Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

"Senior Brother, are you truly not going to say anything?" Ye Danxia urged impatiently.

She had a bright future ahead of her, and she absolutely could not afford to carry such a stain on her name.

Her Second Senior Brother had caused this mess, and he should face the consequences himself.

Gu Jinghong pursed his lips.

Seeing Ye Danxia's pitiful state, his heart softened slightly.

"Fine. Little Junior Sister is still so young. After suffering such torment, she must be terrified."

Gu Jinghong took a step forward, about to speak.

But when he remained silent for a moment, Ye Danxia assumed he didn't want to confess. Impatient, she blurted out, "This matter truly has nothing to do with me! Second Senior Brother said he wanted to teach Yun Jin a lesson. I even tried to dissuade him, but he refused to listen. Whatever happened today must be his doing. I beg Master to investigate!"

Gu Jinghong, who had already opened his mouth, slowly closed it again.

He stared blankly at Ye Danxia.

"The innocent and kind Little Junior Sister? The pure and soft-hearted Little Junior Sister?"

At this moment, watching her eagerly accuse him, he felt a chill seep into his bones.

He had been willing to confess.

But hearing Ye Danxia rush to expose him first left a bitter taste in his heart.

"Jinghong, is this true?" Zhao Wuji looked at Gu Jinghong.

Gu Jinghong's lips trembled, but he couldn't speak for a long time.

"How interesting," Lin Ya suddenly laughed. "So, this trap was originally meant for my disciple? If not for an unexpected twist, my disciple would have been the one branded as tainted by evil energy? Is that what you're saying, Sect Master?"

A cold glint flashed in Lin Ya's eyes.

This time, Yun Jin had been clever enough to avoid the trap.

But what if she hadn't?

She would have been stripped of her bones and tendons without any chance to defend herself!

Zhao Wuji replied calmly, "I do not know the full truth of this matter. Jinghong, explain yourself."

Gu Jinghong glanced at his stern master, then at the pitiful Ye Danxia, and finally spoke slowly, "It was me. After returning, I heard that Yun Jin had made Little Junior Sister suffer and caused Senior Brother to be confined. In a moment of anger, I made a mistake."

"What did you do to my spirit beasts?" Ling Fei's voice was cold. All trace of his former kindness was gone.

He had once cherished Gu Jinghong's rare beast-taming talent and taught him extensively, treating him like a disciple in all but name.

But now...

Ling Fei had begun to realize the full extent of what had happened.

This person he had taken under his wing had used him. Used the spirit beasts of the Beast Pavilion to lay a trap. Had Gu Jinghong not made a misstep today, Ling Fei would've been complicit in a grave injustice against an innocent girl.

Ling Fei's heart boiled with fury.

Gu Jinghong understood.

There was no saving their bond now.

He gave a bitter smile and said, "It was Beast-Lure Powder. Early this morning, I volunteered to feed the spirit beasts. I mixed the powder into the food for the Qi Refining and low-stage Foundation Establishment beasts. I timed it carefully so the effect would kick in during the entrance ceremony."

"And then?" Ling Fei stared at him. "You had to have done more."

Raging beasts alone wouldn't be enough to falsely incriminate someone.

Gu Jinghong no longer tried to hide anything. "I also sprinkled some of the powder on the robe of an True disciple. That robe was meant for Yun Jin. I don't know how it ended up on Little Junior Sister instead. That's all. She's not possessed or tainted. Everything was my doing."

Ling Fei's face darkened completely. He ground his teeth. "Do you understand the kind of irreversible harm Beast-Lure Powder can cause to spirit beasts?"

Gu Jinghong said nothing.

He had practically lived in the Beast Pavilion. Of course he knew.

Ling Fei's disappointment was crushing. "You knew. Yet to frame someone, you still laid hands on them! I don't know what punishment the sect will decide upon, but from this day forward, Gu Jinghong, you are forbidden from ever stepping into the Beast Pavilion again."

Ye Danxia, hearing Gu Jinghong's full confession, finally exhaled and quickly added, "Everyone heard that, didn't they? I'm not possessed! This was all my Second Senior Brother's doing!"

She couldn't even hide her glee as she spoke.

The looks from the surrounding disciples grew increasingly complicated.

Yes, Gu Jinghong had done all of this.

But he did it for her.

They recalled how, when the spirit beasts charged, Ye Danxia had not dodged or panicked. Her calm demeanor now took on a new light. She may not have known the full details, but she clearly had an inkling of what was coming. And when she thought Yun Jin would suffer, she had been so very pleased. Would she have tried to stop Gu Jinghong then?

Unlikely.

But now that the plan had backfired onto her, she wasted no time casting him aside. She acted as if she couldn't wait to hurl him into the abyss just to save herself.

This kind of woman…

Was selfish, calculating, and chillingly cold-hearted.

Many silently decided to keep their distance from her.

Yun Jin watched, a faint smile curling her lips.

In her past life, Ye Danxia had been doted on by her master, her senior brothers, and the entire sect—everyone saw her as a little fairy, showering her with praise.

But in this life?

Ye Danxia's mask was being peeled away layer by layer.

Who would still see her as pure and innocent?

"The beloved of the sect? Hah. Not in this lifetime."

Perhaps Ye Danxia's delight was too obvious—even Zhao Wuji paused, a strange feeling rising in his chest.

"This little disciple of mine…"

Ye Danxia noticed something was wrong. She quickly tried to cover her tracks. "I... I didn't mean anything by it. I don't agree with Second Senior Brother's actions either. I only hope he can reflect and correct his ways. But... he did it for me. I... I ask the Sect Master to show him some mercy."

With that, she knelt down and kowtowed.

Her reaction was quick, but it was already too late. Everyone had seen her earlier behavior.

At this point, even Gu Jinghong looked at her with indifference.

He spoke calmly. "This is all my fault. I await Sect Master's judgment."

And with that, he knelt quietly.

"How do you intend to resolve this, Sect Master?" Lin Ya sneered. "I still don't understand what grievous crime my disciple committed that caused Chen Hao, Ruan Jun, and now Gu Jinghong to go after her as if she were the root of all evil. If not for Xiao Jin's good fortune each time, she would have long since met a tragic end. What Gu Jinghong has done is no different than attempted murder. I leave the punishment to your discretion."

Gu Jinghong remained on his knees, his expression blank.

Zhao Wujii's face grew more conflicted by the moment. He opened his mouth, but words failed him.

At that moment, Yun Jin finally spoke.

"Senior Brother Gu's scheme was meant to harm me. I am the intended victim. Sect Master, I wonder... would you allow me to say a few words about how this should be handled?"