The great hall was filled with tense whispers and anxious murmurs. Members of the Obsidian Peak Sect shifted uncomfortably, their eyes darting to the front where Kai sat atop the elevated dais. Liu Yu and Liu Yue stood solemnly at his sides, faces stern and watchful.
Kai's fingers tapped lightly against the armrest of his chair, his eyes fixed on the center of the hall. There, bound and kneeling, was Zhang Lin, a chapter leader from the Ember Shade Chapter, trembling slightly but maintaining a defiant glare.
"Warden Zhang Lin," Kai began, his voice clear but carrying an unmistakable edge. "You stand accused of forcibly abducting innocent villagers and forcing them into slavery. You have violated the decree I've set forth."
Zhang Lin spat onto the floor, contempt flashing in his eyes. "Sect Lord, with respect," he sneered, "these weaklings exist to serve us. What you've decreed is nonsense. You undermine the very strength of the Obsidian Peak Sect!"
Kai's jaw tightened. He rose slowly, stepping down from his throne. The hall quieted immediately, all eyes glued to their Sect Lord as he approached the prisoner.
Stopping a mere step from Zhang Lin, Kai fixed him with an unwavering gaze. "Strength does not come from exploitation. A sect built on cruelty and fear is brittle and hollow."
Zhang Lin scoffed bitterly. "Our sect's greatness was founded on fear. It is tradition!"
"Tradition that ends today," Kai declared coldly. "Your actions dishonor this sect."
Murmurs rippled through the hall again, but Kai raised a hand, silencing them instantly.
"I've decided your punishment," he announced, his voice resonant. "For the abuse and exploitation of the innocent, you will be stripped of your cultivation and expelled from the sect."
Gasps echoed in shock throughout the crowd. Stripping cultivation was a punishment worse than death for cultivators, a cruel mercy.
Zhang Lin's eyes widened in horror, his arrogance dissolving. "Sect Lord! You can't—"
"I already have," Kai said, his voice firm and final.
Kai nodded to the Disciplinary Enforcer from the Enforcement Hall. He extended his palm towards Zhang Lin. A stream of energy emerged from his fingertips, enveloping the prisoner. Zhang Lin screamed as Qi invaded his meridians, dismantling his carefully cultivated power with precision.
In mere moments, Zhang Lin slumped forward, weak and powerless. Silence blanketed the hall as the members of the sect absorbed the gravity of Kai's decision.
Liu Yue stepped forward. "Take him away," she commanded quietly to the guards, who immediately obeyed.
As Zhang Lin was dragged out, Kai turned slowly, his gaze sweeping across the gathered disciples and elders. "Let this be clear. From now on, every single offense will be judged individually and fairly. Cruelty, exploitation and needless bloodshed will no longer be tolerated."
A low, respectful murmur of assent filled the hall.
Kai rubbed his temples. The weight of judgment pressed heavily on him. This was not what he'd envisioned when he took control. It wasn't as simple as issuing commands and seeing them obeyed. The deeper he delved, the more he saw the complexity of human nature and how difficult real change would be.
"Master," Liu Yue approached gently, her voice low and respectful. "Are you alright?"
Kai gave a tired smile. "Just reflecting. Punishing individuals won't solve everything. I have to address the root cause."
Liu Yu tilted her head curiously. "The root cause?"
Kai nodded solemnly. "The Azure Cloud Sect Massacre. Our sect's infamous reputation began from that atrocity. If we can uncover the truth—if we can show the world that either we weren't responsible or bring to justice the ones who truly were—we can finally begin changing how we're perceived."
Both sisters exchanged meaningful glances.
"Master," Liu Yue began, hesitantly. "This path… it could provoke powerful enemies."
Kai exhaled slowly, determination blazing in his eyes. "If there's to be real change, we must face whatever truth awaits us, no matter how dangerous."
Liu Yu grinned fiercely. "Sounds exciting."
Kai chuckled despite himself, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly. "Exciting is one way to put it."
He straightened, gazing forward resolutely. "We start our investigation immediately. It's time we discover who massacred the Azure Cloud Sect and whether Obsidian Peak was ever guilty at all."