Players: All NPCs in the Sect Are Moles

The shout instantly stunned every guest in the hall.

Mr. Wang, already weak from withdrawal, was so startled that his knees gave out. He collapsed to the ground, trembling uncontrollably.

Meanwhile, a flicker of ecstatic joy flashed in the eyes of the An Mansion’s butler, who was hiding in a corner.

’Yes! This is perfect!’

’If Liu Yue goes down, doesn’t that mean my gambling debts are wiped clean? Arrest her! Hurry up and arrest her! It’d be best if her entire family is sentenced to execution!’

Mr. An, on the other hand, was utterly baffled, his grip on his cane faltering.

’What’s going on? Has Liu Yue been exposed? Exposed for what? She just runs a money-lending business, doesn’t she? She’s also Qinyao’s best friend. She was crying so hard today she nearly fainted. Have the City Guards arrested the wrong person?’

However, Liu Yue, the person at the center of it all, felt a storm raging in her heart.

’Could it be? Have I been discovered?! Or did I not burn those extra account books outside the secret passage completely?’

A thousand thoughts crashed through her mind, nearly suffocating her, but she had navigated the treacherous world for many years. She knew that in times like these, panicking was the worst thing she could do.

She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the fear in her heart, and slowly rose to her feet.

When she turned to face the crowd, any trace of panic had vanished from her expression.

In its place was an expression of utter indignation. "You... What are you saying?!"

Liu Yue’s voice trembled as she pointed at a player called "The Light of Justice," tears welling up instantly. "On what grounds are you arresting me?! Where is your evidence?! The Daqian Law demands both witness testimony and physical proof! You can’t just take me away based on empty accusations! By what right?!"

"The Light of Justice" let out a sly chuckle. "What’s the panic? The evidence? It’s on its way. It’ll be here any minute!"

Hearing the phrase "any minute," Liu Yue’s heart settled.

’It’s not here yet? Then there’s still room to maneuver. This is the An Family’s Spirit Hall. If I can just muddy the waters... and with that ’Fairy’ seemingly absent, I still have a chance to get away.’

Liu Yue instantly went into full-on drama mode. She threw her arms wide, protectively shielding An Qinyao’s coffin, and began to wail, "How absurd! This is utterly absurd! This is the An Family’s Spirit Hall! This is Qinyao’s funeral! Have you no respect for the dead?!"

"You outsiders! Are you going to arrest someone at a funeral based on nothing but a few baseless, nonsensical accusations?! This is not just an insult to me, Liu Yue; it’s an insult to the An Family! You’re disturbing Qinyao’s spirit!"

"Is there no law?! Is there no justice?!"

Hearing this, Mr. An’s expression darkened. ’Indeed,’ he thought. ’Arresting my daughter’s best friend at her own funeral... Isn’t this a complete show of disrespect to the An Family?!’

However, "The Light of Justice" wasn’t buying it for a second. ’Talk about the law with a player? Talk about respecting the dead? Lady, we’d dig up your ancestors’ graves for a quest. You really think that line’s gonna work on us?’

"Cut the crap! You’re still running your mouth when you’re about to die! You’re one of those who won’t repent until you’re staring at your own coffin!" "The Light of Justice" wasted no time, whipping out a thick hemp rope that had bound countless others and charging forward. "Brothers, don’t listen to her bullshit! Control the mob first! Once ’Tomb Raider’ gets here with the key quest item, we’re golden!"

"You dare!" Liu Yue shrieked. Seeing him charge, she let her body go limp and collapsed to the floor, landing perfectly at the foot of the coffin.

"Qinyao! Oh, Qinyao! Open your eyes and look! You’ve only just passed, and these villains are already bullying your sister! If your spirit is watching from the heavens, how can you allow this to happen?!"

She wept beautifully, a picture of pitiful, delicate sorrow.

Mr. An finally couldn’t bear to watch any longer. ’This is going too far!’ He was just about to step forward to speak up for her.

SLAP—!!!

The slap was so hard it sent a small cloud of powder flying from Liu Yue’s cheek.

A player called "Grumpy Bro" shook his stinging palm, spittle flying. "Yelling! Yelling! What the hell are you yelling about!"

"You’ve done more evil than everyone else in this city combined, and now you’re playing the innocent maiden? Shut up!!!"

Liu Yue clutched her rapidly swelling cheek, a ringing in her ears.

She instinctively looked to Mr. An beside her. "Mr. An... Mr. An, help me! They’re... they’re madmen!"

Mr. An finally snapped out of his daze, so enraged his beard trembled. He slammed his cane on the floor. THUMP! THUMP! "Stop! What do you think you’re doing?! Hitting a woman?! In my daughter’s Spirit Hall, no less?! Is there no law?!"

"Get lost! Who the fuck cares about your law? The only law here is me beating the shit out of her until I feel good!"

Liu Yue’s heart stopped for a second as she scrambled for a way to survive.

"Qinyao—!!"

"Open your eyes and look! These fiends are driving me to my death and they won’t even pay for it!!"

"They attack without any rhyme or reason! If I, Liu Yue, have ever done anything to trouble my conscience, may I be struck by lightning and die a horrible death!"

She howled, her hair a mess, and pointed at the group of City Guards with eyes full of venom. "You want to arrest me? Fine! Bring out your evidence! What right do you have to beat me without a shred of proof?! Is it because I refused to lend you money?! Is this how the City Guards recruited by the so-called ’Fairy’ conduct themselves?!"

The guests, already frightened, began to murmur amongst themselves as they saw Liu Yue’s miserable state. "Yes, this is too tyrannical..."

"Even an execution is just a single blow. This is happening at a funeral, for heaven’s sake..."

"Tyrannical my ass!"

"Grumpy Bro’s" temper flared, and he wasn’t about to put up with any of it.

"Evidence, is it? It’s on its way! But before it gets here, I’m going to collect some interest!"

"Brothers, stop wasting your breath on her! This mob’s got a tough mouth. Let’s beat her until we’re satisfied, then we’ll talk! Just make sure she’s still breathing!"

"Get her!!"

The group of City Guards swarmed her instantly, without the slightest hint of chivalry or any intention of reasoning with her.

"AHH—! My hair!"

The scene descended into chaos. Someone grabbed her hair, another dealt a sneaky kick, and one person even tried to stuff her into a sack during the confusion.

"HELP! AHHHH! MURDER! Mr. An!!" Liu Yue thrashed on the ground, her screams more terrible than a pig being slaughtered.

Mr. An watched the utterly absurd scene unfold: his daughter’s Spirit Hall was in shambles, and her best friend was being pinned to the ground and beaten.

"This... this is outrageous!!!" Mr. An erupted in a furious roar. "Out! Get out, all of you!!"

"This is my home! This is my daughter’s final resting place! I will not permit you to run rampant here! Anyone who dares to touch Liu Yue makes an enemy of the An Family!!"

Just as the scene devolved into complete chaos— BOOM—!!!

The roof tiles overhead suddenly exploded. Dust and broken shards rained down as a suffocating pressure, accompanied by a foul, bloody stench, descended from above!

Through the dust and smoke, a pair of bloodshot eyes stared murderously at the surrounding City Guards.

"I’d like to see who dares lay a finger on her!!!"

The City Guards: ???

"Grumpy Bro": ???

Beside them, "Grumpy Bro" immediately kicked Liu Yue again!

Ma Tietou: !!!