Dream shopkeeper arrived

"That's exactly right!" Su Xuanwu sneered, "Why was Wei Zhuang wearing a defensive treasure during his spar with Su Mu? Isn't this a violation of the sect's rules? How should this be dealt with?"

He did not address how Yang Kai should be punished but instead bound Wei Zhuang as well, leaving the Grand Elder momentarily stunned, unsure of how to respond.

"If Wei Zhuang truly won against Su Mu through his own skill, then it is merely Su Mu's fault for lacking proficiency. Yet Wei Zhuang, relying on the treasure's protection, has humiliated my disciple. Master Brother, do you think I am merely clay to be shaped?" Su Xuanwu roared angrily, smashing the armrest of his chair into splinters with a single slap.

Wei Xitong had to lower his stance and said, "Second Junior Brother, calm down. The defensive treasure Wei Zhuang used was indeed granted by me. I intended only to ensure his safety, never imagining he would rely on the treasure to engage in a contest. This fault lies with Wei Zhuang."

With that, he barked at the assembly, "Wei Zhuang, apologize and admit your mistake to your Junior Brother Su now!"

Wei Zhuang complied, immediately cupping his hands towards Su Mu and said, "Junior Brother Su, it was my fault this time. I apologize. Please be magnanimous and forgive me. After all, a statesman's broad mind should be able to tolerate some errors."

"Hmph!" Su Mu turned his head away, ignoring him.

But now that things had reached this point, what more could Su Xuanwu do?

The Grand Elder added, "Wei Zhuang has erred, but Yang Kai's fault is even greater. Holding a divine weapon, he nearly killed Wei Zhuang. If not for the timely intervention of the Law Enforcement Hall disciples, Wei Zhuang might have already lost his life. This matter has a grave impact, and Yang Kai must be severely punished as a warning to others!"

The Fourth Elder Zhou Fei and the Fifth Elder You Zizai nodded in agreement.

The Second Elder sneered, "How is it that Wei Zhuang merely apologizes for breaking sect rules, but Yang Kai must be harshly punished? Could it be that Wei Zhuang, being your grandson, is entitled to special privileges? If so, what prestige would the Lingxiao Pavilion's Elders have before the disciples?"

Wei Xitong replied sternly, "Second Junior Brother, you are mistaken. The errors committed by Yang Kai and Wei Zhuang are not comparable. Wei Zhuang only wore a defensive treasure for his own protection, without intending to harm others, whereas Yang Kai wielded a killing weapon intended for murder. The gravity of the two offenses should be clear to you!"

Su Xuanwu interjected, "May I ask, Master Brother, who has seen Yang Kai wielding a killing weapon? If such a weapon existed, why did the Law Enforcement Hall not find it on him? Fourth Brother, did your Law Enforcement Hall report anything on this matter?"

The Law Enforcement Hall, under the Fourth Elder Zhou Fei, shook his head, "There was no report, but many witnesses saw Yang Kai with a blood-red dagger. The weapon's power was evident as it destroyed Wei Zhuang's embroidered cloud armor."

Su Xuanwu snorted coldly, and with a shift of his internal energy, a slender sword of pure energy materialized from his fingertip, shimmering with undeniable power.

"If that is the case, then do I also wield a weapon?" Su Xuanwu glared at the three opposite him.

"This is merely the exquisite use of energy, not a weapon," the Fifth Elder You Zizai slowly shook his head.

"Are you suggesting that someone at the third layer of the Opening Yuan Realm like Yang Kai could control energy to such an extent?" The Fourth Elder Zhou Fei looked at Su Xuanwu with a mocking expression.

This was absurd. A martial artist could only materialize such substance when their energy transformed into True Yuan at the True Yuan Realm. Yang Kai, being merely at the third layer of the Opening Yuan Realm, was miles away from such capability.

"I did not say he controls energy to that degree. Did you forget about martial techniques?" Su Xuanwu snorted.

"Impossible. Even if he used some unique martial technique, a mere third-layer Opening Yuan Realm practitioner could not breach the embroidered cloud armor's defense," Wei Xitong shook his head repeatedly.

"There is no such thing as impossible. It only shows that you brothers have been entrenched in the Lingxiao Pavilion for so long, consumed by power struggles, that your thinking has become rigid and outdated!"

The remark was harsh, and Wei Xitong's expression grew cold. "Second Junior Brother, do you insist on protecting Yang Kai?"

"Yes, and what of it!" Su Xuanwu stood up abruptly, "This matter, simply put, is a sparring match among juniors. You all are making a fuss over it. Fine, I'll indulge your obstinacy. Either punish both Yang Kai and Wei Zhuang together, as they both violated sect rules, or let the matter end here."

"No!" Wei Xitong refused, "Even if Yang Kai used a martial technique to breach the embroidered cloud armor, he is young, and his methods are brutal and ruthless. If his cultivation advances, he will inevitably fall into the evil path. Our Lingxiao Pavilion cannot harbor such a person!"

"He is only at the Opening Yuan Realm. How can you predict he will fall into the evil path? Can Master Brother foresee the future?"

