Chapter 2: It's So Disgusting Here—What Should I Do If I Can't Stand It Any Longer?

“What’s the need for all this trouble? Just dig out your spiritual root and give it to Junior Sister Xuewei to heal her injuries. That way, Master could spare you, couldn’t he?”

Shen Jingyuan stood to the side, growing anxious as Si Nansheng remained silent, unwilling to offer up her spiritual root of her own accord. He finally stepped forward, his words sounding utterly justified, causing the representatives from all the great sects lining the hall to furrow their brows in deep displeasure.

To forcibly remove someone’s spiritual root is a grave violation of the laws of heaven. How could a disciple of the illustrious Sacred Heaven Sect utter such words?

Sensing the threat in Shen Jingyuan’s gaze, Si Nansheng’s body trembled involuntarily.

“Second Senior Brother, I know I was wrong. Please, rest assured—I would never say it was Junior Sister Liu Xuewei who dragged me to trespass in the forbidden grounds. I… I’ll say it was all my idea, that I alone trespassed, and that it was my fault Junior Sister was hurt.”

Suddenly, Si Nansheng collapsed to her knees, her face pale and her expression dazed, red-rimmed eyes repeating her words in a quivering whisper.

Everyone present was an immortal cultivator; their senses were keen, and though her voice was soft, they caught every word. At that moment, all heads lifted in shock. Si Nansheng shuddered as if terrified and then repeated, louder this time, “Second Senior Brother, I know I was wrong. Please don’t hit me anymore. It really hurts.”

The implication was clear: Si Nansheng was being coerced—was she admitting to something under threat?

“Si Nansheng! You—how dare you! I’ll beat you to death!”

Shen Jingyuan was infuriated, having never expected Si Nansheng to speak to him in such a way. His temper flared, and he raised his hand to strike her.

But before he could, Feng Zeyan’s commanding voice cut through the uproar.

“Enough! Jingyuan, stand down!”

“Master! It’s all Si Nansheng’s doing—her heart is malicious. She’s jealous of Junior Sister’s talent and progress, afraid she’ll be surpassed. That’s why she hurt her! And she’s completely unrepentant! She won’t confess, Master, you must punish her severely!”

Shen Jingyuan’s indignation was sincere; he was truly furious that Si Nansheng had dared insult him. He would not forgive her!

“Second Brother is right. Si Nansheng’s conduct is disgraceful—she must be taught a lesson. Master, look at Junior Sister Xuewei, gravely injured and still unconscious. Si Nansheng was in the wrong, so she ought to apologize to her and show some sincerity to earn forgiveness.”

The one speaking now was Su Heng, their eldest senior brother, a man known for his cunning and skillful means, always speaking and acting with flawless propriety, making everyone believe he was not just a good man, but a just one.

Yet it was he who, when Liu Xuewei took a liking to Si Nansheng’s cave-dwelling, had unhesitatingly evicted her, all the while gently saying, “Junior Sister is new here, we should take extra care of her,” never considering where Si Nansheng would go after leaving her home.

Thinking back on these years spent among such hypocrites, Si Nansheng felt only revulsion.

Si Nansheng: It’s nauseating—I can’t bear it any longer. If I stay and speak with them another moment, I might actually vomit.

She drew a deep breath, forced herself to endure, wiped away her tears, and struggled to her feet, her eyes brimming as she walked, step by step, to the motionless Liu Xuewei lying on the ground.

“Junior Sister Xuewei, I’m so sorry, it’s all my fault. Please, wake up. As long as you recover, whatever you want in the future—if I have it, it’s yours. Even if I don’t, I’ll find it for you, just like always. Please, wake up!”

Si Nansheng knew Liu Xuewei was faking, so as she let her tears and snot smear over Liu Xuewei, she deliberately shook her with all her might.

Liu Xuewei’s head spun from the shaking, and her stomach turned with disgust, yet she forced herself to keep her eyes closed.

“How dare you, you ungrateful wretch! You dare harm your fellow disciple before my very eyes!”

Feng Zeyan, witnessing the scene, swept his sleeve and sent Si Nansheng flying, slamming her hard into the ground. Blood spurted from her lips.

“Master, Master, I… I have never hurt anyone, let alone a fellow disciple. I just wanted Junior Sister Xuewei to wake up,” Si Nansheng pleaded, wiping the blood from her mouth as she got to her feet, looking at Feng Zeyan—the master she had revered since childhood—with desperate eyes.

“You still dare argue? Junior Sister Xuewei is in this state because of you, and you still refuse to admit it!” Shen Jingyuan’s glare was menacing as he pronounced her guilt, which made Si Nansheng laugh bitterly.

“Second Senior Brother, you’ve already beaten me all over, and it really hurts. Please, don’t hit me again. I’ll admit to everything you say, all right?”

She gazed at Shen Jingyuan, tears shimmering in her eyes, looking utterly pitiful. The sight made him falter; he hadn’t expected such an expression, and it reminded him of their youngest junior sister.

It was only now that the others noticed the blood seeping through Si Nansheng’s seemingly clean robes, the tears in her clothes. They were not fools—clearly, someone had already tortured this girl before bringing her here.

Under Shen Jingyuan’s murderous stare, Si Nansheng sneered inwardly, but outwardly she shrank with feigned terror.

“I know Master and Senior Brother don’t believe me. I… I… Oh, what’s the use…”

She lowered her head, as if suffering the greatest wrong, tears streaming down.

“If Master and Senior Brother will not believe me, then I have no choice but to swear a heart-demon oath.”

With her heart and soul, Si Nansheng raised her voice: “I, Si Nansheng, swear before heaven itself—I have never trespassed in the Sacred Heaven Sect’s forbidden grounds, nor have I ever harmed Liu Xuewei. If I lie, may lightning strike me down, and may my Dao heart shatter!”

A golden light descended from the heavens, enveloping Si Nansheng before vanishing without a trace. She stood unharmed.

Most present, seeing her take the heart-demon oath without suffering any punishment from heaven and earth, seemed to understand.

“She dared to swear such an oath and was unharmed. Perhaps she speaks the truth—she did not harm her fellow disciple.”

“It seems Sect Master Feng and his disciples have wronged the girl!”

“If she is telling the truth, then who is lying?”

For a moment, all present exchanged meaningful glances, suspicion thick in the air.

“Master, Master, you see—I am unscathed. Doesn’t that mean I told no lie? If you still don’t believe me, why not have Sister Xuewei swear the same oath?”

Liu Xuewei’s entire body stiffened, cold sweat beading on her brow as she trembled uncontrollably. A heart-demon oath—how could Si Nansheng dare take one? She herself could never swear such an oath!

“Wretched disciple! Xuewei still lies unconscious from your actions, and you would have her take a heart-demon oath? Do you even understand what such an oath means? I raised you from childhood, yet never knew you harbored such malice. The Sacred Heaven Sect cannot keep one as wicked as you!”

Feng Zeyan raised his hand, launching a blast of spiritual energy at Si Nansheng.

Wounded as she was, she stood no chance of escaping.

But just as the attack reached her, it was intercepted by another.