Ye Feng's expression was utterly dark.
She really was riding a tiger with no way to get off.
Thinking back, she could not help feeling some regret.
Before she had made her move, that bunch of pitfalls from the Pill Lineage had egged her on.
They had kept fanning the flames, saying things like, "Don't lose face," and, "That's the spirit."
That had made her forget the sect's rules for a moment, and the Law Enforcement Squad of the Law Enforcement Hall had caught her red-handed.
She had originally thought she needed to be cautious in everything she did, never letting Jiang Yantian find any faults or loopholes, lest he scheme her to death.
Well, great. Now she had walked right into it.
If she went with them now, she was absolutely screwed. If she refused, that would be resisting enforcement, and they could act immediately. She would still be screwed.
Zhang Cha snorted coldly. "Ye Feng has disregarded the law. Law Enforcement Squad, where are you!"
"Here!" the other four shouted.
"Enforce compliance!"
As his words fell, Zhang Cha took the lead, activating his spirit-binding rope first and sending it coiling toward Ye Feng.
The other four instantly charged forward as well, immediately striking.
Ye Feng groaned inwardly without end. Fuck, they were targeting her specifically. Qi Hui had fought her, yet now he was watching from the sidelines.
"You bastards are settling private grudges under the guise of public duty!"
Ye Feng certainly would not submit. Her Qi surged as she began fighting back, trying to break free.
"Insulting the Law Enforcement Squad adds another count to your crimes. Kick the balls!"
"Ahhh! Awooo!"
How could he alone possibly stand against the five members of the Law Enforcement Squad!
He was pinned to the ground and ground into the dirt.
"A mere Law Enforcement Squad dares come to my Pill Lineage and attack my personal disciple? What punishment do you deserve!"
As Ye Feng was being beaten, a wave of sound swept over, carrying a terrifying surge of Qi.
An instant later, a figure arrived.
All the Pill Lineage disciples dropped to one knee. "Elder..."
This display meant Hua Youque of the Pill Lineage had returned.
Though that declaration rang out with resounding force,
it did not affect the members of the Law Enforcement Squad in the slightest.
They continued their savage beating.
Fuck, what the hell did they have to fear? He was just a trash elder from the Pill Lineage. Their own law enforcement elder was watching from above.
"How insolent! With this elder here in person, you still dare strike? Do you hold this elder in no regard?"
Hua Youque was truly furious.
It was one thing for Jiang Yantian to scheme against him and act arrogantly. Ultimately, he had the strength to back up that arrogance.
But even Jiang Yantian's lackeys dared hold him in no regard. What a disgrace.
Beating his personal disciple right in front of him was openly slapping him in the face.
Zhang Cha cupped his fist. "Elder Hua, we naturally would not dare disrespect you, but your personal disciple knowingly broke the law and even violently resisted enforcement. We are acting according to the rules!"
"The rules? Whose rules? This is my Pill Lineage, not your Law Enforcement Hall!"
Hua Youque flew into a rage as well. Mere ants actually fucking dared talk back.
Had they knelt and admitted their mistake just now, he would have shown them some mercy. Now? Not a chance!
Hua Youque condensed a flaming vortex in his hand and blasted it straight at the five members of the Law Enforcement Squad.
The flames descended from above, sending out layer after layer of rippling air with unmatched might!
The five members of the Law Enforcement Squad's expressions changed drastically. A strike from a Nascent Soul elder was no joke.
Just as the flames were about to erupt, a mass of black spiritual power suddenly enveloped them.
It writhed, dissolved them, and left nothing behind!
"Elder Hua, you certainly think highly of yourself. My disciples were enforcing the rules, yet you attacked them!"
"Without rules, neither squares nor circles can be drawn. If I don't give you a beating today, what rules will there be to speak of in the future? How am I supposed to lead my people!"
Another immensely powerful surge of Qi swept over.
The voice alone left quite a few disciples present unable to withstand the pressure, forcing them to prostrate themselves on the ground.
"What... what terrifying pressure. This is Elder Jiang..."
"I can't move."
"Jiang Yantian..." Almost his entire face pressed against the ground, Ye Feng could not move, his eyes filled with hatred.
