Law Enforcement Hall

The dark-faced deacon strode into the courtyard, his eyes flashing like lightning as he quickly scanned the area.

"Who is Zhou Lingxuan?" The black-faced deacon's voice was rough and carried an unyielding arrogance.

Zhou Lingxuan stood still, without even changing his posture.

He slowly raised his hand and patted a withered leaf that had been blown onto his shoulder by the wind.

"I am." Zhou Lingxuan's voice wasn't loud, but it clearly reached everyone's ears.

The dark-faced deacon sneered, picked up the Spirit-Locking Whip, walked up to Zhou Lingxuan, and looked down at him.

"Zhou Lingxuan, the steward of the abandoned hall, is suspected of colluding with Chen Baichuan, the head of the weapon hall, to embezzle the sect's military supplies and accept huge bribes."

The dark-faced deacon shook the Spirit-Locking Whip in his hand, and the whip made a crisp cracking sound.

"By order of the Third Elder, I am bringing you back to the Hall of Law Enforcement for trial!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than he suddenly waved his hand.

"Search! Dig three feet into the ground, find those top-grade spirit ores!"

A dozen or so disciples from the Enforcement Hall immediately scattered and rushed toward the house and small workshop like wolves and tigers.

"Who dares to move!"

A furious roar erupted from the ground.

Lei Yang could no longer contain his anger and took a step forward.

He gripped the hilt of the Wind and Thunder Sword with his right hand, flicked his thumb, and the black wooden scabbard emitted a muffled sound. A violent killing intent instantly erupted from his body, heading straight for the disciples of the Enforcement Hall.

The disciples who were rushing ahead were startled by the murderous aura and subconsciously stopped in their tracks, raising the magical weapons in their hands.

The dark-faced deacon's expression darkened, and he suddenly raised the Spirit-Locking Whip in his hand, pointing it at Lei Yang.

"What? A mere servant dares to resist arrest and rebel?" A murderous glint flashed in the dark-faced deacon's eyes.

The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point, tense and on the verge of exploding.

Just as Lei Yang was about to draw his sword, a withered hand, as firm as an iron clamp, pressed down on his wrist.

Zhou Lingxuan made his move.

Without using a single trace of his true energy, he relied entirely on his terrifyingly well-trained body to forcefully suppress Lei Yang's movement to draw his sword.

Lei Yang felt an irresistible force on his wrist, and the Wind and Thunder Sword clicked and fell back into its sheath.

"What are you doing?" Zhou Lingxuan turned her head, looked at Lei Yang, and lowered her voice, "Did you ignore what I just said?"

Lei Yang stared intently at the dark-faced deacon, his teeth grinding together.

"Manager, this is blatant framing!"

Whether it was a frame-up or not, the Enforcement Division will investigate thoroughly.

Zhou Lingxuan exerted force again, pushing Lei Yang back two steps.

"Step back."

Lei Yang's chest heaved violently as he stared intently at Zhou Lingxuan's back. In the end, he loosened his grip on the sword and retreated into the shadows under the eaves.

Zhou Lingxuan turned his head and looked at the dark-faced steward, a helpless bitter smile appearing on his face.

"My lord, my subordinates are ignorant and incompetent, please don't take offense."

Zhou Lingxuan spread his hands, appearing completely unguarded.

"Search as much as you want. The abandoned hall is only so big; there's nothing there but scrap metal."

The dark-faced deacon snorted coldly, ignoring Zhou Lingxuan's show of weakness, and waved his hand again.

"search!"

The disciples of the Enforcement Hall immediately rushed into the room, and the sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets filled the air.

The small workshop was the worst affected area; several disciples overturned the anvils and even dug out the ashes for a thorough inspection.

Zhou Lingxuan stood quietly in the courtyard, watching them make a fuss.

He knew very well that there was no point in resisting the behemoth that was the sect.

Taking action now would only confirm their guilty conscience.

Patience is necessary to assess the situation and wait for the opportunity to strike decisively.

Half an incense stick's time has passed.

Several disciples from the Enforcement Hall, looking disheveled, ran out of the house and workshop and gathered around the dark-faced deacon.

"Butler, we found nothing."

One of the disciples lowered his voice to report to the leader.

"There isn't even a decent spirit stone; it's all useless junk."

The black-faced deacon's expression instantly turned extremely ugly.

The Third Elder swore that the batch of top-grade spirit ore was definitely hidden in the abandoned hall. Now, there's not even a trace of it?

He turned his head sharply and stared intently at Zhou Lingxuan.

"Where is it?" the dark-faced deacon asked through gritted teeth.

"What is it?"

Zhou Lingxuan looked completely bewildered, pretending to be stupid.

"The abandoned hall receives scrap materials that other halls don't want every day, and they're all dumped into the fire pit on the back mountain. If you're looking for scrap materials, you can try scooping them out of the pit."

"Stop playing dumb with me!" The dark-faced deacon roared, grabbing Zhou Lingxuan by the collar. "Chen Baichuan is already down. Do you think you can still hold out? Take him away!"

Two fierce-looking disciples from the Enforcement Hall immediately stepped forward, one on each side, and grabbed Zhou Lingxuan's arms tightly.

Zhou Lingxuan did not resist and let them hold him up.

"Old Sun!" Zhou Lingxuan suddenly shouted towards the outside of the courtyard.

Old Sun, who was hiding outside the courtyard wall, peeked out with half his head trembling, his face pale.

"To manage...to be in charge of things..."

"Keep an eye on the place," Zhou Lingxuan instructed calmly. "Tomorrow, the waste materials from the Pill Hall will be received as usual. Do what you're supposed to do, and don't break the rules."

Old Sun nodded repeatedly, not daring to utter a sound.

Zhou Lingxuan turned his head again and gave Lei Yang a deep look.

Lei Yang stood in the shadows, his fists clenched, his eyes red-rimmed.

"Remember my words." Zhou Lingxuan said these four words and then looked away from him.

"Take him away!" The dark-faced deacon waved his hand.

The group escorted Zhou Lingxuan away from the abandoned hall in a grand procession.

The night was as dark as ink, so thick it was impossible to see through.

Although the light from the direction of the main peak had dissipated, the somber and oppressive atmosphere in the air grew even stronger.

Zhou Lingxuan walked in the middle of the group, his steps steady and without the slightest panic.

"Sir," Zhou Lingxuan suddenly spoke, breaking the silence on the road, "what exactly happened to Elder Chen?"

The dark-faced deacon turned and glanced at him, letting out a mocking sneer.

"Chen Baichuan? He's in dire straits now. The Second Elder personally intervened and captured him on the spot in the Weapon Hall, leaving him no chance to resist."

The dark-faced deacon's tone was tinged with schadenfreude.

"You think you can rest easy with him protecting you? You'll be in for a world of trouble once you get to the Hall of Enforcement."

Zhou Lingxuan feigned shock, sighed, and then fell silent.

He already had a plan in mind.

Chen Baichuan was indeed apprehended, and it was the Second Elder who personally intervened, which shows that Liu Quan had prepared very sufficient evidence, directly bypassing the conventional interrogation procedures.

Now, all the pressure is on my side.

As long as he doesn't confess and there's no physical evidence, Liu Quan can't completely pin the crime of embezzlement on Chen Baichuan.

Half an hour later.

The group stopped in front of a huge black building.

This is the most feared place in the Heavenly Sword Pavilion.

Zhou Lingxuan raised his head and looked ahead.

Stepping through the gate of the Hall of Law Enforcement, which resembled the maw of a giant beast, he was greeted not only by a formidable array but also by icy gazes from the depths of the hall, gazes capable of crushing him.