C14 Fall into a Trap

The following day, Zhao Lin stepped out of his thatched cottage. Since joining the Outer Sect, he had scarcely ventured out, dedicating his time to cultivation and the pursuit of the Foundation Building Pill, without really getting to know the Outer Sect surroundings. As he left the cottage, something felt off. He checked the date; it wasn't a special day for the sect, so why were so many people loitering about?

Without inquiring further, Zhao Lin quickly made his exit. But sometimes trouble finds you even when you avoid it. "Hey, isn't that Brother Zhao who outwitted Zhang Yun with his clever tricks yesterday?" A voice called out, and a group of more than ten people encircled Zhao Lin.

Zhao Lin's face tensed. These rascals had been lying in wait for him. The sect's rules forbade anyone from entering another's quarters without elder or leader permission, which is why they hadn't dared to approach his cottage and instead waited for him to emerge. "Who might you be?" Zhao Lin asked, his tone even and assertive.

"Damn, are you looking for trouble? You don't even recognize Senior Brother Chen? He's the blood brother of Senior Brother Wang's cousin's sworn brother!" A teenager, probably seventeen or eighteen, pointed at a young man in his twenties, his face full of sycophancy. Zhao Lin offered a wry smile and asked, "What's this about Senior Brother Wang's cousin's brother? What do you want?"

"You jerk, how dare you insult Senior Brother Chen? You're done for, done for!" The fawning youth seemed not to grasp whom Zhao Lin had insulted and was just trying to curry favor. "Zhao Lin, you dare to insult me? Remember, it's Chen Yong who's sending you to hell. When you face the King of Hell, you can complain about me all you want!" Initially baffled by Zhao Lin's words, Chen Yong finally caught on after the youngster's commotion that the insult was directed at him.

"Moron!" Zhao Lin rolled his eyes. This fool didn't even know who was being insulted and yet continued to make a scene. How could the Firetalons possibly admit such a fool into their ranks? "Ah, you imbecile, insulting me time and again, attack him!" Chen Yong was utterly furious, or perhaps Zhao Lin had just given him the pretext he needed to strike.

"Scram!" The brash youth beside Chen Yong foolishly charged at Zhao Lin. With a thunderous roar, Zhao Lin flicked his palm, sending a gust of energy hurtling towards the kid's chest. With a cry of "Ah!" Zhao Lin watched, puzzled, as the boy was sent flying backward, blood spurting from his mouth, even though the blast had yet to reach him.

"Disaster! Wang Ke has been beaten to death!" As soon as the youth hit the ground, his life force vanished. The others quickly checked for breath at Wang Ke's nostrils, but there was none. "What? Wang Ke is dead? You heartless fiend! Go report this to the elders at once!" Chen Yong's face turned ashen, while Zhao Lin let out a derisive chuckle, curious to see how long they could keep up this farce.

"Who here has broken the sect's rules and resorted to violence?" An aged voice soon called out. An elderly man, likely in his seventies, approached, flanked by several disciples. "Elder, you must seek justice for my junior brother. He was merely jesting with Zhao Lin, yet that merciless Zhao Lin, in defiance of our rules, has slain my junior brother, Wang Ke. Elder, I implore you to take up my cause!"

Upon the elder's arrival, Chen Yong collapsed before him, wailing as if he had lost his parents, his grief seemingly boundless. "Seize the assailant!" the elder commanded, his voice heavy with sorrow. His words barely out, two disciples moved to apprehend Zhao Lin.

Zhao Lin's face darkened with rage, and though he contemplated resistance, he instead scoffed and submitted to their hold. "I call upon the Outer Sect Elders!" The elder shook his head in a sigh, deeply disappointed by Zhao Lin's conduct. After Zhao Lin was escorted away and the elder had departed, Chen Yong allowed himself a smug grin, whispering instructions to a disciple. They quickly carried Wang Ke's body away.

In a grand hall, six elders sat in meditation, including the one who had apprehended Zhao Lin. "Third Senior Brother, why summon us so urgently?" a younger elder inquired. "It's about Lee Qing. Since Zhao Lin joined the Inner Sect, Wang Feng has been displeased. But now, as he's secluded himself, striving for a breakthrough, he's left the matter of Zhao Lin to Lee Qing. Zhao Lin is talented, but lacks restraint. And now, he's walked right into the snare laid by Chen Yong and his cohorts."

"Since it's a trap, let's just expose it. Why did Third Senior Brother feel the need to summon us all?" They were slightly displeased over such a trivial matter. "Expose it? You say that so casually, but have you considered the implications? If Wang Feng truly advances to the Inner Sect, with his aptitude, he'll soon become a leading figure among the sect's younger members. When that time comes, he could easily make life difficult for us," the Third Elder said with a look of resignation.

Despite their status as elders, the ordinary disciples were oblivious to their inner turmoil. They might have appeared as respected elders, but in reality, they were just a bunch of old men biding their time until death. They were essentially has-beens, their cultivation strong enough to dominate the Outer Sect but with no prospects of further advancement. That's why they were made Outer Sect Elders. Yet, they had to tread lightly around Inner Sect disciples.

"Getting Wang Feng into the Inner Sect isn't the hard part, but rising to a position of leadership, although challenging, isn't out of reach for him. Plus, his relationship with Xie Ling is akin to childhood sweethearts. We indeed need to make a decision!" declared a white-haired elder, bringing the discussion to a close. "The eldest brother speaks wisely. We'll side with Wang Feng over Zhao Lin!" The others concurred.

"Bring in Zhao Lin!" At his command, the massive doors creaked open, revealing two disciples escorting Zhao Lin, who had been waiting outside. "Outer Sect disciple Zhao Lin, young yet vicious, has ruthlessly slain his fellow disciples. To honor the deceased and uphold our sect's rules, the sentence is immediate execution!" The Third Elder's proclamation echoed throughout the Outer Sect.

Reactions varied—some were elated, others puzzled, and a few downright terrified. Zhao Lin's face turned pale; this was not at all what he had anticipated. The elder was about to mete out punishment without clear evidence, and it was a matter of life and death. "Wait! You're executing a disciple on the spot, but which rule justifies this? And the deceased you mention—where is the body?" Zhao Lin's voice, dark with foreboding, carried across the Outer Sect.

"Bring forth the deceased!" The Third Elder's expression remained unchanged. "Fellow Elders, you must seek justice for my junior brother. He was brutally slain by the merciless Zhao Lin!" Chen Yong and his companions arrived, bearing the body of Wang Ke. Upon seeing the Elders, they broke down in tears, overwhelmed by grief.