Chapter 26: The Unveiling of Betrayal

Knowing Hua Yaoyao would not simply stand by as Yu Lingyue and the Red-Scaled Venomous Scorpion plunged downward, Qin Yangjun immediately rose and surged forward the moment his own task was complete.

Indeed, just as Qin Yangjun had anticipated, Hua Yaoyao, witnessing Yu Lingyue’s plummet, instantly channeled her spiritual energy and lunged after her.

Yet, a rather comical scene transpired. Whether it was due to their overwhelming urgency, the two unexpectedly crashed into each other, and Qin Yangjun’s outstretched hand barely missed its target, Yu Lingyue.

Hua Yaoyao could only watch, her eyes wide with horror, as Yu Lingyue plunged into the corrosive blood poison.

With wide, disbelieving eyes, Hua Yaoyao was overwhelmed by a torrent of emotions that stunned her mind, causing her to forget even the basic art of sword flight. It was only Qin Yangjun’s swift intervention, seizing her with a quick hand, that prevented her from following.

The moment they ascended back to the cliff, Hua Yaoyao crumpled to the ground, utterly spent.

“I’m sorry, Senior Brother,” Hua Yaoyao choked out, her voice laced with despair. “It’s all my fault. If I hadn’t interfered, you might have saved Junior Sister Yu. It’s truly all my fault. I’m so sorry…”

Hua Yaoyao’s words were a dazed whisper, and it was painfully clear that she had shouldered the entirety of the blame.

‘Interfered?’ ‘No, no, no. Strictly speaking, it was I who interfered with Hua Yaoyao,’ Qin Yangjun thought. ‘The collision was entirely my doing, and as for failing to grasp Yu Lingyue, I had deliberately withdrawn my hand at the last second.’

‘In essence, had it not been for me, Hua Yaoyao would undoubtedly have rescued Yu Lingyue.’

Qin Yangjun crouched beside her, his hand gently stroking Hua Yaoyao’s back.

“Junior Sister, this isn’t your fault.”

‘He couldn’t act overtly, so this underhanded scheme was his only option.’

‘Yet, instilling such profound guilt in Hua Yaoyao was never his true desire.’

Despite achieving his objective, Qin Yangjun was seized by an inexplicable feeling of unreality.

‘The objective had been accomplished with disconcerting ease. He had just cautioned Yu Lingyue to avoid the cliff edge, only for her to be forced there and then subtly sent plummeting by his own hand.’

‘It was as if not only fate but even the protagonist themselves were conspiring in his favor.’

However, Qin Yangjun had no leisure to ponder these thoughts further.

The other disciples soon gathered, their faces etched with solemnity, though none spoke. Qian Xiaoyu, however, lay prostrate at the cliff’s edge, weeping uncontrollably, restrained only by a few disciples.

Only two individuals remained unaffected.

Li Xuanyang, at this very moment, was secretly ecstatic. Yu Lingyue had not only shown him disrespect but had also consistently outshone him in every endeavor, becoming a veritable thorn in his flesh.

Her plummet from the cliff was, to him, nothing short of divine intervention.

The other was Cheng Lieqing. Everyone else’s focus had been fixed on Yu Lingyue and the Red-Scaled Venomous Scorpion, leaving them oblivious to Qin Yangjun’s subtle maneuvering.

However, Cheng Lieqing had been observing Qin Yangjun’s every move, and the precise technique he had employed earlier was now etched in his memory.

His objective was already half-fulfilled; he merely needed to locate the remains of Chitao (TL Note: Likely a mythical beast or powerful entity) and its true essence, and his mission would be complete.

A heavy pall of sorrow hung over the group for a considerable time, with Hua Yaoyao and Qian Xiaoyu bearing the brunt of its impact.

Hua Yaoyao’s spirits were exceptionally low, consumed by the daunting prospect of facing her master. Before this journey, she had sworn a solemn oath to her master that she would return with her junior sister completely unharmed.

Now, she had broken that sacred vow.

Once a vibrant and spirited young woman, Hua Yaoyao’s eyes now seemed devoid of their former brilliance.

Witnessing her profound despondency, even Qin Yangjun felt a flicker of remorse.

Qian Xiaoyu’s grief was even more profound, for she and Yu Lingyue had shared a deep bond for seven years. To suddenly be told that a vibrant life had been extinguished, how could she possibly come to terms with such a devastating truth?

Despite the tragedy that had befallen Yu Lingyue, the mission’s imperatives remained. They had to press on, knowing that only after its completion could they attend to the aftermath.

