All of them, except for Yun Shu.
Because the elderly man was Old Du.
"Senior! Please show us your justice!" cried Chang Yu first. "We're all severely injured by him! Please, senior! He deserves the most extreme punishment right on the spot. Our sect needs justice and rules!"
Seeing that, Chang Yu's men started crying as well, their voices creating a mess. If it had been someone else, Yun Shu wouldn't have any chance to explain at all.
But Old Du treated Yun Shu differently!
He turned to Yun Shu and asked, "Why are you in trouble again? It's only the first day after your punishment!"
Yun Shu hurriedly bowed to Old Du first to pay his respects and then explained, "Senior Du, it wasn't me who deliberately sought for trouble. They were just bullying her so badly!"
Yun Shu put on an extremely indignant look and explained the whole affair. He was a rather good story-teller. His words full of distress even made the men forget to wail.
Old Du twirled his long beard and said, "So, you're saying you did all these so that justice can be served?"
Yun Shu bowed again. "Senior, the Fire Mystic Sect is a leading heavenly sect, and its disciples are always responsible for enforcing justice on behalf of Heaven and making sure that injustice is always corrected. I'm not a hero at all but just a disciple who remembers what I have been taught and put it into practice. I hope that one day when I become much stronger, I can eliminate all injustice from this world."
Old Du turned around and asked Chang Yu coldly, "Is this true?"
"No… No!" Chang Yu hurriedly denied.
Before Chang Yu finished his words, Yun Shu snorted, "You're so shameless, lying in front of both Senior Du and her!"
Yun Shu turned to look at Su Lingwen.
Su Lingwen was still sitting beside the stele, witnessing the matter unfold. Seeing that Yun Shu kept winking at her, she nodded and said, "Mostly… Yes!"
Old Du frowned, finding it a bit difficult to pass the verdict.
"They're together! Her words don't count! Women's words don't count!" Chang Yu hurriedly interrupted, screaming at the top of his lungs.
Yun Shu snorted again. "Women's words don't count? How dare you say so? Then what about your own men's words?"
Then he asked Chang Yu's men coldly, "All of you, tell Senior Du the truth. Also, don't forget that Chang Yu has always been using all of you as his tools and never cared about you. Of course, now he hates me to his very bones, but do you still think he would go easy on all of you?"
"Just now—" The slender man was about to say something but was threatened by Chang Yu.
"Watch your mouth! Or you all know the consequence!" Chang Yu said viciously.
Yun Shu almost burst in laughter after hearing him lash out. It was such an idiot move from Chang Yu, who tried to threaten his men at this moment.
Yun Shu cleared his throat and said, "Senior Du, I'm sure you can see clearly what kind of person Chang Yu is now!"
Then he turned and said to the slender man, "Don't pay him any mind. The guy backing him up is only an inner sect disciple, nothing more. But senior Du here is one of the top masters in our sect!"
Old Du also nodded. "You speak the truth, and I'll take care of your safety. However, if you lie, you'll need to pay the consequences!"
"Senior, what Yun Shu just said was all true!" said the slender man with his head lowered.
The rest of the men hurriedly followed his lead, admitting to their crimes.
Yun Shu grinned, while Chang Yu's face suddenly turned pale, as if someone had extracted his soul.
"You dare rat on me…" Chang Yu was thoroughly enraged.
"Chang Yu, don't blame us! You forced us to bully a woman, even though we didn't want it from the very beginning…"
"That's true. We're all cultivators, but you forced us to do such filthy things…"
"Alright, it's clear now. Disciple Chang Yu instigated his fellow disciples to bully a female disciple in the sect. As a result, another ten years will be added to his prior punishment of staying in this valley! The rest of you followed his command but reported on Chang Yu's guilt honestly, so all of you will be grounded for three months!" said Old Du.
They all released a sigh of relief, except for Chang Yu, who was crestfallen due to the sudden turn of events.
Old Du measured Yun Shu with his eyes carefully and said, "You've made great progress again!"
"All the merits go to the sect!" Yun Shu smiled and answered humbly.
Old Du frowned. "But, can't you try to maintain a lower profile?"
Yun Shu shrugged. "Senior, I never wanted these troubles. Yet, they keep coming and messing up with me, so I've no choice but to fight back, right?"
Old Du had to admit that it was indeed the case.
"Senior… What happened after Zhang Bao's death?" Yun Shu walked closer to Old Du and asked him in a low voice.
Old Du shook his head. "Boy, you have to keep in mind that everything can be complicated in the sect. And there are things even too far away for me to know or help."
Yun Shu immediately understood the meaning behind his words: someone in the sect had stopped this from spreading out.
And that person must have a high status in the sect for sure.
"Thank you very much, Senior. I'll take care of it on my own from now on," said Yun Shu seriously.
"Boy, don't overstretch yourself," Old Du patted Yun Shu's shoulder and said.
At the same time, he also cast Su Lingwen, who was some distance away, a significant look. Old Du wanted to say something but kept his mouth closed in the end.
"He needs treatment," said Old Du to Yun Shu and pointed at Chang Yu on the ground. "You really went wild…"
Then Old Du picked up Chang Yu and threw him onto his shoulder violently. Chang Yu groaned, but there was no bitter crying anymore. Instead, Chang Yu's eyes kept staring at Yun Shu, his mouth clenched shut in defiance.
"You just wait," said Chang Yu coldly.
Hearing that, a cruel light flashed in Yun Shu's eyes.
"Senior, be careful; don't drop him!" Yun Shu smiled and reached out his hand. It looked as if he was just trying to help. However, the moment his palm touched Chang Yu's body, he transferred a trace amount of Spirit Qi inside.
That stream of Spirit Qi was not harmful by itself, but gradually, it would change the way how Chang Yu's meridians worked. After recovering, if he were to use his Spirit Qi, he would hurt himself badly again.
When it came to controlling Spirit Qi, Yun Shu was qualified to be called a master!
Seeing Old Du walking away, Yun Shu's mind was full of thoughts. The Fire Mystic Sect was known for its strict rules and regulations. Yet, Zhang Bao came all the way to the Valley of Crime to kill him using poison.
To add insult to injury, someone in the sect didn't believe that an insignificant ant like Yun Shu deserved a proper explanation or justice.
Hence, those so-called laws and rules were only strict for the weak!
"All in all, power earns respect," Yun Shu murmured to himself.
Suddenly, a desire for strength started blazing in his heart in full swing, almost consuming his whole.
Power!
Gaining power could solve all the problems!
At this time, Chang Yu's men had all crawled close to Yun Shu.
"Boss Yun Shu, please allow us to follow you!" said the several men together in a single voice.