True Man Chongguang remained silent, his gaze shifting between Xu Zhilan and Fan Qingqing.

Granny Bizhu followed suit, casting a venomous glare in their direction.

However, Xu Zhilan and Fan Qingqing had already reached this point, thoroughly offending Granny Bizhu. Furthermore, the Chongxuan family’s attitude was so resolute, even willing to sacrifice Chongjia Island… They couldn’t afford to be attacked from both sides, leaving them no room for retreat.

“Many within the Five Immortals Sect can testify,” Xu Zhilan said slowly. “Elder Bizhu indeed had a prior plan, instructing us to accumulate strength, exacerbate conflicts, and await an opportunity. I asked her if rashly instigating trouble would invite retaliation. She only said… she had her own arrangements.”

True Man Chongguang chuckled.

He knew. From Jiang Wang’s confident entrance, he knew there must be genuine evidence. Otherwise, such a young prodigy wouldn’t be throwing himself into the fire like a moth.

He had been trying to prevent it, not to protect Granny Bizhu, but to preserve the dignity of Fishing Sea Pavilion.

However, Jiang Wang and his allies stirred up public opinion, elevating the matter to the level of justice for the Sea Sacrifice. He could no longer ignore it – being forced into submission was also the reason for his anger.

Yet, he still hadn’t expected Granny Bizhu to be so sloppy, losing control even over her own subordinates.

He asked Granny Bizhu with a smile, “Bizhu, what arrangements did you have?”

The words were soft, but Granny Bizhu felt as if she had fallen into an icy abyss. She could already sense the cold detachment.

Her expression became extremely unnatural, yet she forced a smile, “This old woman only had faith in the Five Immortals Sect. After operating in Youxia Island for so long, we had accumulated a great deal of power… At the time, I had no knowledge that Elder Hai would meet with misfortune.”

“True Man Chong, I have another witness who can prove that Zhu Biqiong’s information came entirely from Elder Bizhu.” Jiang Wang pressed his advantage, adding fuel to the fire. “However, before he comes forward, I implore you, True Man, to pardon him first. Because he is a member of Fishing Sea Pavilion, and his testimony is solely out of a sense of justice, yet he fears harming the sect’s interests.”

These were mere pleasantries. Anyone coming forward at this time to denounce Granny Bizhu would either have a life-or-death grudge, or be a traitor. Here on the Edge of Heaven Platform, such an act was tantamount to betraying Fishing Sea Pavilion.

In truth, the witness Jiang Wang wanted to call was the latter – a hidden agent of Huaying Palace planted within Fishing Sea Pavilion.

This agent wasn’t even placed by Jiang Wuyou, but came from a portion of the forces allocated to Huaying Palace by the Qi Emperor.

“Feel free to bring him forth,” True Man Chongguang said magnanimously. “Upholding justice is upholding the interests of the sect. What crime is there in that?”

From Fishing Sea Pavilion’s perspective, that was all he could say.

Jiang Wang bowed, “Mr. Lu, I trouble you!”

From within the Fishing Sea Pavilion ranks, a middle-aged man in a long robe, with the air of an accountant, walked forward. His steps were slow, but he did not retreat.

Granny Bizhu’s expression was icy, “Steward Lu, was it worth it?”

A Steward was a position below an Elder of Affairs within Fishing Sea Pavilion. Someone like Chen Zhitao, a future core member of Fishing Sea Pavilion, currently held only the title of Steward.

Such a person, with a few decades of hard work, had a chance to become an actual Elder of Affairs. Their value was incalculable.

And now, with his appearance today, his years of covert operations within Fishing Sea Pavilion were completely wasted, and he could no longer remain within the sect.

Jiang Wuyou said he would mobilize all resources to help Jiang Wang, and he truly spared no effort, even willing to use such a hidden agent.

Although, such a hidden agent’s long-term concealment was precisely for the sake of being used one day. It was still hard to avoid wondering, was it worth it, for a mere Jiang Wang? Was it worth it to save Zhu Biqiong, whose cultivation had been crippled?

Lu Hua himself simply bowed to Granny Bizhu, his tone normal, “Greetings, Elder Bizhu.”

Then he saluted True Man Chongguang, “This subordinate guarantees that every word I speak is the truth. If there is any falsehood, may I offer my body to the sea.”

