Zhou Huang looked over. “What’s wrong, Zhao Dahe? Isn’t it great to get him out now?”

　　“Elder Zhou, I wish to take a look at this medicinal garden before he leaves to ensure nobody has messed with it.”

　　“Messed with it?” Zhou Huang waved his arm with impatience. “Your imagination really runs wild, who dares to mess with a medicinal garden? He has to be absolutely out of his mind to even think about doing it!”

　　Chu Li turned his gaze to Cui Da.

　　With his already pale face turning whiter, Cui Da quickly answered, “Zhao Dahe, you can’t blame me for what happened to you. It wasn’t me who harmed you. You accidentally crippled Senior Brother Qin’s martial arts and you have to own up to your own actions, so don’t try to bring me into it!”

　　“Oh…” Zhou Huang’s round eyes switched back and forth at the two. It seemed both of them were linked to the matter. How interesting!

　　Chu Li responded, “Senior Brother Cui, what are you anxious about? I’m not talking about anything else!”

　　“You’re trying to frame me!” Cui Da shouted. “In all honesty, I may not be good at planting Spirit Medicine but I have worked conscientiously without goofing off, keeping the Spirit Medicine Nursery in order!”

　　Chu Li shook his head. “Keeping it in order? Is this what you mean by keeping it in order?”

　　He pointed at the Spirit Medicine Nursery. “Look at where you worked the hoe, at least half of it still has weeds. It’s not that you’re unintelligent but you’re absent-minded. All your thoughts are wasted on deviance!”

　　Cui Da snorted. “I am attentive!”

　　Chu Li shook his head. “In the wrong intention. You knew I would be coming to Spirit Medicine Nursery so you try to set me up by leaving the medicinal garden in shambles!”

　　He read his thoughts through Cui Da’s mind. Cui Da was instructed to do so.

　　To be able to predict he would take over Cui Da, Qin Huaichuan really took everyone into account. He predicted he would be punished, he predicted Xu Jingya would not advance to the meal hall, he even predicted Cui Da would leave Spirit Medicine Nursery in the end and enter the meal hall. This was a display of outstanding wisdom.

　　“Nonsense, how am I trying to set you up?” Cui Da cried in a panic.

　　Zhou Huang frowned. “What did you do?”

　　Chu Li added, “Elder Zhou, just let Cui Da say and let Cui Er go!”

　　“No!” Cui Da shouted.

　　Chu Li smiled. “Why not? You two brothers share everything, it makes no difference whether you leave or he leaves. You’re the eldest, you should leave good things to your younger brother!”

　　“No!” Cui Da shook his head.

　　At that point, Zhou Huang would be an idiot not to realize that something was amiss. Finally trusting Chu Li, he frowned. “Cui Da, what did you do?”

　　He did not believe Chu Li in the beginning because he felt Cui Da would not be that foolish nor have the guts.

　　Chu Li pointed at the Spirit Medicine. “Elder Zhou, if my guess is right, these Spirit Medicine were messed with. The moment I take over, I probably wouldn’t be able to harvest fifty Golden Glow Grass, let alone five hundred!”

　　“Mm?” Zhou Huang looked at Cui Da with a hardened expression. “Cui Da, is this true?”

　　“No, don’t listen to his lies. This is a baseless attack on me!” Cui Da waved his arms in haste. “Elder Zhou, I wouldn’t dare!”

　　“Well, Elder Zhou can be the judge of that,” Chu Li dully said. “The truth will be plain to see just by pulling it out!”

　　“You?!” Cui Da threw him a furious look.

　　Zhou Huang pushed open the railing and walked in. He plucked a Spirit Medicine and noticed half the roots gone. It was obviously dug up by the roots.

　　Golden Glow Grass was a delicate spirit herb that was hard to nurture. The herb at this current health with half its vitality lost would definitely wilt.

　　Cui Da’s face was as white as a sheet at the sight of the uprooted Golden Glow Grass.

