Chapter 75: What More Do You Have to Say?

Wu Boyan prided himself on his ingenious schemes. He believed the current situation was perfectly under control. With the information he now possessed, what problem couldn't be solved?

The elders gathered in the Great Hall.

Jiang Zhengqing's face was dark. "Well? Explain yourselves. What is going on? The Ming Pavilion was robbed, and now Lin Yun is dead. Can anyone tell me what the meaning of this is?" As he spoke, he slammed his hand down on the armrest of his throne.

Wu Boyan shot a look at Fang Yan.

The Fourth Elder stepped forward with an innocent expression. "Sect Master, we told you from the beginning that we shouldn't have kept that Lin Yun."

Cao Yuke, the Sixth Elder, quickly chimed in, "Indeed. He was only here for a few days, and he's already thrown the entire sect into chaos. Just the other day, he publicly humiliated Elder Wu's disciple, Zhang Hongze. That boy is truly the source of all our troubles."

Jiang Zhengqing watched the coordinated performance below, then turned his gaze to Zhao Fa. "Junior Brother Zhao, what are your thoughts?"

Zhao Fa was still lost in his own worried thoughts. Hearing his name, he jumped. "Hm? Oh, yes, that's right." He was clearly absent-minded.

Jiang Zhengqing gave a cold smile.

First Elder Ning Changkong then asked, "Sect Master, what was stolen from the Ming Pavilion?"

"The geological survey map of the Spirit Realm," Jiang Zhengqing stated flatly.

At these words, the expressions of several elders changed dramatically. Each of the Four Great Sects possessed a different and unique portion of the complete map. These fragments were treated as supreme treasures. It was the fact that the map was split among them that guaranteed the stability of the Four Great Sects' power structure. After all, to get the complete map for the Grand Tournament of the Spirit Realm, all four sects had to cooperate.

But now, the Beast Taming Sect's portion was gone. This was a death sentence for them.

Wu Boyan collapsed onto the floor. "It's… it's over. We're finished. The Beast Taming Sect is finished." He began to wail mournfully. "Oh, our revered ancestors, we have failed you! To think that the Sect Master's moment of kindness would lead to such a catastrophe! The Beast Taming Sect… it's all over!"

His grief was so profound, it was as if it were real.

Duan Wuya and Ning Changkong knew, of course, that he was acting. But what could they do? As the Sect Master, Jiang Zhengqing had taken in Lin Yun, and it had resulted in this disaster for the sect. How could he not be held responsible?

Just then, Zhou Damao walked in.

Seeing him, Zhao Fa grew even more panicked. Even Wu Boyan shot Zhou Damao a wary look. Everything now depended on whether Zhou Damao remembered what had happened. If he didn't, the situation was still manageable. If he did… well, the map wasn't in Wu Boyan's hands anyway. He could use it as a bargaining chip to secure his own escape and then flee to distant lands. The world was a wide place.

"Master," Zhou Damao began, "your disciple feels that there is something suspicious about this matter. We have no evidence to prove that Lin Yun was the one who stole the map from the Ming Pavilion."

Wu Boyan snorted. "Do we still need evidence? If Lin Yun didn't steal the map, why would he kill himself? Are you telling me the boy didn't commit suicide out of fear of punishment?" he bellowed, acting as if he were on the moral high ground.

Zhou Damao countered, "Let's assume Lin Yun did do it. If he was able to send the map out, why wouldn't he just leave himself? Why would he commit suicide?"

Wu Boyan scoffed. "How should I know what that kid was thinking? Maybe he was just crazy."

Zhao Fa's hands were clenched tightly around his robes, his back dripping with sweat. The tension was suffocating.

Wu Boyan, however, was now fairly certain that Zhou Damao didn't know the truth.

At that moment, Jiang Zhengqing's voice boomed through the hall. "If you tell me the truth now, I can still, for the sake of our past brotherhood, choose not to pursue the matter."

Wu Boyan shot a subconscious glare at Zhao Fa. Pathetic. Did Jiang Zhengqing really think he could bluff them into a confession?

Zhao Fa kept his head down, not daring to speak.

Wu Boyan, however, pressed on, looking at Zhou Damao. "Sect Master, if this has nothing to do with Lin Yun, then why did he die? I know you've always liked to protect him, but this time, the evidence is conclusive. In the entire Beast Taming Sect, he was the only one with a motive. If it wasn't him, who could it possibly be?"

Just as Wu Boyan's words fell, a voice that struck terror into his very soul sounded from outside the hall.

"Because in the entire Beast Taming Sect, he is the one person who would be least likely to do it."

Xu Miaoyun slowly walked into the Great Hall. She looked at Jiang Zhengqing on his throne and bowed. "Sect Master."

Jiang Zhengqing nodded with a smile.

At the sight of her, Zhao Fa began to panic uncontrollably. Even Wu Boyan was at a loss. He frantically tried to signal her with his eyes, but Xu Miaoyun ignored him completely.

"Sect Master," she said, her voice clear and steady, "I can testify that on that day, I personally witnessed Fifth Elder Zhao Fa, at the zi hour, sneak onto Mingtai Mountain and steal the map from the Ming Pavilion."

Before she could finish, Zhao Fa screamed, "You're spouting malicious lies! Slander! You're a mere woman, how could you possibly know of such things?"

Jiang Zhengqing raised a hand, releasing a wave of vital energy that instantly silenced Zhao Fa. "Continue," he said to Xu Miaoyun.

As she unraveled the truth, piece by piece, even Wu Boyan's face turned ashen. It was supposed to have been a flawless plan. How did so many people know about it?

Jiang Zhengqing turned to Zhao Fa. "Junior Brother Zhao, I have known you for many years. I know your character better than anyone. Tell me, who put you up to this?"

Zhao Fa remained stubborn. "Sect Master, are you really going to take her word for it? She claims to know everything, but where is her proof? How can she prove that I was the one who stole the map?"

Expecting his stubbornness, Xu Miaoyun produced the Image-Retaining Crystal she had prepared. "As it happens, I have a recording. Would you care to see it?"

Seeing the absolute certainty on Xu Miaoyun's face, Zhao Fa froze. The events of that day… they were all recorded? He lunged to snatch the crystal, but Xu Miaoyun easily evaded him.

Zhao Fa collapsed to his knees, sobbing. "Senior Brother, please spare me… I really didn't know, I…" He was so terrified he could barely speak.

Wu Boyan let out an angry snort. "Zhao Fa, you have some nerve! To steal the sect's map! Tell us, what was your true intention? You killed Lin Yun as well, didn't you? To frame him for your crime!"

Zhao Fa didn't answer.

But a mocking voice drifted in from outside the hall.

"No need to be in such a hurry to pin the blame on someone else, Elder Wu. If you're so eager for him to be dead, aren't you afraid he might turn on you at the last second?"

Lin Yun strode into the Great Hall, a triumphant smirk on his face.

Zhao Fa and Wu Boyan looked at him, their minds going completely blank.

"You… you're not dead?"

Lin Yun looked at the two of them. "I'm afraid I'll have to disappoint you. That cup of poisoned wine from Senior Brother Chang Le wasn't nearly enough to kill me!"

At these words, Zhao Fa completely fell into despair.