Old Zhao stepped toward Xiao Bei, his eyes sharp as knives.
"I heard you cured Zi Yulan?"
Xiao Bei replied respectfully, "Yes, Steward Zhao."
Old Zhao snorted coldly. "Hmph. So what if you cured it? I just received a report that you damaged a precious Seven-Star Herb in the herb garden!"
Xiao Bei was stunned. "Seven-Star Herb? I never even touched it!"
Lin Hu immediately added fuel to the fire. "Steward Zhao, I saw him sneak over to the Seven-Star Herb with my own eyes! After that, the herb withered! He must have been trying to steal it and accidentally ruined it!"
Uncle Sun frowned. "Lin Hu, are you sure you didn't see it wrong?"
Lin Hu thumped his chest confidently. "Absolutely true! I swear on my integrity!"
Secretly, he was extremely pleased with himself. He had damaged the Seven-Star Herb without anyone noticing, and now he was pinning it all on Xiao Bei. Let's see how you get out of this!
The surrounding servants began whispering among themselves, their gazes filled with suspicion as they looked at Xiao Bei.
"I don't believe it. Xiao Bei looks so honest. How could he do something like that?""You can know a person's face, but not their heart! Maybe he's just a wolf in sheep's clothing!""What a pity. We finally cured the Purple Magnolia, and now this happens."
Old Zhao's face grew extremely gloomy. "Xiao Bei, do you have anything else to say?"
Xiao Bei took a deep breath, trying to stay calm. "Steward Zhao, I am innocent! I never went near the Seven-Star Herb, let alone damaged it! Someone must be framing me!"
"Framing you?" Lin Hu sneered. "Who would frame you? What's a lowly disciple like you worth framing?"
Xiao Bei stared straight at Lin Hu and said slowly, word by word, "Who else could it be but you?"
Lin Hu pretended to be innocent. "Nonsense! Why would I frame you?"
Xiao Bei sneered. "You know very well why. Because you're jealous of my talent and afraid I'll steal your spotlight!"
"You—!" Lin Hu was furious but couldn't refute it.
Seeing the two arguing, Uncle Sun sighed. "Enough. Stop arguing. This matter must be investigated thoroughly! Xiao Bei, come with me!"
Uncle Sun led Xiao Bei and Lin Hu to where the Seven-Star Herb was planted.
The once lush and vibrant Seven-Star Herb was now withered and yellow, its leaves drooping as if on its last breath.
Uncle Sun looked heartbroken. "This Seven-Star Herb is one of the most precious herbs in the garden. What a pity it's been ruined like this!"
He turned to Xiao Bei, disappointment filling his eyes. "Xiao Bei, tell me honestly—what exactly happened?"
Xiao Bei was speechless, anger boiling in his chest, sweat breaking out on his forehead. "Uncle Sun, I really didn't do this! I—"
Suddenly, as if he remembered something, his eyes lit up.
"Wait!"
Xiao Bei slapped his thigh. "I remember now! There's a surveillance array in the herb garden!"
Earlier, he had completed a hidden mission, and the system had rewarded him with authority to install a monitoring network in the herb garden. It was extremely well hidden—no one but him knew it existed.
At first, he thought it was useless. Now, it seemed like a gift from the heavens!
"A surveillance array? What nonsense are you talking about?" Lin Hu sneered. "How could something like that exist in a herb garden?"
But his heart skipped a beat, a bad premonition rising within him.
Uncle Sun and Old Zhao also looked confused. They had never heard of any surveillance array in the herb garden.
Xiao Bei smiled confidently. "Whether it's real or not, you'll know in a moment."
He silently recited the activation command and triggered the monitoring array.
A screen of light appeared in midair, clearly showing Lin Hu sneaking up to the Seven-Star Herb, pulling out a vial of medicinal powder from his sleeve, and sprinkling it over the plant.
The crowd exploded into an uproar.
"Damn! It really was Lin Hu!""That kid is too cunning! He framed Xiao Bei!""You can know a person's face, but not their heart!"
Lin Hu's face turned deathly pale. His whole body trembled like a rabbit caught by the tail.
