In the days that followed, Song Wanníng stopped dwelling on the previous matter and focused entirely on learning the space attribute from Mo Yang Xiānzūn.
Space and time were both special attributes, powerful and rare to comprehend. Opportunities to learn them were almost nonexistent, and it was even harder to find someone willing to teach. So she treated every moment seriously, refusing to miss even a sliver of insight.
Her dedication made Mo Yang Xiānzūn admire her even more. He taught everything he understood about the space attribute without holding anything back.
In return, Song Wanníng tried guiding him into comprehending the time attribute.
Sharing a domain like that required both to enter a unified mental state. It demanded deep mutual trust, complete harmony, and an absolute willingness to open their hearts.
They both met those conditions.
Soon, Mo Yang Xiānzūn began exploring the unfamiliar field of time. His comprehension was exceptional, and under her guidance, he quickly gained breakthroughs.
Song Wanníng's grasp of the space attribute also advanced at astonishing speed. After just one month, she'd already learned how to tear space itself. The distance she could travel through space was still limited, due to her cultivation level and attribute strength, and she couldn't traverse several cities in a single step the way Mo Yang Xiānzūn could. Even so, she was more than satisfied.
They continued discussing the time attribute, and her own understanding kept quietly growing. They were both intelligent, and every clash of ideas sparked new discoveries.
…
Time flew past. Song Wanníng was still reluctant to stop when she received a message from the sect master.
The investigation was complete, and everyone needed to gather for handling the matter.
She had no choice but to withdraw from that profound state.
Mo Yang Xiānzūn felt a hint of reluctance for the first time, an unfamiliar emotion to him, even if brief. He only told her to keep cultivating well, then turned to return to his residence.
Song Wanníng didn't linger either and headed straight to the sect master's hall.
Once she was gone from sight, Mo Yang Xiānzūn appeared again on the mountain peak. He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, silently watching the direction she'd left for a long time.
Through her, he'd learned what it meant to meet a true kindred spirit. The feeling was strange, but he didn't hate it. It only seemed to contradict the emotionless Dao he cultivated.
He remained wordless for a long time, then a flash of realization struck. His eyes brightened. In that moment, he grasped something new about the emotionless Dao. His figure disappeared instantly as he returned to his room to begin secluded cultivation.
Emotionless?
Emotional?
Having emotion that feels emotionless.
Emotionless that surpasses emotion.
…
Inside the sect master's hall, the moment Song Wanníng appeared, everyone turned to look. Her cultivation realm hadn't changed, but her aura was clearly different. They couldn't pinpoint what changed, but she felt steadier, more grounded.
Mu Zixu stood inside the hall looking grim. Wu Wang and Ouyang Lin beside him also looked extremely unpleasant.
In the center of the hall, someone knelt with a badly battered body, covered in wounds and barely conscious.
Song Wanníng walked to Dao Qing and the others and quietly waited.
"Regarding the matter of framing Feng San, we've found the culprit. This matter needs an explanation for everyone, and especially for Song Wanníng."
The sect master breathed a sigh of relief. At last, he could clear her name completely. She truly had been innocent.
Mu Zixu's expression darkened even further.
"After our investigation, it was Junior Brother Mu's third disciple who did it. Xiao Yaoling once had a deadly feud with Feng San. Junior Brother Mu punished her by sending her to Land of No Return, but she secretly returned. When she learned about the grudge between Feng San and Song Wanníng, she disguised herself as Song Wanníng, apologized to Feng San, and drank with him.
Later, she drugged his wine, ruining his reputation. And was punished again by Junior Brother Mu."
The sect master sounded helpless. Junior Brother Mu's failure to handle his own disciples properly allowed internal scheming to escalate, leading to this chain of events.
Then his voice shifted, turning to Dao Qing. "But Situ Yue was involved as well. That drug was given to Xiao Yaoling by Situ Yue."
If it could take down Feng San, then the drug was anything but simple. Situ Yue wasn't someone to underestimate. Since disciples from two different peaks were involved, the situation was serious enough that everyone had to be present.
Dao Qing closed his eyes briefly. He wasn't surprised, but anger still flared inside him. Situ Yue really was involved, and she'd given Xiao Yaoling the pill.
Mu Zixu also looked furious. He'd never felt such humiliation. Ever since Song Wanníng arrived, everything became disastrous for him. She was a cursed star.
The hall was silent. Everyone was stunned by the results. Their gazes naturally fell on Song Wanníng.
She remained completely calm, not emotional at all. The truth aligned almost perfectly with her guesses, though she hadn't expected the additional grudges woven into it.
"Now that everything's clear and Xiao Yaoling's confessed, only Situ Yue remains. Now we need to decide how to handle this matter."
The sect master clearly wanted to settle things quietly. Since both culprits were direct disciples of Peak Lords, if word spread widely, it would reflect poorly on the sect. Feng San was dead anyway, and both Situ Yue and Xiao Yaoling would have to be punished, but there was no need to make it publicly messy.
Mu Zixu glared fiercely at Xiao Yaoling. "Sect Master, the victim was Feng San. Xiao Yaoling didn't expect it to become so serious. She only wanted to destroy Feng San's reputation. So I hope the sect will give her a chance. I'll discipline her personally and ensure she's punished properly."
He refused to mention Song Wanníng at all, clearly not considering her a victim. The only victim, in his eyes, was Feng San.
Dao Qing rolled his eyes, but he knew they could only resolve this in private. "Sect Master, Situ Yue is my rebellious disciple. I'll handle her myself. And I'm also at fault."
Dao Qing turned to Song Wanníng, his voice sincere and tinged with apology. "Girl, I owe you an apology. You're the most innocent, yet you suffered from this disaster."
His words carried a double meaning. What weighed heavier in his heart was the matter of the invaders.
Song Wanníng carried far too much.
Her expression finally shifted a little, fully understanding Dao Qing's meaning. They'd agreed long ago that Situ Yue could only be dealt with privately.
"Senior, there's no need. Let's end it here."
She wouldn't pursue it further. She hadn't lost anything anyway. If Mu Zixu still didn't give up, she wouldn't mind giving him another lesson.