The Extreme Alchemist of the Mighty Cauldron
Chapter 1803 - 1900: Taking the Blame

Chapter 1803: Chapter 1900: Taking the Blame

The Law Enforcement Hall was bustling with shadows, brightly lit. Everyone’s face had a somber look, adding a sense of chill to the atmosphere.

Fang Lin’s face was ashen. Kneeling in the cold hall, he was marked with powerful seals, rendering him unable to exert any cultivation.

Ouyang Han arrived; the director of Maplewood Alchemy Court was also present in person, along with several masters from the Book Collection Tower who apprehended Fang Lin. All were standing there.

The Hall Master Yan Xizheng sat at the top, his expression exceptionally serious, completely different from the way he muddled things over with Ouyang Han and Shen Suifeng last time.

Standing beside Fang Lin, Ouyang Han’s face was also extremely grim. She was in the midst of competing with elite disciples from the other eight halls when she was suddenly summoned, informed that a disciple under her command had sneaked into the second floor of the Book Collection Tower and was captured and brought into the Law Enforcement Hall. This shocked Ouyang Han, prompting her to rush directly to the Law Enforcement Hall to clarify the matter.

But upon seeing Fang Lin’s state and noting that even the director of Maplewood Alchemy Court had come personally, she realized the seriousness of the situation, leaving her heart sinking.

"Lin Erdan, lift your head!" Yan Xizheng suddenly shouted, his voice reverberating like thunder in the hall.

Fang Lin raised his head, his expression relatively calm, but inwardly he was lamenting.

He hadn’t expected to be discovered despite his cautious steps. Worse still, he was caught red-handed by the masters guarding the Book Collection Tower. Had he not been caught at the scene, there might have been room for maneuver, but being caught red-handed meant there was no turning back. Fang Lin deeply understood the strict disciplinary rules of the Pill Saint Palace and knew he would not escape a heavy punishment this time, no matter what.

As for how severe the punishment would be, Fang Lin couldn’t gauge, but as long as it didn’t threaten his life, he felt he could accept it.

As for defending himself?

Fang Lin had considered it, but he was indeed caught red-handed, leaving him with no room to argue, regardless of the reasons he could offer; the fact remained that he had sneaked into the second floor of the Book Collection Tower.

The evident facts before everyone made any defense by Fang Lin futile.

Yan Xizheng, with cold and sharp eyes, directly addressed Fang Lin, saying, "You sneaked into the forbidden area of the Book Collection Tower and were caught. Do you have any defense?"

Fang Lin remained silent, lacking any ground for defense.

Seeing Fang Lin silent, Ouyang Han frowned and said, "There might be a misunderstanding about this matter. He is only a newly inducted disciple into the Pill Saint Palace for half a year. How could he breach the array and enter the second floor of the Book Collection Tower? Isn’t this worth suspecting?"

Yan Xizheng nodded and looked at the masters from the Book Collection Tower who caught Fang Lin, asking, "Have you checked the array of the Book Collection Tower for any signs of damage?"

One of the elder among the masters clasped his hands and replied, "Reporting to Hall Master Yan, the array shows no signs of damage; essentially, the boy entered the second floor without altering the integrity of the array, which puzzles us greatly."

Ouyang Han promptly said, "Even I cannot force my way through the Book Collection Tower’s array. How then did Lin Erdan enter unnoticed? I suspect someone framed Lin Erdan, deliberately allowing him into the second floor of the Book Collection Tower."

Her words caused the director of Maplewood Alchemy Court, who had remained silent on the side, to frown slightly, showing displeasure at Ouyang Han’s accusation.

"Well..." The masters guarding the Book Collection Tower exchanged glances, feeling that Ouyang Han’s explanation had some merit; after all, the array was intact, making Lin Erdan’s passage suspicious.

The reasonable explanation seemed to be that someone opened the array to let Lin Erdan into the Book Collection Tower.

Fang Lin was somewhat surprised, having assumed that after committing such a considerable breach, Ouyang Han wouldn’t defend him, perhaps even calling for Yan Xizheng to severely punish him. Unexpectedly, Ouyang Han was still striving to shed his charges.

This moved Fang Lin, as up till that moment, Ouyang Han still believed in him.

"Director Dongfang, what is your view?" Yan Xizheng asked the director of Maplewood Alchemy Court.

"It may be possible that this child secretly mastered the method to open the array," said the elder with the surname Dongfang casually.

Ouyang Han secretly gritted her teeth; this old man undoubtedly hit the point directly, further cornering Lin Erdan into a tight spot.

"Lin Erdan, how did you actually enter the second floor of the Book Collection Tower? Tell us truthfully—at this point, what else are you attempting to hide?" Yan Xizheng questioned sternly.

Fang Lin sighed inwardly, knowing the matter couldn’t end well; he would be punished no matter what. Instead of saying nothing, it might be better to make his reason and method for sneaking into the Book Collection Tower sound plausible, avoiding further suspicions falling upon him. After all, Fang Lin could bear the charges, but some secrets must not be revealed to the Pill Saint Palace.

"Disciple indeed mastered the method to open the array, and the reason for sneaking into the second floor of the Book Collection Tower was merely to steal and learn the finest pill refining methods of the Pill Saint Palace," Fang Lin declared.

Ouyang Han immediately couldn’t hold back. She kicked Fang Lin to the ground, though thankfully, Fang Lin’s body was resilient, and Ouyang Han didn’t truly exert herself, sparing him from suffering.

"Reckless fool! How could you commit such stupidity!" Ouyang Han scolded angrily, her face riddled with rage and disappointment.

Such expression was undoubtedly genuine; she truly was terribly disappointed with Fang Lin and furious at his actions.

"Oh? And how did you learn the method to open the array?" Director Dongfang asked in a tight-lipped manner.

The secrets of the Book Collection Tower’s array are not known to just anyone; even the nine hall masters couldn’t independently open the array.

Fang Lin hesitated for a moment, saying, "It was Senior Yan Zixu who told me."

"What?" Upon hearing this, Director Dongfang, Yan Xizheng, and Ouyang Han were all taken aback.

Fang Lin continued, "Senior Yan Zixu once instructed me in Alchemy Tao techniques for a period and mentioned that if I ever entered the Pill Saint Palace, I should find an opportunity to sneak into the Book Collection Tower and steal a few rare volumes for him."

After finishing, Fang Lin hung his head, accepting his fate.

"Oh, Yan, oh Yan, I truly owe you, making you unwittingly bear the blame," Fang Lin thought to himself, seeing no other option but to invoke the absent Yan Zixu to take the fall.

PS: First post done, continuing to write. Remember to vote for recommendations!