46: The backstage of the inner gate

When Zhang Ping collapsed to the ground, completely losing all will to resist, this thrilling and twisting confrontation seemed to have finally settled.

The truth had come to light.

On the high platform, Elder Liu's face, which had been red with anger, had now regained some of the cold, impartial sternness befitting an Enforcement Elder.

He didn't even bother to glance at Zhang Ping on the ground again, but instead turned around and issued an unquestionable command to the two black-clad Law Enforcement Disciples who had been waiting.

"Zhang Ping, as a Steward of the Menial Servants, you have engaged in embezzlement, stolen Sect resources, and maliciously slandered a fellow Disciple, compounding your crimes!" His voice was like an icicle in the dead of winter, devoid of any emotion. "Seize him for this Elder! Throw him into the Water Prison to await further judgment!"

"Yes!"

The two Law Enforcement Disciples accepted the order, like two falcons pouncing on carrion, instantly appearing beside Zhang Ping, one on each side, their large, iron-like hands clamping down tightly on his shoulders!

"No... don't..."

The icy touch finally startled Zhang Ping awake from his endless despair!

The Water Prison!

That was the most terrifying Forbidden Ground, according to Outer Sect legends! It was said that those imprisoned there could neither live nor die, eventually turning into a puddle of pus in endless torment!

The extreme fear of death, at this moment, was like the most potent stimulant, piercing deeply into his already dead heart, making him erupt with an unprecedented will to survive!

"It's a misunderstanding! Elder! I'm innocent!"

He began to struggle hysterically like a mad pig about to be slaughtered, letting out earth-shattering wails!

"It wasn't me! It wasn't just me! I... I was just a runner! The real mastermind is someone else!"

This sudden turn of events startled everyone.

Even the two Law Enforcement Disciples who were about to drag him away instinctively paused.

Elder Liu's brow furrowed sharply, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes: "Even now, you still want to falsely accuse others and drag them down with you?!"

"It's not a false accusation! It's true!" Zhang Ping grabbed onto this last straw, using all his strength, his hoarse, distorted voice screaming frantically, "Elder, look at that ledger! It... it clearly states that each time, I handed the items over to a 'Senior Brother Liu'!"

"I... I'm just an Outer Sect Steward of the Menial Servants. Even if I had the greatest courage, how would I dare to privately resell Sect resources? All of this... all of this was done under his instruction! It was him! He gave me immense benefits, promising me that I could enter the Inner Sect in the future. I... I was momentarily blinded by greed and committed this grave mistake!"

His desperate accusation shocked everyone present!

Everyone's gaze instinctively refocused on the ledger, presented by Lin Ye, which was like irrefutable evidence!

Senior Brother Liu!

This title instantly changed the nature of the entire incident dramatically!

If before, it was merely a corruption case involving an Outer Sect Steward.

Now, it had implicated a mysterious Inner Sect Disciple hidden behind the scenes!

This was a colossal case, enough to shake the entire Sect's upper echelons!

Elder Liu's face also became unprecedentedly grim. He stared intently at Zhang Ping, his voice as cold as a knife: "Who is this 'Senior Brother Liu' you speak of?! State his name!"

"I..." A trace of extreme fear and hesitation flashed in Zhang Ping's eyes.

He knew that once he spoke that name, there would be no turning back. What awaited him would be the other party's thunderous, relentless revenge!

But if he didn't speak... what awaited him was the chilling Water Prison!

Of two evils, choose the lesser!

"I'll tell! I'll tell!"

Zhang Ping completely gave up, using his last ounce of strength to roar out that name, which was like a clap of thunder!

"It's... it's Liu Feng from the Inner Sect... Senior Brother Liu Feng!"

Liu Feng!

The moment that name burst from Zhang Ping's mouth, Elder Liu on the high platform trembled violently!

And among the crowd outside the hall, an uncontrollable gasp of disbelief erupted!

"What? Senior Brother Liu Feng?"

"Did I hear that right? That Senior Brother Liu Feng, who is so famous even in the Inner Sect?"

