I. The Hall of Punishment: Zhao Huo's Ordeal of the Heart
Deep beneath the ancient Shaolin Temple, far from the grief and healing above, lay the Hall of Punishment. A cold, damp stone chamber, lit only by dancing torches, casting terrifying shadows of disciplinary instruments hanging on the walls. The scent of sandalwood mingled with the smell of old iron and dried sweat.
In the center of the room, bound to a stone pillar, was Zhao Huo. His face was pale, his monk's robes slightly torn, and his expression showed more confusion and sorrow than fear. Since being brought here, he had not uttered a single word. He simply bowed his head, allowing the senior monks assigned by Fa Xing to interrogate him to vent their fury.
"Traitor! A venomous snake within Shaolin!" shouted Monk Tao Jin, a large monk with a thick mustache, known for his cruelty and loyalty to Fa Xing. In his hand, a thick wooden staff swished through the air. "You dare betray the Shaolin Temple! How dare you kill the Leaders and poison the Alliance!"
Zhao Huo remained silent. His mind was devoid of hatred. He only thought of cooking, of the Zen in every dish, of the peace he found in the kitchen. All the accusations felt so distant, so alien.
Monk Fa Xing himself sat on a high chair at the far end of the room, his face shrouded in shadow, almost invisible. His eyes stared coldly at Zhao Huo, as if savoring every moment of the chef monk's suffering. He had ensured that only the monks most loyal to him and who most despised Zhao Huo were assigned to the interrogation.
"Answer, Zhao Huo!" Tao Jin yelled again, his staff now striking the stone floor next to Zhao Huo's feet. The sound echoed ominously in the room. "Who is the mastermind behind all this? Who sent you? How did you smuggle gunpowder into the temple? Who else is involved?"
Zhao Huo raised his head. His innocent eyes looked at Tao Jin, then briefly at Fa Xing shrouded in shadow.
"Disciple... disciple knows nothing," Zhao Huo whispered, his voice weak but honest. "Disciple is not a spy. Disciple is just a cook."
Those words ignited Tao Jin's rage. "How dare you lie! The Jade Ruyi was found in your kitchen! Your food poisoned the Leaders! All evidence points to you! If you do not confess, we will make you confess!"
The staff lifted high.
WHACK!
The staff struck Zhao Huo's back with full force. Zhao Huo flinched, an intense pain spreading through his body. He bit his lip, making no sound. His body trembled, but his eyes remained clear, refusing to show despair.
WHACK! WHACK!
Two more blows landed. Each strike sounded like thunder in the silent room. Blood began to seep from his robes, staining the gray fabric. Zhao Huo gasped for breath, his vision blurring, yet he remained steadfast. Zen taught him tranquility even in pain.
Fa Xing smirked faintly from the shadows. "Keep going. Don't let him die. But make sure he understands the consequences of lying."
II. Suspicious Shadows: Hui Jian's Secret Investigation
While Zhao Huo suffered underground, above, Monk Hui Jian had begun his secret mission. After leaving Abbot Xuan Ye's chamber, he did not immediately go to his bed. Instead, he stealthily moved through the Shaolin corridors, his sharp eyes observing every detail.
Abbot Xuan Ye had given him permission to act, a trust he had never before been granted. This command instilled a deep sense of responsibility in him. He had to find the truth.
His first target was Fa Xing.
Hui Jian observed Fa Xing from a distance. Monk Fa Xing, who usually appeared humble and obedient, now moved with a strange confidence. He walked among other monks, giving orders, organizing guard patrols, and even visiting the treatment halls to 'check' on the condition of the injured Leaders, his face showing feigned concern.
Something was wrong.
Hui Jian realized that Fa Xing was always in the right place at the right time for every piece of 'evidence' incriminating Zhao Huo. The Jade Ruyi found in Zhao Huo's kitchen. The fact that it was Fa Xing who provided the food recipe and forbade Zhao Huo from delivering it directly to the Leaders. And now, Fa Xing led the interrogation with extraordinary zeal, as if he relished every blow Zhao Huo received.
"This composure... it's too perfect," Hui Jian thought, his eyes narrowed. "A spy should act more cautiously. Unless... he is already confident that his plan is flawless and no one can suspect him."
