The Darling of Heaven Owns a Rip-off Shop

The entire Lingxin Sect was shrouded in a cloud of worry.

The Sect Leader sat silently at the head, listening to the elders and stewards below him argue.

”What you did was too much; if you don’t help, that’s one thing, but to accuse someone else of stealing the token?”

”Spare me your sanctimonious hypocrisy. I was the first to know of this matter and handled it. If it were you, would you go against Wanhe Sect and Cao Yuanli for a crippled person? Do you really believe what you’re saying?”

”At least I wouldn’t accuse Li Suyi of having stolen the token. When Suyi was a steward, she contributed greatly to our Lingxin Sect.”

”True, we don’t have the ability to help her, but at the very least, we can’t be so shameless.”

”All of you be quiet.” The Sect Leader finally spoke slowly and solemnly.

Everyone fell silent and turned their heads to look at the Sect Leader.

”If what descended that day was truly the Heavenly Dao, then what she said would not be wrong.” The Sect Leader looked at the many familiar faces below, observing their expressions of anger, fear, or reluctance. Suddenly, he felt a wave of exhaustion, followed by a bitter smile as he spoke, ”Don’t act like you were wrongfully implicated. Let me ask you, in the past, when Cao Xilan expelled disciples from Wanhe Sect, some came to seek refuge with us at Lingxin Sect, didn’t they? How did you handle that?”

As the Sect Leader’s words settled, deathly silence engulfed the great hall.

”If you can’t remember, let me help you recall.” The Sect Leader said quietly, ”Whenever Cao Xilan targeted someone, you feared being involved, refused to take them in, and sometimes even informed Cao Xilan to curry favor or receive his reward.”

Still, no one spoke, and some hung their heads, lost in thought.

”I was afraid too, afraid of Cao Yuanli, afraid my carelessness would bring disaster to Lingxin Sect. So, I was always cautious, always tolerant. But fortunately, I haven’t done anything utterly inhumane. Thus, Lingxin Sect will only face punishment, not complete annihilation like Wanhe Sect. At this point, all you do is blame each other, curse each other.” The Sect Leader bitterly smiled, ”Not thinking of correction, not considering restitution. Are you asking for Wanhe Sect’s fate?”

After a period of dead silence, someone finally spoke: ”Three years ago, a friend of my disciple sought refuge with him, and I expelled them. My disciple left with his friend, and I don’t know their whereabouts. I’ll find my disciple now and accept his friend as my disciple too. I won’t act like this again.”

As someone spoke first, more people began to confess.

The Sect Leader quietly watched the people below pouring out their regrets, sighed inwardly. Hope, it’s not too late.

Hope, these people truly realize the true meaning of cultivation.

He had only come to realize this a couple of days before.

Hope the Lingxin Sect can survive this time.

...

Three days later, Li Suyi emerged from seclusion.

”Ah, you’re finally out; there’s still much for you to do.” Kong Hou grabbed a handful of melon seeds, tossed them into her mouth, and chewed as she spoke. She had shelled these melon seeds long before, resisting the urge to eat them, and had saved them for a long time.

”I’ve been in seclusion for so long, you all have worked hard.” Li Suyi said apologetically.

”Not long, you were inside for three years; we were outside for only three days. The place you were in seclusion, the owner had carved a Time Array.” Kong Hou squinted her eyes contentedly, ah, a large handful of melon seeds eaten in one go, truly blissful.