“Qin Lan, do not feign ignorance before This Senior.”

Old Ghost Black Sha stared coldly at Han Lie, his tone leaving no room for argument. “I have come today solely for that Servant Disciple standing by your side.”

“Cai Zhen and Yun Xia were both outstanding disciples under my tutelage. Their untimely demise brings me great pain.”

His eyes narrowed, gleaming with a predatory light. “As their master, I must bring the murderer to justice to appease their spirits in the afterlife.”

Qin Lan met his gaze without flinching. “Hall Master Black Sha, although this junior has not been involved in the daily affairs of the Law Enforcement Hall for many years, I have indeed heard of the tragedy concerning the two fairies, Cai Zhen and Yun Xia.”

“However,” she continued calmly, “if I recall correctly, Junior Brother Iron Hand of the Xuanwu Division has already provided you with an explanation regarding this matter.”

“If the Hall Master finds Iron Hand’s investigation suspicious, you may submit new evidence. If valid proof exists, I will naturally ensure justice is served.”

Hearing this, Hall Master Black Sha’s expression darkened. The air around him grew heavy, carrying a distinct note of warning.

“Qin Lan. Considering you are a junior who has just advanced, This Senior has shown you face thus far.”

“Think carefully,” he hissed. “Are you truly determined to oppose me for the sake of a mere Servant Disciple?”

“Hall Master Black Sha’s words are too severe.” Qin Lan remained unmoved, her posture straight as a spear. “This junior is merely discussing matters according to the rules. Even if we were to bring this before my master, my stance would remain unchanged.”

“Although Han Lie is a Servant Disciple, he is an acquaintance of mine.”

“I understand your grief, Hall Master. However, unless you can submit compelling evidence proving Han Lie killed your disciples… I must ask for your understanding.”

In the past, Qin Lan would never have offended a powerhouse like Old Ghost Black Sha for a mere servant.

But things were different now.

Han Lie’s unique pure Yang energy was the key to her cultivation. It was a resource she could not afford to lose. Therefore, Qin Lan was determined to protect him at all costs.

“So, it seems you are dead set on protecting him today?” Old Ghost Black Sha’s voice dropped to a threatening growl.

Qin Lan smiled faintly. “Hall Master, the Law Enforcement Hall has always emphasized evidence. You might argue that evidence is unnecessary for a Servant Disciple.”

“But Han Lie holds an Inner Disciple identity token personally issued by the Elder Council. Therefore, he is entitled to the protections of an Inner Disciple.”

“Good. Very good!”

A chilling, eerie smile twisted Old Ghost Black Sha’s aged face.

“Qin Lan, you are a principled person. This Senior admires that.”

“But… if you think stepping into the Nascent Soul Stage allows you to contend with me, then you are far too naive!”

“Today, I will take this disciple away. Let’s see how you stop me!”

The moment the last word left his lips, the atmosphere shattered.

Han Lie’s body and mind tensed instantly. He hurriedly mobilized every ounce of spiritual energy within his dantian, channeling it into his fists, prepared to fight for his life.

“Hall Master Black Sha!” Qin Lan shouted sharply. “This is the territory of the Law Enforcement Hall! If you take action today, perhaps you can seize him, but I assure you…”

Her eyes flashed with cold resolve. “In the future, the disciples of your Overlord Hall best not step a foot out of line. Otherwise… the Self-Immolation Tower will be their final destination!”

“You? You dare threaten This Senior?”

Old Ghost Black Sha laughed, a sound like grinding stones.

“I spoke politely with you earlier. Since you refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit, do not blame me for bullying a junior!”

He was not swayed by her threats. A cultivator of his status fought for dignity above all else. He could not allow a newly ascended junior to cow him into submission.

Old Ghost Black Sha extended his withered palm and made a grasping motion toward Han Lie through the void.

Crack! Crack!

Space itself seemed to groan and collapse.

Han Lie watched in horror as the air around him solidified. Under the crushing compression of the spatial prison, he couldn’t move a muscle. He couldn’t even rally his spiritual energy—it was locked inside his body as if frozen.

Now, he truly understood the despair Cang Ying of the Sun Moon Sect must have felt when facing Qin Lan.

