Chapter 102: Evidence

“Who exactly are you? You show up and turn the Enforcement Hall into such chaos. I’m beginning to suspect you might be a spy sent by another sect!”

The elder’s words struck like a thunderclap, and Lin Hao’s smile instantly froze. Everyone around him looked at him with suspicion, especially the disciples of the Enforcement Hall, who now seemed ready to kill him on the spot.

The sect leader furrowed his brow and scrutinized Lin Hao with a piercing gaze. Just as he was about to speak, a voice descended from above:

“Of course he’s a traitor. And this traitor is backed by a powerful force that supports him!”

The voice was neutral in tone but carried an unmistakable edge of malice. Even without seeing the speaker, Lin Hao could sense that this was no ordinary person.

As the voice faded, a figure clad in blue robes descended gracefully to the ground. Lin Hao appraised the newcomer’s features, which rivaled those of Cao Yi, but the aura surrounding him was starkly different. This man exuded a gloomy, sinister presence, his eyes sharp and venomous like a serpent’s. The feeling he gave off was deeply unsettling.

This was Lin Hao’s first impression of him.

Lin Hao frowned, recalling the words just spoken. What exactly did this man mean? Could his true identity have been exposed? Yet, it was unfair to label him as a traitor so casually.

As the man landed, all other voices fell silent. Though his identity remained unclear, Lin Hao knew this person had come for him.

Adhering to the principle that the less said, the better, Lin Hao chose to remain silent. Instead, he watched as the man’s words drew the attention of most present. All eyes turned toward him.

The newcomer, upon seeing the sect leader, bowed respectfully and said, “Sect Leader, this Lin Hao is indeed an undercover agent sent by another sect. Moreover, I have reason to believe that the Senior Brother colluded with an external sect to bring harm to the Qingcheng Sect, possibly even plotting to usurp the sect leader’s position.”

The room erupted in uproar.

“What? A traitor?! How could the Senior Brother possibly lead a group like that?”

“Is that really true?”

Whispers and speculations filled the air.

Even the sect leader’s expression darkened upon hearing these accusations.

Meanwhile, the two central figures, Lin Hao and Cao Yi, stood calmly, their expressions composed. Regardless of their inner turmoil, their outward confidence made many doubt the accusations.

“Hey, do you think this is true or not?” someone asked.

“Everyone knows the Second Senior Brother and Senior Brother are at odds. If the Second Senior Brother was unsure, he wouldn’t have said such things.”

“Who knows? Let’s wait and see who prevails. But this matter has escalated greatly. If the Senior Brother really fails, what punishment will he face?”

“In our sect, there’s never any mercy for traitors.”

“Enough, enough. Let’s wait for the sect leader’s decision.”

The murmurs ignited intense discussion throughout the hall.

The sect leader glanced first at Cao Yi, then at the Second Senior Brother, and said, “Zheng Xi, if you’re to make such claims, you must provide solid evidence.”

“Hmph, evidence? Of course I have evidence. He is a traitor who was once part of the Qingfeng Sect. What secret purpose he serves in coming to Qingcheng only he knows.”

Zheng Xi clapped his hands as if he had long been prepared, a confident smile on his face.

At that moment, a few people approached, clearing a path. One of them, pointing to a man in the center, said, “Here’s the evidence. He’s an elder of the Qingfeng Sect, and today I’ve brought him to identify Lin Hao.”

Lin Hao’s heart sank as Elder Zhou slowly approached him. His worst fears were confirmed: his Qingfeng Sect affiliation had been exposed, and it was Elder Zhou who had come.

“Elder Zhou!” Lin Hao’s gaze darkened with unease. Looking at Cao Yi, he felt a pang of guilt and whispered, “Sorry, Senior Brother, for dragging you into this.”

Cao Yi remained calm, shaking his head and saying, “When it’s your turn to speak, just tell the truth. You don’t need to worry about anything else.”

Lin Hao was about to reply, “No, Senior Brother, I’ll take responsibility for my own actions...” but Cao Yi waved him off. “I have my own way of handling things. I won’t let your troubles ruin my plans.”

