# Chapter 12: The Evidence
Lin Yu woke up before the sun. The room was dark. The air was cold. He sat on the bed. He did not move. He listened. The sect was quiet. The birds were not singing yet. The wind was still. It was the safest time.
He reached into his bag. He took out the scrolls. They were old. The paper was yellow. The ink was black. He unrolled one. He read the characters. They were small. They were neat. It was a ledger. It listed names. Dates. Amounts.
*Disciple Wang. Sold. 500 Spirit Stones.*
*Disciple Li. Eliminated. 200 Spirit Stones.*
*Outer Disciple Zhao. Accident. 100 Spirit Stones.*
Lin Yu's hands tightened. The paper crinkled. He felt anger. It was cold anger. It sat in his stomach. It did not burn. It froze. These were his fellow disciples. They were killed for money. They were sold to Beast Tamers. And Elder Chen signed every page.
He rolled the scroll back. He put it in a waterproof tube. He sealed it with wax. He hid the tube in a secret compartment in his floorboard. It was under his bed. It was covered by a loose plank. Only he knew it was there.
[Quest Updated.] The Sword Box voice spoke. It was low. It was serious. [Evidence Secured. Danger Level: Critical. Exposure Risk: High.]
"I know," Lin Yu thought. "Chen will know I was in Room 404. The trap I set... he might find it."
[Probability: 60%. He has spies. He checks regularly.]
"Then I must move fast," Lin Yu thought. "But not too fast. If I rush, I make mistakes."
Lin Yu stood up. He stretched. His muscles were stiff. He had not slept well. He had dreamed of fire. He had dreamed of screaming. He washed his face. The water was cold. It woke him up. He looked in the mirror. His eyes were dark. There were bags under them. He looked tired. But he looked focused.
He put on his robes. They were blue. They were clean. He checked his sword. The Silent Edge was in his sleeve. He could draw it in half a second. He checked his pills. He had poison resistance pills. He had healing powder. He had smoke bombs. He was ready for a fight.
He opened the door. He stepped out. The hallway was empty. The sun was rising. The light was gray. It touched the wood. It touched the stone. Lin Yu walked down the hall. His steps were silent. He did not want to wake anyone.
He went to the kitchen first. He needed to see Mei Ling. He promised her three days. It had been one night. But she would worry. She would not sleep. He needed to tell her he was safe.
He reached the kitchen door. It was locked. He knocked softly. Three times. Wait. Two times. It was their signal.
The door opened. Mei Ling stood there. She wore her servant robes. Her hair was messy. Her eyes were red. She had been crying.
"Lin Yu," she whispered. She looked at him. She looked at his hands. She looked at his feet. She checked for blood. "You are back."
"I told you," Lin Yu said. "One night. Not three."
"I know," Mei Ling said. "But I waited. I did not sleep."
"Go sleep," Lin Yu said. "You look tired."
"I cannot," Mei Ling said. "Not until you are safe. Did you find it?"
Lin Yu looked around. The hallway was empty. But walls had ears. He leaned in. He spoke softly.
"I found it," Lin Yu said. "It is bad. Worse than we thought."
Mei Ling's face went pale. She held the door frame. Her knuckles were white. "What do we do?"
"We do nothing," Lin Yu said. "You stay here. You do not leave the kitchen. You do not talk to anyone. If Chen asks, you know nothing. If anyone asks, you know nothing."
"Lin Yu..." Mei Ling said. Her voice shook. "He is an Elder. You are a disciple. If he finds out..."
"He will not," Lin Yu said. "I am careful. But if something happens... if I do not come back... you take the list. You go to the Sect Master. Do not trust anyone else. Only the Master."
Mei Ling nodded. She tears were in her eyes. She did not wipe them. "Promise me you will come back. Promise me."
"I promise," Lin Yu said. He looked into her eyes. He meant it. "I have too much to do. I cannot die yet."
Mei Ling let out a breath. She stepped forward. She touched his arm. Her hand was warm. "Be careful. Please."
"I will," Lin Yu said. He pulled his arm back. He turned away. He walked down the hall. He did not look back. If he looked, he might hesitate. He could not hesitate. Not now.
He walked away from the kitchen. He headed for the Outer Disciple quarters. Specifically, Chen's area. Chen lived in a separate building. It was larger. It had guards. Lin Yu did not go to the door. He went to the side. He hid in the shadows of a tree. He watched.
