CHAPTER 232: CHAPTER 126: TOO LATE TO SHIFT THE BLAME

Kang Rulin: "Hasn’t the situation been laid out here already? We are not the police. After reading all this, don’t we already know the ins and outs?"

Shi Zhizhai’s expression showed some struggle, wanting to speak but hesitating several times before finally asking, "Will other Shi Family members be implicated?"

Kang Rulin replied indifferently, "The Magic Sect demands accountability, and you are well aware of the rules.

If one is not involved in the matter, unaware of the situation, and does not receive forbidden benefits, then trouble shall not befall them!

Just these three conditions; you should calculate them one by one in your heart. If someone meets all three, then they’ll be fine.

I have a prepared list here, with thirty-eight sorcerers in the Huiming Shi Family branch, as well as one hundred twenty-six Guests of Fate. Each individual has these three options behind their names, and you will check each one to clarify each person’s situation.

Remember, this is your only chance I am giving you. Don’t fill out this form carelessly and don’t attempt to cover for anyone."

After speaking, Kang Rulin handed over a pen and a folder, without even asking what was happening, simply requiring Shi Zhizhai to complete the form.

Shi Zhizhai countered, "I just reported to the Ancestral Hall; in the Huiming Shi Family branch, there are thirty-seven cultivators recorded, where did the thirty-eighth come from?"

Kang Rulin: "I am the first! If it’s said I wasn’t involved, unaware, you’re surely aware deep down. But if you claim I didn’t receive benefits, even I wouldn’t believe it!"

The Magic Sect’s accountability concerns karma, which refers to the three conditions Kang Rulin mentioned: "involved in the matter, aware of the situation, receiving benefits."

These are not parallel but progressive; "involved in the matter" is most severe, "aware of the situation" is secondary, and lastly, "receiving benefits."

If one is both "involved in the matter" and "aware of the situation," they should receive the same punishment.

There is also a special case where someone is "involved in the matter" but not "aware of the situation." For example, someone like Li Weiping, who also participated in the night’s event but was merely running errands, without knowing exactly what happened.

Such people will also receive punishment, but it will correspond to their actions.

Many may not be "involved in the matter" but are "aware of the situation," silently allowing it, and will be held accountable.

The most unusual case is when someone neither participates in the matter nor understands the inside story, yet receives benefits from the forbidden conduct, they also need to be appropriately dealt with.

Shi Zhizhai looked at the list and asked, "It was only the night before last, and the Shi Family suffered greatly... let’s not talk about this, it is self-inflicted, but brother-in-law, what benefits did you gain?"

Shi Haowu and others failed in their scheming against Hidden Moth, not only costing Hu Shulue his life, but they also lost an Earth Spirit Banner, getting nothing in return, let alone benefiting anyone?

He Kao may be able to prove what happened that night, but he couldn’t possibly know the internal details of the Shi Family, like before Shi Haowu acted, he called Shi Zhizhai, or that Bitter Tea is actually Gu Jiang...

Before questioning Shi Haowu and others, the Ancestral Hall won’t know who was involved in the event and whom they were related to. Thus, Shi Zhizhai, holding this material, hesitated to write anything, trying to probe what else the Ancestral Hall had discovered.

Kang Rulin saw this and sighed, "Zhizhai, is there anything you’d like to ask me before I question you?"

Shi Zhizhai gritted his teeth, "I want to ask the Ancestral Hall, investigating Hidden Moth’s identity privately, violated which sect rule?"

This was a tricky question, perhaps pondering for a long time before finding such an unexpected angle. Even Kang Rulin was momentarily stunned, then clearly replied, "To this day, it violates no sect rule!"

Shi Zhizhai added, "Is it illegal?"

Kang Rulin: "Not illegal."

Shi Zhizhai continued, "Will the Ancestral Hall punish?"

Kang Rulin: "You don’t need to ask further, it’s all the same. Until Hidden Moth formally returns to the Magic Sect, the Ancestral Hall has no reason to punish this kind of conduct."

This was a devious question, and Kang Rulin had to respond in this way.

Since Hidden Moth hasn’t accepted the Ancestral Hall’s public invitation, theoretically and practically, he remains unrelated to the Magic Sect.

Someone investigating Hidden Moth’s identity secretly does not violate any secular law, nor any sect rule, yet merely transgresses certain individuals’ taboos but cannot be used as a basis for punishment.

Shi Zhizhai bowed his head, "Given this, I have no further questions."

Kang Rulin: "Then it’s my turn to ask! Investigating Hidden Moth’s identity doesn’t violate sect rules, but the methods you all used cannot be tolerated by the Magic Sect. Who instructed Yan Congfei, and why was he silenced?"

Shi Zhizhai: "Haowu sought Yan Congfei for this task, but I don’t know who killed him to keep him quiet, I haven’t yet had the chance to inquire deeply."

He’s merely claiming ignorance; the killers are Shi Haosheng and Hu Shulue, but if a way is found to corroborate, it can all be shifted onto Hu Shulue later.

Kang Rulin: "He Kao, you should know this name, right? Yan Congfei’s people approached him, screened suspicious targets around him, there’s someone named Huang Si, and another called Miao Zhi, whose relatives all faced unexpected accidents, who did that?"

Shi Zhizhai: "I don’t know."

This time he’s genuinely unaware because this detail was specifically arranged by Shi Haowu, with Gu Jiang organizing it. Such minute details were not disclosed to Shi Zhizhai by Shi Haowu.

Kang Rulin: "Who is Bitter Tea? Don’t say you don’t know, please tell me it’s not your sworn son, Gu Jiang?"

Shi Zhizhai answered, "It is him." Then he raised his head, "Haowu indeed mentioned to me a way to find out Hidden Moth’s identity, I knew and agreed. But the specifics, you’d have to ask them, I’ve just arrived from Huiming."

Kang Rulin’s expression was complex, looking at Shi Zhizhai, "Elder Ye and I are right here, you won’t have a chance to scheme any further. Once here, we won’t let you have private contact with other Shi Family members.

As for the police side, people will eventually be released, don’t hold onto any other illusions. If I’m not mistaken, Elder Zong and Elder Gu have likely rushed to Huiming to keep a close eye on them seven.

I’m well aware, if you don’t want to speak, forcing you won’t work, but the others in the Shi Family are not you. The more effort the Ancestral Hall expends, the heavier the penalty on the Shi Family will be.

The only way you can help the Shi Family now is to facilitate the Ancestral Hall’s investigation, don’t conceal anything, and don’t create any trouble.

When I mentioned myself earlier, did you think I was only referring to the events of that night? I’ve been imparting techniques to the Huiming Shi Family, I’ve been Stone Sect’s kin by marriage, how over these years could I not have benefited from the Shi Family’s villainous schemes!

Having benefited, I must accept responsibility, I will first take responsibility, investigate all affairs concerning the Shi Family thoroughly, then personally make the punishment decisions... this is the first punishment by the Ancestral Hall on me.

Should I show favoritism, the next step will be even harsher accountability."

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