“I can’t answer your question right now. I need to conduct a thorough examination of Abdullah before drawing any conclusions,” Ivy continued.
“Abdullah is already dead, and you still want to desecrate his body. What are your intentions?” the man in the blue robe retorted.
As he spoke, he took a few steps forward, blocking Ivy’s path. “You must come with me to the Punishment Hall immediately. Let them decide right from wrong!”
“Step aside first. I’ll go with you after I examine Abdullah’s body,” Ivy said, frowning.
“The dead should be respected. We can’t let you touch his body anymore!” The man in the gray robe approached as well.
He then turned to Raul Duffy. “Raul, let’s take her to the Punishment Hall and let them handle it!”
Raul Duffy exhaled heavily and looked at Ivy. “I don’t know what grudge you had with my cousin that made you do this!”
“Ivy couldn’t have killed him on purpose. There must be something strange about this!” Harleen said, frowning.
“Raul, I believe Ivy wouldn’t intentionally kill Abdullah Daniel. I think…” Catherine Foreman started to say.
“Catherine, arguing here is pointless. Let the Punishment Hall deal with it!” Raul Duffy interrupted.
“Let Ivy examine Abdullah Daniel’s body first!” Catherine Foreman insisted, frowning.
“Catherine, that’s inappropriate. The examination should be done by an elder from the Punishment Hall. Who knows if she’ll destroy evidence that incriminates her?” the man in the blue robe replied.
“Watch your words! Ivy would never…” Catherine Foreman began sternly.
“Catherine, forget it. Let’s go to the Punishment Hall,” Ivy said after taking a deep breath.
“Going to the Punishment Hall is also a good idea,” Aubree said after some thought, looking at Catherine Foreman. “Catherine, you take them to the Punishment Hall. I’ll stay here and watch the scene.”
“Alright!” Catherine Foreman nodded.
“Raul, you stay here and watch over Abdullah. I’ll go with them,” the man in the gray robe said to Raul Duffy.
As he spoke, he glanced at Aubree, clearly worried she might try something.
“Thank you!” Raul Duffy nodded in response.
Then, the group of five headed towards the Punishment Hall.
“Catherine!” A man’s voice called from the right just as they started walking.
They looked over and saw a group of five or six people strolling towards them.
Leading them was a man in his mid-thirties, with chiseled features and a tall, elegant stature. His demeanor was impressive and commanding.
From his aura, it was clear he was not weak-he was at the fourth-rank Otherworldly Realm!
In both martial prowess and outward demeanor, he surpassed Raul Duffy.
This man was Kyree Whitney, ranked second among the Canyon View Four Talents!
“Greetings, Kyree!” The men in blue and gray robes bowed simultaneously upon seeing Kyree Whitney.
“Kyree, what a coincidence! Where are you headed?” Catherine Foreman asked, looking at Kyree Whitney.
She had known Kyree Whitney even before coming to Canyon View Institute.
Her impression of Kyree Whitney was neither particularly good nor bad.
Kyree Whitney had pursued her for quite some time, but she had no romantic interest in him and never accepted his advances.
However, Kyree Whitney never gave up and continued to show affection whenever possible.
Still, he maintained proper decorum without overstepping boundaries, so Catherine Foreman remained polite towards him.
“I heard you returned to the Institute, Catherine, and I was just on my way to find you!” Kyree Whitney smiled at Catherine Foreman after nodding to the two men.
“Thank you for your thoughtfulness, Kyree,” Catherine Foreman replied.
“These must be Harleen and Ivy?” Kyree Whitney asked with a smile, looking at Harleen and Ivy.
“Greetings, Kyree!” Harleen and Ivy bowed slightly.
They had never met before but had heard of Kyree Whitney’s name.
“Hello, Harleen, Ivy!” Kyree Whitney’s gaze didn’t linger on them for long before he turned back to Catherine Foreman. “Catherine, where are you headed?”
“Kyree, Abdullah Daniel is dead!” the man in the blue robe interjected.
“Hmm?” Kyree Whitney paused briefly before continuing. “Wasn’t it said that Abdullah was seriously injured but not in life-threatening condition? What happened?”
The people behind him also showed expressions of surprise.
“Abdullah Daniel was harmed by her!” The man in the blue robe pointed at Ivy and briefly described what had happened.
“Could there be some misunderstanding?” Kyree Whitney asked after listening. “Ivy doesn’t seem like the person you’re describing.”
“Kyree, we saw it with our own eyes. There’s no mistake!” the man in the blue robe responded.
“What if you let me handle this? I promise to give you a satisfactory answer,” Kyree Whitney suggested after some thought.
“But…” The two men hesitated.
“Are you worried I can’t handle it or that I’ll be biased?” Kyree Whitney’s tone grew slightly stern.
“We trust you, Kyree!” The man in the blue robe replied quickly. “Everyone knows your integrity!”
He then bowed slightly to Kyree Whitney. “We’ll leave it to you then!”
“No problem!” Kyree Whitney waved his hand and looked at Catherine Foreman.
“Catherine, why don’t you bring Harleen and Ivy to my place? I’ll get a detailed understanding of what happened.”
“Thank you, Kyree, but there’s no need for that,” Ivy interjected before Catherine Foreman could respond. “We should go directly to the Punishment Hall.”
“Ivy, Kyree is trying to help you!” A man behind Kyree Whitney said to Ivy.
“In front of so many witnesses, Abdullah Daniel died by your hand. That’s considered harming a fellow disciple!”
“According to Punishment Hall procedures, your cultivation would be abolished first before investigating the truth and deciding your fate!”
“If Kyree intervenes, at least your cultivation can be preserved until the truth is found!”
“Ivy, what do you think?” Catherine Foreman asked Ivy.
“I…” Ivy took another deep breath.
“Ivy, the Punishment Hall leader might not be at the Institute these days. Elder Foster is temporarily in charge there; I have some connections with him,” Kyree Whitney continued.
“Come with me first; I might be able to help you.”
“You’re lucky today to meet Kyree!” The man in the blue robe added again. “Otherwise, forget about saving your life; you’d lose your cultivation for sure!”
“Kyree is being so kind; you should appreciate it!”
“Thank you, Kyree,” Ivy said after some thought, looking at Kyree Whitney.
Although she didn’t want to owe anyone a favor, she couldn’t refuse such an offer of help.
“We’re all fellow disciples; no need for thanks,” Kyree Whitney smiled. “Let’s go then!”
“Haha, you’re quite enthusiastic!” A voice suddenly came from the left street.
Billy appeared with Opal and Casey walking leisurely towards them.
“Billy?” Harleen and Ivy exclaimed simultaneously.