Su Wan’er abruptly turned her head to look at Lai Li’an. Her Honored Master still stood with his hands behind his back, completely motionless.

On that handsome face, there was no surprise, no anger, not even a trace of the unexpected.

Su Wan’er’s heart suddenly skipped a beat. Why wasn’t Honored Master surprised at all? Unless… unless Honored Master knew from the very beginning.

She opened her mouth, her voice hoarse: “Honored Master… you already knew?”

Lai Li’an didn’t answer immediately. In his heart, he used every swear word he could think of.

But Su Wan’er was right beside him, and Elder Sun was watching from above; he couldn’t show any weakness.

He turned his head slightly, glanced at Su Wan’er, and said flatly, “An old cultivator at the Late Qi Condensation stage managing to retreat unscathed from the hands of three Late Foundation Establishment and one Peak Foundation Establishment cultivators is inherently a rare thing. And surviving after being afflicted with the Bone-Corroding Curse for three months is even rarer among the rare. If this Venerable couldn’t even see through such fishiness, I would have lived all these years in vain.”

Su Wan’er was stunned. Her Honored Master really knew all along. Then why didn’t Honored Master expose it yesterday, and why did he still go to snatch the Spiritual Field?

Elder Sun took in both of their reactions, his gaze falling back onto Lai Li’an. “Since Fellow Daoist Lai had already seen through this man as a swindler, why did you still accept the matter?”

Lai Li’an fell silent for a moment. “To answer Elder Sun, yesterday when Qian Fu struck up a conversation at the entrance of the West Market alley, this Venerable already saw that he was up to no good. This Venerable’s plan at the time was to beat him at his own game, feigning acceptance of his commission, and wait for him to lower his guard before finding his flaws. Therefore, this Venerable left a Tracking Mark on him.”

He paused, his tone sinking slightly. “Unexpectedly, Fellow Daoist Hong of Hundred Herbs Hall reported the case first, disrupting this Venerable’s plans.”

Hong Wu let out a cold sneer and was just about to speak, but Lai Li’an’s voice overpowered his.

“However, it is precisely because this Venerable left this mark that, even while situated here in the Public Hearing Hall, this Venerable still knows exactly where Qian Fu is hiding.”

As soon as these words were spoken, the entire hall fell dead silent.

Lai Li’an’s voice remained flat as he continued, “This man Qian Fu has been committing crimes for three years, swindling no fewer than five groups of Rogue Cultivators, with victims scattered all over Yunze Market and beyond. This Venerable originally intended to follow the trail to perhaps root out his accomplices, which could be considered seeking justice for those fellow Daoists who were deceived. However, now that Fellow Daoist Hong has reported this to the Law Enforcement Hall, the matter has instead become a hassle where this Venerable must first prove his own innocence.”

After he finished speaking, he shook his head slightly. Elder Sun looked at Lai Li’an and remained silent for a long time.

Ever since this man surnamed Lai was apprehended last night, he had remained perfectly calm and collected.

The meticulousness of his mind was far beyond that of an ordinary Rogue Cultivator.

“Li Xiuyuan,” Elder Sun finally spoke.

“Your subordinate is here.”

“Take a team, let Fellow Daoist Lai guide the way, and go capture Qian Fu immediately.”

“As you command!”

“Hold on.” Hong Wu suddenly took a step forward, his voice raised. “Elder Sun, the matter with Qian Fu can be set aside for now, but this Lai fellow stealing Spirit Herbs is an ironclad fact! The Land Deed belongs to my Hundred Herbs Hall, the Spiritual Field belongs to my Hundred Herbs Hall. He harvested a full five acres of Spirit Herbs from my Hundred Herbs Hall’s field and tried to run off with them! Now that he’s been caught, he starts talking about tracking Qian Fu and beating him at his own game, these are all just his one-sided claims! May I ask Elder Sun, even if what he says is true and he plans to track down Qian Fu to investigate a scammer, does he really need to harvest an entire five acres of Spirit Herbs clean and stuff them into his own pockets?”

He grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, his spit nearly flying onto the desk: “What is the market price for a bundle of Clearwater Vine? And what is the price for a bundle of Crimson Sun Flower? Those Spirit Herbs alone are worth no less than 500 Low-Grade Spirit Stones! Even if he didn’t intend to steal, he at least knew they weren’t his property and still took them anyway! According to the rules of Yunze Market, those who steal property are subject to a tenfold fine in compensation! Ten times means 5000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones! Elder Sun, just because this person has a glib tongue, are we really not going to hold him accountable?”

