117: The traitor is exposed, the iron-faced judge

The night had not yet receded, but the Star Palace meeting hall was already brightly lit.

Over fifty people, including the six Elders of the Lin Family, the heads of each branch, and core deacons, gathered together; the atmosphere was as heavy as iron. On the main seat, Lin Fan sat upright. Though his face was pale, his eyes were as sharp as knives as they swept over everyone present.

Third Elder Lin Jingtao stood in the center of the hall, holding the shadow recording stone, his face ashen.

"Is everyone here?" Lin Fan spoke. His voice wasn't loud, but it reached everyone's ears clearly.

"Replying to the Young Clan Leader, of the thirty-seven Core Disciples, except for Lin Xue who is still unconscious, all the remaining thirty-six are present," the deacon in charge of the roll call responded with a bow.

Lin Fan nodded, his gaze falling on a young man in the third row on the left.

The young man was about twenty years old, with a handsome face, wearing the light blue robe of a direct descendant of the Lin Family, and a Star Pisces Jade Pendant hanging from his waist. He was composed, even carrying a faint, non-existent smile, as if he didn't care about anything before him.

Lin Xuan, the direct grandson of the Third Elder, with a cultivation of the Nascent Core Fourth Layer, was one of the top five geniuses among the younger generation of the Lin Family.

"Lin Xuan," Lin Fan suddenly spoke.

"Present," Lin Xuan stood up, polite and refined. "I wonder what instructions the Young Clan Leader has?"

"The jade pendant at your waist is quite unique," Lin Fan said indifferently.

Lin Xuan glanced down and smiled, "This was bestowed by my grandfather last year, saying it was to encourage my success in cultivation. If the Young Clan Leader likes it, I can—"

"No need," Lin Fan interrupted him. "I'm just curious, where were you at the hour of Chen three days ago?"

The hall suddenly fell silent.

Everyone understood the implication behind those words.

Lin Xuan's expression changed slightly, but he quickly returned to normal. "At the hour of Chen three days ago, I was in seclusion at the 'Star Radiance Pavilion'. The deacon guarding the Star Radiance Pavilion can testify to this."

"Is that so?" Lin Fan looked toward the Third Elder.

Lin Jingtao gritted his teeth and took out a record book from his robes. "The entry and exit records of the Star Radiance Pavilion show that Lin Xuan was indeed inside at the hour of Chen three days ago. However..."

He flipped to another page. "The guarding deacon, Lin Yuan, confessed that on that morning, he left his post for a moment due to abdominal pain. When he returned, Lin Xuan was still in the pavilion. In other words, no one can prove that Lin Xuan didn't leave during that time."

"What does the Third Elder mean by this?" Lin Xuan's face darkened. "Are you suspecting me of colluding with outsiders? Just based on a deacon's momentary negligence?"

"Of course not just that." Lin Fan stood up and slowly walked to the center of the hall.

He took the shadow recording stone from the Third Elder's hand and activated his origin power.

Buzz! An image projected into mid-air.

A blurred figure, the Star Pisces Jade Pendant, the conversation with Shadow Three... although the face couldn't be seen clearly, the patterns of the jade pendant, the position it was worn, and even the habitual small movements while speaking were all a perfect match for Lin Xuan!

"This is a frame-up!" Lin Xuan's face turned pale as he shouted harshly, "Someone forged the image to frame me! Third Elder, you are my grandfather, could it be that you also believe this—"

"Shut up!" Lin Jingtao roared, his eyes filled with pain and disappointment. "You thought you did it perfectly? Then explain where that 'Blood Moon Secret Record' in the secret compartment of your room came from?!"

Boom! As soon as these words were spoken, the whole hall was in an uproar.

The Blood Moon Secret Record was a cultivation manual of the Dark Moon Divine Cult, which Lin Family Disciples were strictly forbidden from touching. Hiding such an item was already a serious crime.

