52: Chapter 52 Confession Leads to Leniency

"Longxing Sect, Chen Jinzhong!"

When these five words left Chen Fan's mouth, the two Longxing Sect Disciples blocking the way both shuddered.

One of them stepped forward, using the lantern light to carefully identify Chen Fan's face.

In the next moment, a look of disbelief appeared on his face, which then turned into overwhelming rage.

"Chen Jinzhong?!"

"You traitor, you have the nerve to come back!"

The other Disciple also reacted, his long sword clearing its scabbard with a "clang." The tip of the sword pointed directly at Chen Fan's throat as he shouted harshly, "Take him!"

Chen Fan did not resist.

He just stood there quietly, letting the cold blade press against his skin.

The first Disciple didn't move to strike but turned and rushed into the inn, shouting, "Vice Sect Leader! Chen Jinzhong is back! That traitor is back!"

His voice pierced through the inn's doors and traveled far into the silent night.

Soon, a series of hurried and heavy footsteps came from inside the inn.

A middle-aged man wearing the black martial arts attire of the Longxing Sect, with a resolute face and an imposing presence, strode out. Behind him followed three or four Disciples in the same attire.

Vice Sect Leader, Master Liu Cang.

Chen Jinzhong's Master.

The moment Master Liu Cang stepped out the door, his gaze locked onto Chen Fan.

In those eyes, there was no joy of reunion, only the suppressed fury of a volcano before eruption.

The surrounding air seemed to grow heavy because of his appearance.

Everyone was silent as a cicada in winter.

"Rebellious Disciple."

Master Liu Cang squeezed those two words through his teeth.

He didn't waste another breath, simply waving his hand sharply at the Disciples on either side.

"Drag him in!"

Immediately, four Disciples stepped forward, roughly grabbing Chen Fan's arms and dragging him into the inn's backyard.

Chen Fan still did not resist.

He knew this beating was unavoidable.

He sighed inwardly; he had avoided the pain of the Soul but could not escape the pain of the flesh.

Chen Jinzhong, you bastard, you died too quickly, leaving me to take the blame for your mistakes...

Chen Fan cursed a bit in his heart.

In the backyard, Master Liu Cang grabbed an arm-thick White Wax Wood Staff from the weapon rack—a hard staff that Disciples usually used for practice.

"Kneel!"

Master Liu Cang gave a thunderous shout.

Pushed by the Disciples, Chen Fan's knees buckled, and he knelt heavily on the cold bluestone floor.

"Vice Sect Leader, why do you need to do this yourself for such a traitor?" a Disciple stepped forward to advise.

"Get lost!"

Master Liu Cang pushed him aside, his eyes bloodshot as he stared intently at the kneeling Chen Fan.

"Our Longxing Sect stands in the Jianghu through our movement techniques, and we value 'loyalty' above all else! In my life, I, Master Liu Cang, have never taught a Disciple who associates with demons!"

"You are the greatest shame of my life!"

Before his voice faded, he raised the White Wax Wood Staff high and, with the sound of breaking wind, lashed it fiercely across Chen Fan's back!

"Crack!"

A sharp sound!

Intense pain instantly exploded from his back.

This strike didn't use any Internal Energy, but it was delivered with raw strength, tearing his skin and flesh.

Chen Fan let out a muffled groan, his body trembling violently, yet he kept his back straight and did not fall.

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

"Crack!"

The staff in Master Liu Cang's hand fell one after another, like raindrops.

Every strike contained overwhelming rage and disappointment.

In the backyard, only the dull sound of the staff hitting flesh and Master Liu Cang's heavy breathing remained.

The surrounding Longxing Sect Disciples all lowered their heads, not daring to look. Many of them had received guidance from Chen Jinzhong and felt a mix of emotions.

Chen Fan gritted his teeth, letting the intense pain spread through his limbs and bones.

He felt as if his bones were about to be shattered.

This body of an 8th Grade Martial Artist seemed so fragile under the pure beating.

However, compared to the pain of his Soul being torn apart at death, this bit of physical suffering seemed like nothing.

After more than a dozen strikes, Master Liu Cang seemed tired. He leaned on the staff, breathing heavily, his forehead covered in sweat.

"Speak!"

"Why did you betray your sect and join those demons of the White Lotus Sect?!"

