I'm a Man of Principles

Coming up to Qi Yun, Gao Kai raised his hand and presented his Great Void Jade Tally. An ancient seal-script character faintly floated upon it-Punishment!

"I am Gao Kai of the Punishment Hall's Third Law Enforcement Team.

Qi Yun, someone has reported you for violating sect rules and slaughtering fellow disciples.

Do you confess?"

Facing the three law enforcement officers before him, Qi Yun showed not a trace of panic. Instead, he held out his right hand toward Gao Kai and said indifferently,

"Where's the evidence?"

"If you didn't do it, why would anyone report you?" the man beside Gao Kai demanded coldly.

"Then I'm your father." Qi Yun turned toward the man who had spoken and said calmly.

"What did you say?!" His eyes widened, and he reached out to grab Qi Yun, only for Gao Kai to stop him.

"If I weren't your father, why would I say I was?" Qi Yun sent his words boomeranging back at him, choking the man into silence as his face turned alternately green and white.

As law enforcement officers who administered the Outer Mansion's penal codes, they were usually avoided by Outer Mansion disciples wherever they went.

When had anyone ever targeted them to their faces with such utter disregard?

"Then do those three count as evidence?" Pointing at Zhou Ming and the other two in the distance, Gao Kai's lips curved slightly.

Qi Yun glanced sideways at the three lucky survivors. His gaze shifted slightly, but he said nothing.

Seeing Qi Yun's expression, Gao Kai grew even more certain and immediately signaled his companions to bring Zhou Ming and the other two over.

At the sight of the law enforcement officers, Zhou Ming and the other two reacted as though they had seen angels. They seized the two officers' arms and refused to let go.

Clearly, the terror of life and death had crushed their Dao hearts, leaving their minds filled with nothing but fear and panic.

As they approached, they looked up and saw Qi Yun standing there with his hands behind his back. Having barely recovered, all three broke down again.

"It's him, it's him! I'm not going over there! He'll kill us!"

"Do you have anything else to say, Junior Brother Qi?" Hearing the instinctive cries of Zhou Ming and the other two, Gao Kai looked at Qi Yun with a smile.

But upon hearing this, Qi Yun looked puzzled and asked in return,

"Say what? They say I killed someone, so I killed someone? Then if they said I was your-"

"Stop!"

Gao Kai's face darkened. He immediately raised a hand to cut off what was certain to be something even more offensive, his tone turning cold.

"Soul-search the three of them."

"Understood."

With that response, the three howling and shrieking men were dragged aside for soul-searching.

Listening to the commotion, Gao Kai fixed his gaze on Qi Yun again and lowered his voice, his tone brooking no doubt.

"Junior Brother Qi, the results of this soul-searching technique cannot be falsified."

"How much Sacred Yuan did you take?"

Qi Yun's abrupt question made Gao Kai's expression freeze. A flicker of alarm and suspicion crossed his eyes before he immediately concealed it, frowning as he spoke in a low voice.

"What are you talking about?"

Taking in Gao Kai's instinctive reaction, a trace of understanding appeared in Qi Yun's eyes. He waved a hand.

"Nothing. Just making conversation."

"Utter nonsense." With a cold snort, Gao Kai turned away from Qi Yun, but doubts rose in his heart.

How did he know...?

Several minutes later, the two law enforcement officers returned. They first cast a discreet glance at Qi Yun, then hurried over to Gao Kai and whispered something to him.

After a moment's silence, Gao Kai slowly smiled and cupped his hands toward Qi Yun.

"It seems someone really is stirring up trouble. My apologies, Junior Brother Qi.

Let's go!"

After a few insincere pleasantries, Gao Kai waved his hand and took Zhou Ming and the other two away.

Watching their retreating backs with his hands behind him, Qi Yun lightly rubbed his fingertips together, his eyes flickering. In the void behind him, four faint figures stirred restlessly, letting out low growls.

Forget it. It's not time yet.

Relaxing his fingertips, Qi Yun let his gaze linger on Gao Kai's back for a moment, then turned and headed deeper into the desert.

"Senior Brother Gao, are we just leaving like this? There's definitely something wrong with that Qi Yun. His methods were simply too sophisticated. These three pieces of trash were crippled without even seeing his face!"

On their way back, Su Xiang, whom Qi Yun had gotten the better of, wore an indignant expression.

"We just need to take him back. One soul-search, and the truth will come to light!"

