Bai Ji
In less than the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, the Tianyan Mountain disciples who had been carefully searching various parts of the courtyard gathered in the courtyard from the corners, side rooms, and corridors, all with solemn expressions of having found nothing.
They looked at each other for a few moments, and finally both turned towards the clouds and shook their heads silently.
The entire courtyard, inside and out, was as clean as if it had been washed with water. Not to mention any trace of demonic energy, not even a trace of suspicious spiritual energy was found.
Sure enough, a hint of wariness and disappointment flashed deep in Yun Weibian's eyes. He looked at the three people from Cangmin Mountain who remained calm and composed, and his doubts deepened. Were they really so simple-minded and fearless, or... had they already anticipated this and dealt with it flawlessly beforehand?
Since the search of the hospital was fruitless, the next step could only be a body search, or rather, a search of their most private personal space.
Yun Weibian's gaze lingered subtly on Yun Qian for a moment before he stepped towards her, his face once again displaying that businesslike, gentle mask.
"Miss Yun."
Seeing the other person walking towards her, Yun Qian lazily lifted her eyelids, her tone flat and indifferent: "Finished the search?"
"The courtyard has been largely searched." Yun Wei nodded, but deliberately changed the subject, his tone carrying a hint of hesitation and difficulty. "However... the demons' methods are unpredictable and ever-changing. Their demonic energy can not only attach itself to living things, but also hide within objects, especially some magical artifacts containing spiritual power. To ensure absolute safety, I'm afraid... I must take the liberty of asking you three fellow Daoists to take out your Qiankun bags so that I may have a look."
The Qiankun Bag is a cultivator's most private personal treasure trove, containing their life and fortune. It is always kept close to their body and not to be seen by outsiders. Requesting a search of this item is almost an insult and a provocation.
Sure enough, as soon as Yun Weibian finished speaking, Yun Qian's expression darkened slightly, and she straightened her posture a little as she leaned against the door frame.
Noticing this subtle change in her, Yun Weibian's heart stirred, thinking he had finally touched her weakness and glimpsed a possible clue. However, before the slight smugness that had just risen in his heart could spread, he saw Yun Qian, Qin Wu, and Bai Chuan move in unison, even with a hint of impatience, quickly taking out their Qiankun bags from their waists or sleeves and casually tossing them onto the stone table in the courtyard with three sharp "thuds."
this……
Yun Weibian was stunned on the spot.
So... he agreed?
So decisive?
Could it be that this Qiankun bag is also empty, like this courtyard, or filled with nothing of importance?
He was filled with doubts, but since he had already spoken, he had to investigate the Qiankun Bag. He composed himself and reached out to grab the three seemingly ordinary cloth bags on the table.
However, just as his fingertips were about to touch one of the Qiankun bags, a closed jade-shaped folding fan lightly pressed down on the back of his hand. The force was not heavy, but it carried an undeniable sense of resistance.
Yun Weibian raised his eyes and met Bai Chuan's eyes, which held a faint smile but inexplicably gave off a chill.
"Wait a minute." Bai Chuan spoke, his voice still gentle, even a little hoarse and sickly, but his fingers holding the fan handle were as steady as a rock.
“Senior Brother Yun,” he said slowly, a harmless smile curving his lips, “this bag of mine contains some precious and rare medicinal herbs, some of which are one-of-a-kind specimens that only appear once in a hundred years. If, during your search, you are not careful and the fluctuations of spiritual energy damage their medicinal properties, Senior Brother Yun will have to compensate you double for this loss.”
Yun Weibian thought he was going to reveal some earth-shattering secret or a word of rejection, and upon hearing this, she almost couldn't help but roll her eyes.
It's just some medicinal herbs! Tianyan Mountain has vast medicinal fields with countless rare flowers and herbs. Can't we afford to compensate him for these few things?
Although he was disdainful in his heart, he still maintained a humble appearance and assured, "Fellow Daoist Baichuan, rest assured, if there is any damage, Yun Weibian will compensate double the price without any shirking of responsibility."
