Chapter 567: Chapter 559: Scapegoated
Mocked by the sneaky Daoist Xu Gong, Master Tai Cheng, who had originally only used sixty percent of his Daoist cultivation, was now driven by anger to unleash his full power. His copper coin sword swirled with the finesse of spinning flowers as he lunged at his opponent.
But Daoist Xu Gong was indeed a Loose Daoist, and one with considerable cultivation at that; otherwise, he would not have crafted such a sinister and evil artifact as the Ghost Drum. He wasn’t exactly a figure of righteousness and when clashing with Master Tai Cheng, he fought dirty, using every sneaky tactic under the sun such as targeting the lower body and delivering groin kicks – how disgustingly lecherous his methods were. This left Master Tai Cheng, who had rushed out in haste without bringing many magic artifacts or talisman papers, somewhat flustered.
Still, he was a person of Foundation Establishment cultivation. Without talismans, he could still chant spells and summon Heavenly Thunder.
Strike dead this despicable Demon Path Daoist!
Thus, in what was initially a cool and breezy sky, suddenly thunder resounded, striking straight towards the small courtyard of the Changchuan Marquis Mansion, which was considered forbidden ground.
Daoist Xu Gong, gnashing his teeth in anger, also threw out a handful of talismans towards Master Tai Cheng.
While the two were engaged in their magical duel, Qin Liuxi had already silently infiltrated the small house with Feng Yue, and they had even released Yiqiu to lead the way.
Yiqiu had not expected Qin Liuxi who had verbally claimed he wouldn’t help, yet in the blink of an eye, he had orchestrated such a stunt. Excitedly, she led the two through the cleansing room and instructed them to move the toilet bucket.
“Here, is the entrance to the hidden passage, quick, move it!”
Qin Liuxi: “!”
Miss, surely you’ve mistaken the way, this doesn’t conform to the usual novel trajectories.
Aren’t hidden passages usually behind a certain bookcase in a study, or a desk where moving a certain item would grant access, or even under a bed board, or perhaps even behind the rockery outside the courtyard?
Who could tell her, why on earth was the entrance to this household’s secret chamber fixed under a toilet bucket?
So filthy, this Demon Path Daoist is truly vile!
Qin Liuxi sealed her five senses and gestured to Feng Yue to do the work.
Feng Yue, grinding his teeth in irritation, what kind of karma have I accumulated? Am I dissatisfied with the softness of the beds at home to be going mad following this person?
But the Grandmaster had given the orders, and he dared not disobey. He kicked the toilet bucket away, unveiling a small pull ring.
Qin Liuxi pulled the ring, revealing an Earth Gate, with stairs leading down.
“Such a grand figure of the Evil Path, learning anything less troublesome would have been better; opting for a complicated secret passage that even requires going downstairs. Simply using an Eye-Blocking Technique or setting up an Array within the room would have concealed the secrets without being so taxing,” Qin Liuxi complained as she descended.
Feng Yue: “Quit your whining, it’s almost dawn. Let’s finish this and go back for a wash and some sleep.”
“Right, I heard today’s top scorer’s street parade is at the quarter past Chen hour, I have to witness the grandeur of this year’s scholars.”
Feng Yue: “…”
He misspoke just now, let’s start over.
Upon entering the secret passage, Qin Liuxi let out a sound of interest. Not bad, an Array had been set up here. She chuckled and began to forcefully dismantle the Array without haste.
And as the Array was disturbed here, Daoist Xu Gong sensed it on his end. Staring down Master Tai Cheng, he sneered and cursed: “So this is what the vaunted Righteous Path has come to, resorting to such sneaky, despicable tactics.”
“Presumptuous!” Master Tai Cheng, not understanding, formed hand seals and attacked him.
Daoist Xu Gong leaped away and tossed another talisman towards him but also aimed to misdirect, charging towards the small house.
Master Tai Cheng then felt something was amiss. Listening to the Demon Path Daoist’s words, it seemed as if someone else had sneaked in. Who could it be?
