Confrontation (I)

Chai Xianjing's eyes flickered for a moment, then he said calmly:

What brings you here, benefactor?

Chai Xian frowned and asked in return, "And why is the master here?"

Jingxin put away the golden alms bowl and stared at the man in black a few feet away:

"My junior brother Jingyuan and I lured the snake out of its hole, using the Vajra Divine Skill of Buddhist School to expose the mastermind behind the trouble. I chased him all the way into the mountains, where we happened to meet you, benefactor."

At this point, the handsome monk clasped his hands together, his face full of compassion:

"Amitabha Buddha, Benefactor Chai, lay down your butcher's knife and turn back to the right path."

Chai Xian said in a deep voice, "So, Master, like the other fools, has already decided that I am the murderer."

Jingxin's expression remained unchanged as she maintained her clasped hands posture, and she asked, "If you are not the murderer, why are you here?"

Chai Xian replied:

"After my godfather died, I got caught up in a conspiracy. Someone deliberately framed me. Xiao Lan also disappeared because of this. In order to find her and find out who the mastermind is, I have been investigating in secret."

"I happened to run into the master while investigating the case today."

At that moment, I told Jingxin in detail about what had happened to me.

Chai Xianqing's handsome face was full of sincerity. When he spoke, he calmly met Jingxin's gaze without flinching, his expression open and honest.

Jingxin stared at him intently, and after he finished speaking, she frowned and pondered for a long time before saying:

"Actually, there's an even simpler way to prove your innocence."

Chai Xian's eyes lit up, and he pressed on, "Master, please speak."

Jingxin slowly said, "This humble monk can apply the precepts I have followed to Benefactor Chai. Monks do not lie, so you cannot lie. At that time, you will know the truth with a simple question."

Chai Xian thought for a moment and nodded, "This method is excellent. If I am not the murderer, I hope the master can testify for me. I have met someone before who was willing to believe me, but I didn't expect..."

His face contorted with hatred. "I never imagined he was such a hypocritical and brutal villain, murdering an innocent family of three."

Upon hearing this, Jingxin asked, "Before me, there were other people who had seen you. Who were they?"

Chai Xian shook his head. "I don't know him. He was leaning over an orange cat at the time, claiming to be Rogue Cultivator passing through Xiangzhou, and he believed that there were many suspicious points in the Chai family's case, and that the murderer was someone else."

"I made an agreement with this person to use a farmhouse as a contact point to pass messages. But unexpectedly, the next day, that family of three was murdered. Apart from him, no one knew that I had ever been hiding there."

A stranger, passing through this place, perched on the orange cat and pondered for a moment. Suddenly, he looked enlightened, asked no further questions, and said:

"Benefactor Chai, you do not lie."

As soon as he finished speaking, Chai Xian felt a deafening roar. A vast, invisible force was exerted upon him, making him truly believe that lying was an unforgivable crime.

A person who does not tell the truth cannot be called a human being.

Jingxin asked, "Did you kill Chai Jianyuan?"

Chai Xian shook his head. "I didn't kill him."

Jingxin nodded slowly, not surprised by the answer, and then asked, "Was it you who manipulated the zombies to attack Sanshui Town just now?"

Chai Xian shook his head again, his face sincere. "It wasn't me."

Upon hearing this answer, Jingxin finally frowned, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. Taking advantage of the time remaining before the observance period ended, he pressed on with further questions:

Do you know who killed Chai Jianyuan? Who attacked Sanshui Town?

Chai Xian answered truthfully, "I suspect it was my aunt, Chai Xing'er. The people who attacked Sanshui Town were her accomplices, the one who has never appeared before and is the mastermind."

The "Discipline" Law Technique was still a while away, but Jingxin didn't ask any more questions. He lowered his eyes and pondered for a long time before saying:

"Benefactor Chai, Buddhist School all about compassion. Now that we've met tonight, let's cut to the chase and resolve this matter quickly."

Chai Xian asked cautiously, "What does the master intend to do?"

Jingxin said, "I'll take you back to confront Benefactor Chai Xing'er."

Chai Xian retreated step by step, shaking his head. "Master, I have passed the test of the 'precepts,' and my conscience is clear. But how can you prove yourself?"

He trusted no one, especially after the murder of Er Ya's family, which completely destroyed any remaining trust he had in these outsiders.

"If you truly wish to clear my name, Master, I can control a walking corpse to go with you. You can then gather all the heroes and powerful figures of Xiangzhou, as well as the government officials, to hold another demon-slaying assembly. I will explain everything in public, and you can bear witness for me then."

