Lin Feng reached up to wipe away his tears. So he had not been wrong after all. Hall Master Yun truly was a good person.
"Hall Master, your words are far too harsh," Zhai Ge said blandly. "If not for the Demon-Slaying Alliance's protection, these loose cultivators would already be nothing but corpses. The fact that they can stand here alive today is thanks to the Alliance. They should be grateful."
"Utter nonsense. Shameless beyond belief." Yun Jin's cold voice cut through the air. "Ever since the Demon-Slaying Alliance was established, all resources have been funneled into it. And for what? To eliminate demons and defend the Dao. Why has this region fallen into such chaos, overrun with demonic forces? It is because of your negligence. You hoarded vast resources yet refused to act, leaving mortals and loose cultivators with almost no room to survive. This was your dereliction of duty from the beginning, yet you dare to say they should be grateful?"
Zhai Ge remained unmoved, his expression unchanged as he looked at Yun Jin. "Then what does Hall Master mean by this?"
Yun Jin's face was calm. "Naturally, to restore order. All task rewards will be recalculated and redistributed fairly."
Zhai Ge narrowed his eyes. "Mingxin Hall has existed for more than a century. To recalculate everything would be an enormous task."
Yun Jin smiled faintly. "That will not be your concern, Vice Hall Master Zhai."
"Hall Master, have you truly thought this through?" Zhai Ge's tone grew cold. "Some of these disciples come from the Holy Lands, some from the great sects. Their sects sent them here with high expectations. And now you intend to strip away all their merits and recalculate from the start? If this blows up, it will stir widespread dissatisfaction among many sects."
Yun Jin's eyes narrowed. "The thing I despise most in my life is threats. I only know this: merit deserves reward, and fault deserves punishment. To claim resources without contribution, and then for their sects to have the gall to complain? If they are so dissatisfied, let them come say it to my face."
She turned her gaze toward the group hiding behind Shi Li. Her voice was icy. "And as for you. I never imagined human beings could have such thick skin, to live as parasites for so many years without shame. If I were in your place, having done such disgraceful things, I would have long since dashed my head against the city wall."
The sect disciples felt stifled, yet having just witnessed Yun Jin strike Zhai Ge down, none dared step forward.
Zhai Ge's expression darkened. "Hall Master Yun, water too pure holds no fish. Some rules, though unspoken, are known to all. What benefit is there for you in exposing them?"
Yun Jin glanced at him coldly. "I do not know what rules you speak of. But this Mingxin Hall is under my control now. I will establish new rules. Once the reckoning is done, those who wish to leave may leave. Those who remain will abide by my rules."
She paused, her voice sharp. "That includes you, Vice Hall Master Zhai."
Zhai Ge's expression shifted.
Those on Shi Li's side looked to him with anticipation.
He was their only hope now.
Zhai Ge's face changed a few times, before finally settling into calm.
He lowered his head and said softly, "Hall Master, as you wish."
As you wish?
What did that mean?
Shi Li and the others paled.
Had Zhai Ge really bowed to Yun Jin?
The loose cultivators could not help but reveal joyous smiles.
The new Hall Master clearly intended to stand for them.
And now even Zhai Ge had backed down. Did this mean better days were ahead?
Yet Hong Ye's expression grew solemn. Zhai Ge was not someone who yielded so easily. For him to retreat now only meant he was holding something bigger in reserve. But since she had already chosen to make her accusations openly, both she and the loose cultivators had no retreat left.
Hong Ye's eyes hardened with resolve. The reason she had not spoken out earlier was because she knew this was the Qingxiao Region. Even if she made the matter known to the heavens, there would be no result. Because the ruler of this region was Qingxiao Pavilion itself. Everything had happened under their tacit approval. All she could do was fight for what rights she could for the loose cultivators within her ability.
But now things were different.
Everyone knew Yun Jin and Qingxiao Pavilion were sworn enemies, and Yun Jin faintly had the support of three other sects behind her.
Clearly, due to the demonic qi incident, Qingxiao Pavilion had come under suspicion from the other Holy Lands. Without concrete proof, they could not openly interfere here. But if Yun Jin stirred the waters, those Holy Lands would be glad to lend her some support.
In other words, Yun Jin herself had backing. If it was her, perhaps there truly was a chance to carve out a path for the loose cultivators. Hong Ye did not know what kind of path that might be. But since she had chosen, she could only follow this legendary Hall Master to the end.
Yun Jin glanced at Zhai Ge. She knew he was hiding something.
But so what?
Should she hold back out of fear of his schemes?
That was not her way.
"Bring me every record since Mingxin Hall's founding. I will review them one by one," Yun Jin said calmly.
Zhai Ge lowered his eyes and agreed.
Soon, a stack of records was laid before her.
"There are far too many. This is only one in a thousand," Zhai Ge said. "Hall Master may review them at leisure."
Shi Li's lips curled into a smile. The problems of Mingxin Hall had existed for a long time. Some of these records were real, some forged, others half-true. Even with the powerful Primordial Souls of cultivators, discerning truth from falsehood in such numbers within a short time was impossible. If Yun Jin truly wanted to investigate, she could spend months buried in these alone.
By then, the Grand Sect Ranking Conclave would arrive.
Would Yun Jin still remain here then?
This so-called thorough investigation would likely end as nothing more than noise meant to scare them. No wonder the Vice Hall Master was so unruffled. He feared nothing she could uncover.
Yun Jin eyed the mountain of records with a faint raise of her brows.
In her mind, she issued a command.
"System, scan them. Identify all discrepancies."
Within seconds, the system had scanned everything, listing every flaw in dense detail.
Yun Jin stored the batch away into her pouch and looked at Zhai Ge. "Next batch."
Zhai Ge frowned. "Hall Master, have you not reviewed them carefully?"
"My divine sense has already swept through these records," Yun Jin replied calmly. "Every detail is in my heart. Do not waste time, Vice Hall Master. Bring the next set."
Already finished? Zhai Ge could hardly believe it. But if Yun Jin was merely pretending, so much the better.
He handed her another batch.
Three seconds later, Yun Jin was done. Then another batch.
What they thought would take months, she finished in the time it took to drink a cup of tea, claiming every record had been checked.
Zhai Ge lowered his eyes, hiding the disdain in them.
So it was only for show after all.
And here he had thought Yun Jin had true resolve.