His anger and guilt reached their peak at this moment.
Yan Huanyue accepted the sky-blue, thin-walled teacup presented by the Jiang family servant.
I lifted the lid of the cup, which was decorated with golden bamboo and snow, gently skimmed the fine new tea leaves, took a small sip, and then placed it on the mother-of-pearl inlaid landscape lacquer tea table beside me.
Xue Jingnian, sitting across the table, also placed his teacup beside her, raised his hand and pointed to the person kneeling on a small stool by the doorway, saying:
"This old Taoist priest named Liu Chang, according to his confession, besides selling the red pills refined from the murder to the eldest son of the Jiang family, he also sold some to some evil cultivators. With the opening of the ghost market approaching, there may also be people going to the ghost market to resell them. If it weren't for the Jiang family's protection, how could this have led to such a disaster?"
Having said that, he stood up, made a hand seal, and bowed, saying, "The Jiang family has a good reputation. I hope that the head of the family will investigate this matter thoroughly and give justice to the wrongfully deceased."
Jiang Zhiyi, the current head of the Jiang family, who was sitting in the main seat, looked up at the young master of the Xue family in Chang'an.
Crimson silk robes and golden carp sashes accentuated the youthful vigor and spirit, truly making him a sight to behold.
Even so, it's nothing special in the Tianyan Sect.
Moreover, he has an older brother, Xue Yuannian, who is more than a hundred times more outstanding than him, and even his older sister, Xue Liannian, is no ordinary person.
Despite her strong will, Jiang Zhiyi still managed to train a few capable students.
Who would have thought that his eldest son, who was unambitious and idle, wasting his talent, would cause such a big trouble.
She slightly raised her hand and said, "Young Fellow Daoist Xue, please sit down. If this matter was indeed done by my son, the Jiang family will provide an explanation."
After saying that, he turned to Feng Ye, who was sitting in the head seat, and asked, "Was the matter of killing someone to refine pills investigated by these two disciples brought by the elder?"
Feng Ye said, "It's not just the two of them. All the disciples we brought with us on the way back from this trial participated. The ones who went first to test our strength were the sect leader's son, Xuanzhi, and Huanyue. Xuanzhi was injured and has not yet woken up."
Jiang Zhiyi's expression changed slightly, and he looked at Yan Huanyue again.
Originally, I only felt that this woman was full of spiritual energy. Although she had a gentle appearance, there was a sense of loneliness and resilience hidden between her brows and eyes.
Like a knife hidden in its sheath, one knows it is not a soft person, but cannot yet see just how sharp its edge is.
She did not personally go to congratulate Yan Huanyue on her marriage to Pei Xuanzhi, but she had a lot of affection for this woman.
But beneath this beautiful story, who knows how much reluctance and unwillingness there is?
She and Pei Hanzhou can be considered to be of the same generation.
In his youth, Pei Hanzhou was a household name. In recent years, however, many young geniuses in the spiritual cultivation world have paled in comparison to Pei Hanzhou back then.
It's all just a journey through life, and in the end, all is quiet and still.
The exceptionally talented Pei Hanzhou, dragging along his frail half-demon son, was arguably the poorest among the surviving members of their generation. Truly, life is unpredictable...
But at least, even though that person's son was a half-demon, he didn't commit such a terrible sin!
A series of hesitant footsteps lingered outside.
Jiang Zhiyi's face instantly darkened, and he smashed the teacup in his hand out the door with a "bang".
Under the eaves, broken porcelain, tea leaves, and tea water splashed everywhere, and a plume of hot white smoke, like her anger, rose up with a "whoosh".
She narrowed her phoenix eyes and said in a deep voice, "When did you become such a cowardly rat hiding in the shadows?"
At the door, Jiang Xusheng, who had changed out of his brocade robes and into plain clothes, stepped on the broken porcelain, and Ling Baiyan quietly slipped out.
Before even entering the door, he knelt down on a pile of broken porcelain with a thud, his white clothes instantly soaked in blood.