As soon as these words were spoken, the expressions of the Law Enforcement Hall disciples in the Public Hearing Hall all changed.

5000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones, let alone a Rogue Cultivator, even these law enforcement disciples who lived on a stable stipend might not be able to save up that much in decades.

Su Wan’er’s face turned pale. She wanted to retort, but as she opened her mouth, she realized she couldn’t refute a single word Hong Wu said.

The Spirit Herbs were harvested by them, and they had even given them away. No matter what the original intention was, the result was the result.

Elder Sun fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding: “Hong Wu’s words are not without reason. Fellow Daoist Lai, I can understand your intention in tracking Qian Fu. However, the Land Deed indeed belongs to the Hundred Herbs Hall, and the Spirit Herbs are not ownerless items. Harvesting and taking them on your own without the landowner’s consent is indeed improper according to the market rules.”

He paused, his voice deepening. “According to the rules of Yunze Market, the theft of property warrants a light penalty of ten times the value in compensation, or a severe penalty of crippling the Cultivation Base and expulsion from the Market. Considering your original intention was not deliberate theft, and you are willing to cooperate with the Law Enforcement Hall to capture Qian Fu, this seat can be lenient—”

“A tenfold fine, five thousand Low-Grade Spirit Stones, to be paid in full within three days. If overdue, you will be dealt with according to the Market rules.”

Su Wan’er’s legs went weak. She subconsciously looked up at her Honored Master, only to find his profile remained as calm as still water.

Elder Sun said in a deep voice, “Fellow Daoist Lai, do you accept this punishment?”

Lai Li’an was silent for a moment. Five thousand Spirit Stones… even if he sold himself and Su Wan’er, they wouldn’t be able to scrape that much together.

He slowly raised his eyes, just about to speak.

Su Wan’er suddenly took a step forward, cutting in before him. “Elder Sun! This matter was Qian Fu’s scam from start to finish. My Honored Master was tricked, he is also a victim…”

“Wan’er.” Lai Li’an pressed his hand onto her shoulder.

Su Wan’er looked back, her eyes rimmed red. “But Honored Master, it was clearly Qian Fu who tricked us…”

“This Venerable knows.” Lai Li’an applied a little force with the hand resting on her shoulder, pulling her back behind him. “Be good.”

Su Wan’er bit her lip hard, forcefully swallowing back the rest of her words.

Lai Li’an turned to Elder Sun, meeting his gaze calmly.

His mind was racing, searching for any room to maneuver.

He knew better than anyone that showing weakness at a time like this was the ultimate taboo.

Once he showed fear, the opponent would latch on and never let go, and all his previous groundwork would be completely in vain.

Right at the exact moment he was about to speak—

“Wait!”

Someone walked in from outside. The newcomer was a young man in his early 20s, wearing a moon-white brocade robe with cyan edges and a dark green silk sash tied around his waist. It turned out to be Meng Qiuran.

He stood firm in the center of the Public Hearing Hall and cupped his hands toward Elder Sun seated at the front. His posture was neither haughty nor humble, a leisurely smile gracing the corners of his lips.

“Who goes there?” Elder Sun was somewhat irritated that someone would brazenly intrude upon the public hearing.

Meng Qiuran cupped his hands in greeting. “I am Meng Qiuran, a disciple of the Alchemy Sect Branch. I heard about the cause of this incident before coming here, but I believe Senior Lai must have his reasons for taking the Spiritual Field.”

“You are right. Fellow Daoist Lai claimed he came up with this plan in order to bring that group of swindlers to justice.”

“Ah?” Meng Qiuran couldn’t help but let out a sound, drawing puzzled looks from the bystanders. He immediately realized his slip-up. “That’s right, that’s exactly what I meant. Senior Lai is definitely not that kind of person, so this case can be closed now, right?”

“This matter has already come to a close. Now it is a question of compensation. Fellow Daoist Lai harvested all the Spirit Herbs, and the resulting financial compensation requires 5000 Low-Grade Spirit Stones.”

Lai Li’an let out a bitter smile in his heart.

“I am willing to pay off the compensation on behalf of Senior Lai.” Meng Qiuran’s expression returned to normal as he spoke slowly.

The entire venue instantly fell silent. Lai Li’an’s pupils trembled slightly.