Lin Xuan trembled all over, forcing himself to stay calm. "What Blood Moon Secret Record? I don't know..."

"Bring her in!" Lin Jingtao shouted.

Two Hall of Punishment Disciples led in a maidservant. She was Lin Xuan's personal maid, and she was now kneeling on the ground, shivering.

"Speak!" Lin Jingtao stared at her.

"When I was cleaning the young master's room the day before yesterday, I accidentally triggered a mechanism and found a blood-red book in a secret compartment under the bed, along with several bottles of strange Medicinal Pills..." the maid's voice trembled. "I didn't dare hide it and reported it to the Third Elder."

The color completely drained from Lin Xuan's face.

He knew it was over.

"Why?" Lin Jingtao's voice was hoarse, old tears streaming down his face. "The Lin Family has treated you well, providing you with resources and focused training. Why did you collude with the Dark Moon Divine Cult to frame the Family?!"

"Why?" Lin Xuan suddenly laughed, a twisted and crazed smile. "Because I've had enough! From childhood to now, everyone said I was a Genius, that I would surely become a great figure in the future. But what happened? As soon as Lin Fan appeared, he snatched away all the glory! Family resources shifted to him, the Elders placed high hopes on him, and even Xia Qingyue, whom I like, only has eyes for him!"

He stared fixedly at Lin Fan, his eyes full of resentment. "I refuse to accept this! Why should a piece of trash who was missing for over a decade and suddenly returned be allowed to ride over my head? The Third Prince promised that as long as I helped him take down the Lin Family, he would let me take charge of it and even betroth Xia Qingyue to me! What did I do wrong? I'm just taking back what belongs to me!"

The hall fell into a dead silence.

Everyone was shocked by these words.

Jealousy, ambition, betrayal—the cruelest truths often come from those closest to us.

"Take him down," Lin Fan said expressionlessly.

Four Hall of Punishment Disciples stepped forward.

Lin Xuan suddenly lunged, blood-red light surging around him as his aura instantly surged to the Condensing Origin Fifth Layer! A blood-red short sword appeared in his hand, and he charged straight at Lin Fan!

"Watch out!" the Elders cried out in alarm.

But Lin Fan didn't even move.

When Lin Xuan was within three feet of him, Lin Fan raised his hand and pointed a finger.

Swoosh!

Golden light pierced through Lin Xuan's forehead.

Lin Xuan's body froze, the light in his eyes quickly dimmed, and he fell to the ground with a thud, dead.

The hall was pin-drop silent.

No one expected Lin Fan to be so decisive and ruthless.

"Traitors die," Lin Fan withdrew his finger, his voice calm. "Third Elder, you also bear the responsibility for failing to notice this. You are fined three years of salary and will reflect in seclusion for one month. Do you have any objections?"

Lin Jingtao knelt on the ground, tears streaming. "This old man has no objections."

He knew this was already Lin Fan showing mercy. According to Family rules, if a direct relative betrayed the clan, the Elder would also be severely punished by association.

"Let this be a warning to others," Lin Fan scanned the room. "The Lin Family is in a tumultuous time. Externally, the Third Prince is watching us like a hawk, and internally, the Dark Moon Divine Cult has infiltrated. I hope everyone can unite to overcome these difficulties. If anyone else has double intentions..."

He paused. "Lin Xuan is the example."

"We obey the Young Clan Leader's command!" everyone responded in unison, no longer daring to have any dissenting thoughts.

The matter of the internal traitor was temporarily settled, but a greater crisis was already approaching.

"Report!" a guard rushed into the hall. "The people from the Supervision Department have reached a hundred miles away and are expected to arrive in one hour!"

They're here.

Lin Fan's eyes narrowed. "Prepare according to the plan."

"Yes!"

The entire Lin Family immediately sprang into action.

One hour later, the sun was high in the sky.

The main gate of the Lin Family was wide open. Lin Fan led the six Elders and Core Disciples, lining up to welcome them.