"Tomorrow, I will manipulate a walking corpse to the outside of the Chai residence. If you are truly willing, Master, we can communicate via the walking corpse tomorrow."

After saying this, Chai Xian retreated into the woods, intending to leave.

"Turning back is the right path!"

At that moment, a deep voice came from behind, and an invisible yet powerful force was applied to Chai Xian, causing him to instinctively turn around and return to the edge of the mountain stream.

From Jingxin Nayi's sleeve, a rope woven with golden thread shot out and instantly bound Chai Xian.

Not only that, Chai Xian discovered that the Qi in his Dantian was like stagnant water, and no matter how he tried to mobilize it, there was no response.

The two were separated by a rank, making it easy for Jingxin to capture Chai Xian.

Outside Sanshui Town, the firelight blazed fiercely in the dark night.

The monk Jingyuan, holding a torch, stood motionless by the roadside. His thin monk's robe clung to his body in the night wind, outlining the contours of his robust muscles.

Jingyuan's ears twitched slightly as he gazed at the pitch-black night sky ahead.

A moment later, two figures emerged from the darkness, their outlines gradually becoming clear, and an orange halo illuminated their faces.

They are Jingxin, who is wearing the same traditional Chinese robe, and Chaixian, who is bound by dark gold ropes.

This person is Chai Xian.

Jingxin said.

Jingyuan let out a breath, a smile spreading across his usually stern face, "Finally caught him, how's that?"

Jingxin's expression was grave as she shook her head. "He wasn't the one who killed Chai Jianyuan, nor was he the one who manipulated the zombies to attack the town just now."

Jingyuan's eyes widened slightly, as if she were very surprised. "How is that possible?"

Jingxin nodded first, then smiled, "But our guess was right."

He glanced back at Chai Xian.

Jingyuan immediately understood his senior brother's meaning, and his face lit up with joy. He transmitted his voice and said:

"Is Chai Xianzhen a host of dragon energy?"

Jingxin nodded and said, "Moreover, it's one of those nine crucial dragon energies."

They cannot extract the dragon's energy, and even need magical Law Artifact to see it, but there are patterns to follow in finding the host of the dragon's energy.

Those who possess dragon energy will experience "good fortune" in a short period of time, rise rapidly, encounter extraordinary events, or accomplish great things, and will not remain unknown. A representative figure of this is Xu Qi'an, the Silver Gong of the Great Feng.

Therefore, when the two arrived in Xiangzhou, they heard that Chai Xing'er had convened a demon-slaying conference and that the case of the Chai family had caused a great uproar in the city. The Jingxin and Jingyuan brothers then guessed that Chai Xian was very likely the host of the dragon energy.

"In that case, senior brother, you should immediately ordain Chai Xian into a Buddhist order and hand him over to your master, or to a compassionate Arhat, so that they can take him back to the Western Regions."

Jingyuan's face lit up with excitement. "Such a person, it's best to secure the prize!"

Jingxin nodded, then shook her head, and solemnly transmitted her voice:

"I just tried, but this person's obsession is too deep to be easily converted unless we help him investigate this case. Also, junior brother, don't forget that Xu Qi'an is also in Xiangzhou. I just wanted to discuss this matter with you."

Jingyuan's expression turned solemn.

We are now faced with two paths:

"First, take Chai Xian and hide him away. At most two days, Uncle Du Nan will be able to arrive in Xiangzhou. At that time, the situation will be settled, but it will also scare away Xu Qi'an."

"Second, take Chai Xian back to the Chai residence, confront Chai Xing'er, and investigate this case thoroughly."

Jingyuan understood. "And Li Lingsu is also at the Chai residence, she will definitely try her best to inform Xu Qi'an, we can take this opportunity to lure Xu Qi'an out."

They had already found out Li Lingsu's identity long ago.

Jingxin nodded, saying helplessly, "Although we don't know how he's proficient in several types of Gu techniques, he is indeed troublesome. We can't find him. We can only use this overt strategy to lure him into a trap."

Here, the fellow disciples must make a choice: is the dragon energy host more important, or the Buddhist disciple?

The answer is self-evident.

Jingyuan transmitted his voice, saying, "Using Chai Xian as bait is worth a try. Xu Qi'an is cunning, but his actual combat strength is less than that of a fourth-rank cultivator. We can take this opportunity to subdue him. If he doesn't come, we won't suffer any losses."

After the discussion ended, Jingxin turned around, clasped his hands together with Chai Xian's palms, and said:

"Benefactor Chai, this humble monk will take you back to the Chai residence. I will question Benefactor Chai Xing'er using the 'Precepts,' and then the truth will be revealed."

