Chai Xian… Jingxin’s gaze flickered, but he remained calm and said,
“Why is benefactor here?”
Chai Xian frowned and countered, “Why is master here?”
Jingxin put away his golden bowl and stared at the black-clad man several yards away.
“My junior, Jingyuan, and I were luring out the real culprit behind the recent chaos using the Buddhist Vajra divine art. This monk pursued him into the mountains, and happened to encounter you here, benefactor.”
At this, the handsome monk pressed his palms together, his face full of compassion.
“Amitabha. Benefactor Chai, put down your butcher’s blade, turn back and see the shore.”
Chai Xian said in a deep voice, “So, master is no different from all the other fools and simply assumed I was the murderer.”
Jingxin’s expression did not change as he maintained his gesture of pressed palms and said, “If benefactor is not the murderer, why are you here?”
Chai Xian replied,
“After my adoptive father died, I was drawn into a conspiracy by someone who deliberately framed me. Xiao Lan also went missing because of this. To find her and unmask the culprit, I have been investigating in secret.
“Today, while investigating, I happened to run into you, master.”
He then recounted his experiences to Jingxin in detail.
Chai Xian’s handsome face was full of sincerity. As he spoke, he met Jingxin’s gaze calmly, his eyes unwavering, frank and earnest.
Jingxin stared at him intently without blinking. After he finished, Jingxin frowned and pondered for some time before saying,
“In fact, there is a much simpler way to prove benefactor’s innocence…”
Chai Xian’s eyes lit up and he pressed, “Please, master, do tell.”
Jingxin spoke slowly, “I can apply Buddhist precepts, those I myself observe, to you, benefactor. Monks do not utter falsehoods; thus, you will be unable to lie. Then all will become clear with but a single question.”
Chai Xian thought for a moment and nodded, “That’s a very good idea. If I am not the murderer, I hope master will testify for me. I once met someone who was willing to trust me, but never thought…”
His features twisted with hate, “Never thought he would be a hypocritical and cruel villain, who slaughtered an innocent family of three.”
On hearing this, Jingxin asked, “So, before me, someone else saw you. Who?”
Chai Xian shook his head, “I don’t know him. At the time, he was crouched over an orange cat, claiming to be a wandering cultivator passing through Xiangzhou. He also believed there were too many suspicious points in the Chai family case, and that the real killer was someone else.”
“I arranged with this man to use a farming family as a contact point to relay messages. But unexpectedly, the very next day, that entire family was killed. Apart from him, no one knew I had been hiding there.”
A stranger, passing through, residing in an orange cat… Jingxin pondered for a while, then his expression suddenly cleared as if he understood, and he asked no further questions. Instead, he said,
“Benefactor Chai, do not utter falsehoods.”
As soon as the words fell, Chai Xian felt as though thunder exploded in his ears. An immense, intangible force pressed upon him, making him genuinely believe that telling a lie was an unforgivable crime.
If one does not speak true, one cannot be called human.
Jingxin asked, “Were you the one who killed Chai Jianyuan?”
Chai Xian shook his head, “I did not kill him.”
Jingxin nodded slowly, not surprised by the answer, then asked, “Were you the one commanding the corpse puppets to attack Sanshui Town earlier?”
Chai Xian still shook his head, his expression earnest, “It was not me.”
Hearing this, Jingxin finally frowned, a trace of puzzlement in his eyes. Seizing on the short duration of the precept’s power, he pressed further,
“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 one who attacked Sanshui Town is in league with her, the true mastermind who has never shown himself.”
There was still a little time left on the “Precepts” spell, but Jingxin did not ask further. He lowered his gaze and thought for a long time, then said,
“Benefactor Chai, Buddhist compassion lives in our hearts. Since fate led us to meet tonight, let us quickly cut the tangled threads and resolve this matter together.”
Chai Xian asked cautiously, “What does master intend to do?”
Jingxin replied, “To take you back to confront Chai Xing’er.”
Chai Xian took several steps back and shook his head, “Master, I have withstood the trial of the ‘Precepts’ and have a clear conscience. But how will you prove yourself to me?”
He trusted no one, especially after the family of Er Ya was killed. His last bit of faith in outsiders had been destroyed.
“If master truly wishes to clear my name, I can send a walking corpse to follow you. You may then summon all the heroes of Xiangzhou, as well as the authorities, and convene another demon-slaying assembly. I will explain everything publicly; at that time, master can act as my witness.”
