35: Chapter 35 Detained

The two of them returned to the Haotian Sect without encountering any obstacles along the way.

Just as they returned to Xiahou Peak, two figures rushed out and hugged Xiang Tian tightly: "Xiang Tian, you're finally back!"

On the left was Xiahou Yun's younger sister, Xiahou Yu, and on the right was actually Duanmu Hongdie!

Xiahou Yun's brows instantly furrowed, and her expression darkened.

It was one thing for her sister to be close to Xiang Tian, but as her Junior Sister, why was Duanmu Hongdie also so intimate with him?

Duanmu Hongdie felt the icy gaze coming from behind her, and her body suddenly stiffened.

She had been too excited just now and forgot to hide her relationship with Xiang Tian. Now that she had been caught red-handed by Xiahou Yun, her legs went weak from fear. With a "thud," she knelt before Xiahou Yun: "Senior Sister Xiahou, please forgive me!"

She was well aware of Xiahou Yun's status in the Inner Sect; she was someone whose word was law. Being so close to her "fiancé" was like pulling teeth from a tiger's mouth!

Xiang Tian felt a chill down his spine and stole a glance at Xiahou Yun.

On the way back, her jealousy had already been brewing intensely. He feared she was about to explode now, and she might actually be ruthless toward Duanmu Hongdie!

"Xiao Yun, let me explain!" Xiang Tian quickly spoke up.

"I'm not listening to your explanations; not a single word out of your mouth is the truth!" Xiahou Yun coldly interrupted him, turning to look at Duanmu Hongdie. "Junior Sister Duanmu, you tell me, what exactly is going on?"

Duanmu Hongdie didn't dare hide anything and had to recount everything about how she and Xiang Tian had formed a bond because of the hehuan grass, including details like Dual Cultivation for healing and their private intimacy, speaking until her Face was flushed red.

"hehuan grass again?" Xiahou Yun's brow furrowed even tighter, the fury in her eyes almost ready to erupt.

She turned to look at Xiang Tian and, without a word, her fists rained down on him with a flurry of strikes.

"Ah! Stop hitting me, stop hitting me!" Xiang Tian covered his head and begged for mercy, and before long, he was beaten black and blue.

Xiahou Yun gave a cold snort. Having vented most of her anger, she turned and entered the cultivation room to begin seclusion.

She needed to calm down; otherwise, she was truly afraid she wouldn't be able to stop herself from beating this philandering scoundrel Xiang Tian to death.

"Senior Sister Xiahou... actually didn't blame me?" Duanmu Hongdie was stunned for a moment, then patted her chest and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"How did she not blame you? Look at my Face!" Xiang Tian pointed aggrievedly at his bruised and swollen appearance.

"Xiang Tian, if Senior Sister Xiahou really wanted to beat you to death, would you still be standing here talking to me?" Duanmu Hongdie rolled her eyes. "Senior Sister just wanted to vent her anger; she doesn't actually blame you in her heart."

Xiahou Yu also nodded: "That's right, my sister has a sharp tongue but a soft heart. If she were truly angry, she wouldn't have finished just by hitting you a few times!"

"Hehe, true." Xiang Tian rubbed his chin, his gaze becoming suggestive. "Having not seen each other for so many days, did you two miss me?"

Without waiting for their response, he scooped up Xiahou Yu and Duanmu Hongdie and strode into a cultivation room: "Just as well, I missed you both too. Let's 'catch up' properly!"

Three days later, Xiang Tian walked out of the cultivation room feeling refreshed, his entire aura much smoother.

The energy that had been suppressed for so long was finally completely released.

"Oh right!" He suddenly slapped his forehead, remembering a major matter. "I took on five Sect missions before, and I haven't turned them in yet!"

He had almost forgotten about this while being hunted by the Grand Elder and the others; there were still five missions he hadn't finished.

Xiang Tian hurried to the mission counter and handed over the five completed mission tokens: "Steward, I'm turning in missions!"

The steward took the tokens, checked the records, and said indifferently: "Five missions completed, reward: 500 points. Five missions incomplete; according to Sect rules, 100 points will be deducted. Final total: 400 points."

"What? Points are deducted for not doing missions?" Xiang Tian rolled his eyes; this rule was too much of a trap! "

Fine, exchange all the points for Spirit Stones."

"400 points for 40,000 Spirit Stones." The steward handed over a Storage Pouch.

Xiang Tian took the Storage Pouch and secretly complained: after doing missions for so many days, I only got 40,000 Spirit Stones. It would be faster to just go and rob someone!

He swore he would never do these thankless Sect missions again; they were a pure waste of time!

Just as he walked out of the mission counter with his Spirit Stones, an unpleasant voice drifted over: "Xiang Tian? I didn't expect you would still dare to show your Face!"

Xiang Tian looked up and saw Yang Zhi walking toward him with two followers.

This fellow had been dealt with by him before, but now he had actually sought refuge with the Inner Sect's eldest Senior Brother, Liu Bing, and his cultivation had improved quite a bit. It seemed he was doing quite well for himself.

"Hmm? Your cultivation has improved a bit, but unfortunately, you're still just an experience pack." Xiang Tian sized up Yang Zhi.

Yang Zhi didn't yet know that his backer, the Grand Elder, was dead. He actually dared to act all high and mighty in front of him; wasn't this just asking for humiliation?

Slap!