The opportunity had come.

Chen Fan lay on the ground, his back a bloody mess.

He struggled to lift his head and, in a weak yet regretful tone, rasped, "Master... Disciple... Disciple did not betray the sect!"

"I was framed!"

He suddenly started coughing, which aggravated his wounds, and he spat a mouthful of bloody foam onto the ground.

"Back then, when I was being hunted by the nobility, it was... it was the White Lotus Sect enchantress Su Xin who saved me... She used sweet words to deceive me, saying... saying the Righteous Path is hypocritical and the sect is heartless..."

"I was confused for a moment and bewitched by her, which... which led to this great mistake!"

"But in my heart, I never forgot the sect's teachings! I never thought of becoming an enemy of the sect!"

These words were half-true and half-false.

Yet they perfectly struck the weakness of Master Liu Cang, the Master in Chen Jinzhong's memory.

Protective and sentimental.

Sure enough, hearing these words, Master Liu Cang's full-blown rage was mostly extinguished, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over it.

He looked at his pitiful Disciple on the ground and could no longer raise the staff.

"Is what you say... all true?"

"Every word is true!" Chen Fan struggled, wanting to kowtow. "I came back this time to plead for forgiveness from the sect and to expose the White Lotus Sect's conspiracy!"

"While in the White Lotus Sect, I learned of a massive secret!"

Master Liu Cang's expression finally changed completely.

He dropped the staff, stepped forward, and asked in a deep voice, "What secret?"

Panting heavily, Chen Fan recounted everything—how the White Lotus Sect's assassination of Captain Li Zhong was to lure out the Prince's Mansion experts, intended to disrupt the entire Xiushan Prefecture and shake the Foundation of the Great Shang, and even that a 5th Grade expert was coming to assist the plan.

With every word he spoke, Master Liu Cang's expression grew more solemn.

When Chen Fan finished, the entire backyard was dead silent.

Everyone was shocked into silence by this terrifying conspiracy.

The Great Shang had eighteen prefectures in total; currently, eight were in turmoil with rebel armies emerging.

If Xiushan Prefecture also fell into chaos, that would make nine, leaving half the empire unstable, which would directly shake the Foundation of the imperial court.

Master Liu Cang was silent for a long time before slowly walking to Chen Fan and personally helping him up from the ground.

"Get up."

His action made the surrounding Disciples breathe a sigh of relief.

"Follow me." Master Liu Cang's face was still grim, but the killing intent was gone. "Tell Alliance Leader Song exactly what you just told me!"

A moment later.

The meeting hall of Fuwei Inn.

Supported by two Disciples, Chen Fan stood in the center of the hall.

In the main seat sat a middle-aged scholar in a green robe with an ancient sword on his back.

He looked elegant, with an aura as deep as a pool and as steady as a mountain. Just sitting there, he gave off an overwhelming sense of majesty.

Thunderclap Sword, Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing.

Seated on both sides of the hall were six or seven Sect Heads or Elders from different sects, each a Master in their own right.

Master Liu Cang repeated Chen Fan's confession concisely.

The atmosphere in the hall was suppressed to the extreme.

"What a White Lotus Sect, what a grand scheme!" a hot-tempered Sect Leader slammed the table. "They dare to stir up trouble right under our noses!"

"This matter must be reported to the imperial court immediately!"

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing raised his hand, stopping the discussion.

His deep eyes fell on the bruised and battered Chen Fan, scrutinizing him calmly.

Chen Fan lowered his head, but his heart was at peace.

The self-injury ruse had worked, and the intelligence had been delivered.

Next, he should be settled in to recover, and then... then it would have nothing to do with him anymore.

Finally, he was completely free from the vortex of the White Lotus Sect.

Just as he was secretly congratulating himself.

From the main seat, Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing's calm voice slowly rang out.

"Chen Jinzhong."

"Disciple is here," Chen Fan quickly responded.

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing looked at him, and a mysterious glint suddenly appeared on his normally impassive face.

"Since you have already gained the trust of the White Lotus Sect demons and know their internal plans inside out."

"Then, are you willing to atone for your crimes by returning to the White Lotus Sect?"

"And serve as a nail that our Righteous Alliance drives into their heart?"

Chen Fan snapped his head up.

His entire body froze completely.