Chapter 767 – He Didn’t Lie
Chapter 767 – He Didn’t Lie
After Sheng Ren left, Dao Zu sat in the room alone and remained silent for a long time.
Did he make a mistake? He accepted these disciples and treated each of them sincerely. He wanted them to live happy and simple lives in Spirit Sect, and then ascend smoothly in the future. He wanted them to grow into people who would be useful to the Nine Lands and cherish the world. He treated them equally, no matter how humble their background was and how cruel and cold the world was to them.
Was it wrong for him to do so?
He never felt that he had done anything wrong until last night, when he witnessed the disciple whose evil core he personally sealed slaughtering innocent people without any mercy.
So many people died ah. When he closed his eyes, all he could think of were the poor people who died innocently in their sleep and were turned into evil spirits.
And Lingyu, who had turned into that. Whenever Dao Zu thought about that, it was difficult to breathe, as if a heavy stone was pressing down on his heart.
Lingyu once asked him why he didn’t believe Lingyu’s words and why he just had to believe Cangdi Fenglang. He didn’t know how to answer Lingyu.
Both Lingyu and Cangdi Fenglang were his beloved disciples. Once he admitted that Cangdi Fenglang was that evil Qi cultivator, then he would have to kill Cangdi Fenglang in accordance with Spirit Sect’s commandments.
So he decided to look for the truth in secret.
He found the truth, but it was such a cruel one.
He seldom regretted anything in his life, but at this moment, he did regret. Perhaps he really shouldn’t have brought Cangdi Fenglang back to Spirit Sect from the border of the demon realm. Perhaps evil Qi cultivators will forever be evil Qi cultivators. Even if he tried his best, he still wouldn’t be able to change their nature in the end.
Dao Zu sighed heavily.
He summoned Chang Sheng and Cangdi Fenglang back together.
When he saw Cangdi Fenglang, the child shouted "Master" to him excitedly, looking very happy.
Dao Zu had privately asked Chang Sheng if he noticed any abnormal behavior from Cangdi Fenglang when they went out together to perform missions.
Chang Sheng naturally said no. He even said that Fenglang was very enthusiastic in completing the missions, and his strength had improved greatly. At least in actual combat, he wouldn’t be frightened to the point of screaming and running away after meeting a strong opponent.
After pondering over all this, Dao Zu felt that something was off.
Because Cangdi Fenglang’s behavior was too normal.
Even Dao Zu himself didn’t believe that Cangdi Fenglang would be able to face his Master and Shixiong so calmly after killing so many people, as if nothing had happened.
Therefore, in order to find out the truth, Dao Zu took Cangdi Fenglang to a place that others couldn’t find.
Cangdi Fenglang studied the winding secret tunnels around him but didn’t suspect anything. He just asked curiously, "Master, where are we going?
Dao Zu walked ahead. "We’re going to a place that can never be opened again once the stone gate is closed."
Cangdi Fenglang grew even more curious. "What are we going there for?"
Dao Zu didn’t answer or speak.
Yan Tianhen broke out in a cold sweat. "Did Dao Zu intend to perish together with Fenglang?"
Lin Xuanzhi shook his head. "I don’t know. He may have thought of this idea, but at this time, Master hasn’t arranged his affairs after death yet. It’s impossible for him to easily choose this solution of mutual destruction. It’s more likely that he planned to lock Fenglang here."
This secret chamber was made of an extraterrestrial meteorite iron and was covered with profound talismans and seals. It was a natural magic treasure. Moreover, the level of this magic treasure surpassed that of all other known treasures.
Dao Zu took Cangdi Fenglang into this secret chamber.
Dao Zu said, "Kneel."
Cangdi Fenglang was stunned at first, then obediently knelt on his knees.
Dao Zu took out a pill bottle, poured out a pill from it, and handed it to Cangdi Fenglang. "Eat it."
Cangdi Fenglang probably trusted Dao Zu too much; he swallowed the pill he couldn’t have possibly recognized without another thought.
Yan Tianhen shook his head and tutted, "Silly boy, this pill is used to extort a confession. For every lie he tells, one of his veins will burst. This pain is unbearable to anyone."
Lin Xuanzhi looked grave. "But in my memory, Fenglang wasn’t seriously injured."
Yan Tianhen said, "Then he must’ve told the truth."
Dao Zu’s voice
Cangdi Fenglang was startled and trembled a little. "Master, can’t we just talk it out? Can you not do that? I’m so scared."
Dao Zu looked at him expressionlessly. "I’m serious."
Cangdi Fenglang scratched his head a little blankly. "Oh, okay, I’ll definitely say everything I know. Rest assured, Master."
Dao Zu took a deep breath and asked, "Did you have anything to do with the Xiqi Town tragedy?"
Xiqi Town was a peaceful town within Spirit Sect’s borders. It was also a town that had recently been slaughtered. All the people there became evil creatures. Dao Zu was the one who took Spirit Sect disciples along and killed all those evil spirits. It was a horrifying and heinous tragedy.
Cangdi Fenglang stared at Dao Zu with wide eyes. "Of course I had nothing to do with that. What does Master mean by this?"
"Didn’t you kill those people?" Dao Zu’s voice suddenly became fierce.
"How could I possibly have!?" Cangdi Fenglang almost jumped up. "Why would I kill them? There aren’t any grudges or hatred between us. Wouldn’t it just be a waste of my effort to kill them? Besides, Shixiong and I were still in the East Land at that time. How can I have this ability to travel tens of thousands of miles overnight?"