Hidden agents didn’t need to have their own thoughts. What was worth it was something for Jiang Wuyou to consider. If Jiang Wuyou decided, he would do it, it was that simple.

As a Steward of Fishing Sea Pavilion, he naturally belonged to a faction.

However, the Elder behind him was neither Hai Jingping, nor Granny Bizhu, but an Elder from True Man Chongguang’s faction.

Therefore, his standing up at this moment inevitably carried a hint of awkwardness.

Neither Granny Bizhu nor True Man Chongguang responded.

He straightened himself, “According to my investigation. Zhu Biqiong contacted Jiang Wang, presumably through Xu Xiangqian of Qingya Academy. Xu Xiangqian went to Ice Phoenix Island afterward, and the Li family has many ways to contact Jiang Wang.”

“Zhu Biqiong and Xu Xiangqian only interacted twice. The first time, there was no communication, only Xu Xiangqian flaunted his friendship with Jiang Wang, which may be why Zhu Biqiong sought him out. The message was likely passed during the second time, when she specifically sought out Xu Xiangqian at a tea house, looking hurried. The tea house owner can testify to this, and even Miss Zhao Wuyan and Miss Zishu of Dragon Gate Academy can testify.”

“We can deduce that Zhu Biqiong knew of Elder Hai Zongming’s intention to kill Jiang Wang between her two meetings with Xu Xiangqian.”

“Between these two meetings, two things are worth noting. First, Zhu Biqiong encountered Elder Hai Zongming on the road. Second, Zhu Biqiong returned to the sect.”

“However, after encountering Elder Hai Zongming, when she returned to the sect, she was in a relaxed state, indicating that she was not aware of any problem at that time. She only became truly nervous and panicked after leaving Elder Bizhu’s bamboo building! At that time, she was in a hurry, nervous and worried. And it was after leaving the bamboo building that she sought out Xu Xiangqian. What does this imply? I believe it is self-evident.”

His statement was clear and logical, the key points were clear, making it easy to understand and very convincing.

Finally, Lu Hua bowed to True Man Chongguang again, “You can send people to investigate everything I have said. A simple inquiry will reveal the truth, and there are no falsehoods.”

As a Steward of Fishing Sea Pavilion, conducting this internal investigation was not difficult. He only needed to work backward from the process by which Jiang Wang obtained the information, and the only thing he needed to be careful about was not alarming Granny Bizhu.

And once this investigation was completed, it was easy to verify its authenticity. Almost every key point could be corroborated with witnesses.

From their first meeting on Youxia Island, Granny Bizhu had been thinking about how to use Jiang Wang’s rescue to extract the maximum benefit. And how could Jiang Wang not be thinking about breaking the situation from Granny Bizhu’s side?

His plan was gradually formed after being revised by Chongxuan Sheng, and with Jiang Wuyou’s full cooperation, he finally pinned Granny Bizhu down step by step, and struggled to create a sliver of dawn for Zhu Biqiong in the heavy darkness!

“Bizhu, do you think this seat still needs to send someone to investigate?” True Man Chongguang asked.

Of course, there was no need. As a Steward, Lu Hua, having presented this evidence, could accurately identify the first person Zhu Biqiong met upon returning to the sect, and the last person who saw Zhu Biqiong leave. There was no possibility of fabrication.

Granny Bizhu only said, “Of course, there is a need! True Man Chong, this old woman has been fighting to the death for the sect for so many years. How can you convict me based on the words of a traitor? I request a thorough investigation, a slow investigation! I demand to see True Man Gu!”

The more she spoke, the more agitated she became. She absolutely refused to plead guilty. She would try every possible means to delay time, waiting for Gu Huaixin to step in and protect her.

But True Man Chongguang only lifted his eyelids, “Bizhu, retain a bit of dignity for your current status.”

The words were spoken without any waves, and without any real power, but Granny Bizhu felt as if a bucket of ice water had been poured over her head, instantly losing her momentum.

“Dignity…” she murmured.

“Heh.” She laughed self-deprecatingly, “Dignity.”

In the end, she closed her mouth.

Her wrinkles seemed deeper, her back seemed more bent.

It was as if she had instantly aged and had no strength to speak.