"I just don't know if we can kill them outright."
Chen Sanshi reckoned it would be difficult.
Physical evidence alone, without witnesses, was not enough to secure a conviction.
Especially at a time like this.
Many sects already had deep grievances against the Liang Province army.
Coupled with the fact that there was still no explanation for the Yuyang Sect incident, many sects had begun claiming that the authorities had done it deliberately, aiming to bleed them dry. Some went even further, saying there was no Witch God Cult at all—that everything had been staged by the imperial troops themselves.
Ciyun Temple might only be a third-rate sect, but it had prestige. Cleaving Moon Villa and the Tongxuan Sword Sect would likely speak for it as well.
But locking them up was enough.
Chen Sanshi was mainly concerned for his family's safety.
"Did you find anything?"
"Other than that Vajra Pestle, we found nothing."
"Then seal off the mountain! Keep searching. Tear the houses apart and see whether there are tunnels, secret chambers, or anything like that!"
"Leave two thousand men behind. The rest can return."
The heir apparent really had clout.
Chen Sanshi sighed inwardly.
With one sentence, he had brought so many men here to search the mountain without even having evidence.
Chen Sanshi did not stay to keep busy. He led his subordinates away one after another.
There was only one day left.
He did not idle away the time either. He spent practically all of it cultivating.
It was not until the night before the expedition that he gathered everyone for a meal.
The Sun siblings, Senior Sister Rong Yanqiu, Eunuch Hou—even Eldest Senior Brother and Third Senior Brother came of their own accord.
Whatever lay beneath the surface, they still had to keep up appearances.