Chapter 101: Chapter 99: Acknowledging the Crime, But Not Pleading Guilty

"Hmph! You unreasonable brat! This old man will remember you!"

Just as Yun Xuzi and his large retinue arrived outside Moqi Tavern, they happened to hear Liu Hong’s last sentence.

Each and every one of them was so scared they froze like statues, not daring to take a single step inside.

They were all members of the Void Sect’s upper echelon, each holding an important position. The lowest among them was an Elder.

They might be strangers to one another, with no dealings or personal acquaintance, but when it came to Liu Hong, they were all familiar with every detail—his appearance, his build, his voice, his aura. They couldn’t have been more familiar.

What kind of man was Liu Hong?

He was a powerhouse who dared to give the Emperor of the Mountain and Sea Empire the cold shoulder, and the Emperor would still have to offer a placating smile and treat him with utmost courtesy.

When Liu Hong had first shown up saying he wanted to join the Void Sect, the sect’s upper echelon had been driven mad with joy. For a time, they thought he had to be joking.

For years, they had treated Liu Hong like a god, willing to go to any lengths to satisfy his every need.

On every festival and holiday, the entire leadership would visit with gifts, hoping just to become a familiar face to him.

Liu Hong might not recognize them, but every single one of them recognized him.

’Why is this great master here? And from the looks of it, he seems absolutely furious.’

’Who in the world would dare to make Liu Hong this angry?!’

Just as a thousand thoughts were racing through their minds, Liu Hong emerged.

"Hm? Didn’t I tell you all to wait? What, do you want this old man to slap each of you, too?"

Having failed to take on Mo Qi, Liu Hong was already in a foul mood. The sight of so many "wooden posts" standing around dumbly was an eyesore no matter how he looked at it.

The faces of Yun Xuzi and the others blanched with fear.

’What is going on?! When did Liu Hong tell us to wait? And who already got slapped? Did we miss something?’

None of them were fools. After a brief moment of stunned confusion, they recalled Su Hai’s muddled words and had a sudden realization.

’Damn that Su Hai! He didn’t explain anything clearly. He totally set us up!’

In their hearts, they all cursed Su Hai to a thousand deaths.

Meanwhile, Wang Xinglong, the one who had urged everyone to come, was cowering at the very back of the crowd. He didn’t dare move a muscle, terrified of drawing the fire onto himself.

"Master Liu, please forgive us! We never received your command. This is our failing." As the Sect Leader, Yun Xuzi had no choice but to bite the bullet and offer an explanation.

"Hmph." Liu Hong couldn’t be bothered with them. With a cold snort, he vanished on the spot.

Everyone looked at one another, unsure of what Liu Hong was up to. For a long time, no one dared to make a move.

They only breathed a collective sigh of relief after they were certain Liu Hong was long gone.

"Do you think... the one who made Master Liu so furious could have been Mo Qi?"

Someone piped up with the question, sending a jolt through the entire group.

"Hmph! Who else could it be but that arrogant brat who doesn’t know his own limits!" Wang Xinglong was back to his old self again.

This time, Yun Xuzi was much more cautious. He didn’t want to make any wild guesses where Liu Hong was concerned.

"That’s enough. Master Liu’s affairs are not our place to meddle in. Just focus on your own duties!"

Everyone deeply agreed and fell silent.

"Since we’re already here, let’s proceed with the plan to pass judgment on Mo Qi."

With that, Yun Xuzi led the way into the tavern, and the other Elders and high-ranking members followed close behind.

Mo Qi had just seen Liu Hong off and was still feeling completely baffled by the encounter when Yun Xuzi and his group filed in.

"Disciple Mo Qi greets the Sect Leader and the Elders."

Although he knew they were here with ill intent, Mo Qi did not neglect the proper courtesies.

The others present also bowed in greeting.

As for Liu Ruyan, she had put on a veil the moment she saw Yun Xuzi and the others enter, concealing her face.

’Now is not the time to reveal my identity.’

Yun Xuzi waved his hand. "Dispense with the formalities."

"May I ask what business brings the Sect Leader and Elders here today?" Mo Qi asked. He wasn’t feigning ignorance; he was genuinely in the dark.

