Chapter 220: By Any Means Necessary

Elder Xue Zhizheng reacted swiftly. The moment he suddenly spotted the Lingwu Sect Leader and Second Young Master Fang standing beside him, looking grim, he recognized their malicious intent. He knew arguing was pointless…

His cultivation was high enough. Sensing danger, he immediately fled toward the mountains!

In his haste, he almost became a bolt of lightning, nearly exploding past the mountain gates in an instant…

The Lingwu Sect Elders, though instructed earlier by their Sect Leader, were still caught off guard. The other disciples were even more confused about what was happening. However, the Sect Leader, who had just loudly denounced Elder Xue’s crimes, had clearly anticipated all possible outcomes!

Seeing Elder Xue attempt to escape, he suddenly waved his hand.

Abruptly, the boundless mist drifting within the Lingwu Sect stirred.

It seemed like every wisp of mist contained endless magical power, surging toward Elder Xue Zhizheng.

“Whoosh…!”

This same Elder Xue had appeared calm, composed, and unfazed when pursued by Yu Qingli earlier. But now, he instantly became utterly frazzled. He waved his large sleeves, unleashing astonishing magical power. In moments, he shattered three or four streaks of weird mist, rushing over thirty meters away. Yet, dozens more streams of mist quickly enveloped him.

These mists continuously connected, thickening and becoming heavy as mountains.

Like semi-transparent mountains, they pressed upon him one after another, pinning him down right where he stood.

“Thwack!”

Some of the mist became endless chains, binding him. Some materialized into iron hooks, mercilessly piercing through his collarbones and locking him in place. Some flowed like living spirits into his body, freezing his meridians…

…

“Shameless, shameless…”

“Framing me like this—aren’t you afraid you might get struck by lightning…?”

Feeling the mountain-like pressure crash down upon him, Elder Xue roared furiously. No matter how strong his cultivation, he couldn’t fight against a sect’s entire Mountain Protection Array. He felt like a trapped beast on a butcher’s table, or a furious child pinned under an adult’s foot. Rage threatened to burst his skull; his throat was raw, hoarse, and bleeding from screaming.

Never in his life had he felt such fear and anger—or such injustice.

He felt the sting of the world’s most shameless betrayal and frame-up.

But even this desperate cry was cut short.

A plume of mist rushed in, instantly sealing his mouth and nose. He could only produce muffled noises, incomprehensible to anyone.

Meanwhile, three or four Lingwu Sect Elders had already rushed over. Two of them pinned him firmly on either side. Crushed by the Mountain Protection Array and with his Golden Core cultivation power dissipating, Elder Xue couldn’t resist even a little…

…

“Elder Xue actually…”

The situation shifted so drastically. More than a few Lingwu Sect disciples rubbed their eyes, struggling to believe what they were seeing. That was their respected Elder Xue! How could he suddenly become the sect’s prisoner?

What great crime had he committed to make the Sect Leader seize him without another word?

With these thoughts, they looked toward the Main Peak and glimpsed the woman in the jar. Many pieces clicked together in their minds: her horrific state, the Sect Leader’s decisive action, and that Shoushan Sect disciple who fought Elder Xue like a madman, ignoring all consequences. Together, it painted a grim picture.

How deceptive appearances could be…

Elder Xue had always seemed so respectable. Who knew what darkness he hid inside?

“Hear this, all of you!” The Lingwu Sect Leader’s cold voice echoed throughout the mountain. “Our Lingwu Sect may not be some millennia-old, world-shaking powerhouse. But we have our own rules, our own code. Every Elder, disciple, and Steward of my sect—I don’t expect you to charge headfirst into bloody battles against demons! But you must purify your hearts and uphold your character! Anyone who commits such vicious, disgusting acts is unworthy of bearing the Lingwu Sect name!”

The sect fell silent. Every member, high and low, felt their hearts tighten. A complicated emotion stirred—among it, pride.

After the Battle of Crow Mountain, whispered rumors had claimed the Lingwu Sect performed poorly. Yet now, their Sect Leader acted with stern righteousness! Their sect stood tall and honorable! Let no one dare look down on them again!

