In front of his father, Bian Jixiong no longer maintained any pretenses, shaking his head helplessly, "Father, this isn't about what we say. It's about the hearts of people gathering and dispersing. It's about the significance of the sect's existence. If a disciple is killed and we still host the murderer as a guest, no amount of words will make it right."
The figure in a white robe paced within, his old voice calm like a still pond, "Right or wrong, they must still admit."
"What do you mean, Father?" Bian Jixiong was puzzled.
The voice from the white robe replied, "Upon thorough investigation, it is proven that Wei Bian orchestrated the assassination. You find a reason for it. In short, Wukang Mountain was at fault first, and although Shi Chun acted in self-defense, his measures were excessive. Even if the disciples of Wukang Mountain were at fault, outsiders are not allowed to kill them. We shall impose a slight punishment on Wukang Mountain, temporarily detaining them for labor."
Hearing this, Bian Jixiong thought it over and realized it might indeed satisfy everyone, yet he questioned, "Father, is it necessary to go to such lengths?"
The white-robed figure suddenly stopped, and through the veiled curtain, he sighed deeply, "Wukang Mountain is backed by the Eastern Victory Royal Court, and we do not fear open confrontation. Few dare attack us openly. But we must fear internal betrayal. Purging internal traitors is of utmost importance. While I am still alive, I can suppress it, which is convenient for you to cleanse."
The words left Bian Jixiong solemn.
He nodded slowly, "I understand. But, Wei Bian was Huixin’s personal disciple. If we pin this on him after his death, she will likely not agree. If she disagrees, it will be troublesome."
The white-robed figure waved his hand, "Such female views, foolish to the extreme! The dead have no value! I advised you to find a virtuous wife, yet you wouldn't listen and insisted on beauty. A foolish woman can ruin three generations! She has no say in this matter. If you can't control a woman, then that is your problem!"
With those words, the lamp extinguished, the curtain rustled, and the figure behind had vanished without a trace.
Bian Jixiong stood silently pondering for a while, then turned and left the room.
He walked through the connecting corridors until he reached a door, knocking on the entrance to Yin Huixin's cultivation chamber.
Upon permission to enter, he closed the door and approached the meditating Yin Huixin.
Noticing she barely bothered to open her eyes, he immediately started talking, "The plan to use Shi Chun to motivate Weikang remains unchanged. Shi Chun must stay on the mountain."
Yin Huixin barely humphs through her nose, "So long as you think it clears things up, do as you please. There’s no need to tell me!"
Bian Jixiong continued, "The assassination was orchestrated by Wei Bian alone, unrelated to Weiying. He plotted this because he had secretly loved Weiying, and seeing her frolic with Shi Chun during the day filled him with jealousy and led to his deadly actions."
This explanation startled Yin Huixin into opening her eyes wide in disbelief.
"After confirming the events, although Wukang Mountain was at fault first, Shi Chun's self-defense was excessive. Outsiders aren’t allowed to kill Wukang Mountain’s disciples. A slight punishment will be imposed, temporarily detaining them for hard labor!"
Yin Huixin's face turned white with anger, pointing at him and trembling, "Utterly shameless! Even in death, you smear Wei Bian’s innocence, rendering him restless. I will not agree to this!"
Bian Jixiong responded calmly, "The incident is obvious; anyone can see your daughter’s involvement in the deaths of the two Wukang Mountain disciples. How can I cover this up convincingly? Only if Wei Bian bears the blame does it make sense and resolve the issue. Do you want to maintain Wei Bian’s reputation, or do you want fair punishment for your daughter? Decide for yourself!"
Yin Huixin gritted her teeth, glaring at him silently.
Silence was an answer itself.
Bian Jixiong turned to leave, "You regard your emotions too highly, inconsiderate of what must be sacrificed. Everything centers on your feelings, which is the height of selfishness. Keep your daughter under control; you can’t always expect others to take the fall!"
Shi Chun and Wu Jin were separately interrogated and thrown back into the dungeon.
Indeed, Wukang Mountain had its own private jail.
In the cell, the beaten and tattered pair examined each other's wounds, asking about each other’s injuries, realizing they only appeared to suffer, yet were actually only superficially harmed.
They understood this implicitly.
Regarding such surface wounds, given their time in the Exile Lands, they were used to it; the scars scattered over Wu Jin’s body showed that clearly.
