The Grand Elder specifically named Chen Yan for a meeting, so Chen Yan had no choice but to attend.
Under the gaze of Song Wencheng behind him, Chen Yan stepped into the Enforcement Hall of Kongyuan Mountain, and then proceeded into the main hall.
Seated on the main seat in the main hall was a young-looking man, appearing to be around thirty years old, with a faint smile on his face.
This young man wore a pure white Daoist robe. The robe bore none of the gilded cloud crane patterns of Kongyuan Mountain, nor any wave-like patterns similar to those on the collar of Yuanhua Mountain's robes. Moreover, its color differed from the pale white robes of the Kongshan Sect's outer court.
It was simply a pure white Daoist robe.
Beside the young man sat another person familiar to Chen Yan.
This person's entire body was packed with bulging muscles, containing an extremely terrifying destructive force. It was none other than Zhong Yin, the current True Dharma Elder of Kongyuan Mountain.
Chen Yan stood in the central position of the main hall, then bowed with a cupped-hand salute.
"Disciple Chen Yan pays his respects to Grand Elder Qi, and to Martial Uncle Zhong!"
"As expected, early-stage Martial Spring Realm."
The young man stared at Chen Yan for a moment, then nodded.
"I heard you were the only opponent on Heavenly Summit Mountain who could make Qin Qingyu take seriously."
"Not at all, this disciple still has much room for improvement."
Chen Yan replied.
He didn't know what this Grand Elder, who looked very young but was in reality who knows how many hundreds, or even possibly over a thousand years old, was really scheming.
"Who would have thought that scoundrel He Furen would dare to use Supreme Imperial Law Elder Huo's token to commit such an act that outrages both gods and men?"
Qi Yi suddenly changed the subject.
"..."
Chen Yan did not respond, merely keeping his head lowered.
He couldn't really reply either.
"Those who should be dealt with on Yuanhua Mountain's side have basically been dealt with."
Qi Yi continued.
"As for the Kongyuan Mountain side, shouldn't we also give the Imperial Law Court an explanation?"
He was questioning Zhong Yin, who sat to the side.
"Grand Elder Qi..."
Zhong Yin had just begun to speak when he was immediately cut off by a gesture from Qi Yi.
"No need to say more. I have already given you enough time."
Then, he looked towards Chen Yan standing in the center of the main hall. Raising his hand, he casually reached into the air, and a token appeared in this Grand Elder's hand.
"It's also time for a different choice."
Qi Yi said, then lightly tossed the token that had appeared in his hand, letting it fall before Chen Yan.
Chen Yan instinctively caught the token Qi Yi threw over.
It was a rather ancient-looking token, engraved with only five characters: "Kongshan Imperial Law Court".
"Grand Elder Qi, what is this?"
Chen Yan asked, puzzled.
"Holding this token means you are acting on behalf of the Imperial Law Court. No place within the sect can stop you, including all forbidden areas."
Qi Yi said.
"The Imperial Law Court needs you to investigate and clarify some matters."
"Investigate and clarify some matters?"
Chen Yan's attitude was extremely cautious and wary.
"One week ago, Martial Elder Fu Qian of Qingchan Peak submitted a very interesting item to the Imperial Law Court."
Qi Yi said.
"This disciple still doesn't quite understand."
Chen Yan continued.
"Specifically, it was a list."
Qi Yi stated.
"..."
On the surface, Chen Yan remained expressionless, but internally, he was indeed beginning to feel somewhat panicked.
What does Fu Qian want to do?
He asked himself this question in his heart.
"The list contained a total of eight names."
The Grand Elder from the Imperial Law Court before him said, deliberately emphasizing the number "eight".
"These eight names are: Pei Qingshan, Zheng He, Zhang Xishun, He Furen, Wen Hongli, Gu Qin, Liang Zheng, and Cai Jing."
Qi Yi said, his gaze still fixed on Chen Yan.
"Fu Qian specifically instructed at the time that this matter must be handled by Kongyuan Mountain's Chief Disciple, Chen Yan. So, do you have any clues?"
Chen Yan remained silent for several breaths, trying to grasp the information contained within Qi Yi's words.
"Yes."
Finally, Chen Yan nodded.
"Because this list was provided by me to Elder Fu."
"Hmm."
As if satisfied with Chen Yan's answer, Qi Yi nodded with a smile.
"Good, that's very good. Of the eight people on this list, two are still alive now: Liang Zheng and Cai Jing."
As he spoke, Qi Yi paused briefly, then continued.
"However, this list alone is not enough evidence to convict these two. How to collect that evidence is precisely what you need to investigate and clarify."
"This disciple understands."
Chen Yan said.
"I'm only giving you three months."
Qi Yi stated.
"Yes."
Chen Yan replied.
"Good, then you have no further business here."
Qi Yi said, then redirected his attention back to Zhong Yin.
"You may withdraw first."
Zhong Yin understood Qi Yi's meaning and spoke to Chen Yan.
Chen Yan once again bowed with a cupped-hand salute towards the Grand Elder and his martial uncle seated above, then left the Enforcement Hall.
...
Nowadays, Chen Yan's ability to read people and situations had improved qualitatively compared to when he was a marginal disciple in the outer court.
Fu Qian gave the Imperial Law Court a list with eight names on it.
But the original list should have had thirteen names.
On this list of eight, only four names actually appeared on that list of thirteen.
The four overlapping names from both lists were already dead.
As for the remaining four names, two were also dead.
Only Liang Zheng and Cai Jing remained.
Chen Yan knew what Fu Qian was thinking.
This list of eight people was a "letter of submission" he handed over to Huo Mu.
Fu Qian understood very clearly that he, who knew things he shouldn't, would eventually face Huo Mu's reckoning.
Especially after Wei Mian's death, Fu Qian became even more worried about his own situation.
As long as he knew the inside story of that list, Huo Mu would not spare him.
Therefore, Fu Qian chose the only way he could escape Huo Mu's reckoning.
That was to tie himself completely to Huo Mu's pirate ship.
It was precisely because of this that Fu Qian forged this list, and on this list, two people were innocent.
Liang Zheng and Cai Jing.
Forging criminal evidence and eliminating these two individuals was equivalent to handing his own vulnerabilities over to Huo Mu.
Chen Yan couldn't help but feel pity for Fu Qian.
A dignified Martial Elder of Qingchan Peak, reduced to such extremes just to stay alive.
It showed just how terrifying Huo Mu's power and influence truly were.
However, the person who knew the secret of the list wasn't just Fu Qian alone.
There was also Chen Yan.
Therefore, the task of framing Liang Zheng and Cai Jing fell onto Chen Yan's shoulders.
This was also a test Huo Mu was conducting on Chen Yan.
As for the final result of the test, it was simple.
Pass, live.
Fail, die.
However, no matter how cunning this Supreme Imperial Law Elder was in his schemes, no matter how overwhelming his power and influence, he absolutely could never have imagined—
The thing Chen Yan feared the least was death.