124: I'm stuck with you guys

Qingfeng walked in leisurely with his hands behind his back, taking measured steps, while Mingyue followed closely, peeking out her small head curiously.

When the arrogant youth saw the newcomers, the disdain on his face instantly froze, replaced by a hint of panic and respect.

He quickly bowed, his voice somewhat stammering: "Di...Disciple Fang Ping, greets Junior Martial Uncle Qingfeng, Junior Martial Uncle Mingyue!"

Liu Jing also stood up from his chair, his sharp gaze softening slightly as he nodded slightly to the two children, acknowledging their greeting.

"Junior Martial Uncle Qingfeng, Junior Martial Uncle Mingyue."

His tone remained calm, but his address revealed the difference in their seniority.

Qingfeng glanced at him, then nodded like a little adult, "Is there a problem with this person my Junior Sister and I brought back?"

"It's my duty, a routine inquiry," Liu Jing said concisely.

"Oh?" Qingfeng drew out his words, walked to Su Ming's bed, glanced at his pale face, then turned to Liu Jing.

"My Junior Sister and I saved him, and the situation at the time has been clearly recorded in the Jade Slip at the Merit Hall."

"A Mortal pursued by an Evil Cultivator to the brink of death, Steward Liu, do you think he can still cause any trouble?"

These words, seemingly calm, actually contained a hidden edge, carrying a hint of questioning.

The implication was, does your Merit Hall not trust my Qingfeng's judgment?

Liu Jing's expression remained unchanged: "The Merit Hall naturally accepts Junior Martial Uncle Qingfeng's testimony. However, this person's origin is unknown, and it involves the death of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator; the procedures cannot be abandoned."

As he spoke, his gaze once again turned to Su Ming, like a drawn sword.

"Su Ming, I ask you, you claim to be a Hanlin Academy Compiler of the Daxing Kingdom, do you have proof?"

Here it comes.

Su Ming's heart settled.

He met Liu Jing's gaze calmly and slowly shook his head: "Immortal Master, please understand, when I was exiled, my official seal and documents had already been confiscated. I have nothing on me that can prove my identity."

"Oh? So there's no proof?" Fang Ping, behind Liu Jing, immediately interjected.

Su Ming ignored him, merely looking at Liu Jing, and continued: "Though I have no proof, all my learning is within my mind. If the Immortal Master doesn't believe me, you may test me on classics and political essays at will."

He paused, his voice becoming sorrowful.

"You can also send someone to the capital of the Daxing Kingdom, or Qingshi County, to find Elder Liu Wenyuan, the Director of the Imperial Academy, or Headmaster Zhou Wenhai of the Qingshi County School; you'll know once you ask."

"I, Su Ming, have studied diligently for half my life, walking the Righteous Path, but was framed by corrupt officials and barely escaped death. If not for the two young Immortal Masters saving me, I would already be a pile of dry bones in the wilderness. Before the Immortal Master today, I speak not a single false word."

His tone was neither humble nor arrogant, his eyes clear and open, and his words were sincere and heartfelt.

The image of an upright scholar, wronged but with integrity, vividly appeared before them.

Liu Jing's eyes flickered slightly.

He naturally wouldn't actually send someone to the Mortal world to verify, but Su Ming's ability to calmly state specific names and places itself increased the credibility of his words.

"Alright, even if your identity is true." Liu Jing's tone shifted, and the question became sharper, "That Zhao Qianshan was a Great Perfection of Foundation Establishment Cultivator. How did you die with him, falling off the cliff?"

"That's a good question."

Before Su Ming could answer, Qingfeng suddenly spoke up from the side.

He flipped his small hand, and a dusty Storage Pouch appeared in his palm, which he casually tossed to Liu Jing.

"Steward Liu, this is the Storage Pouch found on Zhao Qianshan. Take a look at what's inside."

Liu Jing took the Storage Pouch and probed it with his Divine Sense.

The next moment, a hint of surprise appeared on his usually placid face for the first time.

There weren't many Spirit Stones or Medicinal Pills in the Storage Pouch, and only that one damaged Flying Sword as a Magical Artifact. However, a few other items made him frown deeply.

