The Crooked Beam

"Stay, then. Who's afraid of who?"

Ji Rong calmly sat back in her seat, her confidence unwavering. She refused to believe that Gu Baiyi could overturn the heavens.

Standing in the center of the hall, Gu Baiyi addressed Ji Rong, "Senior Sister, do you recall inviting me to practice swordsmanship at Wan Tang Residence the day before you were poisoned?"

Her gaze was gentle, and her tone oddly saccharine.

Ji Rong, however, remained as cold as ice, her tone indifferent. "I don't remember."

Gu Baiyi smiled faintly, seemingly unconcerned about Ji Rong's response. Instead, she began to recount the story with a tinge of sorrow. "That day, Senior Sister invited me to Wan Tang Residence at dusk. Though I didn't quite understand why, I went anyway."

"When I arrived, Senior Sister was practicing her sword techniques. She shared some insights about the sword path and even praised me, saying I had excellent potential and was a talent worth cultivating."

Ji Rong, unaware of the original host's actions, could only listen quietly, guessing that Gu Baiyi's words were half-truths.

Gu Baiyi's expression turned wistful, as if recalling something distant. Her voice softened.

"I was so happy that day, so I demonstrated a sword technique I had created myself. Later, Senior Sister got drunk, and then…"

Seeing the mischievous curve of Gu Baiyi's lips, Ji Rong's mind went blank with a loud "buzz."

Could it be… that dream was real?

Gu Baiyi smiled again and continued, "Then Senior Sister kissed me, and after that…"

She raised her hand, lightly tracing her elegant lips, as though savoring the memory of that moonlit kiss.

The moonlight was soft, mingling with the fragrance of plum blossoms.

Ji Rong, slightly tipsy and disoriented by the intoxicating breeze, lifted Gu Baiyi's chin, their lips and tongues entwining.

Her fingers brushed against Gu Baiyi's clavicle. Sensing the slight stiffness of the person in her arms, Ji Rong asked coolly, "What's wrong? Do you not harbor any improper thoughts about me?"

The woman's beauty was unparalleled, her face exuding pride, her scent cold and crisp. Against the blush of her eyes, she was utterly mesmerizing.

Gu Baiyi stared at Ji Rong, her soul already ensnared by the alluring fragrance.

Summoning courage from who knows where, Gu Baiyi wrapped an arm around Ji Rong's waist and lightly pulled aside the gossamer-thin fabric. Her lips landed on the slight curve of Ji Rong's collarbone.

A vivid mark bloomed against Ji Rong's pale skin, but her expression remained indifferent, her gaze devoid of emotion as she looked at Gu Baiyi without speaking.

Unwilling to stop, Gu Baiyi lowered her head again, biting down in defiance.

That night, she infused the mark with a trace of spiritual power, leaving a trace that lingered for months.

Ji Rong was speechless.

A thousand galloping horses roared through her mind. What kind of mess had the original host gotten her into? Teasing someone only to end up with a hickey—she had never seen anything so humiliating in her life.

Given Ji Rong's gender, it was deemed inappropriate for the two male elders, Shen Mingyun and Ye Yizhou, to conduct a physical examination. They had no choice but to call Yun Ying to verify.

Ji Rong, having buried herself in books recently, hadn't paid much attention to her body. Coupled with the high collars of her clothing, she hadn't realized there was still a mark on her neck.

It wasn't until Yun Ying arrived that she noticed the girl was the same messenger who had informed her earlier.

Ji Rong was on the verge of tears. She wanted to move to another planet!

Blushing slightly, Yun Ying examined Ji Rong as she loosened her collar. The moment the fabric was undone, a conspicuous bite mark was revealed on her clavicle. The mark appeared as if it had been sucked on, faintly flushed.

Feigning calm, Ji Rong adjusted her collar, though inwardly, she cursed the original host to no end.

Gu Baiyi, meanwhile, continued to smile gently, her lies sounding absurdly earnest. "Since that night, I've been deeply in love with Senior Sister Ji. How could I possibly harm her with poison?"

Ji Rong: "…"

She looked at the false smile on Gu Baiyi's face. Deeply in love, huh?

A face is a wonderful thing. Don't you want one, heroine?

Ye Yizhou shook his head and said, "But what if you acted intentionally? This evidence alone cannot prove your innocence."

"If appearing at Wan Tang Residence that night is the only evidence against me, what else do you have to convict me?" Gu Baiyi's smile remained, but her gaze turned icy, her arched brows adding a sharpness to her demeanor.

