Entering Meng Wenting's secluded cave dwelling, the overpowering scent of camphorwood caused Yun Henqiu to involuntarily wrinkle his brow. Still, he carefully masked any signs of discomfort and presented himself as composed. After a respectful bow, he formally reported the death of Geng Shuang and expressed his suspicion that Chen An was the culprit.
"Chen An's strength was evident during the disciple competition. He is fully capable of killing an inner disciple like Geng Shuang. Furthermore, I've reviewed the incidents reported within the sect regarding Chen An after his admission."
"Outer sect steward Wei Ming, inner sect disciples Lu Yi and Han Juan, and now Geng Shuang—all these individuals had direct conflicts with Chen An before their deaths. It's reasonable to suspect that they were all killed by him."
"Such a reckless and ruthless individual poses a great threat if left in the sect. I implore the Sect Master to order Chen An's immediate apprehension!"
Yun Henqiu had long understood that Meng Wenting held some admiration for Chen An. Thus, he came prepared for this confrontation, having meticulously gathered evidence against Chen An during his absence from the sect. Now, Yun Henqiu sought Meng Wenting's stance.
Sitting cross-legged on a meditation cushion, Meng Wenting appeared unfazed. After Yun Henqiu's lengthy accusations, Meng Wenting calmly asked, "Elder Yun has made these claims, but do you have any evidence?"
This single question deepened Yun Henqiu's frown. It was true—he lacked direct proof tying Chen An to these deaths. However, determined to proceed, Yun Henqiu coldly retorted, "Chen An is cunning and leaves no traces. Even so, his connections to these deaths are undeniable. I believe we need no evidence to detain him!"
"Yun Henqiu." Meng Wenting's tone hardened, interrupting the elder mid-sentence. "I'm aware of your grievances with Chen An. But without evidence, I cannot permit the arbitrary arrest of any sect disciple."
After a brief pause, Meng Wenting added, "However, if you insist, we can hold a Sect Judgment. During this trial, if you can present any evidence of Chen An's crimes, I will no longer interfere."
Although Meng Wenting refused to sanction Chen An's immediate apprehension, his suggestion of a Sect Judgment gave Yun Henqiu a glimmer of hope. He was confident that, under the intense scrutiny of the trial, Chen An would expose some weakness or flaw.
That night, Chen An was informed that a Sect Judgment would take place the next day. He was to answer for the deaths of Wei Ming, Lu Yi, Han Juan, and Geng Shuang. The announcement noted that both Meng Wenting and Yun Henqiu would oversee the proceedings.
To prevent Chen An from escaping or colluding with others, over twenty inner sect stewards surrounded his residence, ensuring it was sealed tighter than a drum.
Yun Henqiu's meticulous preparations demonstrated his intent to corner Chen An. For an ordinary disciple, such overwhelming pressure would induce panic and terror. Yet Chen An remained indifferent, continuing to practice the Flower-Picking Finger of the Buddha throughout the night.
When dawn broke, he was led to the Inner Elders' Hall. Even then, his demeanor was calm, as though he didn't care about the looming trial.
By the time Chen An arrived, the hall was already filled with people. Meng Wenting, Yun Henqiu, and almost all the sect's elders were present. Numerous inner disciples were also invited as witnesses, turning the trial into a grand event.
The Sect Judgment was a deeply rooted tradition of the Lingfu Sect. It was reserved for situations where evidence was insufficient to confirm a disciple's guilt, yet the accusations were too severe to ignore.
If the trial ruled in favor of the accused, they would be declared innocent. But if not, their punishment would be swift and severe.
In the sect's long history, Sect Judgments had been held only a handful of times. In every case, the accused succumbed to the immense psychological pressure, confessed their crimes, and faced retribution.
Today, the accused was Chen An, and the charge was unprecedented—killing four fellow disciples. This made the trial a spectacle of unprecedented scale, drawing countless onlookers who crowded around the hall.
"Chen An," Yun Henqiu's voice rang out sharply as the trial began, "you joined this sect, and since then, Wei Ming, Lu Yi, and Han Juan—all individuals you've had conflicts with—have met untimely deaths. I ask you now: Did you kill them?"
Chen An didn't immediately answer. Instead, his gaze swept over Meng Wenting, seated at the head of the hall, and Gu Changlao, lurking among the crowd.
"I understand," Chen An began, his voice calm yet tinged with sarcasm. "Elder Yun harbors resentment because I defeated your bloodline successor, Yun Xiao, during the disciple competition. Yun Xiao was so gravely injured he's still bedridden. If this is my crime, then I willingly accept death today."
His words sent a ripple of whispers through the hall. Everyone knew of Yun Henqiu's disdain for Chen An, but Chen An's bold statement reframed the entire trial. Instead of addressing the accusations, he painted himself as a victim of Yun Henqiu's vendetta, shifting public opinion in his favor.
Meng Wenting nodded slightly from his seat. He was impressed by Chen An's clever maneuvering. With just a few words, Chen An turned the tide, casting doubt on Yun Henqiu's intentions and positioning himself as a victim of bias. The hall's spectators now questioned whether Yun Henqiu's motives were as noble as they seemed.
Yet Yun Henqiu was no fool. He quickly rebuked, "It's true I hold no fondness for you, but I would never exploit my status as the sect's chief elder to falsely accuse a disciple. Stop deflecting and answer me directly—did you kill Wei Ming, Lu Yi, and Han Juan?"