At this moment, even Yang Qing, despite his carefree nature, refrained from intervening. The respect of the court had to be upheld above all else. This was the creed instilled in all who would one day serve within these halls—judges, inquisitors, court guards, and all other personnel alike.
"U-um, Judge, could you please forgive her?" Cheng Yuan pleaded urgently, his voice trembling with nervousness. "She's young and still unaware of the ways of the world, and there are areas where she's ignorant. We never allowed her to leave the sect, knowing the dangers outside and our inability to properly protect her. Because of this, she hasn't had much exposure to the outside world. Please, show her mercy."
He may have held a deep grudge against the emerald leaf cow but she was still a member of the Green Fog Swamp sect and as such was still under his care. This was his primary obligation as the sect master. Whatever grievances he had could wait till later.
Yang Qing and the others were not surprised by the plea. Cheng Yuan seemed to be the ideal Sect Master, embodying the demeanor and qualities expected of someone in his position, as evidenced by the testimonies and his current response. The only one caught off guard by his sudden plea was Wen Chang. She had expected him to gloat and mock her misfortune, but his unexpected reaction caused her to reconsider her opinion of Cheng Yuan.
Yang Qing had an amused look as he watched Sect Master Cheng Yuan.
"Now it makes sense why his fight with the emerald leaf cow ended in a draw. At first, I had assumed it was because Wen Chang had a superior core but from the faint fluctuations I got from the sect master, it seems to show his core quality isn't that much different from the emerald leaf cow. They both seem to have an orange core...
So that's how it is," mused Yang Qing, a knowing look flashing in his eyes."He is rather soft-hearted." he added.
Yang Qing silently pieced together his conclusions as Yi Jie withdrew his oppressive aura from Wen Chang. She was able to get up again, though her legs still kept shaking and one couldn't tell whether it was because of the injuries she got from being forced down or some other reason.
"Thank you, inquisitor." Sect master Cheng Yuan hurriedly offered his thanks as a huge relief washed over his body, which felt like slumping over, from slowly losing strength. Today may go down as the most unnerving day he had ever had, which was quite something considering where his sect was. He called thousands upon thousands of ferocious spirit beasts neighbor, while they considered him and his sect, a delectable panacea.
Yi Jie looked at the sect master for a while before he said in a sigh,
"You must have it tough huh?" casting a sideways glance at Yang Qing with deep meaning in his eyes. Yang Qing pretended not to notice.
Cheng Yuan didn't quite get what Yi Jie was hinting at but he could detect the unveiled sympathy in his tone and that look, he gave him, almost like that of a kindred spirit.
This left him baffled as it wasn't long ago when that same cultivator subjected him to an intense sensation where he felt like his entire being was about to be diced in half.
"Now then, Wen Chang, if you please," Yang Qing motioned for her to continue, signaling her to answer the earlier question about the identities of the elders who had taken her into the sect vault.
"Ye...ye...yes, the elders, right, right!" Wen Chang hurriedly replied, clearly afraid of facing the same terrifying pressure she had just experienced. "One of the elders is the one who has been in charge of my care since I awakened and began cultivating—Elder Peng Zhen. As for the others, they are Elder Gui Bingwen, Elder Jia Tingfeng, Elder Hao Ye, and lastly, Elder Dong Yanlin."
Upon hearing the names, Cheng Yuan's expression shifted to one of deep complexity. His face reflected a tumult of emotions—anger, fury, regret, sadness, disbelief, confusion—and most of all, an intense sense of worry.
"So, it's them, huh?" Cheng Yuan muttered, his expression worn and defeated as he slowly rubbed his hand over his face. "Are they so dissatisfied with my way of doing things that they'd scheme against me and the sect?"
"It seems you have quite a history with them. Their betrayal doesn't seem to have come as a surprise you?" Yang Qing softly asked, curiosity seeping into his tone.
Sect Master Cheng Yuan sighed deeply before replying, "We do have some history, but did I ever think it would be enough to turn them against me and the sect? No, I never would've expected it in a million years."
"Oi, Cheng Yuan, what do you mean by 'turn against the sect'? Isn't what Elder Peng and the others are doing for the good of the sect? Exposing your lies and treachery?" Wen Chang couldn't help but ask, noticing how Cheng Yuan repeatedly mentioned how Elder Peng and the others had turned against the sect.
The Elder Peng she knew was righteous and kind, always putting the sect's welfare first. How could he possibly be involved in anything that would harm it?
Cheng Yuan glanced at Wen Chang, then gave her a weak, defeated smile before answering, his voice heavy with the weight of years.
"Wen Chang, it seems we were duped by Elder Peng Zhen and the rest."
"Huuuuuuuh?! Duped? Duped how?" Wen Chang exclaimed, unable to contain her shock.
"Well, for starters, the treasures in the sect's treasury vault. I was there a few days ago, and according to the records, there were 100 high-grade Earth-rank herbs and 6 low-grade Sky-rank herbs. But the images shown to us from when you were there depicted 240 high-grade Earth-rank herbs and 7 Sky-rank herbs," Cheng Yuan patiently explained, drawing evidence from Wen Chang's testimony.
"Since you were there personally, you must have noticed that amongst the Sky-rank herbs, one especially stood out—its energy purity was significantly higher than the rest. That herb was a 3,000-year-old Luminous Star Flower. It's Elder Peng Zhen's most prized possession, one he risked his life to obtain from the Millionsfold Treasure Ocean.
The herb may very well be his key to breaking through to the Core Formation realm. There's no way he would simply hand it over to the sect unless he's decided to remain at the peak of Foundation Establishment forever.
Do you honestly believe he would do that?" asked Cheng Yuan, before moving on to stroke his beard, as his look turned pensive and somber.
"As for the additional high-grade Earth-rank herbs, some of them appear to have come from the personal collections of the elders you mentioned. What I don't understand is how their private collections could match the sect's stock numbers," Cheng Yuan said, his brows furrowing in suspicion.
"They may have colluded with another power or stumbled upon a secret inheritance in a hidden realm, but it's more likely the former. Given their strength, it seems improbable they could have discovered something like that on their own.
As for their intentions..." Cheng Yuan's voice dropped, his tone growing low and somber. The air around him seemed to thicken, heavy with unspoken gravity as he turned his gaze toward Wen Chang. "Planting these treasures secretly in the vault, then revealing them to you—it should be clear by now, even to you, Wen Chang. Their aim was likely to sow discord between the two most powerful figures in the sect."
Cheng Yuan could feel the pit in his stomach grow ever so deeper with every word he spoke.
"But to what end? To rule the sect? Maybe, but not really," Cheng Yuan said as he shook his head dismissively.
"Peng Zhen already held the post of vice sect master, while the rest all held prominent positions within the sect. They already had influence and power within the sect .. If not that, then.. mmh, maybe they hoped to use you as a hidden blade to get rid of me because of the resentment some of them held because some of the policies I introduced were eating away at their advantages within the sect .."
"Wait, this doesn't make sense," Wen Chang interjected suddenly, her tone laced with desperation.
"Elder Peng Zhen and the others wouldn't do this. Even if I believe what you say about the herbs being planted in the treasury, it still doesn't change the fact that, by your own admission, the sect had over 100 high-grade Earth-rank herbs and 6 Sky-rank herbs.
That amount would have been more than enough to aid my cultivation when I was stagnating. But not once did you produce any of them. All I ever received were middle-grade Earth-rank herbs. How do you explain that? You can't just pin this on Elder Peng Zhen and the others."