In the distance, a group of people and horses slowly approached.

The leader was a middle-aged man in black official robes, with a square face, sword-like eyebrows, and starry eyes, looking stern. He rode a pure black warhorse with a long sword at his waist. Twelve Black-Clothed Guards followed closely behind, each with a sharp aura, their cultivation at the Condensing Origin Fifth Layer at the very least.

The Chief of the Great Xia Dynasty's Supervision Department—the Iron-Faced Judge Sima Yan, a Late Stage Divine Power Realm expert!

The group stopped in front of the Lin Family gate.

Sima Yan dismounted. His gaze was like lightning, sweeping over the crowd before finally landing on Lin Fan.

"Lin Fan, Young Clan Leader of the Lin Family, greets Chief Sima," Lin Fan stepped forward and bowed neither humbly nor arrogantly.

Sima Yan stared at him for three breaths before slowly speaking, "This official is here by His Majesty's order to thoroughly investigate the Lin Family's collusion with the Dark Moon Divine Cult. Everyone in the Lin Family must fully cooperate. Any concealment or obstruction will be treated as treason."

His voice was icy, without a hint of emotion.

"The Lin Family will naturally cooperate," Lin Fan stepped aside. "Chief, please."

Sima Yan strode through the manor gate, with the twelve guards following closely.

Everyone arrived at the Star Palace and took their seats as host and guests.

"The Chief has come from afar, why not rest for a moment—" Second Elder Lin Canghai tried to ease the atmosphere.

"No need," Sima Yan interrupted directly. "This official's time is limited. Young Clan Leader Lin, the evidence submitted by the Third Prince shows that your Lin Family Disciples Lin Feng and Lin Xuan were both involved with the Dark Moon Divine Cult, and that Shadow Clan corpses are hidden within the Family. How do you explain this?"

Straight to the point, without any delay.

Lin Fan was already prepared and took out two shadow recording stones. "The evidence of Lin Feng colluding with the Shadow Clan and practicing a Demonic Technique is solid; he has been executed according to Family rules. His body and all evidence have been sealed; the Chief may inspect them at any time."

"As for Lin Xuan—" he paused. "He was found this morning to have secretly possessed the Blood Moon Secret Record and colluded with the Dark Moon Divine Cult, intending to frame the Family. He has now been brought to justice, and his body is in the Hall of Punishment."

Sima Yan's eyes moved slightly. "Dead?"

"Traitors die," Lin Fan's tone was calm. "If the Chief needs to, he can examine the body."

"Lead the way," Sima Yan stood up.

Everyone moved to the Hall of Punishment.

Lin Xuan's body was laid out in the hall, a blood hole in his forehead with lingering star imprint. The Blood Moon Secret Record and several bottles of blood-red Medicinal Pills found in his room were also on display.

Sima Yan personally inspected them and ordered his guards to examine the body.

After a moment, a guard reported, "The time of death is no more than three hours ago. The wound was indeed created by the Power of the Stars. The Cultivation Technique and Medicinal Pills have been identified as undoubtedly belonging to the Dark Moon Divine Cult."

Sima Yan fell silent.

The explanation Lin Fan gave was reasonable and logical. Cleaning out traitors within a Family was a common occurrence in any great clan; no fault could be found.

"Then what about the Shadow Clan corpses?" He looked at Lin Fan. "Among the evidence submitted by the Third Prince, there are twelve Shadow Clan corpses, all of which have the Lin Family's star imprint."

"This matter is strange," Lin Fan shook his head. "My Lin Family has never kept the Shadow Clan, let alone left star imprints on their corpses. This is clearly someone planting evidence to frame us."

"The evidence is solid. Do you think a single word of 'framing' can clear you?" Sima Yan's voice turned cold.

