Trouble Comes Knocking

The Enforcement Team found a piece of gold thread in Mason Fu's hand. Someone recognized it, saying it looked just like the one from Chloe Zhu's clothes...

In fact, the gold thread in Mason Fu's hand really was from Chloe Zhu's sleeve.

Plus, Chloe Zhu had a public conflict with him just yesterday... Looks like she's in serious trouble now...

The Spirit Alliance has strict laws. If a Spiritual Alchemist kills another, the lightest punishment is losing all cultivation and being expelled; the harshest is execution!

Vice President James sat sternly in the Enforcement Hall, expressionless, and asked, "Chloe Zhu, why did you kill Mason Fu?"

"Vice President James, this is a setup!" Chloe Zhu protested. "I have no idea how my clothes got torn. And I didn't even leave my room last night—Rona Yin and Bobby can vouch for me!"

"How could they vouch for you?" Vice President James challenged. "They're your close allies!"

"I'm willing to take a Red Pill!" Rona Yin declared. "That should prove it, right?"

"Even if you're willing to take a Red Pill, did you sleep in the same room as her last night? Were you together every single moment? How do you know she didn't do it after you fell asleep?"

Rona Yin: "..."

Just then, Ms. Rachel Zhang was summoned.

"Ms. Zhang," Vice President James called. "Did you see Mason Fu last night?"

Ms. Rachel Zhang shook her head. "No, I didn't see him."

"It was Kevin Yang who said you were looking for him!" Mason Fu's personal servant blurted out.

"Really? Then hurry up and get Kevin Yang here to testify! I never asked him to deliver any messages!" Ms. Rachel Zhang insisted. "I didn't see Mason Fu last night either."

"We've already tried, but he's missing. We haven't found him yet," Vice President James replied.

Ms. Rachel Zhang frowned and looked at Chloe Zhu. "Chloe, what on earth is going on?"

Chloe Zhu looked at her calmly and said, "Chief, they say a day's marriage gives a hundred days of kindness. You really are cold-hearted!"

A cold sneer flashed in Ms. Rachel Zhang's eyes. "What do you mean by that? I have no idea what you're talking about!"

Chloe Zhu said nothing.

"Guards!" Vice President James called out.

"Yes, sir!" answered the Enforcement Team.

"Chloe Zhu has killed a fellow Alliance member. Execute her immediately, as a warning to others!" Vice President James announced.

"Wait—shouldn't we report to the President first?" Captain Colin Cao of the Enforcement Team asked.

"The President and the other Vice Presidents are all overseeing the exams. For the next few days, I'm in charge of Alliance affairs."

The President really did say that, so Captain Cao nodded and waved his hand.

Four Enforcement Team members surrounded Chloe Zhu, each holding a short wooden baton inscribed with runes.

Those weren't ordinary batons—they were Spirit Lock Batons.

The four closed in on Chloe Zhu, activating their Spirit Lock Batons to seal her powers so she couldn't resist.

"Wait!" Chloe Zhu shouted. "I can prove I didn't kill him!"

The Enforcement Team members all stopped, looking at Captain Colin Cao.

Captain Cao looked at Vice President James.

But Vice President James didn't give her a chance to speak. "We have both witnesses and physical evidence—there's nothing left to say! Take her away!"

So the Enforcement Team closed in on her, tightening the circle.

Chloe Zhu took a deep breath and pulled out a poison bomb from her sanctum, ready to throw it.

No matter what, staying alive comes first. Everything else can wait.

At that moment, a voice called from outside: "Stop."

Everyone turned to look and saw a man in white walk in.

His ethereal beauty made everyone lose their composure.

Chloe Zhu smiled—her mentor had arrived!

Vice President James stood up and bowed respectfully. "Elder Jonathan Hill."