Chapter 81: Elder Shen’s Doom(2)

The courtyard became unusually quiet after Li Yan revealed that Elder Shen had been the one behind the Nightmare Gu. Hu Bai’s expression changed several times as he processed the information, and the more he thought about it, the more displeased he became.

He already knew that Li Yan had encountered problems with Elder Shen. He had heard enough about their confrontation to understand that the elder had refused to honor the compensation he had promised, but Hu Bai had never imagined that the disagreement would escalate to the point where Elder Shen would secretly use a Gu insect against him.

Hu Bai’s hands slowly tightened into fists.

"Elder Shen actually did this?"

Li Yan nodded. "Master found the Gu and traced it back to him."

Hu Bai’s expression became colder. He had promised Li Yan that he would protect him, yet while he had been worrying about whether Li Yan was spending too much time with Fu Hanzheng, someone else had already found a way to hurt him. The thought left him deeply uncomfortable, especially after learning that Li Yan had spent an entire night suffering through nightmares because of something Elder Shen had deliberately sent.

"I am going to find him."

Hu Bai turned toward the entrance with every intention of leaving immediately, but Anyu stepped into his path.

"What are you planning to do?"

"I am going to teach Elder Shen a lesson."

Hu Bai’s expression remained cold as he spoke. He had no intention of standing around calmly after learning that someone had deliberately tormented Li Yan.

Anyu sighed and shook his head. "Do not do anything reckless. If you attack an elder, you will be the one facing punishment from the sect. Master has already taken the matter to the sect master, so you should leave this to him."

Hu Bai frowned but did not immediately answer. He knew Anyu was right, and the last thing he wanted was to create another problem for Li Yan while trying to deal with the person who had caused the original one.

Li Yan also looked at him and nodded.

"Just leave it to Master. When he comes back, we can ask him what happened and what the sect master decided."

Hu Bai reluctantly accepted the suggestion, although the anger in his expression did not disappear. He glanced at Li Yan again and noticed that the young man’s attention had already returned to the matter at hand.

Meanwhile, Fu Hanzheng had already arrived at the Battle Arts Department.

Elder Shen was still inside his residence when the door suddenly opened with enough force to make him turn around in surprise. Before he could properly react, Fu Hanzheng had already crossed the distance between them and grabbed him by the collar.

"What are you doing?"

Elder Shen’s words had barely left his mouth before Fu Hanzheng’s fist struck his face.

The impact sent Elder Shen stumbling backward, and he barely managed to regain his balance before another punch landed. Fu Hanzheng did not give him time to recover, and his attacks came one after another with enough force to make the surrounding spiritual energy tremble.

Elder Shen finally managed to block one of the blows and glared at him furiously.

"Fu Hanzheng, have you lost your mind?"

Fu Hanzheng gave him a cold smile. "How dare you use Gu on my disciple."

Elder Shen’s expression changed. "I did no such thing."

Fu Hanzheng’s next punch sent him crashing against the wall.

"Do you think I would come here without evidence?"

Elder Shen struggled to stand, but Fu Hanzheng caught him before he could stabilize himself and drove another blow into his abdomen. Elder Shen’s face twisted from the pain as he was forced several steps backward.

The surrounding disciples who noticed the commotion did not dare interfere. Nobody wanted to become involved in a fight between two elders, especially when one of them was Fu Hanzheng.

Many people in the sect had never taken him seriously enough despite his position as the head of the Apothecary Department. His age was one reason for that. A cultivator in his forties was considered remarkably young to have reached the level required to become an elder, and Fu Hanzheng’s eccentric personality had only encouraged others to underestimate him.

Elder Shen had been one of those people. He had clearly forgotten that eccentricity did not mean weakness.

Fu Hanzheng grabbed him by the robes and pulled him forward before delivering another heavy blow.

"Just because you think I am strange does not mean you can target my disciple."

Elder Shen coughed as he struggled to remain standing.

"You have no proof that I sent anything."

Fu Hanzheng looked at him with an expression that made Elder Shen’s heart sink.

"I have your Gu Bug."

Elder Shen’s face turned pale.

Fu Hanzheng released him, allowing him to collapse onto the ground before looking down at him with undisguised contempt.

"You will regret sending that Gu to Yanyan."

Elder Shen gritted his teeth and tried to push himself upright, but Fu Hanzheng had already turned away. Before leaving, he raised one hand and formed a restriction that immediately settled around Elder Shen’s body, his neck specifically.

Elder Shen froze when he sensed the terrifying spiritual pressure.

"If you attempt to leave the sect or try to escape before this matter is settled, the restriction will activate and sever your head immediately. It will only fail against someone whose cultivation is higher than mine, so you should think carefully before testing it."

Elder Shen’s expression became ugly as he realized that he had no choice but to remain where he was.

Fu Hanzheng left without giving him another opportunity to speak.

Not long afterward, an emergency meeting was called.

The elders of the sect gathered in the main council hall, where matters involving serious violations of sect rules were discussed. The sudden discovery of a malicious Gu insect being used against a disciple had caused considerable alarm, and nobody was willing to treat the matter as a simple dispute between Elder Shen and a young disciple.

If Elder Shen possessed more Gu insects, there was no telling how many other disciples might have been targeted.

The atmosphere inside the hall became increasingly tense as everyone waited for the sect master to arrive.

Elder Shen was brought into the hall under the restriction Fu Hanzheng had placed on him. His face remained grim, but he still tried to maintain the composure expected of an elder.

Then the doors opened. Fu Hanzheng walked into the hall. Several elders immediately rose from their seats and bowed respectfully.

"Greetings, Sect Master."

Elder Shen’s entire body stiffened.

His eyes widened as he looked at Fu Hanzheng.

Only then did he realize the full extent of his mistake.

The man he had just offended was not merely the eccentric head of the Apothecary Department.

He was the sect master.

-_-

How could this be? And how did the other elders know except him?

Fu Hanzheng took his seat at the front of the hall and looked directly at Elder Shen.

Elder Shen immediately tried to defend himself.

"Sect Master, I can explain. I did not send that Gu insect to Li Yan. I have never cultivated such a thing, and I have never ordered anyone to harm him."

Fu Hanzheng’s expression remained completely cold.

"The Nightmare Gu recovered from Li Yan’s residence carries your spiritual signature."

Elder Shen’s face tightened. "That does not prove anything. Someone could have framed me."

Fu Hanzheng did not appear interested in hearing another excuse. He placed the jade container holding the Nightmare Gu on the table before him, allowing every elder present to see the evidence.

"This matter involves the use of a malicious Gu against a disciple of the sect. It is a serious violation of the sect rules, and I will not allow anyone to dismiss it as a personal dispute."

Elder Shen’s expression became increasingly desperate as he realized that his position would not protect him.

Fu Hanzheng looked at him without the slightest trace of sympathy.

"You will go to trial and answer for your crimes."