"Since when did the Disciplinary Hall become so lawless? Even if I truly did conspire with the Red Ghost Sect, you shouldn't be using the Soul-Suppressing Nails at this stage. Are you trying to torture a confession out of me?"
Facing Hong Hai, Lin Yun showed not a single shred of fear.
Hong Hai's face was grim. "Lin Yun, if you're scared, then confess everything about your conspiracy with Duan Heng. Otherwise, you will have to suffer these Soul-Suppressing Nails."
Seeing that there was no room for negotiation with Hong Hai, Lin Yun had no choice but to be even more forceful. This was no joke. If he wasn't tough right now, his life would be forfeited for nothing.
"You can try it." Lin Yun was defiant. "If I lose even a single hair, will Ancestor Liuyun tolerate your existence?"
He even took the initiative to step forward. "I'd like to see if the Disciplinary Hall is really so arrogant that it can completely disregard the Ancestor's decisions."
Seeing Lin Yun being so hard-headed, Hong Hai actually started to panic. This kid, is he really not afraid of death?
In reality, according to the rules of the Disciplinary Hall, Lin Yun was only under investigation at this point. They certainly couldn't use torture at will. Not to mention, this kid had just shone brilliantly at the Inner Sect Grand Competition and was deeply favored by Ancestor Liuyun. If it weren't for Liao Changping's private arrangements, even if you gave him ten times the courage, he probably wouldn't have dared to do this today.
Just as the two sides were in a standoff, Xiao Pingtian appeared.
"Elder Hong, an order from the Sect Master. This matter is of great importance. We must investigate it thoroughly, no matter what. At all costs!!!"
If Hong Hai had any reservations before, now he was completely fearless. This was Gu Xiande's order. What did he have to be afraid of?
At this thought, Hong Hai waved his hand. "Administer the punishment."
Lin Yun stood up. "Senior Brother Xiao, what is the meaning of this? Is the Sect Master not afraid of the Ancestor's blame?"
Xiao Pingtian didn't even spare him a glance. "Junior Brother Lin is indeed clever, but we have already confirmed that Duan Heng colluded with the Red Ghost Sect. You and Duan Heng had a very close relationship. In this battle against the Red Ghost Sect, our side suffered heavy losses. Even my Master has to treat this matter with extreme caution."
You bastard, Gu Xiande. You tried so hard to curry favor before, and now that something has happened, you're selling me out without a second thought?
The Flowing Cloud Sect had misjudged the Red Ghost Sect, leading to disastrous losses of elders and disciples. If Ancestor Liuyun were to investigate, Gu Xiande certainly couldn't take the heat. The best solution was to pin all the blame on Lin Yun before that could happen. This way, even Ancestor Liuyun wouldn't have much to say. After all, this was the disciple she valued!
A bunch of cultivators, yet they had no shortage of ways to scheme against others.
Without giving Lin Yun a chance to speak, Hong Hai personally stepped forward and pushed him to the ground. "Weren't you so tough just now? Today, we'll see if you're tougher, or if the Soul-Suppressing Nails are tougher!"
As he spoke, he picked up a Soul-Suppressing Nail and drove it into Lin Yun's body. He had expected to hear Lin Yun's heart-wrenching screams. But the moment Hong Hai struck down with the nail, it failed to even pierce Lin Yun's skin. The Soul-Suppressing Nail even bent.
Xiao Pingtian's face was full of confusion.
"Again!" Hong Hai took another Soul-Suppressing Nail, but the result was the same. If the first one was an accident, then the next few were just bizarre.
"How can this be?"
Xiao Pingtian didn't understand, and Hong Hai understood even less. Damn it all. He had been an elder in the Disciplinary Hall for so many years and had never seen anyone who could bend a Soul-Suppressing Nail. This kid was too damn godly.
"Search him... he must have a token on him that proves his connection to the Red Ghost Sect," Xiao Pingtian said with absolute certainty.
Hong Hai held Lin Yun down while a group of disciples began to search him carefully. Soon, they found a piece of jade on Lin Yun's body. It was the one Duan Heng had given him earlier, meant to help him with his cultivation. But who would have thought...
"Found it! This is a Calamity Jade! The token of a Red Ghost Sect disciple!" several of them shouted.
Lin Yun's face turned ugly. How could I not have thought that this guy had ill intentions when he gave me the Calamity Jade?
Seeing this, Hong Hai laughed loudly. "Lin Yun, what do you have to say for yourself now? The Red Ghost Sect's token, the Calamity Jade, is in your hands. With this, no matter who it was, they would be sentenced to death. Men, drag this kid away for public execution!"
Xiao Pingtian stood with his arms crossed, a smug sneer on his face. Hong Hai also looked completely satisfied. Killing this kid would allow him to report his mission complete.
But just then, a clear voice came from outside. "I'd like to see who dares to touch him."
Hearing the voice, Lin Yun let out a surprised laugh.
Qin Xiyan, dressed in a red gown, gracefully walked in from the door. As Ancestor Liuyun's personal disciple, her status was even higher than Shangguan Wan's.
When Hong Hai saw it was Qin Xiyan, his face turned ugly. He was just about to succeed, only to be interrupted again. But seeing it was Qin Xiyan made his expression even worse. Even Xiao Pingtian looked displeased.
"Little... Little Martial Aunt." Looking at this woman who was younger and had a lower cultivation than him, Xiao Pingtian forced out the title, aggrieved.
Qin Xiyan gave a serene nod and looked at Hong Hai. "Elder Hong, how can you be certain that this Calamity Jade belongs to him, and wasn't secretly slipped into his clothes by Duan Heng?"
Evidently, Qin Xiyan must have heard the whole story from Hongxiu. But how to act was still up to her to decide. With Qin Xiyan here, even if Lin Yun had caused a heavenly disaster, Hongxiu would still have to clean up his mess. Just like now.
When Hong Hai saw Qin Xiyan, he said in a low voice, "Little Senior Sister, this matter is not for me to decide. It is the Sect Master's intention, after all. The Flowing Cloud Sect this time..."
Qin Xiyan snorted coldly. "In that case, go and tell the Sect Master. My Master said that although Lin Yun may have made a mistake this time, he also saved the heir of the Chen family. His merits and demerits cancel each other out. His temporary punishment is to be stripped of his inner-sect disciple status and to go to the mountain gate for reflection."
After she finished, she looked at Hong Hai. "Is Elder Hong satisfied with this punishment?"
Having said all this, how could Hong Hai dare to say he was unsatisfied? He gave an awkward laugh. "Satisfied, of course, I'm satisfied. I believe the Sect Master will also be very happy to see this result."
Lin Yun had been unwilling to become a personal disciple in the first place. He had already enjoyed the benefits of being an inner-sect disciple. A punishment like this was no skin off his back.
"And you, Martial Nephew?" Qin Xiyan looked at Xiao Pingtian with a cold face.
"Little Martial Aunt is right. This disciple will go and report to my Master right now." With that, he flicked his sleeves and left in a huff.
Lin Yun watched Xiao Pingtian's retreating back and felt baffled. When had he ever made Xiao Pingtian so unhappy? This guy isn't going to try and assassinate me in the night, is he?