Hui Jian decided to start by examining the whereabouts of the Jade Ruyi before it was 'discovered'. If the Jade was truly found in Zhao Huo's kitchen, how could Fa Xing know exactly where to look for it among stacks of old rice sacks that were rarely touched? This would require deep knowledge of the kitchen and Zhao Huo's habits.
He also wanted to speak with Monk Cheng Hui, the monk who 'found' the Jade Ruyi. Hui Jian believed Cheng Hui was an honest man, and perhaps unknowingly manipulated by Fa Xing.
That night, Hui Jian moved like a shadow, making no sound. He revisited the explosion site, searching for any overlooked clues. He spoke with the guard monks on duty in the podium area before the explosion, asking about every small detail, every suspicious face. Every answer led to the same conclusion: the explosion was a total surprise, executed with terrifying precision.
But how could such a large quantity of gunpowder escape Shaolin's strict surveillance? Especially in a place as crucial as the main tournament podium. This was a vulnerability that caused Shaolin immense shame.
Hui Jian also remembered the blue jade fragment Zhao Huo had found in the well. If it was real, it would be a key piece of evidence that could overturn all accusations. However, Zhao Huo had not managed to show it. Had Fa Xing already taken it? Or had he dropped it amidst the commotion?
Hui Jian's investigation had just begun, and he knew it would be a long and dangerous road.
III. Rumors in the Jianghu: Cracks in the Alliance
The next morning, news of the explosion at the Shaolin Temple and the death of two great Leaders spread throughout the Jianghu like wildfire. Rumors mixed with facts, truth with slander, creating widespread waves of panic and anger.
"Two Alliance Leaders dead under Shaolin's protection? This is a disgrace! Shaolin is incapable of protecting us!"
"The Shaolin chef is a Demonic Cult spy! He poisoned the Leaders! All this is a cunning plot to destroy us from within!"
"Abbot Xuan Ye is too lenient! He is protecting the spy!"
Waves of distrust and suspicion spread far and wide. The Murim Alliance, which had just united to face an external enemy, now threatened by internal destruction. Smaller sects began to question the leadership of Shaolin, Wudang, and and Emei. The Murong Family, having lost its Leader, voiced profound anger. The Namgung Family, having lost its Head, swore vengeance on whoever was responsible.
Tang Feng, though still busy tending to the wounded, heard these rumors. He knew this was part of the Demonic Cult's plan—to divide the Alliance before launching their final assault.
He saw Feng Yu and Mei Lin also hearing the whispers, their faces showing deep concern. They exchanged glances, realizing that the Jianghu was now plunged into a chaos far greater than mere physical combat. This is a battle of information, a battle of trust, a battle over who was to blame.
"This is what they want," Feng Yu whispered to Mei Lin. "Chaos. Distrust. They want us to kill each other before they come to attack."
Mei Lin nodded sadly. "And Zhao Huo... he is the perfect victim. A naive monk, easily blamed, and everyone will believe it."
"We must help him," Tang Feng said, stepping closer. "And we must find out who the real mastermind is. Otherwise, this Alliance will crumble."
Tan Long, who had just finished assisting Chief Hong, also came over to them. His face showed burning anger.
"They are all fools! How can they so easily believe that Fa Xing? Zhao Huo is not like that!" Tan Long fumed. "I must see Abbot Xuan Ye. I must explain that Zhao Huo is innocent!"
"Don't be reckless, Tan Long," Tang Feng warned. "Abbot Xuan Ye has already made his decision. If you challenge him now, you will only make things worse. We must find evidence. Real evidence that no one can refute."
Feng Yu nodded. "Tang Feng is right. This is no longer just about physical strength. It's about strategy, about finding a needle in a haystack. We must unite, even when everyone wants to divide us."
The three of them, young warriors from the great Sects, now realized that a great responsibility had fallen upon their shoulders. They could no longer be mere disciples training. They had to become defenders of truth, spies, and strategists, all at once, amidst the storm of betrayal that had just begun.
The second night after the explosion incident enveloped Shaolin. Grief, suspicion, and whispers of darkness continued to spread, threatening to swallow the light of justice. Zhao Huo, confined in the Hall of Punishment, was a symbol of the growing division, while outside, a larger game of intrigue had just begun.