Cangdi Fenglang added, "And after killing them, I’d have to run back again like nothing had happened, all without alerting Shixiong. Master, is someone deliberately slandering me in front of you ah? Is… Is it Lingyu?"
Dao Zu looked Cangdi Fenglang, whose face was full of fright but who didn’t suffer any injuries because he didn’t tell any lies, and squeezed his fists tightly. His pair of clear black eyes were firmly locked onto the boy.
Cangdi Fenglang didn’t dare to say anything. The pressure rolling off of Dao Zu was so strong that it almost pushed him into the ground.
A moment later, Dao Zu suddenly sighed in relief. "It wasn’t you."
Cangdi Fenglang said, "It definitely wasn’t me ah. Someone is clearly framing me."
Dao Zu waved his hand. "You can stand now."
Cangdi Fenglang stood up, but his legs went soft, and he almost knelt again. He smiled awkwardly. "Master, your gaze just now was too scary. I thought you were going to kill me."
Dao Zu asked, "Did you also have nothing to do with the other massacres?"
Cangdi Fenglang responded, "Of course I didn’t have anything to do with them. I can swear to Heaven that if I really killed those people, then let me be– mmph!"
Dao Zu quickly and firmly covered Cangdi Fenglang’s mouth.
Dao Zu hugged Fenglang, and his eyes gradually became wet. "Of course it wasn’t you, but you also don’t have to swear to Heaven. As long as you can live with your conscience, that’s enough."
At least half of those people were killed by Cangdi Fenglang. However, Cangdi Fenglang was entirely unaware and knew nothing about this.
Cold sweat flowed down Yan Tianhen’s back.
"Cangdi Fenglang didn’t lie. At least in his remaining memory, he didn’t have any memories related to those murders." Yan Tianhen felt his blood run cold. "But I’m certain that he was indeed the one who slaughtered Xiqi Town’s residents."
Lin Xuanzhi replied, "There’s only one explanation."
Yan Tianhen nodded. "He was controlled by someone."
After Cangdi Fenglang left, Dao Zu stood in the empty and cold secret chamber and murmured, "How can I save him? I still can’t find the culprit who’s controlling him. I’m truly useless."
Yan Tianhen suddenly thought of something and told Lin Xuanzhi, "Quickly switch the scene to Lingyu and Chang Sheng!"
Lin Xuanzhi looked at Yan Tianhen, then switched the perspective to Lingyu’s residence.
On the day of Chang Sheng’s return, after talking to Dao Zu, he went to look for Lingyu, whom he hadn’t seen for a long time. On the way, Chang Sheng met Cang Rong and Lian Hua.
"You’re finally willing to come back." Lian Hua looked at Chang Sheng. "You’ve been running around with Fenglang these days, but do you still remember the Lingyu you left on the mountain?"
Chang Sheng said, "Master is naturally looking after Lingyu. His physical condition is unsuited for travel right now."
Lian Hua just looked at him and didn’t speak.
Chang Sheng frowned. "What happened to Lingyu?"
Cang Rong stopped Lian Hua, who was about to say something unflattering. "If you want to know how he’s doing, you’d better go and see him yourself. In any case, we haven’t seen him for a long time."
After a long pause, Chang Sheng bid them farewell and quickened his steps to look for Lingyu.
The flowers in the courtyard had all wilted. Even the soil had become barren and thin. When he pinched it, it turned into sand. This soil was stolen by Lingyu from Master’s courtyard. He always claimed that these flowers, plants, and soil were his own children.
The yard that hadn’t been cleaned for a long time was covered with fallen and withered leaves.
Chang Sheng had a bad feeling. He went up to the closed door. "Little Yu, I’m back."
Suddenly a crashing sound and the sound of things falling to the ground could be heard from inside.
Chang Sheng thought something had happened and raised his hand to open the closed door
"Don’t come in!" A hoarse voice came from the inside, which was full of panic, accompanied by the sound of someone rummaging through clothes.
Chang Sheng’s hand on the door slowly clenched into a fist.
Even though he didn’t see the person yet, he knew that Lingyu likely wasn’t doing very well at all.
A moment later, the door was opened from the inside.
A thin and frail boy, dressed in clothes too big for him, stood in front of Chang Sheng with a pale face and smiled at him.
"Shixiong, you’re back," Lingyu said briskly.
Chang Sheng only felt heartache.
His voice was dry and hoarse. He raised his fingers and combed them gently through Lingyu’s hair. Unexpectedly, he found a strand of white hair, which stabbed into his eyes and almost made his rationality collapse.
"What happened?" Chang Sheng asked, "I’ve only been away for a few years. You… Who bullied you? Tell me, I’ll kill him for you."
Lingyu looked at that strand of white hair and was stunned. Obviously, he had never looked in the mirror in recent years, and he didn’t know that he had white hair.
Lingyu was very frightened for a moment. He promptly pulled at his hair and hid the white strand behind his other hair. "I wasn’t bullied. I also don’t know what’s going on. Shixiong, just pretend you didn’t see it… Or why don’t you come see me another day? I would also have time to get ready. I-I haven’t been out for a long time. I’m dizzy. I’ll go back and rest now."
When he finished, he turned and hid in his shell again, but he was hugged by Chang Sheng from behind.