PFC Chapter 220 Unrepentant
Chapter 220 Unrepentant
"Nonsense! What evidence do you have?! We can't just believe your one-sided story!"
"I'd like to see what you can say!"
Wang Chuyi snorted coldly, then sat down angrily in his chair, ignoring Duan Zhengchun.
"Yin Zhiping, what exactly do you want?!"
"I am the chief disciple of the Quanzhen Sect. You are no longer a member of our sect. How dare you treat me like this? Do you wish to make an enemy of the Quanzhen Sect?!"
Before Duan Zhengchun could even confront him, Zhao Zhijing had already turned his attention to Duan Zhengchun, loudly questioning him.
"What a convenient example of the guilty party accusing the innocent first!"
"Let me ask you, where are you two going in the dead of night? The sect leader has ordered the entire sect to be summoned, yet you two are trying to sneak down the mountain. Do you have some ulterior motive?"
Duan Zhengchun sneered, slowly walked up to Zhao Zhijing, and asked condescendingly.
He had long ago sent Qingyi Guards to guard the outer perimeter, precisely because he was worried that Zhao Zhijing would pull a fast one and escape from Zhongnan Mountain.
"Stop spouting nonsense! You're no longer a disciple of the Quanzhen Sect. When did you become the only one with the right to speak here?!"
"Reporting to the Sect Leader, Yin Zhiping has malicious intentions and wants to sow discord within our Quanzhen Sect. Please do not fall for his tricks!"
Zhao Zhijing, his face full of anger, rebuked Duan Zhengchun while immediately turning around and bowing to Qiu Chuji, proclaiming his grievances.
"Even now, Senior Brother, do you still intend to remain stubbornly ignorant?!"
This is your last chance!
Lin Zhiyuan shook his head helplessly, looked at the excited Zhao Zhijing, and slowly said.
"Shut up!"
"Who doesn't know that you and Yin Zhiping are in cahoots?! He always does whatever he says!"
"You dare to claim the title of successor to the future sect leader? Bah!"
Zhao Zhijing turned and glared at Lin Zhiyuan, his face full of disgust and disdain.
Lin Zhiyuan gave a helpless apology with a cold laugh, turned around and looked towards the direction of the palace entrance, and shouted loudly, "I see you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Bring the person up!"
As the words fell, two more women in green robes slowly entered the main hall, each holding the middle-aged man they had brought back from the butcher shop in the small town.
Upon seeing the middle-aged man appear, Zhao Zhijing, who had still held a sliver of hope, instantly turned pale and collapsed helplessly to the ground.
"Reporting to Master, fellow disciples, this man is the owner of a butcher shop in the town at the foot of the mountain. He was bribed by the Mongol Tartars half a year ago and became a Mongol spy!"
"Not long ago, he confessed that his senior brother was secretly colluding with the Mongol Tartars!"
"The reason why we disciples and Xiao Shiqi were drugged and captured with sleeping powder is because he betrayed us! He has made a deal with the Mongol Tartars. As long as he takes the position of sect leader, he can kill our master and then lead the Quanzhen Sect to help the Mongols destroy the Song Dynasty!"
At this moment, Lin Zhiyuan slowly walked out, clasped his hands in a salute to Qiu Chuji and the other members of the Quanzhen Five Masters, and said loudly.
These words immediately caused a great uproar. Outside the hall, discussions rose and fell, with some criticizing Zhao Zhijing and others believing that even if Zhao Zhijing were confused, he would not do such a thing.
"Nonsense! That's impossible!"
Wang Chuyi stood up, his face pale, shook his head and said loudly, his expression extremely complicated as he looked at Zhao Zhijing.
"When Senior Brother Yin interrogated that Bianliang garrison commander, both Xiao Shiqi and I were present and heard it with our own ears! Moreover, he is here to testify now, how could any of this be false?!"
"Even if Uncle-Master Wang wants to protect his own, he should know when to do it!"
Lin Zhiyuan looked at Wang Chuyi with some excitement and questioned him loudly.
"you..."
Wang Chuyi looked conflicted and didn't know what to say for a moment.
"Zhijing, tell me yourself, is this true?!"
Qiu Chuji stared intently at Zhao Zhijing, who was slumped on the ground, and asked, word by word.
"Sect Leader... there must be some misunderstanding here..."
"I admit that I have coveted the position of sect leader for many years, but no matter what, I will never betray my sect and collude with the Mongol Tartars!"
"Please, Sect Leader, make the judgment!"
Zhao Zhijing hesitated for a moment, then looked up at Qiu Chuji and explained with a mournful face.
