Chapter 80: Lying Through One’s Teeth

Wang Yumiao looked at Feng Hanxiao as if she were a fool, scoffing at her words. “Let it go? And will you let me go if I do?”

She had been wanting to settle accounts with Ji Jiuxuan for some time, but Elder Nie had been following her around every day, and the Disciplinary Hall’s men had been guarding the main peak with utmost vigilance. She hadn’t had a single chance to act.

Wasn’t Ji Jiuxuan close to this foolish rabbit? Perfect. She’d start with it.

Dare to harm her? Then be prepared for retaliation.

She had thought no one would notice in this secluded corner—she remembered the sect’s rules well—but unexpectedly, this meddlesome girl had caught her in the act.

She’d already looked into it: Feng Hanxiao was one of Ji Jiuxuan’s close friends, someone she had originally planned to deal with separately, but fate had brought them together today.

The sect forbade the instigation of conflict and prohibited private fights outside the dueling arena.

But if Feng Hanxiao struck first, then her own actions could be justified as self-defense.

She glanced instinctively at Feng Hanxiao, her eyes flashing with malice.

Didn’t she care so much about this foolish rabbit? Then she’d start with the rabbit. After all, it was just a courier station’s rabbit. If she were caught, so be it—the punishment would be far lighter than if Feng Hanxiao attacked a fellow disciple. Besides, she was fully prepared for any consequences.

With that thought, the whip in Wang Yumiao’s hand lashed toward the already unconscious moon-white rabbit.

A sharp crack rang out, and a fresh wound appeared on the rabbit’s body, deep enough to reveal the bone.

Feng Hanxiao’s eyes turned crimson with rage as she looked at the dying moon-white rabbit, biting her lip and glaring at Wang Yumiao.

She knew Wang Yumiao was doing this on purpose. In her panic, she’d only thought to notify Xuanxuan, forgetting to call for the Disciplinary Hall. Now, even if she did, it was already too late.

Spiritual energy gathered in her hand, forming a spiritual arrow; dust swirled furiously around her. Her eyes were cold and resolute—if she must attack, then she would use her strongest move and preferably cripple her opponent, or else this act would bring her nothing but loss.

In a flash, the spiritual arrow shot toward Wang Yumiao, its aura fierce and commanding.

Wang Yumiao watched the arrow come with excitement—just as she had hoped!

At present, Feng Hanxiao was at the sixth stage of Qi Refinement, close to the seventh, while Wang Yumiao was at the ninth. At this range, Wang Yumiao was quite confident.

Her whip, brimming with spiritual power, once again struck toward the unconscious moon-white rabbit.

Having fired her first arrow, Feng Hanxiao threw all caution aside and attacked Wang Yumiao with all her might.

Just then, the Disciplinary Hall’s guards arrived, dissolving all of Feng Hanxiao’s attacks.

“Don’t you know private duels are forbidden within the sect? Ignoring the rules—just look at yourselves!” Coincidentally, the ones who arrived were from Wang Ying Peak.

The speaker cast a sidelong glance at Wang Yumiao, clearly recognizing her.

Feng Hanxiao, seeing their indifference to the moon-white rabbit trampled under Wang Yumiao’s foot, grew anxious. “Senior Brother, Wang Yumiao was harming the station’s spirit beast—I was just trying to stop her! Please, save the moon-white rabbit! It’s dying!”

She knew the sect’s power struggles were intricate, but experiencing it firsthand was a different matter.

Normally, with her status, even if she had erred, they wouldn’t have treated her like this.

“Senior Brother, I never harmed it. The rabbit was poisoned with Bewitching Powder—I couldn’t wake it, so I had to use the Awakening Whip to try to help. It was just unfortunate that this junior sister happened to see it.”

Wang Yumiao’s foot was now off the rabbit, her face innocent, looking at Feng Hanxiao with disdain, enough to make one’s teeth itch with anger.

Other Disciplinary Hall members arrived, and Ji Jiuxuan hurried over as well.

From a distance, she saw the moon-white rabbit’s fading form on the ground, disbelief filling her eyes.

