Chapter 19: Chapter 19: A Farce
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Fang Lin paused, grinned, and said, “What are you hollering about? I haven’t done anything to you.”
“Stop!”
Just then, a stern voice echoed out. Fang Lin turned his head to see a middle-aged man quickly approaching, followed by a smirking Kang Lu.
Fang Lin looked calm, already having a rough guess about the course of events.
“Elder Wu, Fang Lin is trying to kill Sun Hao, and he even wanted to kill me!” The female disciple saw the arrival of the man and immediately shouted out like she’d found her savior.
Fang Lin was annoyed. This woman was really quite bothersome.
Wu Zhen had a stern look. He glanced at the miserable Sun Hao on the ground, then at the seemingly nonchalant Fang Lin, and suddenly shouted in anger, “Fang Lin, you’ve gone too far!”
“Elder, Fang Lin’s actions undoubtedly harmed his fellow sect members. He should be severely punished,” Kang Lu chimed in immediately.
The female disciples around them were surprised by the turn of events and looked at Fang Lin with some sympathy.
Wu Zhen glanced at Fang Lin and then at the screaming female disciple. He questioned her, “Cao Ying, tell me what happened.”
The female disciple named Cao Ying immediately pointed at Fang Lin and angrily said, “Fang Lin unjustly attacked my fellow disciple Sun Hao and tried to harm me. Fortunately, my fellow disciples were present, and Elder Wu and Brother Kang Lu arrived in time. Otherwise, I might have fallen under Fang Lin’s vicious hand too. I ask Elder Wu to judge wisely and punish the reckless Fang Lin.”
Other female disciples showed expressions of disgust. Cao Ying deliberately made her statement in this way, obviously intending to doom Fang Lin.
Although Cao Ying maintained a panicked expression on her face, she was secretly sneering. ‘Fang Lin, you offended Master Brother Kang Lu. Let’s see how you struggle this time.’
Kang Lu checked Sun Hao’s injuries and said furiously, “Fang Lin was extremely vicious in his attack. Disciple Sun Hao is gravely wounded. Elder, you must seek justice for Disciple Sun Hao.”
Wu Zhen nodded, then turned to Fang Lin and said coldly, “Convicted Fang Lin, do you understand your crimes?”
Fang Lin dug at his ear, showing no fear at all, which further irritated Wu Zhen.
“So you are Elder Wu Zhen, right? You’ve been listening to Kang Lu and that ugly woman’s side of the story from the start. How about listening to my side?” Fang Lin said nonchalantly.
Upon being called an ugly woman, Cao Ying almost lost her mind. How could she be ugly? In terms of looks, she was at least in the top five among the female Pill Apprentices. This was clearly Fang Lin being blind. Yes, that had to be it.
Wu Zhen maintained a cold demeanor and said, ‘You committed a serious crime. No need for more words. Kneel and await your punishment.”
Upon hearing this, Fang Lin instantly understood. It was clear that Wu Zhen was on Kang Lu’s side. Which meant that Wu Zhen did not care at all about the actual course of the events. His purpose here was primarily to punish him.
With this realization, Fang Lin’s face darkened and sneered, “What a fine Elder of Pill Sect, unbiased and decisive. Truly a role model for us disciples.” Fang Lin’s mockery did not provoke any guilt in Wu Zhen’s ears.
“Fang Lin, Elder Wu is naturally impartial. You made a mistake, so you must be punished,” Kang Lu said, smirking.
Fang Lin looked at Kang Lu with a trace of disdain in his eyes. “You used Sun Hao to achieve your own goals. Well played, Kang Lu. Only a fool like Sun Hao would let himself be used by you.”
At this, Kang Lu’s expression changed slightly. It was uncomfortable to have his scheme seen through by someone else.
“Take Fang Lin away,” commanded Wu Zhen.
Kang Lu was about to step forward to capture Fang Lin, who wore a hint of a smile on his lips, as if ready to submit to his fate.
“With me here, who dares to take Fang Lin away?” Suddenly, an angry roar echoed out. Meng Wuyou, dressed in a white robe, approached from behind Fang Lin, looking majestic and furious.
Seeing Meng Wuyou appear, Fang Lin let out a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the old man had arrived in time.
Following behind Meng Wuyou was a panting Lu Xiaoqing. Clearly, she had found out about this situation and rushed to get help from Elder Meng Wuyou.
Upon seeing Meng Wuyou’s arrival, the faces of Kang Lu and Wu Zhen changed. They had a hunch that something bad was about to happen.
Cao Ying also went pale and fell silent.
Meng Wuyou arrived next to Fang Lin, glanced at him, and saw that he was unharmed, his expression slightly eased.
“Fang Lin, are you okay?” Lu Xiaoqing also asked with concern.
Fang Lin smiled and shook his head, saying, “I’m fine, but your door is broken.” He pointed at the broken door of Lu Xiaoqing’s house.
Lu Xiaoqing answered grumpily, “The door can be broken. As long as you’re okay, that’s all that matters.”
Wu Zhen’s gaze hardened as he looked at Meng Wuyou. He said, “Elder Meng, what are you trying to do? Are you trying to protect this criminal, Fang Lin?”
Meng Wuyou snorted, not giving Wu Zhen any face. He said, “You keep calling
Fang Lin a criminal. So tell me, what crime did Fang Lin commit?”
