43: Chapter 43 Liu Cheng is beheaded

Qin Changsheng glanced at the wooden hut before stowing some important items into his Storage Space.

After finishing this, he hurried toward the Sect square.

Before long, Qin Changsheng arrived at the Chore Square.

At this moment, over a thousand Utility Disciples had gathered in the square, the crowd bustling as discussions rose and fell in waves.

Upon the high platform, Manager Liu Cheng's face was terrifyingly gloomy.

He never imagined such a massive disaster would occur.

He only hoped to find the whereabouts of the Spirit Rice.

If he did, he would at most lose his position as a Chore Manager.

If the Spirit Rice couldn't be found, only death awaited him.

Beside Manager Liu Cheng stood hundreds of Law Enforcement Hall Disciples, each dressed in black uniforms with steady auras and solemn expressions.

Such a display sent a shock through the hearts of all the Utility Disciples, increasing their confusion.

The Law Enforcement Hall was usually only responsible for Sect discipline inspections and guarding high-level areas; they rarely set foot on Servant Peak, let alone arriving with hundreds of people at once and maintaining such a heavily guarded posture.

The crowd looked at one another, their eyes filled with unease, completely unaware of what major event had transpired.

"Quiet, everyone!" Manager Liu Cheng shouted.

"I have summoned you all late at night because a major theft has recently occurred in the Sect. A thorough search of all personnel and areas on Servant Peak is required. No one is allowed to resist or hide anything; otherwise, you will be punished as an accomplice!"

As his voice fell, the Utility Disciples in the square instantly erupted into a commotion, whispering to one another with expressions full of shock and fear.

A theft? A theft that could alarm the Law Enforcement Hall and cause Manager Liu Cheng to make such a big fuss was definitely no small matter.

Everyone subconsciously checked themselves, fearing they might be implicated.

Only Qin Changsheng stood in the crowd, his expression calm and unmoved.

"Law Enforcement Hall, hear my command! Search every house immediately!"

"If any suspicious persons or items are found, detain and report them immediately! Utility Disciples are to stay in place; do not move about at will, and wait for inspection!"

"Yes!" Hundreds of Law Enforcement Hall Disciples responded in unison, their voices echoing through the square. They then split into dozens of teams and walked quickly toward various parts of Servant Peak.

Only a few Law Enforcement Disciples remained standing behind Manager Liu Cheng.

The eyes of these people were all fixed on Manager Liu Cheng; it was obvious at a glance that they were guarding him.

In the blink of an eye, an hour passed, and the Law Enforcement Hall members scattered across various locations returned to the square one after another.

Standing on the high platform, Manager Liu Cheng watched the Law Enforcement members return empty-handed, and his face grew increasingly gloomy at a rate visible to the naked eye.

At the same time, despair gradually took root in his heart.

He knew very well that if the Spirit Rice couldn't be found and the thief couldn't be caught, only a path to death awaited him.

Lin Zhentian would never protect a useless pawn, and the Sect Elders' Council would certainly not tolerate the theft of over 300,000 catties of Spirit Rice vanishing without a trace. From the beginning, he was destined to be the scapegoat.

However, Manager Liu Cheng didn't want to accept his fate at all. A flash of madness crossed his eyes as he shouted harshly at the Law Enforcement Hall: "Go and search again! Even if you have to dig three feet into the ground, find that thief!"

"Enough!" A loud shout suddenly rang out, interrupting Manager Liu Cheng's roar.

Captain Wu Qian stepped forward, staring coldly at Manager Liu Cheng on the platform, his body radiating the aura of Foundation Establishment.

"Manager Liu Cheng, you secretly colluded with the Heavenly Fire Sect to steal over 300,000 catties of the Sect's Spirit Rice!"

Manager Liu Cheng's whole body shook, and his face instantly turned as pale as paper: "You... you're lying! I didn't! I didn't collude with the Heavenly Fire Sect!"

"Even now, you still dare to quibble!" Captain Wu Qian sneered, his tone icy. "Elder Lin has already reported everything regarding your concealment of the Spirit Rice and your cooperation with the Heavenly Fire Sect to the Sect. The Sect Elders' Council has already reached a verdict."

"Manager Liu Cheng, as a Servant Peak Deacon, you knowingly broke the law and stole a heavy treasure of the Sect. Your crime is compounded; you are to be executed immediately!"

