Chapter 5: The Truth Revealed? I Know Nothing

Shangguan Yun had never imagined that things would unfold in such a way.

"Jiang Wanwan, what a fine performance you’ve put on. Treating our entire sect like fools?"

He had begged his master for a long time, using the excuse of persuading his former "white moonlight"—the eldest senior sister—to reform, only to be granted the rare opportunity to enter the Nine Nether Cavern. He never expected to witness Jiang Wanwan’s entire act of arrogance and tyranny. From the moment Jiang Wanwan admitted she hadn't been injured, Shangguan Yun had been waiting outside the cavern. He felt utterly betrayed. Everything, it turned out, had been orchestrated by Jiang Wanwan herself.

Lowering his gaze to Shi Muran, who sat on the ground clutching her heart in agony, Shangguan Yun felt a sharp, piercing pain in his own chest. At that moment, their eyes met, and a flicker of hope and radiance crossed Shi Muran’s gaze, as if she were desperately clinging to the possibility of his trust. Her expression seemed to be an attempt to steel herself, to convince her heart that the man before her would save her—perhaps, just perhaps, he would believe her?

Shi Muran was truly beautiful, possessing a charm that surpassed the standard "white moonlight" archetype. In Shangguan Yun’s eyes, she had always been a vision to be admired from afar, untouchable and sacred. Seeing her in this state now left him transfixed. To see a goddess who once felt out of reach suddenly reveal such vulnerability, looking at him as if he were her only lifeline—he longed to pledge his undying loyalty on the spot. He wanted to offer her his very heart.

But just as Shi Muran parted her lips as if to speak, she seemed to recall the past, and a self-deprecating smile touched her face. The light in her eyes vanished in an instant. In the end, she said nothing, leaving only a gaze filled with dead silence and disappointment. As she bowed her head, a single tear—large as a bean—fell onto her blood-stained skirt.

*Crack!*

Shangguan Yun’s heart shattered. In that silence, he felt that Shi Muran had changed; she no longer seemed to need him, no longer seemed to trust him. This was more agonizing than death itself. He finally began to panic.

"Eldest Senior Sister, do not worry! As long as I am here, this wretch will never be able to harm you again!"

Gritting his teeth and unable to bear looking into her eyes, Shangguan Yun swung his sword, his gaze filled with venom as he glared at Jiang Wanwan.

"Jiang Wanwan! You dared to deceive the entire sect and harm a fellow disciple. There isn't a shred of truth in your mouth—you are destined to be a traitor who destroys her own roots. Do you know your crime?"

The blade was already pressed against her neck; the suddenness of his swing sent Jiang Wanwan tumbling backward as she desperately summoned her own life-bound sword to parry. Had she not been equipped with a life-saving talisman, she would have been decapitated by Shangguan Yun’s strike.

"Junior Brother Yun, have you lost your mind!?"

Feeling the sting of a cut on her neck, Jiang Wanwan shouted at him in a panic. "Who was it that said they would always protect me? Is this what you call protection?"

"Junior Brother Yun, what have I ever done to make you treat me like this? If you don't like me, can't I just leave?"

Shangguan Yun’s face was dark with fury as he spat on the ground. "Bah! Protect you? Do you even deserve it?"

"Compared to the Eldest Senior Sister, you are nothing but a dirty, wretched snake!"

"I am taking you before the Sect Master today. I will make sure the entire sect sees your true colors!"

With that, the two began to clash right in front of Shi Muran. Jiang Wanwan was so infuriated by Shangguan Yun’s words that she nearly coughed up blood. Eldest Senior Sister, Eldest Senior Sister! Shi Muran was no longer the eldest senior sister! Why did everyone always put her on such a pedestal? Was she, Jiang Wanwan, not worthy as well?

Thinking this, Jiang Wanwan sneered at Shangguan Yun while parrying his strikes. "Your words are truly laughable. Don't forget how you were fawning over me just two days ago!"

"When Shi Muran first offered her heart’s blood, the first person she went to was you. But you didn't believe her at all; you scolded her mercilessly and turned around to give the healing treasures to me instead." Jiang Wanwan found it hilarious, remembering that this had been the moment of deepest despair for Shi Muran. "Don't forget, she looked at you with that same hopeful expectation back then, and yet it was you who pushed her into the abyss! Hahahaha!"

"Why are you acting so devoted now? What is this charade for!?"

"Could I have forced you? Did I hold a blade to your throat to make you give me everything and curse Shi Muran?"

"Shut up!!" Veins bulged on Shangguan Yun’s neck. He desperately wanted to rip out Jiang Wanwan’s tongue; he had been completely broken. Hearing these words reminded him of his own maddened behavior from not long ago, and it disgusted him. At the same time, he was terrified. He feared that if Shi Muran remembered these things, she would be even less likely to forgive him. Even if it meant burying his head in the sand and pretending he had done nothing, he could not let Jiang Wanwan speak another word.

"I was deceived by you! If you hadn't tricked me, how would I have treated the Eldest Senior Sister that way!?"

That was it—it was all Jiang Wanwan’s fault! It was all her doing! Otherwise, how could he have drifted away from his Eldest Senior Sister? It was all because he had misplaced his trust in this lying wretch!

Shangguan Yun’s spiritual energy surged out of control, fueled by a desire to execute Jiang Wanwan on the spot.

He saw the stinging pain in Shi Muran’s eyes; it was clear that everything Jiang Wanwan had said was true. Jiang Wanwan had known everything all along, yet she had continued to deceive them with such arrogance! It was terrifying! This woman was truly terrifying!

"Ah!!! I will kill you!"

*Clang!*

Shangguan Yun looked at his left shoulder in shock, his out-of-control emotions momentarily snapping back to reality. He stared in disbelief at Mo Zichuan, who had suddenly appeared. Mo Zichuan had run his long sword through Shangguan Yun’s shoulder, shielding Jiang Wanwan behind him.

"Eldest Senior Brother! What is the meaning of this?"

"Don't you know? Everything was orchestrated by Jiang Wanwan! The Eldest Senior Sister has been framed!"

"You heard it, you heard it too, didn't you!?"

Shangguan Yun was no match for Mo Zichuan, so he did not attack, merely clutching his wound while questioning him. As he spoke, he pointed toward Shi Muran. Both Mo Zichuan and Shangguan Yun looked at her, and both saw the light of hope erupting in her eyes once more.

The girl in white, her eyes red and swimming with tears, looked up cautiously. It was as if one had crashed directly into those limpid, watery eyes—she looked like an injured little kitten. She was hoping to be saved, yet terrified of being hurt again.

The hearts of both Mo Zichuan and Shangguan Yun tightened painfully, and they longed to pull her into their arms. Shangguan Yun knew he lacked the strength to do so, so he looked expectantly at Mo Zichuan. If the Eldest Senior Brother would only join him in pleading her case to the sect, there might still be a turning point!

Shangguan Yun had sensed Mo Zichuan’s presence even before he had stepped out; he did not believe that Mo Zichuan hadn't heard. Coupled with the respect and affection Mo Zichuan had always shown Shi Muran, he believed that Mo Zichuan would never allow her to suffer such injustice!

Under the weight of their burning gazes, Mo Zichuan felt as if needles were pricking his back. Jiang Wanwan gripped the hem of Mo Zichuan’s robe, her heart pounding with extreme anxiety.

Mo Zichuan pressed his lips together and turned his head away, refusing to look at them. Then, his cold, indifferent voice fell upon their ears.

"I know nothing."