Chapter 186: Bringing the Past to a Close

Chapter 186: Chapter 186: Bringing the Past to a Close

Yun Keji’s wife of the Chen Clan had returned to the Sect two days ago, bringing with her the disciples who had attended the Tengxing Grand Assembly.

So, the Elders and Stewards who had remained behind at the Sect all knew what had happened at the Tengxing Grand Assembly.

When they heard that Chu Fan had grown so powerful, many of them began to tremble in fear.

Some even hoped that Chu Fan would die fighting the Red Blood Mansion.

Naturally, reality had disappointed them.

When the disciples cultivating on the Martial Arts Arena saw the Sect Leader’s party arrive carrying five coffins, they could only stare, dumbfounded.

And when the disciples who didn’t know what was happening caught sight of Chu Fan and Yun Xi, they were even more aghast.

"Didn’t they say Chu Fan and Yun Xi died on Ten Thousand Beasts Mountain three years ago?"

"So what’s the deal with those coffins?"

"What in the world happened?"

Soon, the Sect’s Elders and Stewards heard the news and all rushed out.

Carrying one of the coffins, Chu Fan ignored the crowd and walked straight toward Lingyun Hall.

The men carrying the other coffins behind him dared not speak, following him closely.

On the steps before Lingyun Hall, Chu Fan gently set the coffin down.

The five coffins were arranged in a single row.

Chu Fan stood before the coffins and spoke to Yu Zongding. "It’s time for this to end. Gather everyone from the Lingyun Sect in the Martial Arts Arena. I intend to settle this score with you all."

"Chu Fan, who the hell do you think you are? What right do you have to be so damn bossy here?" The speaker was Ji Ling, the Saint Heir of the Lingyun Sect.

He had also attended the recent Tengxing Grand Assembly, but he had no idea that Chu Fan was the infamous Zhu Pingyong, much less what Chu Fan had actually accomplished.

Chu Fan ignored him, his gaze shifting to Great Elder Ji Chengding. "Elder Ji," he said coldly, "if you can’t discipline your own grandson, I don’t mind doing it for you."

His words were utterly devoid of emotion.

Hearing this, Ji Chengding’s heart trembled. He roared at Ji Ling, "Get down from here!"

"Grandfather, this bastard..."

Ji Ling was barely halfway through his sentence when Ji Chengding slapped him across the face. The blow sent Ji Ling flying off the steps, crashing into a statue on the Martial Arts Arena.

With Ji Ling serving as an "example," no one else dared to utter a single word.

Before long, every member of the Lingyun Sect was gathered in the Martial Arts Arena before Lingyun Hall.

Everyone waited.

Those who knew the general situation waited for Chu Fan’s verdict.

Those in the dark, however, were waiting for Yu Zongding to speak.

Once everyone had arrived, Chu Fan took two steps forward and spoke. "The vast majority of you here know who I am, and you know what happened to me. I won’t dwell on the injustice I suffered more than three years ago; it’s meaningless at this point. However, my master and my senior brothers died fighting for the Sect. The Lingyun Sect owes them an explanation, and that is why I am here today. When I call your name, please step forward."

"Li Mosheng, Jiang Qimo, Lü Yuchang, Hong Zhongyan, Qiao Helin."

Li Mosheng was already in Lan Bing’s custody. A light push from Lan Bing was all it took to force him to his knees.

As for the others, only the Stewards Jiang Qimo and Lü Yuchang stepped out. The other two remained hidden in the crowd.

However, Chu Fan’s gaze fell upon them like a knife. The disciples standing nearby retreated several steps in unison.

"Come now, and be quick about it. You see these five coffins? Kneel before them."

"Chu Fan, what the fuck do you think you are? You’re nothing but an outcast from the Lingyun Sect!" Qiao Helin blustered, his voice a mix of fury and fear.

"What am I? Heh. You’re all talk." Chu Fan let out a cold laugh, his eyes flicking toward Lan Bing.

Lan Bing shot forward in a flash. In a single, hawk-like motion, he seized Qiao Helin and slammed him violently to the ground.

