“Thank you for your help, senior.”
Li Tan expressed his gratitude.
“No need for that. I just can’t stand that guy,” Zhang Zhenshan said as he sat down, while Zhang Chenghuan sat beside him.
“Grandpa, that Zheng Kaishan is becoming more and more outrageous. He dared to barge in without even saying a word, and even tried to attack me.”
Zhang Zhenshan lovingly patted Zhang Chenghuan’s head. “You, you just refuse to practice diligently. Otherwise, how could they be your match?”
Pouting, Zhang Chenghuan grumbled discontentedly, “But they’re all at the early Xiantian stage. No matter how hard I train, there’s no way I can compete with them right now.”
“Cheeky.”
Zhang Zhenshan scolded, “If you weren’t so playful, you would’ve already reached the Xiantian realm.”
“Look at what grandpa is saying. Innate talent isn’t that easy to break through, right?”
Zhang Chenghuan defended herself.
Li Tan chuckled lightly. “Miss Zhang, you’ve been stuck at the peak of Houtian for quite some time, haven’t you?”
Zhang Chenghuan nodded in surprise.
“If you can reach the Houtian peak by practicing for three days and resting for two, wouldn’t it be easier to break through to the Xiantian realm by resting one day less?”
“I really want to practice, but I just can’t calm down. It’s all those idiots’ fault—they keep inviting me to play with them every day!”
“Don’t shift the blame onto others.”
Zhang Zhenshan gave Zhang Chenghuan a light tap on the head. “If you weren’t lazy, would you go out to play with others?”
Zhang Chenghuan shyly stuck out her tongue, maintaining her defiant attitude.
Zhang Zhenshan sighed helplessly. After a brief pause, he said to Li Tan, “Young friend, I’ll never forget your kindness in saving my life. Tomorrow during the trial, I’ll make sure you are fully protected!”
Considering everything, would he still be willing to believe me?
Li Tan felt a warmth in his heart and lightly shook his head with a hint of happiness. “Senior, there’s no need for you to go through such trouble.”
“It’s not about trouble or not. I believe this ordeal has nothing to do with you; it’s just some underhanded schemes by petty people.”
“No, junior doesn’t refuse your kindness, but I already have a plan to deal with Elder Zheng.”
Right now, Zheng Kaishan indeed has seemingly irrefutable evidence. Even with Zhang Zhenshan’s intervention, it would definitely provoke widespread discontent among the disciples.
If Li Tan’s guess was correct, Zheng Kaishan had already dispatched his men to spread rumors accusing him of killing fifty fellow disciples. Li Tan didn’t want to drag others into his troubles.
“What method is that?”
Zhang Zhenshan was both curious and skeptical. “Young friend, there’s no need to be reluctant. My days are numbered anyway, and I’m not afraid of anything anymore.”
“Senior, do you think I’m the kind of person who boasts recklessly?”
Zhang Zhenshan was momentarily stunned, then suddenly burst into laughter. “Alright then, tomorrow I’ll see what clever strategy you have, young friend!”
“Li Li big brother, do you really have a way to deal with them?”
Zhang Chenghuan asked with concern.
Li Tan nodded. “Of course I do.”
Li Tan had no interest in going out and facing curses and cold stares, so he didn’t leave his room the entire day. In the evening, while he was meditating in his room, Zhang Zhi suddenly paid him a visit.
“It’s quite late. Is there anything the sect leader needs?”
Li Tan asked.
Zhang Zhi hesitated for a moment before seriously asking, “Young friend, earlier I was a bit impulsive. Please forgive my offense.”
“There’s nothing offensive about it. you were just doing what you had to do.”
“Thank you. May I ask you a few questions?”
“Go ahead.”
“Exactly who are you?”
Should I just say I’m from the Li family of Linjiang?
He wouldn’t believe it anyway and would think I’m just brushing him off. This might also drag my family into trouble.
Without hesitation, Li Tan replied, “I’ve already answered that before. Those were the truth. There’s nothing I can do if you don’t believe me.”
“No, I was just asking. Then my second question: what exactly do you want from my Tianlang Sect?”
I don’t have any ulterior motives. I just want to know. If possible, I can just give it to you as a token of friendship.”
Li Tan thought for a moment before replying, “I do have my own purpose, but I’m not scheming to obtain anything from your sect, nor will I ever do anything to harm it.”
