Chapter 547: When the Water Subsides, the Rocks Appear

When word spread that the PhoenixTail Guqin's strings had broken, the Academy disciples present all changed their expressions.

Although they didn't know the guqin's origin, just by its appearance they could tell it was no ordinary instrument.

For such a precious guqin to lose three strings made of Ice Silkworm Silk was undeniably a huge loss.

"Instructor Ye didn't go to the back mountain? Then, Instructor Ye, was it you who did it?"

Ling Xueyao spoke up at that moment, smiling maliciously.

In an instant, all eyes refocused on Ye Qingran.

Ye Qingran had just come down from the back mountain a little over half an hour ago, hadn't she?

Could the strings have been broken by her?

Nan Yan could hardly believe it, "Instructor Ye, is it really you? Why would you do this? Do you know this PhoenixTail Guqin is Lu Yunfeng's most treasured instrument? It is the only thing his mother left him! How could you do such a thing? Lu Yunfeng just now even allowed you free access up and down the back mountain, but you? I am truly so disappointed in you!"

Nan Yan berated Ye Qingran.

Lu Yunfeng's mother's relic?

The only thing left to him?

The Academy disciples all inhaled sharply.

So this guqin indeed had such a backstory, yet Ye Qingran destroyed it!

Lu Yunfeng must be very angry, right?

Lu Yunfeng held the guqin, standing there, his whole being seeming to merge into darkness.

Nan Yan saw this and sneered inwardly.

Ye Qingran, this time, you still won't die?

"You keep saying the guqin was broken by me, but do you have evidence?"

Ye Qingran crossed her arms over her chest, staring intently at Nan Yan with a half‑smile.

"Do we still need evidence? You are the only person who went up the back mountain today; if not you, then who else could it be?"

"Is that so? Although your right to freely go up and down the back mountain has been stripped, before that you were free; who knows whether you went up the back mountain before me and broke the strings?"

Nan Yan felt a sudden thud in her heart.

Being pinpointed by Ye Qingran made her nervous.

But, thinking that this was only her one‑sided claim, she had no evidence?

After all, when she went up the back mountain, no one saw her; as long as she insisted, no one would suspect her.

Nan Yan was about to rebut when Ye Qingran cut her off, "Also, tell me, why would I break the strings? What do I gain?"

Ling Xueyao sneered, "Who knows? Perhaps you're jealous that Lu Yunfeng has such a fine guqin, or maybe your skill is lacking and you took the chance while Lu Yunfeng was away to damage the guqin. Either way, the broken strings must be yours!"

"Is that so?" Ye Qingran nodded lightly, "I actually think that someone else broke the strings."

"Someone else? Who?"

Nan Yan felt a sudden jolt in her heart and asked instinctively.

"You!" Ye Qingran lifted her chin and pointed at Nan Yan.

Nan Yan's heart instantly fluttered with panic.

She forced herself to stay calm, "Instructor Ye, are you joking? Why would I break Lu Yunfeng's guqin?"

"Why? Of course it's to frame me."

Nan Yan at this moment pursed her lips, looking as if she were about to burst into tears.

"Instructor Ye, I don't know what I did to offend you? Why do you keep targeting me? Lu Yunfeng has already revoked my right to freely go up and down the back mountain, and you got what you wanted, so why do you still cling to me?"

Nan Yan was already beautiful and had a good temperament.

Her sudden display of weakness instantly won her many Academy disciples' support, especially from the male disciples.

"Instructor Ye, isn't that excessive? Nan Yan has no motive to break the strings at all, right?"

"Nan Yan is already pitiful enough; you, as a Special Grade Instructor, are so overbearing that we doubt whether you even have the qualifications to be a teacher!"

"Exactly, you won't admit it and instead try to frame Nan Yan—how despicably low!"

Hong Wu could no longer stand it and raised her voice in a shout.

"What, you believe Nan Yan's one‑sided claim but not Instructor Ye's words? Aren't you being too double‑standard?"

"It's fine if they don't believe; those who questioned me earlier, just remember to apologize to me later."

Ye Qingran said calmly.

"As for why I say Nan Yan framed me, there is naturally evidence."

Ye Qingran's gaze drifted softly toward Nan Yan, making her heart flutter with an ominous premonition.

Ye Qingran said she had evidence?

Is she merely being cryptic, or is there truly something to it?

Nan Yan felt a sudden thudding in her heart, but thinking that she had done it cleanly and could not possibly leave any evidence, she gradually calmed down.

She put on a righteous, above‑board attitude, "Instructor Ye, a person of integrity isn't afraid of a crooked shadow; bring out whatever evidence you have!"

Such an attitude made people increasingly convinced of her innocence.

Under everyone's gaze, Ye Qingran gracefully walked up to Lu Yunfeng and said, "May I borrow the guqin for a moment?"

Lu Yunfeng looked at her, said nothing, and did not hand over the guqin.

"Let the past stay in the past; people should look forward, don't you think?"

Lu Yunfeng's gaze flickered.

"Besides, some strings are broken, yet in fact they aren't."

Lu Yunfeng was bewildered, not grasping her meaning; when Ye Qingran signaled him to hand over the PhoenixTail Guqin, he ultimately complied.

Ye Qingran took the guqin, without touching the strings.

"Ice Silkworm Silk contains a component that, when exposed to air, gradually turns black." In fact, this is a normal oxidation phenomenon. She didn't say that, because they didn't understand.

"This is also why Ice Silkworm Silk changes color after it breaks."

"But if this component gets on the hand, there is no change whatsoever."

"However, if Xuanji Grass is applied to the hand, the discoloration will continue."

The crowd looked at Ye Qingran in bewilderment, some seeming to understand, others not.

"Instructor Ye is not wrong."

The speaker was Qin Feixue, and everyone's gaze fell on her at once.

Nan Yan understood, and panic flashed in her eyes.

She grasped Ye Qingran's meaning.

And the strings of the PhoenixTail Guqin were broken by her bare hands, which surely implies...

"Ye Qingran, what nonsense are you spouting?"

Ling Xueyao noticed Nan Yan's abnormality and shouted straight at Ye Qingran.

"You all want evidence, don't you? I will give you evidence." Saying that, Ye Qingran took a piece of Xuanji Grass from Shen Nong Space. "Coincidentally, I have Xuanji Grass on me. Nan Yan, do you dare to try?"

"Instructor Ye, I don't know what you're saying?!"

Nan Yan swore she would never comply.

"Don't understand? The principle should be known by many Instructors or Elders in the Academy. If you don't believe it, shall I invite an Instructor to come over and explain it properly?"

Nan Yan retorted, "Who knows whether your Xuanji Grass has any problem?"

"Lu Yunfeng, does my Xuanji Grass have a problem?"

Lu Yunfeng took it, examined it, and shook his head.

"Very good." Ye Qingran nodded. "You go, crush the Xuanji Grass into juice, then drip it onto her hand; if she broke your strings, the truth will soon be evident."

Lu Yunfeng nodded and walked toward Nan Yan.