Everyone heard the sickening CRUNCH of his kneecaps shattering on the pavement, followed by Qiao Helin’s pained screams and curses.

Witnessing this, Hong Zhongyan wiped the cold sweat from his brow and meekly walked forward to kneel on the ground.

"If you didn’t want anyone to find out, you shouldn’t have done it in the first place," Chu Fan said coldly, staring at the five of them. "I single-handedly annihilated the Red Blood Mansion. What are a few pathetic clowns like you in comparison? Don’t tell me you actually thought your masters would come and save you?"

His words, however, immediately sent shockwaves through the crowd.

The Martial Arts Arena erupted in a tumult of discussion.

The few Elders standing near Chu Fan stared at him in utter disbelief.

Chu Fan’s meaning was clear: these men had been secretly colluding with the Red Blood Mansion.

"Don’t just stare at me like that. Frankly, all of your experience over the years has gone to the dogs. Back when my master led the six of us to attack the Cloud Horse Jade Mine, how was the Red Blood Mansion able to lay a perfect trap to ambush and kill my master and senior brothers? Did none of you ever think there was something fishy about that?"

Faced with Chu Fan’s accusation, no one dared to utter a word of rebuttal, not even Yu Zongding or Ji Chengding.

Li Mosheng, however, began to wail about his supposed innocence. "I’ve been framed! Sect Leader! Great Elder! Don’t listen to that damned villain Chu Fan’s lies! He must still be bitter about being expelled from the Lingyun Sect three years ago! He wants to throw our Sect into chaos from within so he can take advantage of us!"

His words made Chu Fan laugh in exasperation.

"Li Mosheng, are you an idiot? I single-handedly destroyed the Red Blood Mansion. If I really wanted to annihilate the Lingyun Sect, do you think I’d need to resort to such petty tricks?"

Li Mosheng’s words rang hollow; it was a textbook case of protesting too much.

Where some in the crowd had been skeptical before, they now glared at him with open hostility.

Li Mosheng realized his mistake and hurriedly added, "I’m truly innocent! I’ve worked myself to the bone for the Sect for so many years! Even if I haven’t made great contributions, I’ve put in the hard work! Why would I ever collude with the Red Blood Mansion?"

"Elder Li is right!" Jiang Qimo cried out. "We are completely loyal to the Sect! How can you condemn us based on a few words from an outcast like Chu Fan?"

"Evidence?" Chu Fan shot back coldly. "Let’s not even mention the mountain of evidence I have. Even if I wanted to kill you based on mere suspicion alone, what could any of you do about it?"

"Sect Leader, Elders, this villain Chu Fan is vicious to the core! You mustn’t believe a word he says!"

"Silence!"

Yu Zongding roared in fury. Though he was often indecisive and lacked a scheming mind, making him easy to manipulate, he was by no means a complete fool.

At this stage, if he still couldn’t figure out that the events of three years prior—from the plot against the Supreme Elder’s party to Chu Fan’s expulsion—were all instigated by others, then he truly would be an idiot.

"Chu Fan, deal with these men as you see fit. On behalf of the Lingyun Sect, I have nothing but gratitude for you and will not utter a single word of complaint."

"Sect Leader Yu, is this because you fear my power, or because you truly realize you were wrong?"

Yu Zongding sighed. "Chu Fan, I, Yu Zongding, have failed your lineage. After today, I will take responsibility and resign from my position as Sect Leader. If you still have any lingering affection for this Sect, perhaps you should be the one to take my place."

Chu Fan quickly waved his hand. "That won’t be necessary. How could a mere outcast like me dare to covet the leadership of a Major Sect like the Lingyun Sect?"

Yu Zongding and the other Elders flushed, their faces burning with shame as they lowered their heads.

"I won’t lie to you," Chu Fan continued. "At my most hateful, I did consider killing all of you good-for-nothing parasites. But when I thought about the passion my master and senior brothers poured into this Sect, I decided to let the Lingyun Sect’s legacy continue. If I were to truly destroy the Lingyun Sect, I know the spirits of my master and brothers in heaven would not wish to see it."

Hearing this, the tension that had gripped Yu Zongding’s heart for days finally eased.