It wasn’t really an answer, but it was good enough for now.
“You cured my father’s madness, so naturally I don’t suspect you of any ill intentions.”
“Thank you for your trust.”
“Then one last question—who exactly killed Elder Sima?”
Zhang Zhi’s gaze was piercing.
Without hesitation, Li Tan replied, “Zheng Kaishan.”
“Wasn’t that map Liu Yong’s idea?”
“What good is Liu Yong’s idea? Someone must have helped him carry it out. Who do you think has that capability, Sect Leader?”
“I see,” Zheng Kaishan stood up and silently left.
Whether he truly believed him or not was unimportant. Either way was fine.
He had been in the sect for about twenty days already. Soon, the ancestral tomb excavation would begin, and that would be the day he left. Zhang Zhi’s opinion wasn’t important.
“Still, it’s better not to be suspected,” he mused. The next morning, with five loud bell tolls, the trial was announced to begin.
“I really seem to have a connection with trials. It’s only been a few days, and I’m back again.”
With this self-deprecating remark, Li Tan entered the hall amid a sea of angry glares.
Zhang Zhi and Zhang Chenghuan followed him in, with Zhang Zhenshan and several other elders and mentors coming last.
The mentors stood on both sides, while only the elders were seated.
After standing in the center for a short while, Li Tan noticed an empty seat and sat down on his own accord.
Immediately, a wave of indignant uproar rose from outside, and the elders and mentors looked extremely displeased.
“Stand up!”
Zheng Kaishan slammed the table and roared.
Li Tan looked at him expressionlessly. “Until I’m convicted, I’m still a guest elder of the Tianlang Sect. If I stand, should you not stand with me?”
Zheng Kaishan’s face darkened, but upon reflection, he couldn’t find a good counterargument. According to the sect’s rules, it was indeed as Li Tan had said. Thus, he chose to ignore it, thinking to himself that he would make Li Tan pay later.
Li Tan merely smiled at this and calmly waited for the trial to continue.
Zhang Zhenshan, Zhang Zhi, and Zhang Chenghuan were likely the only three within the entire sect still supporting Li Tan. Compared to their initial worry, curiosity now dominated their minds. What trump card did he have? What plans had he made that made him appear so fearless?
“Just enjoy your moment of triumph. I’ll see what tricks you can pull,” Zheng Kaishan scoffed disdainfully and officially began the trial. He launched into a torrent of accusations against Li Tan, listing all the evidence.
Li Tan, when questioned if he had any objections, answered with a simple “No” every time. This caused Zhang Zhenshan and others to shift from initial relief to anxiety and confusion. If things continued like this, even they wouldn’t be able to save Li Tan. Doing so would shatter the cohesion of the Tianlang Sect.
As time passed, the situation overwhelmingly tilted toward Zheng Kaishan, making even him somewhat uneasy.
This was too strange. Why wasn’t Li Tan afraid at all?
What ace in the hole had he prepared?
Could it be that he was relying on his background?
Heh, that wouldn’t matter. As long as those influential figures were on his side, no background would help.
Zheng Kaishan continued his questioning, presenting all the evidence against Li Tan. Seeing Li Tan’s inaction, Zhang Chenghuan and the others grew anxious and tried to defend him, though with little effect.
Zheng Kaishan had seemingly gathered every favorable piece of evidence in his possession.
Finally, the trial reached its climax, with everyone eagerly anticipating the outcome. Amid the clamor of voices calling for Li Tan’s execution, Zheng Kaishan loudly declared, “Based on the above, Li Tan shall be stripped of his position as guest elder of the Tianlang Sect and sentenced to death!”
As he finished speaking, a triumphant smirk spread across his face. He was almost certain of his guess—that Li Tan would try to use his background to pressure him.
But it didn’t matter. No matter which mysterious family Li Tan belonged to, it wouldn’t matter as long as he had the backing of this organization.
At this moment, Li Tan finally lifted his head, his eyes filled with contempt as he saw through Zheng Kaishan’s thoughts.
That’s right, just as Zheng Kaishan had anticipated, Li Tan indeed intended to use his background to counterattack.
What Zheng Kaishan hadn’t expected, however, was that the card Li Tan was about to play would be so monumental. Slowly, Li Tan raised his right hand, holding a delicate jade token.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage