As soon as Zhao Wuji spoke those words, Ye Danxia immediately understood. Her eyes brightened, she realized Zhao Wuji intended to cover up the matter for her.
Ye Danxia couldn't help but look toward Ma Hongyu expectantly.
As long as Ma Hongyu took that storage pouch!
Then, whether he wanted to or not, the blame would be his to bear.
But Ma Hongyu didn't move.
His feelings were complicated.
With Yun Jin's earlier warning and Ye Danxia's increasingly suspicious behavior, if he still couldn't see there was something fishy here, his century of life would've been wasted.
Yet the clearer he saw things, the heavier his heart became.
He had followed Zhao Wuji for over a hundred years.
In that time, how many disciples had he taught? How many spiritual plants had he cultivated?
He might not have accomplished great feats, but he had certainly earned some merit.
And the result?
His proudest disciple, he could only save the boy's life by severing ties.
As for himself, compared to Ye Danxia, he's merely a disposable pawn.
He had long realized this truth, but now he felt it more deeply than ever.
Instead of stepping forward, Ma Hongyu took a step back.
"Ma Hongyu? What is the meaning of this?"
Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes.
Ma Hongyu spoke calmly, "As for past years' harvests, I can report them now, Sect Leader. If you have doubts, we can take out the spiritual plants from the storage pouch and compare them one by one."
A flash of anger crossed Zhao Wuji's eyes, "Do you think I have time to busy myself with such trivialities? Ma Hongyu, I told you to take it, so take it!"
Ma Hongyu continued to step back. He asked directly, "Sect Leader, is there a problem with the quantity of spiritual plants in that storage pouch?"
"Whether there's a problem or not, that's for you to investigate, isn't it?" Zhao Wuji said evenly.
"I've recorded last year's numbers on a jade slip. The Sect Leader may compare them himself, or have Junior Niece Ye do so," Ma Hongyu replied.
Zhao Wuji's eyes instantly narrowed to slits.
So Ma Hongyu had already prepared for this!
Did he really think that would save him?
Zhao Wuji flicked his sleeve, and in an instant, the doors of the hall sealed shut.
Ma Hongyu's expression changed slightly, "Sect Leader, what is the meaning of this?"
"Ma Hongyu, entrusting you with the collection of the spiritual plants was a sign of trust," Zhao Wuji said coldly. "Yet you have lined your own pockets and committed a grave offense. Do you admit your guilt?"
Ye Danxia finally let out a long breath, joy flickering in her eyes.
Master still cared for her after all.
As for Ma Hongyu, she could only say sorry. If she soared to greatness in the future, she would repay him with some benefit as compensation.
Ma Hongyu had expected this outcome, but the pain in his heart still ran deep. He said softly, "Sect Leader, I have managed the sect's spiritual plants with diligence for over a century, never once making a mistake. I dare not claim great merit, but I have worked hard. For Sect Master to do this, it chills me to the heart."
Zhao Wuji sneered, "Ma Hongyu, you think I didn't notice the issue with Ye Cheng defecting to Heavenly Sword Peak? That day's incident was nothing but a staged act between you two! Ye Cheng went there, and you've long since turned your heart that way too. If I keep you here, won't you just help them deal with me?"
So now, the accusations were out in the open.
Ma Hongyu fell silent for a while before replying quietly, "I have never done anything to harm the Sect Leader."
His dealings with Yun Jin had been solely to find Ye Cheng a way to survive.
After that, he hadn't even stepped near Heavenly Sword Peak.
But Zhao Wuji would never believe it. He only let out another cold laugh, "You know very well what you've done! I won't make things difficult for you. But stealing such a quantity of spiritual plants is a serious crime! Hand over all your possessions as compensation. If it's not enough, you'll be demoted to labor duty until every loss is repaid!"
Zhao Wuji waved his hand. The storage pouch filled with spiritual plants shot forward as if it had eyes, landing right in Ma Hongyu's arms.
He wasn't even giving Ma Hongyu a chance to defend himself.
Ma Hongyu stood there numbly.
Zhao Wuji looked down at him from above, "Do you have anything left to say?"
Ma Hongyu said quietly, "Yes. My position is equivalent to that of a deacon. When facing punishment, if one feels unjustly accused, one may appeal for a sect-wide judgement. I wish to request such a deliberation."
Zhao Wuji frowned, "The storage pouch is in your hands! Even if you call for a sect's judgement, what can that change?"
Ma Hongyu answered calmly, "Then just take it as… the struggle of a dying man."
Zhao Wuji narrowed his eyes. He didn't want a sect-wide judgment complicating matters, he was just about to use force to make Ma Hongyu confess.
When suddenly.
A disciple's voice came from outside, "Sect Leader, the ten Peak Masters request audience together."
Zhao Wuji's face darkened instantly.
He shot a glare at Ma Hongyu, who remained calm.
"Good. Very good," Zhao Wuji said furiously. "And you still dare say you haven't betrayed me!"
Ma Hongyu stayed silent.
From the doorway came Lin Ya's voice, "Sect Leader, we have matters to report."
Zhao Wuji glared one last time at Ma Hongyu, then had no choice but to open the door.
Receiving so many people wasn't suitable in his private quarters, so Zhao Wuji moved to the main hall instead.
He looked coldly down at the Peak Masters below and said, "You've come together to request an audience, what is this? Do you mean to pressure me?"
Among the ten Peak Masters, two clear groups had formed. Huo Lie's trio stood on one side, while the remaining seven, very obviously, were led by Lin Ya.
The sight made Zhao Wuji's face even darker.
Lin Ya stepped forward, smiling lightly, "Sect Leader, we've come today to report an incident."
Zhao Wuji said coldly, "You'd better truly have something to report."
Lin Ya's tone remained calm, "Indeed we do and it concerns the Sect Leader himself. Lately, someone in the sect has made a formal accusation that the criminal disciple Ye Danxia not only roams about the sect freely but even flaunts the Sect Leader's Token! Isn't that rather inappropriate?"
Lin Ya's sharp gaze turned directly toward Ye Danxia.
Ye Danxia's face instantly went pale. She protested, voice trembling, "But I've already been punished for my past mistakes! This time, when I came out, even Yun Jin didn't say anything!"
Lin Ya raised a brow, "My disciple has a kind heart and didn't argue with you. But you are still a convicted criminal. Staying quietly in the sect is one thing, but who allowed you to parade yourself about so arrogantly? Furthermore, upon investigation, we discovered that Ye Danxia, using the Sect Leader's Token, increased the collection quota of three peaks by thirty percent. Sect Leader, those three peaks already had scarce harvests, raising the quota by thirty percent, were you planning to leave them no way to live?"
"What?!" Zhao Wuji's face changed sharply.
He turned to stare at Ye Danxia.
She had actually raised the quotas by thirty percent!
What did that mean?
It meant the amount she'd skimmed off was far greater than he had imagined!
Just where had she gotten the courage of a bear and the heart of a leopard to do this?
Lin Ya pressed on coldly, "Sect Leader, you look so surprised, could it be that someone's been using your token without your knowledge?"