Seeing Cao Yi’s confidence, Lin Hao swallowed his words and nodded, ready to cooperate fully.

Elder Zhou was brought forward, and Zheng Xi’s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Having brought direct testimony, the crowd naturally leaned toward the evidence.

Pointing at Lin Hao, they exclaimed, “Damn it! So he’s really a traitor, not one of us but sent by another sect!”

“Yeah, this kid doesn’t look like a good person at all. And Senior Brother actually trusts him so fully—it’s unforgivable!”

“Hmph, someone like that must be eliminated from our Qingcheng Sect. He can’t be allowed to live here.”

“Root out the traitor!”

“Qingcheng Sect cannot harbor traitors!”

Suddenly, a voice shouted from the crowd, sparking a chorus demanding the traitor’s removal. The scene descended into chaos.

The sect leader frowned and shouted sharply, “Silence!”

His voice, imbued with spiritual energy, seemed to echo directly into everyone’s ears.

At once, the crowd fell utterly silent.

Zheng Xi, who had been pleased with the atmosphere he’d created, frowned upon witnessing the sect leader’s simple command dispel the tension.

He quickly regained composure and, fixing a fierce gaze on the sect leader, said, “Sect Leader, how do you intend to handle this matter?”

The sect leader ignored Zheng Xi’s question and instead asked Elder Zhou, “You are from the Qingfeng Sect?”

“Yes. I am Elder Zhou of the Qingfeng Sect. Today, at the invitation of your Second Senior Brother, I have come to identify a traitor from our sect—this Lin Hao. He caused a major incident in our sect, even destroying one of our spacecraft and injuring many disciples. He then fled here. We have been searching for him relentlessly, only to find that he has disrupted your hall and caused such trouble. We sincerely apologize for this, Sect Leader.”

Though Elder Zhou’s tone was sincere, his words sounded harsh and grating, especially to Lin Hao.

Looking at Elder Zhou, Lin Hao thought: As I feared, his arrival meant trouble. Now he brazenly twists the truth to pin everything on me.

Lin Hao couldn’t help but smile bitterly.

Others, unaware of the full truth and now convinced Lin Hao was a traitor even in his original sect, viewed him with scorn and anger.

They demanded he be handed over, insisting that someone like him had no right to live and must be punished.

Elder Zhou smiled smugly, pleased with how his words had swayed the crowd, and turned his gaze back to Lin Hao.

As Elder Zhou continued to slander him, Lin Hao stepped forward and said, “Elder Zhou, it has indeed been a long time,” advancing steadily.

Elder Zhou’s eyes lit up with delight, thinking Lin Hao was about to attack him—perfect for making the act more convincing. Knowing Lin Hao’s impulsive nature, he expected he wouldn’t hold back.

But that fleeting joy vanished, replaced by a stern expression.

Looking at Lin Hao with feigned heartbreak, he said, “Lin Hao, I admit the Qingfeng Sect treated you well, but you betrayed us. You even harmed two elders and many disciples. Now you’ve come to another sect to stir trouble. You should never have been allowed to stay in the Qingfeng Sect.”

Elder Zhou’s voice was pitiful, his demeanor crafted to elicit sympathy.

While he was still playing his part, Lin Hao suddenly struck him a sharp slap that twisted Elder Zhou’s mouth and drew blood from the corner.

Elder Zhou’s words abruptly ceased.

Those nearby gaped in shock.

Lin Hao, acting as if nothing had happened, rubbed his palm and said, “A mouth that doesn’t speak the truth is useless, isn’t it, Elder Zhou?”

“Lin Hao, you damned wretch! How dare you be so arrogant...” Elder Zhou, humiliated by the slap, lost his composure and revealed his true spiteful nature.

He had never been treated this way and could not contain his anger.

Lin Hao laughed boldly, “What’s the matter? No more acting? You just now played the victim so convincingly.”

Elder Zhou flushed with shame and anger, realizing he had been outmaneuvered. He pointed at Lin Hao, speechless.

Zheng Xi cursed inwardly, “Worthless old man.”

Stepping forward, he said, “So, you’ve admitted to being a disciple of the Qingfeng Sect?”