Framed

Feng Wuhen held the ring, his heart sour and swollen. He looked up at Shen Ziheng, whose eyes were fixed on him, brimming with affection, then stepped forward and hugged him.

"Brother, why are you so good to me? Having you as my brother makes me feel so happy."

Watching this pair of freshly minted brothers, Qin Xiaoran felt terribly superfluous. He clapped his hands to make some noise. "You two brothers, do you remember I'm still here?"

Seeing his speechless expression, Feng Wuhen and Shen Ziheng felt a little embarrassed. They truly had forgotten about Qin Xiaoran just now.

Qin Xiaoran had only meant to tease them, but looking at their expressions now, it seemed they really had forgotten him.

At that thought, he was so annoyed that he laughed. He should not have asked that extra question—wasn't he just making a fool of himself?

Feeling guilty, Feng Wuhen and Shen Ziheng lowered their heads and dared not look at him. They bent down to pick up the books scattered on the floor. Qin Xiaoran said nothing at the sight of their guilty looks, merely snorted before gathering up the papers on the desk.

None of the three said anything. In silence, they swiftly tidied everything away, then headed behind the screen.

Feng Wuhen found the white-and-blue porcelain vase Zheng Zefang had mentioned on the treasure shelf and gently turned it. The wall to their right rumbled and split open down the middle.

It was clearly the hidden study Zheng Zefang had spoken of. Seeing that it was pitch-black inside, Feng Wuhen raised his right hand and summoned the Exotic Flame he had just acquired.

He took the lead inside. The door closed the instant they entered. The space within was not large, containing only a bookshelf and a desk.

They put their things on the desk. Just as they were about to leave, they heard movement outside. Thinking Zheng Zefang had returned, they had not even gone out when they caught a rich floral fragrance.

That scent could not possibly have come from Zheng Zefang. Someone else had clearly entered. Feng Wuhen immediately realized who it was, took out the Echo Talisman, and activated it with spiritual power.

The white jade stone shone with a cyan light, indicating that it was operating.

Qin Xiaoran found a window through which they could see outside. He raised a hand and beckoned Shen Ziheng and Feng Wuhen over. The two gathered around, and all three squeezed together at the small window to peer out.

Outside stood a woman in a bright crimson ruqun. Her jet-black hair was pinned up with several golden hairpins, and a ruby necklace encircled her slender, graceful neck. The ruby made her complexion appear even fairer.

Her face was round as a silver platter. Guilt filled her almond eyes as her pearly teeth lightly bit her lower lip, as though she had made some kind of decision.

Then Feng Wuhen and the others watched as the woman took off her clothes. Qin Xiaoran shut his own eyes and did not forget to cover the other two's eyes as well.

They absolutely could not let these two see such unhealthy things. If they were led astray, his father and his young martial uncle would surely chop him to death.

Feng Wuhen's eyes were covered, but his ears were not. He heard the person outside say, "Zheng Zefang, I'm sorry. I know this is terribly unfair to you, and I don't want to do this either. But only if your reputation is ruined can A-Qi become the continent's number one medical cultivator."

After hearing her words, Feng Wuhen mocked her inwardly, Hehe. Isn't this like being a whore while still wanting to erect a chastity arch? She says she doesn't want to do it—then don't do it. No one is holding a knife to her throat.

And she says ruining Martial Uncle Zheng's reputation will make that damned A-Qi the continent's number one medical cultivator. Even I, someone who has only cultivated for a short time, know that the continent's foremost medical cultivators are in Divine Physician Valley. Does this woman even put Divine Physician Valley in her eyes?

Qin Xiaoran and Shen Ziheng both knew this woman, and they also knew who the A-Qi in her words was.

This woman was named Lin Xiuyan. She was an inner sect elder of Radiant Light Pavilion and later married Xiang Qidong of Yueyang Sect.

Xiang Qidong was Zheng Zefang's longtime friend. Both were medical cultivators and had many topics in common, so they often gathered together.

Lin Xiuyan and Xiang Qidong had a very loving marriage. Whenever Xiang Qidong came to Mount Grand Mystery, the couple always came together, so Zheng Zefang and Lin Xiuyan were also on good terms.

Qin Xiaoran had crossed paths with Lin Xiuyan once. When she first came to Mount Grand Mystery, she got lost, and he had shown her the way.

At the time, he had thought highly of Lin Xiuyan, believing her to be a gentle and courteous senior.

Now, though—hehe...

Wearing a pink inner robe, Lin Xiuyan tore open the cloth around her shoulders, exposing her smooth skin. She even raised a hand and pinched several marks onto it. Then she let down her neatly arranged hair, took off her shoes, and lay on Zheng Zefang's bed.

Zheng Zefang had picked many apples and washed them clean before bringing them back to the room. The moment he pushed open the door, he smelled an extra scent in the room that should not have been there.

He first put the fruit away in his storage ring. The spirit plant wrapped around his wrist stirred and extended outward, quickly discovering Lin Xiuyan lying on the bed.

Seeing Lin Xiuyan lying on his bed in that state, Zheng Zefang's face immediately darkened. "What are you doing? Get up at once!"

Lin Xiuyan had known him for quite some time, but this was the first time she had seen him so angry. For a moment, he actually frightened her.

She hurriedly got up from the bed and stood barefoot on the floor. Timidly lifting her head to glance at him, she said, "I don't want to slander your reputation either, but you blocked A-Dong's path. So I can only say sorry."

After saying this, Lin Xiuyan weakly collapsed onto the floor, tore open her clothes, clutched her chest, and began to cry loudly.

The commotion soon drew people over. Naturally, her husband Xiang Qidong was among them, as were Zheng Zefang's disciple Wu Zihao, elders who had rushed over after hearing the disturbance, and many disciples.

When they saw the scene inside the room, everyone froze.

Xiang Qidong took off his outer robe and wrapped Lin Xiuyan in it, then pulled her into his arms. When he looked up at Zheng Zefang, his eyes held anger and disappointment, while secret delight hid in their depths. "Zefang, I truly never expected you to be this kind of person."

Before Zheng Zefang could explain, his dear disciple stepped forward and claimed the crime for him. Wu Zihao stared at Zheng Zefang in shock, the words slipping from his mouth. "Master, you really did such a thing? I thought you were only talking about it."

The words Zheng Zefang wanted to say lodged in his throat once more. Looking at the three people who had betrayed him, his eyes were filled with pain.

The elders and disciples of Medicine Peak all believed in Zheng Zefang, but Wu Zihao's outburst planted a question in their hearts.

It was not that their trust in Zheng Zefang was insufficient. Rather, Wu Zihao was Zheng Zefang's personal disciple, raised by Zheng Zefang since childhood. Though they were not father and son, they were closer than father and son.

Wu Zihao could not possibly help outsiders frame Zheng Zefang, so some of them believed what they saw before their eyes.

Zheng Zefang looked at Wu Zihao in disappointment, regret still lingering in his gaze. Wu Zihao did not dare meet his eyes and turned aside to look elsewhere.

"Today, I finally understand what it means when they say a biting dog does not bark. I can understand Xiang Qidong and Lin Xiuyan joining hands to set a trap and frame me.

"But why did you, Wu Zihao, do this? I saved you when you were about to starve to death. I took you as my disciple and taught you everything I had without holding back. I believed I had never wronged you in the slightest. Why would you join outsiders to frame me?"