Ignoring Qian Fucheng kneeling before him, he swept his cold gaze around the crowd and pointed in a circle. "You! Was he the only one at fault? When I forbade it, who was it that chattered here, fanning the flames? Don't you know perfectly well what little selfish schemes you harbor?"
For the Sect Master to rebuke all the Elders, especially by directly calling out everyone's selfish motives, was a rare sight. It showed just how furious he was.
The hall fell silent at once. No one said a word; indeed, none of them could argue their case.
Yuwen Yan held out his hand for the letter, then flung it straight into Qian Fucheng's face. "Explain this. What does it mean?"
Qian Fucheng picked up the letter from the floor and read it. Looking up, he asked, "Sect Master, who delivered this? Was it Niu Youdao?"
Yuwen Yan said, "If you already know, why would I need to ask?"
Qian Fucheng said, "This should be related to Purple Gold Cave. I know nothing about the delivery of this letter, and I truly can't explain exactly what happened." It was as good as saying nothing.
"Rubbish!" Yuwen Yan snapped. Lowering his gaze, he stared at the kneeling man. "Tell me yourself. How should the sect deal with you?"
Qian Fucheng's attitude was good. "I will accept whatever punishment the sect sees fit, willingly and without complaint!" He knew he could not escape this. With something like this having happened, no one's words could help him.
Yuwen Yan did not stand on ceremony. "Effective immediately, strip him of his Elder position and demote him to a mountain-patrolling disciple!"
Stripped clean to the bottom, Qian Fucheng accepted it. No one spoke for him either. The matter was simply too serious, and even Qian