You Betrayed the Sect, So Why Regret It Now? - Chapter 2:

Chapter 2: Junior Brother, Senior Brother Is Giving You a Chance to Pretend to Be a Good Guy

Li Chen spoke casually, “Junior Brother Qin Fan, you once gave me some pills, didn’t you?”

Qin Fan paused. Indeed, he had given Li Chen some pills in the past—though they were only Qi Refining Pills. Things he didn’t need himself, merely meant to put on a show of kindness. After all, Li Chen had been stuck in the Qi Refining Realm, unable to build his foundation.

“Yes, Senior Brother,” Qin Fan replied.

“You also gave me some treasure artifacts before, didn’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Then all of these items were gifts from you too, weren’t they?”

“Yes…” Qin Fan hesitated, realizing something was wrong. Damn it—he had fallen for a trap.

Li Chen cupped his fists and said, “Master, actually, Junior Brother saw that my cultivation was weak and gave me these items to help me recover. His intentions were sincere. I hope you can see that clearly.”

Zhao Qiyue frowned and glanced at Qin Fan. Qin Fan was startled, his heart boiling with shame and rage. Damn this guy! How dare he say they were gifts from me?

“Nonsense! How could Junior Brother possibly give those to you? You clearly stole them, you dog!” Second Junior Sister Yin Xiumei erupted in fury and pointed angrily at Li Chen. “Shameless! Utterly shameless! You obviously stole them but still have the nerve to say they were gifts. Why would Junior Brother ever give you such things?”

Li Chen remained calm and said, “Senior Sister, do you know where I live?”

“Who cares where you live?” Yin Xiumei scoffed. She had no interest in where Li Chen stayed. To her, it was irrelevant—she was convinced he had stolen them.

“I’m currently an inner sect disciple,” Li Chen said indifferently. “I live halfway up the mountain.”

The hierarchy in the Qilin Holy Land went like this: outer sect disciples lived at the base of the mountain, inner sect disciples in the middle, elite disciples near the top, personal disciples on better peaks, and the Holy Son held the most esteemed place. Qin Fan now lived on Misty Peak, which used to be Li Chen’s former residence.

Third Junior Sister Ning Ningyun shouted angrily, “So what? You could’ve gone to Junior Brother’s cave to steal! Don’t forget, his place used to be yours. You definitely know the way!”

Still refusing to admit it? Truly shameless.

Fourth Junior Sister Ying Zihan nodded in agreement. “Third Sister is right. You must’ve stolen it to take revenge on Junior Brother. He took your old place, so you stole his things.”

“You dog, you stole them and still refuse to confess? A real man would at least own up to his actions. You were once our Senior Brother—I really misjudged you.”

“Don’t try to argue. There are witnesses and physical evidence. There’s no point denying it anymore. Don’t make us lose even more respect for you.”

Faced with the disdain of the five Junior Sisters, Li Chen remained calm. Instead, he turned to Zhao Qiyue and said, “Master, Misty Peak stands three thousand meters high, surrounded by cliffs and steep rocks. I’m only at the Qi Refining Realm. How could I possibly reach it?”

Zhao Qiyue furrowed her brows. Indeed, with Li Chen still stuck in the Qi Refining Realm and without a foundation, how could he possibly get up there?

Qin Fan’s face changed. Damn it—he spotted the flaw.

The elders and law enforcement officers around them all began nodding.

“That’s true. Li Chen’s only at the Qi Refining Realm. He can’t fly on a sword. One must at least reach the Foundation Establishment Realm to barely manage it.”

“Could he have climbed up?”

“No way. Misty Peak is over three thousand meters high and surrounded by sheer cliffs. Climbing a single step would be nearly impossible.”

“Then how do you explain these items?”

Everyone was confused and turned to Qin Fan. Logically speaking, someone at the Qi Refining Realm couldn’t possibly enter Misty Peak. Besides, the peak was protected by a restriction. If it had been triggered, it would’ve alerted everyone.

