The Abused Heroine Stops Pretending [Quick Transmigration] - Chapter 59

Bu Qing didn’t understand how things had escalated to this point. What could have been resolved internally had now spiraled out of control with the sudden visit of the leaders from other immortal sects.

Pondering this, Bu Qing’s expression darkened.

With crucial evidence still missing, the final outcome was that Tang Jing and Wen Mingyu were both confined to the water prison each in a separate cell.

As the master, Tang Jing bore the brunt of the punishment. She was placed in the harshest cell of the prison, the freezing cold pool. Clad only in thin undergarments, her hands were shackled by chains on either side, while her legs were submerged in the icy water. With her cultivation sealed, the bone-chilling cold seeped into her body.

The once dignified and illustrious master of Lingyu Palace now looked utterly disheveled, her long hair tangled and obscuring her face.

Footsteps echoed from outside, and the young immortal guarding the prison whispered in surprise, “Master Yuehua.”

“You may leave for now.”

“Yes.”

The visitor was Pei Yujun, who had come to gloat over Tang Jing’s misfortune. Standing outside the cell, she smirked at Su Wanqiu in the water prison. “Su Wanqiu, how does the cold pool feel?”

Tang Jing remained motionless, as if she hadn’t heard.

Frowning at her lack of reaction, Pei Yujun continued mockingly, “Would you like to hear how your precious little disciple is doing?”

Tang Jing lifted her head, her gaze piercing through the tangled strands of hair.

Seeing her react so strongly at the mention of her disciple, Pei Yujun was momentarily stunned before bursting into laughter. “Well, well, who would have thought? The esteemed master of Lingyu Palace has truly fallen in love. Oh, speaking of which, I just remembered something.”

Pei Yujun pretended to reminisce while closely observing Tang Jing’s reaction. “I recall that a hundred years ago, the master of Lingyu Palace expelled a disciple for harboring improper feelings. Wasn’t that your most beloved senior disciple?”

Tang Jing’s reaction grew even more intense, her eyes blazing with fury. “Pei Yujun!”

“Oh my, how terrifying,” Pei Yujun exaggeratedly patted her chest in mock fear, though her face was full of amusement. “Wu Xingyue, that was her name, wasn’t it?”

Tang Jing struggled violently, but the chains held her wrists firmly in place. Her gaze remained fixed on Pei Yujun.

Her reaction puzzled Pei Yujun, who stroked her chin thoughtfully. “Hmm, this is strange. Why would the master of Lingyu Palace react so strongly to her senior disciple’s name? Unless,” A sudden realization dawned on her, and her eyes widened. “Could it be that the master of Lingyu Palace was actually in love with her senior disciple?”

The more she thought about it, the more convinced she became. “Now that I think about it, your little disciple Wen Mingyu does bear some resemblance to your senior disciple.”

As if her deepest secret had been exposed, Tang Jing stopped struggling. Everything seemed to have reached an inevitable conclusion, and her eyes were filled with indifference.

“Su Wanqiu, beg me. If you beg me, I won’t spread this little secret,” Pei Yujun taunted, her lips curling into a malicious smile.

Tang Jing remained unmoved.

“What? Aren’t you afraid that the reason your beloved senior disciple was expelled was because she was caught in an illicit affair with her master.”

“Get out!” The word seemed to be forced through Tang Jing’s clenched teeth.

Pei Yujun was startled, but more than that, she was exhilarated. Gripping the railing with both hands, she said, “So, what I said is true, you really did with your eldest disciple.”

“Pei Yujun.” Tang Jing gritted her teeth as she glared at her, the fury in her eyes something Pei Yujun had never seen before. For a moment, she was utterly intimidated, her entire body trembling.

“You!” Pei Yujun wanted to say more, but noises from outside made her press her lips together. With a resentful glance at Tang Jing, she sneered, “Su Wanqiu, I won’t let you off easy. Just you wait.” With that, she turned and left.

Inside the water prison, Tang Jing’s lips curled into a bitter smile. The cold seeped into her bones, and she coughed violently, unable to suppress it. Her usually proud and upright posture now bent under the strain.

