Tian Yuheng waved his hand.
“Elder Yu!”
Elder Yu stepped forward immediately, her aura overwhelming the hall like a crashing tide.
She was one of the elders of Punishment Hall like Elder Shan, though a supporter of the Sect Leader’s faction, and someone the Sect Leader trusted.
“Take Shen Liang and Mei Rulan into custody. They will be stripped of their Core Disciple and Inner Disciple statuses respectively and expelled after the Sect Assembly.”
Tian Yuheng also handed out quite a severe punishment to them, which was understandable.
After all, they had tried to mess with the Bai Clan’s heir—and the punishment needed to be heavy enough to satisfy the Bai Clan.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be able to explain things to them.
“As for Elder Shen and the others who were also involved…”
Tian Yuheng’s voice paused, considering what punishment would be appropriate.
Right now, only Shen Liang, Mei Rulan, Fang Jinyan, and the lackey who planted evidence in Bai Zihan’s courtyard were confirmed to be involved.
Fang Jinyan—anyone could tell—was working as a spy for Bai Zihan, so naturally, there wouldn’t be any punishment for him.
However, Elder Shan and the other disciples who went to arrest Bai Zihan might also be involved, although there was no concrete evidence yet.
At the same time, some might have been innocent, merely fulfilling their duties.
“You are suspended from your duties pending full investigation. Until then, you are confined to your residence.”
Elder Shen’s body shook violently, and for a moment, it seemed like he might cough up blood.
After a proper investigation, his involvement would easily be exposed.
Moreover, a full investigation could uncover all the other corruption he had committed behind everyone’s backs.
Losing his status as Hall Master or elder would be the least of his worries.
The Anti-Sect Leader faction would also abandon him immediately—like rats fleeing a sinking ship.
After all, without status to back him up, no one would risk themselves to save him.
Still, he gritted his teeth, swallowing his humiliation with trembling fists.
It seemed like the case was finally coming to a close, with all the culprits facing punishment—
Until Bai Zihan stepped forward.
“Wait!” Bai Zihan said.
The entire hall, already holding its breath, turned stunned gazes toward him.
Tian Yuheng’s raised hand paused midair, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly.
(Could it be that he’s unsatisfied?)
Tian Yuheng thought.
Although he had handed down a severe punishment, it might still not be enough to satisfy the devil of the Bai Clan.
“I recall,” Bai Zihan said leisurely, his voice carrying clearly across the hall, “that when Elder Shen handed down my punishment, he decreed that if I was framed… the framer would suffer the same sentence.”
A heavy silence blanketed the room.
Some disciples gasped, remembering exactly what Elder Shen had said during that hearing.
—Cut off the right hand.
—A year of isolation in the Reflection Cave.
—And possibly expulsion from the Heaven Sword Sect.
It wasn’t just a punishment—it was a crippling humiliation, a destruction of a cultivator’s future.
Bai Zihan tilted his head slightly, a lazy, mocking smile playing on his lips.
“Now that the truth is out, shouldn’t we honor Elder Shen’s own words?”
His words weren’t loud, but they slammed into the crowd like thunder.
Shen Liang’s face was drained of all colors.
Everyone understood instantly what Bai Zihan was implying.
He wanted Shen Liang’s right hand.
Tian Yuheng’s face grew even grimmer.
Even he hadn’t expected Bai Zihan to be this ruthless.
But… fair was fair.
Bai Zihan was merely asking to enforce Elder Shen’s own decree.
Bai Zihan’s gaze shifted lazily to Shen Liang, who was being held down by Elder Yu’s binding technique.
“You heard it, didn’t you, Shen Liang?”
His tone was light, even casual—but it carried the weight of a thousand mountains.
“You plotted against me. You fabricated evidence. You nearly ruined my future in the Heaven Sword Sect.”
“And now…”
Bai Zihan’s eyes glinted like sharpened blades.
“Return what you owe. You will lose your right hand. And you will spend one year in the Reflection Cave. That should be your punishment.”
A visible ripple of gasps swept through the crowd.
Even the outer and inner sect disciples watching from the edges of the hall were stunned.
If this truly happened, the Heaven Sword Sect would lose one of its geniuses.
On the dais, Tian Yuheng didn’t immediately speak.
Instead, his sharp gaze pinned Elder Shen to the spot.
“Is what Bai Zihan said correct?” he asked coldly.
Elder Shen’s lips trembled.
He wanted to deny it, find some loophole, make some excuse.
But he couldn’t.
Too many had witnessed him arrogantly decree Bai Zihan’s original punishment.
And if he went back on it now, his credibility—what little was left—would be completely destroyed.
After a long moment, Elder Shen finally croaked out.
“…Yes. That was indeed what I said. But it was merely a slip of tongue.”
Tian Yuheng’s face darkened even further.
Just when he thought things couldn’t get worse, Elder Shen only made it worse.
Of course, Tian Yuheng couldn’t let this escalate unchecked.
While the Shen Clan wasn’t as powerful as the Bai Clan, it was still one of the strongest clans.
Cutting off the right hand of their genius was tantamount to provoking them.
“Disciple Bai Zihan, how about you show some leniency?”
His voice echoed heavily across the hall.
“You’ve already proven your innocence and brought the truth to light. For the sake of the Heaven Sword Sect’s harmony, perhaps it’s best to leave some room for mercy.”
It was clear.
He was asking Bai Zihan to back down.
Not for Shen Liang’s sake—but to protect the sect’s stability and face.
Unfortunately for him… he was talking to Bai Zihan.
Bai Zihan smiled slightly, his eyes curving—but there was no warmth, only a sharp, chilling edge.
“Leave some room for mercy?”
He repeated softly, as if tasting the words.
Then his gaze sharpened, cold as ice.
“One must keep their word, wouldn’t you agree, Sect Leader?”
Tian Yuheng’s outstretched hand froze midair.
The weight behind Bai Zihan’s words made it impossible to press further without completely losing face.
Everyone could feel it.
Bai Zihan wasn’t going to back down.
Not even if the Sect Leader himself asked.
The air grew unbearably tense, as if an invisible hand was squeezing the entire Punishment Hall.
At that moment, Bai Xueqing hurriedly stepped forward.
Her brows knitted tightly, her voice urgent.
“Zihan! Let it go! Why ask for more when you’ve already gotten back at Shen Liang!”
Bai Xueqing thought Bai Zihan was being disobedient again, even when the Sect Leader was already helping him.
Bai Zihan turned his cold gaze toward her.
So cold that Bai Xueqing instinctively shut her mouth.
He spoke lightly, but each word struck like a hammer.
“Would you be saying the same if they had succeeded? Would they have shown mercy?”
Bai Xueqing’s lips quivered.
She couldn’t answer.
Because everyone knew the truth—especially her.
Shen Liang had pretended to offer help, demanding an apology from Bai Zihan first.
And she, too, had agreed, thinking that a simple apology was a small price to pay to escape disaster.
But now—could she righteously ask Bai Zihan to back down?
Bai Zihan continued coldly.
“One should pay the price for messing with me. No matter who they are!”