Chapter 45

At the entrance of Ling Family Town, a group of martial artists dressed in the attire of the Star Cloud Pavilion appeared with stern expressions.

These martial artists were clearly divided into two camps: one led by Elder Du Haitian, the other by Elder Ye Yangqiu of the Punishment Hall. Although they came together, they remained distinctly separate.

Du Haitian was tall and slender, with a pale face and short beard, dressed like a scholar. His eyes were deep and inscrutable, making it hard to read his thoughts.

Ye Yangqiu, on the other hand, was both thin and short. Whether due to his cultivation technique or some other reason, his skin was dark green, giving him an extremely eerie appearance. His eyes were cold and chilling, and he exuded a fierce aura that warned others to keep their distance.

Du Haitian and Ye Yangqiu walked side by side into Ling Family Town, each followed by their subordinates. As elders of the Star Cloud Pavilion, Ye Yangqiu was responsible for the Punishment Hall, while Du Haitian handled external battles, often leading his subordinates to clash with rival forces or hunt spiritual beasts outside.

Generally, the two camps did not intersect. However, if someone under Du Haitian's command committed a crime, Ye Yangqiu had the authority to punish them.

As the most critical elder of the Punishment Hall in the Star Cloud Pavilion, Ye Yangqiu was known for his lack of mercy. Whenever someone under the command of any elder violated the rules of the Star Cloud Pavilion and fell into his hands, he would handle the matter impartially, showing no favoritism. Even the two deputy pavilion leaders could not expect any leniency from him.

Thus, Ye Yangqiu's reputation for severity was well-known within the Star Cloud Pavilion. The martial artists within the pavilion all feared him, dreading the possibility of committing a mistake and falling into his hands.

"Elder Ye, what do you think about the Ling Family's betrayal?" Du Haitian suddenly asked.

A few days ago, the head of the Feng Family, Feng Bin, personally sent a message to the Star Cloud Pavilion, accusing the Ling Family of colluding with the Shuibing Manor to plot against the Tianlang Mountain mine, resulting in the near total annihilation of the Feng and Gao families. Even Liu Yan's fate was unknown. Feng Bin also presented letters of correspondence between Ling Chengye and the Shuibing Manor, which were found on a dead member of the Ling Family, demanding that the Star Cloud Pavilion severely punish the Ling Family.

On the letters presented, there was the personal signature of Shuibing Manor's elder Yan Dewu, along with the unique seal of the Shuibing Manor.

After inspecting the letters, Ye Yangqiu confirmed that the seal indeed belonged to the Shuibing Manor, which greatly shocked him. He then led his subordinates to Ling Family Town.

Du Haitian, who was already looking for an excuse to deal with the Ling Family, used the reason that his niece was also in the Ling Family to join Ye Yangqiu, offering to help suppress the Ling Family.

"The Ling Family's betrayal is not yet confirmed; this matter requires further investigation," Ye Yangqiu said coldly, his face dark. "If it is confirmed, all those involved will be executed!"

Pausing for a moment, he added, "If your niece and nephew were also involved, well, they will be dealt with as well!"

Upon hearing this, Du Haitian felt a chill in his heart, forced a dry laugh, and quickly said, "Elder Ye, you are overthinking it. My niece and nephew have always been at odds with Ling Chengye and would never be involved. I hope you will thoroughly investigate this matter to ensure no mistakes are made."

"I will," Ye Yangqiu said indifferently.

Du Haitian frowned, looking in the direction of the Ling Family ancestral hall, his eyes cold.

He had learned of Du Fei's severe injuries on the way and had already made up his mind that this trip would make the Ling Family pay a heavy price, completely eradicating the Ling Chengye family from Ling Family Town!

At the Ling Family compound.

Ling Chengye and his brother, along with three elders of the clan, came out to welcome the Star Cloud Pavilion elders.

The Ling Family members gathered there all had heavy expressions, clearly showing signs of panic. They were also anxious about Ye Yangqiu's arrival, unsure of the reason for the notorious Punishment Hall elder's visit to Ling Family Town.

In contrast, Du Jiaolan and others were pleasantly surprised, secretly excited, thinking, "Even Ye Yangqiu has been brought in? This time, how will the Ling Family survive!"

Qin Lie was hidden among the Ling Family members, standing at the back, not drawing any attention. He watched the situation develop with a cold eye, feeling surprised.

"Even the Punishment Hall elder has come. Is it just because of Ling Xuanxuan's assault? It can't be, there must be another reason..."

He couldn't help but recall the trip to Tianlang Mountain and the analysis by Ling Feng and Ling Yushi before they returned, gradually piecing together the puzzle.

"Huh?"

While he was deep in thought, he suddenly noticed a bright gaze coming from the direction of the Ling Family members.

Taking a closer look, he realized the gaze came from Ling Xuanxuan...

Ling Xuanxuan stood behind Ling Chengye, to the left of Ling Yushi, from where she could see him clearly.

The bright gaze was filled with surprise, shock, and confusion, markedly different from the usual disdain and contempt, which left Qin Lie puzzled, unsure of what was happening.

"That fool... was he thinking just now? For a moment, his eyes were so clear and bright. Was it just an illusion?" Ling Xuanxuan looked at Qin Lie from a distance, her heart in turmoil. "Why do my sister and Ling Xin defend him so much? What happened on this trip?"

