A call for votes — recommendation tickets and Sanjiang tickets~~~ ****** The voice had barely rung out when a figure suddenly materialized before Yang Kai. Without a word, the person slammed a palm into Yang Kai's shoulder. An overwhelming force surged through him, and Yang Kai grunted, sent flying backward.
"Senior Brother Yang!" Li Yuntian and the others cried out in alarm, rushing forward to steady Yang Kai.
Yang Kai struggled to his feet, coughing lightly as he sized up the newcomer. Standing beside Wei Zhuang was a young man with a sinister expression, his cold gaze fixed on Yang Kai. One hand supported the staggering Wei Zhuang as he asked, "Young Master Zhuang, are you alright?"
Wei Zhuang glared at Yang Kai with venomous hatred, his body swaying. He shook his head. "I'm fine."
"Good. I'm sorry I'm late." The young man let out a breath of relief. Though his strength exceeded Wei Zhuang's, he was, after all, a subordinate of the Grand Elder. In terms of status and standing, he naturally couldn't compare to Wei Zhuang.
"You're not too late!" Wei Zhuang sneered, his tone dripping with sarcasm. "Senior Brother Cao, as a disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall, you know our Sect Rules inside and out. Let me ask you — if someone dares to commit murder within the sect, what should be done to them?"
Cao Zhengwen's face turned cold, and he spoke in a resounding voice: "Depending on the severity of the offense — in minor cases, the guilty party's arms and legs are broken and they are expelled from Lingxiao Pavilion. In severe cases, they are executed on the spot as a warning to others!"
Wei Zhuang chuckled and pointed at Yang Kai. "This man just tried to kill me! Senior Brother Cao, deal with him as you see fit!"
With someone backing him up, Wei Zhuang had no intention of behaving as submissively as before.
Cao Zhengwen's voice turned harsh. "Is this true?"
Wei Zhuang kept sneering. "Didn't Senior Brother Cao see everything with your own eyes when you arrived?"
Cao Zhengwen nodded. "Indeed. Just now, this disciple had a weapon pressed against Young Master Zhuang's chest. Had I not intervened in time, Young Master Zhuang would likely have met a cruel end. This man is utterly brazen — committing such atrocities in broad daylight!"
The two played off each other seamlessly, and in the blink of an eye, they had slapped the charge of attempted murder on Yang Kai.
"Bullshit!" Li Yuntian roared. "Just now, Senior Brother Yang and Wei Zhuang were only sparring in a challenge! How is it anything like what you're describing? You're twisting the truth — what exactly are you after?"
Cao Zhengwen snorted coldly. "Are you sure it was just a simple spar?"
Zhao Hu spoke up. "If you don't believe us, ask any of the fellow disciples who were watching. Any one of us can testify. Besides, Wei Zhuang was the one who started this — Senior Brother Yang was dragged into it."
"Someone to testify? Who would testify?" Wei Zhuang tilted his head, scanning the surrounding crowd with a mocking smile.
The Lingxiao Pavilion disciples who had gathered to watch the commotion scattered like startled birds, fleeing the scene in a hurry. They had all heard rumors of the power struggle among the Pavilion's elders, and none of them had the guts to get involved in what was unfolding before them. Offending either side would make their future lives in Lingxiao Pavilion miserable.
Seeing this, Li Yuntian gritted his teeth in fury, but he still jutted his chin stubbornly. "We were there for the whole thing — we know every detail inside and out. We are the witnesses!"
Cao Zhengwen shook his head. "You were engaged in a group brawl, which is already an offense in itself. How can you serve as witnesses?"
"A group brawl?" Zhao Hu jumped to his feet, shouting in anger. "Wei Zhuang was the one who sent his people to challenge us! Where does this 'group brawl' come from? Cao Zhengwen, don't think you can do whatever you want just because you're a disciple of the Law Enforcement Hall. Lingxiao Pavilion isn't yours to rule!"
"How dare you!" Cao Zhengwen barked. "The Law Enforcement Hall represents the Sect Rules of Lingxiao Pavilion and has always been fair and impartial. To dare question the authority of the Law Enforcement Hall — that's an additional offense!"
"If you're determined to frame someone, what's stopping you from fabricating the evidence?" Yang Kai raised his hand to cut off Li Yuntian and the others' protests, then looked at Cao Zhengwen with a contemptuous laugh. "Fair and impartial? Today I've learned what fair and impartial really looks like."