Chapter 36. Contemplating the wall with the drawing

- Seven twenty-four hours? - Blinked his eyes the teenager who had managed to crawl out as the paralysis of the upper cluster members faded rapidly with the arrival of the Elder. - Do you know who I am? I am Ho Ho Tun, grandson of Inner Sect Elder Ho Ho Loc.

- We will inform Elder Ho Ho. - The Elder of the Discipline Department responded unemotionally. After five years of dealing with the Untouchable, the department had already learned that threatening with elders was pointless in this case. But If they didn't act according to the rules, they'd get a beating from their direct superiors. And it will be a pretty hard beating. If the offended elders risk to do something, an order will come for them. After all, there are several Grand Elders in the department. All one needs to do is report the threat.

The Elder has the wind shrouded the brawlers and lifted them into the air.

- You old ... how dare you punish me, ... - Ho Ho Tun continued fluttering.

- An insult in the process. - The elder stated dryly. - Seven days' punishment on top of the previous one.

- Stubborn...!

With furious scolding, the group lifted off into the sky and headed for the Discipline Department of the Outer Sect.

At the sight of the squat gray building, Yee Rhys felt nostalgic. How much time had he spent here? He could no longer count. But this time, instead of the usual fryer or cooler, a mysterious 'contemplation of the wall with a drawing' awaited him. Although the punishment was one of the most common, the public was somehow kept in the dark about what was painted on the wall. Those who had served their sentences preferred to keep quiet about it.

The young man smiled sadly. Let's have a look around.

The Elder with the intruders flew through the entrance and headed deeper into the building. After a couple of turns, they found themselves in front of large double-leaf doors. At the senior's gesture the flaps opened and the company flew in. Another elder in charge of punishment came up to meet the guests.

Yee Rhys looked around with interest. Behind the doors was a wide bright corridor, with two rows of doors on each side of the walls. The lower row was the usual doors, and above them was another, upper, tier, whose doors began one metre above the lower tier. There were about four dozen doors in all.

An elder who arrived with the prisoners handed a slip with information and convicts to his colleague. After studying the information, the elder in charge nodded to confirm receipt of the batch of punished prisoners and waved his sleeve. Seven doors opened, letting the prisoners in. The young man was carried into one of the cells and slowly lowered to the floor. A door behind him clicked with a lock.

Yee Rhys looked around. A simple square room with white-painted walls was illuminated by a night pearl on the ceiling. And on the side was a drawing. The same mysterious drawing.

The young man felt sick.

On the wall was a picture of a big butt.

And he had to look at it for several days. The blow to the genius's ego was terrible.

- Your task is to contemplate the painting for the allotted time. - The responsible elder's voice came out. - A special formation marks the contemplation time. You must not look away. You can close your eyes and cultivate.

Yeah. It's a kind of forced closed cultivation. Drawing aside, it's hard to even call it punishment. It's just discipline for over-active individuals.

Yee Rhys sat quietly in front of the drawing. Closed his eyes, shutting himself off from the mundane.

Suddenly there was a sound of noisy breathing coming from behind the wall. The unknown man breathed as if he could not contain his emotions at the sight of a valuable treasure. The sighs became more frequent and grew into a voluptuous moan.

Was someone out there getting pleasure from contemplation?

The sighs continued, interspersed with sniffles and moans.

The young man shook his head and concentrated on his cultivation. He only needed a day or two to break through. That's what he'll use.

***

About half an hour later there was a rumbling sound.

- You can't come in here. - Then came the voice of the elder in charge.

- I am the elder of the Inner Sect! Who dares to punish my grandson!

- Grandfather! - Ho Ho Tun shouted joyfully.

There were a few more rumbles.

- Grandpa, it's all because of one little... He dishonestly attacked me and beat me up! He's in that room.

Another rattle blew the door to Yee Rhys' room open. A grinning grandfather with a long beard, dressed as an Inner Sect Elder, was seen in the doorway. A contented face of a young liar peeked out from the side.

The young man squinted his eyes at them, not taking his head away from the drawing.

- You dare beat up my grandson?!

Yee Rhys remained silent. He hadn't laid a finger on the bully. Only the grandfather doesn't care about that.

- You'll pay for this with your life! - The elder got furious and released a crushing aura.

The next moment another aura came down on top of his, overwhelming the grandfather.

- Dear Inner Sect Elder. - A woman's voice came out, soft and flowing like the softest silk. - You seem to forget that the Inner Sect is only interested in geniuses who are able to reach the Crystal Core Sphere. Those of you who have lost potential are only allowed to work for the sect, and are rewarded with resources and protection. Otherwise you differ from common employees only by your strength level. You see?

***

Turning his head, Elder Ho Ho Loc saw a beautiful girl in the uniform of a Grand Elder. Standing beside her were two Elders of the Discipline Department of the Inner Sect.

Ho Ho Loc chilled. Normally, the Grand Elders dealt with their own cultivation and rarely interfered in the sect's affairs, letting things run their course. In fact, the sect was handled by the Managing Elders and Inner Sect Elders who had already lost their potential and didn't bother with further cultivation.

- By the way, you said you wanted to take the life of a young genius. Were you really going to kill him? - The girl smiled.

- No, no. - Instantly the elder retracted his words. - I was only joking.

- You are lying. - The beauty flashed her pearly teeth. - Crystal Core Sphere practitioners have mental energy and can sense lies.

Ho Ho Loc went cold.

- So I am wondering if you have killed sect disciples before?

- How could you even think of that! - The grandfather frowned.

- Yes or no? - The girl squinted her half-moon eyes.

- I am an elder, honestly doing my duty to the sect. - Ho Ho Loc bowed his head proudly.

- Why didn't you answer straightforwardly? - The beautiful woman touched her nail to her red lips. - Are you afraid that I will find out the truth? I want to know it even more now. In the meantime... you interfered in the Discipline Department. And threatened a student. Elders are supposed to protect students and set an example for them. Therefore, your punishment is two months of stretching.

A suspiciously familiar chain has been dropped on the grandfather.

- Take him away. - The Grand Elder ordered the attendants. - And investigate the murder of disciples by this Elder. Directly or indirectly. Full investigation.

***

The lady stared thoughtfully at the communication jade. Making up her mind, she sent a message.

Soon a portal opened before her.

- Dra Jae welcomes the Master. - The beauty stepped onto the paved pathway of the garden.

- Is this about the boy? - The Patriarch turned to her.

- Not really. - The apprentice frowned. - The boy made a good showing in the tournament, taking the promised two levels. Though he had been requested by Master Raz Beg right after that. The Inner Sect Elder had taken the boy straight from the arena. I had already reprimanded him. In the morning, the youngster got into a fight and managed to successfully fight four opponents at once, two of which were four wisps.

The watcher handed the elder a record slip.

- Good. - The patriarch looked over the slip. - But that's not what you came for.

- Yes. The boy's opponent was patronised by an elder of the Inner Sect. And he wanted to kill the kid. Right in the Discipline Department building.

- What?! - The elder's gaze flashed.