Mu Nanzhi’s expression changed slightly, reacting even more strongly than Xu Qi’an: “That wretched monk has chased us all the way here?”
Xu Qi’an frowned and asked, “What’s going on?”
As he spoke, his gaze turned to the entrance of the back garden, ready to enter combat mode the moment he spotted a bald monk’s silhouette.
“I just listened in for a bit. They’ve come because of the Demon Slaying Assembly. Jingxin and the others passed by Xiangzhou and heard about Chai Xian’s crime of patricide, so they came specifically to inquire and intend to intervene. Heh, Buddhist monks have always fancied themselves as righteous heroes, flaunting Buddhist compassion,” Li Lingsu said with a sneer.
His gaze inevitably fell on the medicine pestle. Taking a deep breath, he decisively stepped back.
It was highly toxic!
Still, with a fourth-rank foundation, ordinary poisons would hardly affect him.
This old monster is probably a martial artist who had switched to practising Gu techniques halfway through. What is he up to? Dual cultivation of martial arts and Gu techniques… Li Lingsu speculated secretly.
In his eyes, such an operation was quite normal.
Many experts, upon reaching a bottleneck in a single system and unable to break through, would try to cultivate another path.
This was rare below third rank, since human energy and talent were limited, and it was already difficult enough to follow just one system in the fleeting span of a hundred years.
But among beyond-mortal experts, “dual cultivation” was relatively common. After reaching third rank, their lifespan would become extremely long, giving them both the time and energy to try a new approach in search of a breakthrough.
Common combinations were Shaman-martial, Daoist-martial, Warlock-martial, Confucian-martial… for the simple reason that the martial artist’s cultivation system was public domain, and could be easily obtained.
Methods of cultivating other systems, on the other hand, were generally available at lower ranks, but above (and including) fourth rank, were rarely seen outside their own circles.
“In that case, we can’t stay at Chai Manor,” Xu Qi’an’s words interrupted Li Lingsu’s drifting thoughts.
The Buddhist monks are probably here for me, to take me back the Stupa tower and perhaps seize the dragon ley. If I’m right, Vajra Du’nan is probably amongst them. I may not fear a fourth rank, but a third-rank Vajra could easily crush me…
Heh, what fate. To encounter them in Xiangzhou! In that case, I ought not to get involved in the Chai family matters, at least not openly…
At that thought, Xu Qi’an made a decision: “We’re leaving the Chai Manor now. Holy Son, you stay here as an undercover agent and gather intelligence for us.”
Li Lingsu’s complexion changed dramatically. “Me, stay behind? What if the Buddhist monks recognise me? They’ll send me straight off to samsara!”
Xu Qi’an finished his last spoonful of poison and smiled. “Does Chai Xing’er know you’re the Holy Son of Heaven Sect?”
Li Lingsu shook his head. “I didn’t tell her.”
“When you were eavesdropping in the hall just now, did Jingxin recognise you?”
Li Lingsu shook his head again.
“Excellent!”
Xu Qi’an nodded. “Wenren Qianrou has already told the Buddhists your identity. That’s what we agreed on beforehand, in order to keep her out of it. Since Chai Xing’er doesn’t know who you are, you just need to make sure she keeps your name a secret.
“In Leizhou, you were just a bystander. Jingxin didn’t notice you at all, and you were in disguise at the time. Now that you’re showing your true face, the people from the Buddhist Sect won’t recognise you.”
Li Lingsu was still unconvinced. “That may be so, but…”
Xu Qi’an waved a hand. “Didn’t you want to get to the bottom of Chai Xian’s case? Then keep a close eye on Chai Xing’er.”
The Holy Son’s expression changed at once, fixing Xu Qi’an with an unflinching gaze: “What are you getting at?”
“You were present earlier. Let me ask: if there really is someone skilled in controlling corpses, and with a strong motive to frame Chai Xian, who would it be?”
Before the Holy Son could reply, Xu Qi’an said:
“Of course it’s your little sweetheart. With the Chai family’s head dead, the entire household is hers. Chai Xian is talented and strong, with excellent character, a man of considerable prestige, and thus a threat to her.
“So a plan to frame him would kill two birds with one stone, a perfect solution.”
Li Lingsu shook his head gravely: “Xing’er wouldn’t do such a thing.”
Xu Qi’an patted him on the shoulder. “Then stay and keep watch over her.”
…
In the main hall, Li Lingsu returned again. Chai Xing’er was still entertaining Jingxin and Jingyuan. Besides the two of them, there were three other monks present.
Noting his return, Chai Xing’er only glanced at him and continued telling the Buddhist monks about Chai Xian’s patricide.
“Amitabha. Such an evil man is a calamity if left alive. Be at ease, Benefactor Chai; this humble monk will help the Chai household rid itself of this scourge.”
Master Jingxin pressed his palms together in a bow.
“Thank you, Master.”
Chai Xing’er pressed her palms together in return.
Jingxin smiled and then gazed at Li Lingsu, asking, “And this benefactor is…?”
