By the time Xiao Su had recovered some strength and picked up the weakened Wen Jinshu, the锯齿地龙 (jùchǐ dìlóng - toothed earth dragon) had long since disappeared without a trace.
Having survived the ordeal, Xiao Su looked at Yan Jiaojiao with eyes full of gratitude, "Thank you, Yan Jiaojiao. If you ever need anything in the future, just ask, and I, Xiao Su, will do my utmost."
Wen Jinshu, weak and powerless, nestled in Xiao Su's arms and also whispered a thank you.
Yan Jiaojiao shook her head slightly and said, "No need to be polite. I gained nothing from this. We should hurry back. Although the 锯齿地龙 needs to hunt, someone actually lured it to us. I'm afraid there might be trouble elsewhere."
Xiao Su was greatly surprised and then asked, "How did you know someone was interfering?"
Yan Jiaojiao couldn't say she heard it from the 锯齿地龙. They had been dusted with powder of the 锯齿地龙's favorite food, clearly done intentionally by someone.
Yan Jiaojiao could only vaguely explain, "Although the 锯齿地龙 is huge, it's naturally quite timid. It wouldn't proactively provoke a crowd."
Xiao Su nodded in sudden realization, looked at Wen Jinshu in his arms with heartache, "So someone deliberately wanted to harm us. If I find them, I'll make them pay!"
"Mm, let's go," Yan Jiaojiao said with a heavy heart. Her first suspicion was Yan Ruxue, given her past history of colluding with demons.
The three then followed the previous tracks and flew forward. Unexpectedly, the fellow disciples who should have been waiting there were nowhere to be seen, only a pile of trampled grass and scattered bloodstains remained.
The complexions of Yan Jiaojiao and the other two turned grim.
No one knew what was happening. It seemed that ever since they entered the Unclaimed Secret Realm, everything had been filled with strangeness.
"They've likely encountered danger. You two rest here, I'll go look for their tracks," Yan Jiaojiao said.
Xiao Su disagreed, "It's better not to split up at a time like this."
"Alright," Yan Jiaojiao said, and she took the lead, continuing to fly forward on her sword.
Indeed, after passing a small hill not far away, Yan Jiaojiao saw Jiang Yiling. There were twelve people by his side.
"Senior Brother Jiang, what happened?" Xiao Su, seeing their disheveled state, asked urgently as soon as he landed.
When Jiang Yiling saw the three of them return safely, a hint of joy appeared on his usually stern face, which then turned somber, "It's good that you're back. The other fellow disciples have already..."
Yan Jiaojiao glanced at the remaining people and found Tang Xiye missing.
"What exactly happened?" Xiao Su urged anxiously.
Jiang Yiling sighed, "They probably won't survive. Not long after you left, Tang Xiye insisted on continuing to search for treasures. I naturally disagreed, but she was obstinate. I had no choice but to give her a compass so she could find it herself. As a result, she provoked a demon eagle. In her panic, she ran back and caused all of us to suffer. Two fellow disciples were swallowed on the spot, and the remaining ones are in grave danger."
Those disciples recalled the scene with lingering fear. Yan Ruxue even looked as if she was trembling.
Yan Jiaojiao could no longer hold back. She stepped forward, raised her hand, and pulled Yan Ruxue out. "Speak! Did you collude with demons to cause this disaster?"
Yan Ruxue looked astonished, forcefully pushed away Yan Jiaojiao's hand, and angrily said, "What nonsense are you spouting, Yan Jiaojiao? When have you ever had evidence to prove I colluded with the demon realm?"
Yan Jiaojiao didn't argue further. She grabbed Yan Ruxue's collar again and pulled her back, leaning close to sniff her shoulder and neck. Indeed, there was a faint scent of sweet potato fruit.
"You used this to lure the 锯齿地龙, didn't you?" Yan Jiaojiao questioned sharply, "Sweet potato fruit is the 锯齿地龙's favorite."
Yan Ruxue's expression remained unchanged, but her fingers curled up subconsciously. She stubbornly said, "I don't know what you're talking about."
"Yan Ruxue, if you want to target me, I'll accompany you anytime. But why must you endanger innocent people?"
Facing Yan Jiaojiao's questioning, Yan Ruxue was unmoved. Unexpectedly, Xiao Su rushed forward like a whirlwind, grabbed Yan Ruxue's shoulders, and pushed her back, forcing her back against a tree. He glared at her, "Did you really tamper with things?"
Thinking of how Wen Jinshu was almost digested by the 锯齿地龙, Xiao Su was filled with lingering fear, further channeling this anger towards Yan Ruxue. The palm holding her shoulder was like an iron clamp, almost crushing her bones.
"She's spewing unfounded accusations. Did these few words fool you?" Yan Ruxue struggled to push Xiao Su's hand away, desperately explaining, "I know nothing about any sweet potato fruit powder."
Xu Changzong then stepped forward, his voice as calm as ever, "I am from the Wood Sect and am most sensitive to plants. I can testify that only you have the strongest scent of sweet potato fruit on you."
Yan Ruxue finally escaped Xiao Su's grasp and glared at Xu Changzong, "Who doesn't know you have a good relationship with Yan Jiaojiao? It's only natural that you'd help her frame me!"
Yan Jiaojiao sneered, "Fine. If you say this has nothing to do with you, then how did you know it was sweet potato fruit powder? I only mentioned sweet potato fruit."
"This..." Yan Ruxue was speechless for a moment.
Seeing this, everyone cast wary and disgusted glances at Yan Ruxue. Even Jiang Yiling said in disbelief, "Did you really lure the 锯齿地龙, Yan Ruxue? What were you after?"
What else could she be after? Naturally, the treasures in their hands.
Jiang Yiling said with heartache, "The Unclaimed Secret Realm is full of dangers. Yan Ruxue, did you ever consider that if you harmed all of us, could you truly survive alone?"
Yan Ruxue's lips twitched a few times, but she still said nothing.
Jiang Yiling said dejectedly, "Since you are set on taking treasures, then you can leave on your own. Whatever you find is your luck, we won't compete with you."
This was clearly an expulsion!
Yan Ruxue suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with terror, "No, I don't want to leave alone. Please don't drive me away!"
"You deserve it!" Xiao Su said angrily. If not for Wen Jinshu restraining him, he would have torn apart Yan Ruxue's hypocritical face!
Yan Ruxue was frightened by his shouting and shrank her shoulders, looking pleadingly at everyone, only to be met with indifferent and disdainful gazes.
Yan Ruxue reluctantly sobbed softly, "I'll tell the truth, just don't drive me away."
Jiang Yiling remained silent, only watching Yan Ruxue.
It seemed he still wanted to know what other hidden reasons Yan Ruxue had.
"It was..."
Just as she was about to speak, Yan Ruxue hesitated again. However, Chen Bingbing behind her couldn't take it anymore and suddenly spoke up, "It was Tang Xiye! She threatened Yan Ruxue to spread the sweet potato fruit powder everywhere!"