“Mother, Elder Feng, I really didn’t know that those red pills were made from murder, and I never swallowed them. I only thought they were scraps from other people’s alchemy, which is why I dared to buy them to feed the fish.”
Yan Huanyue was startled and looked at Jiang Xusheng in surprise. He was pale and red-eyed, and looked frightened. She didn't know if what he said was true or false.
Feeding the fish...
The Renyi Inn is run by a ruthless and cunning family. They live in constant fear and trembling, and countless lives have been lost as fish food.
If this were truly the case, could the absurdity of humankind be any greater?
Before anyone else could say anything, the old Taoist priest, whose cultivation had been crippled and who was now sitting on a small stool, was struck by lightning and immediately flew into a rage, shouting:
"What?! The pills I painstakingly crafted, which I used to kill two or three people every month for so many years, and I even paid less spirit stones and money out of respect for the Jiang family, have been used by you to feed fish! If you were feeding fish, why did you buy the Crimson Pills? You, you... you wasteful beast!"
Back then, someone approached him saying that the eldest son of the Jiang family had this need, which led to an increase in the alchemy tasks assigned to Wang Xiaotao's family, allowing them to rely on the powerful Jiang family.
Over the years, whenever something was investigated about him, someone secretly covered for him.
This shows that he has climbed up to the Jiang family. Now that things have come to this, is this young master Jiang going to discard him after he has served his purpose?
The old Taoist priest Liu Chang laughed loudly, "Ha, when the cunning rabbit dies, the hunting dog is cooked. So that's what the eldest young master was planning? I've heard that the eldest young master isn't valued by the head of the family. It's understandable that he wants to be better than his younger siblings."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Zhiyi abruptly cast a spell to seal the old Taoist's mouth, then stood up and strolled over to Jiang Xusheng, saying coolly:
"Since your statement contradicts that old Taoist priest's, I will search your soul as proof, shall I?"
Soul-searching usually damages the soul and cultivation, making recovery quite difficult.
Jiang Xusheng, his heart brimming with anger and resentment at being stigmatized, kowtowed and said, "Yes, Mother."
Jiang Zhiyi used his spiritual power to cover the area around Jiang Xusheng's spiritual platform, and a beam of white light shone in the sky, spreading out a thin, ethereal scroll.
Memories related to Akamaru flashed rapidly across the scroll.
Apart from the servant telling him the truth by the small lake, there was indeed no trace of him knowing that Akamaru was made from murder.
As Feng Ye just mentioned, when the old Taoist was searching for souls, the "Jiang family servant" who had been colluding with the old Taoist was already dead.
Jiang Zhiyi gave a cold smile.
The fool she gave birth to was completely unaware that he had fallen into a trap, and was killed by those fish at the cost of countless lives.
If it weren't for the Tianyan Sect's accidental investigation, who knows what other tricks the person behind it had up their sleeve, or how much disaster would have ensued.
She dispelled the magic spell from her fingertips and slapped Jiang Xusheng hard across the face, knocking him to the ground.
"This matter is a fait accompli. Although you are unaware of the details, you have already committed a sin. You are responsible for handling the funeral arrangements. Find out the deceased's place of origin, send someone to inform their family of the death, and make up for the funeral expenses such as setting up a cenotaph. As for the red pills that have been scattered in the ghost market, you must find them one by one and give them a proper burial to atone for your negligence."
Jiang Xusheng was in excruciating pain, as if his soul was being torn apart. His eyes were about to burst open, and his face was ashen. Yet, he could only endure the agony, get up, and kowtow, saying, "Yes, Mother."
Jiang Zhiyi straightened his robes and turned around, saying, "Elder Feng, my two young friends, do you have anything to add to what I have listed?"
Now that things have come to this, Feng Ye could easily see the sordid nature of the matter. He simply stood up, made a hand seal, and said, "If the patriarch needs the assistance of the Tianyan Sect to thoroughly investigate this matter, please let me know at any time."
