43: Confrontation in the Deacon's Hall

This sudden and dramatic scene was like a giant rock thrown into a lake already turbulent from the Minor Competition, instantly stirring up a huge commotion!

"Oh my god! I didn't see wrong, did I? Senior Brother Lin... was taken to the Deacon Hall by the Law Enforcement Disciples?"

"What exactly happened? Didn't they say he was going to be promoted to the Inner Sect today? How could he be involved in a resource theft case?"

"Could it be... Steward Zhang's previous report was true?"

The news, like a plague, spread wildly throughout the entire Outer Sect area at an alarming speed!

Countless Outer Sect Disciples who had just revered Lin Ye as a legend and idol felt their faith shattered by a ruthless giant hammer the moment they heard this news!

More and more people flocked from all directions towards the Deacon Hall, surrounding the majestic building so tightly that not even a drop of water could pass through. They all wanted to witness firsthand where this sensational case, capable of overturning the entire Outer Sect's structure, would lead!

...Inside the main hall of the Deacon Hall, the atmosphere was suffocatingly solemn.

The cold bluestone floor was polished to a mirror shine, and the tall pillars were carved with ferocious mythical beasts symbolizing the Sect's punishments. An invisible, chilling pressure enveloped every corner of the hall.

Lin Ye was “escorted” into the center of the main hall, with two Law Enforcement Disciples standing like iron towers on either side, completely blocking all his escape routes.

He looked up and saw Elder Liu sitting upright on the high platform. The Elder’s face no longer held the appreciation and gentleness he had shown him three days ago in the quiet room. Instead, it was an unfathomable, icy coldness and majesty, like a ten-thousand-year-old glacial pond.

On the other side of the hall, Steward of the Menial Servants Zhang Ping was kneeling there with a “grieved” expression. When he saw Lin Ye being brought in, a hint of malice and schadenfreude flashed in his eyes.

"Lin Ye!"

From the high platform, Elder Liu’s voice, like a heavy hammer, struck heavily at Lin Ye’s heart, "Do you know your crime?!"

Lin Ye’s body trembled violently. His already “pale” face instantly showed extreme “shock” and “bewilderment”.

"Disciple... Disciple does not know!" He bowed deeply to Elder Liu, his voice trembling slightly from “agitation”, "Disciple has been in the Sect for three months, always diligent and never daring to overstep! I truly do not know... what crime I have committed, to trouble the Senior Brothers of the Law Enforcement Disciples to bring Disciple here!"

His words were sincere and heartfelt, perfectly portraying the bewilderment and innocence of a Disciple who was about to rise to prominence but was suddenly cast into an abyss.

"Hmph! What a 'does not know'!"

Before Elder Liu could speak, Zhang Ping, from the side, suddenly raised his head, staring fixedly at Lin Ye with bloodshot eyes, and angrily rebuked in a hoarse voice: "Lin Ye! Even now, you still dare to quibble! Do you dare to say that your Body Refining cultivation, far exceeding ordinary people, wasn't built up by stealing the Sect's Medicinal Pills and herbs?!"

"You!" Lin Ye seemed to have been hit where it hurt by these words. He suddenly turned his head, looking at Zhang Ping with an expression full of “disbelief” and “anger”, "Steward Zhang! I respect you as a Senior of the Sect, and I have always been respectful towards you! You... why do you slander me with such malicious accusations, defiling my innocence?!"

"Defile your innocence?!" Zhang Ping seemed to have heard a great joke. He suddenly scrambled up from the ground, pointed at Lin Ye’s nose, and said with bitter indignation: "If it weren't for my concern for the Sect's resources, unwilling to let a thief like you completely empty the Outer Sect, why would I risk offending you, this 'future Inner Sect Senior Brother,' to report you?!"

"Here, I have all your evidence of guilt!"

Saying this, he again pointed to the ledger on Elder Liu's desk and shouted loudly to the Disciples watching outside the hall: "All Junior Brothers! Look closely! That ledger was found by me under this thief's bed! It clearly records how, over these past three months, he used his identity as a menial servant as a cover, committed embezzlement, and pocketed resources that rightfully belonged to all of us!"

His words were conclusive, filled with righteous indignation, and instantly ignited the emotions of the Disciples watching outside the hall!

"What? That ledger was really found under his bed?"

"So that's it! So that's it! I said, how could a good-for-nothing suddenly become so strong! Turns out he stole our resources!"

"Shameless thief! Give me back my Medicinal Pills!!!"

In an instant, emotions ran high!

The persona of a Genius who had “accumulated strength over time” was so vulnerable in the face of irrefutable evidence of “embezzlement”! People are always more willing to believe that a good-for-nothing's rise came from following an Evil Path, rather than from his own efforts.

Listening to the curses outside the hall, like a surging tide, Zhang Ping’s face revealed a triumphant, cruel sneer that only he could understand.

"Lin Ye!" From the high platform, Elder Liu spoke again, his voice cold as a knife, "The ledger is here, the witness is here! What else do you have to say?!"

Lin Ye seemed to have been completely stunned by the situation.

He stumbled back two steps, his face ashen, his lips trembling uncontrollably, but he couldn't utter a single word. He just shook his head desperately, his dark eyes filled with the pain of “despair,” “grievance,” and being “unable to defend himself.”

This appearance, to everyone, was the best proof of “a guilty conscience”!

"Elder!" Seeing this, Zhang Ping immediately pressed his advantage. He knelt down again, kowtowed heavily, and said in a sorrowful voice, "The witness and physical evidence are all here! But this thief still uses cunning words and refuses to admit his guilt! Disciple humbly requests Elder to immediately send people to search the wooden hut where he lives!"

"Disciple... Disciple guarantees with his head! Under his dilapidated bed board, there must still be... stolen goods that he hasn't had time to destroy!"

The dagger was revealed once the map was unrolled!

This was his true killing move!

As long as those Medicinal Pills and herbs, which he and Liu Feng had secretly hidden, were found at Lin Ye's residence, then it would be a case of catching the thief with the stolen goods, ironclad evidence!

At that time, even if the Grand Elder came in person, he would definitely not be able to protect this “Sect thief”!

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on Elder Liu on the high platform, awaiting his final judgment.

Elder Liu’s face was so grim it looked like it could drip water.

He took a deep look at Lin Ye, who was still “desperately shaking his head” and full of despair, and a hint of unconcealed disappointment flashed in his eyes.

He slowly rose from his seat.

He raised his hand, seemingly about to issue the final command that would decide Lin Ye’s fate.

Zhang Ping’s heart was in his throat! A cruel, victorious smile was already uncontrollably appearing on his face!

However, at this critical moment—

Lin Ye, who had been “unable to defend himself” all this time, suddenly stopped shaking his head.

He looked up, and on his already “desperate” face, a cold curve slowly formed, filled with mockery and... pity.

"Search?"

He said calmly:

"Of course."

"But... before searching me, shouldn't we first search... this great Steward Zhang, who is so selfless and incorruptible?"