Abuse of Power for Personal Gain, Deserves Death!

The news that the sect leader was to be tried spread like wildfire throughout the Inquiry Sword Sect, and a large number of disciples came to watch.

The three elders sat on the judgment platform, looking down at Chu Lu below.

Xiao Yichen and Liu Yan'er stood to the right as witnesses, while the surrounding disciples gathered at the entrance of the Hall of Justice.

"Luo Qingdie! Did you kill your personal disciple Fan Bailu? Is this true?" the Grand Elder asked sternly.

"It is true."

As soon as these words were spoken, a commotion erupted.

The disciples who came to watch only knew that the sect leader was to be tried, but they didn't know the details. Therefore, upon hearing this shocking accusation, their faces were filled with shock, and their expressions towards Chu Lu were filled with fear.

"The sect leader actually killed her own disciple?"

"No way? Is she crazy?"

"So scary, why?"

"Oh no, she won't come after us, will she?"

"Silence!" The Grand Elder slammed the table, his voice carrying magic power, "Those outside the hall who are not involved are not allowed to make noise."

The disciples outside immediately quieted down.

Then the Grand Elder stared at Chu Lu and continued to ask, "Why did you kill Fan Bailu?"

"He defied his superiors, tried to betray his master and destroy his ancestors, and shouted that he would kill me and charged at me with his sword," Chu Lu said calmly. "So I killed him."

The expressions of the three elders changed slightly again, and their attitudes softened a little.

They didn't believe Luo Qingdie was lying, and this incident sounded like something Fan Bailu would do.

"So that's how it is," the Grand Elder nodded and said. "As a renowned righteous sect in the world, our Inquiry Sword Sect values respect for teachers above all else. For him to try to kill his master, he indeed deserves death."

The disciples outside also began to whisper.

"A disciple actually dared to kill his master, tsk tsk tsk."

"No wonder the sect leader was angry, who wouldn't be angry?"

Chu Lu looked at the shift in public opinion with some surprise and thought to herself, They don't seem as bad as you described.

However, Luo Qingdie replied with mixed feelings, "You'll understand in a little while."

At this moment, after the three elders had a brief discussion, the Grand Elder spoke, "Luo Qingdie killing Fan Bailu is understandable, therefore..."

"Esteemed Elder Grandfathers, please wait a moment!" Just then, Liu Yan'er suddenly stood up. "Please do not punish the sect leader. The one who made the mistake is actually me."

?

Everyone's heads suddenly popped with question marks.

Liu Yan'er said with a sad expression, "Senior Brother Fan had noble character and would never do such a thing as betraying his master and destroying his ancestors. The reason he went to see the sect leader today was actually to seek an explanation for me, to ask why the sect leader was targeting me. This is all my fault."

"If it weren't for the sect leader's resentment towards me, and I cried to Senior Brother Fan, Senior Brother Fan wouldn't have gone to the sect leader. The sect leader wouldn't have been sarcastic and would have driven Senior Brother Fan out of the sect, and Senior Brother Fan wouldn't have been so angry that he lost his mind and drew his sword."

"And if I hadn't been by his side, the sect leader might not have killed him, and Senior Brother Fan wouldn't have died. So this is all my fault. If the three Elder Grandfathers are going to punish someone, please punish me alone and spare the sect leader. It's all my fault!"

Liu Yan'er began to sob towards the end.

The atmosphere in the Hall of Justice suddenly changed.

Everyone's gaze towards Chu Lu also changed.

What were the surrounding disciples thinking? If it weren't for Liu Yan'er, the sect leader wouldn't have been sarcastic and deliberately angered Fan Bailu to the point of wanting to kill?

And what did it mean that if Liu Yan'er hadn't been by his side, the sect leader wouldn't have killed him?

Could it be that the sect leader killed Fan Bailu not because he betrayed his master and destroyed his ancestors, but because he stood up for Liu Yan'er? So, in a fit of rage, she designed and killed him?

The disciples' faces were filled with anger as they thought of this.

And the three elders naturally thought of something as well.

