Just as Qi Yuan was puzzling over the situation, a flurry of footsteps echoed from outside the house, followed by a loud voice:

“This is where the Servant Disciple Big Qi lives.”

Qi Yuan frowned, composed himself, and stepped forward to open the door. His gaze landed on several men and women wearing stern expressions.

They were dressed in the robes of Outer Sect Disciples, with the emblem of the Enforcement Hall embroidered on their chests. Clearly, they were on official business.

Upon realizing their identities, Qi Yuan was momentarily taken aback before asking in a deep voice, “What business do you have with me?”

Leading the group was a young woman of about seventeen or eighteen. She possessed a fine figure and was quite pretty, but her face was icy, wearing an expression of aloof arrogance that kept others at a distance.

She swept a cold glance over Qi Yuan and stated expressionlessly, “Big Qi, your crime has been exposed. Come with us immediately.”

Exposed?

Qi Yuan’s heart skipped a beat. His eyes narrowed slightly as he rapidly assessed the situation.

First, if his identity as the Holy Scion of the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary had been revealed, Falling Cloud Valley wouldn’t dare take action against him, even if they had ten times the courage.

The only real risk was the leak itself. Not only would his subsequent missions regarding Falling Cloud Valley become nearly impossible to complete, but he would also face an internal inquiry from the Supreme Mystery Sanctuary later. The consequences of that were unpredictable.

After all, explaining why he had concealed his identity to infiltrate Falling Cloud Valley as a Servant Disciple would be difficult.

Could it be… should I silence these people before the news spreads? Or perhaps find a way to scour their memories…

Noticing Qi Yuan’s silence, a male Enforcement Hall disciple standing behind the girl snorted coldly. “Big Qi, drop the innocent act. Let me be straight with you: since we’re taking you in, we have solid evidence proving you colluded with Lin Zhen to steal spirit herbs from the medicine garden.”

“Bringing you in for a confrontation now is just giving you a chance to confess. The sect rules are strict; they won’t care who you are!”

Huh?

Stealing spirit herbs?

Qi Yuan mentally breathed a heavy sigh of relief. He had thought his cover was blown. So, it was just a misunderstanding. It was a good thing he hadn’t acted on impulse just now…

Coming back to his senses, he clasped his hands together with an apologetic smile. “My apologies, Senior Brothers and Sisters. You gave me quite a fright earlier. Please forgive my lack of manners.”

“However, I truly didn’t steal any spirit herbs. Someone must be framing me.”

The Enforcement Hall disciples naturally had no idea they had just brushed past the gates of hell. Hearing his words, they merely showed impatient expressions.

“Enough nonsense. Move.”

Upon arriving at the main peak of the Outer Sect, Qi Yuan saw Lin Zhen tied up and kneeling in front of the hall. A small bundle of freshly picked Greenleaf Grass lay on the ground before him.

Seeing Qi Yuan, Lin Zhen immediately began to struggle and shouted, “Brother Qi! I don’t know when that bundle of Greenleaf Grass appeared in my room, either! It must be Wang Luchuan framing us!”

As soon as these words left his mouth, Wang Luchuan, standing in the crowd, flushed red with anger and roared, “Bullshit! The Greenleaf Grass was discovered in your own room! What does that have to do with me?”

“As the saying goes: catch a thief with the stolen goods. We have both the culprit and the evidence! How can you still deny it?”

Lin Zhen’s eyes were bloodshot as he glared fiercely at Wang Luchuan, gnashing his teeth. “Wang! It wasn’t enough to frame me; you had to try and drag Brother Qi into this, too! How shameless can you be?”

As he spoke, a thought seemed to strike him. His expression turned ashen as he looked toward Liu Yingying, who was standing beside Wang Luchuan. He spoke hoarsely, “So it was you… No wonder you kept coming around my place these past two days. I thought you had changed your mind… I never imagined you were actually plotting against me!”

“Lin Zhen, I never expected you to be this sort of person, either. To think we were friends for all those years… I must have been blind.” Liu Yingying gave him a cold glance. “You’d best confess quickly. Only then can you beg the Enforcement Hall for leniency.”

Seeing the situation descending into chaos, Outer Sect Elder Mo Zhengyang frowned and scolded, “Quiet! Making such a racket in public! What kind of behavior is this?”

Once the noise subsided, Mo Zhengyang scanned the crowd. Finally, his gaze settled on Qi Yuan. With a calm expression, he asked, “Big Qi, did you do this?”

His tone was gentle, not sounding like an interrogation at all, but rather like a casual chat between friends.

Witnessing this scene, Wang Luchuan, who had been confident moments before, felt his eyelids twitch. A sudden sense of foreboding rose in his heart.

Qi Yuan gave a faint smile. “Reporting to Elder Mo: I had nothing to do with this matter.”

Seeing Qi Yuan flatly deny it, the Enforcement Hall disciples responsible for bringing him grew anxious. The leading girl stepped forward and pointed at the bundle of spirit herbs.

“Big Qi, stop making excuses! You are responsible for managing the Greenleaf Grass in the medicine garden. Now, over ten stalks of freshly picked Greenleaf Grass have been found in your friend’s room. Is that not evidence enough?”

Unexpectedly, before Qi Yuan could open his mouth to refute her, Mo Zhengyang, who was overseeing the case, shook his head and spoke solemnly.

“Martial Niece Nie, there is no need for further questioning. Since Big Qi says he didn’t do it, then it is most likely not him.”

“I asked you to bring him here merely so he could clarify matters publicly—to prevent rumors from spreading later.”

Then, he turned his gaze back to Qi Yuan.

“Martial Nephew Qi, our Falling Cloud Sect has always rewarded merit appropriately. You may now tell everyone here what rewards the sect bestowed upon you just two days ago.”

Qi Yuan rubbed his nose in mock embarrassment and spoke slowly.

“This disciple merely got lucky and performed a tiny, insignificant service.”

“I never expected the sect would specially bestow three thousand spirit stones, fifty high-grade Gathering Qi Pills, and a mid-grade magical artifact upon me. This disciple truly feels unworthy.”

As soon as these words fell, gasps of shock erupted from the surrounding crowd, accompanied by wide-eyed stares filled with disbelief, envy, jealousy, and resentment.

Just what kind of great service did this kid perform?

A one-time reward of three thousand spirit stones, fifty high-grade Gathering Qi Pills, and even a mid-grade magical artifact!

It was simply unbelievable that such heavy rewards had landed on a Servant Disciple who had only been in the sect for a few days.

Mo Zhengyang nodded, his expression serious.

“Greenleaf Grass is a primary material for refining Gathering Qi Pills and is easy to sell in the marketplaces. However, these dozen or so stalks are likely worth only four or five spirit stones.”

“You tell me: would someone who just received three thousand spirit stones risk having their cultivation abolished and being expelled from the sect for a mere four or five spirit stones by playing some petty theft trick?”