“Tomorrow, I will have the puppet corpse outside the Chai residence. If you truly wish to help, master, let us communicate through the corpse then.”
After speaking, Chai Xian withdrew into the forest, intending to leave.
“Turn back and see the shore!”
At that moment, a deep voice sounded from behind. An invisible and mighty force pressed down on Chai Xian, making him instinctively turn round and return to the streamside.
From the sleeve of Jingxin’s monk robe shot out a rope woven of golden thread, instantly binding Chai Xian.
Not only that, Chai Xian found that the qi in his dantian was as still as stagnant water; no matter how he tried to circulate it, nothing happened.
There was a difference of a whole rank between the two. To Jingxin, subduing Chai Xian was a simple task.
…
Outside Sanshui Town, in the pitch-dark night, fiery lights blazed.
The warrior monk Jingyuan stood motionless by the roadside, holding a torch. His monk’s robe was thin, clinging tightly to his body in the night wind, showing off his burly muscles.
Jingyuan’s ear twitched and he looked ahead into the darkness.
Moments later, two figures emerged from the gloom, their outlines gradually becoming clear as the orange glow illuminated their faces.
One was Jingxin, clad in the same monk’s robe, the other was Chai Xian, bound with a dark golden cord.
“This is Chai Xian,” said Jingxin.
Jingyuan exhaled heavily, a smile breaking through his stern face, “We’ve finally caught him. So?”
Jingxin’s expression was grave as he shook his head, “He was not the one who killed Chai Jianyuan, nor was he the one controlling the corpse puppets to attack the town.”
Jingyuan’s eyes widened slightly in astonishment, “How can that be?”
Jingxin nodded at first, then broke into a smile, “But our guess was correct.”
He glanced back at Chai Xian.
Jingyuan immediately understood his senior brother, joy brightening his features as he communicated via transmission,
“Chai Xian is truly a Dragon Qi host?”
Jingxin nodded and said, “And he holds one of the nine most crucial strands of Dragon Qi.”
They were unable to draw out the Dragon Qi, and even needed to rely on magical instruments to see it, but locating the Dragon Qi’s host could be achieved by following certain patterns.
The host of Dragon Qi would experience a period of ‘good fortune’, rise quickly, have great encounters or accomplish major feats, and would not pass unnoticed. The most exemplary case was Silver Gong Xu of the Great Feng, Xu Qi’an.
Therefore, when the two of them arrived in Xiangzhou and heard that Chai Xing’er was holding a demon-slaying assembly, and the uproar caused by the Chai Family’s case, Jingxin and Jingyuan guessed that Chai Xian was very likely a host of Dragon Qi.
“If that’s the case, Senior Brother should instantly convert Chai Xian to Buddhism and hand him over to Master, or to Arhat Duqing, and allow them to bring him back to the Western Regions.”
Jingyuan looked excited. “Such a person should be kept in our pocket.”
Jingxin nodded, then shook his head, his expression turning grave as he transmitted his thoughts:
“I just tried earlier, but this man’s obsession is too deep to be converted immediately, unless we assist him in solving this case. Also, Junior Brother, don’t forget that Xu Qi’an is also in Xiangzhou. I was just about to discuss this with you.”
Jingyuan’s expression became solemn.
“Now, there are two paths before us:
“First, we hide Chai Xian. In at most two days, Uncle Master Du’nan will arrive in Xiangzhou, and at that point the main issue can be settled, but Xu Qi’an would be scared off.
“Second, we take Chai Xian back to Chai Manor to confront Chai Xing’er and get to the bottom of this case.”
Jingyuan understood. “And Li Lingsu is also at Chai Manor and will surely try everything to inform Xu Qi’an. We can use this chance to draw Xu Qi’an out.”
They had already investigated Li Lingsu’s background thoroughly.
Jingxin nodded, then said helplessly, “Although we do not know how he has mastered several Gu techniques, he is indeed troublesome and we cannot find him. So we can only use this overt scheme to lure him in.”
Here, the brothers needed to make a choice: was the Dragon Qi’s host more important, or the Buddha Son?
The answer was obvious.
Jingyuan transmitted, “Using Chai Xian as bait is worth a try. Xu Qi’an is cunning, but his true combat power is below fourth rank, so this is the perfect opportunity to subdue him. If he doesn’t come, we lose nothing.”
