This piece of evidence, combined with the reasoning behind it, offered a complete explanation for why the Flowing Light Dagger had vanished all those years ago without a single disturbance atop Xuyu Peak.
To be precise, no one even knew the exact time the dagger had gone missing.
Evidence like this might not hold up sufficiently in the modern era, but in ancient times, where circumstantial reasoning was the standard, it was more than enough to convict Meng Wanyue.
Amid the murmuring crowd and the Meng Clan Leader’s speechless fury, the Grand Elder produced yet another piece of evidence.
A maidservant who personally attended to Old Meng Five was brought forward.
“Tell everyone what you heard,” the Grand Elder said, a cold smile curling at the corner of his mouth—everything was firmly in his control, and victory was assured.
The maid bowed slightly toward the Meng Clan Leader and the assembled crowd, then spoke timidly, “A few days ago, this servant happened to overhear Miss Duo’er arguing with the Fifth Elder. She said the Flowing Light Dagger was very important to the Fourth Elder, and that it was the key artifact needed to obtain the Qiankun Poison Pouch.”
At these words, the Grand Elder couldn’t help but sigh with feeling, “Fourth Sister truly had foresight—and what tremendous… ambition, indeed!”
But no sooner had he finished speaking than a loud “bang” rang out—the Meng Clan Leader slammed his fist down and rose furiously to his feet!
The sound sent a wave of fear through everyone present. Even Ziqing found it hard to imagine that such a kind, gentle old man could have such a wrathful, almost demonic side to him.
“Happened to overhear”—anyone with sense could see at a glance that this had been deliberately arranged by Old Meng Five. He had laid this trap long ago; even if Ziqing and the others hadn’t happened to land at Xuyu Peak by coincidence, Old Meng Five would sooner or later have pushed them there himself!
The Meng Clan Leader’s sharp gaze remained fixed on Old Meng Five throughout. But even having seen through everything so clearly, with everyone watching and the evidence so damning, there was nothing he could do to change the outcome.
“Guards—take the Fifth Elder away. Harboring a traitor. Hold him for trial!”
Dealing with Old Meng Five now wouldn’t undo any of the damage, but the Meng Clan Leader was simply too furious to hold back.
Old Meng Five never found the courage to raise his head and look at the Meng Clan Leader, nor did he resist, allowing the guards to lead him away. Meng Duo’er was struck utterly dumb with shock—she genuinely had no idea what had just happened.
As Old Meng Five’s retreating figure disappeared from view, the Meng Clan Leader sank heavily back into his seat. No one could have imagined that what had begun as a joyful, lively family council would end in such chaos.
The daughter he had longed for, whose return he had thought about constantly, had committed such a grave offense—and before he had even had the chance to shield her, everything had already been exposed to the entire hall.
Seated high on the main seat, the Meng Clan Leader pressed a hand to his forehead. The serene, otherworldly air he had carried was gone entirely—he seemed to have aged several hundred years in an instant, like an old man in his twilight years abandoned by all.
The hall fell utterly silent. No one dared speak, not even the Grand Elder.
The word “traitor,” which had just left the Meng Clan Leader’s lips, had already sealed Meng Wanyue’s guilt. As for strategy, the Grand Elder was already satisfied—in his mind, he had won.
After a long, long while, the Meng Clan Leader finally waved his hand, signaling for everyone to disperse.
Once everyone had left, Ziqing and Jun Beiyue, in perfect unspoken agreement, remained where they were. Seeing his parents not move, Xiong Bao sat obediently in his oversized seat, hugging his Ounce Great Beast like a pillow, and didn’t move either.
Baili Weisheng had originally intended to leave, but seeing Ziqing and Jun Beiyue stay behind, he mulled it over for a long moment before turning back.
“Master, let your disciple go poison that old geezer!” Baili Xiaosheng whispered.
Baili Weisheng shot her a sidelong glance. “Tired of living?” He ground his teeth and murmured, “Wait until we’re about to leave before making a move—and kidnap his daughter while we’re at it!”
At that moment, the Meng Clan Leader raised his head and looked toward Ziqing and Jun Beiyue, his bloodshot eyes clouded and full of complicated emotion—so complex that even Jun Beiyue couldn’t quite read what lay behind them.