He waited for an hour. The sun was higher. Disciples walked past. They went to training. They went to classes. Finally, Chen came out. He wore gray Elder robes. He walked with a cane. He looked old. He looked weak. But Lin Yu knew better. Chen was Level 5. He was strong.
Chen walked to the gate. He spoke to the guards. He left the compound. Lin Yu waited. He counted to one hundred. Then he moved.
He climbed the wall. He used Qi to stick to the stone. He was like a lizard. He reached the roof. He crawled to the chimney. He looked down. He saw the room. It was clean. It was expensive. There was a desk. There was a bed. There was a safe.
Lin Yu dropped down. He landed silently. He went to the desk. He searched the drawers. They were locked. He used a hairpin. He picked the lock. It clicked. He opened the drawer.
It was empty.
Lin Yu frowned. He searched the other drawers. Empty. He searched the bed. He lifted the mattress. Nothing. He searched the safe. It was heavy. It was made of iron. He could not open it without noise.
[Scan Detected.] The Sword Box said. [Residual Energy. Recent Activity.]
"He moved it," Lin Yu thought. "He knows."
Lin Yu stood up. He heard a sound. A footstep. It was outside. He froze. He hid behind the curtain. The door opened. Chen walked in. He was not alone. Two men were with him. They wore black robes. Beast Tamers.
"I told you," Chen said. His voice was angry. "Check the room. Someone was here."
"We checked," one Tamer said. "No one."
"Feel the air," Chen said. "It is disturbed. The dust is moved. Someone was here."
Lin Yu held his breath. He held the Silent Edge. He was behind the curtain. They were ten feet away. If they looked, they would see him. If they scanned with Qi, they would feel him.
"Search," Chen said.
The Tamers moved. They walked around the room. One walked to the curtain. Lin Yu tensed. He was ready to strike. If the curtain moved, he would kill. He would kill Chen. He would kill the Tamers. He would deal with the consequences later.
The Tamer reached for the curtain. He grabbed the fabric. He pulled.
*Crash.*
A noise came from outside. A pot fell. It shattered.
"What was that?" Chen shouted.
The Tamer let go of the curtain. He ran to the window. He looked out. "A cat. Just a cat."
Chen sighed. He rubbed his face. He looked tired. "Check the safe. Make sure the scrolls are secure."
"They are in the vault," the Tamer said. "Not here. This room is clean."
"Good," Chen said. "Leave. Lock the door. I do not want anyone entering."
They left. They locked the door. Lin Yu waited. He counted to one hundred. He listened. The footsteps faded. They were gone.
Lin Yu came out from behind the curtain. He was safe. But the scrolls were not here. They were in a vault. He needed to find the vault.
[Quest Updated.] The Sword Box said. [Location: Sect Vault. Danger Level: Extreme. Security: High.]
"The vault," Lin Yu thought. "Where is it?"
[Scanning... Energy Signature Detected. Below the Elder Hall. Deep underground.]
"Under the Elder Hall," Lin Yu thought. "That is guarded. That is impossible."
[Probability of Success: 10%. Recommendation: Wait. Plan. Do not rush.]
Lin Yu nodded. He climbed back to the roof. He jumped down. He landed in the grass. He walked away. He did not run. He looked calm. He looked like he belonged there.
He went back to his room. He locked the door. He sat at the table. He poured water. He drank it. His hands were steady. But his heart was beating fast. He was close. He was so close. But the vault was a problem. He could not break into the Elder Hall alone. He needed help. Or he needed a distraction.
"Box," Lin Yu said. "Can we create a distraction?"
[Yes. Fire. Or Beast Attack. Or Alarm.]
"A beast attack," Lin Yu thought. "If beasts attack the sect, the Elders will gather. The vault might be left unguarded. Or the focus will shift."
[Risk: High. Disciples might die. Civilians might die.]
Lin Yu thought. He remembered the list. Disciples died anyway. Chen killed them. If Lin Yu caused a distraction, he might save them. He might expose Chen.
"Prepare the bait," Lin Yu said. "I will lure a beast. I will guide it to the Elder Hall."
[Energy Cost: 200. Current Energy: 700.]
"Do it," Lin Yu said.
