Ye Feng really was on the verge of crying from panic.
She hated that no one outside the restriction could hear her voice. Otherwise, her master would surely save her.
She also hated that Jiang Yantian wanted to put her to death, yet she could no longer take revenge.
"Ding! The restriction restarted, Ye Feng appeared, and you frightened him into wetting himself. Humiliation Points +8,000."
Watching the restriction about to close, Ye Feng felt powerless.
He seemed somewhat resigned to his fate.
"Jiang Yantian, even if I become a ghost, I won't let you off!"
Ye Feng spat out the curse viciously, with no intention of struggling.
Elder Long was likewise powerless to turn the tide. He was only a weakened spirit now and could not possess Ye Feng to help her at all.
Besides, the Nine Nether Fine Steel Chain was a demonic artifact beyond the supreme grade, impervious to all arts. He could do nothing about it either.
At that critical moment, Ye Feng suddenly felt his body grow light.
A black shadow swept past, taking her straight out.
The instant they rushed out, the restriction closed.
Ye Feng trembled all over like chaff in a sieve.
He also realized he had been saved.
Looking up, he saw many fellow disciples with anxious faces.
He also saw his master looking anxious.
Ye Feng felt as though he were dreaming. He had never expected to survive.
Luo Xingcai looked at Ye Feng, anger in her beautiful eyes.
She stepped forward and was about to speak, but Ye Feng quickly came to his senses, hurriedly rose, and knelt before Luo Xingcai.
"Master, this disciple wishes to bring charges against Jiang Yantian! That bastard tried to kill this disciple!"
Ye Feng was truly furious.
Jiang Yantian had meant to trap him to death.
Ye Feng had thought his words would unite his fellow disciples against their common enemy and make them condemn Jiang Yantian.
Instead, all his fellow disciples, including Luo Xingcai and his senior sister Tantai Yue, looked at her with disgust.
"Say that again!" Anger already marked Luo Xingcai's peerlessly beautiful face.
"M-Master, every word this disciple said is true! It was Jiang Yantian! He trapped me inside!"
"This disciple experienced it firsthand and would not dare fabricate anything. Jiang Yantian's Nine Nether Fine Steel Chain locked me in the Forbidden Ground!"
"Then turn around and look at who saved you!" Luo Xingcai was utterly disappointed in Ye Feng.
Somewhat dazed, Ye Feng turned to look.
She immediately jumped in fright.
He had not expected Jiang Yantian to be right behind him.
Jiang Yantian, by contrast, sighed and shook his head. "Senior brother, you've disappointed me deeply."
"I truly never imagined that risking my life to save you would earn me your slander!"
"Ah, forget it, forget it. I believe justice lives in people's hearts. I won't argue with you. If you say so, then so be it."
"Fuck!" Ye Feng cursed inwardly.
Damn it, he had fallen for the trap.
Jiang Yantian had done it all deliberately.
Now that things had reached this point, Ye Feng had no choice but to steel himself and argue his case.
"Master, every word this disciple said is true! Jiang Yantian trapped me! He wanted to kill me!"
"Enough!" Luo Xingcai snapped softly. With a flick of her sleeve, Ye Feng was blasted away and fell.
"You say he wanted to kill you, so why would he go to the extra trouble of saving you?"
"He... he was afraid he couldn't explain it to the sect. Yes, that's it!" Ye Feng replied, red-faced and agitated.
Luo Xingcai rebuked him angrily. "Then how can you claim he wanted to kill you? If he truly wanted to kill you, why would he go to such trouble? He's a Nascent Soul expert. Do you know how easily he could crush you to death?"
"Even taking ten thousand steps back, if he wanted to kill you, he would only need to report that an evil spirit in the Forbidden Ground had killed you, and the matter would end there. Why would he disregard his own life and choose to go inside to bring you out?"
Ye Feng found himself speechless. No one would believe what she said anymore.
At that moment, Jiang Yantian said, "Master, there's no need to say any more. Saving the sect's disciples is my duty as a Dao-protecting elder. I merely did my job."
With that, Jiang Yantian left.
"Ye Feng, you've disappointed me deeply. Reflect on your actions properly. If this happens again, get out of Azure Mist Peak!" Luo Xingcai also turned and left.
Ye Feng was dumbfounded.
Fuck, fucking hell, how terribly she had been wronged.
The sect disciples also began condemning Ye Feng one after another.
"Ye Feng, your behavior is revolting!"
"Ye Feng, you're a complete clown. You're jealous of Elder Jiang, so you think of every possible way to slander him."
"Exactly! He even claimed Elder Jiang killed Hua Jiao before. I suspect Ye Feng staged the whole thing himself, killed Hua Jiao, and framed Elder Jiang."
"That's right. He insulted Elder Jiang during law enforcement and was punished by being sent to Elder Peak to kowtow and apologize. Then he nursed a grudge and sought revenge at every turn."
"Don't tell anyone you belong to the Mysterious Spirit Sect anymore. You're a disgrace!"
"As someone in the Sword Dao Lineage alongside you, I'm truly ashamed."
"Ye Feng, you've slandered our elder time and again. Do you really think our Law Enforcement Lineage is easy to bully?"
"You're lucky we're in the middle of the trial right now. But our Law Enforcement Lineage will remember this grudge. Just you wait!"
"..."
Countless voices of condemnation, contempt, abuse, humiliation, and mockery left Ye Feng frozen like a wooden chicken.
Jiang Yantian had done all of this!!!
Why did no one believe her?
Why did everyone blame her?
Why?
"Ding! With nowhere to vent his fury, Ye Feng could only secretly curse your mother. Humiliation Points +10,000."
Hearing the sudden system notification, Jiang Yantian nearly went over and killed Ye Feng.
Not a single person present spoke up for Ye Feng.
And now, Ye Feng truly resembled a stray dog that had lost its home, returning to camp in a daze.
Even after he returned to camp, everyone kept their distance from her and isolated her.
"Elder Long, only you understand my humiliation, how I've been wronged, and my grievances!" Ye Feng communicated with Elder Long.
"You need not grieve, young friend. You should broaden your perspective. Once you're strong enough, no one will dare speak to you like this."
Elder Long comforted him.
Ye Feng also came to his senses at once.
That was right.
So what if they reviled him?
Once he was strong enough, who would dare utter even half a word of criticism?
At that thought, Ye Feng rallied his spirits.
The road of the strong was destined to be lonely. The humiliation he suffered today would all become motivation.
Once he grew stronger, took revenge, and exposed Jiang Yantian's lies, everyone would regret it.
Ye Feng stopped letting the outside world affect him and began cultivating on his own.
Meanwhile, Jiang Yantian returned to the Law Enforcement Lineage's camp.
He spoke to no one and simply sat quietly beside the fire, roasting a skewered "Deceptive Arts Demon Chicken."
This kind of chicken smelled damn good when roasted.
Paired with wine, it was bliss beyond words.
None of the Law Enforcement Lineage's people disturbed Jiang Yantian, but every one of them felt indignant on his behalf.
Especially Nuandong.
As Jiang Yantian's maid, she had already wanted to cut off Ye Feng's head when he said those things earlier.
She only hated that this was a trial. Fellow disciples were forbidden from killing one another during a trial. That was an ironclad rule.
If she acted impulsively, even the young master could not protect her. Leaving Jiang Yantian was what she found hardest to accept.
But being unable to kill him now did not mean the matter was over.
Jiang Yantian roasted his chicken and drank his wine.
Behind him, a graceful figure slowly approached.
Seeing the newcomer, everyone from the Law Enforcement Lineage bowed, but none made a sound.
Jiang Yantian also sensed the newcomer, yet likewise did not turn around.
Luo Xingcai raised her hand and curled a finger, drawing a wooden stump over beside Jiang Yantian.
Luo Xingcai slowly sat down and looked at Jiang Yantian. "Do you feel wronged...?"
Her voice was especially gentle, concern suffusing every word.
Jiang Yantian looked at her and smiled faintly. "You jest, Master. It isn't the first time he's slandered me anyway. I'm used to it. I don't take it seriously!"
Hearing Jiang Yantian's words, Luo Xingcai also remembered that Ye Feng had previously accused Jiang Yantian of killing Hua Jiao.
She could not help feeling even greater disgust toward Ye Feng.