Silence filled the camp because of the accusation.
Righteous cultivators prided themselves on avoiding association with any kind of dark cultivation techniques. The orthodox methods of becoming stronger emphasized slow and steady growth based on gathering nature's energy.
The only shortcuts that righteous cultivators could use were plants, pills, potions, minerals, stones, or beast cores that had concentrated spiritual energy. However, these would also cause the foundation to be unstable and were used with caution.
Any cultivation methods that deviated from this path were considered devil cultivation.
Devil cultivators were hated by everyone, and it was for good reason. Most of them used unnatural techniques to gain power, and they did not care who they hurt along the way. Some of their methods included blood magic, poison, puppets, necromancy, and even human sacrifice.
If righteous cultivators found devil cultivators, they would launch a wide-scale attack to eliminate the scourge. There was no mercy for those who did not follow the orthodox methods. Therefore, the accusation by the female cultivators had a big impact on the entire camp.
"Watch your mouth! You cannot accuse people of devil cultivation casually. Do you understand the effect this could have if someone took it seriously?" Long Jingyi was angry at the two girls. As expected, nothing good could come from the Shademantle Academy.
"It is true!" The two girls cried in unison.
Mo Heng was familiar with the two girls. Neither of them was remarkable as a mage, but they had to have some talent to be welcome in a good academy. But most importantly, they were considered average girls who would not cause trouble unnecessarily.
If they were being this hysterical, there had to be some truth to their statement.
"Senior Long, I know you trust your friend, but we should hear my junior sisters out. You know girls can be a little cowardly and excitable in stressful situations. It will reassure them if we make sure they know your friend is not a devil cultivator." Mo Heng said loudly, ensuring to attract everyone's attention.
As a calculating man, he knew how to make sure that the situation became as sensational as possible. In truth, he did not care about the man in a scarlet cloak. From the small glance he caught, the cultivator was a pale, pretty boy.
He probably did not have much cultivation or power.
But he could be useful in taking down Long Jingyi. He had long disliked the sight of the cultivator because he was always the centre of attention. Even Feng Yie's father who was supposed to hate the Hallowflame Academy was always praising him.
Often, he wished out loud he could poach Long Jingyi as a disciple and a son-in-law.
Mo Heng had tried to ingratiate himself with Principal Feng, but the man did not consider him anything more than an assistant, no, a servant. If Long Jingyi was found guilty of associating with a devil cultivator, it would destroy his name.
It was not likely that Long Jingyi would be killed because he had a mysterious background. But it would be enough to kick him off the pedestal and out of the limelight.
Long Jingyi took a breath and calmed down. His anger burned strong against the Shademantle team, but he could not act irrationally. He could not allow them to take advantage of the situation. He trusted the gut feeling that told him to save Yuan Haoran, so believed in Yuan Haoran.
There was no need to worry.
"Go ahead." He spoke to the female cultivators. "Please tell us why you believe Yuan Haoran is a devil cultivator."
"He made us feed Senior Feng bird excrement." One of them blurted out loudly.
The entire camp gasped in horror at the statement. The girl quickly covered her mouth as she realised what she had said. All things considered, this was not an important part of proving that Yuan Haoran was a devil cultivator.
But it was just so disgusting.
Since she smelt the mixture of bird poop and spring water, it was all she could think about. She just wanted to throw up.
"Is this true?" Mo Heng was horrified but also a little gleeful. It felt good to see Feng Yie fall from grace. It served her right for always looking down at him as if she was better. Just like her father...
"It is true." The reply was cold and calm.
Yuan Haoran stood and straightened his cloak without haste. He still did not face the crowd behind him. Instead, he used his foot to push Feng Yie to her side. Immediately, she vomited a vile black fluid with a heaving sound.
"You, you have killed Senior Feng!" Mo Heng shouted.
"Does she look dead?" Yuan Haoran asked as he turned. "And even if she were dead, you would be the one at fault."
"You fed her bird waste!" Mo Heng said.
"I did. And now, she has a chance at survival." Yuan Haoran said.
Mo Heng realised that he would not get anywhere with someone who refused to argue with him. This strange man who looked too weak to even truss a chicken did not even look concerned. He looked at the two girls cowering behind the group.
"You have been accused of being a devil cultivator. You should know what that means. What do you have to say for yourself?" Mo Heng shouted.
Yuan Haoran chuckled. "The burden of proof is not mine."
"What?" Mo Heng was confused.
Long Jingyi laughed. "Idiot!"
Mo Heng fumed, but he really did not understand.
"The person accusing me of being a devil cultivator is responsible for producing the evidence to support their claim. It is not upon me to prove the negative." Yuan Haoran explained with derision in his eyes.
Mo Heng felt like he was being looked down upon again. "My junior sister saw you using devil techniques."
"I hardly think combining bird excrement and spring water counts as a devil technique. The material was collected and mixed by Long Jingyi openly in their sight. The water was provided by your junior sisters, and they were responsible for feeding the patient." Yuan Haoran replied.
"It is not only that!" One of the girls shouted as she realised that the demon would go free. If he was not caught, he would come after them. "He resurrected the snake corpse using necromancy and made it bite Senior Feng again."
"And he tried to choke us to death when we wanted to scream for help." Her companion joined with teary sobs.
"What do you have to say for yourself?" Mo Heng regained his energy.
"I assume you are talking about this snake?" Yuan Haoran held up a dead and limp snake. "I have a strong affinity with snakes and decided to keep this corpse to play with it a little. You are welcome to examine its state if you wish. But seeing as I am treating your companion for free, I will take the snake as a souvenir."
His scarlet eyes looked at the girls, and they shrank back with shivering bodies. His eyes turned back to Mo Heng. "You can also examine your junior sisters for any signs of physical damage indicating strangulation or choking. If you do discover foul play, find me."
Yuan Haoran walked away, and no one dared to stop him. Long Jingyi looked at the Shademantle team in warning before following him.
Mo Heng looked at Feng Yi. Her skin was no longer grey, and her breathing was shallow but even. Even her weak heartbeat was beating steadily. It was clear she was going to survive this ordeal. No, no, he could not let that happen.
"Help Senior Feng clean up and place her in a safe tent. She should be comfortable even though she is dying." He ordered the female cultivators before turning and walking away with murderous eyes.