The group pressed deeper into the ruins, enduring several more skirmishes where they confronted demonic beasts and specters of the Foundation Establishment stage.

Despite the effort required, their numerical superiority ultimately allowed them to overcome both the demonic beasts and the specters.

Throughout these encounters, Qin Yangjun remained a silent observer, never needing to lift a finger.

Eventually, the group arrived at the very end of the ancient ruins.

Before them lay a circular arena, reminiscent of an ancient altar, where scattered spiritual bones were the only remnants. Nothing else adorned the desolate space.

To the eyes of the new disciples, their inaugural mission had thus concluded. Though a sacrifice had been made, most of them, save for Qian Xiaoyu, were not intimately familiar with Yu Lingyue, and their grief was merely a fleeting, instinctive sorrow.

The sheer elation of completing their task soon brought smiles to their faces.

Clap! Clap! Clap!

Their moment of triumph, however, was short-lived.

A series of sharp, distinct claps broke the silence, followed by a low voice that resonated clearly in their ears.

“Alright, alright,” the voice intoned, “the charade is over. It’s time to get down to serious business. Everyone, hands behind your heads, squat down, and don’t you dare move.”

Following the sound, the group turned to find Cheng Lieqing, a wide, unsettling smile plastered across his face, observing them all.

Hua Yaoyao fixed him with a bewildered gaze.

‘What nonsense is Cheng Lieqing spouting?’ she wondered.

Li Xuanyang’s brows furrowed, and he instantly raised the spiritual sword clutched in his hand.

“Cheng Lieqing, what exactly do you mean by this, you insolent wretch?”

A sneer twisted Cheng Lieqing’s lips. With a casual flick of his wrist, a surge of dark energy erupted, sending Li Xuanyang hurtling backward.

Every disciple present watched in stunned horror as their expressions morphed into profound shock.

‘Demonic energy?!’

Hua Yaoyao was the first to snap out of her stupor, drawing her spiritual sword without a moment’s hesitation. Yet, in the very instant the blade cleared its sheath, a colossal formation abruptly materialized on the ground.

Innumerable chains erupted from the formation, ensnaring everyone and pinning them to the spot. Simultaneously, they felt their spiritual energy rapidly draining from their bodies.

‘Mid-Foundation Establishment stage!’

In that moment, Hua Yaoyao comprehended the full extent of the betrayal.

‘This Cheng Lieqing was, in fact, an infiltrator from the demonic sect.’

Cheng Lieqing scratched the back of his head, a feigned expression of annoyance crossing his features.

“Tsk,” he muttered, “I already told you to put your hands behind your heads. You just had to make me resort to force.”

“Senior Brother, quickly kill him!” Hua Yaoyao cried out. “He’s a spy for the demonic path!”

Hua Yaoyao shrieked towards Qin Yangjun, yet he remained motionless, rooted to the ground, without the slightest indication of making a move.

Hua Yaoyao was no fool; a chilling realization dawned upon her, filling her eyes with utter disbelief.

‘No! Impossible! Absolutely impossible!’ she thought. ‘Senior Brother couldn’t be that kind of person. He must simply not have reacted yet.’

“Senior Brother, you… hurry and strike!”

Hua Yaoyao couldn’t help but urge him loudly, desperately hoping Qin Yangjun’s actions would shatter the ridiculous notion taking root in her mind.

But Qin Yangjun remained still.

Beside him, Cheng Lieqing strode closer, a triumphant smile aimed at Hua Yaoyao.

“Senior Sister Hua, since you already understand, why pretend to be ignorant? Your esteemed Senior Brother is one of us, hahahaha!”

Cheng Lieqing’s wild laughter echoed through the center of the altar, leaving all the disciples utterly dumbfounded, their faces mirroring a collective disbelief.

This was Qin Yangjun! The chief disciple of the Yuqian Sect, the Jade Water Gentleman known for his care towards his junior siblings, and the younger brother of Fairy Yaoyang. How could someone of such illustrious background and reputation possibly collude with the demonic path?

“No! This isn’t real! You’re not Senior Brother! Who exactly are you?! Where is the real Senior Brother? If anything has happened to him, our Sect Master will never forgive you!”

Hua Yaoyao roared at Qin Yangjun, and the other disciples began to echo her outrage.

“Right! You can’t be Senior Brother!”

“Senior Brother couldn’t possibly be colluding with the demonic path!”

“You demonic scoundrels, don’t you dare tarnish Senior Brother’s reputation!”

“………….”

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