Watching the Mountain

Chapter 304: Chapter 181: Dustless Body

Li Daoyi’s expression darkened at their words. His face was cold as he spoke.

”So, because of one unproven accusation, you’re all here pointing fingers at your own sect brother?”

”But...” The disciples faltered, seemingly stunned by his reaction.

Then, a disciple stepped forward. ”Eldest Brother, this matter concerns the cooperation between our two sects. Surely the other party wouldn’t dare to spread baseless rumors and fabricate lies, would they?”

Li Daoyi shot a cold glance at the disciple who had spoken. ”Then why didn’t they offer any proof? Are we supposed to just take them at their word?”

His tone shifted as he continued, ”Furthermore, I overheard just now. Hasn’t this sect brother of ours been insisting all along that he is innocent?”

”If he did something like that, of course he wouldn’t dare admit it!”

Li Daoyi took another step forward, his presence growing more imposing.

”So, you would rather believe a careless accusation from an outsider than listen to the defense of your own sect brother?”

A brief silence fell over the crowd. After a moment, someone spoke up.

”But, Eldest Brother, weren’t you the one who arranged the partnership with the Illusion Spirit Sect? Besides, the Illusion Spirit Sect’s leader, Chu Lingxiao, is a dear friend of yours. If this incident is real, it will affect your friendship. We were just worried...”

Before he could finish, Li Daoyi cut him off.

”My relationship with Fellow Daoist Chu is indeed good, but I will not allow a sect brother of mine to be insulted because of it. And I certainly won’t let one of our own be wronged on my account.”

He swept his gaze over the disciples. ”I understand you are all so agitated because of me, worried this will affect my relationship with Fellow Daoist Chu. I am grateful that you are thinking of me, but...”

”I want you all to remember something. As members of the same sect, you cannot stand by and watch one of your own be bullied by outsiders. You must stand up for them, just as you would want someone to stand up for you. That is the entire purpose of a sect.”

”If our first instinct when faced with a situation like this is to blame our sect brother instead of believing him, then we have failed as members of this sect.”

”I want you to remember this: A sect exists to protect its own.”

With that, he personally helped the accused disciple to his feet, then turned to the crowd.

”As for this matter, I will go to the Illusion Spirit Sect myself to get to the bottom of it. I will have them produce their evidence.”

He then turned to the disciple. ”If they cannot provide any proof, I, your Eldest Brother, will personally see that this injustice is answered.”

Without another word, he ignored the others present and departed with resolute strides.

「One day later.」 Chu Lingxiao of the Illusion Spirit Sect arrived. His face was grim as he spoke to Li Daoyi.

”I’ve investigated the matter. It was orchestrated by certain people in my sect who don’t want to see our sects growing closer. It was deliberate sabotage. I have already punished the woman responsible.”

Li Daoyi’s eyes narrowed. ”To resort to such tactics?”

Chu Lingxiao nodded, his expression unreadable. ”The methods were despicable and wouldn’t have held up under scrutiny, but they were also extremely effective.”

Li Daoyi considered this for a moment, then nodded. ’He’s right. Even if the accusation is later proven to be slander, an incident like this would inevitably create a rift between our two sects.’

’From the start, their goal was never to successfully frame someone from the Profound Pure Sect. After all, the claim would never survive a real investigation.’

’The moment the accusation was made, their objective was already accomplished.’

Li Daoyi then looked at Chu Lingxiao. ”What do you intend to do?”

Chu Lingxiao answered without the slightest hesitation. ”Our objective will not change.”

With a flip of his hand, he retrieved an object from his Storage Ring and presented it to Li Daoyi.

”This is a token of apology for that disciple of your esteemed sect. Take me to him. I will apologize in person.”