Chapter 368: The thousand dao city 37.

Su Yubing smiled. "Come back safely."

Mo Yuxin added, "Both of you."

Qinghe grinned.

"We will."

Ning Shuyue gave Mo Yuxin a small nod.

"Take care of her."

Mo Yuxin looked mildly offended.

"I always do."

Su Yubing laughed.

After they left, Su Yubing rested her head briefly against Mo Yuxin’s shoulder.

"You have become very protective."

"I have always been."

"Of me?"

"Of you most."

Su Yubing smiled.

"Good answer."

The next week changed the situation again.

Ning Shuyue and Luo Qinghe returned with proof that someone in Purple Heaven Valley had been diverting medicine shipments.

They had recovered documents showing that several batches of medicine had been rerouted through private warehouses before being sold at inflated prices.

One name appeared repeatedly on the orders.

A senior elder whose authority connected her directly to the city branch of the Azure Cloud Sect.

It did not prove the entire conspiracy, but it gave the Battle Maiden Sect its first meaningful link between two major factions.

Ye Qinglan immediately ordered Mu Qingru to preserve the evidence.

No public accusation yet.

That was not the plan.

The evidence had to survive.

Then something unexpected happened.

Mo Yuxin discovered that the evidence was only useful because Su Yubing noticed a tiny inconsistency in the dates.

The medicine had supposedly been rerouted after a transport delay.

But the warehouse it went through had already been closed three days earlier.

The records had been modified after the fact.

Su Yubing pointed it out over breakfast.

Mo Yuxin stared at the document.

Then she looked at her wife.

"You are amazing."

Su Yubing smiled. "I know."

Mo Yuxin leaned closer.

"Can I kiss you?"

"You do not need permission."

Mo Yuxin kissed her forehead.

Su Yubing laughed.

"That was not what I meant."

Mo Yuxin’s expression became a little more mischievous.

"I know."

They were interrupted by a loud bang from outside.

Su Lian came running into the courtyard.

"Sect Master wants everyone in the main hall."

Mo Yuxin sighed.

"There goes breakfast."

Su Yubing took her hand.

"We can finish later."

They entered the hall.

A new group of messengers had arrived.

Three were from the Heavenly Sword Sect.

Two from Golden Mountain Sect.

One from Azure Cloud Sect.

The notices were formal.

The words were polite.

The meaning was not.

Golden Mountain Sect accused Battle Maiden Sect of attacking its convoy and stealing protected resources.

Heavenly Sword Sect expressed support for Golden Mountain Sect’s demand for an investigation and punishment.

Azure Cloud Sect announced that its own independent inquiry had discovered additional evidence of Battle Maiden Sect interference in trade and transportation.

It was a perfectly organized political attack.

Three major factions were now presenting separate pieces of a single manufactured narrative.

Mu Qingru slammed one notice onto the table.

"They are not even pretending anymore."

Ye Qinglan’s face remained calm.

"No."

Ji Ruyan looked at her.

"Sect Master."

Ye Qinglan looked around the room.

"How many disciples can we mobilize?"

Ji Ruyan answered carefully. "Four hundred and thirty-two combat-capable disciples within the city branch. Another two hundred in nearby affiliated villages, although bringing them here would risk exposing their locations."

"Elders?"

"Twelve combat-ready. Four injured."

"Spirit stones?"

Mu Qingru answered. "Enough for roughly twenty days if we stop all unnecessary cultivation."

The room became silent.

Twenty days.

Everyone understood what that meant.

The sect could not afford a prolonged siege.

Ye Qinglan looked at each elder.

Then at Ji Ruyan.

Then at Su Lian.

"We defend the people first. The sect comes second."

Ji Ruyan immediately shook her head.

"The sect is the people."

Ye Qinglan’s eyes softened.

"I know."

The doors opened.

Mo Yuxin and Su Yubing walked inside.

Mo Yuxin had been quiet throughout the meeting.

Now she stepped forward.

"How many factions have joined?"

Mu Qingru answered, "Three directly. Several merchant groups are supporting them indirectly."

"And the others?"

"Watching."

Mo Yuxin nodded.

"Then that is good."

Everyone looked at her.

"Good?"

"If everyone joined immediately, they would be more confident. The ones watching are waiting to see who wins."

Ye Qinglan understood.

"You think we still have time."

"Yes."

Su Yubing added, "And the people watching are exactly why you must not lose your temper. If you attack first, the conspirators get what they want."

Mu Qingru looked thoughtful.

"So we wait."

Mo Yuxin shook her head.

"No. We prepare."

That became the new plan.

The Battle Maiden Sect would not publicly challenge the alliance yet.

They would collect evidence.

They would protect their people.

They would reinforce the mountain formations.

They would restore hidden communication lines.

And they would wait for the conspirators to make the one mistake they could not avoid.

They would have to move openly.

The opportunity came sooner than expected.

Three days later, the Golden Mountain Sect held a public emergency gathering at the Ten Thousand Dao Plaza.

Thousands of cultivators attended.

The sect accused Battle Maiden Sect of attacking the Golden Mountain supply convoy.

Witnesses were brought forward.

Records were presented.

A broken Battle Maiden insignia was shown.

The crowd murmured.

The Golden Mountain Sect elder gave a long speech about maintaining order in Thousand Dao City.

Then the Heavenly Sword Sect elder spoke about protecting sect interests.

Then the Azure Cloud representative presented formation evidence.

Every piece pointed in the same direction.

Toward the Battle Maiden Sect.

The public was beginning to believe them.

Ye Qinglan stood at the back of the gathering.

She did not speak.

Mo Yuxin and Su Yubing stood beside her.

Su Lian whispered, "They have almost finished the story."

Mo Yuxin nodded.

"Yes."

Ji Ruyan looked at the crowd.

"What happens next?"

Su Yubing answered, "They stop asking questions."

The Golden Mountain elder raised his voice.

"We have repeatedly offered the Battle Maiden Sect a chance to explain its actions. They have refused. Their silence can no longer be tolerated."

The crowd grew louder.

Someone shouted, "Drive them out!"

Another shouted, "The Battle Maiden Sect has become dangerous!"

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TO BE CONTINUED.