Truth Serum

"I've told you, I never stole anything from the sect!" Jiu'er stood defiantly, her face flushed with anger.

The male disciple in front of her sneered. "Hmph, whether you did or not will be clear once we investigate. Why are you so afraid to let anyone check your cave residence and storage pouch? Do you have something to hide?"

Jiu'er hadn’t expected this person to be so malicious. Her cheeks burned red as she retorted, "I have my own reasons!"

The truth was, Jiu'er possessed a high-grade sword technique given to her by Ye Chuan. It was only natural to keep such wealth concealed, especially since she was merely a menial disciple. If others found out, it could bring trouble to Ye Chuan.

Perhaps she had been too cautious when returning to her cave residence that day, but she hadn’t anticipated being spotted by Niu Er, a fellow disciple she’d always clashed with—who then reported her.

"Jiu'er, if you really didn’t take anything, why refuse to let anyone search your cave?"

"Exactly! We cultivators walk the righteous path. If you’re innocent, why fear an inspection?"

"Jiu'er… you didn’t actually steal from the sect, did you?"

The surrounding menial disciples chattered among themselves, their words piling pressure on Jiu'er until her explanations sounded feeble no matter how she defended herself.

Just then, someone shouted, "It’s the Purple Progeny!"

The crowd turned as one, spotting Zi Ning'er and Ye Chuan approaching. The disciples quickly parted to make way for them.

"What’s going on here?" Zi Ning'er asked, her voice cool. The commotion among the menial disciples was unusual—and strangely, no elders had intervened.

Where were the outer sect elders when they were needed?

"Reporting to the Purple Progeny," the male disciple opposing Jiu'er spoke up, "I suspect this menial disciple, Jiu'er, has stolen sect property. I demanded to search her cave and storage pouch, but she stubbornly refuses. Clearly, she’s hiding something."

"Stolen?" Jiu'er protested immediately. "I didn’t! I would never steal from the sect!"

Her eyes flickered to Ye Chuan, who had arrived alongside Zi Ning'er, and she shook her head slightly.

"Stolen?" Ye Chuan now spoke. "What makes you suspect her?"

The male disciple glanced at Ye Chuan’s robes, recognizing him as another Progeny disciple, and his tone became respectful. "Progeny, my name is Niu Er. Jiu'er and I came from the same village as menial disciples."

"She’s always had a habit of petty theft since childhood. The other day, I saw her sneaking back to her cave, acting suspiciously and sealing her door tightly—as if afraid someone might discover a secret."

Hearing this, Ye Chuan understood the situation. It was likely the high-grade cultivation manual he’d given Jiu'er that caused the misunderstanding. Perhaps she had been overly cautious, drawing unnecessary attention.

"So, Niu Er," Ye Chuan said calmly.

"Yes, Progeny?"

"You’re saying that based on mere suspicion—without any proof—you have the right to search someone’s cave and storage pouch?" Ye Chuan smiled faintly. "You didn’t even see what she supposedly took, yet you’re certain it’s sect property?"

Niu Er faltered. "I—if she didn’t steal anything, why act so guilty? She won’t let anyone search! That proves she’s hiding something!"

"Oh?" Ye Chuan raised a brow. "So if I refused to let you search my belongings, would that mean I’m guilty too?"

"Wha—Progeny, I didn’t mean it like that! It’s just—"

"The burden of proof lies with the accuser," Ye Chuan said flatly. "You have no evidence, just a baseless assumption. Does that give you the right to invade anyone’s privacy?"

Niu Er’s forehead beaded with sweat.

Even he could tell now that Ye Chuan was siding with Jiu'er. "But—but she was acting suspiciously!"

"And why must that mean theft? Couldn’t it be an opportunity she stumbled upon?" Ye Chuan countered. "Where’s your proof of stolen goods?"

Niu Er had none—because he’d fabricated the accusation.

"If Jiu'er’s cave yields nothing, or nothing belonging to the sect…" Ye Chuan paused, glancing at Zi Ning'er beside him.

"Senior Sister, what’s the punishment for slandering a fellow disciple?"

"Naturally," Zi Ning'er replied, studying Ye Chuan briefly. "False accusations warrant expulsion—after crippling the offender’s cultivation."

Niu Er froze for a few seconds. Realizing the tide had turned against him, he steeled himself and doubled down. "I’m not lying! I saw her steal from the sect! I demand her cave and storage pouch be searched!"

He knew Ye Chuan was protecting Jiu'er, though he couldn’t fathom how a menial disciple had gained a Progeny’s favor. But now, he had no choice but to push forward.

"Well?!" Niu Er glared at Jiu'er, his voice rising. "Hand over your storage pouch! Prove your innocence!"

"Junior Brother, since that's the case, let's search the quarters of that servant disciple," Zi Ning'er suggested.

Jiu'er wore a troubled expression, but she truly hadn't stolen anything. The high-grade sword manual in her possession had been given by Ye Chuan. Still, if a search was demanded, she wasn’t afraid—she only worried it might cause trouble for Ye Chuan.

"There’s no need to search the quarters," Ye Chuan interjected. "If we allow random suspicions to justify ransacking someone’s dwelling, wouldn’t it make our Qingyun Sect a laughingstock?"

Zi Ning'er seemed taken aback. "Then, Junior Brother, do you have a better solution?"

"I do."

Ye Chuan recalled the recent batch of peculiar gadgets his home’s scientific sunflowers had produced for him. Reaching into his sleeve, he rummaged around before pulling out a small vial.

[Item: Truth Serum

Effect: Forces the drinker to speak only the truth for ten minutes after consumption.]

"This is the Divine Elixir of Truth. A single sip compels the drinker to speak nothing but honesty." The moment Ye Chuan spoke, murmurs of disbelief spread among the surrounding disciples.

Could such a potion truly exist?

"Junior Brother, where did you obtain this?" Zi Ning'er asked. She had never heard of such a rare item.

If it truly forced the truth, then methods like soul-searching for interrogation would become obsolete.

"I developed it myself. It only works on those of lower cultivation levels," Ye Chuan explained.

"Ah, limited to weaker cultivators. I see." Zi Ning'er's enthusiasm dimmed. If that were the case, its value was far less impressive.

What useful information could low-level cultivators possibly hold?

Of course, this was pure fabrication on Ye Chuan’s part. The serum had no such restriction—and with the recipe unlocked, he could produce it at will.

He simply wanted to test its effects.

"You—drink it." Ye Chuan’s gaze fixed on Niu Er, whose face had paled drastically.