The Arrogant Immortal
Chapter 203 - 202 - Falling into a Trap

Chapter 203: Chapter 202 - Falling into a Trap

When Chaoyan gave the order for the Hall Master of the Discipline Hall to suppress her, Xie Jiuniang’s young face finally changed color.

Not good!

She had fallen into a trap!

Could it be that the person behind the scenes had never intended to target her from the beginning?

Instead, was it her Master Chaoyan!

Wearing a ghastly ghost mask, the Hall Master of the Discipline Hall’s eyes were cold, like a puppet devoid of emotions, "Chaoyan, you have violated Sect rules, therefore the punishment is thirty lashes and ten years of labor."

Chaoyan opened his mouth, intending to defend himself, but finally remembered the nearly draconian Sect rules and chose to remain silent in the end.

Indeed, it was he who had resorted to violence within the Sect, and moreover, inside the Discipline Hall, destroying one of its walls. Whether intentional or not, it was a provocation to the authority of the Discipline Hall.

Xie Jiuniang’s heart tightened, and she stepped forward with pursed lips, "Hall Master, my Master acted because I, his disciple, was almost killed. I am willing to take the punishment on behalf of my Master."

"Nonsense!"

Chaoyan rebuked her, "This has nothing to do with you."

"Master!" Xie Jiuniang pleaded anxiously.

Chaoyan raised his hand and silenced Xie Jiuniang, willing to accept the punishment.

Before acting, he had anticipated punishment, but regretted not completely crippling Wang Zhen’s cultivation base, merely severely injuring him.

The Hall Master, as a Divinity Transformation cultivator, wore a mask and dark-patterned vestment robe, exuding a potent presence. Standing there, he was an immovable mountain impossible to ignore.

Hearing Xie Jiuniang’s words, he cast a chilling glance at the Great Elder before the Great Elder stepped forward to recount the events.

The Hall Master personally went to Danfeng and used the Retrospection Technique at the scene of the incident to recreate the recent events.

Chaoyan looked at True Person Wang with a cold sneer, "You’re as good as dead."

True Person Wang’s face turned ashen.

When the Hall Master acted, Wang’s subtle maneuvers could not be hidden. Without any major incidents, such as those involving a crisis to the Sect, the Discipline Hall Master seldom made an appearance.

According to their plan, this incident wouldn’t have drawn out the Hall Master.

The Discipline Hall Master appeared once again, coldly sentencing, "Wang Zhen has violated Sect rules and will be executed. Chaoyan will receive twenty lashes and labor for ten years."

No sooner had he spoken than he disappeared.

The next moment, several figures in dark robes and masks appeared and took Wang Zhen away.

Others surrounded Chaoyan.

Xie Jiuniang wanted to step forward but was stopped by Chaoyan’s gaze; then Chaoyan was taken to the Punishment Hall.

Above the Punishment Hall were enshrined the founders of the Sect.

The fragrance of sandalwood lingered, and the atmosphere was solemn and awe-inspiring.

Chaoyan knelt before the founders, his spine straight.

The Discipline Hall’s flogging was not so simple; each lash penetrated the soul, causing pain that could be described as heart-wrenching and worse than death itself.

Xie Jiuniang secretly sent a Sound Transmission Talisman to the Sect Master, her uncle, asking for help.

However, the response was slower than she had anticipated.

"Spirit Seal."

"Lash him!"

Crack!

The executor, a man in a mask, swung his long whip directly at Chaoyan’s back, showing no mercy whatsoever.

One lash after another!

Spiritual Power sealed, each lash struck flesh.

The Vestment robe of the Nascent Soul was not torn, but fresh blood began to seep through.

With her lips tightly pressed, Xie Jiuniang stood outside the threshold of the Punishment Hall, her fists clenched tight. Her peach-blossom eyes filled with tears, she wished desperately to bear the punishment for her Master, yet she was powerless to do so.

Every lash, every scene,

Was deeply imprinted in her mind, inescapable and painfully touching.

"Do you feel powerless?"

A gentle voice suddenly came from behind.

Chaoruo had been standing silently behind her, unbeknownst for how long, "Sect rules must not be broken; he did indeed cross the line today, yet no one will think him impulsive, for had he not done so, the Discipline Hall Master wouldn’t have been drawn out, and your matter would not have been so easily resolved."

