42: Turn the tables on them

Stepping out of the abandoned woodshed and once again basking in the morning sunlight, Disciple Lin Ye's "frail" face showed no hint of abnormality.

He carefully hid the potentially fatal "evidence" close to his body, then tidied his slightly disheveled clothes and walked unhurriedly towards the Deacon Hall.

His steps were steady, his gaze calm, and that composure formed an extremely strange, yet perfectly harmonious, contrast with his "weak" appearance at this moment... Meanwhile, at the Outer Sect Deacon Hall.

This was the core center of power for the entire Outer Sect, responsible for managing Disciple task assignments, resource distribution, and most importantly—punishments!

Normally, it was always bustling with people coming and going. But today, it seemed unusually solemn.

Just as Lin Ye had left the utility yard and gone to the abandoned woodshed to "fabricate evidence," a figure had already rushed into the Deacon Hall's main entrance in a great hurry.

It was none other than the Steward of the Menial Servants, Zhang Ping!

At this moment, Zhang Ping had lost all his usual arrogance. His face was pale, his eyes filled with "struggle" and "pain," presenting a sorrowful appearance of being loyal but forced to uphold justice against his own.

As soon as he entered, he dropped to his knees in the center of the hall with a "thud"!

"Disciple... Zhang Ping, Steward of the Outer Sect Menial Servants, has... has an important matter to report! I beg Elder to uphold justice for the thousands of Disciples of our Outer Sect!"

Tears streamed down his face, his voice hoarse and filled with indignation, instantly attracting the attention of everyone in the hall.

The one on duty in the Deacon Hall today happened to be Elder Liu, who had highly praised Lin Ye during the Minor Competition.

He was sitting upright on the dais, eyes closed in meditation, but upon hearing the cry, he slowly opened his eyes. His deep gaze fell upon Zhang Ping, and his brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

"Zhang Ping?" His voice carried an inherent authority without anger, "As the Steward of the Menial Servants, you are not in your place. What kind of decorum is this, running here weeping and wailing! What is the important matter? Speak quickly!"

"Yes! Yes!" Zhang Ping kowtowed heavily, then raised his face, which was covered with "indignation," and said in a heartbroken tone: "Elder! Disciple... Disciple wishes to report! I report Lin Ye, a top ten Disciple from this Minor Competition, for embezzlement, stealing Sect resources for his personal Cultivation!"

Boom!!!

As soon as these words were uttered, it was like a giant rock had been thrown into a calm lake; the entire Deacon Hall instantly erupted in an uproar!

The other Deacon Disciples in the hall were all aghast, looking at Zhang Ping as if they had seen a ghost.

Reporting Lin Ye?

The Body Refining Genius who had just been personally praised by the Grand Elder as "accumulating strength and appearing foolish"?

Had this Zhang Ping gone mad?!

Even Elder Liu, on the high dais, for the first time, showed a hint of obvious astonishment on his usually unperturbed face. His gaze sharpened, and a powerful pressure instantly enveloped Zhang Ping!

"Zhang Ping! Do you know what you are saying?!" His voice already carried a hint of icy coldness, "Slandering a fellow Disciple, especially slandering a future pillar of the Sect, what crime should that be? Do you know the consequences?!"

Under that immense pressure, Zhang Ping's body trembled violently like a sieve, but he still gritted his teeth, and with trembling hands, pulled out a ledger he had prepared from his embrace!

"Disciple... Disciple dares not speak a single false word!" He held the ledger high above his head, his voice hoarse as he shouted, "Disciple here has... has all his criminal evidence! This was found by Disciple under his bed at the risk of my life! It clearly records the time and quantity of every theft of Medicinal Pills and medicinal herbs over the past three months! Please, Elder, investigate thoroughly!"

"If there is a single false word, Disciple is willing... willing to be struck by lightning and have my Divine Soul extinguished!"

His resolute posture in making such a vow shocked everyone present.

Elder Liu's expression also became unprecedentedly solemn. He gestured to a Law Enforcement Disciple beside him.