He never imagined Xiao Bei had such a trump card. Now, he was completely finished!
"I… I…" he stammered, unable to form a complete sentence.
"Still trying to deny it?" Xiao Bei sneered. "Caught red-handed. What else do you have to say?"
Realizing his plot had been exposed, Lin Hu suddenly tried to run.
"Trying to escape? Not so easy!"
Old Zhao reacted instantly, grabbing Lin Hu by the collar and lifting him up like a chick.
Lin Hu struggled desperately, but no matter what he did, he couldn't break free.
His face was as white as a sheet, his eyes filled with terror.
Old Zhao's expression was icy, his eyes blazing with fury.
"Lin Hu, you are outrageously bold! You dared to damage precious herbs and frame a fellow disciple!" He paused, his voice cold as frost. "What else do you have to say?"
Lin Hu's lips trembled, but no words came out. He knew he was done for.
Xiao Bei secretly felt delighted at Lin Hu's miserable state.
"Steward Zhao," Xiao Bei stepped forward with cupped hands, "now that the truth has come to light, I hope—"
Old Zhao shot Lin Hu a cold glance, then turned to Xiao Bei, his tone softening slightly.
"Xiao Bei, you did well this time. Not only did you cure Zi Yulan, you also exposed Lin Hu's scheme." He hesitated briefly. "You… want to work in the herb garden?"
Xiao Bei nodded quickly. "Yes, Steward Zhao."
Old Zhao nodded. "Very well. From today onward, you will work in the herb garden."
He then looked at Lin Hu with icy eyes. "As for Lin Hu…"
With a wave of his hand, Old Zhao cut off Lin Hu's screams and pleas for mercy.
"Take him away. Give him twenty lashes, demote him to the lowest labor position, and ban him from receiving any rewards for one year!"
As Lin Hu was dragged away, he glared at Xiao Bei as if he wanted to devour him alive, his expression screaming, I will be back!
Xiao Bei remained completely calm. He even felt like adding narration for him:
The villain dies from talking too much.
The onlookers immediately burst into applause, most of them giving Xiao Bei thumbs-up.
"That counterattack was incredible!""No wonder he could cure the Purple Magnolia—his intelligence is top-tier!"Someone sighed bitterly, "If I'd known, I would've reported Lin Hu too. Maybe I could've entered the herb garden and lived the good life."
Uncle Sun walked over with a smile and patted Xiao Bei on the shoulder.
"Not bad, young man! Brave and resourceful—a good prospect! Come, come, let me take you into the herb garden."
His kind smile seemed to say: Kid, I have high hopes for you!
As Xiao Bei stepped into the herb garden, the rich spiritual energy surrounding him made him feel refreshed, as if every pore in his body was breathing.
All kinds of exotic flowers and plants competed in beauty, releasing a fresh, fragrant aroma.
Xiao Bei felt like a country bumpkin entering a grand garden—he couldn't take it all in.
"Well, kid? Amazed by the view?" Uncle Sun stroked his beard proudly. "This herb garden is one of the most important places in our sect. Every herb here is extremely valuable! You'd better perform well and not disappoint Steward Zhao!"
"Of course, Uncle Sun! I'll definitely do my best!" Xiao Bei promised confidently.
But inwardly, he thought: With so much spiritual energy here, there must be countless rare and precious herbs!
Heh. It looks like my cultivation journey is about to truly take off!
However, Xiao Bei also knew that opportunity and danger always went hand in hand.
On the surface, this herb garden seemed peaceful and serene—but beneath it, hidden currents were surely surging.
Who knew what secrets were hidden here, or what terrifying dangers lay in wait?
Just as he was thinking, a chilling voice suddenly sounded from behind him.
"Kid, don't be so happy yet…"
Xiao Bei turned sharply and saw a man dressed in black with a sinister face standing not far away, staring at him coldly.
"Who are you?" Xiao Bei asked cautiously.
The man in black sneered. "Who am I? You'll find out soon enough…"
Before he could finish speaking, he suddenly attacked—his body turning into a black blur as he lunged forward…