Detention

When Chen Yan opened his eyes again, the first thing he saw was a heavy Black Iron-barred door.

The space was cramped. He tried stretching his legs, and metal scraped against metal from his ankles.

Chen Yan was being held in the Outer Court's Detention Center.

He had been locked up here for fifteen days.

To understand exactly what had happened, they had to go back half a month, to the Outer Court Grand Competition.

Chen Yan had punched Qi Yadong to death—the Personal Disciple of an Elder from Kongyuan Mountain's Law Enforcement Hall.

Song Wencheng had then flown into a rage, and his anger was by no means just wounded pride.

A Body Tempering Realm cultivator killing a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator with one punch was absolutely impossible. It was beyond the understanding of every cultivator on Chenping Continent.

It was even more impossible than the sun rising in the west.

Song Wencheng had originally thought this match would simply give Qi Yadong a chance to show off and, while they were at it, blunt Lin Qifeng's edge.

He had never imagined it would end like this.

If a Qi Condensation Realm cultivator suppressed his realm with pills to the Body Tempering Realm and fought another Body Tempering Realm cultivator, perhaps the other cultivator might have a one-in-a-thousand chance of narrowly winning under the right circumstances.

But a Body Tempering Realm cultivator punching a realm-suppressed Qi Condensation Realm cultivator to death was absolutely impossible.

It went against the most basic common sense of the cultivation world.

That brat Chen Yan had played dirty.

That was Song Wencheng's first thought.

Using underhanded moves forbidden by the rules in a sect competition was an act of contempt that warranted severe punishment.

And if such a sneaky, underhanded trick caused any injuries or deaths on the arena, the disciple responsible had to bear full responsibility.

That was why Song Wencheng had Chen Yan detained.

But at the time, Lin Qifeng had vehemently opposed him. The two had reached a stalemate until Elder Zhengfa of Kongyuan Mountain was summoned. Only then was it finally decided that Chen Yan would be held at the Detention Center.

Song Wencheng had originally demanded that Chen Yan be taken to Kongyuan Mountain's Detention Center, on the grounds that Chen Yan had killed a Kongyuan Mountain disciple. Lin Qifeng had strongly objected to that as well.

In the end, Elder Zhengfa of Kongyuan Mountain had stepped in to mediate, and Chen Yan was temporarily held at the Outer Court's Detention Center.

"You're awake?"

A cool voice came from outside the cell.

Chen Yan looked up and saw a figure dressed in white, her long black hair cascading like a waterfall.

It was Chu Xiyao.

"Senior Sister Chu, you're here again?"

Chen Yan greeted her.

"Mm."

Chu Xiyao nodded.

Ever since Chen Yan had been locked up in the Detention Center, someone from Qingchan Peak had kept watch outside his cell around the clock, day and night.

They suspected someone was after Chen Yan's life, just as someone had once been after Song Mingde's.

But Chen Yan himself didn't care much about life or death.

If he died, it might even confirm his suspicions about the Reincarnation score.

Still, he wouldn't choose to kill himself.

He couldn't bring himself to cross that line.

"How much longer will they keep you here?" Chu Xiyao asked.

"I don't know. I have no idea what's happening outside," Chen Yan replied.

Actually, Chen Yan did know a little. For instance, Lin Qifeng had chosen to cover for him.

According to Sun Lu, who had visited him a few days earlier, Lin Qifeng had told Elder Zhengfa of Kongyuan Mountain that he had given Chen Yan a forbidden drug that could let him break through his physical limits in a short time. As an Outer Court Elder, he hadn't wanted to lose face at the Outer Court Grand Competition, and that was what had led to this outcome.

But in truth, aside from the Po Bing Needle, Lin Qifeng had given Chen Yan nothing.

As for the Po Bing Needle, the Law Enforcement Hall had already confiscated it.

Of course, the Law Enforcement Hall officer had told Chen Yan they were only holding it temporarily.

Aside from the poor living conditions, the Law Enforcement Hall disciples had kept Chen Yan well-fed and well-cared-for. They'd also turned a blind eye to anyone who came to visit.

After all, even now, Lin Qifeng was still an Outer Court Elder. The Outer Court disciples naturally had to keep showing Chen Yan some respect.

As for why Lin Qifeng was going to such lengths to protect him, even at the cost of sullying his own reputation—

Chen Yan didn't understand. But he knew it had nothing to do with a master-disciple bond.

There had been no real relationship between him and Lin Qifeng as master and disciple.

And Chen Yan couldn't offer Lin Qifeng much in the way of benefits, either.

Lin Qifeng could easily find another go-between with Kongyuan Mountain. He was sure to have no shortage of Outer Court disciples willing to serve him.

In his darker moments, Chen Yan wondered if Lin Qifeng was coveting his secret.

It was possible, but Chen Yan still hoped he'd give up on that idea.

With the Hidden Immortal Art, no one could ever pry into Chen Yan's secret.

"It probably won't be much longer. This matter has even reached the Sect Master. From what my master and Elder Fu said, the Sect Master seems keen to smooth things over. He'll punish Elder Lin in public, give Elder Song some extra compensation, and then let the matter drop," Chu Xiyao said.

"Mm."

Chen Yan nodded.

"Why did you kill Qi Yadong?" Chu Xiyao asked. She had always been curious.

"I didn't understand how strong the medicine was. I just didn't hold back," Chen Yan said, making up an answer on the spot.

He really hadn't held back. He hadn't expected to kill Qi Yadong with one punch.

Although Qi Yadong had suppressed his cultivation to the Body Tempering Realm, he no longer had protective qi.

But his body was still as strong as a Qi Condensation Realm Peak cultivator's.

Chen Yan had only just entered the Martial Spring Realm. He knew the gap between the Qi Condensation Realm and the Martial Spring Realm was as vast as a heavenly chasm.

But he hadn't expected that a punch without using any true qi could still kill a cultivator at the peak of the Qi Condensation Realm.

"Did you really take a forbidden drug?" Chu Xiyao asked. Sitting in the spectator stands at the time, she had seen everything clearly.

A Body Tempering Realm cultivator killing Qi Yadong, a Qi Condensation Realm Peak cultivator, with a single punch— even the Chief Disciple of Qingchan Peak would have been shocked by such a feat.

In that instant, Chu Xiyao had clearly sensed the killing intent that erupted from certain Inner Court Elders in the spectator stands.

It was killing intent directed at the "Calamity Cause."

Chu Xiyao had turned to look up toward the stands and seen Lin Qifeng sitting rigidly, brows furrowed as he stared at Chen Yan on the arena, lost in thought.

Only after a Medical Hall disciple announced Qi Yadong's death and Song Wencheng sprang to his feet had Lin Qifeng reacted.

Having one's disciple take a "forbidden drug" just to save face was a pretty clumsy excuse.

Chu Xiyao didn't really believe it.

She thought Chen Yan must be hiding some kind of secret.

"Things have come to this. What do I have left to lie about?" Chen Yan said with a bitter smile, then promptly changed the subject.

"How did Zhang Xishun's interrogation go?"

At that, Chu Xiyao's expression darkened slightly.

"He's dead. They didn't get anything out of him."