Fairy Eye

"Han Lin?"

Upon hearing this, Kong He narrowed his eyes. "Come forward!"

Han Lin had no idea that a third person knew about Zhao Ruiling following him, and he immediately felt uneasy.

But he quickly suppressed the pounding in his heart and stepped forward calmly, saying, "Greetings, Your Excellency."

Kong He asked, "What do you have to say about Zhu Hao's words?"

Han Lin said, "I did go out to the mountains to cultivate last night, but Zhu Hao's words are pure fabrication. I have never seen Zhao Ruiling."

Kong He frowned and looked at Zhu Hao.

Zhu Hao quickly said, "I don't know if you saw him later, but one thing is true: he definitely followed you out!"

Kong He immediately sensed something amiss, dismissed the others who were not involved, and then asked Zhu Hao, "How did you know that he was definitely following Han Lin?"

"I, I..."

"explain!"

"Here's the thing, when Han Lin was at Qinglong River, he made a windfall by digging up a giant piece of blue-and-white jade. Senior Brother Zhao was probably envious of the points he had, so he asked me to secretly keep an eye on Han Lin. Last night, I saw Han Lin climb over the wall and go out, so I told Senior Brother Zhao the news..."

Under Kong He's pressure, Zhu Hao dared not hide anything and revealed everything.

However, they only knew one side of the story and were unaware that Zhao Ruiling not only wanted to rob him, but also disliked Han Lin, this troublemaker, and even wanted to take his life.

Sure enough.

After hearing this, Kong He nodded in realization. It seemed that Zhao Ruiling's stalking of Han Lin was indeed not well-intentioned.

However, this further fuels the suspicion that he was killed by Han Lin after failing to steal the money.

Kong He immediately turned his gaze to Han Lin: "Speak, how did you kill Zhao Ruiling, and where did you dispose of his body?"

This statement is extremely misleading, and if Han Lin is not careful, he could very well be exposed on the spot.

However, Han Lin understood this as well, and after hearing it, he looked dumbfounded: "Steward, I don't understand what you're saying? I didn't see him at all last night, so where could I have gone to fight back?"

"You still dare to argue! If you didn't kill Zhao Ruiling, why hasn't he returned yet?" Kong He shouted sharply, staring coldly at Han Lin.

Seeing that Han Lin remained unmoved, he softened his tone and earnestly said, "Han Lin, Zhao Ruiling had ulterior motives first. You don't need to be afraid. Just admit it honestly. I won't really do anything to you. At most, I'll just fine you a few months' wages."

If it were someone like Zhu Hao, he would probably accept it on the spot and be grateful.

But Han Lin was determined not to admit it at this moment.

He understood that if he didn't admit it, there was still room for maneuver. But once he admitted it, the punishment he would face would be beyond his control.

As for Kong He's claim that it would be resolved by deducting points, he didn't believe a word of it.

He lowered his head and said, "Sir, if I did it, I will definitely admit it! But if I didn't do it, even if there's a reward for murder, I won't confess."

You've got no award to speak of!

Kong He laughed in exasperation: "You really won't shed a tear until you see the coffin! In that case, I have no choice but to hand you over to the Enforcement Hall for investigation!"

"Go back and rest. From this moment on, you are not allowed to leave the camp even a step, otherwise you will be treated as a fugitive."

"Yes."

Han Lin bowed and turned to leave.

Zhu Hao asked hopefully, "Sir, what about the reward...?"

"A reward?"

"This matter is still undetermined. We can talk about it again after things have settled down, if it really was him," Kong He said calmly, and walked out of the camp with his hands behind his back.

A moment later, inside the Guiyuan Sect's Enforcement Hall.

Kong He respectfully said to a round-faced old man, "Senior Hong, this is what happened. What do you think should be done?"

This person is none other than Hong Yun, the head of the Law Enforcement Hall, who is in the late Foundation Establishment stage and is also the third elder of the Guiyuan Sect.

After listening, she rolled her eyes and said, "You're bothering me with such a trivial matter?"

Kong He said, "Senior, this is no small matter. In just a few days, three people have gone missing in the Milky Way Valley."

"More importantly, this Zhao Ruiling is Zhao Changping's nephew. Even if I hadn't come to you, this matter would have eventually reached you."

"Zhao Changping?"

Hong Yun frowned and thought for a moment, "Is it that kid from the Cultivation Techniques Pavilion?"

Kong He nodded: "Yes!"

Hong Yun tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest. "This is a troublesome matter."

"Yes, Zhao Changping himself is fine. The key is his master, Ji Bai, who is the sixth elder of the sect and a master talisman maker. If things get out of hand, he certainly won't stand idly by." Kong He bowed and said with a fawning smile.

"Alright, alright, you've only caused me trouble." Hong Yun stood up with a headache. "I'll personally accompany you to Galaxy Valley."

"Thank you, Lord Hall Master!"

Kong He was overjoyed upon hearing this, "However, Hall Master, you should be prepared. That kid is very stubborn and not so easy to investigate."

"Stubborn to the end?"

Hong Yun chuckled, "Don't worry, I have my own way."

Having said that, he took out a leaf-shaped magical artifact, stepped on it, and pulled Kong He up with his hand. With a flash of light, they flew out of the mountain.

Night falls.

Inside the Galaxy Valley camp, apart from the few lampposts in the plaza that shone brightly, the rest of the place was pitch black.

Suddenly, a beam of emerald light flew slowly from afar and then gently landed outside the stone house on the north side of the square.

An elderly man with a round face and gray hair, and a thin elderly man in a blue robe, came down from above.

"Go and call that kid over."

Hong Yun gave a casual instruction and walked into the stone house with his hands behind his back.

"Yes."

Kong He turned and left.

Hong Yun glanced around the room, then walked to a square table, pulled out a chair, and sat down casually, waiting quietly.

Before long, footsteps could be heard outside.

Hong Yun looked up and saw that the first person to enter was Kong He, followed by a young man dressed in coarse linen clothes, with a tall and aloof figure, but with half of his face covered in black.

"Senior Hong, this is Han Lin." Kong He stepped aside, smiling as he spoke, then immediately straightened his face and said to Han Lin:

"This is Elder Hong, the head of the Enforcement Hall, and also the Third Elder of my Guiyuan Sect. He is personally interrogating you. You must answer truthfully! Otherwise, you will bear the consequences."

Han Lin was startled and quickly bowed, saying, "Disciple Han Lin greets Elder."

Elders are genuine Foundation Establishment experts, and among the very top tier.

He had heard that the Guiyuan Sect had quite a few Foundation Establishment experts, but only nine elders.

Anyone who can become an elder must either be among the top Foundation Establishment experts or have made significant contributions to the sect.

"Um."

Hong Yun looked at Han Lin calmly, without the slightest disgust or disdain, nor did she look down on him.

"Han Lin, I'm asking you now, do you truly have absolutely no connection to the disappearances of Zeng Ping, Yue Qingshan, and Zhao Ruiling?"

These words were extremely calm, even sounding somewhat gentle, which made Han Lin lower his guard without realizing it.

It was as if the person in front of him was not the head of the Law Enforcement Hall, nor a Foundation Establishment expert, but just a kind and ordinary old man.

They weren't interrogating him; they were just chatting with him casually.