[Confirmed. Energy Deducted: 200. Current Energy: 500. Skill Unlocked: Beast Pheromone.]
Lin Yu felt a new skill in his mind. He could mimic the scent of a beast. He could attract them. He could guide them. It was useful. It was dangerous.
He stood up. He packed his bag. He took the pheromone bottle. It was small. It smelled musky. It smelled like blood. He put it in his sleeve. He checked his sword. He checked his pills.
He opened the window. He jumped out. He landed softly. He walked to the sect wall. He climbed out. He was outside again. The wild was there. The trees were dark. The wind was cold.
He walked into the forest. He went deep. He needed a big beast. A Level 4 or Level 5. Something that could threaten the Elder Hall. He walked for an hour. He found tracks. They were large. They were deep.
[Target Detected.] The Sword Box said. [Iron Bear. Level 5. Aggressive.]
Lin Yu saw it. It was behind a tree. It was huge. It was black. It had iron-like fur. It slept. Lin Yu crept closer. He uncorked the bottle. He poured the liquid on a rock. He threw the rock near the bear.
The bear woke up. It smelled the air. It smelled the pheromone. It smelled a rival. It roared. It stood up. It was ten feet tall. It charged.
Lin Yu ran. He did not fight. He led it. He ran towards the sect. He used Qi to boost his speed. He was fast. The bear was faster. It crashed through trees. It broke branches. It was angry.
Lin Yu reached the sect wall. He climbed up. He jumped down. He landed inside. He ran towards the Elder Hall. The bear crashed through the wall. It entered the sect. It roared. The sound was loud. It echoed everywhere.
"Alarm!" someone shouted. "Beast Attack!"
Bells rang. Disciples woke up. Elders flew out. Swords flashed. Lights glowed. Chaos erupted.
Lin Yu hid in the shadows. He watched. He saw Chen come out. He saw other Elders. They all went to the beast. They fought it. The vault was below the hall. It was unguarded.
"Now," Lin Yu said.
He moved. He ran to the Elder Hall. He went to the back. He found the entrance to the vault. It was hidden. It was behind a bookshelf. He pushed the shelf. It moved. It revealed a door. It was locked. It had a formation.
[Scan Complete.] The Sword Box said. [Formation Type: Fire. Weakness: Water.]
Lin Yu took a water pill. He crushed it. He threw the powder on the formation. It hissed. The light faded. The lock clicked. It opened.
Lin Yu went in. It was dark. He lit a small flame. He saw shelves. They were full of scrolls. Boxes. Bags. He looked for the Beast Tamer scrolls. He found a box. It was labeled *Confidential*.
He opened it. Inside were the original contracts. Signed by Chen. Signed by the Beast Tamer Guild Master. It was undeniable proof.
He took the box. He put it in his bag. He turned to leave.
"Going somewhere?"
A voice came from the dark. Lin Yu froze. He turned. A man stood there. He wore black robes. He wore a mask. It was the Guild Master. The one from Lin Yu's past life. The one who killed him.
"You," Lin Yu said. His voice was low.
"Me," the man said. "I knew you would come. Chen is a fool. But I am not."
The man raised his hand. Dark energy gathered. It was purple. It was cold.
"You died once," the man said. "You will die again."
Lin Yu drew the Silent Edge. The black sword glowed. He was Level 3. The man was Level 8. The gap was huge. But Lin Yu did not fear. He had the box. He had the proof. He had the Sword Box.
"Not today," Lin Yu said.
He threw a smoke bomb. The room filled with smoke. He ran. He did not fight. He could not win. He needed to escape. He needed to survive.
The man laughed. "Run, little mouse. I will find you."
Lin Yu ran out of the vault. He ran through the hall. He ran into the night. The beast was still fighting. The Elders were busy. He slipped through the chaos. He reached his room. He locked the door. He hid the box.
He sat on the bed. He breathed hard. His heart pounded. He had the proof. But the Guild Master was here. In the sect. In the shadows.
[Quest Updated.] The Sword Box said. [Survival Priority: Critical. Enemy Identified: Past Life Killer.]
Lin Yu looked at his hands. They shook. Not from fear. From rage. He had found him. The man who killed him. He was here.
"Good," Lin Yu said. "Now I do not have to look."
He lay down. He closed his eyes. He did not sleep. He waited for the sun. The war had started. And Lin Yu was ready.