Jiang Zhiyi said politely, "Thank you, Elder Feng. I will investigate this matter immediately. The fact that Tianyan Sect has solved this case by chance is of great help to my Jiang family. I will write to Sect Leader Pei of Tianyan Sect and to all sects and families to explain this matter."
Feng Ye remained serious and said, "Since that's the case, we won't delay Patriarch Jiang from dealing with family matters. It's already difficult enough for Patriarch Jiang to inherit the Jiang family as a woman. It's only been a little over ten years since Chengkun Hall was reopened. If she can't even control the petty thieves in her own family and commits such a serious crime against the human race, how can the various sects feel at ease about the spiritual veins and peace of Yishan?"
"At best, the position of family head will be passed on to a male member of the Jiang family; at worst... the Heavenly Patrol Division will intervene and order another sect to connect the Yishan spiritual vein with their own spiritual vein, and set up a 'long sleeve' here to take over the area. Is that what the Jiang family wants?"
"This old Taoist priest is yours to keep. We will bring the five members of the Peng family here shortly as witnesses. I believe Patriarch Jiang will be able to punish them accordingly."
After saying that, he got up and went out. Yan Huanyue and Xue Jingnian immediately got up and followed him. Jiang Zhiyi personally saw them out the door.
After seeing the guests off, he turned around with a face full of frost, and only addressed the group of close associates who had followed him:
"Go and invite my good stepmother and good brother to Chengkun Hall, and also invite all the clan elders. How dare they use such immoral methods to secretly lay their hands on my son! Ha..."
.
After returning to Xizhu Town, Feng Ye and Xue Jingnian went to Renyi Inn first. Yan Huanyue had not yet returned to the inn where her fellow disciples were staying when Feng Ye sent the Peng family of five to the Jiang family.
The third and fourth sons of the Peng family, who were sealed under the car by her, only thought that their widowed mother had abandoned them and run away, but they did not know that their mother had been killed by their adoptive mother in her early years.
They have been aiding and abetting evil for many years. Although they have gained some wealth, they will inevitably suffer the most severe punishment and die. I wonder what they will think.
When Yan Huanyue left the Jiang family, she saw several elders coming, who should be elders of the Jiang clan.
Yan Huanyue did not stay long, as it was rumored that Jiang Zhiyi was known for his decisive and efficient actions.
Since this matter has no major connection with Jiang Xusheng, the person behind it who falls into Jiang Zhiyi's hands will probably not have an easy way to die.
Right now, the fellow disciples are digging up the remaining bones in the cellar of Renyi Inn, preparing for the ritual of redemption.
However, she was somewhat unsure of Zhou Jiao's ability to care for the unconscious Pei Xuanzhi, since Zhou Jiao had volunteered to take care of him last night.
After bidding farewell to Madam Jiang, she hurried toward the inn in Xizhu Town. As she passed a pastry shop, she hesitated for a moment before landing in the middle of the street.
She walked to the shop, glanced at the endless stream of customers, and then lifted her skirt to enter the low-ceilinged shop.
As soon as she entered, the shop fell silent, and all the customers turned to look at her.
An old woman asked, "Young lady, are you a member of a martial arts sect who has settled in this town?"
Yan Huanyue performed a gesture of respect and said, "I am indeed a member of the sect. I apologize for disturbing the peace of this place."
Immediately, someone raised their voice and asked, "Old Madam Peng and Old Master Peng have both helped the beggars and poor people here. Did they really commit murder in secret? Could it be that your sect has made a mistake and wronged innocent people?"
Immediately someone retorted, "Don't talk nonsense. Although there are bad people in the immortal sects, this time it was Elder Feng Ye of the Tianyan Sect who came in person. He only stumbled upon this matter by chance. Aunt Liu from the inn said that the sect leader's son was seriously injured."
There was a great deal of discussion and sighs.
A waiter, around seventeen or eighteen years old, weaved through the crowd and rushed up to her from a corner. He looked at her with bright, sparkling eyes and asked, "Miss, what would you like to order?"