"That's good." Bai Chuan nodded in satisfaction, leisurely closed his folding fan, and tapped it lightly in his palm, as if he had just completed an insignificant transaction.
Yun Weibian took a deep breath, reached out and picked up one of the Qiankun bags on the stone table, which was Yun Qian's.
He channeled a wisp of spiritual energy into the bag, beginning to carefully sense and search it. However, the next moment, his movements froze.
With a flick of his wrist, he pulled out an exquisitely carved nanmu reclining chair! Next, a canopy bed covered with soft brocade! Then, pots and pans, tea sets and cups, tables and chairs… all sorts of everyday furniture and household items appeared one after another as if by magic, quickly filling the not-so-small front courtyard!
Looking at the scene before him, which could practically be a small general store, Yun Weibian's facial muscles twitched uncontrollably, and he could no longer maintain his gentle and refined facade. He remained silent, almost gritting his teeth, as he laboriously stuffed the pile of messy items back into place, one by one.
Yun Qian, the instigator, along with Qin Wu and Bai Chuan, remained completely unfazed throughout the entire ordeal. They even calmly returned to the stone table to drink tea, as if the absurd scene before them had nothing to do with them.
After Yun Weibian suppressed his anger and thoroughly searched all three Qiankun bags, his face was ashen. Aside from Yun Qian's bulky furniture, Bai Chuan's bottles and jars of medicinal herbs, Qin Wu's few sets of clothes and a small amount of spirit stones, he couldn't find a single decent magic weapon or anything related to the demon race!
He felt like a fool who had been made a fool of.
At this moment, Yun Weibian no longer cared about etiquette or the demeanor of a sect leader's chief disciple. With a cold face and without uttering a single polite word, he waved to the disciples he had brought, almost with suppressed anger, and turned to leave, his steps quick and hurried.
Watching Yun Weibian's angry departure, his back almost steaming, Bai Chuan finally chuckled unkindly, covering his lips with his fan: "Judging by this, he's about to drive someone crazy."
"Indeed." Qin Wu responded coldly, but his gaze fell on the still wide-open gate of the courtyard. After a few seconds, he asked succinctly, "Array?" He meant whether the protective array needed to be restarted.
Yun Qian understood, but simply waved her hand dismissively, a knowing smile playing on her lips: "Since they've already searched us thoroughly, why bother setting up another formation?"
Since Tianyan Mountain is so curious about this courtyard, they might as well open the gates wide and let them look around. Sometimes, being completely unprepared is a higher level of vigilance.
Right now, there are more important things to clarify.
The three exchanged a glance, all seeing the same solemnity and doubt in each other's eyes.
Bai Chuan snapped his folding fan shut, his face devoid of any of his previous playful expression. His tone was calm and certain: "I can guarantee that in the battle in the forest, all eighteen men died by my sword. There was absolutely no third party involved."
“In other words,” Qin Wu continued, his eyes deep and sharp, “either that Tianyan Mountain is deliberately trying to mislead the public and forcefully pin this blood debt on the Demon Clan, with ulterior motives.”
He paused, his voice growing deeper: "Either someone appeared afterward, cleaned up the battlefield for you, and deliberately left traces of demonic energy to clean up the mess for you."
Based on the information previously revealed by Lin Huaiyu, Tianyan Mountain has an ambiguous relationship with the Demon Clan, and there is a considerable possibility of collusion. Therefore, their motive for actively smearing the Demon Clan seems insufficient.
Therefore, the remaining possibility points to the latter: someone quietly appeared after Baichuan left, covered the scene with demonic energy, and erased all traces that could possibly point to Cangmin Mountain.
The three of them lived in seclusion for a hundred years, residing in Cangmin Mountain, and had no contact with the demon race outside, let alone any friendship with them.
If there were anyone in Tianyan Mountain who might secretly help them, even going so far as to fabricate evidence to protect them, then...
So, it seems there's only one answer left.
That name appeared in the minds of the three of them almost simultaneously.
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