Humiliated yet again.
Ding! Humiliation Points +3,000.
Nothing showed on Hua Youque's face, but inwardly he was panicking like mad.
Jiang Yantian intended to tear away all pretense and attack him directly too.
If Jiang Yantian really beat him today, he would lose every last scrap of face.
With a relaxed, carefree smile on his face, Jiang Yantian appeared before Hua Youque in a flash.
He raised his hand, about to slap Hua Youque.
Hua Youque's expression turned horrified, and he was about to defend himself.
But Jiang Yantian said quietly, "Don't worry, Elder Hua. I'm not an unreasonable man. Today, we both need a way to step down."
"How about we each take a step back? I won't hit you, but I'll go beat your personal disciple instead. Then you pretend you know nothing, and we wipe the slate clean. What do you say?"
Hua Youque felt utterly humiliated, but this seemed to be the best solution.
He truly had no confidence that he could defeat Jiang Yantian.
And he would most likely be crushed by Jiang Yantian.
He could only sacrifice his personal disciple a little.
"Fine!" Hua Youque agreed through gritted teeth.
Everyone below craned their necks in anticipation, thinking the two elders were surely about to fight.
But suddenly, Jiang Yantian laughed heartily. "You're right, Elder Hua. As elders, we should lead by example."
"We'll call off today's fight, but Ye Feng broke the sect rules and must be punished. Surely you won't obstruct enforcement, Elder Hua!"
Hua Youque followed Jiang Yantian's lead. "You make a valid point, Elder Jiang. The sect rules cannot be disregarded, even by my personal disciple. I was rash earlier!"
With that, he simply left.
That display said everything.
Ye Feng was dumbfounded, unable to believe it.
Jiang Yantian glanced down and smiled at Ye Feng. "Keep beating her!"
The five members of the Law Enforcement Squad immediately resumed working Ye Feng over.
"Ah! Jiang Yantian, you... ah..."
Ye Feng felt desolate inside, feeling she was about to turn dark.
After the beating had continued for a good while, Jiang Yantian landed on the ground and crouched down, looking at Ye Feng's bruised, swollen face.
He chuckled quietly. "Ye Feng, you really can't blame me for this. Your master, Elder Hua, authorized it!"
Ye Feng's body hurt terribly, but her mouth remained as stubborn as ever. "Don't think you can drive a wedge between my master and me!"
Jiang Yantian smiled again. "Ye Feng, oh, Ye Feng. You're far too clever for your own good. From what you know of me, when I say I'm going to beat someone, would I ever fail to follow through?"
"Tell me, why didn't I fight Hua Youque just now?"
"I'll tell you. It was because Hua Youque knew he was no match for me and didn't want me beating him in front of the Pill Lineage disciples. Afraid of losing face, he quietly told me we should each take a step back."
"He said he knew you and I were at odds. Since you'd made a mistake, I could beat you with perfect justification, and he wouldn't interfere. He only asked that I leave him a little face."
"You idiot, you've been sold out. What fucking personal disciple? Aren't you just a tool for getting back at me? Do you really think you're so valuable?"
Hearing this, Ye Feng felt her Dao heart waver somewhat.
She did know Jiang Yantian fairly well. If he said he would hit someone, he would certainly do it.
Had Hua Youque really meant to turn the spearhead toward her?
"To give your current master a way to step down, I have no choice but to take you away!"
Jiang Yantian stood and beckoned to Zhang Cha of the Law Enforcement Squad.
Zhang Cha hurried over. "Elder..."
"Take them both back!" Jiang Yantian said, then continued in a voice Ye Feng could hear too.
"Let Ye Feng suffer a little more, then lock her up. As for Qi Hui, do Elder Qi a favor. Make a show of beating him, then send him back!"
"Yes, Elder!"
Hearing this, Ye Feng trembled all over with rage.
"Jiang Yantian, you're abusing your authority for personal gain! I'll report you to the sect master!"
Ding! Open humiliation, angered into a fool. Humiliation Points +2,500.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, tsk. Bite me!" Jiang Yantian taunted mockingly.
Ye Feng nearly passed out.
No matter how much hatred he felt, the five members of the Law Enforcement Squad still took him straight away.