The deacon elder's face was livid.
He did not believe Chen Changming's explanation at all. He merely assumed that "Chen Chuan," driven into a corner, was wildly implicating the sect master to escape punishment.
With his hands clasped behind his back, he stepped forward and unleashed the full weight of his pressure, continuing to fabricate charges in a stern voice.
"Chen Chuan! Even now, you refuse to repent!"
"First, you abandoned your post, leaving the Spirit Medicine Valley unattended and causing damage to the sect's medicinal fields. This constitutes a grave dereliction of duty!"
"Second, instead of reflecting on your mistake, you lied before everyone, invoking the sect master's name to evade guilt. You scorned our rules and deceived your elders!"
"Third, when questioned by those enforcing the rules, you behaved arrogantly, refused to submit, and showed no respect for your elders!"
Elder Yu shouted so fiercely that everyone's eardrums ached. "You will be punished for all three offenses! Even if you have heaven itself backing you, you will not get off lightly today!"
Standing nearby, Zhang Huaichu and Jiang Beiyu were ecstatic.
It's settled! Every one of those three charges sticks. Chen Chuan is finished this time! At best, he'll lose his post. At worst, he'll be thrown into prison and have his cultivation crippled! Zhang Huaichu laughed wildly to himself.
Jiang Beiyu's face was also filled with satisfaction.
Their fists tightened slightly inside their sleeves as they suppressed the urge to laugh aloud. They simply stood aside, waiting to watch Chen Changming's reputation crumble into ruin.
The outer disciples and servant disciples around the Ninth Spiritual Medicine Valley, however, had far more complicated feelings.
"Senior Brother Chen Chuan is usually quite mild-mannered. To think a brief absence from his post would bring him to this end. What a