Chapter 784: Please return my innocence (1/2)
Too many people wanted to go underground, but not just anyone qualified. Finally, Han Yunxi and Department Head Ouyang talked it over before selecting six people to descend. These were: Medicine City’s Wang Clan head, Tang Clan’s Tang Li, Western Zhou’s crown prince Duanmu Baiye, Tianning’s military officer Ye Lǜzheng,[1] Tianan’s young General Mu Qingwu, and Northern Li’s imperial physician Nazha Delin.
These six represented the main power factions of the present Cloud Realm Continent. Although the Tang Clan was a hidden force in the world instead of a mainstream power, he was counted amongst them thanks to being a son-in-law of Cloud Realm Trade Consortium. For the sake of staying objective, neither Han Yunxi nor any members of the medical academy descended into the room.
Department Head Ouyang had said that Chu Xifeng and Xu Donglin had brought out poison manuals from who knows where, so those couldn’t count as proof. If they wanted to verify Gu Qishao’s words as fact, then they’d have to look for evidence within the chamber. Once everything was settled, Department Head Ouyang opened the entrance to the chambers under everyone’s eyes and allowed the six people to enter. As their figures disappeared past the door, the scene grew silent.
Time passed slowly. At first, everyone waited patiently, but soon many of them grew impatient and began whispering amongst themselves. Department Head Ouyang and the other upper ranks of the medical academy were all standing on one side of the door, lost in their own uneasy thoughts. Han Yunxi and Gu Qishao were on a rock, she standing and staring unmoving at the door while Gu Qishao sat easily with a stalk of grass in his mouth. He wasn’t very interested in the chamber, finding the ashen faces of the medical academy leaders much more interesting. Perhaps he had finally started to feel the joys of having his revenge. Between pain and happiness, of course he’d prefer to forget the former and enjoy the latter.
He couldn’t resist laughing out loud as he tugged at Han Yunxi’s sleeve until she knelt down. “Hm?”
“You’re that tense? Afraid that Qi gege sold you off?” Gu Qishao asked with a grin.
Han Yunxi rolled her eyes at him. She really couldn’t figure out if this fellow was just heartless. While she was still aching over his past, he seemed to feel as if nothing had happened at all. She scooted closer and looked carefully into his eyes. “Little Qi, I’d rather you did sell me off today.”
She really would prefer Gu Qishao to betray her rather than relive his old injuries and expose them to the world. Gu Qishao couldn’t resist rubbing her nose with a warm smile. “Qi gege couldn’t bear that. I never would.”vo l
Gu Beiyue was still wearing his disguise as he stood by the rock. His focus wasn’t on the secret chamber either, but towards the upper echelons of the medical academy as he knitted his brows in thought.
Finally, Tang Li flew out of the entrance with a huge load of bottles and jars. After him came old Wang and Mu Qingwu, their arms full of books and their expressions extremely cold and serious. The Northern Li imperial physician, Duanmu Baiye, and Tianning’s military officer had nothing in their hands, but their expressions were bad as well. Department Head Ouyang and the rest felt their legs go weak at the collection of items. They had no strength left to even interrogate the group.
Old Wang tossed two thick stacks of books on the ground with a hmph and no further comment. Mu Qingwu stuffed his books into Department Head Ouyang’s arms with another cold snort while keeping silent. Tang Li wasn’t so subtle. He dropped his armful of bottles onto the ground with a cold smile.
“All of these are poisons we found in the underground chamber! Heheh, Department Head Ouyang, I know you’re going to say that Gu Qishao might have found people to slip these inside and frame you guys, right?”
Even if Department Head Ouyang didn’t want to claim such things, it was his only choice. Still, he didn’t open his mouth before Tang Li picked up one of the discarded volumes and flipped it open.
“Everyone take a look, these are authentic works of past medical academy heads! Their research into Poison Gu humans are all written here.”
Mu Qingwu’s face was full of fury as he blurted out, “Ladies and gentlemen, Gu Qishao wasn’t lying! The medical academy eliminated the Poison Sect purely because they held different views! But they still kept all of the sect’s books and records! These accounts are all research notes from previous academy heads regarding Poison Gu humans. The Poison Sect only presented the theory, but the medical academy wanted to turn that into reality! The real culprit who wanted to hurt the world was the medical academy! The Poison Sect is innocent! Han Yunxi even more so!”
Those last two sentences were probably Mu Qingwu’s true feelings on the subject. His father would definitely punish him for being so impulsive and outspoken today, but he didn’t want to consider so much anymore. No one could understand his current, secret rejoicing. He was so happy that he didn’t have to treat Han Yunxi as an enemy, and that he could claim justice on her behalf! Could this count as repaying his life-saving debt to her? Although he was unable to repay it in full, at least he paid part of it, right? He had dreamed and hoped for the chance to return the favor and not owe her a life.
Han Yunxi, will I have the right to like you after I clear my debts?
The crowd passed around the books. Even Department Head Ouyang and the rest had a careful, unable to accept the heavy truth in their hands.
“Looks like the medical academy owes my Poison Sect its innocence!” Han Yunxi said coldly, drawing everyone’s attention in an instant.
Now that things had been cleared up, it was time to collect on old debts. Everyone was filled with their own thoughts in the ensuing silence. The Northern Li imperial physician never took his eyes off Han Yunxi, his lips curved up in a faint smile. He seemed both amused, admiring, and anticipatory. Duanmu Baiye’s face was gloomy. He thought that the alliance could serve as revenge for his little sister against Han Yunxi, but now Medical City was hard-pressed to even protect itself. I came for nothing this time.
The military officer from Tianning had the worst expression of all. He quietly told his retainer to report to Ning Cheng. What happened here today would affect all of Cloud Realm Continent, so it was best that his general received updates as soon as possible. Without the medical academy’s sanctions, Ning Cheng would have less chance of victory invading the south even if he used his red coat cannons.
Tang Li only smiled at Han Yunxi like a fool. More and more, he worshipped this sister-in-law of his. Of course, he was more happy for Long Feiye’s sake. To restore the Poison Sect’s name meant that Long Feiye could have its power in his hands as well. In the future, he’ll have another chip in his fight for dominance over the continent. However, he didn’t notice Ning Jing had suddenly started staring at him as well..