In the blink of an eye, she had gone from the revered master of Lingyu Palace to a criminal awaiting trial in the water prison.

Wave after wave of icy air penetrated her skin, invading her body. No matter how strong she was, she couldn’t resist it now especially with her cultivation sealed.

Tang Jing’s consciousness began to blur. In her dazed state, she thought she heard Xingyue’s voice. A faint smile touched her lips as she murmured, “Disciple.”

Wu Xingyue, who had secretly sneaked in, clenched her fists in frustration when she saw her master still calling for Wen Mingyu even in this state. She punched the wall, biting her lip as she stared at her battered master, her eyes red and voice trembling. “Master, even now, you’re still thinking of her.”

“Disciple.” Tang Jing’s consciousness finally slipped into darkness.

When she awoke again, several other vanguard masters stood before the water prison, led by Sect Leader Bu Qing.

Bu Qing’s expression was grim as she instructed the attendant beside her, “Take Lingyu Master to the Ascension Platform.”

“Yes, Sect Leader.”

Bu Qing cast a deep, disappointed glance at Tang Jing before walking away. The other masters hesitated, wanting to speak but ultimately following their leader’s lead.

Wen Mingyu was also brought to the Ascension Platform. Compared to her master, she was in much better condition after all, her water prison was just an ordinary one, leaving her with nothing more than a slight chill.

Now, seeing her fragile master, tears immediately streamed down her face. “Master, are you alright? Master.”

Tang Jing was too weak. She was dragged directly to the center of the Ascension Platform, where a large crowd had already gathered. Not only were there disciples from the various peaks of Xianyu Sect, but many from other sects had also come, surrounding her in a tight circle.

This was no longer just an internal matter for Xianyu Sect. The taboo master-disciple relationship had sounded an alarm for all the immortal sects.

“Su Wanqiu, Master of Lingyu, as one who has failed in her duty as a teacher, is hereby stripped of her title, sentenced to eighty lashes, and cast into the Nether Valley for a century of self-reflection.”

“Her disciple, Wen Mingyu, is expelled from Xianyu Sect and must sever all ties with her master, Su Wanqiu. From this day forth, they shall never meet again.”

Upon hearing this verdict, Wen Mingyu’s eyes widened in disbelief. Her first reaction was to look at her master. “Master, I don’t want to leave you! Master.”

But no matter how much she cried and pleaded, the punishment remained unchanged.

“What’s the use of crying? Master is about to be whipped. Her cultivation is sealed, and she’s been soaking in the freezing pool for days. If those lashes land.” Many disciples outside couldn’t bear it and wiped away tears.

Though their master had always been strict, she had treated them well and taught them diligently.

For days, they had knelt outside the Sect Leader’s hall, but nothing could change the outcome.

“Sect Master, please spare our master.” The young disciple wept uncontrollably, falling to his knees.

The other disciples also knelt on the ground, pleading desperately.

Bu Qing’s heart ached, but she had to maintain the dignified authority of the Feather Immortal Sect’s leader. Moreover, with representatives from other immortal sects present today, if she showed favoritism, the Feather Immortal Sect would forever be scorned among the hundred immortal sects.

At this thought, her gaze shifted to Pei Yujun beside her. Her eyes narrowed slightly, a trace of coldness flashing within.

All of this was a trap laid by Pei Yujun. The reason the other sects had arrived so swiftly was entirely her doing, these underhanded tricks had not escaped Bu Qing’s notice.

But everything had happened too quickly. She hadn’t been able to intercept it in time, and by the time she realized, it was already too late.

“Carry out the punishment.” With so many eyes watching, Bu Qing had no choice but to proceed according to the rules.

However, the two executioners had been instructed beforehand.

As the whip descended, Pei Yujun noticed something amiss and was about to speak when Bu Qing turned to her. “Does the Moonflower Palace Master have something to say?”

A seemingly casual remark, yet it made Pei Yujun’s pupils shrink in fear. She immediately recoiled, a sense of dread rising within her.

She knew Sect Master Bu was aware of everything she had done.