The Disciple immediately understood, stepped down from the dais, retrieved the ledger, and respectfully presented it.

Elder Liu took the ledger and slowly opened the first page.

With just one glance, his deep pupils suddenly contracted!

Although the handwriting in the ledger was deliberately imitated to be crooked, the youthful and immature quality belonging to a young man was mimicked perfectly!

"First day of the seventh month, night, snuck into the pharmacy, took three bottles of Low Grade Qi Condensation Powder..."

"Eighth day of the seventh month, clear, in the woodshed, intercepted half a catty of Body Tempering grass..."

Each "crime" was vividly recorded on the paper. Time, place, and quantity were all clearly documented, and even the weather at the time was noted, making it seem incredibly real!

Elder Liu turned page after page, and his face, too, gradually became as dark as water.

This explanation... it seemed to explain Lin Ye's incredible source of strength even better than "accumulating strength"!

How could a waste with inferior Aptitude, without the accumulation of massive resources, possibly Cultivate such an impenetrable physique in just three short months?!

"Hmph!"

After a long while, Elder Liu heavily closed the ledger with a crisp "snap," making everyone below jump.

"This matter is of great importance and cannot be judged rashly." His voice was cold, devoid of any emotion, "Someone!"

"Disciple is here!" Two Law Enforcement Disciples, dressed in black and exuding a formidable aura, flashed out from behind the hall and knelt on one knee.

"Take my token, immediately proceed to the Outer Sect, and bring Lin Ye... back to the Deacon Hall!" Elder Liu's voice was filled with unquestionable authority, "Remember, it is to 'bring' him! Before his guilt is determined, do not be rude, but if there is resistance... you may kill him on the spot!"

"Yes!"

The two Law Enforcement Disciples took their orders, their figures blurring into two black shadows, instantly disappearing outside the main hall... At this moment, Lin Ye was walking unhurriedly along the bluestone path leading to the Deacon Hall.

His face still wore that simple, honest smile, full of anticipation for the future.

Around him, many Outer Sect Disciples, upon seeing him, enthusiastically greeted him, their words filled with envy and flattery.

"Senior Brother Lin, congratulations! You're being promoted to the Inner Sect today!"

"Yes, Senior Brother Lin, please take good care of us Junior Brothers in the future!"

Lin Ye smiled and nodded in response to each, his approachable demeanor earning him much goodwill.

However, just as he was about to reach the tall archway at the entrance of the Deacon Hall—

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Two black figures, filled with a murderous aura, descended like ghosts from the sky, one on each side, perfectly blocking his path!

A cold, powerful aura, far surpassing that of ordinary Outer Sect Disciples, instantly locked onto Lin Ye!

This sudden scene startled all the surrounding Disciples, who retreated in horror.

"Law Enforcement Team?! It's the Deacon Hall's Law Enforcement Team!"

"They... what are they stopping Senior Brother Lin for?!"

Lin Ye's simple, honest smile instantly froze. He looked at the two expressionless, cold-eyed men in black before him, and his face appropriately showed a well-timed "bewilderment" and "unease."

"Two... two Senior Brothers, you... this is..."

One of the Law Enforcement Disciples, expressionless, pulled out a black token engraved with the character " law enforcement" (Law Enforcement) from his embrace and said coldly:

"Lin Ye! The Deacon Hall suspects you are involved in a case of stolen Sect resources! Elder has commanded that you immediately return with us to accept investigation!"

"Come with us!"

As his words fell, giving Lin Ye no chance to explain, the two Law Enforcement Disciples flanked him, one on each side. One of them made an 'inviting' gesture with an expressionless face, saying in a cold tone, "Junior Brother Lin, please." Although there was no direct physical contact, their unyielding stance clearly meant for him to "walk in" himself. Lin Ye could only "reluctantly" take a step, and under the "escort" of the two Law Enforcement Disciples, and the horrified gazes of the Outer Sect Disciples, he walked directly into the main gate of the Deacon Hall, which symbolized punishment and authority.