Just as Ziqing couldn’t help but open her mouth to speak, the Meng Clan Leader suddenly held out the Qiankun Poison Pouch to her and said with a faint smile, “Children, you should go.”
Go?
Even Old Meng Five hadn’t wanted them to leave as much as the Meng Clan Leader wanted them to return, wanted to see Meng Wanyue rescued.
And yet now, this old man wanted them to leave—taking the Qiankun Poison Pouch with them, no less!
If they left, what would become of the Meng Clan?
One day, the Meng Clan Leader would grow old and pass on, and the Grand Elder would inherit everything. Given the sort of man he was, the Meng Clan was bound to decline sooner or later!
How could an old man who loved barrier techniques so deeply, who bore such a strong sense of responsibility, bear to let that happen?
Even if he wished to cultivate new successors, the balance among the elders had already been shattered—wishing for it wouldn’t be enough.
Ziqing did not take the Qiankun Poison Pouch. She hid her hands behind her back and answered stubbornly, “We’re not leaving.”
The Meng Clan Leader’s brow furrowed sharply, and he gasped between breaths, “Child, do you know the real reason Wanyue stole the Flowing Light Dagger?”
“To obtain the Qiankun Poison Pouch. To cultivate poisonous creatures. To raise a human Gu,” Ziqing said, not even sure what emotion carried her through these words. Unfortunately, what she and Jun Beiyue had suspected earlier had turned out to be true.
Perhaps even Old Meng Five, who had thrown his unwavering support behind Meng Wanyue, didn’t fully understand this. But no one knew a daughter better than her father, and by now, the Meng Clan Leader clearly did.
Meng Wanyue had stolen the Flowing Light, set an “Anchor” over Jun Beiyue’s heart, and sealed herself within the dagger—all of this, she must have planned from the very moment she stole it.
Having mastered “Breaking” at such a young age, whatever secrets lay sealed within Xuyu Peak’s forbidden grounds—the secret of the Dead Barrier within the World of Poisonous Beasts—she must surely have seen it all.
Hearing Ziqing’s words, the Meng Clan Leader’s heart gave a start, his gaze growing even more complicated. He couldn’t help but voice a warning. “Child… you… you’re an orphan of the Solitary Island!”
She still wouldn’t leave? Wasn’t finding the Solitary Island her singular goal? What could she possibly want, staying here in the Meng Clan? Did she perhaps intend to open the Qiankun Poison Pouch herself?
The Meng Clan Leader’s original plan had been to let these two young people leave once Meng Wanyue was rescued. He had never intended to reveal the secret of Ziqing’s origins to anyone.
The Meng Clan’s ancestors had made a promise to the Nanzhao royal family, and as head of the clan, he bore the obligation to keep the secrets of the World of Poisonous Beasts and of the Solitary Island. He would not betray the Nanzhao royal family to help them—but as an elder, he would not stand in their way or bring harm to them either.
Looking at the resolve in Ziqing’s eyes, the Meng Clan Leader could not, for the life of him, understand why.
And yet Ziqing smiled. “Because… I’m your grandson’s wife. When my grandfather is in trouble, how could I simply walk away?”
Meng Wanyue had never acknowledged her—but this white-haired old man before her had. He had acknowledged her before the entire clan, at such a grand family council!
Who said orphans had no filial devotion? They simply hadn’t yet met someone worth being devoted to.
The single word “Grandfather” brought the Meng Clan Leader’s eyes instantly to tears. He had no shortage of children and grandchildren of his own, and yet today, for the first time, he truly felt what it meant to have someone to rely on in his old age.
Watching Ziqing, warmth crept unnoticed into Jun Beiyue’s ice-cold eyes.
Even if, one day, Ziqing were condemned as unfilial and rebellious, he would stand up without hesitation and say: I am the one who spoils her.
And yet, he had truly never imagined that his household—the Prince Yao estate—would ever show this side of itself.
As for that mother of his—whether she would ever acknowledge him, and when—he set that aside for now. But this grandfather, he acknowledged first. “Grandfather, don’t worry. Leave this matter to me.”
…