As Zhao Zhijing finished speaking, the discussion grew louder and louder, and many people began to waver, unsure of whose opinion to follow.
Just then, Duan Zhengchun suddenly let out a cold laugh, then pressed the mechanism in the sword box and drew the Lingxiao Sword.
The scene immediately fell silent upon the appearance of the Lingxiao Sword, and everyone showed their reverence for it.
Duan Zhengchun slowly approached Zhao Zhijing and Lu Qingdu, gently placed the Lingxiao Sword in front of them, and said loudly, "This is the Lingxiao Sword, the sword of Patriarch Chongyang. Seeing this sword is like seeing Patriarch Chongyang!"
"In front of Patriarch Chongyang, I now ask you two: Did you collude with the Mongol Tartars?! Did you conspire to assassinate the sect leader?!"
"If I break my promise, I will make him suffer a fate worse than death!"
Upon hearing this, everyone present turned to look at Zhao Zhijing and his apprentice, awaiting their response.
Zhao Zhijing clenched his teeth, his eyes filled with fear as he dared not look directly at Lingxiao Sword, but he kept his lips tightly shut and did not utter a single word.
But Lu Qingdu was clearly even more terrified, keeping his head down and not daring to look up even once.
Duan Zhengchun curled his lips into a cold smile, walked straight up to Lu Qingdu, and started spinning the Lingxiao Sword in his hand!
The Lingxiao Sword, brimming with chilling sword intent, began to spin rapidly as it connected with the center of Duan Zhengchun's right palm on the ground, with faint sounds of dragon roars audible.
"You only have one last chance. If you do not speak from your heart, the spirit of Patriarch Chongyang in heaven will unleash the power of the Lingxiao Sword Intent to kill you on the spot!"
Duan Zhengchun looked down at Lu Qingdu, who was trembling all over, and said in a deep voice.
"Do not kill me!"
"Master Chongyang, spare my life! I'll talk!"
"I'll tell you everything! Master has indeed colluded with the Mongol Tartars! He intends to kill the sect leader and seize the position!"
Under duress, Lu Qingdu's last line of defense was finally broken, and he couldn't help but cry out.
Upon hearing this, Director Wang, who was sitting in the chair, instantly deflated, and seemed to have aged decades in an instant.
"You bastard! What nonsense are you spouting?!"
"You traitorous disciple, you actually conspired with Yin Zhiping to frame me! Today I will cleanse your sect!"
Zhao Zhijing turned to look at Lu Qingdu with a face full of anger, and made as if he was about to rush up and kill Lu Qingdu, but before he could make a move, he was directly pressed to the ground by the Qingyi Guards and immediately unable to move!
Although he was still trying his best to defend himself, no one believed him anymore.
“Reporting to the Sect Leader, I can testify that Senior Brother Zhao did indeed secretly visit the butcher shop in the town at the foot of the mountain, and more than once, each time acting suspiciously.”
"But as for what they are going to do, this disciple has no idea."
Just then, Cui Zhifang, who had been standing in the crowd, slowly walked out, bowed respectfully to Qiu Chuji, and said slowly.
These words practically sealed Zhao Zhijing's guilt.
Zhao Zhijing glared fiercely at Cui Zhifang, his teeth almost bleeding from clenching. He never expected that Cui Zhifang would actually jump out and identify him at the end.
Duan Zhengchun hesitated for a moment, then waved to the Qingyi Guards and released Zhao Zhijing.
"To attempt to assassinate the sect leader for the position of sect leader is inhumane! To collude with the Mongol Tartars against the Song Dynasty is unjust!"
"A heartless and unjust person like you is a disgrace to the Quanzhen Sect!"
"Considering you are the senior disciple, you should end your own life."
As Duan Zhengchun spoke, he pulled a dagger from his pocket and threw it directly in front of Zhao Zhijing.
With a look of utter despair, Zhao Zhijing slowly reached out and picked up the dagger from the ground. Then he looked up at Duan Zhengchun, and when their eyes met, a contemptuous smile flashed across Duan Zhengchun's lips.
Perhaps it was this smile that instantly enraged Zhao Zhijing, who glared at Duan Zhengchun and said, "Yin Zhiping! I've fallen to this state today all because of you!"
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Zhijing suddenly grabbed a dagger and lunged at Duan Zhengchun, catching everyone off guard.
However, just as Zhao Zhijing was getting up, Duan Zhengchun had already rushed out like lightning, flashing past Zhao Zhijing who was about to get up!
Then, under everyone's gaze, Zhao Zhijing fell straight backward, a clear sword wound starkly visible on his neck...