Chapter 568: Chapter 560 Bullying the Dead Who Can’t Speak
Master Tai Cheng finally realized during the standoff with the Marquis of Changchuan what had felt off all along—he had clearly been used as a pawn because he had seen the karma on the Marquis of Changchuan that connected with this small courtyard filled with yin energy.
The Daoist that reeked of suspicion was surely the one that the Marquis of Changchuan had invited, or even fostered, to deal with his karma. Little did he know, something had attracted attention, and now he himself had been lured here.
Master Tai Cheng’s face remained unchanged, but inside he was roaring. Which heartless lowlife had trapped him?
And he had fallen right into this huge pit.
Knowing his situation was grim, Master Tai Cheng did not panic but instead pointed his sword at Daoist Xu Gong, staring at the Marquis of Changchuan, and demanded, “I am Master Tai Cheng of Jinhua Temple. May I ask for your esteemed name? This Daoist is one from the Evil Path that our temple has long been pursuing, he has harmed countless vindictive souls. Tonight, he even used ghosts under his control to infiltrate our temple to commit theft. I chased him here to execute him. Who may you be?”
Master Tai Cheng presented himself with righteous indignation, showing no guilt over killing a man and instead displayed wrath towards evil that could not coexist under the heavens. His suspicious gaze towards the Marquis of Changchuan had indeed taken the latter aback.
Yes, I’m counting on the fact that the dead can’t speak. He is definitively from the Evil Path, while I am the temple master who exterminates evil and defends the Dao, and also a Master with Foundation Establishment Cultivation. There is nothing wrong with my slaying the evil that plagues the mortal world.
The Marquis of Changchuan thought, if it weren’t for his recognition of this useless Daoist, he might have almost believed it.
The other party had set the stage; not to act would mean his own loss.
The Marquis of Changchuan timely showed a shocked expression and performed a Taoist ceremony, saying, “To have the temple master here in person is a lack of respect on my part. You mean to say this Daoist is the one from the Evil Path that you’ve been pursuing? Could he be Daoist Taiyang from your temple? But he claims to be Daoist Xu Gong.”
Master Tai Cheng: “!”
Damn it, is this an own goal or a deliberate mockery of our Jinhua Temple?
Do all the nobles in the city have hearts filled with schemes?
With a dark face, Master Tai Cheng said, “If he is an evil disciple from our temple, having committed many atrocious acts deserving of divine lightning, he would have been stripped of his cultivation and expelled long ago. How could he still be alive until today.”
The Marquis of Changchuan chuckled inwardly but showed great admiration on his face, saying, “The temple master is truly wise and just. So Daoist Taiyang has already been expelled from your temple? I wonder where he might be now?”
Master Tai Cheng felt his anger rising, and demanded, “You have yet to answer my question. How is this person in your mansion, and what is your relationship with him?”
The Marquis of Changchuan showed a bitter smile, and replied, “What relationship could there be? He came to my mansion asking for alms, claiming that my residence was plagued by an evil presence and surrounded by yin energy, leading to frequent illness among my people. I thought about it, and it seemed true, so I invited him to stay in this small courtyard. Little did I expect, he was an evil practitioner? It’s no wonder he rarely left after moving in, always sneakily tinkering with something. Was he actually hiding from you, Master? To be honest, though our Changchuan Marquis Mansion might not be as illustrious as other noble houses, providing some vegetarian food wouldn’t break our bank, so we just let him be.”
He spoke with a mix of truth and lies. Master Tai Cheng thought to himself that if it wasn’t for the karma enveloping you, he might actually believe your story of evil.
“So, you are the Marquis of Changchuan,” said Master Tai Cheng as he performed a Taoist ceremony. “I would like to see for myself what sinister acts this man has been up to here. I wonder if the Marquis of Changchuan could grant me this convenience?”