　　Zhou Huang bent over to pull out five more Golden Glow Grass. All of them had their roots destroyed.

　　He took a few steps forward and pulled another five by a ridge. The Golden Glow Grass there were not spared from this fate too.

　　Zhou Huang lifted his head to stare at Cui Da with a closed-up expression. His round yet tiny eyes glimmered a cold spark as he glared at Cui Da.

　　He regarded these spirit herbs as his children and his life. He would anguish over the death of a spirit herb and now the fact that Cui Da has weeded these Golden Glow Grass to death in this medicinal garden; it tore his heart apart.

　　“Elder Zhou, I…” Cui Da stammered.

　　“Protectors!” Zhou Huang yelled.

　　Two middle-aged men glided over and bowed in fist salute.

　　“Take him down!” Zhou Huang pointed at Cui Da, glaring at him while breathing through his clenched teeth. “Escort him to the torture chamber. Please tell them he was up to no good and has intentionally destroyed the Spirit Medicine Nursery. Let the torture chamber know not to hold back in punishment!”

　　“Yes.” The two middle-aged men motioned a fist salute and went over to Cui Da.

　　Cui Da fell onto his knees and cried, “Elder Zhou, I was wrong, I was wrong. Please forgive me this once, Elder Zhou. It is my first offense, please spare me this once!”

　　Being sent to the torture chamber with this crime, he would be crippled of his martial arts and banished from Great Light Peak!

　　Zhou Huang gritted his teeth. “If I spare you, who will spare these dead Golden Glow Grass!”

　　“Elder Zhou, out of respect for my parents, please show me mercy!” Cui Da pitifully begged with agony. With a voice nearing tears, he continued, “I will be too embarrassed to face them if I’m banished from Great Light Peak!”

　　“How dare you bring up your parents. You have brought shame to them!” Zhou Huang barked, “No, I will not forgive you!”

　　“Elder Zhou, my parents will kill me if I’m banished from Great Light Peak!” Cui Da exclaimed.

　　Zhou Huang hesitated before he shook his head. “You have committed a heinous crime and must be punished severely!”

　　Chu Li gently coughed and gestured a fist salute. “Elder Zhou, if I could say something?”

　　“Speak!” Zhou Huang impatiently said, “Don’t worry, I will serve you justice and punish him!”

　　Chu Li shook his head. “I would like to plead with Elder Zhou.”

　　“Mm?” Zhou Huang was stunned.

　　He looked at Chu Li in disbelief. Zhao Dahe would have fallen victim if it were not for his quick wits yet he was pleading on Cui Da’s behalf. This was not expected.

　　Chu Li replied, “I’m pleading on his behalf because he was egged on by someone else and lost his ability to tell from right to wrong. A young man like him should be given the chance to correct his mistake!”

　　“Even if he lost the ability to tell from right to wrong, he shouldn’t destroy the Golden Glow Grass!” Zhou Huang grunted.

　　Chu Li answered, “I can save these Golden Glow Grass.”

　　“You can save them?” Zhou Huang paused before widening his eyes. “What a huge-flown statement but you have to own up to your words! Can you really save them?”

　　“Even if I can’t save them all, recovering more than half shouldn’t be a problem.” Chu Li nodded.

　　“Through what method?”

　　“A special secret technique that I can’t tell you.” Chu Li shook his head.

　　“Fine!” Zhou Huang patted his shoulder. “I’ll let him off if you can save them!”

　　Chu Li nodded and smiled. “You’ll know by tomorrow morning.”

　　“Okay, Cui Da will remain in custody here and if the Golden Glow Grass remain alive tomorrow, his life will be spared!” Zhou Huang snorted and gave Cui Da who was kneeled on the ground the evil eye. “Get up now, don’t make a fool of yourself!”

　　“Thank you, Elder Zhou,” Cui Da immediately said.

　　“Your life will depend on Zhao Dahe!” Zhou Huang snorted. “Don’t you think it’ll end well if these Golden Glow Grass die!”