Qi Wu cleared Qingying of the suspicion of theft, but the real thief was still at large.
As everyone was proving their innocence, the team member responsible for guarding the team's crystal cores discovered that the crystal cores in her backpack were missing.
Her cry made everyone's expression change, including Qi Wu. Compared to losing a bit of food, the loss of crystal cores was a fatal blow to the Blazing Flames team.
As the apocalypse developed to this point, crystal cores had become the circulating currency. Those crystal cores were the Blazing Flames team's entire fortune.
In the current environment, no matter which base they wanted to join, they needed crystal cores to pay for food, lodging, and transportation.
Without crystal cores, they couldn't even enter the base gates, as all bases required a fee for entry.
"Qingqing, everyone's backpacks are open now, only yours is left.
Hurry and open your backpack so everyone can see and prove your innocence.
The matter of the crystal cores is no small thing. I don't want you to be misunderstood like I was. I'll help you!"
Because Yin Qing had been holding Qingying, acting like loving sisters to salvage her image, when everyone took out their backpacks to prove their innocence, she was the only one whose backpack was still on her and not opened.
Qingying looked concerned and casually took Yin Qing's backpack off her. Without hesitation, she dumped the contents onto the ground.
"Crystal cores! It was her, she stole the crystal cores."
The person responsible for guarding the crystal cores was another female member of the Blazing Flames team, named Ah Hong.
She was tall and strong. Upon seeing a bag fall out of Yin Qing's backpack, she immediately lunged forward.
She grabbed the bag, opened it, and indeed, it contained the missing crystal cores.
"You shameless wretch! You always act like a pure lotus, but you're actually rotten to the core. You're trying to kill us all!
I'll beat you to death, you dirty slut, and see if you dare to do such wicked things again."
Ah Hong hated Yin Qing. If the crystal cores were lost under her watch and not found, she wouldn't be able to explain herself even with a hundred mouths. The members of the Blazing Flames team would surely eat her alive.
Therefore, she hated Yin Qing. She was large and strong, and possessed a strength ability.
She directly pushed Yin Qing to the ground, straddled her, and slapped her repeatedly.
When the bag containing the crystal cores fell from her own backpack, Yin Qing was stunned.
She didn't know why the crystal cores were in her backpack, so she was caught off guard.
She was immediately pushed down by Ah Hong, but after a few slaps, she came to her senses.
"It wasn't me, it wasn't me! Captain, I have something to say.
I was framed! It was Zhuan Zhuge, she stole the crystal cores and framed me!"
Struggling with all her might, Yin Qing cried out desperately to Qi Wu, saying she was innocent.
Hearing her words, everyone was taken aback and turned their gaze to Zhuan Zhuge.
Ah Hong also stopped her attack, half-believing. Yin Qing seized the opportunity and escaped from beneath her.
"Yin Qing, you can't slander me! You stole the crystal cores, why are you dragging me into this? Am I that easy to bully?"
Seeing the way everyone was looking at her, Zhuan Zhuge was enraged. She rushed towards Yin Qing, about to attack.
"Enough! Everyone stop until this matter is clarified.
Yin Qing, tell me, why do you say Zhuan Zhuge stole the crystal cores?
And how do you explain the missing crystal cores being in your backpack?"
Seeing the women fighting, Qi Wu frowned. This was why he didn't like having female team members; they were too troublesome.
Qingying was sensible. She was also suspected of stealing earlier but didn't fuss or cry, unlike these women who were like shrewish wives.
"Captain, Zhuan Zhuge had the opportunity. She and Ah Hong rested in the same vehicle.
She could have easily stolen the crystal cores while Ah Hong was asleep.
And before we rested yesterday, only she had contact with my backpack, giving her the chance to put the crystal cores in it."
After stating her deductions, Yin Qing's eyes reddened, tears welling up but not falling.
She bit her lip tightly, appearing weak and helpless, as if she had suffered an immense injustice.
With three parts vulnerability, four parts stubbornness, and three parts innocence, Yin Qing looked at Qi Wu.
Qingying admired her demeanor, admitting she couldn't replicate it.
Yin Qing was clever. Although she shifted the suspicion to Zhuan Zhuge to protect herself, she didn't pick just anyone.
Firstly, Zhuan Zhuge and Ah Hong rested in the same vehicle. Ah Hong usually kept her backpack close.
It would have been difficult to steal the crystal cores. Only when Ah Hong was asleep would she take off her backpack, giving Zhuan Zhuge an opportunity.
Furthermore, last night, Yin Qing and Zhuan Zhuge were away from the others, sitting together, which everyone witnessed.
"You're talking nonsense! If I stole the crystal cores, why would I put them in your backpack?"
Hearing Yin Qing's accusation, Zhuan Zhuge retorted. She couldn't refute the claim that she had the opportunity.
But what was her motive? Was she an idiot to steal something and put it in someone else's bag?
"That's something you should ask yourself. Why did you frame me?
I considered you a friend, and you treated me like this. You've hurt me so much!"
In terms of acting and sharp wit, ten Zhuan Zhuges were no match for Yin Qing. She was silenced by Yin Qing's words.
"Yin Qing, all of this is your deduction. How can you prove it?
You claim Zhuan Zhuge stole the crystal cores while Ah Hong was asleep.
Yes, we all saw you sitting with Zhuan Zhuge last night.
But we didn't see Zhuan Zhuge put the crystal cores into your backpack.
We didn't even see her touch your backpack. Do you have any evidence?"
After all, he was the team leader. Qi Wu wasn't swayed by Yin Qing's baseless accusations and demanded proof.
"I have evidence."
Yin Qing wiped away her tears, pouted, and looked at Qi Wu.
She walked directly to the items that had fallen from the backpack and picked up a ring.
"Ah Hong, do you recognize this ring?"
Holding the ring, she walked up to the team member named Ah Hong and asked her.
"I recognize it. Zhuan Zhuge wears it every day, saying it was left to her by her mother. How is it in your backpack?"
The not-so-bright Ah Hong didn't understand what Zhuan Zhuge's ring appearing in Yin Qing's backpack signified.
But Qingying understood and couldn't help but admire Yin Qing.
In this situation, she could still find a way out for herself, a way to survive a desperate situation.
"Give it back to me! It was left to me by my mother. How is it in your hands?"
Zhuan Zhuge also didn't realize what her ring appearing in Yin Qing's backpack meant. She just wanted her ring back.
"I'm sorry, I can't give it to you because it's evidence. Your ring appearing in my backpack
Proves that your hand was in my backpack when you were putting the crystal cores in, and it accidentally fell out, right?"
Yin Qing was relieved that she had found Zhuan Zhuge's ring on the ground after Zhuan Zhuge left yesterday.
Being greedy for small advantages, she hadn't returned it to Zhuan Zhuge, never expecting it to become her lifeline today.
"You're lying! Why don't you say you stole my ring?
You're just a habitual liar! Yesterday, you told me Qingying had bad conduct.
In school, you were involved with men from outside and were reported for theft by the whole school.
You're a liar, nothing you say is true. Everyone, don't believe her."
In her desperation, Zhuan Zhuge blurted out what Yin Qing had said about Qingying, hoping to prove that Yin Qing was untrustworthy.
Being exposed so directly by Zhuan Zhuge, Yin Qing's expression changed instantly.
She wondered if Qingying would take advantage of her current predicament to add insult to injury.
"She is my good sister, and I believe her! Don't slander Qingqing's character just to absolve yourself."
Qingying stepped forward, shielding Yin Qing, and rebuked Zhuan Zhuge.