I'm so damn awesome

Lin Qingyang stood rooted to the spot, looking perfectly unruffled. In reality, he had failed to react at all. Only now did cold sweat break out on his forehead. He swallowed, then immediately put on a smile.

"I was joking. Why did you take it seriously, Elder Mo?" Lin Qingyang looked around at everyone with a smile and waved his hand. "I really was talking nonsense just now. I never saw Elder Mo enter the sect leader's room.

Everyone looked baffled, unsure what Lin Qingyang was playing at.

But Mo Yan looked distinctly angrier. Lightning crackled in his palm, and seeing him look as though Sikong Zhen had possessed him, Lin Qingyang hurriedly jumped away in fright.

"Elder Mo, calm down first. I was only trying to give everyone an example." Lin Qingyang swept his gaze over everyone present and said loudly, "I just wanted to show that it's very hard for someone to prove they haven't done something."

That quieted everyone for a moment, and all eyes turned toward him.

"Even someone as highly cultivated and distinguished as you, Elder Mo, can't prove your innocence when faced with a baseless accusation, let alone a demon slave like him. If mere speculation is enough to subject someone to torture, then shouldn't everyone in the Nine Skies Sect who had the opportunity to enter the sect leader's room be a suspect and undergo the same interrogation? Is today's interrogation meant to uncover the truth and find the real culprit, or to find a scapegoat and force him to confess?" Lin Qingyang enunciated every word. His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable force.

Mo Yan's expression remained ugly, but hesitation and confusion also entered his eyes. For a moment, he said nothing.

Xue Lanyuan and Jin Buhuan frowned in thought. After a stretch of silence, the disciples below the platform began whispering, some quietly remarking that it seemed to make sense.

Feng Shu and Feng Yi still stared at their master in confusion. He had been abnormal for more than a day or two, but today he was far too out of character.

Before long, Jin Buhuan spoke first. "Then how does Elder Lin think this demon slave should be dealt with?"

Lin Qingyang glanced back at Qi Mo, who was covered in blood. "He has already endured every kind of torture and still hasn't confessed. Continuing to torture him now probably won't yield anything. Why not take him into custody for the time being and investigate anew? Whoever could have done this should be someone from our sect. Investigate every possible suspect one by one, and the truth will eventually come to light."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the sword in his hand shuddered violently again.

Jin Buhuan looked at the other two. Mo Yan said nothing, his face dark.

After a moment's silence, Xue Lanyuan said, "I think Elder Lin has a point. Continuing the interrogation now really won't accomplish anything."

Mo Yan looked displeased, but he did not insist any further. Irritably, he called out, "Lei Guang, Lei Chen!"

Two black-robed disciples stepped out from among the disciples and bowed.

"Take this beast to the Forbidden Abyss and keep him under strict guard," Mo Yan said angrily.

"Yes, Master!" Lei Guang and Lei Chen answered, then stepped forward and hauled Qi Mo up between them.

After giving his orders, Mo Yan cast another displeased glance at Lin Qingyang, then swept his sleeve, turned into a bolt of lightning, and vanished.

Holy shit, you can do that? Lin Qingyang marveled inwardly. Remembering how he had run all the way here earlier, he felt he seemed a little foolish.

Still, with the matter settled for now, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. Turning his head, he met Jin Buhuan's and Xue Lanyuan's scrutinizing gazes.

"Elder Lin is very different today, almost like a different person." A glint flashed in Jin Buhuan's eyes behind his lenses.

Xue Lanyuan also looked at him oddly and agreed, "Indeed."

Lin Qingyang's heart tightened, but he smiled. "To tell you the truth, I recently had a sudden insight during my cultivation and decided I wanted to turn over a new leaf."

Jin Buhuan and Xue Lanyuan exchanged a glance. It was indeed nothing particularly unusual for cultivators to experience sudden enlightenment that changed their words and actions. Some even underwent a complete change in temperament in an instant, and there were cases of people ascending with one thought or falling into demonhood with another.

"May I ask what insight Elder Lin gained?" Jin Buhuan asked curiously.

Lin Qingyang paused and looked toward Qi Mo, who was being led away. Slowly, he said, "All things have spirits. All beings are equal."

His voice was not loud, but it struck Qi Mo's ears all at once, sending a tremendous jolt through him. He could not help turning back to look at Lin Qingyang in the hall, just as Lin Qingyang looked his way. Across the distance, their eyes met.

Lin Qingyang cocked his eyebrows at him smugly, inwardly congratulating himself. I'm so damn awesome!

The public trial ended, and everyone dispersed.

Jin Buhuan said goodbye, swept his sleeve, and vanished in an instant as well.

Lin Qingyang was curious about what sort of spell this was, but he had yet to remember how to use it, so he could only walk back for now. Yet the moment he turned around, he found Xue Lanyuan standing silently behind him, watching him with an expressionless face.

Lin Qingyang jumped, then smiled. "Elder Xue, you haven't left yet?"

Xue Lanyuan merely asked with a serious expression, "You said you wanted to reinvestigate this case. Do you have any leads?"

Seriously? The three of you investigated for days without finding anything. What leads could a newcomer like me have?

Lin Qingyang grumbled inwardly, but he still smiled. "With this sort of thing, we should usually start at the scene and see whether any clues were overlooked."

Xue Lanyuan nodded. "Then let's go."

Lin Qingyang froze. "Me too?"

Seriously? Work right after the meeting ends! But before he could say anything more, Xue Lanyuan briskly swept a sleeve and vanished.

Lin Qingyang stood there, rather speechless. Lady, you're making me look really stupid!

What kind of skill is this, anyway? With no other choice, Lin Qingyang imitated Xue Lanyuan and swept his sleeve. He did not move. He tried again, but still did not move. How about waving both hands together? Just as he was about to finish an entire set of chest-expansion exercises, Xue Lanyuan flashed back into view and looked at him in puzzlement.

Lin Qingyang smiled awkwardly. "I accidentally hurt myself while cultivating a couple of days ago, so it's a little inconvenient. Why don't we walk instead? The weather looks nice today. We could treat it as a str-"

Before he could finish, Xue Lanyuan grabbed his shoulder and swept a long, aqua-blue sleeve.

Lin Qingyang suddenly felt his body become light, so light that it seemed to weigh nothing at all. Then a gust of wind blew past, and his whole body seemed to turn into a breeze and be swept away. By the time he came to his senses, the two of them were standing in a small, old-fashioned courtyard.

The courtyard's style differed from the Clear Wind Pavilion's and looked much more desolate. There were many oddly shaped rocks inside, and the plaque above the wooden door ahead bore three large characters reading "Stone Hut Studio." This was the sect leader's courtyard.

As Lin Qingyang surveyed the courtyard, a dull ache suddenly arose in his heart, accompanied by a feeling of sorrow. He touched his chest. This seemed to be the original owner's emotions!