"You want to take him back for a soul-search?"

Hearing Su Xiang's words, Gao Kai glanced at him coldly.

"What is the Punishment Hall's sole criterion for imprisonment?"

Feeling uneasy under Gao Kai's stare, Su Xiang clenched his back teeth in frustration before answering quietly,

"Catching them in the act!"

"And you still want to soul-search him?

Do you think the Holy Sect is a court with the bright mirror of justice hanging high overhead?!

Among those on the demonic path, whose hands are clean?

Remember, the Punishment Hall's duty is to uphold sect rules and keep disciples in check.

Not to fucking help you uphold justice and clear wrongful accusations!"

The reprimand made Su Xiang's scalp prickle. He lowered his head, not daring to argue again, and repeatedly voiced his agreement.

"Then right now, we..."

"Return to the Punishment Hall and report the situation to the captain." Frowning at Zhou Ming and the other two beside him, Gao Kai clicked his tongue through clenched teeth.

Had I known this Qi Yun was such a prickly handful, I shouldn't have taken those people's Sacred Yuan.

Now... I'm afraid I've outsmarted myself.

Returning from the [Ninefold Hall], Qi Yun walked slowly along the straight but somewhat deserted main street of the Seventh Outer Prefecture, dressed in a plain, clean cloth robe.

Compared to a month ago, there were noticeably fewer people coming and going along this road, lending it an inexplicable air of desolation.

So deserted... Shaking his head slightly, Qi Yun sighed inwardly.

When he was still thirty to fifty meters from his detached residence and private courtyard, Qi Yun saw a figure waiting at the gate.

"You're finally back."

Hearing the footsteps behind him, Li Chong slowly turned. His handsome, dashing face, paired with frost-white temples, carried an indescribable air of nobility.

"You are?" Qi Yun narrowed his eyes slightly and studied the man carefully, confirming that he had never seen him before.

"Li Chong, captain of the Punishment Hall's Third Law Enforcement Team."

"Are you here to arrest me too?"

Recalling Gao Kai back in the [Ninefold Hall], Qi Yun frowned slightly.

"No, I simply wanted to chat with you, Junior Brother. May I? If it's inconvenient, never mind," Li Chong said gently.

Qi Yun fell silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on Li Chong's face for several seconds. In the end, he stepped forward and pushed open the courtyard gate.

"Please come in, Senior Brother Li."

Inside the courtyard, Qi Yun poured Li Chong a cup of clear tea from which wisps of steam rose, then sat down opposite him and spoke directly.

"I'm merely a minor cultivator who joined just a year ago. What about me could warrant a personal visit from you, Senior Brother Li?"

"A minor cultivator?" Taking a light sip of tea, Li Chong smiled. "I've never seen a minor cultivator who could slaughter an Outer Mansion until its population dwindled, with over half lost."

Qi Yun's hand paused as he lifted his teacup, but his expression remained unchanged.

"I don't quite understand what you're saying, Senior Brother Li."

"You're a clever man, Junior Brother. Let's not keep testing each other.

I came today simply to pass along a message."

Li Chong set down his teacup, extended his right index finger, dipped it into the clear tea in his cup, and began writing unhurriedly on the smooth stone tabletop.

"Enough is enough. Do you really intend to slaughter everyone in the Seventh Outer Prefecture?"

Glancing at the words Li Chong had written on the table, Qi Yun continued holding his cup steadily in both hands, his expression calm.

"I've never provoked anyone first. That was self-defense."

"I'll pass the word down. No one will provoke you again, Junior Brother," Li Chong continued, but his finger never stopped, writing more words beside the first.

"I'm a man of principles. I may leave kindness unpaid, but I always repay a grudge," Qi Yun answered seriously.

"Hahaha, always repay a grudge. Well said." Hearing this, Li Chong showed no anger. Instead, he laughed quietly with pleasure, seemingly very satisfied with the answer.

He stood and cupped his hands slightly toward Qi Yun.

"In that case, it's settled.

I still have official duties to attend to, so I won't trouble you any longer. No need to see me out, Junior Brother."

With that, he gave Qi Yun a meaningful look, turned, and strode away without the slightest hesitation.

After Li Chong left, Qi Yun sat quietly for a long time, only rising to return indoors half an hour later.

On the stone table, only two lines of tea-stained writing remained, gradually drying but still faintly legible:

Join forces for revenge!

Ambush and kill Yue Rong!