As he was about to give chase, a couple of thunderous booms sounded from inside the house, followed by two shadowy figures darting out and shouting at him: “The wind’s getting rough, scatter!”
Master Tai Cheng: “?”
Who among you do I know?
The two ghostly figures have already run out of sight, and Master Tai Cheng is still somewhat stunned when suddenly there’s a loud bang. He turns around to see Daoist Xu Gong, who was originally pale-faced and black-haired, now with silvery white hair and a face covered in wrinkles and burst flesh. Clutching his chest as if he’s run into a door, his Daoist robe is even more torn than his, looking as if he has suffered a tremendous blow.
This was obviously a severe backlash.
Daoist Xu Gong: No, I’ve been ambushed!
Despicable and shameless scoundrels of the Righteous Path.
Heaven knows when he tried to rush into the Earth Gate, a ghostly figure sprang out, smashing three Five Thunders Talismans directly at him. The blasts shook his Divine Soul, causing his entire body to ache and even broke his ribs. Breathing was painful.
Daoist Xu Gong stared at Master Tai Cheng with eyes wide with fury, thinking how low and shameless it was. He understood everything now; they were after his Ghost Drum.
Master Tai Cheng stepped back and stuttered: “If I say it wasn’t me, would you believe it?”
I believe in your Grandmaster’s big-headed ghost; without hesitation, three Five Thunders Talismans come at me. Just what, do you think the Jinhua Temple has such deep resources that you can afford to use Five Thunders Talismans like they’re free?
Five Thunders Talismans, ah! To successfully draw one uses who knows how much talisman paper, and you launch three at once. I, Xu Gong, am truly ‘honored.’
Wrong, to throw out three Five Thunders Talismans at once, and you still claim you are innocent?
Old Taoist, I’ll fight you to the end!
Daoist Xu Gong spat out a mouthful of hot blood, tremblingly took up the Soul Beating Whip, and staggered towards Master Tai Cheng.
Master Tai Cheng’s eyes flickered. They say strike when your enemy is weak; in the absence of anyone around, why not finish him off right here?
After all, he isn’t anything good.
Just as he was entertaining these wild thoughts, Daoist Xu Gong, enduring the exploding pain all over his body, lunged at him, suddenly tripped by something, and fell forward.
Plop.
Daoist Xu Gong’s eyes bulged as he painfully lifted his head and locked eyes with Master Tai Cheng, who had incidentally lowered his head.
Master Tai Cheng, seeing his copper coin sword pierced through the body of this man of the Demon Path, stepped back in shock: “You came at it yourself seeking death.”
Blood seeped from Daoist Xu Gong’s mouth, and a strong unwillingness and resentment soared into the sky as his soul body made a swift exit from his body.
“Not good.” Master Tai Cheng saw the soul of the man of the Demon Path escape and silently cursed. Just as he was about to chase, he heard a thump.
He turned his head to see someone appear at the entrance of the courtyard, locking eyes for a moment before retreating and shouting, “Help! A thief has broken in, seize them!”
Footsteps came rushing.
In fact, when Master Tai Cheng called down the Heavenly Thunder that struck the courtyard, the servant guards had already taken notice of the noise here. However, this small courtyard was a forbidden area of the Changchuan Marquis Mansion, with a strict order from Uncle Changchuan prohibiting anyone from wandering around, and occasional disturbances were not unusual.
Thus, when people arrived, they kept their distance of ten feet, merely observing until Uncle Changchuan himself came over in a hurry, prompting them to advance.
Uncle Changchuan, looking at Daoist Xu Gong lying on the ground with an uncertain fate before Master Tai Cheng, had a glint of cold harshness in his eyes. Useless, he thought. Pretending to be profound and capable on ordinary days, and now to die like this, how would he manage those resentful souls in the future?
Daoist Xu Gong: Whether you believe it or not, I died wrongfully.
And when Master Tai Cheng saw the servant guards rushing in with clubs and blades, his head buzzed as if a hand had cleared the fog from his mind, and he came to his senses.
Infinite Heavenly Venerate, it seemed he had been calculated against, and all the while, shouldering the blame!