…

“Second Young Master Fang!” Having admonished his disciples, the Sect Leader proudly turned his gaze to Fang Cun. A cold glance flickered toward Yu Qingli. “I know you seek vengeance. But the rules of Lingwu Sect must be followed! This scoundrel has committed great evil. He must be interrogated, judged, and punished! If you wish to claim your revenge, wait until I cast him out of the sect three days hence! Once that happens, anyone in the world can kill him—it’ll no longer be Lingwu Sect’s concern!”

Nearby, He Zhenzhang, Meng Qing’er, and the others felt startled relief. They had worried for their fellow disciple, Yu Qingli—fearing revenge against a high-ranking Elder would be too difficult. But now… couldn’t they just wait outside the mountain gate?

“Under another’s roof, one must bow low!” Fang Cun seemed subdued. He offered a resigned salute to the Sect Leader. “We obey your will, Honored Senior!”

He descended gracefully from the Main Peak, landing beside Yu Qingli on the slopes. Yu Qingli, earlier consumed by fury, now seemed detached. Despite Xue Zhizheng being clamped firmly by two Elders nearby, wrapped in mist ropes and silenced, robbed of his former composure—Yu Qingli merely looked at Fang Cun when he approached.

He seemed to have much to say.

Watching his enemy captured should have brought satisfaction. Yet he instinctively felt… this wasn’t what he truly wanted.

“This was your sister’s wish.”

Fang Cun spoke quietly, stopping Yu Qingli before a word could escape.

“Do you think your sister hated him?”

Fang Cun turned his gaze toward Yu Qingli.

Yu Qingli looked back, perplexed by the question. How could she not hate the man who did this to her?

“But what your sister wanted most wasn’t his death.” Fang Cun’s eyes were serious. “It was seeing you grow up.”

“So… how do you prove you’ve grown up?”

Yu Qingli gritted his teeth so hard veins stood out on his temples.

His sister had become like that. Yet what she wished to see wasn’t this man dead. Her life force was nearly spent. Her final breath couldn’t even sustain hate—it clung only to seeing him grow. Back when Xue Zhizheng’s shadow fell over them, Yu Qingli had only knelt, begging, too terrified to watch his sister suffer. She had shielded him then.

Later, it was only because of her that he could even go to Willow Lake… and then enter White Xiang Academy.

But he still wasn’t grown. Because Xue Zhizheng remained—a terrifying shadow over his soul.

So how to prove he was grown?

“Why… Why must it be three days?” Understanding dawned, but his voice still trembled slightly.

“How else can three days of harsh punishment grind his Golden Core cultivation away?”

Fang Cun’s voice softened. “Without grinding it away… how will you both fight on equal ground?”

Yu Qingli froze, suddenly grasping Fang Cun’s plan. His expression changed.

A faint, peculiar smile touched Fang Cun’s lips.

Yu Qingli’s sister’s final wish wasn’t revenge—but witnessing her brother become strong.

She would only find peace knowing Yu Qingli no longer needed her protection.

Fang Cun would absolutely help realize this wish for them. Moreover, he wanted to see something: Yu Qingli’s sister, a mortal, had powered this seemingly average youth through Light Condensation to Golden Core despite draining her own life source. What could Yu Qingli himself achieve—unharmed and trained properly—driven by hate?

…

“F-Fang… Fang Family’s Second Son… you…”

Near them, the restrained Xue Zhizheng struggled violently. Though gagged, he’d clearly heard every word exchanged with Yu Qingli. Fang Cun wanted him to hear. He would endure three days of torture. His cultivation was to be stripped to match Yu Qingli’s level… then left for Yu Qingli’s vengeance.

How could this bastard act with such ruthless, unreasonable brutality?

Desperate rage surged through Xue Zhizheng. He choked out guttural sounds, eyes bulging murderously at Fang Cun. His violently churning magical power momentarily weakened the spell sealing his mouth.

But ultimately, he only managed one broken phrase:

“You…”

“Did you truly think careful cleaning hid all traces?”

Fang Cun didn’t even look at him. Leading Yu Qingli toward the Main Peak, his voice just loud enough for Xue Zhizheng to hear seemed both a quiet lecture to Yu Qingli and a chilling declaration:

“Where the law leaves monsters whole… Fang Cun will cut them down.”

“When justice fails to purge the filth… I will become the knife.”

“Motives? Methods? Irrelevant. Favored by heart—by any means necessary. That’s how Second Young Master Fang gets things done!”