"Greetings to the Supreme Elder," the junior bowed deeply.
In front of the ancestral shrine, as Zhou Mingde made his appearance, Zhou Chun was momentarily startled, before happily hurrying to pay his respects.
Then, the rest of the Zhou Family Cultivators followed suit and respectfully bowed, saying, "Greetings to the Supreme Elder."
"I saw everything that just happened," the elder said.
"To tell the truth, this matter has greatly pained me!"
"I used to believe that those clan members who chose to follow me to Jiufeng Ridge were undoubtedly loyal and trusting of the family, and that they were trustworthy, never to betray the clan!"
"But now, I am deeply anguished and disappointed to see that there indeed exists someone among us who would sell out the family's interests for a mere trifle! Disappointed that someone would actually breach clan rules for a bit of personal gain, ignoring the prohibition I had decreed!"
Zhou Mingde, his gaze sweeping over the members of the Zhou Family gathered before the shrine, voiced his disappointment laced with sorrow.
His pained tone and undisguised look of despair caused those Zhou Family clanspeople to hang their heads in shame.
And Zhou Jia Kui, yet again, knelt on the ground, tears filling his eyes as he choked out, "It is the junior's fault for not disciplining his son strictly enough, leading to this misbegotten child committing such a grave error and bringing shame upon our family. Supreme Elder, whether you choose to execute or flay me, I am willing to accept!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Mingde nodded and said, "A father's failure not to teach is his own. As his parent, you indeed cannot escape this responsibility!"
He then shook his head and added, "However, our Zhou Family has always been enlightened, and our clan's rules and laws have always been fair and just."
"Since you were completely unaware of this incident, it has nothing to do with you. The family won't hold you responsible for his mistakes!"
Having said this, he gestured with his hand, "You may rise."
His gaze then turned to Zhou Zhenghuan, who was nearly scared stiff by his sudden appearance.
With a flash of cold light in his eyes, he said icily, "Remember, the only reason you've been spared today is because of your past contributions to the family when you followed me to Jiufeng Ridge!"
No sooner had he finished his declaration than he waved his hand, and a streak of red light shot towards Zhou Zhenghuan's abdomen.
Accompanied by a scream, the Cultivation Level Zhou Zhenghuan had painstakingly accumulated over decades was abruptly destroyed.
Overcome by the intense pain and the enormity of the shock, he fainted on the spot.
Zhou Jia Kui cried out, rushing to embrace his son, his face streaming with aged tears.
Seeing this, Zhou Mingde's expression darkened as if he was reminded of something.
He then said in a solemn voice, "From now on, do not let him leave the mountain you reside on, or any Zhou Family Cultivator who sees him may treat him as a clan traitor and execute him on the spot!"
Upon hearing this, Zhou Jia Kui quickly knelt down and kowtowed in gratitude, "Thank you, Supreme Elder, for your mercy. I will certainly keep a close watch over this wayward son and ensure he never descends the mountain again!"
Zhou Mingde then turned his gaze to the other Zhou Family members, who were frightened after witnessing Zhou Zhenghuan's Cultivation Level being destroyed, and said sternly, "Let today's events serve as a warning to all of you. Do not commit the same mistake!"
"Yes, the juniors will strictly follow the teachings of the Supreme Elder!"
The numerous Zhou Family clanspeople earnestly agreed, etching today's events deeply into their hearts.
This public punishment had a far greater impact than any written clan rules could have held, making it a far more effective lesson.
For some time to come, they would definitely take heed and firmly keep control of their own words.
"Now disperse. Do not discuss today's events in front of outsiders to avoid damaging the family's reputation!"
Zhou Mingde waved his hand, giving a final warning before dispersing the assembled clan members.
He then took Zhou Chun and Zhou Daoyi with him to his own dwelling.
Once inside the dwelling, Zhou Mingde did not immediately disclose the results of their excursion, but rather turned to Zhou Chun and said, "Zhengchun, start by telling us about Zhou Zhenghuan's leaking of information."
Zhou Chun replied, promptly recounting his discovery of Zhou Zhenghuan's betrayal, and the consequent capture of several individuals.
It turned out that the day before yesterday, Zhou Zhenghuan was called out for drinks by a Loose Cultivator named Tang Hu, accompanied by two other Loose Cultivators.
After consuming a large quantity of Spiritual Wine and being coaxed by Tang Hu, Zhou Zhenghuan let slip the information about the Green Flood Dragon's emergence.
The twenty Spirit Coins were in fact given to him afterwards by Tang Hu, as a means to calm his nerves and ensure his secrecy.
However, Tang Hu did not anticipate that the inclusion of the other Loose Cultivators, intended as a risk dispersal strategy, would lead to one of them sensing something amiss and subsequently informing the Zhou Family.
So, as Tang Hu received news of the Green Flood Dragon's emergence and left his residence for Hongya Marketplace,
Zhou Chun, through the steward of the External Affairs Hall, Zhou Jiagong, also learned of Zhou Zhenghuan's entrapment and his leak the previous day.
Hence, he hastily had Zhou Zhenghuan and the other present Loose Cultivators arrested, and then asked Elder Zhou Daoquan, who commanded a Demon Beast adept at tracking, to capture Tang Hu at his place.
Although they initially found nothing at Tang Hu's residence, Elder Zhou Daoquan later managed to track him down over five hundred miles away from Jiufeng Ridge, and brought him back to the clan.