"Hmph! Mo Qi, you have some nerve! The Sect Leader summoned you to the Punishment Hall for judgment, yet you failed to appear. Do you have no respect for the Elders?" an Elder interjected sharply before Yun Xuzi could speak.

Mo Qi cupped his fist and replied with calm composure, "Sect Leader, please understand. It wasn’t that I refused to go, but that I had a guest. In fact, that guest just left. You must have run into him on your way."

The Elder was speechless.

The accusatory Elder instantly deflated. He certainly didn’t have the courage to find fault with Liu Hong, and he realized his anger had clouded his judgment, leading him to ask such a foolish question.

"Alright, let’s get back to business," Yun Xuzi said, his tone neutral. "Mo Qi, an Elder has brought an accusation to me. He claims you have murdered fellow disciples, that you are cruel and tyrannical, and he demands you be judged. What do you have to say to this?"

’What do I have to say to this? I see it with my eyes, of course.’

Of course, Mo Qi would never say that out loud. He scanned his surroundings, his gaze sweeping over the various Elders before finally landing on Wang Xinglong.

His killing intent flared.

’That old bastard didn’t just send Qi Tian and Diao Qing to kill me; he shamelessly used Fang Min as bait and had Xu He ambush me.’

’If it weren’t for a stroke of luck, I’d be reunited with Uncle Niu by now.’

Sensing Mo Qi’s murderous gaze, Wang Xinglong gave a cold smile and returned a look of equal intensity.

Mo Qi wanted to kill him, and he wanted to kill Mo Qi just as badly.

"I don’t understand what the Sect Leader is referring to. I ask for clarification," Mo Qi said.

"Very well. Wang Xinglong, you may speak," Yun Xuzi said, turning to him.

Wang Xinglong stepped forward from the group and said in a grave voice, "Mo Qi, I am going to ask you a few things. Do you dare to answer truthfully?"

"Why wouldn’t I?"

"I ask you, were Qi Tian and Diao Qing killed by you?"

"That’s right," Mo Qi nodded without the slightest hesitation.

"Hmph, I knew you’d deny it! I... Huh? What? You admit it?!" Wang Xinglong, who had been ready to present his evidence, suddenly felt the helplessness of a punch landing on soft cotton.

’In his mind, Mo Qi was supposed to deny it vehemently.’

"Why shouldn’t I admit to something I did?" Mo Qi shrugged, as if it were the most natural thing in the world. 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

"Good! Very good! All of you heard him! You all saw it! This boy admitted it himself, and he shows not a shred of remorse! Such arrogance is unprecedented!" Wang Xinglong laughed, beside himself with rage.

Mo Qi wanted to roll his eyes. ’I admitted it, sure, but when was I being arrogant?’

"I’ll ask you again: did Wang Ming, the head of the Nanyang City waystation, die at your hands? And was it you who crippled the Cultivation of the other disciples?"

Mo Qi nodded. "I killed Wang Ming. But I didn’t cripple the others’ Cultivation. They crippled it themselves."

"Hmph! Twisting words! Weren’t they forced to do so by you?"

"I forced them, yes, but I didn’t cripple them. Those are two different things," Mo Qi said earnestly.

"Enough!" Yun Xuzi said, his face dark.

"As a Core Disciple, you are expected to prioritize the interests of the Void Sect and care for your fellow disciples. But look what you’ve done! You murdered two Elite Disciples with boundless potential and used your status to run amok in Nanyang City! Do you admit your guilt!"

"Disciple Mo Qi, do you admit your guilt!" All but a few of the Elders shouted in unison.

Although they did not use their Cultivation, the combined pressure of so many Elders’ auras made the cry a blow that struck deep into one’s very soul, shaking the mind to its core.

Jin Sanpang and Liu Hui’s faces paled, and they stumbled backward.

As a mortal, Niu Kexin fared even worse. Her body went limp, and she collapsed into Liu Ruyan’s arms.

If Liu Ruyan hadn’t immediately channeled True Essence into her, the force of that shout would have been enough to shatter her heart meridians.

Mo Qi’s brow furrowed, and his expression turned grim. "Disciple Mo Qi acknowledges the charge, but does not plead guilty!"