The crowd surged toward Chen Heng's cave residence—only to find it empty. The formation had been broken, leaving behind nothing but a deserted courtyard.
When the group returned to report their failure, Chen Huaiyang's expression remained unreadable. Without a word, he retrieved a violet-black token from his storage bag.
"Mountain Defense Formation—activate!"
A surge of pure spiritual energy struck the token, sending tremors through Vulture Mountain as a golden barrier enveloped the entire peak. Jinshu understood immediately—Third Uncle was sealing the mountain to trap the fugitive.
"Let's hope it's not too late."
She followed the farmers as they fanned out. The shimmering dome left no escape.
"The cost to maintain this must be staggering."
Chen Huaiyang would go this far for a petty saboteur spoke volumes. Perhaps Vulture Mountains reputation mattered more than she'd thought.
"Search every corner!" Huaiyang commanded, slotting spirit stones into the formation's core.
The mob descended toward the foothills—the most likely hiding spot. They found Chen Heng at the barrier's edge, trapped like a rat.
"Come quietly, Heng. The Elder awaits."
"You bastard! Poisoning our fields?" Chen Qin's brother kicked him hard in the ribs.
"Serves you right!" Chen Heng spat, glaring. "Always flaunting your stolen plots!"
Another kick silenced him. Dragged before Chen Huaiyang, Chen Heng's face twisted with recognition as Jinshu studied him. There was something familiar in those sharp, venomous features—an instinctive revulsion.
"Chen Heng." Chen Huaiyang's voice could have frozen lava. "You violated clan law by sabotaging spirit fields. Do you confess?"
A crushing pressure accompanied the words, bending Chen Heng's spine.
"I—I acted in folly! Spare me, Elder!"
No lies could shield him now—not under the Truth Talisman's glare, nor Chen Huaiyang's wrath.
"Why target their fields?"
"The new plots… should've been mine!" Chen Heng's fists clenched. "But those Qin brothers stole them!"
"Your yields were inferior. That's on you." Chen Huaiyang turned to Jinshu. "And her? What grudge held you?"
Jinshu met Chen Heng's eyes, baffled. "We've never even met."
"No grudge." A sneer. "But someone paid me to ruin you."
The answer struck like lightning—Chen Jinli.
That spiteful girl from the clan, whose father had once coveted Jinshu's mother. Their resemblance was uncanny.
"Jinli put you up to this, didn't she?"
Chen Heng flinched, confirming everything.
Chen Huaiyang's gaze turned glacial. "Trash begets trash."
Before anyone could react, his palm flashed gold—a single strike shattered Chen Heng's dantian.
"I can't kill you, but I can make you worthless." He surveyed the horrified onlookers. "Let this be a lesson."
Chen Heng crumpled, bloodless and broken. As guards dragged him away, Jinshu bowed to Chen Huaiyang. "Thank you for justice, Third Uncle."
"Vulture Mountain's integrity demanded it." He motioned to the Qin brothers. "You three—compensation is due."
Chen Heng's meager belongings spilled forth: spirit seeds, a sword, a flight artifact, talismans, and a hundred-odd spirit stones. Jinshu selected three Crimson Dawn Fruit seeds—rare, with mild marrow-cleansing properties.
"Wise choice." Chen Huaiyang's voice whispered in her ear. "They enhance spiritual sensitivity. One-year harvest cycle—mind the soil moisture."
Perfect for purging the Beauty Awakening Pill's residual toxins. Before leaving, she purchased two Shadows tones—one for her fields, one for home.
Paranoia? Perhaps. But trust had burned her once already.
Back at her Courtyard, she scrubbed herself head-to-toe before re-entering the formation.
Fool me once…
The damaged plants hung limp, their leaves necrotic from the lice's venom. She pruned the worst, then summoned healing rain over the wounds.
Slowly, stubborn green returned to the stalks.