Severe Punishment

Rustle!

The several people who had come with him immediately restrained Yang Chen. Yang Chen did not resist; their cultivation was all above his, and resistance was meaningless.

A furious smile suddenly surfaced on his composed face. The moment he heard the words "administration office," he abruptly understood. This had all been a trap set specifically for him.

"Did Zhou Han instruct you to do this?"

Other than Zhou Han, Yang Chen could think of no other reason. In the end, he had been too careless and underestimated Zhou Han's methods.

"What Zhou Han? You dared to covet my woman, so you'd better be prepared to receive severe punishment! Take him away!"

Senior Brother Lei flatly denied it. His expression did not seem false. Yang Chen turned his cold gaze toward Ji Ran, whose face remained as usual. There was even a trace of puzzlement in the way she looked at him.

"Fine. I'll accept today's loss!" Yang Chen suppressed the rage in his heart and gave a cold laugh. "But I'll remember this debt. Our days ahead are long!"

"You think you're in the right?" Senior Brother Lei laughed angrily again and again as he had Yang Chen escorted outside. "Junior Sister Ji, come along and testify as well!"

"Alright."

Before long, the group headed straight for the mountainside.

At the same time, in House Number Fifty-Six of Residential Area Four, the lingering air of intimacy slowly settled. Zhu Xi lay half-naked on the bed, with Wu Menglan curled up beside him like a kitten.

"Senior Sister, rest assured. I'm completely sincere toward you."

Half-drunk and half-awake, Wu Menglan traced circles over Zhu Xi's body with her finger and muttered softly, "I'll remember what you said. You can't betray me, or I'll be very sad."

"Of course!" Zhu Xi nodded, refreshed in body and spirit. After stealing a glance at the pitiable Wu Menglan, another flare of heat rose in his heart.

"Don't. It seemed Junior Brother Yang had something to discuss with you just now. Hurry and ask him."

"What could possibly be so urgent in the middle of the night? At most, he got lost while taking Senior Sister Ji back. He could just ask anyone."

Zhu Xi's hand began wandering again as he asked, "By the way, Senior Sister Ji doesn't have a sweetheart, does she? Old Yang is my close friend. I can't lead him into unrighteousness."

"Absolutely not. Junior Sister Ji and I are very close. If she had a sweetheart, how could she possibly not tell me?"

Neither of them knew that Yang Chen had already been escorted to the mountainside.

Senior Brother Lei and the others explained their purpose. When the disciple standing guard outside saw the restrained Yang Chen, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes.

The guard went inside to report, then quickly returned. "The administrator orders you to go to the Judgment Hall."

By the time they entered the Judgment Hall, Lin Chuan was already seated on the raised platform with a dark expression. When he saw Yang Chen among them, an almost imperceptible trace of surprise flashed through his eyes.

"Greetings, Administrator!"

Senior Brother Lei prostrated himself and swiftly recounted the entire sequence of events.

"This man's conduct is improper. He trespassed into a female disciple's private room with ill intentions. I ask that you investigate clearly, sir!"

Lin Chuan said expressionlessly, "Do you have conclusive evidence?"

"Yes! The four of us can all testify. Junior Sister Ji is the person involved and can testify as well."

The people beside Senior Brother Lei immediately spoke up as witnesses. Ji Ran also said, "Sir, this disciple does not know this man. If things are truly as Senior Brother Lei and the others said, then I ask that you punish him severely."

Lin Chuan looked toward Yang Chen. "What do you have to say?"

"This disciple has been wronged!" Yang Chen stepped forward and explained, "I was invited to drink. Senior Sister Ji and I each had several cups at the table. Afterward, she became drunk by the roadside and asked me to carry her back. This disciple did not think much of it and took her to Area Four, but because I did not know the exact location, I asked for directions halfway there."

