After what had happened when Ye Huaiyao defeated Yan Jin, the disciples assigned to escort him were extremely wary. Seven or eight of them came, all carrying drawn swords and wearing robes embroidered with protective talismans, surrounding Ye Huaiyao as they escorted him toward the Hall of Punishments.
They were being so cautious because they feared that Ye Huaiyao might knock out the enforcement disciples and escape.
In truth, they were worrying for nothing.
If Ye Huaiyao had wanted to flee, there would have been no reason for him to return after killing Cheng Yuan.
Besides, he considered fleeing to be both humiliating and passive. The Cultivation Dissolving Powder in his body had not yet been completely expelled, so he might not even be able to get very far. It was better to wait, observe the situation, and strike back when the opportunity arose.
On the way to the Hall of Punishments, they unexpectedly ran into Ji Lanying and Yuan Xian, who had just arrived at the mountain.
The two groups stopped when they came face-to-face, both looking somewhat surprised.
After a brief pause, Ye Huaiyao smiled and cupped his hands.
“Young Master Yuan, Young Master Ji.”
“Young Hero Ye.”
After what had happened in the Ghost Wind Forest, when he had been forced to apologise, Ji Lanying’s feelings were inevitably complicated, even though he had not been the one to kneel in the end. Still, Ye Huaiyao was being perfectly courteous, so Ji Lanying naturally couldn’t bring himself to show any hostility.
He returned the salute, then glanced at the disciples surrounding Ye Huaiyao. “You’re…?”
Ye Huaiyao smiled and was just about to answer when one of the disciples beside him spoke first. “Our sect has some internal affairs to deal with. I’m afraid we cannot disclose the details. Please forgive us.”
The disciples of the same sect killing one another, with the reason still unknown, would be a disgraceful scandal in any sect. Naturally, he didn’t want Ye Huaiyao telling outsiders about it. After saying this, he urged, “Ye-shidi, let’s go. The Sect Leader and the elders are still waiting.”
Ye Huaiyao had originally been wondering why Ji Lanying and Yuan Xian would come to the Chensu Sect at a time like this. Once he entered the Hall of Punishments, however, he understood. The Sect Leader of the Chensu Sect, the various Peak Masters, and several elders were all present in the main hall. The seat belonging to the Peak Master of Taixuan Peak was conspicuously empty.
Aside from them, there was only one outsider. Yan Jin.
A cold, sinister smile curled his lips as his sharp gaze fixed itself on Ye Huaiyao.
The moment Ye Huaiyao saw Yan Jin here, he understood Master Jingyin’s intentions.
The man clearly intended to make full use of the situation: punish Ye Huaiyao while simultaneously using the opportunity to curry favour with Yan Jin.
When Ye Huaiyao entered and came to a stop, Master Jingyin gave him a detached glance before waving his hand. “Bring it in.”
Cheng Yuan’s corpse was carried into the hall and placed in the middle, only three steps away from Ye Huaiyao.
When Peak Master Cheng, who was seated at the head of the hall, saw his son’s corpse, his body swayed violently. He then turned toward Ye Huaiyao with hatred blazing in his eyes. Had the disciples beside him not restrained him, he would probably have rushed over and torn Ye Huaiyao apart with his bare hands.
“On the ninth day of this month, Cheng Yuan, a disciple of Taixin Peak, was found dead. Three disciples discovered the body and can testify…”
The two enforcement disciples who had brought Cheng Yuan’s corpse into the hall each produced their records and began reporting how the body had been discovered and the circumstances surrounding his death. Ye Huaiyao stood where he was with his hands behind his back, listening with his eyes half closed.
When the report was finished, Master Jingyin demanded, “Ye Huaiyao, Cheng Yuan died in your tent. The witnesses and physical evidence are all here. Do you plead guilty?”
Ye Huaiyao answered without hesitation, “I plead guilty.”
Master Jingyin knew his temperament well. He had already prepared himself to reprimand Ye Huaiyao, knowing that this young man was particularly skilled at twisting words and arguing his way out of trouble. He hadn’t expected Ye Huaiyao to admit it so readily. That only made him more uneasy.
He glanced discreetly at Yan Jin before saying, “Your master passed away at an early age, but during your years in the sect, all your elders and fellow disciples treated you with care and guidance. Who would have thought that you would grow into someone capable of murdering your own fellow disciple? Do you feel even the slightest shame?”