The discussion finished, Jingxin turned, pressed his palms together toward Chai Xian, and said:
“Benefactor Chai, this humble monk will take you back to Chai Manor. I will use ‘Precepts’ to question Benefactor Chai Xing’er. When the time comes, the truth will come to light.”
Chai Xian sighed and looked back at Jingxin. “Do I have any choice? I just hope Master will keep your word.”
…
At Chai Manor, in a certain cellar used to store vegetables.
Li Lingsu’s Yin spirit arrived at the cellar entrance and saw an orange cat lying on the ground asleep.
“Senior?”
He called softly, but the orange cat ignored him and glanced toward the door.
Li Lingsu took the hint, passed effortlessly through the locked door, and entered the cellar. In the pitch-darkness, he ‘saw’ a cross-legged figure.
“Senior, I have questioned Chai Zhong and Chai Kai.”
Li Lingsu reported.
He then described in detail the dialogue from the dream to Xu Qian.
Other than Chai Xian’s extreme temperament, there was no useful information… Xu Qi’an muttered inwardly, but outwardly remained calm, saying:
“I understand.”
Li Lingsu nodded slightly and took his leave.
In the darkness, Xu Qi’an sat cross-legged on the ground. He chose this vegetable cellar simply because it was not far from the southern courtyard of Chai Manor, within the area his Heart Gu could cover.
Silently, all the animals in the area awoke at once.
They included, but were not limited to, rats, snakes, dogs, cats, and insects… The main ones were insects, rats and snakes, living in holes in the walls or deep in the foundations.
They were the most numerous and best hidden.
As for cats and dogs, they could only roam outside, so the information they could gather was limited.
House snakes awoke from hibernation, slithering in the dark corners; rats emerged from their holes, crawling along the beams; insects began a mass ‘parade.’
At this moment, Xu Qi’an felt as though his Primordial Spirit was being torn into countless fragments, each attached to an animal.
My head hurts so much, I can only keep this up for five minutes at most…
In most cases, a practitioner of Heart Gu controlled beasts simply by giving orders, directing them to attack enemies. This did not place much strain on the practitioner.
What Xu Qi’an was doing was detailed micro-control. Controlling just a few animals was fine, but managing large numbers imposed an immense burden on the Primordial Spirit.
Fortunately, there aren’t many courtyards in the southern compound. After five minutes, I’ll stop no matter what I find…
…
Li Lingsu’s Yin spirit had been out for a long time and was greatly depleted. Upon returning, he climbed into bed straight away, held his beloved tightly, and fell into a deep sleep.
In his groggy state, he was woken by a rapid knocking at the door.
Shortly, he heard Chai Xing’er, annoyed at being woken from sleep, say, “What is it?”
“Auntie, Master Jingxin and Master Jingyuan have returned and want to see you.”
There was something strange about the maid’s voice.
Chai Xing’er frowned slightly. “Can it not wait until tomorrow?”
The maid whispered, “The two Masters also brought back Chai… Chai Xian.”
Chai Xian!? Li Lingsu was immediately alert. Next, he heard his beautiful companion beside him fall silent for a moment, then respond in a hoarse yet gentle voice:
“Ask the two Masters to wait in the inner hall. I’ll come at once.”
As soon as she finished speaking, Chai Xing’er threw off the quilt, dressed at lightning speed, picked up a jade hairpin and quickly pinned her hair.
After doing all this, she looked back at Li Lingsu, who had just opened his eyes.
He frowned, eyes weary, as if still hungover, and pinched his brow, saying:
“Xing’er, I’ll go with you.”
Chai Xing’er nodded but couldn’t wait, saying, “I’ll go to the inner hall first.”
That was exactly what Li Lingsu wanted. “Alright!”
After Chai Xing’er left, he immediately let his Yin spirit leave his body and darted toward the cellar where Xu Qian was.
…
At this hour, aside from the guards on patrol, almost everyone in Chai Manor was resting.
The houses in the southern courtyard were mostly used for storing books, weapons, and various artefacts, as well as housing a shrine.
Few people lived in this area.
It only took Xu Qi’an two minutes to ‘investigate’ all the rooms in the southern courtyard, but he found nothing unusual.
“There’s only the shrine left to investigate…”
He directed the snakes, insects, rats and ants towards the shrine.
At this moment, Xu Qi’an sensed something and, using the orange cat waiting outside, ‘saw’ Li Lingsu’s Yin spirit first.
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.”
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