She was in a state of confusion, gradually losing her ability to see Qin Lie clearly, unsure whether the Qin Lie she knew as a fool or the one with clear eyes was the real Qin Lie...

"Welcome, Elders Ye and Du to the Ling Family!"

Just as she was feeling inexplicably troubled, her father, Ling Chengye, raised his voice, pulling her back to reality.

She glanced at Du Haitian, who was approaching, and at the stern and cold Ye Yangqiu, her face showing a hint of shock and sudden regret for her harsh treatment of Du Fei, which had brought great trouble to her family.

"Brother!"

"Uncle!"

Upon seeing Du Haitian, Du Jiaolan, Du Heng, and Du Fei all showed signs of joy, immediately calling out. Du Fei, lying on a stretcher, had red eyes, looking as if he had suffered greatly.

Seeing Du Fei's pitiful state, Du Haitian's face twitched. He nodded slightly to Du Jiaolan and the others, indicating with his eyes that he would not let this go, trying to reassure them.

A martial artist beside him also approached Du Jiaolan, whispering a few words, which made her pleasantly surprised, her gaze toward Ling Chengye filled with satisfaction.

"Please, Elders, come to the hall for a discussion." Ling Chengye bowed slightly.

Du Haitian waved his hand and said calmly, "No need. We can talk here. Ha ha, you have quite the nerve to do such things and still stay in Ling Family Town. Why didn't you flee to the Shuibing Manor? Is it because the Shuibing Manor is just using you and not truly accepting the Ling Family?"

Upon hearing this, all the Ling Family members were shocked, their hearts trembling in fear.

Being associated with the Shuibing Manor was a matter that could lead to the extermination of their clan. How could they not be terrified?

"I don't understand what Elder Du means!" Ling Chengye's face turned pale, his voice trembling as he looked at Ye Yangqiu, speaking with determination. "The Ling Family has never had any dealings with the Shuibing Manor! I beg the two elders to see the truth!"

"Still trying to deny it!" Du Haitian shouted. "Feng Bin has already presented the letters of correspondence between you and the Shuibing Manor's elder Yan Dewu. What do you have to say about that?"

"Show him." Ye Yangqiu said coldly, waving his hand.

One of his subordinates immediately approached Ling Chengye and handed him the letters.

Ling Chengye's hands trembled as he held the letters, seeing the familiar handwriting and the seal of the Shuibing Manor, as well as Yan Dewu's response...

Ling Chengye felt as if he had fallen into an ice pit, unable to believe his eyes. After a long moment, he hissed, "I don't know anyone from the Shuibing Manor! This is a complete injustice! I have no idea what happened!"

"It's the Feng Family who betrayed the Star Cloud Pavilion, not us!" Ling Yushi stepped forward, standing beside her father, taking a deep breath, and said excitedly, "The Feng Family has long been aligned with the Shuibing Manor, as Feng Yi admitted. They plotted against us for the Yanyang Jade on Tianlang Mountain, nearly wiping us out. Liu Yan can testify to this, I beg Elder Ye to see the truth!"

"Liu Yan is my subordinate and has not returned to the Star Cloud Pavilion. According to Feng Bin, Liu Yan is likely in grave danger," Ye Yangqiu paused, then said, "Tell me what really happened."

Ling Yushi's account was the opposite of Feng Bin's, but Feng Bin had presented letters signed by Yan Dewu, while the Ling Family had nothing. However, Ling Yushi mentioned Liu Yan, which made him think and consider the matter more deeply.

"The events unfolded like this..."

In front of the Ling Family members and the Star Cloud Pavilion martial artists, Ling Yushi detailed the events, explaining every detail clearly.

"Qin Lie saw through the Feng Family's scheme and warned us in advance..."

"Under the attack of the Feng Family, Qin Lie was the first to kill Feng Lun, then Feng Jie, and finally forced Feng Yi to flee..."

"Qin Lie helped Liu Yan repair the spirit shield..."

"Qin Lie guided us in the right direction..."

"Finally, Qin Lie retrieved the statue, making the Wolf King spare us and instead chase the Shuibing Manor, causing them heavy losses and forcing Yan Dewu to flee in panic..."

"..."

In her account, the name that appeared most frequently was Qin Lie. As she repeatedly mentioned "Qin Lie," all the Ling Family members and Star Cloud Pavilion martial artists were shocked, their expressions filled with disbelief, and they all felt a sense of amazement.

Ling Chengye and Ling Chengzhi, who had already guessed Qin Lie's extraordinary abilities, were extremely excited. The two brothers exchanged a glance, feeling a surge of energy, secretly thrilled.

Ling Xuanxuan, on the other hand, was like a wooden chicken, listening to her sister's description as if it were a fairy tale, her mind blank.

"Is it really him? The one who saw through the Feng Family's plot, led the Ling Family out of the encirclement, helped Liu Yan repair the spirit shield, and used the Wolf King to strike the Shuibing Manor... is it the fool I always looked down upon?"

Thinking this, her eyes sparkled with amazement, and she quickly turned her head to look in a direction, only to find that Qin Lie was no longer there.

...

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