Chapter 23: Passion Burns, Desire Runs Wild, and the True Culprit Emerges

Yunyao picked up the blood-stained black cloth. It felt coarse to the touch and carried a faint scent of herbs.

This scent... it was remarkably similar to the insect-repellent sachets commonly used in the kitchen. Could this be related to Chef Wang?

Her suspicions deepened, and she decided to head to the kitchen to investigate.

Inside the kitchen, Chef Wang was busy directing his assistants in preparing ingredients for the banquet. The air was filled with the rich aromas of various foods, a sharp contrast to the scent on the cloth. Yunyao observed the chef closely; he was sweating, shouting orders in a gruff voice, and seemed entirely normal.

Had she been mistaken?

"Miss Yunyao, do you have any instructions?" Chef Wang noticed her and paused his work, asking in a muffled voice.

Yunyao shook her head and was about to speak when she caught sight of a cowering figure in the corner—Liu'er, one of the kitchen helpers. The girl was keeping her head down, wringing her hands, and looking frantic.

A thought stirred in Yunyao’s mind. She walked over to Liu'er and asked with concern, "Liu'er, what is wrong? Are you feeling unwell?"

Liu'er jerked her head up, her eyes darting around as she shook her head nervously. "N-no, I’m just... a little tired." Her voice trembled, and she gripped the hem of her apron tightly.

Yunyao noticed faint, dark red marks on her fingertips. She leaned in closer and caught a whiff—it was that familiar herbal scent!

Yunyao chatted with Liu'er nonchalantly, eventually coaxing out the admission that she had gone to the back mountain to gather herbs earlier that day. The back mountain was exactly where the mysterious figure had vanished!

Having formed a plan, Yunyao quietly slipped out of the kitchen. She reached the back mountain and searched every inch of the ground, eventually finding trampled herbs and a few drops of dark red blood in a thicket. The herbs were the very kind used to make the insect-repellent sachets, and the blood matched the stains on Liu'er’s fingers.

It seemed Liu'er was indeed involved.

Just then, a warm embrace enveloped her from behind. "Yao'er, I was worried about you." Jun Mohan’s deep voice resonated by her ear, carrying a hint of imperceptible tremor.

Yunyao leaned against his solid chest, feeling his steady heartbeat, and a wave of warmth washed over her. She told him about her findings, and Jun Mohan’s brows furrowed tightly.

"It seems someone is trying to use Liu'er to frame Chef Wang," Jun Mohan said, his tone icy and edged with danger.

"We must find Liu'er and uncover the truth." Yunyao nodded and was about to turn away when Jun Mohan caught her hand.

"Yao'er," he said, his voice low and raspy, "I..."

Jun Mohan’s deep gaze locked onto hers, his thin lips parting slightly. "Yao'er, let me help you get to the bottom of this." He held her hand, his palm providing a reassuring warmth.

Yunyao felt her heart thaw and smiled beautifully. "Alright."

The two shared a smile and walked down the mountain together. The sunlight spilled over them, casting a golden glow upon their forms. The nearby disciples of the Immortal Sect watched them in their intimate companionship, whispering to one another with eyes full of envy.

"Senior Brother and Junior Sister Yunyao are truly a perfect match!"

"Indeed, a talented man and a beautiful woman, a match made in heaven!"

Yunyao felt her cheeks flush at the envious gazes, a sweet sensation bubbling in her heart. Jun Mohan’s palm was warm and strong, as if it granted her endless strength.

They made their way down the mountain path, carefully searching every spot that might hold a clue. Suddenly, Jun Mohan discovered a jade pendant carved with a special mark behind a rock.

This mark... it was a special insignia from within the Immortal Sect!

Yunyao recognized the pendant as well, and her expression turned grave. Could the mastermind be hiding within the Immortal Sect itself?

The discovery felt like a thunderclap, exploding in their hearts. They realized this incident was far more complex than they had imagined. If the culprit was truly one of their own, their situation would become far more perilous. They would not only have to face external threats but also guard against daggers drawn from within.

The atmosphere grew tense; the smiles vanished from their faces, replaced by an unprecedented solemnity. Jun Mohan gripped the pendant tightly, his knuckles turning white. Yunyao took a deep breath, trying to remain calm.

"It seems we must be even more careful," Jun Mohan said, his voice low and cold.

Yunyao nodded, her gaze resolute. "No matter who it is, I will drag them out into the light!"

Just then, the faint sound of footsteps drifted from nearby. Jun Mohan whipped his head around, his eyes piercing, and whispered, "Someone is coming."

Yunyao and Jun Mohan moved in a flash, skillfully hiding behind the mountain rocks. Through the dense leaves, they clearly saw several stealthy figures weaving through the trees. Those men were vigilant, constantly scanning their surroundings, clearly monitoring their every move.

Jun Mohan tilted his head slightly, signaling to Yunyao with his eyes. Yunyao understood, nodding slightly. Both held their breath, lowering their presence to the minimum, like two leopards stalking in the shadows, waiting for their moment.

The watchers circled the area a few times, found nothing unusual, and turned to leave. Confirming that no one was around, Yunyao and Jun Mohan exchanged a look filled with mutual trust. They did not rush to leave but instead carefully avoided the prying eyes and ventured deeper into the more secluded areas of the back mountain.

Yunyao chose not to confront Liu'er directly, opting instead to gather more evidence in secret. With her keen insight and extraordinary intellect, she searched for clues. Jun Mohan watched Yunyao; in her focused state, she was like an agile cat—elegant and dangerous.

While searching carefully, Yunyao discovered some discarded herbal residue at the entrance of a hidden cave. The scent of the herbs matched the one on Liu'er perfectly. Yunyao felt a chill; she bent down to inspect it further and found a fragment of a shattered jade pendant. The material was rare; Yunyao recognized it as a symbol belonging to an inner-sect disciple!

The truth began to surface, and a wave of tension crashed over her. Yunyao’s heart raced; she realized the identity of the mastermind was far more complicated than she had expected.

Yunyao and Jun Mohan returned to the banquet site quickly. Amidst the laughter and joy of the crowd, Yunyao presented the evidence she had gathered one by one.

When the truth was revealed, everyone was shocked. It turned out the mastermind was none other than Song Qing, a fellow disciple who had been helping her prepare for the banquet. Jealous of Yunyao’s outstanding performance, he had manipulated Liu'er into poisoning the food, hoping to frame Chef Wang and humiliate Yunyao before everyone.

When Song Qing was dragged away, the resentment and unwillingness on his face were hideously distorted. With the truth brought to light, Yunyao’s prestige within the sect grew even further. Her relationship with Jun Mohan reached new heights during the ordeal. The disciples watched them with admiration, but Yunyao knew that the internal relationships within the sect were complex and far from as peaceful as they appeared on the surface; this incident was merely the tip of the iceberg.

After the event, Yunyao stood on the training grounds of the sect, watching her busy peers. Jun Mohan’s voice sounded from behind her: "Yao'er, what are you thinking..."