This was Dimensional Supremacy.

The gap between Nascent Soul and Golden Core was not just a difference in power; it was a difference in the dimension of existence. To Black Sha, Han Lie was nothing more than an insect trapped in amber.

“Break!”

Qin Lan waved her jade-like hand. Vast spiritual energy surged like a tidal wave, crashing against the invisible cage.

Boom!

The spatial prison enveloping Han Lie shattered.

“Pfft—!”

In the same instant, Qin Lan’s body trembled violently, and she spat a mouthful of blood onto the pavilion floor. Her aura flickered and dimmed rapidly.

“Senior?” Han Lie was startled, regaining his mobility.

He quickly realized what had happened. To forcibly break the spatial lock of a veteran Nascent Soul, Qin Lan had taken the full brunt of the counter-shock.

“Hah. Qin Lan, even among Nascent Souls, there are differences,” Old Ghost Black Sha sneered, withdrawing his hand. “If you wish to contend with me, go back and cultivate for another few hundred years.”

“Now, come here!”

He reached out again, his giant spiritual hand materializing to snatch Han Lie.

Riiip!

Right at that critical moment, a spatial rift tore open directly in front of Han Lie and Qin Lan.

From the void, a woman stepped out. She wore grand palace attire, her presence graceful and dignified, radiating an aura that suppressed the surrounding chaotic energy instantly.

The Hall Master of the Law Enforcement Hall—Su Meiyu!

“Black Sha. That is enough.”

Su Meiyu frowned, her voice calm but carrying undeniable authority. “If you want to arrest someone from Law Enforcement Peak, I can turn a blind eye. But you cannot harm my beloved disciple.”

“Master!” Qin Lan clutched her chest, forcing down her roiling blood and qi to bow respectfully.

“Greetings, Hall Master Su.” Han Lie hurriedly cupped his hands, lowering his head.

Su Meiyu waved a hand, signaling them to step back.

Delighted, Han Lie and Qin Lan ignored Old Ghost Black Sha’s gloomy gaze and retreated to the side, sheltered by Su Meiyu’s imposing presence.

Facing Su Meiyu, Old Ghost Black Sha’s domineering arrogance evaporated. He knew he had hit a wall.

“You heard what happened just now,” Black Sha said, his tone thick with discontent. “I attempted to negotiate properly with your disciple, yet she continuously obstructed me.”

“She recklessly destroyed my spatial technique and was injured by the backlash. That cannot be blamed on me!”

Su Meiyu’s expression remained cool. “I don’t care about the details. The fact remains: you injured Qin Lan.”

“However, for the sake of our many years as colleagues, Black Sha, I offer a solution.”

She stepped forward, shielding Han Lie and Qin Lan completely.

“Your disciples are precious to you; my disciple is precious to me.”

“As for who killed Cai Zhen and Yun Xia, there is no definitive conclusion. But, for the sake of argument, I can provisionally assume suspicion falls on Han Lie.”

Su Meiyu’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Today, Qin Lan was injured by you while protecting him. Let this injury serve as compensation for the deaths of your two disciples. Are you satisfied?”

Old Ghost Black Sha gritted his teeth.

Satisfied? Absolutely not. Two Golden Core disciples were dead, and the killer was standing right there!

But he also knew he could not afford to completely break ties with Su Meiyu.

She was the master of the Law Enforcement Hall. If they went to war, her subordinates had a thousand ways to make life miserable for every disciple in his Overlord Hall.

Silence hung heavy in the courtyard for a long moment.

Finally, Old Ghost Black Sha exhaled sharply.

“Fine. Meiyu.”

“Qin Lan is, after all, a Nascent Soul cultivator. Her blood… is enough to pay for two Golden Core lives. This Senior accepts it.”

“Good,” Su Meiyu nodded. “Then let this matter be settled here. Do not bring it up again.”

Old Ghost Black Sha didn’t say another word.

He cast one last, venomous glare at Han Lie—a look that promised this wasn’t truly over—before snorting disdainfully. With a flick of his sleeve, he turned and ascended into the sky, vanishing in a streak of black light.