Living In Another World With A Farm Chapter 8357: Backing up _1

The Sect Master fixed his gaze on Han Lei, his voice eerily steady. "Oh? So you claim to have performed a great service for our Sect? Since Zhao Hai murdered our Sect’s Elders, he certainly deserves execution; there is no fault in you attempting to apprehend him. However, one detail puzzles me. Those Elders perished only recently, did they not? How were you able to reach Blood Gale Island with such incredible speed?"

Still bowing deeply, Han Lei was bewildered by the turn of events. He couldn't fathom what had gone wrong or why the Sect Master seemed to be interrogating him instead of doubting Zhao Hai. It was completely irrational. Pushing these thoughts aside, he replied, "Master, I utilized a portable teleportation array to arrive there, as the Thirteen Family Alliance seized the two intermediary islands during the last conflict."

The Grandmaster gave a small nod before addressing the rest of the group. "Very well, all of you may stand," he commanded in a low tone. The group offered their thanks and straightened up. Though a sense of unease still lingered in Han Lei's mind, he felt a wave of relief. The Sect Master allowing them to stand suggested that perhaps they weren't in immediate trouble.

However, upon seeing the Sect Master’s calm expression, Han Lei realized the situation was far more complex. The leader showed no outward signs of fury, remaining perfectly composed. Han Lei knew from experience that the calmer the Sect Master appeared, the more dire their fate usually was. His heart began to race once more.

The Sect Master surveyed the crowd and continued, "There is something you all might be unaware of, so I shall clarify it today. When I was selecting a commander for the Western Defense Line, my first choice was actually Zhao Hai. I believed him to be the most qualified. Zhao Hai, however, declined the position, arguing that his Cultivation was not high enough to command the respect of the men. Thus, I entrusted him with my personal token and appointed Han Lei as the commander instead. Before Han Lei took the post, I explicitly instructed him to consult with Zhao Hai and follow his advice on all matters. Han Lei, did I not say those words?"

Cold sweat began to pour down Han Lei’s face. The others looked at him in total shock; they knew Zhao Hai held the Sect Master’s token, but they were completely unaware that Han Lei had been ordered to defer to Zhao Hai’s judgment. This was news to everyone present.

The Sect Master’s voice grew deeper as he stared at Han Lei. "But what was your conduct upon reaching the Western Defense Line? Instead of meeting with Zhao Hai, you conspired with others to isolate him. To ensure your authority remained unchallenged in the eyes of the men, Zhao Hai chose not to confront you or use his token to cause trouble. Even after Blood Gale Island came under threat, Zhao Hai sent you a formal warning, which you ignored entirely. Consequently, we lost two islands, and now you attempt to shift the blame onto him. Most critically, Han Lei, you are actually a mole for the Thirteen Family Alliance. I truly did not expect this."

This revelation caused an immediate uproar among Han Lei’s followers. They stared at him with expressions of pure disbelief. Han Lei himself was stunned into a daze before finally snapping back to reality. He collapsed into a kneeling position in mid-air, crying out, "Master, I am being framed! I am innocent! How could I possibly belong to the Thirteen Family Alliance? Master, my loyalty to the Blood Massacre Sect is absolute!"

The Sect Master looked down at him. "Is that so? Perhaps I should show you something then." He produced a Jade Slip and, with a quick hand seal, infused it with his Dharma power. A massive light screen manifested in the air for all to see. The images displayed several Elders of the Blood Massacre Sect whom everyone recognized—the very men sent to Blood Gale Island to arrest Zhao Hai, who were also secret members of the Thirteen Family Alliance. They appeared to be in the middle of a tense standoff.

Soon, Zhao Hai’s voice echoed from the recording. The spectators realized he was the one confronting the Elders. As the dialogue progressed, the faces of the onlookers grew pale. The recording showed Zhao Hai capturing the Elders followed by their subsequent self-destructions, even capturing Zhao Hai’s final remarks on the matter.