Second Junior Sister Yin Xiumei said coldly, “Then how do you explain these things? They were found in your cultivation cave. Did they just appear out of nowhere?”

“You little thief, can’t talk your way out of this now, can you?”

Still unfazed, Li Chen said calmly, “Ever since the last battle with the demon race, I damaged my foundation. It’s been nearly impossible to progress. Qin Fan came to me back then and wanted to give me some pills.”

“He also offered me treasure artifacts to protect myself.”

“I refused, but Junior Brother Qin Fan is kind-hearted and insisted. He must’ve left them secretly in my room to help me cultivate.”

“So this was all just a misunderstanding.”

Yin Xiumei scoffed, “Lies. All lies.”

Li Chen countered, “Second Senior Sister, are you saying you don’t believe in Junior Brother Qin Fan’s kind heart?”

“I…” Yin Xiumei was speechless and didn’t know how to respond. She could only say, “Of course I trust Junior Brother’s character.”

Li Chen seized the chance and followed up quickly, not giving her a chance to refute. “Exactly. Everyone knows Junior Brother is upright and kind. He secretly left those items to help me recover my cultivation.”

Li Chen explained confidently, then turned to look at Qin Fan with a smile. “Junior Brother Qin Fan, am I right?”

He stared at Qin Fan with a look of amusement.

Come on, kid, don’t you want to play the good guy? I’m giving you a chance. If you don’t admit it, it proves you’re petty. The law enforcement elites will surely investigate, and that would mean someone’s framing me.

Junior Brother, your Senior Brother is giving you the stage. You’d better cooperate.

Qin Fan seethed with humiliation and anger. Damn it—he actually found a way out. Hmph… You may have escaped for now, but not forever. I’ll make sure you suffer. I’ll let you be proud for a few more days.

Qin Fan then spoke sincerely, “Yes. Senior Brother was once a hero of the Qilin Holy Land. I truly admire him. What he said is true—I wanted to help him regain his strength.”

“So I left those things in his cave.”

“Senior Brother, I’m sorry for causing this misunderstanding.” Qin Fan bowed and apologized sincerely.

“You don’t need to apologize,” Yin Xiumei consoled him. “Even if he didn’t steal them, he definitely thought about stealing. There’s no difference. He’s disgraced himself either way.”

Li Chen’s heart sank.

Was this really his former Second Junior Sister?

He remembered when Yin Xiumei first joined the sect at ten years old. She was a naive, adorable little girl who followed him everywhere. It was Li Chen who taught her how to refine Qi, build her foundation, and reach the Golden Core Realm. She used to cling to him like a shadow.

He remembered it all clearly.

“Senior Brother, teach me how to refine Qi…”

“Senior Brother, help me make pills…”

“Senior Brother, I accidentally ate your pills… You won’t blame me, right?”

“Senior Brother, I’m scared… hold me…”

He had even taken her deep into the Ten Thousand Mountains to search for spiritual herbs and taught her how to refine pills personally. She was now one of the top alchemists in the Qilin Holy Land.

It’s no exaggeration to say—everything Yin Xiumei had today, Li Chen had given her.

He had looked after her with great care, but now this was how she repaid him?

Humiliating him in public, calling him a dog, a villain, even breaking his hand once for the sake of Qin Fan.

Li Chen’s heart turned cold.

Even a dog knows gratitude.

Yin Xiumei wasn’t even as good as a dog.

Now that he saw them for who they truly were, Li Chen made his decision. He would no longer protect the Qilin Holy Land. From now on, he would live for himself.

They weren’t worth it.

Third Junior Sister Ning Ningyun shamelessly added, “Exactly. You don’t need to apologize. He definitely wants to get back at you. Junior Brother, be careful in the future.”

Li Chen’s heart was uneasy, but at least he had gotten through this round. Zhao Qiyue likely wouldn’t punish him by sending him to the Infernal Demon Cave now.

Otherwise, if punished again, he’d fall into the same miserable path.

He looked toward Zhao Qiyue, uncertain of how she would respond.