Yan Huanyue's gaze swept past the other guests, landing on the large wooden trays on several shelves displaying a wide variety of exquisitely crafted candied fruits and pastries. She said:
"Are there any easily digestible snacks suitable for patients?"
The waiter said with a smile, "Yam and purple sweet potato cake, or jujube paste square pastry, or taro paste glutinous rice cake are all suitable."
Yan Huanyue said, "Please wrap one serving of sweet potato pastry, and one serving of everything you just mentioned, plus two servings of each type of candied fruit, and whichever looks the best..."
The waiter looked in the direction she was pointing and said, "Miss, those are lotus flower pastries. They're crisp and delicious, and few people don't like them."
"Pack ten boxes of lotus-shaped pastries, and another ten boxes of the most popular tea snacks. They must all be the freshest of the day. That's all. It's hard work."
The waiter replied, "Don't worry, our pastries are never kept overnight."
After saying that, he asked her to sit by the window for a while, and then hurriedly did as she asked and put it away.
Yan Huanyue put the desserts she bought into her treasure pouch, paid for them, and was then pulled aside by other customers in the shop for a few more questions before finally leaving the shop.
When they returned to the inn, the fellow disciples who had not left Renyi Inn since the previous night began to return one after another, and they all drank tea in the lobby.
She then took out ten boxes of lotus-shaped pastries and tea-flavored pastries and placed them on the table, saying:
"Junior Brother Pei and I are grateful to everyone for staying up with us for most of the night because of our guess. It was very hard work. We heard that these snacks are very popular here, so please share them with us."
A junior sister from the outer sect said with a smile, "Subduing demons and slaying evil is also the duty of us Tianyan disciples. It's not just Senior Sister's responsibility. Senior Sister Yan, you don't need to be so polite with us. But... since we've already bought it, I won't stand on ceremony. Thank you, Senior Sister Yan and Junior Brother Pei."
Xue Jingnian accompanied Feng Ye in. Upon hearing this, he merely snorted coldly and remained silent.
Zhao Chai'er, who was placed here with Granny Zhang and her granddaughter, had somehow blended in with the disciples of the Tianyan Sect and had been chatting with them for quite some time.
He sat in the corner and unceremoniously picked up a lotus-shaped pastry.
With one bite, the thousand layers of flaky pastry crumbled away, leaving his tongue soft and his mouth sweet. He couldn't help but widen his eyes and exclaim, "So delicious!"
Li Ji joked, "This is a reward for us. What did you accomplish last night?" Zhao Chai'er waved her hand, as if she didn't understand Li Ji's implied meaning, and said quite frankly:
"I have no achievements to speak of. I just slept haphazardly for a night and caught a cold. I saw Zhou Xiaolang brewing medicine for Pei Xiaolang. Pei Xiaolang was still asleep when the medicine was ready, so I drank it first. It was so bitter... This is just the right amount of sweetness to make me feel better."
Li Ji was surprised by the man's nonchalant attitude and asked, "Did Zhou Jiao prepare the medicine for you?"
Zhao Chai'er shrugged and said nonchalantly, "What's the big deal? He still considers me his brother."
As proud as Zhou Jiao was, the fact that he would take the initiative to recognize someone with no cultivation as his brother drew astonishment from all the Tianyan Sect disciples in the hall.
Yan Huanyue greeted Feng Ye and asked, "Elder, has Young Master Jiang taken over the Renyi Inn?"
Feng Ye nodded.
Xue Jingnian continued, "He was carried there by his second brother and third sister. He hadn't rested after the soul search and looked like he was about to faint, but he still had to come. The Jiang family's rules are really strict."
Yan Huanyue recounted the process of sending the person to the Jiang family, then took her leave to check on Pei Xuanzhi's condition in his room.
When they followed his scent to a roof in the backyard, they found that the medicine in the stove had not yet boiled, and Zhou Jiao had disappeared without a trace.
She quickened her pace and pushed open the door.