She quickly landed and rushed to the rabbit’s side, crouching down and gently touching its wounds. The always-strong Ji Jiuxuan couldn’t hold back her tears.

“Moonwhite, what happened to you? Hang in there, I’ll save you. We still have delicious food to share, so many places to explore!”

At the sound of Ji Jiuxuan’s voice, it seemed the moon-white rabbit’s last bit of strength faded away; its body dissolved into starlike specks of spiritual energy, drifting into the air.

As Ji Jiuxuan frantically searched for healing pills, she broke down, desperately grasping at the shimmering lights, trying to hold them but never succeeding. “Moonwhite, don’t go! I haven’t used my points to redeem you yet! I haven’t asked if you want to stay with me forever. We were supposed to be together—please don’t leave...”

Other Disciplinary Hall disciples, seeing the small figure crouched and sobbing, couldn’t help but feel a pang of sorrow.

Wang Yumiao, meanwhile, was filled with satisfaction.

So she was capable, was she? Hadn’t she taken her spirit beast egg and colluded with the Spirit Beast Garden to bar her from ever contracting a beast? This was the price for crossing her.

As Ji Jiuxuan grieved, she sensed something odd in her palm—and her heart leaped with joy.

The moon-white rabbit absorbed starlight and fed on moonbeams. Unlike other spirit beasts, when it died, it turned directly into starlight, dissolving into the world.

If it were an ordinary moon-white rabbit, it would have vanished completely. But this one was different—it had a hidden talent. It was a high-tier moon-white rabbit.

According to the records, when a high-tier moon-white rabbit died, if it could condense a Moonbud Heart, it had a chance to be revived.

Just as it was about to disappear, Ji Jiuxuan had grasped a handful of starlight in her panic—unexpectedly, it turned out to be the Moonbud Heart formed from the rabbit’s essence!

Without a word, she put the Moonbud Heart away.

When she stood up, Feng Hanxiao, eyes brimming with tears, looked at her and choked out, “Xuanxuan, I’m sorry. If only I’d realized what was happening to Moonwhite in time…”

She knew how much Xuanxuan loved the moon-white rabbit—everyone at the academy was used to seeing them together.

Ji Jiuxuan wiped away her tears, shook her head at Feng Hanxiao, and turned to the Disciplinary Hall members. Her voice, though hoarse, was steady and resolute. “I hope the seniors of the Disciplinary Hall will see that the moon-white rabbit receives justice.”

The first Disciplinary Hall member to arrive spoke in a low voice: “The facts are clear—the moon-white rabbit was poisoned with Bewitching Powder and died by accident. There’s no such thing as justice or injustice in this matter. In fact, you ought to thank Junior Sister Wang. If not for her help, you wouldn’t have even seen the rabbit one last time.”

Feng Hanxiao was stunned and furious at his shameless words, now realizing something was amiss. “Xuanxuan, this man is in league with Wang Yumiao. It was clearly Wang Yumiao who killed Moonwhite, and now he’s twisting the facts!”

The man turned cold eyes on Feng Hanxiao, his tone severe. “You committed a mistake first and now try to distort the truth—seems you think you can act with impunity.”

Some of the other Disciplinary Hall disciples had recognized Feng Hanxiao and Ji Jiuxuan upon arrival. One whispered to the man, “Senior Brother Wang, that’s the daughter of Peak Master Feng. Shouldn’t we notify Peak Master Feng?”

The Disciplinary Hall’s team included disciples from all peaks, but by chance, it was this Wang from Wang Ying Peak who had arrived first.

A disciple from Wangchen Peak shot them a look and quickly sent a secret message to Feng Chen.

“What’s there to notify? Even a prince who breaks the law must answer for it, let alone the rules of the sect—they’re not just for show.”

The disciple surnamed Wang spoke righteously, voice tinged with anger, as if he were the very image of impartiality.

“The sect’s rules are not for show, but neither are they yours alone to interpret.” A voice, commanding and full of authority, rang out at that moment. Upon hearing it, Ji Jiuxuan’s red-rimmed eyes brimmed with tears once more.

Thank you for the moon ticket from Xiaoxue Xingchen Yue, thank you! (End of chapter)