57: Chapter 57 Compensation

Inside the main hall, there was a deathly silence.

Zhang Cheng's roar was sharp and piercing, cutting through all the noise and pinning every gaze firmly onto Chen Fan.

There was astonishment, confusion, scrutiny, and even more so, the undisguised hostility from the people of the Xiushan Princes Mansion.

The atmosphere froze in an instant.

Chen Fan stood where he was, motionless.

Trouble.

These were the only three words in his heart.

Lin Shou's death had ultimately become a ticking time bomb, and now, that idiot Zhang Cheng had stepped on it and set it off.

"Rebellious Disciple!"

Master Liu Cang took a step forward, blocking Chen Fan, his resolute face filled with dark clouds.

He turned back, lowering his voice, every word squeezed out from between his teeth.

"Is what he said true?"

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing remained seated in the main seat, his elegant face showing no ripples, but the hand holding the teacup paused in mid-air.

Inside the main hall, all the Sect Leaders and Elders of the Righteous Alliance stopped talking.

They looked at Chen Fan, also at Master Liu Cang, and even more so at the aggressive group from the Xiushan Princes Mansion opposite them.

If this matter was not handled well, it would mean a break between the Righteous Alliance and the Xiushan Princes Mansion.

Chen Fan looked over his master's shoulder toward the opposite side.

Zhang Cheng was held down by Li Yi, yet his eyes remained bloodshot, glaring at him intensely; he looked as if he wanted to tear him apart and eat him alive.

The new Captain Li had a cold expression, his scrutinizing gaze sweeping back and forth between him and Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing, clearly waiting for an explanation.

"It is true."

Chen Fan spoke calmly, his voice not loud, yet it clearly reached every corner of the main hall.

He did not defend himself, nor did he deny it.

In front of so many witnesses, any lie would be pale and powerless, only plunging him deeper into a passive position.

Master Liu Cang's body suddenly stiffened.

The surrounding Longxing Sect Disciples let out a low uproar.

"Good!"

Captain Li sneered, took a step forward, and cupped his hands toward Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing in the main seat, his words aggressive.

"Sect Head Song, my Xiushan Princes Mansion guard died tragically at the hands of a White Lotus Sect monster. Now that the culprit is right before us, I ask that you give the Xiushan Princes Mansion an explanation!"

"An explanation?" Master Liu Cang turned around abruptly, his instinct to protect his Disciple making him bristle instantly. "My Disciple has long since left the White Lotus Sect and has mended his ways! What more do you want?!"

"Mended his ways?" The corner of Captain Li's mouth curled into a mocking arc. "A single phrase about mending ways can erase a human life? Vice Sect Leader Liu, your logic is a bit too overbearing!"

"Me, overbearing?!" Master Liu Cang laughed in extreme anger. "Is a mere ninth-rank guard worth your Xiushan Princes Mansion making such a big fuss? I think you are just looking for an excuse to stir up trouble for my Righteous Alliance!"

"Insolent!" The steward of the Xiushan Princes Mansion behind Captain Li shouted sternly. "A Xiushan Princes Mansion guard represents the face of the mansion! You are insulting the Prince of Xiushan!"

Both sides were at daggers drawn, and the air was thick with the scent of gunpowder.

The temperature in the main hall suddenly dropped to freezing.

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing finally put down his teacup, which made a soft sound.

He spoke slowly: "Vice Sect Leader Liu, calm down."

He looked at Captain Li again, his tone flat: "Captain Li, this matter is indeed a lack of strict discipline on the part of the Righteous Alliance. Since Chen Jinzhong has admitted it, the Righteous Alliance will naturally give the Xiushan Princes Mansion an explanation."

"Sect Head Song is very understanding." Captain Li bowed, lowering his posture, but his goal was very clear. "Then please, Sect Head Song, hand this person over to my Xiushan Princes Mansion to deal with."

"Impossible!"

Master Liu Cang refused without a second thought.

"He is a Disciple of my Longxing Sect! Whether to kill or butcher him, it is not for your Xiushan Princes Mansion to interfere!"

His words caused the atmosphere, which had just eased, to become tense again.

Chen Fan sighed in his heart.

This cheap master was truly protective, but he was also truly good at causing trouble.

He could not let the situation deteriorate any further.

"Master."

Chen Fan gently tugged at Master Liu Cang's sleeve, then stepped out from behind him.

