Chapter 14: Going Against the Grain

The terrain of the Medicine Valley was uneven, with the entrance slope situated at a higher elevation. From there, one could not see the valley’s end. Neatly arranged spiritual fields planted with various medicinal herbs stretched out in orderly plots. Each plot had different decorations—some were fenced with bamboo or wood, others with green bricks, and some, like Ji Ning’s, had small pavilions or shelters built over them.

Lush trees were scattered everywhere, and along the mountainside extended a sheer cliff draped with wisteria and roses. Atop the cliff stood a sturdy chinaberry tree, its trunk deeply grooved. Beneath it, shrouded in a pale mist, sat a stone table and chairs, scattered with fallen petals.

It was said that the chinaberry tree had been planted here long before the sect was founded, now standing for over a thousand years.

After questioning Ji Ning briefly, Senior Uncle Wang led the outer sect steward and a group of disciples to continue the inspection.

“Qu Lan, an eighth-rank, lower-grade eight-petal orchid, grade Wǔ, twenty contribution points.”

“Song Weiwei, an eighth-rank, mid-grade moon cabbage, grade Bǐng, thirty contribution points.”

And so on.

The inspection proceeded steadily, with the planting conditions much the same as the previous month.

The outer sect steward was taciturn and did not personally examine the fields, merely observing quietly and occasionally nodding approvingly at disciples with good aptitude, saying simply, “Not bad.”

It was very much like a high-ranking leader inspecting grassroots work.

When the sun hung directly overhead, only one last area remained to be checked.

But as the barrier was lifted, revealing the spiritual field’s condition, everyone was shocked; Senior Uncle Wang and the outer sect steward’s faces darkened to an ashen hue.

Large patches of spiritual herbs were completely blackened and withered, the remains of their dark brown husks sprawled across the soil. A few plants in the corners had survived but looked weak and listless.

Before the remaining disciples could react, the outer sect steward waved his hand, driving his spiritual energy to shatter the barriers of the remaining fields all at once.

The barriers dissolved like water, their polished surfaces vanishing to reveal a tragedy.

None of the ten or so disciples’ fields were spared, including Ji Ning’s. Dozens of purslane plants, along with the spirit-concentrating herbs, had turned to ash. The ground was littered with debris, and the soil seemed tainted by some unknown substance.

“How could this happen? When I came yesterday morning, everything was fine.”

“Senior Uncle Wang, this must be sabotage. I swear my token has never been lent to anyone else.”

“I swear the same…”

The crowd erupted in uproar. Those whose fields had been destroyed were furious and pleaded with Senior Uncle Wang to seek justice. The disciples whose fields remained intact did not stand idly by, knowing the severity of this incident and fearing it might happen to them next.

Interestingly, the destroyed fields were all clustered around Ji Ning’s; those farther away remained untouched.

Ji Ning’s eyes darkened as she turned to meet Ye Yueqing’s challenging gaze—it was clear who was responsible for this.

Senior Uncle Wang took samples of the affected herbs to examine alongside the outer sect steward, while Ji Ning carefully uprooted a withered purslane from her field for inspection.

The leaves had shriveled into blackened clumps, the roots and stems darkened with a purplish-black hue. When Ji Ning’s spiritual awareness probed the roots and stems, strands of black energy slowly and methodically consumed the remaining spiritual energy within. Once the black energy fully occupied the plant, it died completely.

What was this black energy…?

“Thousand-Leaf Blight!” The two uncles exchanged disbelieving glances.

Decades ago, when they were novices, the sect had suffered from this affliction. The investigation had ended inconclusively, and the sect forbade any mention of it afterward. Who would have thought that during their tenure, this menace would return with a vengeance?

The uncles spoke quietly, blending their words into the surrounding noise. Ji Ning, straining to listen, only caught the word “blight.”

Turning back, the outer sect steward was using refined wood-element spiritual energy to cleanse an eight-petal orchid. As the black energy hissed and dissipated, the once blackened plant faded to a dull yellow, its roots losing their purple tint, but it remained wilted and lifeless.

“There isn’t much. These herbs are beyond saving, but the fields themselves are largely unharmed.”

Having observed the process, Ji Ning pondered deeply and attempted to replicate the uncle’s method.

She slowly infused wood-element spiritual energy into the plant. Instantly, it became entangled with the black energy. Her spiritual awareness was too weak to control multiple strands of energy simultaneously; most of her effort was swallowed by the black energy within seconds. The remaining energy was too weak to do more than shield the residual spiritual energy inside the herb.

After several failed attempts, her simple actions had unexpectedly drawn the attention of both uncles.

Ji Ning was not the only disciple present with wood-element affinity trying to mimic the uncles’ technique.

Senior Uncle Wang bluntly said, “Ji Ning, this steward is the head of the outer sect’s Spiritual Plant Hall. Come, greet him.”

“Greetings, Head Uncle,” Ji Ning said respectfully.

“No need for formalities. I have a question for you; you must answer honestly without any concealment.”

“Understood.”

The middle-aged man with a square face furrowed his brows, his eyes sharp like a hawk as he stared at Ji Ning. In a low voice, he asked, “Is today’s incident connected to you? Or related to the disciple you assaulted a few days ago? Think carefully before answering.”

Ji Ning lowered her eyes in confusion. Though his tone was accusatory, he left room for her to explain.

Perhaps he had come with some prior knowledge and was not here to cause trouble outright.

Ye Yueqing had destroyed many fields to stir resentment and cause trouble for Ji Ning. If Ji Ning followed that line of thought, she would fall into a trap trying to prove her innocence. But what if she turned the tables?

Gathering her resolve, Ji Ning sniffed and then knelt down with a thud.

All eyes immediately focused on her.

She cupped her hands and said, “Respectfully, Uncle, though I am heartbroken over the destruction of the spiritual fields, I wish to find the perpetrator as soon as possible. After much thought, this matter may indeed be connected to me.”

Her words stunned not only the uncles but also Ye Yueqing.

Who willingly threw dirt on herself?

“But it was certainly not by my doing.”

Senior Uncle Wang snapped, “Go on.” She was so young and already panting like that—was she trying to scare someone to death?

“I mistakenly injured Senior Brother Chen a few days ago. The whole Lingyun Peak has probably heard of it. I agree that secretly attacking someone warrants punishment, but he has been suspiciously following me here to the Medicine Valley. I was anxious and rash.”

“After being struck, Senior Brother Chen harbors resentment and has been plotting revenge against me. Coincidentally, he couldn’t find me these past few days, so he targeted the spiritual fields under my care.”

The outer sect steward relaxed his brow but then asked pointedly, “How could a Qi Refiner have such ability? And why would he destroy fields unrelated to you?”

“I don’t know his methods, but I have some speculation about the destruction of so many fields.”

“Speak!” The steward glared not only at her but also at Senior Uncle Wang.

Wang smiled awkwardly, wishing he could coax every word from Ji Ning’s mind.

“Destroying my fields alone would be a personal grudge. At worst, I would lose face and responsibility. But involving unrelated people stirs resentment and panic, making others unwilling to collaborate with me, isolating and excluding me until I have no place left on Lingyun Peak. Then, once I leave the sect and lose protection, he can kill me with impunity.”

“As for who exactly did this, I ask for your careful investigation, Uncle.”

Her words penetrated the crowd’s understanding.

Only Ye Yueqing and her two followers turned pale.

Ye Yueqing thought: She… just handed the blame right back to me.