C4 Everyone Was Shocked!!

"When have I ever taken your Qi Gathering Pill? Stop falsely accusing me."

Upon hearing this, Ling Han's brow furrowed, realizing that Chu Qing must have been plotting this for some time.

"Humph! With both witness and evidence present, you have no room for excuses! Let's take Ling Han to face the Third Elder and settle this matter!"

Chu Qing, however, completely ignored Ling Han's protestations. With a dismissive wave of his hand, two men with sneers on their faces emerged from behind him and slowly approached Ling Han.

"My apologies, Senior Brother Ling Han!"

One of the men sneered as he reached out to grab Ling Han's arm, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"I can walk on my own."

But as they were about to touch Ling Han's arm, he scowled.

With a mere thought, his Qi erupted, encircling his arm, and repelled the men's hands with a burst of energy.

After a cold rebuke, Ling Han turned his back on them and strode toward the Elder's Courtyard.

"Humph!"

Chu Qing let out a cold snort and, with a wave of his hand, led a throng of followers behind Ling Han, their gazes filled with what seemed like boundless pity—as if Ling Han's end was imminent.

Meanwhile, the two men who had tried to seize Ling Han stood frozen in place, staring at their hands in disbelief. They exchanged glances, each seeing the shock reflected in the other's eyes. They were, after all, sixth-level Body Forging experts, ranking among the upper echelons of the Aquacloaks' Outer Sect. They had not expected to be so easily thwarted by Ling Han.

Unaware of what was going through their minds, Ling Han arrived at the Elder's Courtyard with an even deeper frown. Inside, he found not only the Third Elder but also the Second Elder of the Outer Sect.

This Second Elder was Chu Qing's master, who often provided Chu Qing with various elixirs and mystical medicines, contributing to Chu Qing's success. Chu Qing had mastered the eighth level of the Body Forging Technique and had even reached the third level of the challenging Qi Refining Technique.

Seeing him there only intensified Ling Han's sense of the conspiracy at play, but he continued forward.

"Second Elder, Third Elder."

Despite his deep dislike for the Second Elder, Ling Han respected the sect's traditions. Upon entering, he respectfully bowed to the two elders and addressed them in a subdued tone.

Chu Qing and his group had already made their entrance by the time they cast a glance at Ling Han, a sneer of contempt curling at the corner of Chu Qing's mouth.

"So, you're Ling Han?"

Once Chu Qing and the others had respectfully bowed, the Second Elder turned his ominous gaze onto Ling Han, subjecting him to an immense oppressive force that caused Ling Han to furrow his brow.

"Indeed, I am."

Ling Han was well aware that the Second Elder was deliberately targeting him, which only stoked the flames of anger within him.

He hadn't even had the chance to understand the situation before being treated with such hostility, clearly indicating a prearranged plot with Chu Qing.

"You're accused of stealing the Qi Gathering Pill that I gifted to my disciple Chu Qing. What do you have to say for yourself?"

Despite Ling Han maintaining a defiant demeanor, the Second Elder's lips twitched into a smirk as he pressed on with his questioning.

"I haven't stolen any Qi Gathering Pill."

Unintimidated, Ling Han's Qi roiled within him, forming a protective aura. He locked eyes with the Second Elder, standing his ground against the elder's intimidating presence.

"It seems you won't admit guilt until faced with undeniable proof! Bring forth Sun Yu and the Qi Gathering Pill found in Ling Han's room!"

Chu Qing didn't wait for the Second Elder to speak. He strode forward, gesturing commandingly behind him. A man emerged from the group, his head bowed low, avoiding Ling Han's gaze.

Ling Han's frown deepened upon recognizing the newcomer as a dormmate with whom he shared a close bond.

"Second... Second Elder, Third Elder," Sun Yu mumbled, passing by Ling Han with a noticeable tremble in his hands.

"My pills went missing last night. Sun Yu, inform the Second Elder whether Ling Han was in his room last night or not."

Chu Qing, smug with satisfaction at Ling Han's bewildered look, quietly prodded Sun Yu.

"Last night... I was startled awake by a noise and then... then I saw Ling Han leave in the middle of the night. He didn't return until about half an hour later."

Sun Yu kept his head bowed deeply, his voice trembling as if he were in a state of terror.

"Bring out the medicine!"

Upon hearing Sun Yu's words, a cold smirk played at the corner of Chu Qing's mouth, and he called out once more.

"Here, this was found in Ling Han's room. Everyone there saw it."

A man stepped forward from behind and handed the pill he was holding to Chu Qing, casting a cold glance at Ling Han before speaking softly.

"We have both the witness and the evidence. Ling Han, what do you have to say for yourself?"

Upon seeing the pill, the Second Elder was certain it was the very one he had given to Chu Qing. His lips curled into a smirk as he addressed Ling Han sharply.

"I didn't steal the pill. Moreover, stealing this pill would be pointless for me."

Ling Han remained expressionless, aware that Chu Qing had meticulously orchestrated this plot against him.

"Here we have both the witness and the evidence, and yet you continue to argue. Surely, you're aware of the Qi Gathering Pill's remarkable benefits. It can increase the chances of successfully breaking through to the third level of the Clear Sky Qi Refining Technique by 40%. There's no need to feign ignorance."

Chu Qing's mocking laughter rang out, having anticipated all of Ling Han's potential defenses. Having crafted this scheme, he certainly wouldn't allow Ling Han to slip away so easily.

"Does everyone here understand whether the Qi Gathering Pill is of any use to someone who has already surpassed the fourth level of Qi Refining?" Ling Han asked, a cold smile on his lips. Even the wisest can overlook something, especially someone as overbearing as Chu Qing.

"Obviously, it's useless. Are you implying that you've already exceeded the fourth level?" The Third Elder, who had been quietly observing, finally spoke up, his gaze landing on Ling Han with a hint of curiosity.

Setting other considerations aside, just the fact that Ling Han could endure the Second Elder's intimidation without batting an eye was a feat few in the Outer Sect could claim.

"Surpassed the fourth level? Hahaha!"

"Ling Han probably hasn't even reached the third level yet."

"It seems Ling Han is quite confident, preparing for his eventual breakthrough to the third level. But that assumes you'll reach the third level in your lifetime!"

...