Xiang Tian unceremoniously slapped Yang Zhi across the Face. The crisp sound made the surrounding Disciples freeze in shock.

[Congratulations to the host, Face-slapping successful! Cultivation increased by one level, reward: 100 face-slapping points!]

Xiang Tian felt a secret thrill: This is what I call satisfying! If a few more like this come along, he'll be able to Breakthrough to the Supernatural Realm soon!

Yang Zhi clutched his swollen Face, a look of disbelief on his Face: "You... you actually dare to hit me?"

These past few days, he had been highly respected in the Inner Sect while following Liu Bing. Who would dare treat him like this?

"What's wrong with hitting you? I'm going to kill you!" Xiang Tian's gaze turned cold as he drew his qingling sword and charged in front of Yang Zhi in a flash.

"What are you trying to do? If you kill me, you won't survive either! I am the eldest Senior Brother's man!" Yang Zhi retreated in fear.

"Eldest Senior Brother? You mean Liu Bing?" Xiang Tian sneered. "Unfortunately, his backer is already dead. Do you think he can still protect you?"

As soon as he finished speaking, the qingling sword pierced through Yang Zhi's chest.

"This is bad! Yang Zhi has been killed!"

"Someone come quickly! Xiang Tian has killed someone within the Sect!"

"Quick, go tell the eldest Senior Brother, his subordinate has been killed by Xiang Tian!"

"..."

The surrounding Disciples instantly erupted into a commotion, crying out in alarm.

Xiang Tian didn't care at all. He picked up Yang Zhi's Storage Pouch, opened it, and couldn't help but curl his lip: "So poor! Only 100,000 Spirit Stones, some grade-two Medicinal Pills, and a few pieces of women's clothing..."

It seemed Liu Bing was only good to Yang Zhi on the surface and hadn't actually given him anything of real value.

He had originally wanted to use this opportunity to wait for a few more blind Disciples to deliver experience, but instead of experience, he had attracted the people from the Enforcement Hall.

"Who is causing trouble within the Sect?" A cold, stern voice rang out as three Enforcement Hall Disciples approached.

"Oh no, it's Senior Brother Wang He!"

"It's over, it's over. Xiang Tian has hit a brick wall! This Wang He is famously rigid; he doesn't give Face to anyone!"

"Killing someone publicly within the Sect—even if Senior Sister Xiahou Yun pleads for him, it likely won't help!"

"Xiang Tian is likely done for this time!"

"..."

The surrounding Disciples whispered among themselves, all feeling that Xiang Tian was doomed this time.

Wang He was a Core Disciple of the Enforcement Hall, known for his impartial and iron-faced enforcement of the law. Disciples called him the "Living Yama." With the Wang family backing him, his status in the Sect was not low.

Xiang Tian raised an eyebrow. This Wang He indeed looked difficult to deal with, but he wasn't afraid: "Senior Brother Wang, this was self-defense. Yang Zhi wanted to kill me, and I was merely fighting back."

"Regardless of your reasons, killing someone within the Sect is a violation of the rules. Come with me!" Wang He said expressionlessly, taking out a pair of specially made shackles. "If you are innocent, I will naturally let you leave. If you are guilty, do not blame me for handling it according to the law!"

Xiang Tian's heart sank. The Enforcement Hall was no good place; even if one were innocent, they might be tormented until a layer of skin was stripped off.

But if he resisted now, it would only add to his crimes.

"Do not resist; those who resist will have their crimes doubled!" Two Enforcement Hall Disciples stepped forward and placed the shackles on Xiang Tian's hands.

These shackles were made of special Materials that could suppress a Cultivator's spiritual power. Xiang Tian instantly felt his entire body lose its strength.

"Take him away!" Wang He ordered, and the two Disciples escorted Xiang Tian toward the Enforcement Hall.

The surrounding Disciples shook their heads, all feeling that Xiang Tian's prospects were grim.

After being taken into the Enforcement Hall, Xiang Tian wasn't immediately tortured. Instead, he was taken to an interrogation room.

Wang He sat behind a desk, holding a document, and asked without looking up: "Speak, why did you kill Yang Zhi?"

"He moved first to try and kill me; I was merely acting in legitimate self-defense." Xiang Tian sat in a chair to the side, his tone calm.

"Legitimate self-defense?" Wang He looked up, his gaze icy. "According to witnesses, you were the one who initiated the assault and then directly delivered the killing blow. What kind of legitimate self-defense is that? According to the laws of the Haotian Sect, those who commit intentional murder within the Sect shall be imprisoned for fifty years and expelled from the Sect upon completion of the term!"

"I am innocent. If you insist on convicting me, are you not afraid of the consequences?" Xiang Tian frowned. This Wang He was clearly trying to favor Yang Zhi, or rather, using this opportunity to suppress him.

"Consequences? My Enforcement Hall acts according to the law; what consequences could there be?" Wang He sneered. "Unless you can provide evidence to prove your innocence, in three days, I will throw you into the great dungeon for fifty years!"

"Fine, then I'll make a bet with you." Xiang Tian suddenly smiled. "I bet I won't be imprisoned for fifty years, and your judgment will be completely useless."

"You're very confident?" Wang He raised an eyebrow. "Fine, I'll bet with you! If you really can escape this fifty-year imprisonment, I will take my own life in front of you!"

"It's a deal!"

"Someone, lock him in a temporary cell first. We will handle him in three days!" Wang He commanded.