Zanxing

Chapter 98 - Results (2)

The ruler of Li'er was very pleased.

Upon capturing the Bixi spirit, Tan Tianxin and his group wasted no time in returning to the palace and boasting of their success to the ruler. 

In the grand hall, a few disciples from the Chihua Sect displayed a fragment of the Bixi stone sculpture, taken from a box. It was said they also brought back several bodies found in the cave, but since the corpses were too gruesome to be shown to the ruler, they were first examined by the palace guards.

"The skill of the immortal masters is truly remarkable. In this time of need, you have captured the demon that plagued Li'er. On behalf of the people, I thank you," the ruler said with a smile. "It's late today, so please rest well. Tomorrow night, I will host a grand banquet in the palace to show my gratitude. Consider it a celebration before you all venture into the secret realm, wishing you success and fortune."

"We're already celebrating?" Tian Fangfang couldn't help but interject. "We've only just caught a Bixi spirit. Who knows if the problem is really solved? What's the rush?"

"And what do you mean by that, Tian Fangfang?" asked Nie Xinghong from the Yin Feng Sect, waving his fan.

Tian Fangfang disliked being called "Fangfang" and responded with a scowl, "What proof do you have that this creature is the one causing chaos and murders in the city? Li'er is vast, and it's likely more demons are hiding within. You all just grabbed any demon and claimed it's the culprit. Now that the demon is dead, it can't defend itself, so you're free to say whatever you want."

"Nonsense!" Pu Tao from the Xiang Ling Sect retorted, her eyebrows raised in anger. "We followed the Thousand Mile Demon Frog and its trail of demonic energy to the Bixi spirit. The cave was filled with drained corpses. How could we not be sure the Bixi was the culprit? If you were too cowardly to come with us and stayed behind in the palace, don't blame us for doing the hard work and catching the demon!"

Tian Fangfang glared at her, "Young lady, you're pretty, but your words are far from pleasant. Do you think running around in the scorching heat while investigating the demonic merman case is easy? We weren't lounging around!"

"Oh? And what have you discovered?" Pu Tao pressed.

"I..." Tian Fangfang hesitated, wanting to mention the scandal involving the late King Shengning. But this was a sensitive royal matter, and with the current ruler present along with disciples from various sects, it wasn't appropriate to say it outright.

"Lost for words?" Pu Tao sneered. "You were just being lazy and now can't even admit it. Pathetic."

"My senior brother suspects the Bixi spirit isn't the true culprit, and this isn't baseless conjecture," interjected Zanxing, who had been silent until now. "We examined the bodies from the earlier cases. The female corpses had only faint traces of demonic energy, while the Bixi stone fragments you brought back are heavily tainted. It's suspicious."

"How ridiculous," scoffed Huang Fan from the Chihua Sect, who had dueled with Zanxing previously. He gave her a sideways glance. "Demons are tricky. It's likely they used a spell to hide their demonic aura. When they saw us, powerful disciples, they panicked, and their aura leaked. Isn't that easy to figure out?"

Someone in the hall let out a chuckle.

Everyone turned to see Gu Baiying, who was sitting lazily, casually toying with a fruit from the bowl beside him. "Panicked after seeing you?" he mocked, his voice dripping with disdain. "The disciples of Chihua Sect are remarkably confident, aren't they?"

Gu Baiying's sharp tongue spared no one, and unfortunately, no one could win against him in a duel either. As the tension in the room thickened, Tan Tianxin's face began to darken.

Sensing the awkwardness, the ruler chuckled, "All of you immortal masters have the best interests of Li'er at heart, and I am deeply moved by your concern. However, the case of the demonic merman is indeed complex, and it's understandable that opinions differ. For now, it's good that the Bixi spirit has been dealt with. After tomorrow night's banquet, you will all enter the secret realm for several days. If no other incidents occur in that time, it will confirm the real culprit has been caught, and our people will have nothing to fear. If, however, more crimes are committed, we can reconsider the matter after you return from the secret realm."

The ruler clearly didn't want to offend either side. Yet Zanxing felt uneasy. During the days the sect members would spend in the secret realm, more innocent women could be murdered. The ruler's apathy likely stemmed from his confidence that the palace, fortified with talismans, was secure from any threat. But who knew the demon had already infiltrated the palace, moving like a shadow, leaving no trace of demonic energy, not even for Gu Baiying to track?

For now, though, the so-called "brilliant" disciples of the major sects were all too eager to close the case, reveling in their role as saviors. The ruler also sent valuable gifts to the disciples' quarters as a token of appreciation.

Once back at their own courtyard, Mendong shut the door and asked, "Martial Uncle, what should we do now?"

Knowing full well that Tan Tianxin's group likely caught the wrong demon, yet all the other sects wanted the matter resolved quickly so they could move on, the team was at a crossroads.

"I think we should reveal the events from forty years ago," Tian Fangfang suggested, rubbing his chin. "Back then, King Shengning killed for immortality. The current murders mirror those of the past demonic merman's case. We should approach it from this angle."

Meng Ying, already aware of the emperor's deeds, spoke softly, "This involves a royal scandal. Even if you reveal the truth, the royal family will never admit it."

Mu Chengxiao nodded in agreement, "They might even go further to cover it up, insisting the Bixi spirit was the true culprit."

Zanxing hesitated. "But are we really going to let them get it wrong? That poor merman is being wronged all over again."

"Anyone who does wrong must face the consequences," Gu Baiying muttered, curling his lips. "Whether it's the ruler or the demons."

"What do you mean?" Zanxing asked.

"I've examined the bodies of the women killed over the past few months. Some had already been buried, but traces of demonic energy lingered at the grave sites, indicating that the demonic aura was strong at first. But as time passed, the aura weakened. By the time we arrived in Li'er, the demonic energy on the latest victim was barely noticeable. And last night, the creature that entered your room had no demonic aura at all."