After deactivating the Jade Slip, the Sect Master looked at the trembling Han Lei. "What excuses do you have left, Han Lei? I never imagined you belonged to those families or that you were conspiring with the Thirteen Family Alliance. Your deception was impressive; I failed to notice it for years. You are quite skilled, but you made a fatal error in choosing your target. Had you framed anyone else, I might have been deceived, but you chose Zhao Hai. Hahaha! You have no inkling of the massive contributions Zhao Hai has made to our Sect. To think you tried to frame him—it is truly pathetic." The Sect Master laughed, but his face remained a mask of cold stone, devoid of any genuine mirth. His terrifyingly calm demeanor made everyone shudder; it was clear he was consumed by a silent, immense rage.

Han Lei remained frozen on his knees. In truth, he was paralyzed by the Sect Master’s divine sense and a crushing killing intent that nearly caused him to black out. Because this pressure was focused solely on him, the others were merely surprised by his stillness rather than feeling the same soul-crushing fear.

The Grandmaster was livid. He had placed high hopes in this in-name disciple, only to find out he was a traitor. The audacity to frame Zhao Hai for colluding with the enemy was beyond belief. Han Lei’s mistake was his ignorance; he didn't know that Zhao Hai was the creator of the puppets or that Blood Gale Island was the Sect's secret production hub.

As the Sect Master noted, Zhao Hai’s loyalty was beyond question. He had provided the Sect with invaluable puppets and had even turned down a high-ranking command. If he were a traitor, he would have seized the power of a commander to better serve his masters. His refusal proved his innocence.

The Sect Master then addressed the soldiers who had followed Han Lei. "As for you lot, you were foolish enough to follow him here to attack Zhao Hai. I will grant you mercy this once, as it is natural to want to please my disciple. However, mark my words: from this moment forward, Zhao Hai is the Commander of the Blood Massacre Sect’s Western Defense Line. His word is absolute law. Anyone who defies him will pay with their life." With a sudden flick of his wrist, Han Lei’s head was severed and flew into the Sect Master’s hand. A flash of blood-red light erupted from his palm. The Sect Master’s eyes narrowed. "I didn't expect this boy to leave so many hidden traps across the islands in such a short time. Zhao Hai, it seems the role of Commander must be yours."

Zhao Hai gave his assent. He realized that after such a public proclamation, he could no longer refuse the position. While he had previously worried about his lack of influence, the Sect Master’s direct endorsement changed everything. To decline now would be a direct insult to the Sect Master’s authority.

The Sect Master nodded and tossed Han Lei’s head to Zhao Hai. "I understand Li Ruohai taught you the Corpse Refining techniques of the Corpse Demon Sect? Since your puppets are quite effective, you may have his body for your collection. Additionally, this Jade Slip contains all the secret schemes this brat planned for the Western Defense Line. Take my token. If anyone dares to cross you, execute them. Do not show mercy, do you understand?"

"I understand perfectly, Sect Master. Rest assured," Zhao Hai answered immediately. He grasped the gravity of the command. He was the law now, and he would not hesitate to use lethal force against dissenters. Zhao Hai was never one to be hindered by a soft heart.

The Sect Master nodded approvingly. "Good. Remember, if they disobey, kill them. Regardless of their status or numbers—even if you have to wipe out every soul on the Western Defense Line, I will not hold it against you. If any old fools complain, we will handle the retribution. My only requirement is that you hold the Western Defense Line. If the islands fall, you will be held accountable!" The audience was stunned. This level of authority was unprecedented; even Han Lei had to play politics and share power with Elders and Deputy Commanders. Zhao Hai had just been given a mandate to rule the Western front as a tyrant, backed by the highest powers of the Sect.

"I will defend the Western Line with my life," Zhao Hai declared solemnly. "However, I have one request. Until the conflict concludes, do not blame me if certain islands are lost. I may need to sacrifice territory strategically to win the overall war. I ask for your understanding in this, Sect Master."

The crowd was speechless. Aside from the highest-ranking Elders, no one dared to speak to the Sect Master with such conditions, especially not a Legacy Disciple. Most disciples trembled in his presence, yet Zhao Hai spoke as an equal negotiator. To the onlookers, it seemed like madness.