The Marquis of Changchuan immediately responded, “It would be the best outcome if the Master is willing to slay the evil and restore peace to the Changchuan Marquis Mansion. However, since he moved into this small courtyard, I have been preoccupied with official duties and have not seen what he has been doing. I truly have no idea.”
Daoist Xu Gong: So everyone treats the dead as if they can’t talk, passing the buck onto me.
Master Tai Cheng harrumphed, walked into the small room, and did not see the Marquis of Changchuan’s face hidden behind a smile, now become stern.
Upon entering the room, he immediately put on his trousers that were tied around his waist and fastened them with a rope. Only then did he start to look around, eventually noticing the mess in the purification chamber.
This place is in utter chaos, as if something had exploded; there are bloodstains and scraps of clothes. Daoist Xu Gong must have been ambushed here?
Despicable, shameless thieves.
Master Tai Cheng gritted his teeth; he was most infuriated not only by being plotted against but also by not knowing who was behind it all—this was a great humiliation.
He entered the secret passage and upon seeing the thick yin energy and the smell of blood remaining in the room, a look of disgust flashed in his eyes. Just for this secret chamber, the face of Changchuan Marquis Mansion must be swollen.
Master Tai Cheng looked around but found nothing of value, so he retreated and, after a moment’s thought, cast an Eye-Blocking Technique.
Stepping out of the hut, Uncle Changchuan approached and asked, “What is inside? We usually don’t come near this place for fear of offending the masters, just delivering food to the courtyard gate and that’s it.”
Master Tai Cheng said, “Just a little Taoist, what master could he be? There’s nothing inside but some old things, you might as well burn them all together.”
“And him?” Uncle Changchuan pointed to the dead Daoist Xu Gong.
Master Tai Cheng coldly said, “He harmed many; his death is not a loss. Drag him to the burial ground for burial.”
Uncle Changchuan sneered inwardly, ‘So this is the so-called Righteous Path, not even bothering to dig a grave for the corpse, just tossing it to the burial ground.’
He frowned and said, “I originally invited him because he said that my Changchuan Marquis Mansion had too much yin energy. Now he has died under your sword, Master, yet the problem in my mansion is still unresolved. What do you think, Master?”
If I’m to do your work, you ought to offer some benefits!
A vein throbbed on Master Tai Cheng’s forehead. Was he expected to work for free or clean up this mess?
“If the Master could bring peace to Changchuan Marquis Mansion, I would definitely help your temple get the word out about your reputation for expelling evil and defending the Dao,” Uncle Changchuan said regarding Daoist Xu Gong.
Master Tai Cheng’s eyes flickered slightly as he looked around and said, “Well, this courtyard had been set with a Yin Gathering Formation by him. I shall resolve it and then make a Law Field, which should disperse the yin energy. Since it’s getting late, I will need to send someone back to the temple to fetch some items. After battling magic, I too need to rest and recuperate.”
“Then why not stay at the mansion for the night, and proceed with the Law Field after dawn?” Uncle Changchuan suggested.
“Agreed, lead the way,” declared Master Tai Cheng, standing tall and proud.
Uncle Changchuan instructed the servant to lead him to the guest room. Watching Master Tai Cheng’s pretense of lofty Taoist virtue, he snorted disdainfully—if not for the two bare legs under the Daoist robe, he might have actually looked the part. What a pity that the disheveled clothes spoiled the image.
“Lord, are we just going to let him have his way?” inquired the close Steward in a whisper.
Uncle Changchuan, with a dark expression, replied, “What else can we do? Let him make a big fuss and let everyone know about the affairs within my mansion? Let the Saint know that I consort with the Evil Path and practice evil magic?”
The close Steward quickly admitted his mistake.
Uncle Changchuan said, “Losing Daoist Xu Gong but gaining Master Tai Cheng isn’t a bad exchange. Treat him well; we might find him useful in the future.”
The Steward recalled the implication of ‘finding him useful,’ shuddered, and dared not say another word.
Unnoticed by both, a small paper figure drifted down along the wall of the courtyard and quickly vanished without a trace.