"Second Brother..." The Fourth Elder Zhou Fei was about to speak but was interrupted by Su Xuanwu's furious shout, pointing his finger, "Fourth Brother, before the Sect Master went into seclusion, he appointed you to oversee the Law Enforcement Hall. Over these years, what has the Law Enforcement Hall been doing? Where is the fairness and justice? If the Law Enforcement Hall only suppresses dissent and assists in power struggles, what use is it? Tomorrow, I will inform the Sect Master to disband the Law Enforcement Hall! Damn, what a farce!"

The Fourth Elder, scolded and feeling deeply wronged, could only keep his eyes narrowed and say nothing.

"Second Junior Brother, what if I insist on expelling Yang Kai from Lingxiao Pavilion?" Wei Xitong asked coldly.

"Do you dare!" Su Xuanwu did not back down.

"Very well, then we shall proceed according to the rules set by the Sect Master. We will vote by hand. Once the Elder Council approves, I assume Second Junior Brother will not have any objections?"

"Heh, a vote by hand?" Su Xuanwu laughed heartily, "Master Brother, do you take me for a fool? Is a vote really necessary?"

"Nothing seems to satisfy you. Do you disregard even the rules set by the Sect Master?" Wei Xitong's anger flared.

The Elder Hall was filled with tension, on the verge of erupting into a full-blown conflict.

"Calm down, everyone, calm down. Have a drink of water, and let's all cool down," the Third Elder, who had remained silent, interjected.

The Third Elder, though usually siding with the Second Elder, preferred not to engage in disputes. His advice was typically to calm things down, though with little effect.

"No drinking!" The Grand Elder and the Second Elder shouted in unison, glaring at each other, neither willing to yield.

The Third Elder, helpless, could only drink on his own.

As the Elders argued, a sudden voice from outside called out urgently, "Disciples have urgent news to report to the Elders!"

The Fourth Elder's brow furrowed, and he quickly said, "Come in!"

Disciples rarely dared to interrupt discussions in the Elder Hall. Such intrusion typically indicated a major issue within the sect.

The Elders, understanding the gravity, ceased their quarrel.

The disciple entered and the Fourth Elder Zhou Fei asked, "What is the matter?"

"Reporting to the Elder, someone has breached the Law Enforcement Hall's Forest Prison and rescued the troublemakers Yang Kai and Li Yuntian. They are currently confronting Senior Brother Xie Hongchen at the prison gate."

"What?" The Fourth Elder stood up immediately, and the other Elders showed expressions of shock.

"Who has the audacity to break into the Forest Prison to rescue people?"

The Lingxiao Pavilion disciple dared not answer directly but glanced timidly at Su Xuanwu.

Su Xuanwu's heart sank, sensing a troubling premonition.

The Grand Elder, observing everything, took a deep breath and said calmly, "Speak."

"It... it was Su Yan, Senior Sister Su!"

At these words, the Grand Elder's smile took on a deep meaning, and even the Fourth and Fifth Elders looked strangely at Su Xuanwu, while the Third Elder continued to drink.

Su Xuanwu's expression changed dramatically, his teeth clenched in anger. He roared, "Are you sure? Did Su Yan really break into the Forest Prison?"

The disciple, trembling, quickly affirmed, "I saw it clearly. I know Senior Sister Su Yan's name. If Second Elder does not believe it, you may check personally!"

"No need." Su Xuanwu waved his hand, closing his eyes momentarily. After a while, he indeed sensed a chill from the Forest Prison, a unique coldness only Su Yan possessed.

The girl is reckless and audacious!

"Second Junior Brother, how do you view this matter?" The Grand Elder asked with a smile, waiting for Su Xuanwu to withdraw his spiritual sense before speaking leisurely.

At this moment, the Grand Elder felt assured.

If the two sides had previously been unwilling to compromise, now there was a breakthrough.

The Forest Prison was a critical place in Lingxiao Pavilion for confining misbehaving

 disciples. Su Yan had broken in to rescue Yang Kai, showing that she was willing to disregard everything for her love. In such a situation, how could the sect not take drastic measures?

Su Xuanwu, having lost his temper, finally took a deep breath. "In this case, the matter is even more complicated. Since Su Yan has acted rashly, Yang Kai must also be dealt with according to the rules. However, I am still unwilling to accept Master Brother's decision. I shall take a few days to consider."

He finally gave a reasonable excuse to delay the matter.

"Fine, I agree." Wei Xitong, seeing Su Xuanwu's concession, felt satisfied. "The Grand Elder has not yet made a decision. How about we rest for now and discuss it again tomorrow?"

The other Elders nodded in agreement, and the meeting ended.

As the Elders left the hall, Su Xuanwu's face remained black and gloomy, and the Grand Elder's expression also turned serious, exchanging glances with each other.

The dispute between Su Xuanwu and Wei Xitong was far from over, and the matter concerning Yang Kai and Su Yan was far from settled.

Meanwhile, Yang Kai, still confined in the Forest Prison, remained oblivious to the upheavals in the Elder Hall.