Chapter 21
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Chapter 21: If You Don’t Court Death, You Won’t Die
"Guess your head off!" The Red-Robed Immortal now wished for death.
Though he’d acted overbearing and full of himself while killing Fang Lie the previous night, seeing Fang Lie alive again filled him with terror. He knew his doom was sealed!
Who was Fang Lie? A stubborn hothead who didn’t care about backgrounds, connections, or status—if you crossed him, he’d beat or kill without blinking!
The mighty Eight-Hundred-Generation Families had thousands of core disciples wounded and hundreds slain by him.
The Brave Token Lord, a Thunder Tribulation Immortal and one of Mo Sect’s highest authorities, had his cultivation destroyed by Fang Lie before being thrown into Cold Prison forever!
Compared to those figures, what was he?
Killing Fang Lie would’ve solved everything, but his failure allowed Fang Lie to reappear at the Ancestral Hall and file charges. How could they escape consequences now?
Desperate men cling to straws, even useless ones.
The Red-Robed Immortal’s eyes suddenly landed on the Law Enforcer presiding over the Ancestral Hall.
This man appeared around thirty, wearing pristine Confucian robes. With sharp brows and bright eyes, he looked every inch the handsome scholar—except for his current expression.
His face now twisted with such misery that bystanders winced. To be blunt, he resembled someone forced to eat dung, radiating secondhand embarrassment.
All recognized him—Xiao Huan’s husband, Yuan Hua’s father, key member of the Yuan family’s main branch: Yuan Qing!
As an Ancestral Hall Law Enforcer, Yuan Qing had recused himself from his son’s case to avoid bias, delegating Fang Lie’s framing to fellow Law Enforcer Li Feng.
He’d entered closed-door training, avoiding external affairs to prevent gossip.
Emerging next day, he received news of his wife and son’s deaths. Tears streamed down his face as he nearly went mad seeking vengeance.
But Fang Lie was already dead, slain by the Red-Robed Immortal. The Yuan family elders urged restraint to protect his Law Enforcer position.
This scandal would reach the Ancestral Hall’s Higher-ups. Though Li Feng’s corruption was exposed, everyone knew Yuan Qing had connected Xiao Huan to Li Feng.
Xiao Huan’s suicide aimed to protect her husband, fearing torture might make her confess Yuan Qing’s involvement.
Ruthless to others but loyal to her husband, she chose death over betrayal.
This saved Yuan Qing, but savvy observers wondered if Higher-ups would use this to challenge him.
The Law Enforcer position was highly coveted. Yuan Qing had used extensive connections to obtain it—losing it would damage the entire Yuan family.
To keep his post despite his grief, Yuan Qing forced himself to take morning duty.
Yet his first encounter that day was Fang Lie filing accusations!
Imagine Yuan Qing’s fury seeing his family’s killer strut before him alive.
He nearly lunged to slice Fang Lie into a Thousand Cuts then and there.
But he restrained himself. Attacking Fang Lie would only get himself arrested. Not only would he lose his position, but likely his life too!
Fang Lie wielded the Benevolence Token—Mo Sect’s ultimate authority. Even Thunder Tribulation Immortals fell before him. What chance did Yuan Qing have?
Swallowing his wrath, Yuan Qing growled, "Why are you here?"
Fang Lie recognized Yuan Qing and knew he’d killed the man’s family yesterday. Yet he showed neither fear nor remorse!
Since the Yuan family wanted him dead, Fang Lie decided to strike first! He felt no psychological burden whatsoever.
Without mincing words, Fang Lie recounted how the Red-Robed Immortal had ambushed him the previous night, demanding Yuan Qing arrest all involved.
Yuan Qing had no intention of helping Fang Lie seek revenge. Yet he couldn’t openly violate the law. He simply tried delaying tactics, claiming to need further investigation before acting, then attempted to dismiss Fang Lie.
But the current Fang Lie wouldn’t be bullied. He cut through the pretense: "Either you arrest them now, or I’ll use the Benevolence Token to do it myself. If I act, you’ll be joining Li Feng in the afterlife!"
Others might’ve been ignored, but not Fang Lie. Yesterday’s events proved his ruthlessness—crippling both a Thunder Tribulation Immortal and the East Kunlun Sword God’s successor! Thousands had challenged him; many lay dead or wounded. Yuan Qing didn’t dare oppose such a force.
Though seething with anger, Yuan Qing dispatched Law Enforcement Heavenly Soldiers to apprehend the culprits.
To his horror, arresting dozens attracted over ten thousand spectators, with crowds swelling as information spread. Yuan Qing had wanted this done quietly to avoid shame, but now faced public humiliation.
Seizing this moment, the Red-Robed Immortal approached Yuan Qing with false righteousness. "Why arrest us, Law Enforcer Yuan Qing?"
"Well…" Yuan Qing’s eyes shifted. "Fang Lie accuses you of ambushing him. Demands confrontation."
"Absurd!" The Red-Robed Immortal declared. "Had we attacked him, would he stand here lying?"
"Fang Lie fabricates tales! Punish this slanderer!"
Knowing the Ancestral Hall tolerated no evil, the group denied everything. Their only hope was steadfast denial.
Yuan Qing turned to Fang Lie. "They claim you’re lying. Any response?"
"Lying?" Fang Lie sneered. "Then why did they gasp upon seeing me alive? You heard them!"
Yuan Qing flushed, glancing helplessly at the Red-Robed Immortal.
"We’re just surprised vermin like you survived!" the Red-Robed Immortal retorted.
"Exactly! How’d this bastard live through the night?"
The crowd roared with laughter, finding catharsis in mocking Fang Lie.
Boldened, some shouted: "They feasted with us last night—no time for murder! Fang Lie’s mistaken!"
"We’ll testify! He’s wrong!" More joined, smirking as they awaited Fang Lie’s rage.
Instead, Fang Lie smirked. "Ever heard ‘those who seek death shall find it’?"
His icy tone chilled the crowd. Those who’d falsely testified regretted their impulsiveness—too late for regrets.
Fang Lie produced a black jade. Spiritual Energy activated it, projecting a shadowy scene: the Red-Robed Immortal’s group surrounding and killing him.
The Shadow Record Stone’s evidence left the crowd speechless. Xiao Huan’s recording was undeniable—their guilt etched in light and shadow.