With this realization, she stole a glance at Su Wanqiu, who was being punished on the Ascension Platform, and reluctantly clenched her jaw.

No matter what, after today, Su Wanqiu would be infamous throughout the cultivation world.

Not only would she spend the next hundred years in the Nether Valley, but with her cultivation sealed, by the time she emerged, her strength would be left far behind.

The thought brought a flicker of triumph to Pei Yujun’s eyes.

Upon receiving the news, Wu Xingyue rushed to the Feather Immortal Sect overnight. But when she reached the mountaintop, she was met with this sight. Staggering back in disbelief, her eyes reddened with heartache.

The crowd was dense. Dressed in the robes of an immortal attendant, she blended into the throng, yet her gaze remained fixed on the center of the platform.

Her master’s back was already covered in blood, her frail body hanging limply from the pillar, her face deathly pale. The cold energy within her had turned her lips purple.

The brutal lashing had overwhelmed her with pain, causing her to faint. Even in unconsciousness, her brows remained tightly furrowed.

Wu Xingyue bit down hard to stop herself from rushing forward impulsively. Her fists clenched so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palms, blood dripping unnoticed onto the ground.

“The Spirit Rain Palace Master has lost her mind, how could she develop feelings for her own disciple? It’s a grave transgression.”

A young attendant nearby whispered.

Wu Xingyue’s attention snapped toward them.

“I always heard how much the Spirit Rain Palace Master doted on her youngest disciple. I used to envy that. Now I see it was all because of love.”

“Exactly. Why else would she favor one disciple over all the others? There’s no other explanation, it had to be this.”

Wu Xingyue’s expression darkened as she stared at the attendants. If not for the circumstances, she would have torn their jaws off.

After eighty lashes, a bucket of water was thrown over Tang Jing, jolting her back to consciousness.

Wu Xingyue had never seen her revered master in such a wretched state. Her heart ached with each sharp intake of breath, her eyes brimming with suppressed fury and anguish.

Bu Qing couldn’t bear to see Su Wanqiu like this either, but she had no choice but to restrain herself. First, she ordered Wen Mingyu to be expelled from the Xianyu Sect, then she had Su Wanqiu sent to the depths of the Nether Valley.

“Sect Leader Bu, Palace Master Lingyu has committed such a disgraceful act that shames our Xianyu Sect. Please do not show any leniency,” Pei Yujun finally spoke up, unable to hold back.

Members of other immortal sects stepped forward to echo the sentiment.

Bu Qing stood on the platform, looking down at Pei Yujun with a somber expression. With a mere flick of her sleeve, she walked away without further involvement.

Pei Yujun, emboldened by the moment, stepped forward, eager to take matters into her own hands.

“Palace Master Yuehua, please do not go too far,” a member of the Xuanyang Palace interjected.

Other palace masters who had been on good terms with Su Wanqiu also stepped forward.

At this moment, Pei Yujun found herself the target of collective scorn.

Seeing Su Wanqiu brought so low yet still defended by her fellow sect members, Pei Yujun’s jealousy burned fiercely. She sneered and said, “So what? Su Wanqiu has committed such an act. Losing her life is trivial, but bringing shame to our Xianyu Sect is grave. Do you all wish for our sect to be accused of harboring a criminal?”

This accusation silenced the crowd, leaving them seething but unable to retort.

Members of other immortal sects stepped in. “Palace Master Yuehua, there’s no need for further words. Just throw Palace Master Lingyu into the valley.”

As Pei Yujun moved to act, the Xuanyang Palace Master stopped her, signaling to two young disciples. The two supported Palace Master Lingyu to the edge of the cliff.

“Let her go,” the Xuanyang Palace Master said, turning her face away as if unable to bear the sight.

The others did the same.

Only Pei Yujun stared intently at Su Wanqiu, who swayed perilously in the valley’s winds, her lips curling into a satisfied smile.

As Su Wanqiu plummeted over the cliff, that smile widened.

Unnoticed by the crowd, as Su Wanqiu fell, a young disciple dressed in simple robes silently leaped after her.

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