Shi Chun was absent old scars; his body healed swiftly, likely related to his cultivation technique, which was why he was reluctant to abandon the practice.
Evident enough in a man who ground pearl powder onto his face.
They then exchanged details of their interrogations, finding the questioning similar, both asked repeatedly about the assassination and how they unraveled the Immobilization Talisman.
The truth of the talisman must remain hidden, lest Wukang Mountain silences them permanently.
So they claimed an unknown force had dispelled it.
Relieved there were no gaps in their stories, Shi Chun sighed in relief, sitting down, "Ah, let’s rest. By the time we wake up, we might be outside."
Though whipped, the men felt relaxed, thinking the Demon Path individuals would certainly free them.
Wu Jin lay beside him with a sigh, "Got whipped before entering jail, only to be whipped again on coming out, cursed fate indeed."
The two lay head-to-head, forming an “eight” shape, lying through the night.
Bian Weiying didn't spend the night on the mountain.
Before leaving, she met with her mother, Yin Huixin, who summoned her and informed Weiying of the final decision, telling her to feel at ease.
"Even if it means throwing dirt on Wei Bian to not hinder the plan to support your brother… Oh heavens, in what exactly am I inferior to Bian Weikang? Just because he is a son and I am not? Why give me hope if this was the result, hahaha…”
Hysterical cries and laughter were all Bian Weiying gave her mother, driven mad, almost drunkenly.
She had believed that after Shi Chun killed Wei Bian publicly, no scenario would let him stay on Wukang Mountain to continue her father's absurd plan.
Who knew her father favored her brother so much to resolve it in such a ridiculous manner?
Her face now full of despair.
Eventually, she staggered down the mountain and returned to the City Lord's manor, only to find Bian Weikang waiting to question her.
Bian Weiying exploded, throwing whatever she could grab, acting truly insane, leaving Bian Weikang utterly speechless, having never seen his sister this way.
Others in the City Lord’s manor cowered away.
After smashing everything to pieces, exhausted, Bian Weiying sat disheveled and defeated on the steps, hugging her knees, gently sobbing.
Bian Weikang cautiously approached, squatting beside her to ask, "Weiying, what’s wrong?"
"Get lost!" Bian Weiying immediately screamed towards the door.
"…" Bian Weikang was left speechless, hesitating, before leaving in defeat, failing his intended purpose to meet her.
Returning to the inn to meet with Xiang Lan’er, he hesitated, having discovered nothing useful.
Xiang Lan’er continued to comfort him soothingly, urging him to rest.
At dawn, a cloaked figure, face obscured with a veil, appeared in Xiang Lan'er’s room with Feng Chi.
Before they could finish their greetings, Xiang Lan’er asked, "When will the people be brought out?"
Cloaked person and Feng Chi exchanged a look; Feng Chi had a peculiar expression.
The cloaked person spoke in a raspy voice, "It's no longer possible, nor necessary to pull them out. Bian Jixiong plans to keep them for slight punishment…" revealing the latest findings and the decision made by Wukang Mountain’s top ranks.
Feng Chi chuckled, “So, no need to bother anymore; the original plan can proceed. Those two don't need our help, having already infiltrated themselves."
Xiang Lan’er hesitated, "If it wasn't Bian Weiying ordering it, why was she, a city lord, so involved, even personally overseeing?"
Cloaked person: “A show, to give those above and below a pretext. Outsiders can’t see, but I understand Bian Jixiong’s goal. After all, I gave him the plan; he aims to protect both his daughter and not disrupt his plan to support his son. Honestly, I didn’t expect he’d go this far for his useless son, even fabricating evidence. Quite the effort. That said, we targeted his son correctly; once Bian Weikang has the item, those two nuisances can be dealt with.”
Feng Chi told Xiang Lan’er, “Miss, you’ll likely be summoned to the mountain today with Bian Weikang.”
Xiang Lan’er nodded slightly…
When daylight broke, the faint light crept into the cell window.
Waiting endlessly, still, there was no one to rescue them.
The two started to feel uneasy.
Finally, unable to hold it in, Wu Jin whispered, "Spring, didn’t you say we might be outside by the time we woke up?”
How could Shi Chun answer that? He, too, found it strange.
By right, Xiang Lan'er and the Demon Path should be panicking about their capture.
Just then, the sound of a cell door opening reached them from down the hallway, followed by approaching footsteps.
Here they come, the two exchanged knowing smiles before sitting cross-legged again, pretending they knew nothing.