Ye Yizhou was silent. This case was riddled with doubts, and he dared not hastily make a judgment.

Shen Mingyun cleared his throat and glanced at Ji Rong, seemingly waiting for her input.

Ji Rong remained silent, weighing the pros and cons.

If Gu Baiyi were convicted, the Wan Jian Sect's laws would strip her of her martial skills and expel her from the sect.

This would lead to Mei He taking pity on the heroine and accepting her as a scribe. Through this opportunity, Gu Baiyi would meet people from the demon sect, heal her meridians, and pursue dual cultivation, growing unstoppable.

If Gu Baiyi were declared innocent, she wouldn't lose her cultivation, and Mei He wouldn't take her in. Gu Baiyi might not turn to the dark side, but the BaiHe ship she shipped might sink.

Clearly, Gu Baiyi's innocence was more advantageous for Ji Rong's survival. The situation would remain under her control rather than allowing Gu Baiyi to grow stronger in the shadows.

Having decided, Ji Rong was about to speak when footsteps echoed outside the hall.

She turned toward the entrance.

A delicate figure approached, dressed in fine robes. The person's pale lashes quivered with each cough, their fragile demeanor giving an air of illness.

"Elder Gong, what brings you here?"

Shen Mingyun massaged his temples, sensing that the situation was growing more complicated.

Gong Yu, her old injuries unhealed, maintained her usual sickly pallor. She coughed softly and said, "I happened to pass by the Judgement Hall and overheard the disciples' chatter. I found the case… rather intriguing, so I stayed outside to listen for a while."

Shen Mingyun, who held Gong Yu in high regard, asked with a smile, "Did you hear everything, Elder Gong? In your opinion, how should this case be judged?"

Gong Yu accepted the tea Shen Mingyun offered her, her features blurred by the rising steam. Her slender, pale fingers cradled the porcelain cup, exuding a sense of melancholy.

After a long pause, she asked, "Elder Shen, do you remember the Battle of Zhu Xie?"

The Battle of Zhu Xie a century ago had been a nightmare for the previous generation of cultivators.

Shen Mingyun nodded. Back then, he had been a disciple of the Qingmen Sect. After the battle, his master had fallen, and the sect had been destroyed. If not for Gong Yu's intervention, he would have perished.

"The Battle of Zhu Xie was a mistake caused by Master's momentary compassion in sparing Chang Li. That decision led to a great disaster. Ever since Master's disappearance, I've often reflected on my own failure to warn Master, having also been on good terms with Chang Li at the time."

Tracing the floral patterns on her teacup, Gong Yu softly declared, "That's why I believe this mistake must not be repeated."

Shen Mingyun wasn't the only one with a headache now. Ji Rong's head was spinning as well. Gong Yu didn't even have a role in the game. Why was she here?

Gu Baiyi observed everything coldly. Bowing slightly, she said, "I have said all I can. Do with me as you wish."

Shen Mingyun looked at Gu Baiyi's resolute demeanor and, recalling the horrors of the Battle of Zhu Xie, found himself in a dilemma.

After a moment of contemplation, he reached a decision. "This case…"

At that moment, a voice interrupted from outside the hall.

"This case cannot be decided."

Shen Mingyun frowned, wondering who had interrupted him. He looked up and saw a figure in moon-white robes.

His eyes lit up immediately—salvation had arrived.

Mei He, having just finished her tasks, carried a hint of weariness in her brow.

She first inquired gently about Gong Yu's health before addressing the others. "This case cannot be decided because Ji Rong's poisoning was not caused by Gu Baiyi."

Everyone in the room was stunned.

Ji Rong touched the blood jade bracelet on her wrist, her knuckles slightly pale.

Could it be that the original host's framing of Gu Baiyi had been discovered by Mei He?

"There's something Mei hasn't mentioned. That day, the disciple who came seeking Mei to save Ji Rong was, in fact... Gu Baiyi."

Mei He's expression was somewhat subtle, but he continued, "Later, when Gu Baiyi was arrested, Mei felt something was amiss and began investigating that nameless toxic pill. Only today did I discover that the poison is actually a slow-acting one."

"Those who ingest it won't immediately feel the effects. It takes about one to two months for the toxin to corrode their mind, leading to unconsciousness."

Ye Yizhou pondered for a moment before speaking, "If Ye remembers correctly, one to two months from now coincides with the Hero Assembly, where people from various sects will gather."

