Forty-Three Frames

In the end, Wen Ziheng learned that Qiao Ranran had dug up every Spirit Plant there, and that Pei Ling had even pried loose the all-important Breath Soil. There was no hiding it; Wei Huai had watched the whole thing.

Wen Ziheng was clever enough to put the clues together. The conclusion was easy to reach.

So Wei Huai told him everything plainly.

Wen Ziheng's eyes flickered, but he said nothing more. He merely tossed aside the Spirit Soil in his hand. It had been well tended, but after seeing the Breath Soil, he could no longer look at it the same way.

Qiao Ranran had taken the Breath Soil, while he was supposed to scrape up a little of the Spirit Soil left behind? Wen Ziheng had too much pride for that.

Yu Mingxuan clutched her chest, more dejected than ever. If she had arrived earlier, if she had not lost that little bit of time on the road, then by her original plan, all of this should have been hers!

"Junior Sister Yu?" Her expression looked so awful that Wei Huai asked with concern, "Are you feeling unwell?"

Yu Mingxuan gave a pale smile. "Thank you for your concern, Eldest Senior Brother. I'm fine. I probably strained myself fighting that Demon Beast and then rushing all the way here." Her gaze swept across the empty garden, full of regret and reluctance. "I sensed something earlier, as though an opportunity had appeared, so I came straight here. What a pity. I still missed it."

Given how recently the Secret Realm had opened, she had never expected Qiao Ranran to move so quickly, even if she herself arrived a step late. Qiao Ranran had stripped the entire Medicine Garden. Apart from the patch by Wei Huai's feet and the area