Chapter 19: There is Another Villain

Especially on their way over, Lian Li had explained the situation at the time in great detail.

As a woman, Senior Sister Qu was much more sensitive to these matters than Zhao Honglan or Yun Huizhou. If Lian Li hadn’t been clever, he likely would have been taken away by that pimp long ago.

Matriarch Zhang Xin, the highest-ranking senior woman of the Five Seas Sect present, had a face as grim as stagnant water.

Listening to the discussions around her, she knew that if she claimed she wanted to take the disciple back to the sect for punishment, let alone the predatory Yun Huizhou watching from the side, even the surrounding rogue martial artists would not agree. Furthermore, that Miss Qu would likely not let the matter rest either.

If she insisted on doing so, it wasn’t just a matter of how these martial artists would gossip about the Five Seas Sect in the future; Yun Huizhou alone would seek a duel. Even if he beat the man to death directly, no one would say a word against him.

She rotated her palm, raising it to her chest, and looked at the Five Seas Sect disciple who was being held in place by Zhao Honglan.

She knew that if Yun Huizhou were truly allowed to take action, this disciple’s life would absolutely not be preserved.

Just as she was preparing to strike personally, the Five Seas Sect disciple seemed to suddenly think of something and began to shout loudly.

“If I am to be judged, then there is another person who cannot escape!”

Zhang Xin stopped her movement and asked, “Who!”

“Feng Man!” the Five Seas Sect disciple immediately blurted out a name.

Yun Huizhou asked, “Who is Feng Man?”

Before the Five Seas Sect disciple could answer, Qu Tingquan spoke up: “He’s the one who came out to stir up trouble on the day Master held the banquet.”

“The ‘Anxious Eunuch’?” Lian Li replied subconsciously.

Many people present burst into laughter upon hearing him say this; clearly, Lian Li’s retort to that man that day had left a deep impression on them.

“Hurry up and tell us what happened,” a senior male teacher from the Five Seas Sect quickly spoke, pulling the topic back on track.

The Five Seas Sect disciple also knew at this moment that he had to speak quickly to let someone else share the heat for him.

Thus, like beans spilling from a jar, he recounted how Feng Man had sought him out and how he had been enticed to find trouble for Lian Li.

“He invited me for drinks. When we were both slightly tipsy, we started talking about how I was knocked out of the tournament and lost the battle against the Martial Uncle.”

“Then we talked about the embarrassment at the banquet that day. Feng Man said he wanted to teach them a lesson, but unfortunately, his martial arts were lacking. Then he shifted the topic to those who don’t know martial arts.”

“He also said he knew people staying outside the city, but unfortunately he had no money on him. Otherwise, he would definitely spend money to hire someone to take the person out and give them a scare.”

“I had been drinking at the time and was led into his trap. I blamed that little brother for everything and had a momentary lapse in judgment.”

“I really didn’t know that the person outside was Ma Tie! I only thought it was some hooligan who knew a bit of Lightness Skill and worked for money.”

“In all of this, he is the mastermind! I knew nothing. I didn’t know that man was Ma Tie, but he definitely knew. He set me up.”

The more he spoke, the more he felt he was in the right, even to the point of implying he was blameless, pushing all the responsibility onto Feng Man.

Seeing the expressions of the other Five Seas Sect members shift slightly, they truly seemed to want to take the opportunity to push the blame away and clear their man.

Even some people who weren’t particularly bright were led astray by this logic, genuinely starting to feel that this person was somewhat innocent.

Lian Li let out a direct sneer. Seeing everyone focus their gaze on him—especially the Five Seas Sect members who, though expressionless, clearly didn’t want him to say anything—he didn’t back down.

Not to mention, the fire in the eyes of some of the younger disciples could hardly be hidden.

Lian Li took a few steps back, moving closer to Yun Huizhou and Zhao Rong. Having gained a sense of security, he spoke up.

“You pawned the jade pendant yourself, you went to find the person yourself, and you handed over the money with your own hands.”

“Now, with nothing but your bare teeth, you claim you knew nothing? Were those things done by a ghost?”

“Granted, someone else instigated it, but if you didn’t have wicked intentions, would you have been hooked so easily? A jade pendant worth twenty taels was pawned just like that. In the end, it’s because you already had these thoughts in your heart; they were just drawn out by someone else.”

“The one who came up with the idea is certainly no good, but you aren’t clean either. You’re still a bit too green to be playing the ‘White Lotus’ act.”

As soon as he finished speaking, those who had nearly been led astray by the Five Seas Sect disciple suddenly snapped back to their senses.

Pawning the jade, finding the person, and giving the money—a total of three steps. Even if one’s head was heated for a moment, there was plenty of buffer time.

Furthermore, that jade pendant was not cheap. To spend that much money all at once, anyone would have weighed the decision.

Besides, regardless of whether this man knew the person he hired was Ma Tie, the fact that he pawned his belongings to hire someone to kidnap a person with no martial arts skills was absolutely indefensible.

While Lian Li was speaking, Yun Huizhou stood beside him, nodding in full agreement.

He also kept lightly patting Lian Li’s shoulder to show his support and approval.

Wonderfully said. This person simply has a crooked heart.

He looked at the Five Seas Sect disciple with a sinister gaze.

Ma Tie was certain to die; there was no need for him to focus his efforts there. The focus had to be placed on this Five Seas Sect disciple; he couldn’t be allowed to leave in one piece.

Zhang Xin also knew that since the victim had put it this way, if this disciple truly left unscathed, the reputation of their Five Seas Sect would be ruined.

If this matter wasn’t resolved publicly in front of everyone now, it would become a private vendetta later.

No matter how the other party chose to retaliate then, it wouldn’t be considered excessive. When that time came, this disciple could forget about ever walking the martial world again; Yun Huizhou would certainly find a way to kill him.

Thus, she walked to the disciple’s side, raised her palm, and struck him squarely on the shoulder.

It wasn’t a killing blow, but it left the man heavily injured. The disciple collapsed to the ground, spitting blood, his aura instantly withering.

If he didn’t recover properly, he would likely suffer from permanent damage in the future.

Yun Huizhou was not entirely satisfied with this result. The one who kidnapped Lian Li was Ma Tie, and later they had even called for the pimp from the brothel.

If Lian Li hadn’t managed to save himself, and if they hadn’t arrived in time, the consequences would have been unthinkable.

But he also knew that those subsequent events hadn’t actually happened. Moreover, this disciple had said he truly didn’t know the one taking his money was Ma Tie.

Under the supervision of the Martial Arts Alliance, achieving such a result was already decent.

With an expressionless face, he watched as the Five Seas Sect members helped the man back, remaining silent.

Lian Li also raised an eyebrow. Compared to Yun Huizhou’s dissatisfaction, he was actually quite pleased.

The man had been beaten until he spat blood, and judging by the reactions of others, the injury was likely severe. This was much better than the slap on the wrist or the minor financial compensation he had expected.

Of course, if there was additional financial compensation, he would be even more satisfied.

Should he… pretend to be sick when the time came?

Anyway, he already looked like a sickly person; it would be very easy to fake.

When the time came, he would have Yun Huizhou and Senior Sister Qu cooperate with him to help him play the victim and demand some compensation.