An Apology Gift
All eyes were fixed on Sang Ying, as if they were determined to glean something from the female cultivator.
Fu Shuangjiang could not accept that the cultivators of the Black Tortoise Realm were so shameless, and she could not believe that Sang Ying was the culprit behind this Demon Beast rampage.
He stepped between Sang Ying and the others again. "I'm afraid your actions are inappropriate. To suspect Sang Ying based on just a few ambiguous words from others makes me think the others are also suspicious. Why don't you all take out your Storage Bag and let me check them one by one?"
"Shuangjiang! Be careful what you say." Although Elder Zhou felt that his disciple had a point, he was, after all, a junior, and with so many sect leaders and elders present, it was really inappropriate for him to say such things.
Fu Shuangjiang only realized something was wrong after she blurted out the sentence.
He was usually mild-mannered and rarely argued with others, but today's events had made him too angry. He knew that the Black Tortoise Realm respected the strong and sometimes people were overly concerned with their own interests.
But he didn't expect that these people would forget Sang Ying's life-saving grace in the blink of an eye and treat her like a sinner.
As she thought about it, Fu Shuangjiang didn't forget to glare at Jiang Zhuoxue. This person had been standing by watching the show from the beginning, without showing any intention of speaking up for Sang Ying.
Fu Shuangjiang felt sorry for Sang Ying again; this male cultivator was really not good enough for her.
"Why are you so nervous, Junior Nephew Fu? We just want to find out the truth. Wasn't it you who was insisting on finding the culprit?" The Limitless Sect elder glanced at him sideways. "Besides, if this matter really has nothing to do with Fellow Sang Ying, aren't we helping her clear her name by doing this?"
The elder's words were reasonable and well-founded, and even Fu Shuangjiang could not refute them.
Su Fuyun added fuel to the fire, crying as she said, "Junior Sister is so unhappy, is she blaming me? If Junior Sister feels embarrassed, perhaps we should stop investigating?"
Upon seeing this, the other cultivators quickly offered their comfort, their feelings towards Sang Ying becoming somewhat complicated.
If she's truly innocent, it's just a matter of checking her dress; how difficult could that be? The fact that she's making such a fuss clearly indicates there's something wrong.
Sang Ying silently observed their actions, and when Su Fuyun was crying the loudest, she finally spoke, "Inspecting the skirt is naturally no problem, but the matter of Beast-Luring Powder is indeed unrelated to me. If the truth is eventually revealed, I will not be able to swallow this injustice."
She was speaking to Sect Master Wu Limitless Sect, who was the one with the highest cultivation level among the group and the one who had previously asked her to enter the small barrier.
At that time, Sang Ying did not expect that this person was willing to help her not only for the Black Tortoise Realm, but also for that broken sword.
Hearing Sang Ying's words, Sect Master Wu naturally stepped forward to take charge. "Young friend, what are you saying? If this matter truly has nothing to do with you, we will naturally apologize to you."
However, Sect Master Wu still hoped to find out the problem, since he did not want someone who claimed to be his savior to remain in the Black Tortoise Realm.
"Very well, then so be it, Sect Master Wu. However, I need not apologize; a mere word is of no use to me. If it is found that I was wronged, then those who previously spoke ill of me should offer me a gift as an apology."
An apology is too simplistic; Sang Ying doesn't want an apology, she only wants a formal apology.
Upon hearing this, the expressions of those surrounding Su Fuyun changed again. They hadn't expected Sang Ying to be so strong-willed, and for a moment, they were worried.
If the other party is truly innocent, I'll still have to send a gift.
Everyone felt it wasn't worth it, and some even began to regret their earlier thoughtless remarks. Unfortunately, it was too late for regrets now, since Sect Master Wu had already agreed.
The matter was settled in a few words between the two. Sang Ying changed out of her monastic robes and put on the pale yellow dress her mother had prepared for her.
The robe was handed to the Limitless Sect elder, and Elder Zhou, who was standing nearby, also joined in, and the two of them examined it together.
Su Fuyun hid in the crowd, biting her lower lip tightly, and stared intently at the two of them.
Her lips curled into an uncontrollable smile, as if she could already see Sang Ying's disgrace and ruin.
The person hidden inside the jade pendant watched all this coldly, making no attempt to warn Su Fuyun. She could no longer tolerate this foolish puppet.
The puppeteer who once controlled the puppets could no longer contain himself and wanted to show himself to the world.
The inspection didn't take much effort; both elders were highly skilled, and they obtained the results in less than a quarter of an hour.
Amidst the eager and expectant gazes of the crowd, Elder Zhou stepped forward to announce the result, "On this dress..."
Su Fuyun held her breath and subconsciously took a step forward.
"No Beast-Luring Powder!" Elder Zhou couldn't help but laugh out loud when he said the second half of the sentence.
Su Fuyun's smile froze. She stared wide-eyed in disbelief, almost unable to resist rushing forward to examine the robe herself.
She even had doubts on the tip of her tongue, but in the end, Su Fuyun swallowed them back.
Although she wasn't very clever, she knew that she shouldn't question the two elders at this time. Otherwise, it wouldn't be Sang Ying who would suffer, but her.
But understanding is one thing, feeling miserable is another. Su Fuyun gritted her teeth, looking at the smug look Sang Ying gave her. It was because of this that she didn't notice Jiang Zhuoxue slowly approaching her, nor did she see the two fingers Jiang Zhuoxue quietly raised towards her.
Having silently completed his "bad deed," Jiang Zhuoxue quickly returned to Sang Ying's side. He gave her a smug smile and leaned closer to remind her, "The show can begin now."
Sang Ying glanced at Su Fuyun, whose face was dark with anger, in the crowd. Yes, the show was about to begin. They couldn't let Jiang Zhuoxue's hard work go to waste!
"Sect Master Wu!" Sang Ying suddenly called out loudly, attracting many people to look up. "Previously, Holy Maiden Su suspected me, but I was lucky enough to be found innocent. However, coincidentally, I also saw Holy Maiden Su do some rather unsavory things."
Su Fuyun's eyelids twitched, and her gaze towards Sang Ying held a hint of fear. "Junior Sister Sang Ying, what are you saying? You're not holding a grudge against me for not keeping it from you before, are you? But I really didn't mean to..."
"Holy Maiden Su, you've misunderstood. I was only thinking about everyone's safety. I clearly saw you deliberately walking around the camp and intentionally getting closer to me. These actions were really strange, so I was just curious and told the others. You won't be angry, will you?" Sang Ying smiled at her.
These words sounded very familiar to Su Fuyun; they were clearly similar to the sarcastic remarks she had made to the other person earlier. How could she not recognize them?
Faced with the gazes of the crowd, Su Fuyun could only manage an awkward smile, "Of course not, this has nothing to do with me, why would I be angry?"
Her behavior made it seem as if Sang Ying hadn't been very magnanimous before.
Fortunately Sang Ying didn't mind. "Perfect, then I'll trouble the two elders to examine Holy Maiden Su as well."
Sang Ying looked at Su Fuyun, but in her heart, she had already written out her ending for him.