11. It’s Not My Fault You Got Scammed
Not long after, with the help of the black hawk, they arrived at their destination.
Miss Gong had been here before, but she still feigned caution, looking around for traps.
“Don’t worry, Miss Gong.”
Yin Wuzong handed her a bracelet. “Wear this, and you’ll be fine. There are no traps here, just some Gu insects.”
“Thank you.”
Miss Gong took the bracelet and put it on, feigning surprise.
Nothing unusual happened until they reached the bottom floor, where a giant bug lunged at her.
Beasts usually identified people by scent, so it wasn’t surprising that it recognized her.
Of course, Yin Wuzong, now treating Gong Yiling as a VIP, didn’t suspect anything and dismissed the bug’s reaction.
And so, after reaching the lowest level, Yin Wuzong quickly performed a series of hand signs, activating a special demonic technique.
Under its influence, the people lying on the ground slowly opened their eyes, which were now completely white.
Soon, about forty to fifty cultivators stood up and knelt before Yin Wuzong.
Their auras… were all at the Soul Origin realm.
Was this the final effect of the Divine King Gu…? Still unbelievable.
Of course, there was no point in dwelling on this.
Because just as Yin Wuzong was about to leave, he turned and saw someone standing at the entrance.
“Who’s there!?”
He frowned, but when the person walked in, his confusion turned to shock.
The man was… Gu Falie!
—Esteemed Mr. Gu Falie, hello.
Please forgive my anonymity. I wish to report a disciple of Qian Yue Academy, Yin Wuzong. I have reason to believe he is colluding with the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace and plotting something sinister. Below are the letters I have stolen as evidence, as well as a location where I have secretly followed them.
There may be more inside the cave, but I am alone and dare not enter. I can only draw a map for you to investigate yourself. That is all.
This was what was written on the paper Gu Falie had received.
It wasn’t the first time a Daoist sect disciple had colluded with the Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace. It had happened over a decade ago.
That incident caused a huge uproar, and the Daoist sects and the academy conducted a thorough investigation to root out all traitors.
At the time, the main culprit was his disciple, hailed as the number one genius of the Returning Heaven Sect. Back then, the relationship between the top sects and the academy wasn’t so strained, and disciples from the top sects were allowed to visit the academy.
Who would have thought… that visit would have such disastrous consequences, aging him decades overnight. His old acquaintances probably wouldn’t even recognize him now.
And now, having been bitten once, Gu Falie, upon receiving this letter, knew the gravity of the accusation.
He didn’t tell Yin Wuyai, deciding to investigate alone first.
He had been waiting here all day, and he actually saw Yin Wuzong and a woman in black enter.
At the entrance, he had accidentally picked up a bracelet they had dropped, then followed them here, even killing a giant bug along the way.
Although he was skeptical about the letter, seeing this scene, no more explanation was needed.
“Elder… Gu!?”
Seeing Gu Falie, Yin Wuzong was stunned.
That feeling of falling from grace, he had never imagined he would experience it, and so completely.
With all the recent changes, he was truly starting to panic.
“Yin Wuzong, what are you doing!?” Gu Falie roared. “These are the people who have gone missing from Qian Yue Academy over the years! I didn’t expect them to be in your hands.”
“This puppetry technique… is this what you gained from colluding with the demonic sects?”
“Eh.”
Miss Gong couldn’t stand it anymore. “Let me clarify. My Pear Blossom Blood Orchid Palace doesn’t have such tricks. Old man, don’t you know? This is the poison Gu of the Mingjue Sect.”
“The Mingjue Sect!?”
This name shocked Gu Falie.
Even Yin Wuzong turned to look at her, puzzled. “Miss Gong, why did you reveal that?”
“Since he’s already found out, even the most powerful elder has to die. What’s the harm in letting him know the truth?” Gong Yiling shrugged. “Young Master Yin, you don’t think he’ll let us go, do you?”
“This…”
That was true.
But Gu Falie was one of the strongest cultivators in the academy. If they wanted to deal with him… they would have to use some of the Mingjue Sect’s secret techniques and inform Yin Tianchou to handle the aftermath.
At this point, he couldn’t care less about the consequences. He only knew that this was beyond his control…
“Miss Gong, we’ll try to hold him off. I’ll inform my grandfather now.”
However, just as Yin Wuzong took out the communication stone, Gong Yiling snatched it away.
“Miss Gong… what are you…?”
“I saw you were still wary of me earlier, so it wasn’t easy to act.” Gong Yiling casually tossed the communication stone into her Universe Bag and turned to Gu Falie. “Elder Gu, we’re caught red-handed. Is there anything else I need to say?”
“What???”
“You…?”
Not just Yin Wuzong, but even Gu Falie couldn’t understand what she was doing.
However, Gu Falie quickly realized something. The girl had addressed herself as “junior,” just like in the letter.
Could it be that this girl was…
“You’re the one who gave me this letter?” Gu Falie was bewildered. “But you’re Gong Yiling… why would you…?”
“Gong Yiling?” Gong Yiling herself smiled dismissively and calmly removed her veil.
Beneath the veil was just an ordinary, pretty face, not particularly stunning.
“That was just a trick to lure these idiots. They believed it because they’re stupid. Surely you don’t believe it too, Elder?”
“I’m Lü Youyuan, not some Gong Yiling.”
Miss Gong said.
