Troublemaker’s Guide to Immortality

Zhao Wuji's expression darkened slightly.

He stared intently at his most cherished disciple.

He couldn't quite explain why, but from the moment he first laid eyes on Ye Danxia during the disciple evaluation, he had felt an inexplicable affinity for her.

During the entrance trials, the moment he saw her, he knew she belonged in his lineage.

What followed was history—Ruan Jun and Gu Jinghong's downfalls were both tied to her.

Two painstakingly trained disciples, one in seclusion, the other a slave, all because of Ye Danxia.

He should have been furious.

Yet every time he looked at her, his anger dissolved.

It wasn't her fault. Yun Jin was just too ruthless.

But this time…

He never imagined she would lie to him.

Last night, seeing her grievous wounds, Zhao Wuji had nearly lost his mind—even beating Gu Jinghong half to death in his rage.

He hadn't doubted Ye Danxia for a second.

So when Yun Jin pointed out the flaw, he was stunned.

"Right.

The artifact should've auto-activated under attack.

Then how did Danxia get injured in the first place?"

He had seen Gu Jinghong's murderous frenzy—but by then, the barrier was already up, untouched.

Such an obvious inconsistency…

And he'd missed it, blinded by trust.

Zhao Wuji glanced at Gu Jinghong.

Gu Jinghong met his gaze calmly, waiting.

"How will you choose this time, Master?"

"Master…" Ye Danxia's voice trembled pitifully.

Zhao Wuji's heart wavered.

"She looks so heartbroken. Just this morning, she worried Gu Jinghong might be exploited by Yun Jin. She was just… scared, wasn't she?

Scared enough to resort to this."

Zhao Wuji's mind spun rapidly.

"Sect Master," Lin Ya said with amusement in his tone, "are you saying that you personally modified the talisman to require manual activation? While such a change makes no practical sense, if you did it yourself, surely there was some reason. We'd be all ears to hear it."

Ye Danxia looked at Zhao Wuji with tearful eyes, playing her part.

Lin Ya's sarcasm hung in the air. Zhao Wuji was silent for a moment before speaking slowly.

"It's true. I refined that talisman myself. I believed there wouldn't be any major threats within the sect. If anything did happen, Danxia could still activate the artifact in time. Once she begins going on sect missions outside, we could switch to a passive-trigger type. I never expected Yun Jin would be so bold as to attack her own fellow disciple."

Ye Danxia exhaled in relief.

"Doesn't matter if it makes sense. No one would dare question the Sect Master."

Gu Jinghong lowered his eyes, a cold smile tugging at the corners of his lips.

If Zhao Wuji had made Ye Danxia admit guilt like he had once forced Gu Jinghong to do, he could have at least believed that the man was impartial.

But this?

This time, Zhao Wuji had wagered even his own reputation just to cover for her.

"Why does he favor her so much?

Not that it matters anymore."

"Yes," Zhao Wuji said calmly, "everything happened just as I described. I have no reason to lie."

The talisman had been used once already, rendering it inert. There was no way to verify anything now.

Zhao Wuji's logic was simple. After what happened last night, there was no salvaging his relationship with Gu Jinghong. But Ye Danxia still had a bright future ahead.

Rather than straddle the line, he might as well let one go. And truthfully, he no longer had any use for a disciple who had been reduced to Yun Jin's servant.

"Xiao Jin," Ye Danxia now spoke with newfound confidence. "The flaw you pointed out is a misunderstanding. Senior Brother Gu has always treated me kindly. Why would I ever harm him? What would I gain from that? Even if he nearly killed me this time, I don't blame him. I believe it wasn't truly his intention."

As she spoke, she cast a tearful glance at Gu Jinghong.

Gu Jinghong stood unmoved, like an old tree in meditation. He didn't spare her so much as a glance.

Ye Danxia felt a flash of humiliation, but she quickly shifted into a wounded expression. Turning to Zhao Wuji, she suddenly knelt.

"Master, I don't wish to pursue last night's events any further. Xiao Jin and I grew up together. Senior Brother Gu ended up like this because of me. Even though I was seriously hurt, my life wasn't in danger. Please, let this matter rest."

She looked like she was offering forgiveness from a place of grief and generosity. Zhao Wuji understood well that this could not be investigated any further. He coughed lightly and spoke in a measured tone.

"Since Danxia herself has chosen forgiveness, then I will respect her wishes. Let it end here. Yue Lin, close the case."

"Yes, understood." Yue Lin stepped in quickly. "In that case—"

"This case was brought to public hearing, so it must be judged in full." Yun Jin's voice suddenly rang out, cutting him off. "She won't pursue it? Then I will."

"Yun Jin, don't push things too far," Zhao Wuji warned, his tone hardening. "Yesterday, you had Gu Jinghong round up five disciples. What was your real intent? You sent him to the spirit fields too. I allowed him to obey your orders, yes, but that doesn't mean you can abuse that authority. Still, these aren't major issues, and I can overlook them. But this matter ends here. Do you understand?"

Yun Jin beamed at him with a bright, dazzling smile.

"Ends here? What, is the Law Enforcement Hall just for show now? Isn't Yue Lin the one in charge of it? Or have you taken over his position as well, Sect Master? You decided on the public hearing, and now you're deciding when it ends? With Yue Lin just sitting there, what is he even here for? What do you say, Yue Tangzhu?"

Zhao Wuji's face darkened. Yue Lin squirmed.

"Yes, I'm his lackey—but must you SAY it?!"

He looked to Zhao Wuji, but received no response. So Yue Lin could only ask, "Even if she won't pursue it, what more do you want?"

"She won't, but I will. I never instructed Gu Jinghong to harm anyone. Yet Ye Danxia accused me of ordering him to kill her. Now, I'm claiming she wounded herself to frame me. That is what I want this hearing to address."

Yun Jin's tone sharpened.

"I also accuse the Headmaster of shielding his disciple and lying in front of everyone. I accuse the Law Enforcement Hall's Tangzhu of bias and corruption, turning what should be the sect's justice into a puppet arm of the Sect Master's will. And finally—"

Her finger rose, pointing at the ten peak masters.

"I accuse all of you sitting up there—the so-called Peak Masters of Tianxing Sect. Outside these walls, your names sound grand, but in truth, you are nothing more than ten puppets!"

She seemed completely unhinged, throwing out accusations without restraint.

The disciples watching were struck with terror.

And yet… there was something oddly satisfying about it.

Because deep down, they knew Yun Jin was right.

Everything good went to the Headmaster's disciples. Every decision leaned in their favor.

Even among disciples of the same rank, those under Zhao Wuji always stood higher.

All Yun Jin had done was voice the truths they had been too afraid to say aloud.