Chapter 64: Administer a Minor Punishment |
In my presence, Bian Jixiong no longer needed to maintain his facade, and he shook his head helplessly, saying: "Father, this isn't just about what you say, it's about the hearts gathering and dispersing, it's about the sect's purpose of existence. Our Sect Disciple was killed, and we're still hosting the murderer; even if you made up flowery words, it would be useless."
The White-Robed Figure paced inside without stopping, and The Aged Voice, calm like an ancient well, said: "Right and wrong, they still have to acknowledge it."
"Father's meaning?" Bian Jixiong was somewhat confused.
The White-Robed Voice said: "Verify and confirm that the Assassination was single-handedly caused by Wei Bian, find a reason as you see fit. In short, Wukang Mountain was at fault beforehand; although Shi Chun acted in self-defense, his defense was excessive.
Even if Wukang Mountain's Disciple was in the wrong, they shouldn't be killed by an Outsider without authorization. Administer a Minor Punishment and Temporarily Detain them at Wukang Mountain to perform hard labor."
If that was the case, Bian Jixiong thought he could indeed explain it to everyone, but he still asked skeptically: "Father, is it necessary to take such a Complicated Way?"
The White-Robed Figure suddenly stopped, and through the Gauze Curtain, he sighed faintly: "My Wukang Mountain is backed by the Eastern Victorious Royal Court.
We fear no Openly and Directly attacks, and few dare to Do It Openly. What we fear are Internal Threats That Are Hard to Guard Against.
Purging Internal Traitors is of Utmost Importance. While I am still alive and can suppress things, it will be easier for you to Rectify and Clean Up."
He slowly nodded and said: "I understand. But Wei Bian was Yin Huixin's Direct Disciple after all.
Making him a Scapegoat after his death, Yin Huixin probably won't agree. If she doesn't agree, things will be very troublesome."
The White-Robed Figure, Waving a Big Hand, said: "Woman's Shortsighted View, Utterly Stupid! Dead People Have No Value! Back then I told you to find a Virtuous Wife, but you didn't listen and insisted on finding a beautiful one.
A Foolish Woman Brings Disaster for Three Generations! She has no right to Make Decisions on this matter. If you can't even control a woman, then that's your problem!"
Words Fell, Lamp Extinguished.
The Gauze Curtain swayed for a moment, and the Figure behind it had vanished Without a Trace.
After a period of Silent Contemplation, Bian Jixiong turned and left the room.
He took a detour beneath the Covered Walkway and walked to a Room Door, knocking on Yin Huixin's Cultivation Chamber door.
After being granted permission to enter, Bian Jixiong closed the door and walked over to Yin Huixin, who was Sitting Cross-legged in Meditation with Closed Eyes.
Seeing that she was Meditating there, slow to even open her eyes, he immediately started Talking to Himself: "The plan to Motivate Bian Weikang with Shi Chun cannot change. Shi Chun must remain on the mountain."
Yin Huixin didn't open her eyes, but she grunted twice through her nose: "As long as you think you can explain it to everyone, do as you please; there's no need to tell me!"
Bian Jixiong: "The Assassination was single-handedly Schemed by Wei Bian and has nothing to do with Bian Weiying.
The reason Wei Bian Schemed this Assassination was entirely because he had Secretly Admired and Loved Bian Weiying for a long time. When he saw Bian Weiying and Shi Chun Intimately Traveling Together during the day, he Gave Birth to Jealousy and Hatred, and thus Made This Move to Kill, leading to the current disaster."
This reason and excuse made Yin Huixin instantly open her eyes, looking at him with disbelief.
"After the matter is verified, although Wukang Mountain was at fault beforehand, Shi Chun's self-defense was excessive. Wukang Mountain's Disciple should not be killed by an Outsider without authorization, so Administer a Minor Punishment and Temporarily Detain them at Wukang Mountain to perform hard labor!"
Yin Huixin's face gradually Turned Pale with Anger.
Pointing at him, she Said Tremblingly: "Utterly Shameless! Wei Bian is already dead, and you still want to Sully His Purity? Do you insist on making him Die With Grievances? I absolutely will not agree to this!"
Bian Jixiong calmly said: "The matter is too obvious; everyone can see that your daughter Instigated it, causing the deaths of two Wukang Mountain Disciples. Tell me how to give an explanation to everyone, and how can I Cover Up for her? Only if Wei Bian Takes the Blame can this be reasonably Smoothed Over.
Do you want to Preserve Wei Bian's Innocence, or do you want to fairly Punish Severely your daughter? You decide!"
Yin Huixin Bit Her Silver Lip, Watching Him Closely.
Silence was an answer.
Bian Jixiong turned and left: "You prioritize your own emotions too much, unclear about what you need to sacrifice, always putting your feelings first. This is the greatest Selfishness.
Watch your daughter closely; you can't always let others Take the Blame!"
Shi Chun and Wu Jinliang, who had been Interrogated separately, were successively thrown into the Prison.
That's right, Wukang Mountain also had its own Private Prison.
The two, meeting again in the Prison Cell, were both Bruised All Over. Their clothes were torn again, and their bodies were covered in Lash Marks.
They examined each other, asking about their injuries, only to find that although they looked like they had suffered greatly, they were all merely Flesh Wounds.
They both Knew in Their Hearts about this.
As for Flesh Wounds, given the situation in the Land of Exile, they were far too accustomed to them, as could be seen from the scars visible all over Wu Jinliang's body.
Shi Chun had no old scars on his body because his Physical Healing Ability was Formidable.
He felt it was related to the Cultivation Technique he practiced, which was also why he was unwilling to easily give up this Cultivation Technique. A man who would apply Pearl Powder to his face, one can imagine.
