Yun Zishan fell silent for a long time. The air around them seemed to freeze. At last, she managed to speak, her voice a little hoarse. "You... are you telling the truth?"
Qiao Bin jerked his head up, his gaze burning as if he were making an oath. "This disciple is willing to swear on his Dao heart and before the Heavenly Dao! If even a single word is false, may I be struck by lightning and have my soul scattered!"
Yun Zishan spun around, her shoulders trembling slightly as she struggled to hold back her surging emotions. Yet her immense pressure still spilled out of control, setting the leaves rustling despite the absence of wind. Even the pebbles on the ground trembled and lifted into the air!
Fear appeared on Xu Yinyin's face. She had never seen her master so overcome with emotion. Qiao Bin, meanwhile, lay pressed hard against the ground, enduring pressure that made it difficult to breathe.
Xu Yinyin's thoughts raced. Her gaze darted between her master and senior brother, and a dreadful premonition flashed through her mind like lightning!
"Senior Brother!" she cried out. "The boss... is he alone at the shop right now?!"
Qiao Bin raised his head, dust and tear tracks still on his face, and nodded in confusion. "Y-yeah. I thought Brother Ning... no, Consultant's suspicion had been cleared, so I rushed over to report it. I left him alone at the shop..."
"Oh no!!" Xu Yinyin's face turned deathly pale!
Yun Zishan spun back around, her gaze shooting toward Xu Yinyin like an arrow!
Xu Yinyin fumbled frantically with her storage pouch and quickly pulled out the leather case containing the evidence. With a snap, she opened it!
"Master! On the way back yesterday, someone tried to assassinate Consultant! That's why