Mei He added, "Rather than saying there will be many people, it's better to say it will be a chaotic mix, impossible to guard against."

"So if Ji Rong was poisoned two months ago, there's no way to trace it now."

Shen Mingyun chimed in lazily, "Moreover, if it was the doing of another sect, Ji Rong would inevitably have had contact with her fellow disciples, potentially implicating one or two of them in the process. It's a strategy that kills two birds with one stone."

Ye Yizhou's expression grew grim. "For someone to harbor such malicious intent, who could it be? Which sect's disciple is plotting against my Wan Jian Sect?"

Ji Rong listened to these seniors' conspiracy theories and couldn't help but admire their vivid imaginations.

Where was all this even coming from?

Only Gu Baiyi remained standing calmly, smiling as if the matter had nothing to do with her.

Gong Yu traced the patterns on the cup lid with her finger again, then coughed lightly and said, "Since this concerns other sects, we'll have to trouble Elder Shen to investigate thoroughly. If this matter is even remotely connected to the Demon Sect, that would be troubling..."

Then, Gong Yu turned to Gu Baiyi and smiled. "But that's unlikely. Our sect's disciples are all carefully chosen elites. How could they be associated with the Demon Sect?"

Ji Rong thought to herself that Chu Changli and Bai Yushuang had once been the pillars of the Wan Jian Sect, but they still ended up becoming leaders of the Demon Sect.

Of course, she only dared to think this to herself. For now, she could only quietly listen to the seniors' discussions.

She felt that, although the incident and suspicion revolved around her and Gu Baiyi, the entire interrogation seemed unrelated to the two of them.

Mei He sighed. "As long as Ji Rong is unharmed, all is well. Let's end this case here."

Ji Rong also felt that any further investigation might jeopardize her. This outcome was probably the best.

Mei He continued, "However... both of you will copy the Clear Mind Sutra a hundred times as punishment."

With that, Mei He glanced at Ji Rong's collarbone. His expression remained calm, but his gaze was somewhat complicated.

[Ding! Mei He's favorability -5, Gu Baiyi's favorability +10]

Ji Rong: "..."

If it weren't for the electronic voice, she might have forgotten about her assistant system's existence.

"Yes."

Both responded at the same time, their expressions different.

Ji Rong looked at the faint smile on Gu Baiyi's lips and coldly huffed in her heart: Laugh all you want. Laugh now while you can. Just wait until you ruin the official pairing and face the chasing wife in a crematorium arc.

After the interrogation, Ji Rong realized that the biggest victim in this whole situation was herself.

Not only had she been branded as "seducing her junior sister" by Mei He, but Gu Baiyi had also managed to turn the tables.

It was too tragic.

Once the case was closed, the busy elders departed, leaving only Gu Baiyi and Ji Rong in the hall.

Ji Rong maintained her eternally indifferent expression. Picking up her Qinghe Sword, she intended to leave this unlucky place.

But Gu Baiyi stood in her way, blocking her path. "Senior Sister, Baiyi has something to say to you."

Gu Baiyi smiled warmly at Ji Rong.

At such a close distance, Ji Rong could even see the unhealed scar on Gu Baiyi's forehead and her pale, almost translucent lips.

Despite wearing a prisoner's uniform, Gu Baiyi's eyes still sparkled, and her faint smile resembled a deep, tranquil spring, unfathomable yet serene.

Ji Rong frowned, trying to discern the differences between Gu Baiyi's real appearance and her in-game model.

Before she could react, Gu Baiyi suddenly disappeared before her eyes, likely using some kind of movement technique.

Ji Rong hadn't yet processed this when she felt a sudden warmth on her lips.

It was as if something soft had pressed against them, accompanied by a faint pain from being bitten.

Crap. Damn it.

Ji Rong almost cursed aloud.

On the other side, Gu Baiyi, still smiling, even raised her hand to wipe the saliva from her lips after the bite.

Looking at the close-up Gu Baiyi, Ji Rong realized she had been played by the protagonist.

Gathering spiritual energy in her palm, she spoke in a chilling tone: "Gu Baiyi, are you courting death?"

Gu Baiyi didn't seem afraid of Ji Rong. On the contrary, she appeared to find the situation quite amusing. In a soft voice, she asked, "Senior Sister, isn't this fun?"

Ha. Trying to provoke me? No way I'm falling for it.

Ji Rong wiped the saliva from her lips, her face expressionless. "Boring."