The two then asked each other about their interrogation. The information they were Informed was similar; both were asked about the Assassination, and then repeatedly pressed on how the Immobilization Talisman was Cracked.
They certainly couldn't reveal the Truth about the Immobilization Talisman, otherwise, even if the sky fell, Wukang Mountain would silence them. Naturally, they claimed it was unlocked by some unknown External Force.
After confirming there were no loopholes, Shi Chun Breathed A Sigh Of Relief, sat down on the spot, and said: "Ah, let's rest. Maybe when we wake up, we'll be outside."
Although he Received a Whipping, he was quite Relaxed.
He lay down with his hands behind his head, Legs Crossed, grunting, Be Certain that the Demonic Path Group would Rescue them.
Wu Jinliang also lay beside him and sighed: "Before going out, we entered the Prison Cell and Received a Whipping.
After coming out, we Received a Whipping again and entered the Prison Cell again. What a Sin."
The two lay head to head, forming a "figure eight" as they Stayed Up Late.
Bian Weiying did not Stay Up Late on the mountain. Before leaving, she met her mother, Yin Huixin, who had Summoned her.
Yin Huixin Informed her daughter of the final outcome and told her to Rest Assured and return.
"Even like this, they'd rather Slander Wei Bian than let it affect the Great Plan to support my Older Brother.
Heavens, where exactly am I inferior to Bian Weikang? Is it just because he's a son and I'm a daughter? Then why did they give me hope in the first place? Hahahahaha…"
In front of her mother, Bian Weiying was Hysterical, crying and laughing, like a madwoman, like a drunkard.
She had thought that after Shi Chun killed Wei Bian In Public, it would be impossible for him to remain at Wukang Mountain to continue her father's ridiculous plan.
Yet, who knew her father would Favor her Older Brother to such an extent, using such an Absurd method to Smooth Over the situation? How Can One Bear It!
Her face at this moment was full of Despair.
Finally, she Staggered down the mountain.
Upon returning to the City Lord's Mansion, she met Bian Weikang, who was waiting for her, to Demand an Explanation.
Bian Weiying immediately Acted Up, smashing whatever she could get her hands on, truly like a madwoman.
This instead left Bian Weikang Scared Speechless, unable to say anything, as it was the first time he had seen his Younger Sister like this.
The others in the City Lord's Mansion were also frightened and hid.
After the items in the Hall were smashed repeatedly until not a single piece remained whole, Bian Weiying, seemingly Exhausted, sat down on the Steps with Disheveled Hair, looking utterly Dejected, hugging her knees and Crying Softly.
Only then did Bian Weikang cautiously walk over, squat beside her, and try to ask: "Weiying, what's wrong?"
"Get lost!" Bian Weiying suddenly pointed outside, letting out a Hysterical Roar.
"…" Bian Weikang was quite Speechless, and Hesitated to Speak. In the end, he didn't even get to address the purpose of his visit and left Dejectedly.
After returning to the Inn and meeting Xiang Lan'er, he was naturally Muttering and Stammering, unable to Inquire About any useful information. Xiang Lan'er, as always, was gentle with him, advising him to return to his room and rest early.
It wasn't until dawn that a Cloaked Person with a Face Mask covering their face appeared in Xiang Lan'er's room again, accompanied by Feng Chi.
Xiang Lan'er didn't wait for them to finish their greetings and proactively asked: "When will they be Rescued?"
The Cloaked Person and Feng Chi exchanged a glance; the latter's expression was somewhat Strange.
The Cloaked Person said in a hoarse voice: "They can't be Rescued, and there's no need to Rescue them anymore. Bian Jixiong plans to keep those two on the mountain to Administer a Minor Punishment…" He then recounted the newly investigated Case Details and the decision made after the Wukang Mountain High-ranking Officials' meeting.
Feng Chi gave a Bitter Smile: "In other words, there's no need to Bother anymore. The Original Plan can continue.
Those two fellows didn't need our help; they've already Snuck In."
Xiang Lan'er hesitated: "If Bian Weiying didn't Instigate it, then why would she, a dignified City Lord, be so Proactive, even personally coming to Oversee things?"
The Cloaked Person: "It's all Deceiving People, just to give everyone an explanation.
Outsiders can't see it, but I'm clear about Bian Jixiong's intentions. After all, I provided that plan to Bian Jixiong.
He's doing it both to Protect his own daughter and to avoid affecting the plan to support his son.
To be honest, I truly didn't expect him to be so Ruthless for the sake of supporting that Good-for-nothing Son, even quickly fabricating Human and Material Evidence.
He really put a lot of Effort into this. Conversely, it's correct that we Start With His Son.
As long as Bian Weikang gets the item, those two Obstructive individuals can be Gotten Rid Of."
Feng Chi said to Xiang Lan'er: "Young Lady, you and Bian Weikang will likely be summoned to the mountain today."
Xiang Lan'er Nodded Slightly…
After the Sky was fully bright, it could be seen through the Prison Cell Vent Window.
They Waited and Waited, but no one seemed to be Rescuing them. After such a long delay, both of them felt somewhat uneasy.
Unable to Bear It Anymore, Wu Jinliang couldn't help but ask in a Low Voice: "Chuntian, didn't you say we might be outside after a nap?"
How was Shi Chun supposed to answer that? He also found it strange. Logically, it shouldn't be like this; if the two of them were caught, Xiang Lan'er and those Demonic Path Cultivators should be the most frantic.
Just then, the Prison Door opening was heard from the end of the Corridor, followed by a Sound of Footsteps.
They're here.
The two exchanged a Subtle Laugh, then quickly Sat Cross-legged, pretending to know nothing.
(End of Chapter)