Pointing at the cold-faced disciple, he continued, "This senior brother showed me the way. I took Senior Sister Ji into the room, and just as I was about to leave, the four of them burst in. I explained myself in every possible way, but they simply refused to listen. Senior Sister Ji also suddenly changed her story, claiming she did not know me."

"This disciple believes they deliberately set a trap to frame me. I ask that you uphold justice, sir!"

"Utter nonsense! We don't even know you. Why would we have nothing better to do than set a trap for you?" Senior Brother Lei retorted sharply. "Besides, if things were truly as you said, why would Junior Sister Ji claim not to know you? Are you suggesting she deliberately used her own purity to target you?"

Yang Chen said coldly, "I have no wish to argue with you. As long as Wu Menglan and Zhu Xi are brought here, the truth will naturally be settled."

"Then summon those two here at once!"

At Lin Chuan's command, one of the disciples beside Senior Brother Lei immediately ran down the mountain.

Around half an hour later, the three of them hurried over.

After Zhu Xi and Wu Menglan entered the Judgment Hall, they were plainly bewildered.

Lin Chuan concisely repeated what had happened. Zhu Xi immediately looked at Ji Ran in disbelief and demanded furiously, "Senior Sister Ji, what do you mean by this? Why are you framing Yang Chen?"

Wu Menglan also questioned her, "Junior Sister Ji, what are you doing? Even a joke shouldn't be played like this, should it?"

From the moment the two entered, Yang Chen had been watching Zhu Xi and Wu Menglan closely. From his observations, the two of them truly seemed unaware of what had happened.

"So, the four of you did indeed drink together?"

There was a faint note of interrogation in Lin Chuan's voice. Zhu Xi and Wu Menglan answered in unison, "Absolutely true!"

When Senior Brother Lei heard them, his expression changed again and again. He looked toward Ji Ran, but she wore an innocent expression as she explained, "I just remembered that we did indeed drink together. But I never said I wanted him to take me back. I had long since pledged myself to Senior Brother Lei. How could I let a strange man carry me home?"

"I never expected this junior brother to have the face of a man and the heart of a beast, actually intending to take advantage of my drunkenness to commit wrongdoing!"

"You!" Zhu Xi flew into a furious rage.

Wu Menglan looked as though she were only now meeting Ji Ran for the first time, her eyes filled with deep disappointment.

This matter had begun because of Zhu Xi and herself, yet it had placed Yang Chen in danger. How would she face Zhu Xi in the future?

"That wasn't what you said just now." Yang Chen snorted coldly. "Just now, you insisted that you did not know me. Why have you changed your story again? Do you really think such a scheme riddled with holes is believable?"

"I had only just sobered up from drunkenness. Is it not normal that I could not remember what happened before?" Ji Ran looked aggrieved. She looked toward Lin Chuan and said through tears, "He tried to violate me while I was drunk. Not only does he seek to destroy my purity, but now he even bites back. I ask that you uphold justice for me, sir."

Lin Chuan said flatly, "Yang Chen, do you have any further evidence to prove your innocence?"

Yang Chen slowly shook his head. He had already realized that things were going badly.

Lin Chuan's gaze moved among the group. In his heart, he was inclined to believe Yang Chen, but Yang Chen was bound to swallow this bitter loss.

No matter what, the fact that he had appeared at Ji Ran's residence could not be disputed. Even if that had not been his intention, Ji Ran now adamantly insisted that he had harbored improper designs. Objectively speaking, that was the original sin.

Who told you to take her back?

With the person involved flatly denying it and Yang Chen unable to produce irrefutable proof, his charge had already been established.

However, since Lin Chuan was inclined toward Yang Chen, he naturally could not impose the maximum punishment.

"According to the sect rules, trespassing into a female disciple's residence warrants expulsion from the sect." Lin Chuan slowly spoke, announcing his decision. "However, where the facts of the violation are disputed and no substantive harm has been caused, the punishment may be reduced as appropriate. From this day onward, Yang Chen shall be deprived of one year's cultivation resources, as a warning to others!"