A black porcelain bottle containing more than a dozen refined living souls, emitting overwhelming resentment.

There were also several unknown human bone fragments polished into spellcasting Materials.

These items all pointed to one identity—an Evil Cultivator!

"Moreover," Qingfeng's voice rang out again, with an undeniable certainty, "I examined Zhao Qianshan's corpse. There's an extremely domineering and sinister Evil Qi remaining in his body, which is absolutely not a power a Righteous Path Cultivator could possess. I suspect he suffered Qi Deviation from cultivating an evil Cultivation Technique, or was backlashed by his own Magic Treasure, which is why he stumbled and fell off the cliff while severely injured, eventually drowning."

He looked at Su Ming, but his words were directed at Liu Jing: "As for Su Ming, in my opinion, he's just an unlucky fellow who happened to be chased by this Evil Cultivator. His survival was purely by chance."

These words were like a final verdict!

Qingfeng cleverly transformed the most illogical point, "How Su Ming counter-killed," into an internal Sect issue of "Why did the Evil Cultivator Zhao Qianshan die?"

How could a third-layer Qi Condensation Cultivator kill a Foundation Establishment Cultivator? This is difficult to explain.

But for a Foundation Establishment Cultivator practicing evil Cultivation Techniques to die from a Cultivation Technique backlash or internal strife, that would be perfectly normal.

This move instantly diverted the Sect's attention completely away from Su Ming, this "small fry."

Liu Jing fell silent.

Holding the Storage Pouch, he glanced again at the weak, helpless "scholar" on the bed, and a judgment had already formed in his mind.

Qingfeng was right.

Compared to the bizarre experience of a Mortal scholar, an Evil Cultivator who had infiltrated the Cloud Hidden Sect's territory was the main focus the Merit Hall should be concerned with.

The items in the Storage Pouch were irrefutable proof.

"So that's how it is."

Liu Jing slowly nodded, putting away the Storage Pouch.

"The Merit Hall will continue to investigate this matter."

He stood up, gave Su Ming one last look, the sharpness and scrutiny in his eyes gone, replaced only by a businesslike indifference.

"Your suspicion has been temporarily cleared. As for how you reached the third layer of Qi Condensation, that is your private matter, and we have no need to waste time inquiring."

The huge stone weighing on Su Ming's heart finally slowly fell.

He knew he had gambled correctly.

However, Liu Jing's next words instantly plunged his recently relieved heart back into the abyss.

"However, the Cloud Hidden Sect is not a Mortal charity."

Liu Jing's voice was cold and clear.

"Your Mortal Foundation is already damaged, and your internal organs are all failing. Even if you recover from your injuries, you will only be a cripple, with shallow immortal 緣, and no connection to our immortal Dao."

"The Sect saving your life has already shown utmost benevolence."

"Once your injuries heal and you can walk on your own, you may descend the mountain by yourself."

These words were nothing less than an expulsion order.

Su Ming's fingernails, beneath the bedding, dug deep into his palm.

Extreme longing and unwillingness burned wildly in his heart like a wildfire.

Leave?

If he left here and returned to the Mortal world with its sparse Spiritual Qi, he would never be able to make any progress in this life! His Master's soul injury would also never have a chance to recover!

No! Absolutely not!

However, not a trace of unwillingness showed on his face.

Instead, a genuine, impeccable look of gratitude and submission appeared on his pale, bloodless face.

He struggled, bowing deeply, deeply in Liu Jing's direction, his forehead almost touching the edge of the bed.

"Su Ming... thanks the Immortal Master, thanks the Cloud Hidden Sect for the grace of rebirth."

His voice was hoarse, yet filled with sincerity.

"I understand the Sect's rules. Once my injuries are slightly better, I will certainly not disturb the Sect's tranquility again and will descend the mountain to live out my remaining days."

This posture, this understanding, this resignation, left everyone present unable to find any fault.

Even the usually stern Liu Jing's eyes softened slightly.

He nodded, said nothing more, turned, and left the bamboo house with Fang Ping.