Thereafter, the Valley Master of Sunset Valley brought Chu Feng, Xu Yiyi, and Elder Ning Shuang to the estate gate once more — the very gate where Master Li Rui and the enforcement elders were kneeling.
Because the Valley Master had exited through a side gate to find Elder Ning Shuang and Xu Yiyi, Master Li Rui and his people had been kept in the dark.
As a result, the moment they laid eyes on Xu Yiyi and Elder Ning Shuang, the enforcement elders turned ashen-faced, convinced disaster had arrived.
Master Li Rui's own master, however, appeared comparatively composed — at least he showed little sign of guilt.
It was clear enough: this one was a cunning old fox.
"Elder Tuoba, you hold the position of Chief Elder of the Enforcement Department. I once respected you and looked up to you with all my heart."
"But I never imagined that for the sake of personal grudges, you would twist black into white and try to have Chu Feng put to death." Xu Yiyi's accusation rang out, her voice trembling with fury.
"Xu Yiyi! You are merely a disciple — how dare you speak to an enforcement elder in such a manner! Have you forgotten the difference in status?" Yet rather than answering her charge, Master Li Rui's master flew into a rage and turned the rebuke back on her.
"Elder Tuoba, will you keep up this pretense?" The Valley Master's voice was cold.
"Valley Master, forgive my dullness, but I truly do not understand what I have done wrong," Master Li Rui's master replied with a look of puzzlement.
"You deliberately concealed the fact that young friend Chu Feng is a Spirit World Master in a celestial robe — I will set that aside for now."
"You used a special method to seal young friend Chu Feng's mouth, rendering him unable to speak or unleash the power of a barrier — I will set that aside as well."
"But you knew full well that Chu Luyang had disobeyed Elder Su Jingrui's warning and brought his death upon himself."
"Yet you still brought young friend Chu Feng here and demanded that I order his execution. That — that is something I absolutely cannot overlook." The Valley Master's anger was unmistakable.
"What? Chu Luyang disobeyed Elder Su's warning?"
"What warning? Did Elder Su say something to Chu Luyang?"
"What exactly happened? Valley Master, I have no idea what you mean," Master Li Rui's master said, his face a mask of confusion.
"No idea? How can you possibly have no idea? When my master warned Chu Luyang that day, these subordinates of yours were present. Do you mean to tell me they never reported it to you?" Xu Yiyi pointed at the enforcement elders.
"What? Something like that happened? Why didn't you tell me?" Master Li Rui's master spun toward his subordinates and erupted in fury, as though he truly had known nothing.
"Chief Elder, we really didn't know!" The enforcement elders shook their heads frantically in response.
Moreover, they turned to Xu Yiyi with bewildered expressions and asked: "Yiyi, what did Elder Su say to Chu Luyang? How come we have no recollection of it? You've got us completely lost."
"You… you're actually playing dumb?" Seeing them deny everything to the last, Xu Yiyi's cheeks flushed red with rage and her entire body trembled.
"We're not playing dumb — we genuinely don't know. Yiyi, be careful about making accusations you can't back up," the enforcement elders said with aggrieved innocence.
"Very well. It seems you coordinated this in advance and agreed on a story — deny everything until death." At that moment, the Valley Master let out a laugh, though his smile was bone-cold.
So cold that every enforcement elder felt a chill run through their hearts, their expressions shifting on the spot.
They were panicking. But even so, they did not change their story. It was plain to see that long before this, they had already decided with Master Li Rui's master: they would deny everything to the bitter end.
It was a foolish strategy — but at this point, it was the only chance they had.