Ye Huaiyao pondered for a moment before replying, “It is indeed true that I killed him. However, there are circumstances behind the matter. May I ask the Sect Leader to dismiss the outsiders and allow me to explain privately?”
Ever since his master’s death, Ye Huaiyao had already lost much of his attachment to the Chensu Sect, a sect whose atmosphere had long since become corrupted. He had also prepared his own means of retreat, so he wasn’t particularly afraid of this so-called trial. But one matter was one matter.
Cheng Yuan really had been killed by him. It was perfectly reasonable for the Chensu Sect to investigate the matter and determine how it should be handled. Ye Huaiyao had a responsibility to explain the entire sequence of events.
That was simply his own principle for conducting himself. No matter what calculations or ulterior motives others might harbour, they could neither influence nor change him. Thus, from the moment he entered the hall, his attitude had remained serious and cooperative.
Master Jingyin had assumed that Ye Huaiyao would make light of the matter or resort to his usual clever banter. He clearly did not understand Ye Huaiyao’s character.
Unfortunately, while Ye Huaiyao possessed integrity, the same could not necessarily be said of everyone else. As the only “outsider” present, Yan Jin naturally assumed that Ye Huaiyao’s request was directed at him.
He gave a cold laugh. “You’ve already committed the crime of murdering your shixiong. What, is there some even more shameful matter you’re too embarrassed to speak of?”
Master Jingyin had already questioned several of Cheng Yuan’s close associates. From what they had said, it seemed Cheng Yuan had harboured improper intentions toward Ye Huaiyao for some time.
He could roughly guess what had caused the conflict between the two. He assumed that Ye Huaiyao would be unwilling to publicly admit that he had been forced by another man, so he deliberately said,
“Young Master Yan is no outsider. Whatever hidden circumstances there may be, speak freely. However… words alone are not evidence. Whatever you say, you must provide proof.”
At the time, aside from Ye Huaiyao and Cheng Yuan, the only person who knew what had happened was Huang Xia, who was already dead. Where could they possibly find evidence?
Master Jingyin was clearly working together with Yan Jin, forcing Ye Huaiyao into a corner and refusing to leave him any way out.
They thought Ye Huaiyao had been left helpless. Instead, he calmly said, “The evidence is on Cheng-shixiong’s corpse.”
Everyone around him froze.
Ye Huaiyao turned toward the enforcement disciple holding the murder weapon. “Could I trouble Shixiong to take that sword and compare it with Cheng-shixiong’s wound?”
The enforcement disciple was at a loss and looked toward Master Jingyin.
A Peak Master nearby spoke up, “Since we’ve opened a formal trial, we can’t deny him the right to defend himself. His request isn’t unreasonable. Sect Leader, why not let him show us what he means?”
With so many people watching, Master Jingyin had little choice. “Go and compare them.”
Cheng Yuan’s wound was on his back. Two people carefully turned his body over, and the disciple holding the sword walked over. “How would you like us to compare them?” he asked.
Ye Huaiyao hadn’t approached the corpse even once. He merely glanced at it and said calmly, “Everyone, please take a look. The sword I used to stab Cheng Yuan belonged to Huang Xia, a disciple of Taixuan Peak. It is approximately two inches wide. But the wound on Cheng Yuan’s back is a full three inches wide. It could not possibly have been caused by my sword.”
He had merely glanced at the wound, yet he had accurately stated its dimensions. The enforcement disciple measured it with a ruler, then reported to the others, “The wound is indeed as Young Hero Ye described.”
An elder immediately demanded, “Ye Huaiyao, speak plainly. Stop playing games. If that’s the case, why did you just admit that Cheng Yuan died by your hand?”
Ye Huaiyao cupped his hands. “Elder, I am not saying this to deny my crime. I am saying it because I need to find myself a witness.”
From the moment he had entered the hall, Ye Huaiyao had maintained a solemn expression. Only now did the corners of his lips lift slightly, forming a faint, almost mocking smile. His gaze settled on Yan Jin. “A few days ago, in the Ghost Wind Forest, I had the honour of exchanging blows with Young Master Yan…”
That encounter was the humiliation of Yan Jin’s lifetime. His expression immediately darkened. Ye Huaiyao continued calmly, “I happened to notice that Young Master Yan’s sword is approximately three inches wide.”
The moment those words left his mouth, the entire hall erupted into an uproar. Whispers spread in every direction. Yan Jin’s expression changed dramatically. Peak Master Cheng suddenly raised his head, his face turning livid. “What exactly are you people implying?”
