, for turning on him.’

’But now, more than anything, he was afraid.’

’Afraid of losing Song Wanning’s love.’

’A faint hope stirred within him that Song Wanning would agree to treat Ye Chuxue, if only because she cared for him.’

’He secretly hoped she would dote on him like she used to.’

’This feeling even overshadowed his concern for Ye Chuxue.’

Song Wanning finally turned and looked at him, her gaze intense.

’Her three disciples... and all of them only had eyes for Ye Chuxue.’

’Look at him.’

’Covered in wounds, and still, he only cared about Ye Chuxue.’

She slowly raised a hand, brushing aside the blood-matted hair from Bai Yang’s forehead.

As her cold fingers brushed against his skin, Bai Yang froze. A surge of joy washed over him, and his hands, hanging at his sides, trembled uncontrollably.

But in the next moment, Song Wanning’s hand came to rest on his left shoulder.

She pressed down hard, and the bloody wound beneath her hand instantly deepened.

CRACK! CRACK! The bone fractured.

Bai Yang gasped in pain, but he was yanked forward until he was right in front of Song Wanning.

So close he could smell her unique fragrance.

"So worried about her?"

Song Wanning’s gaze lingered on his face, a faint smile playing on her lips.

"Then why don’t you go become Gu Qingyuan’s disciple?"

With that, she shoved him, sending Bai Yang flying.

"Eldest Brother!"

An Ze and Lu Nanfeng cried out in alarm. They rushed to help Bai Yang up, their faces flushing red with a mixture of anger and anxiety.

"Eldest Brother, are you all right?"

’Eldest Brother is already in this state, and Master still won’t let him be...’

’Master is so cold-blooded!!!!’

Bai Yang’s face was deathly pale. His expression was dazed as he kept his head hung low.

He shifted his feet, but in the end, he chose to surrender. He didn’t dare make another demand of Song Wanning.

’He finally understood now.’

’He had long lost the right to be willful.’

"Junior Sister Song, whatever the matter is, let’s discuss it back at the sect. Come, let’s go back first..."

The Sect Master of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect stood up, his expression grim. He wanted to move the discussion elsewhere, lest Song Wanning say anything more that would damage the reputation of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

After all, Gu Qingyuan was the pride of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect.

But Song Wanning remained seated, perfectly composed and with no intention of moving.

"What’s the rush, Sect Master?"

"He just fell in love with his disciple. Is there really a need to be so secretive about it?"

"Gu Qingyuan himself doesn’t seem to care, so why should you?"

"Junior Sister Song, watch your words!!!!"

The Sect Master of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect was so furious his vision went dark.

Once these words were spoken today, Gu Qingyuan’s reputation would be ruined.

The leaders of the seven sects and four schools were all present; by tomorrow, the news would have spread far and wide.

Song Wanning’s expression was neutral. "If he has the nerve to ask me, his former fiancée, to save his darling, do you really think I’m not allowed to talk about it?"

"In fact, I’d like to ask all the sect masters here to be the judge."

"Am I wrong for refusing to treat Ye Chuxue?"

’She had wanted to ask this countless times.’

’Where, exactly, had she gone wrong?’

’She had been jealous of Ye Chuxue, she had loathed her, she had even hated her enough to wish her dead.’

’She had never once hidden her malice.’

’And yet, these people were forcing her to save the girl.’

’Her refusal made her a villain beyond redemption.’

’Her fiancé condemned her, her disciples despised her, and even her peers within the sect decried her actions as absurd.’

’Even when she was driven to the demonic path, they just stood by, casually accusing her of being selfish and narrow-minded, claiming her fall was entirely her own fault.’

’They worshiped their rising new star, completely forgetting all she had given to the sect.’

’They turned her into a complete joke.’

Even now, Song Wanning still wanted to ask: Where, exactly, had she gone wrong?

She had never felt she was in the wrong!

At these words, the expressions of the sect masters present turned solemn.

This was an internal affair of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect; it seemed inappropriate for them to interfere.

However, Liu Shiyue, the Master of the Hehuan Sect, suddenly spoke up.

"She’s right!"

"Song Dao You’s actions are perfectly reasonable. Who would dare say she is in the wrong?"

Her expression was cold, but the look she gave Song Wanning was incredibly sincere.

"It was Gu Qingyuan who wronged her first, yet he still has the audacity to demand that Song Dao You save someone. His actions are simply absurd!"

The Master of the Seven Stars Sect at her side tugged her sleeve, signaling her not to get involved.

But Liu Shiyue merely shot a cold glare at Gu Qingyuan. "Men are all the same—fickle and faithless. And they always love to push the blame onto women!"

"I’ve seen plenty like him, but I’ve truly never met anyone as shameless as Lord Gu."

"..."

The other sect masters exchanged glances, a helpless look in their eyes.

’He had really hit a nerve with Liu Shiyue.’

Hearing this, Gu Qingyuan’s face turned livid, and his arms around Ye Chuxue tightened.

"This has nothing to do with you, Master Liu. I suggest you watch what you say!"

"Song Wanning was the one who administered the poison in the first place, so it stands to reason she should be the one to cure it!"

The woman in his arms was unconscious and felt as light as a feather, making his heart ache for her even more.

’He had to make Song Wanning remove the poison completely, or Chuxue’s future cultivation would be affected.’

"Pfft—"

Song Wanning suddenly burst out laughing.

"Hahaha—"

She rocked back and forth, laughing as if she had just heard the most hilarious joke in the world.

When she’d had her fill of laughing, she lifted her gaze.

"Gu Qingyuan, you’re truly ridiculous. Me, poison her?"

"It was clearly your precious disciple who goaded that fool Bai Yang into stealing my Elixir Pills. He failed, and ended up stealing poison instead."

"If just one of you present had a shred of decency, Ye Chuxue would never have been poisoned."

With that, Song Wanning had condemned everyone present.

The Heavenly Inquiry Sect Master’s face burned with shame, and the anger in his heart intensified.

But with the Song Family’s power, he didn’t dare truly offend Song Wanning.

The other elders were also furious, but none dared to speak up, for they all had guilty consciences.

’So that’s what happened?’

The visiting sect masters had their perceptions shattered once again, and the way they looked at Gu Qingyuan turned strange.

’If what Song Wanning said was true, then Gu Qingyuan was simply going too far!’

’The fact that Song Wanning could still speak to him so calmly was a testament to her magnanimity!’

"Chuxue never goaded Bai Yang!"

"Stop slinging mud at her!"

Gu Qingyuan’s expression was glacial as the angry words tumbled out: "Not everyone is as scheming, sinister, and vicious as you!"

’Chuxue was like a pure, flawless snowflake on a mountaintop.’

’And Song Wanning? What did she have on her hands but blood?’

"Tsk!"

Song Wanning didn’t get angry at his words. She simply rose, brushed her sleeves, and grabbed Li Rao’s hand.

"Since I’m so sinister and vicious, then there’s no way I’m curing this poison."

"Don’t you dare kneel and beg me ever again."