"I was set up by someone."

"But that’s just your word; everything requires evidence."

"I..." It was her carelessness, her contentment with the smooth sailing years, and the protection she had that made her lose her vigilance.

Xie Jiuniang regretted it too late, and she could only watch Master Chaoyan be punished. This hurt her more than if she had been the one beaten, "Sect Master, it’s my fault that Master has been implicated."

"Hmm, remember, the Sect is not a place of comfort." Chaoruo harbored some suspicion that the person behind the scenes was targeting Chaoyan, "Today, the enemy has made a clever move, and we must take it as a warning."

The specific target of the person behind the scenes was hard to judge—like Xie Jiuniang, like Chaoyan, or maybe both of them.

But the one who dared to scheme like this.

Must have a deadly vendetta.

Xie Jiuniang clenched her fists, trying to keep her voice calm as she said, "I will bear it in mind. Can you help Master?"

"Can’t help. Even if your Great Master steps in, he would still be punished; it’s just a question of how much. Just like when you spoke up earlier, the Hall Master found out the reason and then let him suffer ten fewer lashes." There was a limit to the number of times Divinity Transformation could intervene on someone’s behalf.

Chaoruo did not mention this last point to Xie Jiuniang.

If this were before, Chaoruo would have been worried about him for such a punishment.

Now that the hidden dangers in Chaoyan’s body had been removed, Chaoruo was not worried that the punishment would trigger anything. Instead, he hoped that Chaoyan would learn from this experience, be more careful in his actions in the future, and not give others a handle on him again.

Chaoyan endured twenty lashes.

It definitely hurt, but he didn’t make a sound, the hair on his forehead soaked with cold sweat.

Until the final lash fell.

The executor said, "Within ten days, set out to the border for duty."

"Understood," replied Chaoyan.

Xie Jiuniang quickly stepped forward to support him, calling out in a trembling, soft voice, "Master!"

"It’s nothing." Chaoyan steadied himself with her support then turned to look at Chaoruo standing outside the Discipline Hall, "Elder Brother, you arrived late."

"As long as you’re not dead, that’s fine."

Chaoruo waved his hand and took both master and disciple away.

Xie Jiuniang only felt the wind whistling by her ears, and in a few breaths, they appeared at the peak of Zhengyang Peak.

Chaoruo said disdainfully, "Go treat your back wounds. Yuanxi is standing guard outside, don’t let anyone disturb."

"Yes."

Xie Jiuniang obediently listened and guarded the entrance of the cave dwelling.

The great formation of the cave dwelling was activated, and at that moment, she still smelled a faint scent of blood— her Master’s blood.

She wiped the tears from her eyes and calmed her mind.

This issue wouldn’t pass so easily!

She would take her revenge, she certainly would.

True Person Wang, Gongsun Yun, and others were just minions.

This person’s manipulation pointed directly at the Gongsun Family and the Wu Family. Yet, was it really just these two families? The person behind the scenes didn’t try to hide it at all...

About half an hour later.

Chaoruo came out and told Xie Jiuniang to take care of her Master for the next few days before leaving.

Xie Jiuniang hurried inside, "Master!"

"What’s the rush? It’s just a minor injury; I’ll recover in a couple of days. This can let us deal with Wang Zhen in the open and come out ahead." Chaoyan wore a white vestment robe and sat on an intricately carved Spiritual Fragrance Wood couch.

Approaching the couch, one could smell the gentle fragrance of the wood.

Additionally, there was a whiff of blood mixed with the scent of healing medicine.

Xie Jiuniang walked close and stood respectfully with her head bowed, feeling extremely uneasy inside, "Master, I’m sorry, I got you into this mess."

"Don’t be so quick to take the blame onto yourself. There’s no fault on your part in today’s matter, nor on mine; the one at fault is the person scheming behind the scenes." Chaoyan suspected there was more to it and reminded her, "Disciple, be more vigilant when you go out in the future."

"I will, Master."

Xie Jiuniang reflected on her actions over the years. It seems she had already aroused suspicion among the major aristocratic families; they just hadn’t found any evidence yet.

Thinking carefully, if it was indeed these major families behind this, today’s events might have been a warning.

The aristocratic families did not want to be enemies with the Great Sect, yet they weren’t afraid of it either.

Just a single instance of being framed with clear evidence was enough to trap both her and her Master...