Before Chai Xing’er could speak, Li Lingsu sent her a mental voice transmission: “Don’t mention my name.”
Chai Xing’er’s smile remained cool. “He is an old friend of mine. When he heard of the calamity that befell my family, he came to visit.”
Monk Jingxin nodded.
Chai Xing’er continued, “Masters, you have come all the way here from the Western Regions, and must be tired from the journey. Why not stay here at the manor, instead of lodging at an inn?”
“Then many thanks, Benefactor Chai.”
Jingxin replied.
People from the Buddhist Sect liked to take things for free, food, lodging, even silver; if they could freeload, they would freeload.
In Buddhist doctrine, money was merely a material possession. Attachment to it would harm the mind. So, even when they were not short of money, they still preferred to freeload.
After settling in the monks, Chai Xing’er led Li Lingsu into her boudoir and frowned: “Have you got a grudge with those monks?”
“Something like that. We’ve clashed before.” Li Lingsu didn’t mention Xu Qian.
Chai Xing’er nodded.
“Senior Xu has business to attend to and has left,” Li Lingsu added.
“What about you?” Chai Xing’er stared at him.
“I’m naturally staying to help you.”
Chai Xing’er’s cold expression softened a little. She gave a gentle “Mm.”
…
On the other side, Jingyuan sat at the table, took a sip of warm tea, and said,
“Master told us to meet in Yongzhou in ten days. We must deal with matters here quickly, or it will delay our journey.”
Jingxin sat cross-legged on the bed and responded, “That Chai Xian is a fifth rank Transforming Force. Even with four iron corpses to assist him, his combat strength is still not up to fourth rank. If he dares to appear, we can easily dispose of him. It’s no big deal.”
After a brief pause, he said in a low voice,
“I do find this matter suspicious. If Chai Xian really was the culprit, why would he keep protesting his innocence and linger in Zhangzhou? Yet if he is truly innocent, quite a few in Chai Manor witnessed him committing murder. Afterwards, murders occurred frequently in Xiangzhou, and people also saw him killing and refining corpses.
“All this evidence is irrefutable. It’s strange, very strange.”
Jingyuan said lightly, “What’s so strange about it? Catch him, ask him, and all will be clear.”
Buddhism had precepts and abilities that make it all too easy to compel someone to tell the truth.
Jingxin nodded. “Benefactor Chai said that the Demon Slaying Assembly will be in two days. According to Chai Xian’s usual ways, he may well appear that day.”
At that moment, a monk came in from outside, carrying a wooden basin, asking in bewilderment,
“Why does the weather in Xiangzhou feel even harsher than the Western Regions?”
…
In the best inn in Xiangzhou city, in a top-grade private room.
A round table held a small brazier, the charcoal inside blazing, flames licking the bottom of a ceramic wine pot.
Xu Qi’an stood by the window, looking at the street outside, where there were few passers-by, and sighed,
“My ‘intuition’ tells me that this winter will be very cold, colder than any before.”
This intuition came from the Heaven Gu’s ability.
Among the shaman clans, the Heaven Gu tribe could draw calendars and observe celestial phenomena, and were authorities in the field of agriculture.
Mu Nanzhi could clearly feel it too, though she did not understand why. In a soft voice, she asked, “Why will this year be especially cold?”
If this were my previous life, I would have told you it was because of the greenhouse effect, melting glaciers… Xu Qi’an shook his head,
“When a nation is about to fall, natural and man-made disasters never cease.”
The topic was a heavy one, so Mu Nanzhi did not press further, nor did she wish to think about such unhappy things. She turned her attention to the steaming hot wine.
After drinking, Xu Qi’an lay down on the small couch and fell fast asleep, waking at dusk to see Mu Nanzhi sitting at the bedside, engrossed in a light novel.
She truly deserved to be the number one beauty in the Great Feng. Even with only ordinary looks, her elegant air was far above ordinary women.
Xu Qi’an closed his eyes again.
In the inn’s courtyard, the innkeeper’s ginger cat lightly leapt to the top of the wall and left the inn.
It darted down the street at high speed, running and pausing, and after half an hour arrived outside the gates of Chai Manor.
Night was falling, and Chai Manor’s gates were tightly shut.
The ginger cat circled the perimeter, found a dog hole, and slipped inside.
Xu Qi’an, controlling the cat with the Heart Gu, prepared to investigate Chai Manor by night.
Some things were difficult for people to look into, but an animal could act without inhibition.
Some things might not be said in front of outsiders, but in front of an animal, people would speak freely.
He always felt there was something strange about Chai Xian’s case. By normal logic, Chai Xing’er was the more suspicious party.
Besides, he also needed to monitor the talk among the Buddhist monks, to understand their aims and plans. Know yourself and know your enemy, and you will never be defeated.
“Hopefully, I won’t pick up Daoist Jinlian’s strange habit of possessing cats…”
He muttered this under his breath, making a beeline for Chai Xing’er’s room.
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