He faced Captain Li directly, as well as the dozen or so gazes full of killing intent behind him, and bowed neither humble nor arrogant.

"Captain Li, regarding the killing, this Disciple has no defense. At the time, I was bewitched by an evil woman and could not control myself, committing a grave mistake. Now that I have awakened, I am willing to bear all the responsibility myself."

He paused and raised his head.

"I wonder what kind of explanation the Xiushan Princes Mansion wants?"

This move kicked the ball directly back.

Captain Li narrowed his eyes, re-evaluating this young man.

Calm, open, and responsible.

This did not look like an ordinary Jianghu assassin.

His original goal was to use this matter to pressure the Righteous Alliance and gain more initiative for the upcoming cooperation.

Killing Chen Jinzhong had no substantive benefit for him or the Xiushan Princes Mansion.

Furthermore, Lin Shou's death was originally part of the Prince of Xiushan's plan; he was just a discarded pawn.

"A good 'bear all the responsibility'." Captain Li pondered for a moment and said coldly, "The dead cannot be brought back to life, and the Xiushan Princes Mansion is not an unreasonable place."

He held up three fingers.

"Thirty taels of gold."

"Produce thirty taels of gold as compensation for the dead guard. This matter will end here."

Thirty taels of gold!

As soon as this number came out, a sound of gasping suddenly rang out in the main hall.

The Longxing Sect Disciples all looked furious.

Thirty taels of gold was enough for an ordinary family to live prosperously for several lifetimes! This was not compensation at all; this was extortion!

Master Liu Cang's face instantly turned the color of pig liver.

"You... you are asking for an exorbitant price!"

"Vice Sect Leader Liu, that is incorrect." Captain Li smiled indifferently. "A Xiushan Princes Mansion guard's life is worth this price. If you think it is expensive, then hand the person over, so we don't hurt our harmony."

"You!"

Master Liu Cang was trembling with anger but couldn't say a word.

The Longxing Sect was only a second-rate School, and thirty taels of gold was almost half a year's expenses for the School; how could he possibly come up with it easily.

Just before Master Liu Cang was about to lose it.

"Fine."

A calm word was spat out from Chen Fan's mouth.

"I will pay."

He agreed decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

Master Liu Cang turned back abruptly, looking at his Disciple in disbelief.

"Are you crazy?!" He lowered his voice, anxiously asking, "Where would you get so much money?!"

Chen Fan just gave him a reassuring sign.

"Master, rest assured. Money is just an external possession. This Disciple has his own ways."

This sum of money, for him, really did not count for much.

The fifty taels of gold that Magistrate Zhao De had given him earlier had been hidden away for future emergencies.

He just didn't expect to have to use it so soon.

Seeing Chen Fan agree so readily, Captain Li was slightly stunned, then nodded with satisfaction.

"Brother Chen is straightforward; I admire that." His address had changed from "this person" to "Brother Chen." "Since that is the case, then this matter is written off."

A conflict that was about to erupt was resolved lightly with thirty taels of gold.

The atmosphere in the main hall finally relaxed completely.

Captain Li cupped his hands toward Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing again, his face already wearing a cooperative smile.

"Sect Head Song, since the misunderstanding has been resolved, we should talk about the real business."

Alliance Leader Song Yuanxing raised his hand, signaling him to continue.

Captain Li cleared his throat and said loudly: "The Prince of Xiushan has ordered us to come here to join forces with the Righteous Alliance to jointly encircle and suppress the remnants of the White Lotus Sect entrenched in Xiushan Prefecture!"

This proposal was within everyone's expectations.

"The Xiushan Princes Mansion is willing to provide troops to blockade the city, while the search and assassinations within the city will rely on you, the heroes of Jianghu."

A hot-tempered Sect Leader immediately responded: "To exterminate the demonic sect, it is our duty!"

"Exactly! We must make those monsters pay in blood!"

The crowd was indignant.

Captain Li watched all this with satisfaction, and after the crowd's voices subsided slightly, he changed the subject.

"Of course, besides exterminating the White Lotus monsters, the Prince of Xiushan has an even more important goal."

His voice was deliberately lowered, carrying a hint of mystery.

Everyone fell quiet, looking at him curiously.

Captain Li's gaze swept across the room, and finally, he said word by word: "That is, to retrieve a secret manual stolen from the Xiushan Princes Mansion by the White Lotus Sect."