The sect leader dared to kill someone?

Liu Yan'er practically scrambled out of there.

She ran outside the cave dwelling, fumbled with a communication talisman, and crushed it. Just then, a sword light flashed across the sky, and Xiao Yichen appeared before her.

Before Xiao Yichen could speak, Liu Yan'er, like a drenched little bird, threw herself into his arms, trembling as she held him tightly.

A flicker of heartache crossed Xiao Yichen's usually cool expression as he asked, "What's wrong? Why did you crush a communication talisman in the sect for no reason? I told you those things are quite precious and should only be used in critical moments."

"Master!" Liu Yan'er said with a frightened look on her face. "The Sect Leader killed someone. She killed Senior Brother Fan!"

"What?" Xiao Yichen was taken aback, then shook his head slightly. "Don't talk nonsense. While the Sect Leader may be narrow-minded and jealous of talent, she ultimately understands the bigger picture and wouldn't harm one of our own disciples. Besides, she was quite fond of Fan Bailu, why would she kill him?"

"It's true, it's true, Master!" Liu Yan'er was so anxious that even her usual charming tactics failed. "If you don't believe me, go and see for yourself. It's in the cave dwelling, Senior Brother Fan's body is still lying on the ground!"

Xiao Yichen frowned. He didn't believe Luo Qingdie would kill a fellow disciple, but he also didn't want to suspect Liu Yan'er of lying. He mused that there might be some misunderstanding and said, "Alright, I'll go in and take a look."

Liu Yan'er's face lit up, and she quickly pulled Xiao Yichen along.

When they arrived at the cave dwelling, Xiao Yichen first saw Chu Lu sitting at the very front. He merely raised an eyebrow at the latter's drastically different appearance, showing no significant reaction. However, upon seeing the body on the ground, his pupils contracted.

"Luo Qingdie, what is going on?" Xiao Yichen asked with a frown. "How did Fan Bailu die, and who killed him?"

"I did," Chu Lu said, propping up his chin and scrutinizing Xiao Yichen. He seemed quite satisfied with the scene of the elder coming after the younger. "He defied orders and dared to attack me. He deserves to die."

Xiao Yichen's usually cool expression instantly turned even colder. "When Yan'er told me you killed Fan Bailu, I didn't believe it. I thought that despite your many flaws, you at least understood right from wrong. I never expected you to be such a heartless wretch."

Chu Lu was not angered at all. Being called a beast by a beast only made him laugh.

"So, what do you intend to do?" Chu Lu asked with an eager smile.

"You violated sect rules, and you will naturally be dealt with by the Disciplinary Hall. I will summon the Elders now. You'd best not attempt to escape, lest you compound your crime."

"Alright," Chu Lu thought for a moment and agreed.

Xiao Yichen pulled Liu Yan'er and quickly left.

At this moment, Luo Qingdie poked her head out.

Although she had been possessed and lost control of her body, she could still sense what was happening outside and had seen everything that had just transpired.

The moment Fan Bailu was killed, she instinctively felt a pang of heartache.

However, she quickly remembered how she had poured her heart out to him in her past life, only for Fan Bailu to literally do the same to her. All that remained in her heart was a sense of satisfaction.

She emerged now mainly out of concern.

"Chu Lu, is this your plan?" Luo Qingdie asked worriedly. "Although it seems satisfying, I don't see much effect, do you? Let alone getting revenge, you're practically ruining my reputation."

"Don't worry, it's only just begun," Chu Lu said calmly.

"Huh?"

Chu Lu discarded the broken sword in his hand and pondered his next move.

Killing Fan Bailu was merely a test.

Although he had heard the whole story from Luo Qingdie, hearing was not as good as seeing. He ultimately had to witness it himself to confirm who deserved to die and who didn't.

And this trial by the Disciplinary Hall was a good opportunity.

Everyone who wasn't on his side...

Chu Lu narrowed his eyes.

...deserved to die!

########

In the Disciplinary Hall, the three Elders on duty were taking advantage of a rare moment of free time to chat. Their conversation topic happened to be Liu Yan'er.

"Look, this is a sachet Little Yan'er gave me. They say the dried flowers and herbs inside were all picked and processed by her personally."

"Get outta here, look at mine. This is a safety charm Little Yan'er gave me. She sewed every stitch herself, and she said she hoped I would be safe and sound my whole life."

"My Pixiu pendant is the most precious. This is made of jade, jade!"

The three old men, with a combined age of three to four thousand years, started arguing.

"Mine is better."

"Mine is even better."

"Little Yan'er likes me the most!"

The three old men argued incessantly, but such a topic could never be settled. Finally, tired from arguing, all three gave up and began to sigh.

"Alas, how did Little Yan'er grow up to be so likable?"

Just then, Xiao Yichen walked in briskly.

The three Elders immediately sat up straight, showing no trace of their earlier laziness.

The Grand Elder inquired, "Elder Xiao, why have you come?"

"Something has happened within the sect."

Upon hearing this, the three men's expressions became even more serious.

If Xiao Yichen was rushing over to report something, it must be a major incident.

"What happened?" the Second Elder asked.

"Sect Leader Luo Qingdie inexplicably went berserk and killed her disciple, Fan Bailu," Xiao Yichen said.

Upon hearing this, the three elders' expressions became subtle. They exchanged glances with each other, then burst into laughter.

"Hahahaha. I didn't expect Elder Xiao, such a cold person, to learn to joke around."

"The Sect Leader killed her disciple? Her? Hahaha."

"Come on. We've seen the Sect Leader get beaten by her disciple before. It would be great if she dared to lay a hand on him. We always thought the Sect Leader spoiled her disciple too much, which is why she's only at the Foundation Establishment Stage now."

"Elders," Xiao Yichen said expressionlessly, "Do I look like someone who jokes around?"

As soon as he said this, the three elders' expressions changed again.

"But even so, this is too..."

"It's true," Liu Yan'er chimed in, peeking her head out. "Yan'er saw it with her own eyes. It scared Yan'er to death. I think the Sect Leader has gone mad!"

The three fell silent.

"Alright. Where is the Sect Leader? And where is the body? Take us to see," the Grand Elder said.

"It's in the cave dwelling. Please follow me."

When everyone arrived at the cave dwelling, the three elders saw the body on the ground and Chu Lu, who was waiting there as if he had nothing to fear. Their expressions were exceptionally complex.

"You finally made it," Chu Lu said, looking at them. He was getting impatient waiting.

"Sect Leader, what exactly... No, no need to say more." The Grand Elder looked at the body on the ground with a complicated expression, then looked at Chu Lu, feeling as if he suddenly didn't recognize her anymore.

"The deceased should be respected. For now, let's collect the body, and then..." the Grand Elder said in a deep voice, "we will ask the Sect Leader to come to the Disciplinary Hall to explain herself!"