"Has the Chief ever thought," Lin Fan countered, "if my Lin Family really colluded with the Dark Moon Divine Cult, why would we leave such obvious evidence? And even send the corpses to the Third Prince? Wouldn't that be exposing our own weaknesses?"

Sima Yan frowned slightly.

That made sense. Colluding with the Dark Moon Divine Cult was a crime punishable by Family extermination. If the Lin Family had really done it, they would have done their utmost to cover it up; why would they leave a handle for others to grab?

"Furthermore," Lin Fan continued, "the star imprints on those corpses, upon my inspection, are not true star imprints, but fakes made using the Blood Moon Imprint Technique. This technique is a secret transmission of the Dark Moon Divine Cult. If the Chief doesn't believe me, he can invite a Rune Master from among the Imperial Enshrined to identify them."

As soon as these words were spoken, Sima Yan's gaze became sharp.

The Blood Moon Imprint Technique—he had heard of it. If it were really so, then the evidence submitted by the Third Prince would be suspected of being forged.

"This official will verify this," he pondered for a moment. "But before the truth is revealed, no one in the Lin Family may leave the Meteor Star Ancient Domain. All industries are temporarily frozen, and the Family treasury must be inspected."

"That is fine," Lin Fan said without hesitation. "The Lin Family has a clear conscience and will allow the Chief to investigate as he pleases."

His readiness actually caught Sima Yan somewhat by surprise.

"Additionally," Sima Yan added, "this official needs to question all Disciples who have had contact with Lin Feng and Lin Xuan, especially... you, the Young Clan Leader."

"I am at your service at any time."

For the next three hours, the Supervision Department conducted a comprehensive search of the Lin Family.

Questioning Disciples, checking accounts, inspecting the treasury—everything was orderly. Sima Yan personally interrogated Lin Fan with sharp and tricky questions, but Lin Fan answered fluently without any flaws.

At dusk, the inspection was temporarily concluded.

"That's all for today." Sima Yan stood before the Star Palace, looking at Lin Fan. "This official will stay in the Ancient Domain for three days to continue the investigation. I hope the Lin Family will continue to cooperate."

"Naturally," Lin Fan cupped his hands.

Sima Yan gave him a deep look and led his team away.

Once the people from the Supervision Department were far away, the Elders finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"We finally managed to deal with it..." the Fifth Elder wiped his sweat.

"It's not that simple." Lin Fan shook his head. "Sima Yan was only temporarily persuaded by us, but he hasn't fully believed us. And the Third Prince's side will certainly not let this go."

"Then what should we do?"

"Wait." Lin Fan looked toward the setting sun on the horizon. "Wait for an opportunity."

"What opportunity?"

Lin Fan didn't answer.

What he was thinking of was that dragon roar from the bottom of the lake, the faint resonance within the star god token, and an impending storm.

Night fell again. In the temporary camp of the Supervision Department a hundred miles away, Sima Yan was reviewing today's records.

A Black-Clothed Guard said in a low voice, "Chief, the Lin Family's response was airtight; we couldn't find any substantial evidence. Can we close the case?"

"Close the case?" Sima Yan sneered. "Don't you think the Lin Family is too clean? So clean that it seems like they prepared in advance."

He picked up a secret report, which he had obtained from the imperial spies: "The Dark Moon Divine Cult has been active in the Meteor Star Ancient Domain recently, with the Lin Family as their direct target. And the Third Prince's side is also secretly mobilizing troops."

"The Chief means..."

"The Lin Family, the Dark Moon Divine Cult, the Third Prince..." Sima Yan's eyes flashed with a sharp light. "This pool of water is deeper than we imagined. Continue the investigation, and focus on Lin Fan."

"Yes!"

In the night, undercurrents surged.

The three forces each had their own thoughts. At the center of the storm, Lin Fan stood by the Star Moon Lake, looking at the calm surface of the water, stars flashing in his eyes.

"Soon..." he murmured to himself.

From deep within the lake, another dragon roar came faintly. This time, it was even clearer.