The south-facing window was open, letting in plenty of sunlight, but the bed curtains were tightly drawn.
She went to the bedside and lifted the curtain. Seeing that Pei Xuanzhi was already awake, she bent down to wipe the sweat from his forehead, then got up and hung the curtain on the copper hook.
Pei Xuanzhi pressed his thin lips together, his misty eyes fixed on her sleeve.
The swaying pink gauze set off her fair hands, her fingers long and slender, her clean nails glowing with a healthy pink hue.
Because of her practice of swordsmanship, she has thin calluses on her palms, which are not easily seen or noticed by ordinary people.
The thin calluses, symbolizing her strength, diligence, and ruthlessness, gently and subtly caressed his skin, always sending shivers down his spine and stirring up his greed...
Yan Huanyue carefully arranged the bed curtains and, noticing that he seemed lost in thought, couldn't help but ask, "When did you wake up? How are you feeling?"
A faint ripple stirred deep within Pei Xuanzhi's eyes, but he ultimately lowered them slightly, his pale lips parted slightly, revealing several dry cracks with blood vessels hidden within, making him appear extremely weak.
"I've only been awake for a little while, where have you been? Why aren't you here..."
He rested his head on a soft pillow, frowned, and struggled to tilt his head back and stretch his neck.
Her Adam's apple became increasingly prominent, and a faint pinkish-white hue lingered beneath her thin skin.
A few strands of black hair clung to her neck, the dampness spreading into her neatly crossed collar, a subtle fragrance lingering.
"The blanket covering me is too thick, it's hot, I can't lift it off."
This was naturally covered by Zhou Jiao, who volunteered to take care of him.
Young masters from wealthy families often lack experience in taking care of others. Perhaps seeing how badly he was injured, they specially asked the shopkeeper to bring him a thick winter quilt to cover him up.
Yan Huanyue changed the blanket to a thinner one for him, fed him some warm water, and then fed him the pills that Feng Ye had given him.
She took out the snacks and candied fruit she had bought for him and placed them on the small table beside the bed, then went down to the eaves to watch the fire and decoct the medicine.
Pei Xuanzhi turned his head to look at the boxes of pastries, the smile on his lips spreading to the depths of his eyes, like a shimmering galaxy.
Yan Huanyue had only been out checking the fire for a short while when Zhou Jiao rushed over and said:
"Don't blame me, I haven't slept all night and haven't left for a moment. I just went to wash my hands and you came back. Junior Brother Pei is awake?"
Yan Huanyue nodded. Although she felt dissatisfied, it wasn't with Zhou Jiao, but with herself.
If she didn't need to personally explain to Madam Jiang what happened that night, why leave Junior Brother Pei here alone?
She looked at the flames in the stove and said, "Junior Brother Zhou, you've worked hard. Go to the front and have some tea and snacks. I'll take care of things here."
As they were talking, Feng Ye stepped into the backyard to visit them.
He checked Pei Xuanzhi's chest injury to see how it was healing and then channeled some spiritual energy into it to help heal it.
Just as they were about to leave, Xue Jingnian, who was in the front hall, flew all the way to the eaves and said, "Elder Feng, the sect leader has arrived in the front hall."
Upon hearing this news, and considering Pei Xuanzhi's current situation, not only Yan Huanyue, but even Feng Ye felt a sudden weight in their hearts. Their already heavy sense of guilt reached its peak at this moment.
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Author's Note: Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 00:42:14 on April 24, 2024 and 23:46:26 on April 25, 2024!
Thank you to the little angel who threw the landmine: one peach blossom fan and two.
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Sun Dan 27 bottles; Manaka 26 bottles; Scrambled Eggs with Tomatoes 20 bottles; Fatty Not Pan 8 bottles; Zhou Man's Sword Bone 5 bottles; Peach Crisp Cookies 2 bottles; Tool Preset, kurosakiiji, Lanze Duofangcao, 42293163, and Just Take a Look 1 bottle;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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