"You mean that before Lin Feng died, he took a pill and said it was given to him by Elder Xia?"
Zhao Shuning nodded.
Then she said meaningfully, "Master, you know that only a grand master or an elder of the sect can refine the pill that can detoxify all poisons. And if you look, among the elders of the sect, there's only Xia Wanning."
"Moreover, I think she's definitely involved in what happened back then. Master, Wang Cheng also said something meaningful to me when she was dying. She said that the people I trusted and got close to would eventually betray me."
Yan Ruyu lowered her eyes, looking thoughtful.
Zhao Shuning took another sip of ginger tea.
Then she continued, "Master, when I was away from you all these years, I heard from that brat Ji Qinglin that it was her who stayed by your side?"
"Ning'er, don't misunderstand."
"Master, will you cover for her because of this?"
After all, Xia Wanning was slender, elegant in her manners, and well - behaved in speech. She was just like the gentle and proper lady from a prominent family.
Such a woman was the most likely to be cherished by men.
"Ning'er, what on earth are you thinking?"
"Master, you can't be so nice to Xia Wanning. This woman is all pretending. Even I was deceived badly by her."
Yan Ruyu stroked Zhao Shuning's hair.
She comforted her, "Ning'er, don't worry. From now on, I won't even look at her. Is that okay?"
Zhao Shuning murmured and tentatively hugged Yan Ruyu's waist.
"Of course it's okay. But all these are just my speculations for now. After I verify these conclusions, we can then draw a final conclusion."
"If it's verified, what will you do?"
Zhao Shuning loosened her arms around Yan Ruyu's waist. Yan Ruyu actually felt a bit lost. Zhao Shuning stood up.
She said, "It was I who led her onto the path of being an alchemist, and it was I who helped her become an elder of the sect. If she's really involved in what happened back then and all the subsequent events, I'll pull her down from the high position just as I helped her get there."
Yan Ruyu stood up and came to Zhao Shuning's side.
"Do you need me to do anything?"
Zhao Shuning quickly shook her head.
If her master got involved in this matter, he would have interfered too much in the mortal world. She knew that her master was not an ordinary person and he shouldn't interfere in such things, as it would go against the mandate of heaven.
"Don't you need me?"
"No, Master. Let me handle this matter. It was I who rescued her from the sea of bitterness. If she really did so many bad things, then I'll send her back to the sea of bitterness."
Yan Ruyu put her arm around Zhao Shuning's slender waist.
Zhao Shuning felt ticklish where her master's hand touched her waist.
"Really don't need me?"
"Need! Need!"
"Hmm? What do you need me to do?"
"From today on, you're not allowed to say a single word to Xia Wanning, and you're not allowed to meet her. Not even communicate with her through spiritual consciousness."
Yan Ruyu smiled.
"Just this?"
"Isn't it enough?"
"If Ning'er says it's enough, then it's enough."
"Then will you promise, Master?"
"Of course I promise."
At this moment, Xia Wanning's spiritual consciousness sent a new vision, but Yan Ruyu didn't even look at it and directly waved her sleeve to close the spiritual vision.
Her master was really quick in action and true to his word.
Inside the sect, Xia Wanning frowned.
Suddenly, the black - clothed man appeared beside her.
"What's wrong? Angry that the Emperor Venerable didn't communicate with you through spiritual consciousness?"
Xia Wanning hid her disappointed mood and looked at the black - robed man in front of her. "Maybe the Emperor Venerable is busy. He's never refused me like this before."
The black - robed man said indifferently, "Give it to me."
Xia Wanning took out a pill from her sleeve and placed it in the black - robed man's palm. Then she said, "This pill is extremely rare. Remember, don't let outsiders know that I gave it to you. Restoring spiritual roots is against the natural order. It's forcibly borrowing someone else's fortune."
"Elder Xia, do you still care about this?"
"I just don't want to get into trouble. Now the power of the Divine Sect is getting stronger day by day, and they don't need me to do anything anymore. For safety's sake, you guys don't come to me anymore."
"What? Does Elder Xia want to wash her hands off all this?"
"What do you mean?"
The black - robed man smiled and then said, "Once you've done some things, there's no going back. You're in the mud. Even if you manage to get out later, the stench of the mud will always linger on you."
"What did you say!"
Xia Wanning reached out to grab him, but her hand went through the black - robed man's body.
"Is this just your spiritual consciousness?"
"Did Elder Xia just realize this?"
"Who on earth are you? Why are you so powerful?"
"I won't bother Elder Xia anymore, but it doesn't mean that others from the Divine Sect won't come to you."
The black - robed man's figure paused and instantly appeared five meters away.
Finally, he said, "As a reward for this pill, I'll show you a vision. Remember, Elder Xia, look at it carefully."
The black - robed man disappeared.
In front of Xia Wanning's eyes, the scene of Zhao Shuning's birthday began to emerge.
One of the scenes was the moment when she and Zhao Shuning locked eyes.
She said, "Zhao Shuning, I didn't lie to you. You can ask the Emperor Venerable about this."
Zhao Shuning turned around and looked at Yan Ruyu.
At this moment, Zhao Shuning's eyes were full of pleading.
"I trust you, Master. Now I only trust you. Please tell me the truth, okay?"
"Ning'er, what Elder Xia said is true."
Because of this sentence, Zhao Shuning completely lost all support in her body, and the spiritual power in her hand also disappeared immediately.
Looking at this scene, Xia Wanning suddenly noticed something different.
She covered her mouth.
She watched what Zhao Shuning had said just now over and over again.
She called the Emperor Venerable "Master"?
Why would she call the Emperor Venerable "Master"?
Could it be that the Emperor Venerable had taken Zhao Shuning as his disciple?
No. The Emperor Venerable always took in disciples openly and announced it across the Nine - Continent Continent. In the past century, the Emperor Venerable had only taken Ye Ling as his disciple.
Then...
A terrible thought grew in Xia Wanning's mind.
"How could it be?"
Xia Wanning waved her hand, and the vision disappeared.
The situation was too chaotic at that time, and she didn't notice this detail.
Now, connecting the dots, Xia Wanning suddenly understood.
No wonder the Emperor Venerable attended Zhao Shuning's birthday. No wonder the way the Emperor Venerable looked at Zhao Shuning was just like the way he looked at Ye Ling back then.
No wonder the Emperor Venerable was so impatient when facing her.
Before Xia Wanning could digest this news, suddenly someone appeared in her room.