Yan Jin said coldly, “What does this have to do with me? Pure nonsense!”
Ye Huaiyao raised an eyebrow and met his gaze. Yan Jin stood high on the steps of the main hall. Ye Huaiyao had to look up at him from below, yet somehow the young man’s presence seemed even more imposing.
“Would Young Master Yan be willing to remove your sword so that we can take a look?”
Yan Jin had never imagined that the matter would somehow come back to him. Now that everyone’s eyes had turned toward him, with Peak Master Cheng staring at him as well, he knew there was no room left for hesitation or denial.
He simply unfastened his sword and slammed it onto the table. “It’s true. My sword is three inches wide. So what? Is it the only broad sword in the world? And why would I want to kill Cheng Yuan?”
“Wrong.” Ye Huaiyao’s expression remained calm, his voice filled with absolute certainty. “Young Master Yan wasn’t trying to kill Cheng Yuan. You were afraid you wouldn’t be able to kill me.”
When Cheng Yuan and I clashed, Young Master Yan should have been nearby, watching everything. And after I killed Cheng Yuan and left, you must have been delighted. You thought you had finally caught me with undeniable evidence. But you were afraid Cheng Yuan might not have been completely dead, and that his death wouldn’t be enough to convict me. So you added another sword strike to his corpse.”
He glanced at Peak Master Cheng. “Young Master Yan’s swordsmanship is excellent, and the additional wound was made without leaving much trace. But if the corpse were dissected and the wounds carefully examined, it should be possible to tell that the injuries were caused by two overlapping sword strikes. Of course, Peak Master Cheng probably wouldn’t be willing to allow that.”
Yan Jin stared at Ye Huaiyao. His expression was rigid and icy. To anyone watching, it appeared that he was desperately suppressing his anger, preparing to refute Ye Huaiyao’s accusations. But inside, Yan Jin’s mind had gone completely blank.
He guessed everything. How had he figured it out?
A chill suddenly traveled up Yan Jin’s spine. He didn’t know when it had happened, but the junior disciple of the Chensu Sect whom he had once regarded with contempt had somehow given him an inexplicable sense of fear. As though Ye Huaiyao could see through everything, as though there was nothing he couldn’t do.
The Chensu Sect might not have been capable of doing anything to Yan Jin. But Yan Jin’s action had been completely unnecessary. He had been so desperate to kill Ye Huaiyao that he had lost his judgment.
Cheng Yuan had already been dead. Even without that final sword strike, Ye Huaiyao was still the murderer. Yet Yan Jin had been unable to rest easy and had gone out of his way to add another wound. In doing so, he had only dragged himself into the matter.
After all, he had maintained ties with the Chensu Sect for some time. Seeing Cheng Yuan lying unconscious and not only refusing to save him but actually finishing him off. There was no way to justify such an act.
Even Master Jingyin frowned inwardly.
To be perfectly honest, Yan Jin’s arrogant and overbearing personality was enough to make anyone dislike him. If not for the Yan family standing behind him, even Master Jingyin himself would have liked to teach this conceited young man a lesson. Yan Jin had repeatedly shown him open contempt.
Ye Huaiyao and Yan Jin… Neither of them was easy to deal with, and the two happened to harbour a grudge against each other. Perhaps it would be better to secretly eliminate Yan Jin and then pin the blame on Ye Huaiyao. Two problems solved with one stroke.
But before that, Master Jingyin still needed to maintain a friendly facade toward Yan Jin. Otherwise, if the Yan family became enraged, the consequences would be troublesome.
As Master Jingyin silently plotted and weighed his options, a disciple suddenly hurried into the hall. He rushed to Master Jingyin’s side and whispered into his ear, “Sect Leader… the Xuantian Tower’s Law Sage… he has brought the Command Envoy and the heads of the various divisions with him. They’ve already arrived… they’re almost at the foot of the mountain!”
The disciple’s voice trembled as he spoke. Even he could hardly believe what he was saying. The Law Sage had always lived in seclusion, rarely appearing in public. In the eighteen years since the death of the Illustrious Sage, he had never once stepped beyond the mountain gate.
The fact that he had appeared here at all was already astonishing. And the people accompanying Yan Chen were no less extraordinary. Every single one of them was a renowned figure in their own right.
What kind of extraordinary fortune had befallen the Chensu Sect? Or what kind of earth-shattering disaster had they brought upon themselves? What could possibly have happened to make so many of these great figures descend upon the sect at the same time?
