Chapter 274: Killing Intent
The grand competition concluded, and the outer sect disciples on the martial arts field dispersed in small groups. Yu Wanru, her heart aching, helped the pale-faced Shen Qingwu down from the stage, walking carefully.
Just as Chen Xingcai was about to leave, her peripheral vision caught a disciple hurrying to Li Hanzhou's side and whispering a few words.
Li Hanzhou's brow furrowed slightly, his stern face growing even colder.
"Senior Brother Li, what happened?" Chen Xingcai stopped in her tracks and asked curiously.
Li Hanzhou gave a signal, and the disciple immediately bowed respectfully to Chen Xingcai: "In response to the Holy Maiden, an outer sect disciple is suspected of stealing another disciple's undergarments and was caught with both the person and the evidence."
"What?" Chen Xingcai's fine brows rose, a flash of disgust in her eyes. "How did someone with such corrupt character get into the outer sect?"
Li Hanzhou said in a deep voice: "That disciple... is a clansman of Senior Brother Xiao. It was also Senior Brother Xiao who ordered that he be exceptionally admitted to the outer sect."
"Oh?" Chen Xingcai's eyes lit up, a playful smile unconsciously appearing on her lips. A clansman of Senior Brother Xiao? Then this was getting interesting.
She gently smoothed her sleeve, a look of keen interest in her eyes: "Take me to see."
Li Hanzhou gave her a helpless glance but knew he couldn't stop this young lady, so he could only nod in agreement.
Chen Xingcai set off in a pleasant mood, her skirt swaying gently with her steps.
She wanted to see for herself just who this audacious outer sect disciple was. Since he was a clansman of Senior Brother Xiao, there might be some hidden story.
Soon, the group arrived at the Hall of Enforcement.
Inside the confinement cell, candlelight flickered, casting light upon Xiao Yun's sharply defined profile.
He stood as straight as a pine, his expression stern, not showing the slightest hint of panic despite his current situation.
Chen Xingcai looked at this youth with great interest—he had sword-like brows and star-like eyes, a well-defined face, and a gaze as sharp as a blade. He didn't look like someone who would do something as sordid as stealing undergarments.
But then she reconsidered; her father often said, "You can't judge a person by their appearance." Perhaps there really were such things as cold-faced lechers in this world.
"I have greeted Elder Li and the Holy Maiden," Xiao Yun said, cupping his fists in a salute. His voice was deep and steady.
To Chen Xingcai's surprise, this youth's gaze was frank and open when he saluted; he didn't even spare her a second glance. She knew that the outer sect disciples who usually saw her were either blushing or fumbling nervously. This composure made her even more certain of her guess about a "hidden story."
Li Hanzhou spoke coldly: "Xiao Yun, do you know your crime?"
"This disciple is innocent," Xiao Yun said, looking directly at Li Hanzhou, his voice neither humble nor arrogant. "This matter is purely a case of being framed."
"Oh?" Li Hanzhou's brow lifted slightly. "Explain in detail."
Xiao Yun took a deep breath and recounted the whole story clearly: "On the rest day two days ago, this disciple was cultivating in my room the entire time and never went to Senior Sister Yu's courtyard. The undergarment suddenly appeared on my bed; it must have been planted. As for those things in the wardrobe..." A flash of anger crossed his eyes. "That is even more absurd."
Chen Xingcai noticed that as Xiao Yun made his statement, his logic was clear, and his gaze remained firm, without the slightest hint of evasion.
"Do you have any proof?" Li Hanzhou pressed.
"This disciple indeed has no direct proof," Xiao Yun said in a deep voice. "But I ask Elder Li to investigate clearly—if I had truly done this, why would I leave the stolen goods in such a conspicuous place? Furthermore, I would not have taken such a risk knowing there was a grand competition today."
Chen Xingcai nodded lightly; this logic did make sense. She turned her gaze to Li Hanzhou: "Senior Brother Li, what are your thoughts?"
Li Hanzhou pondered for a moment: "This matter is indeed suspicious. However..." He looked at Xiao Yun. "You claim you were framed. Do you know who it was?"
Xiao Yun's gaze flickered, as if hesitating, but he finally shook his head: "This disciple dare not make wild guesses."
Li Hanzhou stood with his hands behind his back and said in a deep voice: "Since you cannot even identify the one who framed you, and you were caught with the person and the evidence, even if you truly did not do it, if I do not punish you, it will be difficult to satisfy the public."
Xiao Yun's expression remained unchanged as he gave a slight nod: "This disciple understands."
"Considering your usual performance is passable, you will be punished with one year of confinement to reflect on your actions," Li Hanzhou's voice was still cold and hard, but this punishment was already exceptionally lenient according to the outer sect rules, clearly indicating he did not believe Xiao Yun was the true culprit.
Just then, Chen Xingcai, who had been standing quietly to the side, suddenly spoke: "You truly have no suspicion in your heart?" Her bright eyes shifted, her voice carrying a hint of inquiry. "You might as well say it."
Hearing this, Xiao Yun frowned slightly, as if weighing the pros and cons. After a moment, he finally slowly uttered three words: "Shen Qingwu."
"Shen Qingwu?" Chen Xingcai blinked, turning her head to look at Li Hanzhou. "Who is that?"
Li Hanzhou's expression showed a hint of surprise: "He's the outer sect disciple who challenged on the platform today."
A playful glint appeared in Chen Xingcai's eyes, her red lips parting slightly: "Oh? So it's that one..."
Her words trailed off, but a thoughtful light already shone in her eyes.
...
After leaving the Hall of Enforcement, Chen Xingcai suddenly stopped and mysteriously leaned close to Li Hanzhou's ear: "Senior Brother Li, that youth isn't the culprit."
Li Hanzhou's expression was unchanged: "I know."
"Eh?" Chen Xingcai's eyes widened. "How did you know?"
"Just a feeling," Li Hanzhou said flatly.
Chen Xingcai puffed out her cheeks like an angry little pufferfish: "..."
She suddenly said petulantly: "Not only do I know he's not the culprit, I also know how he was framed!"
Li Hanzhou's brow lifted slightly: "Oh?"
Just as Chen Xingcai was about to speak, she seemed to remember something and covered her mouth. Her eyes darted around, and she made a playful face: "I'm not telling you! I want to solve this myself!"
With that, she departed as gracefully as a light butterfly.
Li Hanzhou watched her retreating figure, his gaze deepening.
"It seems... it has something to do with that youth named Shen Qingwu?" he murmured to himself. "And judging by Xingcai's attitude, could that person have also set their sights on her?"
A cold, killing intent flashed in Li Hanzhou's eyes.
He had grown up in a complex environment since childhood and never considered himself a kind person.
In his heart, aside from the few important people in the Immortal Spirit Valley, he wouldn't even bat an eye if millions died unjustly before him.
But thinking of Chen Xingcai's excited expression just now, he sighed helplessly.
"Never mind..."
"He's just an outer sect disciple. Let her have her fun." His stern face looked exceptionally deep under the moonlight. "I'll just have more spies keep an eye on him. I doubt he can stir up any big waves."
The night wind blew past, stirring his robes and scattering the momentary killing intent.
...
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