CHAPTER 696: CHAPTER 766: FANG YI IS HERE

Fang Yi, holding an unconscious Hua Huiyue, stood behind the severed corpse of Yang Chengji. This was evidence, damning evidence that could nail Fang Yi.

If Hua Huiyue had been conscious, things might have been easier to explain, but now in her unconscious state coupled with the corpse behind him, Fang Yi was beyond defense. Even if he had a hundred mouths, he couldn’t clarify his innocence.

Sometimes, people tend to believe only what they see, without seeking the truth behind the event.

Thus, Fang Yi held Hua Huiyue calmly, without panic or anger. He just wanted to see what tricks Zhou Hao would play.

"The Vice Sect Leader has been murdered and the Sect Leader poisoned. This Masked Hero is no hero at all, he’s a villain!" someone from the crowd criticized mockingly.

"Exactly, he must have coveted the Sect Leader’s beauty to do such a thing."

"Such a despicable man, he should be killed!"

"He must not be let go!"

The crowd was furious, and everyone began to denounce him. With the "facts" and "evidence" before their eyes, they believed what they saw, and seeing the crowd’s emotions stirred, Zhou Hao’s lips slowly curved into a smirk.

A woman stepped forward, crying out, "Fang Yi, you are inhuman, planning against my parents, I will have your life."

Yang Yingying swung her sword at Fang Yi. Fang Yi, still holding Hua Huiyue, remained still. Just as the sword tip was about to reach him, he suddenly pinched the tip between his fingers.

Fang Yi glanced sidelong at Yang Yingying and said indifferently, "It wasn’t me."

Yang Yingying struggled to pull the sword out, glaring at Fang Yi, "If it’s not you, who else could it be, you villain!"

Villain?

Hearing those words, Fang Yi felt no inner turmoil. He even felt like laughing.

Zhou Hao slowly walked over, stood beside Yang Yingying, gently patted her shoulder to comfort her, and then stared at Fang Yi, coldly saying, "Fang Yi, with the confession and evidence present, no matter how eloquently you argue or if you talk till the heavens break, it’s useless. You killed him. Can you deny it?"

Fang Yi truly couldn’t deny it.

All gazes were fixed on Fang Yi, filled with curiosity and mostly hostility. Fang Yi was silent for a moment, then gently placed Hua Huiyue beside a tree, and slowly stood up.

The Black Prison was right beside Fang Yi. As he stood upright, some people retreated, thinking Fang Yi was about to make a move.

But Fang Yi did not make a move.

What shocked them even more was that at this moment, with everyone’s fingers pointed at him, his face still held a faint smile.

Fang Yi glanced at the triumphant Zhou Hao, noticing the sly smile on Zhou’s lips. Fang Yi was not annoyed. The more it was so, the calmer he needed to be.

Then Fang Yi scanned the crowd once more, capturing all their varied expressions. After a moment, Fang Yi took off his mask and slowly said, "Yang Chengji, indeed, it was I who killed him."

Upon these words, the whole place first fell into silence, then erupted into uproar.

"I can’t believe it was really you. If you have any conscience left, surrender now, don’t force us Martial Arts Practitioners to take action!"

"I don’t know how the Sect Leader and the Vice Sect Leader offended you for you to brutally harm them."

Disciples from the Sky Sword Sect were even more agitated.

"You are simply a thankless wretch!"

"How dared the Sect Leader allow you to join the Sky Sword Sect, only for you to harbor such venom."

"Everyone, please kill this monster and avenge my master and his wife!" Zhou Hao called out vehemently.

As soon as these words were spoken, they stirred the emotions of everyone present. As is well known, many people are followers by nature; seeing their companions or others unanimously oppose someone or something, they too join the fray, a phenomenon known as ’bandwagoning.’

And now, by a mere statement, Zhou Hao had successfully incited the crowd, many of whom began to bandwagon.

However, Fang Yi remained utterly calm. At that moment, a bald monk from the temple stepped forward and said, "This benefactor, whether you committed the murder has yet to be determined. I hope you can put down the butcher knife and not make another mistake."

Fang Yi smiled and said, "I have told you, I killed the man."

Zhou Hao declared loudly, "Everyone heard it, he admitted it himself!" He shouted at the top of his voice.

Fang Yi narrowed his eyes slightly and said, "Zhou Hao, could you die from shutting your mouth for a while?"

Zhou Hao yelled, "Fang Yi, even now, you pose pretentiously here. If you have any conscience, just kill yourself."

"I assure you, you’ll be dead soon." Fang Yi scoffed, looking around casually, and said lightly, "Ladies and gentlemen, indeed I killed Yang Chengji, but... don’t you want to know why?"

Zhou Hao sneered, "What’s there to know? You coveted the beauty of my master’s wife."

"So?"

"So you killed my master and poisoned my master’s wife to possess her," Zhou Hao said.

The surrounding crowd showed peculiar expressions on their faces. The beauty of Hua Huiyue was well-known among Martial Arts Practitioners, and following Zhou Hao’s words, they all nodded, finding his reasoning sound.

Clap, clap, clap...

Just then, the sound of clapping rang out. Fang Yi raised his thumb, "Impressive, Zhou Hao, your theory is really quite brilliant, so compelling that I can’t help but admire it."

Zhou Hao said, "What, do you have anything else to say?"

"Plenty."

Fang Yi stated coolly, "You claim I coveted the beauty of Sect Leader Hua, fine, let’s assume that’s true. But why would I covet her beauty at this particular moment, kill Yang Chengji and then poison Sect Leader Hua? What could I possibly achieve with Sect Leader Hua in such a short time?"

"I’m not as idiotic as you are. Even if I wanted Sect Leader Hua in bed, I wouldn’t choose such a critical moment. I would wait until we were back; there’s no rush. Acting at this moment would indeed be idiotic."

"Zhou Hao, I really don’t know if it’s you who’s the idiot or if you think too lowly of me."

Fang Yi’s rapid responses left Zhou Hao alternating between pale and flushed, understanding that his earlier ’theory’ barely held any water, especially knowing the real context.

Zhou Hao’s expression almost transformed at the next moment, and he suddenly shouted, "No matter what, you killed my master and poisoned my master’s wife, you deserve to die!" He was determined to pin Fang Yi down on this.

"Yes, you killed Vice Sect Leader Yang, and poisoned Sect Leader Hua, no matter the reasons, you are ultimately at fault. Young man, stop resisting stubbornly, just admit your mistakes," an elderly man said.

"That’s right, Fang Yi, kneel down and admit your faults!"

"Stop talking, no matter what you say, it’s useless."

Fang Yi slowly placed his hand on the hilt of the Black Prison sword beside him, his eyes shooting cold sparks as he said icily, "It seems you are determined to drive me to my death. Fang Yi stands here; who dares to fight me!"