"He... he's a Genius ranked in the top fifty of the Inner Sect! And, I heard that his Elder brother is even one of the Sect's Core Disciples! How... how could he be involved in such a dirty affair?"

Lin Ye stood to the side, quietly listening to everything. When he heard the name "Liu Feng," a barely perceptible, icy glint flashed deep within his calm eyes.

So, it was you.

"Silence!"

Elder Liu slammed the gavel, and the powerful Aura instantly quelled all the noise.

His face, at this moment, was extremely grim.

He never expected that this matter would involve that lawless wastrel!

"This matter is of great importance and cannot be judged based on one side's testimony alone." Elder Liu forcibly suppressed the turmoil in his heart and, in an unquestionable tone, ordered the Law Enforcement Disciples beside him, "Take my warrant, proceed immediately to the Inner Sect, and summon Disciple Liu Feng here! Tell him that there is an important case in the Outer Sect that requires his presence for confrontation!"

"Yes!"

A Law Enforcement Disciple accepted the order, transforming into a streak of light, and instantly vanished into the sky.

The entire Deacon Hall once again fell into a suffocating, eerily atmospheric wait... After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

Just as everyone was growing impatient, a young voice, full of arrogance and disdain, echoed like a sudden clap of thunder from outside the Deacon Hall.

"Hmph! I wondered what earth-shattering case it was that dared to send the Law Enforcement Disciples to my Immortal Cave to summon me! Turns out, it's just you ants from the Outer Sect putting on a show!"

Before his words finished, a moon-white figure swaggered through the Deacon Hall's entrance, amidst the awestruck gazes of the Outer Sect Disciples.

The person who arrived was none other than Liu Feng!

Upon entering, he didn't even bother to glance at Elder Liu on the high platform. His arrogant eyes merely swept around disdainfully, as if inspecting his own territory, finally landing on Zhang Ping, who was kneeling on the ground, already trembling with fear.

"Oh? Isn't this Steward Zhang?" A playful, cold curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. "What? Steward Zhang, who is usually so impressive, what has he... done today, kneeling here like a dead dog?"

"Liu Feng!" On the high platform, Elder Liu finally lost his patience, slamming the table and roaring, "Do you still have any respect for me, an Enforcement Elder, in your eyes?! Why do you not bow before this Elder?!"

Only then, as if he had just noticed him, Liu Feng lazily lifted his eyelids and, with extreme perfunctoriness, cupped his hands towards Elder Liu.

"Oh, so it's Elder Liu on duty." He said with a fake smile, "Disciple Liu Feng greets the Elder. May I ask why the Elder has so urgently summoned this Disciple?"

His arrogant, unbridled, and fearless demeanor made all the Outer Sect Disciples outside the hall angry but dare not speak.

Elder Liu's beard trembled with rage, but he still forcibly suppressed his anger, pointed at Zhang Ping on the ground, and said coldly: "Liu Feng! This person accuses you of conspiring with him to resell Sect resources! Do you plead guilty?!"

"Plead guilty?"

Liu Feng seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world. He was first stunned, then, in front of everyone, he burst into loud laughter!

"Hahahahaha! What a joke! What a colossal joke!"

He laughed breathlessly, pointing at Zhang Ping on the ground, his face full of scorn and disdain.

"Elder Liu, are you perhaps joking with me? Him? A lowly Outer Sect Steward of the Menial Servants, as insignificant as an ant, is he worthy of conspiring with me, Liu Feng?"

"Does he have the qualifications?!"

He abruptly reined in his smile, his gaze turning cold and sharp, and a powerful Aura, far surpassing Zhang Ping's, belonging to an Inner Sect Genius, erupted with a roar!

"I'm telling you! I, Liu Feng, don't even know this fawning dog!"

"It's clearly him embezzling on his own, and now that his crimes are exposed, he wants to drag me down and falsely accuse me! Elder, can't you see through such a despicable trick?!"

He refused to admit it!

He even turned the tables!

His arrogance and unyielding attitude made everyone present look sideways!