Chai Xian sighed and looked back at Jingxin: "Do I have a choice? I can only hope that the master will keep his word."

In the Chai residence, in a cellar where vegetables are stored.

Li Lingsu's spirit arrived at the cellar entrance and saw an orange cat sleeping on the ground.

"Senior?"

He called out, but the orange cat ignored him and glanced behind the door.

Li Lingsu understood, easily passed through the locked door, and slipped into the cellar. In the pitch-black environment, he "saw" a figure sitting cross-legged.

"Senior, I have already asked Chai Zhonghe and Chai Kai."

Li Lingsu said.

He recounted the details of the conversation in his dream to Xu Qian.

Aside from Chai Xian's extreme personality, there wasn't a single useful piece of information. Xu Qi'an thought to himself, but remained outwardly calm, and said:

"I see."

Li Lingsu nodded gently, bid farewell, and left.

In the darkness, Xu Qi'an sat cross-legged on the ground. He chose this vegetable cellar because it was not far from the south courtyard of the Chai family mansion and was within the range of his Heart Gu.

Without a sound, all the animals in this area awoke at the same time.

These include, but are not limited to, rats, snakes, dogs, cats, and insects. The main species are insects, rats, and snakes, which either live in wall crevices or deep underground.

They are the most numerous and also the most hidden.

As for the cats and dogs, they can only wander around outside the house and can only find out so much.

House snakes awaken from hibernation, slithering through dark, hidden corners; rats emerge from their burrows, crawling between the rafters; and insects engage in a massive "parade."

At this moment, Xu Qi'an felt his Primordial Spirit being split into countless fragments, each fragment corresponding to an animal.

"My head hurts so much, I can only hold on for five minutes at most."

Under normal circumstances, when a Heart Gu Master manipulates a herd of beasts, they simply issue commands to drive the beasts to attack the enemy. This does not place a significant burden on themselves.

People like Xu Qi'an are skilled in precise operations. Controlling a few animals is no problem, but if the number increases, it puts a huge burden on their Primordial Spirit.

"Luckily, there aren't many courtyards in the South Wing. Five minutes later, regardless of whether there's any gain or not, I'll stop controlling it."

Li Lingsu's spirit had been separated from her body for a long time, and she was extremely exhausted. After returning, she immediately climbed into bed, embraced the beauty, and fell into a deep sleep.

He was half-asleep when he was awakened by a series of urgent knocks on the door.

A moment later, a slightly annoyed voice came from beside her, as if Chai Xing'er's sleep had been disturbed. "What is it?"

"Aunt, Master Jingxin and Master Jingyuan have returned and say they wish to see you."

The maid's voice sounded strange.

Chai Xing'er frowned slightly. "Why can't we wait until tomorrow to talk about it?"

The maidservant replied in a low voice, "The two masters also brought back Chai Chai Xian."

Chai Xian?! Li Lingsu instantly snapped back to reality. Then, she heard her confidante beside her remain silent for a moment before her voice became hoarse and alluring:

"Please, both masters, proceed to the inner hall. I will be there immediately."

After saying that, Chai Xing'er immediately threw off the quilt, dressed herself in a very fast manner, picked up the jade hairpin, and simply tied her hair into a bun.

After doing all this, she turned to look at Li Lingsu, who had already opened her eyes.

The latter frowned, his eyes tired, seemingly still swayed by the alcohol. He pinched the bridge of his nose and said:

"Xing'er, I'll go with you."

Chai Xing'er nodded, but couldn't wait any longer, saying, "I'll go to the inner hall first."

That's exactly what Li Lingsu wanted to hear. "Okay!"

After Chai Xing'er left the room, he immediately left his body and rushed towards the cellar where Xu Qian was.

At this hour, apart from the guards on night patrol, almost everyone in the Chai household had already gone to rest.

The houses in the south courtyard were mostly used to store books, weapons, and other items, as well as an ancestral hall.

There aren't many people living in this area.

Xu Qi'an spent only two minutes "spying" on all the rooms in the South Courtyard and found nothing unusual.

"Only one ancestral hall remains to be explored."

He manipulated snakes, insects, rats, and ants, heading towards the ancestral hall.

At this moment, Xu Qi'an sensed something and, through the orange cat guarding outside, "saw" Li Lingsu's spirit.

The next second, the Holy Son's Yin Spirit passed through the cellar door and appeared before him.

"Senior, Jingxin and Jingyuan have captured Chai Xian."