The Grand Elder thought to himself: This way, it does seem a bit strange. Fan Bailu has always been arrogant due to favor, it's not the first time. Why did she get angry this time? Kicking and punching, or drawing a sword and slashing, what difference does it make to her, a Mahayana Stage cultivator? And she even drove him out of the sect first, forcing him to make a move? This doesn't seem like something she would normally do.

So the intention was not the wine, but the person?

The Grand Elder's eyes filled with anger as he thought of this.

The other two elders had the same expression.

—Fan Bailu just wanted to stand up for Little Yan'er, and you killed him? You actually resent Little Yan'er so much? Little Yan'er is so cute, how can you hate her so much? If it were my turn to stand up for her in the future, would you kill me too?

In their anger, the three elders slammed the judgment platform in unison.

"Luo Qingdie! You actually killed your personal disciple over such a trivial matter? Utterly despicable and shameless, unworthy of being a teacher! You are not fit to be the sect leader of this sect." The Grand Elder shouted angrily. "There is no need for further trial. I will now pronounce judgment. You are stripped of your position as sect leader, all your property will be confiscated, and you will be sent alone to the Endless Sea to suppress for a thousand years!"

"No!"

Before anyone else could speak, Liu Yan'er suddenly cried out loudly again, "Esteemed Elder Grandfathers, please do not punish her, punish me!"

"Little Yan'er, don't say anymore. I know you have a kind heart, but the Hall of Justice values justice and fairness. The guilty should be punished, and the good should be rewarded. It can never be the other way around," the Grand Elder shook his head.

"But... this matter started because of me, and the sect leader must not be feeling well. When she returns after a thousand years, then I..." Liu Yan'er began to cry again.

The Grand Elder's heart leaped upon hearing this.

"Indeed, what if she comes back for revenge on Little Yan'er later? By then, our lifespans will also be nearing their end. Who will protect Little Yan'er?"

The Grand Elder looked at Chu Lu, his eyes suddenly filled with a sense of responsibility.

"I think the judgment just now was a bit too lenient. What do you two elders think?" the Grand Elder suddenly said.

The other two elders naturally understood his meaning and nodded repeatedly. "That's right, it was indeed a bit lenient. I think we should add another penalty."

"Then let's add a transfer of cultivation," the Grand Elder said. "Let Luo Qingdie's Mahayana Stage cultivation be transferred to Little Yan'er."

"And a top-grade Heavenly Spiritual Root, otherwise she won't be able to bear such cultivation," the Second Elder added.

"Exactly, that's how it should be," the Grand Elder nodded. "This way, it also solves Little Yan'er's insufficient aptitude problem. As for you, with your talent, even if you lose your spiritual root and your cultivation drops back to the Tribulation Stage, with three to five thousand years of recovery, you'll be able to regain it. It's not a big deal."

"I agree," the Second and Third Elders nodded in unison.

The disciples watching applauded and cheered, "Good, the three elders have judged well! They truly are the just Enforcement Hall!"

Liu Yan'er, who had been crying and pleading to be punished earlier, stopped her pleas and lowered her head, remaining silent.

Chu Lu, the person directly involved, found the entire scene absurd.

Luo Qingdie's faint sigh echoed in his mind: "Do you understand now?"

Chu Lu nodded slightly, thinking to himself, The characters in these romance novels are truly outrageous!

Setting aside the fact that this was all based on hearsay, they had accepted everything without even asking for further clarification.

Even if it were all true, how dare these people pass such a judgment on someone in the Mahayana Stage? Were they tired of living?

However, if Luo Qingdie were the one facing this situation right now, they might have actually succeeded.

But she wasn't.

Chu Lu looked at the three people in front of him and slowly asked, "Have the three elders made up their minds? Are you not changing your decision?"

"Hmph," the Grand Elder snorted, mistaking Chu Lu's question for a plea for mercy. "It's useless. Our minds are made up. Nothing you say will change them."

"Very good," Chu Lu nodded lightly, then walked towards the three elders. "Then I have nothing to hold back."

Chu Lu drew his sword from his storage ring.

The three elders were shocked and shouted loudly, "Luo Qingdie, what do you think you're doing?"

"Perverting justice and abusing your power, you deserve to die!"