Wu Zhen’s expression remained indifferent. He said, “Harming fellow sect members, isn’t this a crime?”
Saying this, he pointed at Sun Hao on the ground.
Meng Wuyou glanced at Sun Hao and thought to himself that Fang Lin was really ruthless, having beaten Sun Hao up so badly.
At this point, Fang Lin said: ‘Elder Wu Zhen, do you know why I hit Sun Hao?” Wu Zhen frowned slightly, ignoring Fang Lin.
Fang Lin didn’t mind and continued: “Because Sun Hao was drunk and came to kick the door, he even tried to attack me. I had no choice but to defend myself.” “Nonsense!” Wu Zhen exclaimed.
Fang Lin smirked, saying: “Elder Wu Zhen, don’t you find it strange that Sun Hao is here? And you didn’t bother asking your fellow disciples who were here at the time about what actually happened. They could clear it all up, so why didn’t you ask?”
Wu Zhen’s face finally changed and Kang Lu also looked displeased.
Meng Wuyou quickly turned to the female disciples and asked: “Tell me
truthfully what you saw. We can’t just rely on one-sided testimonies.”
Cao Ying immediately looked up and said: “It’s Fang Lin. It was Fang Lin who wounded his fellow disciple!”
“Nonsense!” Meng Wuyou said coldly. With a swift swipe of his sleeve, a strong gust knocked Cao Ying to the ground, leaving her unable to speak.
The other female disciples nervously said: “We only saw Sun Hao getting drunk and causing a scene outside Qing’s door. Then Cao Ying intentionally mentioned that Fang Lin was inside and Sun Hao, like a madman, kicked the door open and charged in. After that, he was beaten out by Fang Lin.”
Hearing these female disciples’ words, Cao Ying’s face turned pale, her eyes full of desperation.
Both Kang Lu and Wu Zhen clenched their fists, extremely annoyed.
Meng Wuyou understood the situation and stared intently at Wu Zhen, asking: “Elder Wu Zhen, the truth has become clear now. You could have asked these female disciples before, but you insisted on accusing Fang Lin. Why is that?”
Wu Zhen snorted in response: “Maybe these female disciples were arranged by
Fang Lin beforehand. Besides, why was Fang Lin here in the first place?”
Fang Lin immediately asked: “I want to ask Brother Kang Lu, why was my lodging destroyed?”
Kang Lu responded coldly: “This has nothing to do with me. Why are you asking me?”
Wu Zhen also said: “Just the words of a few female disciples are not enough to prove that Fang Lin is innocent!”
Upon hearing this, Meng Wuyou laughed. Wu Zhen’s words exposed his intentions too clearly.
“Wu Zhen, how much did you profit from Kang Lu?” Meng Wuyou suddenly shouted accusation.
Everyone was taken aback. Although everyone was aware of this type of affair, it was startling to hear it said so directly and publicly.
Wu Zhen’s face turned black as a pot bottom with a touch of panic and anger in his eyes.
Kang Lu was in the same state. At that moment, all eyes were focused on them, as if their dark and dirty dealings were laid bare.
Fang Lin looked at old Meng Wuyou and thought to himself that this was the kind of things that this old fellow would dare say. As a result, Meng Wuyou had virtually broken ties with Wu Zhen and Kang Lu.
“Meng Wuyou, do not slander me!” Wu Zhen argued.
Meng Wuyou looked disgusted, saying: “Do you need me to slander you? Everyone in the Pill Sect knows you are close to Kang Lu. You and Kang Lu were obviously targeting Fang Lin this time. It can be speculated that all this was planned by you, Wu Zhen.”
Wu Zhen’s face changed. Meng Wuyou’s words were like a sharp sword that cut him to the quick, leaving him no strength to counterattack.
Immediately, Wu Zhen walked away in a huff. Kang Lu, after giving Fang Lin and Meng Wuyou a resentful look, also left, completely ignoring Sun Hao lying on the ground.
With their departure, a conclusion was drawn to the incident this farce ended, leaving people sighing.
Seeing Kang Lu and Wu Zhen leave like this, Cao Ying lost her direction. The other female disciples distanced themselves from her, clearly ostracizing her.
At this time, Meng Wuyou also looked at Cao Ying, disgust showing in his eyes, coldly saying: “Cao Ying instigated Sun Hao’s impulsive actions, and cannot escape the blame. You won’t need to participate in this year’s examination.”
Hearing this, Cao Ying collapsed on the ground, crying: “Elder, please forgive me! Elder, please forgive me! I know I was wrong. Please Elder, give me another chance and let me participate in the annual examination!”
However, Meng Wuyou didn’t even look at her, he left with Fang Lin and Lu Xiaoqing.
Cao Ying was left there, with a look of despair and resentment in her eyes. She was a Pill Apprentice who had failed to advance for three consecutive years.
She had high hopes for this year’s promotion, but because of this incident, her chances have been stripped away, and she had to wait until next year.
For a Pill Apprentice, such a punishment is undoubtedly the cruelest. A lot can happen in a year.
Cao Ying did not dare to blame Meng Wuyou for this punishment, so she could only hold a grudge against Fang Lin and Lu Xiaoqing.
The other female disciples didn’t have much sympathy for Cao Ying. After all, she’d brought it on herself.
Cao Ying remained silent and quietly left the place..