"The strongest genius? That's a real laugh."
"Baili Zilin, if you've got the guts, just kill me. Otherwise, I'll make you pay for what you did today, mark my words."
Even though Chen Hui was already pinned down, he showed not a shred of fear. If anything, his fury only burned hotter.
"Chen Hui, you think I wouldn't dare kill you?"
Baili Zilin narrowed his eyes slightly, and the temperature around them plummeted. A ruthless gleam flashed through his gaze.
He lifted his leg and planted his foot squarely on Chen Hui's back, driving him straight down to his knees.
Chen Hui gritted his teeth against the pain, his face contorting.
"Young Master Zilin, you absolutely mustn't!"
At the sight of this, the Prison Generals on the scene grew frantic.
"Shut your mouths. Since when do any of you have the right to speak here?" Baili Zilin said, his displeasure plain.
One cold, piercing look from him was enough.
These were dignified Prison Generals, yet not one of them dared utter another word.
"Stop."
A man's voice rang out across the area, and a wave of oppressive aura blanketed the space. Baili Zilin's body locked up — he couldn't move a muscle.
The Prison Generals all turned toward the source of that pressure and dropped to one knee in a grand bow: "Greetings, Commander."
The newcomer was none other than the Prison Sect's own Commander — Jimo Qianzhou.
Under the restraint of Jimo Qianzhou's aura, Baili Zilin had no choice but to release Chen Hui.
Though Jimo Qianzhou served under Baili Zilin's father, the young master generally only acted arrogant behind closed doors. In front of outsiders, he still had to observe the basic rules of decorum.
So he stood obediently to the side, lowering his head like a child who'd been caught misbehaving, and called out in a somewhat guilty tone: "Greetings, Commander."
Chen Hui, meanwhile, rose to his feet. Rather than retaliating, he simply adjusted his broken arm.
Despite the rage seething inside him, he didn't put on a show of attacking Baili Zilin.
"Young Master Zilin, why did you strike Young Master Chen Hui?" Jimo Qianzhou turned to Baili Zilin.
"No reason. We were just sparring."
But before Baili Zilin could even open his mouth, Chen Hui cut in with an answer.
That response stunned Baili Zilin for a moment.
"If there's nothing else, I'll be on my way."
Chen Hui had no intention of pursuing the matter, because he was a smart man.
He knew full well that Jimo Qianzhou was nothing more than Baili Zilin's dog.
So he started walking toward the exit, intending to leave without further fuss.
"Hold on."
Jimo Qianzhou stepped in to block him.
"Commander, is there something else?" Chen Hui asked.
"Young Master Chen Hui, you came here specifically to confront Young Master Zilin, no doubt because you believe his public challenge to Chu Feng violates our Prison Sect's rules?"
Jimo Qianzhou posed the question calmly.
"Believe? Think? Commander, what kind of joke is that?"
"Is this something I merely believe? Does that need the word 'think' tacked onto it? Isn't it just an undeniable fact?"
Chen Hui looked Jimo Qianzhou dead in the eye.
"In the past, yes, it would have violated the Prison Sect's rules."
"But times have changed."
Jimo Qianzhou then proceeded to tell Chen Hui about something.
It was the story of how Baili Zilin had triggered the phenomenon of red clouds filling the sky at the Prison Infant Summoning Altar.
Chen Hui, given his status, was well aware of how significant the Prison Infant Summoning Altar was — and just how difficult that feat truly was.
That was precisely why he fixed Baili Zilin with a skeptical look: "You really triggered the phenomenon of red clouds filling the sky?"
"Multiple witnesses saw it happen. I was there myself."
Before Baili Zilin could answer, Jimo Qianzhou spoke up on his behalf.
Chen Hui said nothing more.
Even with Jimo Qianzhou's confirmation, he remained skeptical.
This was simply too difficult a thing to accomplish.
But there was no point in arguing about it. The matter was far too important. When the higher-ups of the Prison Sect emerged from seclusion, they would naturally conduct a thorough investigation, and the truth would come to light.