As the words fell, Captain Wu Qian no longer hesitated. With a wave of his hand, a flying dagger glinting with a piercing cold light instantly shot out from his sleeve. Its Speed was like a flash of lightning, carrying sharp Spiritual Qi as it bore down directly on Manager Liu Cheng's face.

Manager Liu Cheng's pupils shrank, his heart filled with fear and indignation. He subconsciously gathered Spiritual Qi to resist, but he was only at the seventh level of Qi Refining, far inferior to Captain Wu Qian. His Spiritual Qi was dispersed by the Pressure of the Wind-Ripping Blade as soon as it gathered.

He didn't even have time to let out a scream before the Wind-Ripping Blade pierced his throat. Blood spurted out, staining the floor of the high platform red.

Manager Liu Cheng's body swayed, the light in his eyes completely extinguished as he fell heavily onto the platform, devoid of any breath.

The Utility Disciples in the square all gasped, their expressions full of shock.

No one expected that their Servant Peak manager, Manager Liu Cheng, would die like this.

Qin Changsheng stood in the crowd, a flash of realization crossing his eyes before he regained his composure.

Lin Zhentian was indeed ruthless enough. To appease the Sect's anger, he not only sacrificed Manager Liu Cheng but also deliberately framed him as the mastermind behind the rice theft. This both gave the Sect an explanation and covered up the Lin family's guilt, killing two birds with one stone.

Captain Wu Qian retracted the Wind-Ripping Blade, his cold gaze sweeping over the Utility Disciples in the square as he shouted, "Manager Liu Cheng of Servant Peak secretly colluded with people from the Heavenly Fire Sect!"

"Working from the inside out to steal over 300,000 catties of Spirit Rice, causing the Sect to suffer heavy losses, his crime is heinous and the evidence is solid! He has just been executed on the spot according to Sect law, to serve as a warning to others!"

"Heavenly Fire Sect?"

"How could Manager Liu have colluded with the Heavenly Fire Sect?"

"No wonder Manager Liu Cheng was always embezzling our Spirit Sand!"

"And he even wanted to increase our labor this year."

A low murmur rose from the crowd as the Utility Disciples looked on in astonishment.

The Heavenly Fire Sect was a Sect hostile to the Heavenly Sword Sect and had always acted in a devious manner. Everyone never expected that this Spirit Rice theft would involve the conflict between the two Sects, and that Manager Liu Cheng was actually a traitor.

Qin Changsheng also knew that Lin Zhentian was deliberately muddying the waters. By framing Manager Liu Cheng, he found a "reasonable" excuse for the Spirit Rice theft and could also point the finger at the Heavenly Fire Sect, killing three birds with one stone.

Once the Sect believed the Heavenly Fire Sect was involved, they wouldn't investigate further.

Captain Wu Qian raised his hand to signal for silence and continued his announcement in a deep voice: "Former Outer Sect Disciple Lin Hao was ordered to assist in guarding the Spirit Rice of the Back Mountain Great Array, but he failed in his supervision and allowed Manager Liu Cheng to act."

"By the decision of the Elders' Council, Lin Hao shall sever one of his arms and be confined to the Meditation Room starting today to reflect on his mistakes for three years, during which he is not allowed to leave."

As soon as these words were spoken, waves of commotion rose in the square once again.

Although everyone knew Lin Hao was the son of Law Enforcement Elder Lin Zhentian, they didn't expect the Sect would actually impose such a heavy punishment on him, which showed the severity of the Spirit Rice theft.

Qin Changsheng was also very impressed by Lin Zhentian at this moment.

Clearly, the mastermind behind this theft was Lin Hao.

It was also Lin Hao who lost over 300,000 catties of Spirit Rice.

Yet Lin Zhentian pushed everything onto Manager Liu Cheng's head.

While the mastermind, Lin Hao, merely lost an arm.

In the cultivation world, there were many Spirit Medicines that could easily restore an arm.

With Lin Zhentian's means, obtaining such Spirit Medicine wouldn't be difficult at all.

Once the commotion in the square subsided slightly, Captain Wu Qian changed his tone, which softened a bit: "Manager Liu Cheng has been brought to justice, and Servant Peak cannot be without a leader for a single day. From today on, a new manager appointed by the Sect will take over the affairs of Servant Peak. Please welcome Manager Ma!"

Hearing this, everyone turned their heads to look, only to see a plump man walking over leisurely.

As he walked along, his gaze swept over everyone with a friendly smile, showing no arrogance whatsoever.