Chapter Forty-Eight: A Temporary Resolution

"Ouch." I pushed myself off the ground, rubbing my sore joints and dusting off my clothes. I glanced down to see what had tripped me and was startled to find a motionless figure in a Taoist robe. As I got closer, I realized it was none other than Daoist Lingyun, who had mysteriously disappeared earlier.

Daxian approached, asking what had happened. I pointed to the person on the ground. "Him..."

"Hmm?" Daxian followed my finger and walked over to the "corpse," turning it over.

I couldn't help but take a peek. Apart from a purplish bruise on his forehead, the body was relatively intact. The cause of death seemed rather embarrassing: he probably slipped and fell while trying to escape.

Daxian calmly withdrew his hand and said, "He fainted."

When Lingyun Temple collapsed, he was the first to flee. Now it seemed his misfortune had caught up with him, causing him to knock himself out. But that was beside the point. The important thing now was to wake him up and get to the bottom of this situation.

I leaned over the "corpse" and patted his face. "Hey, stop pretending to be dead. Wake up." When he didn't respond, I conjured an ice lotus and placed it on his neck.

The thousand-year-old ice was unbearable, even for a Taoist practitioner. Unless they had practiced a spell like the Frost Condensation Mantra to resist the cold, the chill would easily penetrate their defenses.

As soon as I put the ice lotus down, he shot up like a stiff corpse, screaming in pain.

Seeing his exaggerated reaction, I called out to Senior Brother Luoxi, "Senior Brother Luoxi, make him quiet down!"

Daoist Lingyun was in a daze for a while before Luoxi grabbed his arm and twisted it behind his back, silencing him.

I leisurely walked around to face him, retrieved the ice lotus from his neck, and smiled. "How are you feeling now, Daoist Lingyun? More awake?"

As soon as he recovered, he started ranting, "You… you Qiongyun Sect people are so unreasonable! Not only did you destroy my Lingyun Temple, but you also knocked me out and captured me!"

It seemed he had quickly concocted a story to deflect blame and make false accusations.

"Hey, you're really good at slandering people as soon as you wake up, aren't you?" Luoxi pressed his arm down, eliciting another pig-like squeal.

I sighed, playing with the ice lotus in my hand. "It seems you're still not thinking clearly, Daoist Lingyun. Maybe another dose of ice lotus will help you explain the connection between Lingyun Temple and the demons underneath?"

His face contorted in pain, but he stubbornly denied, "Nonsense! I have nothing to do with those demons. It's you who attacked me and acted suspiciously. I think you're the ones who are in league with them!"

Daxian asked calmly, "If Daoist Lingyun wasn't aware that removing the talismans would cause Lingyun Temple to collapse, why did you leave without a word?"

"I… I had a sudden urgent need!" He managed to come up with the most implausible excuse.

"And you left right before Qingyue retrieved the talismans and amulets?" Daxian asked.

"Yes, so what?" Daoist Lingyun replied, looking bewildered.

Daxian flicked his sleeve and pursed his lips, saying nothing more.

Daoist Lingyun grew agitated. "Why are you smiling?"

Daxian glanced at him and said coolly, "As soon as we arrived at Lingyun Temple, you welcomed us and seemed to have prepared everything in advance. We talked for less than the time it takes to burn half an incense stick. It seems your urgent need came conveniently and quickly."

"Pfft." I couldn't help but applaud Daxian's reasoning.

This cleverly exposed the hypocrisy of the scheming Daoist.

Daoist Lingyun thought his lies were flawless, but they were full of holes. Perhaps this is what they mean by "the way of the righteous always triumphs over evil."

"It's because I had been holding it in since you all arrived. Later, I couldn't…" Daoist Lingyun's words grew increasingly vague, his expression guilty and evasive, clearly showing his insincerity.

Senior Brother Luoxi teased, "You could hold it for a while, but suddenly couldn't anymore at that exact moment? What a coincidence."

The old Daoist grunted and withdrew into himself like a snail retreating into its shell, refusing to speak.

Seeing that he wouldn't talk, I decided it was a waste of time to continue questioning him. "Alright, he's already exposed himself. There's no point in talking to him further. Let's take him to Luoyang and make him explain everything there."

Except for Lingluo, who didn't express an opinion, Daxian, Yier, and Senior Brother Luoxi all agreed. We then set off for Luoyang with the captured Daoist.

Thanks to this Daoist, as soon as we entered the streets of Luoyang, people noticed our procession. They quickly gathered, coming out of their homes and shops, surrounding us and demanding to know why we had bound Daoist Lingyun.

Fortunately, I had sealed this demon's senses in advance, preventing him from further misleading the crowd. I cleared my throat and addressed the onlookers, "Fellow townspeople, do not be deceived by this demon. He is the mastermind behind the series of crimes in Luoyang. Beneath Lingyun Temple, he has been raising demonic beasts that harm people. You've all been duped by him, unaware of his true, malevolent nature."

"What evidence do you have?"

"Yes, show us the evidence! For all we know, you and your people might be the demons trying to deceive us!"

The crowd erupted into chaotic discussions.

Luckily, I had prepared a trump card. I gave Daxian's companion, Lingluo, a sly smile and approached her, wrapping my arm around hers affectionately. "Sister Lingluo, I know you are well-respected in Luoyang. If you expose this demon, it would be much more convincing. You wouldn't want Daxian to be implicated, would you?" I whispered the last part softly, with a hint of pleading.

This was the most effort I had ever put into acting endearing.

Lingluo's eyes narrowed slightly as she glanced at Daxian, clearly conflicted.

Daxian stepped forward, addressing the crowd with an air of authority. "Qingyue is a member of the Qiongyun Sect. Everything she has said, I have personally witnessed. It is all true. I am willing to vouch for her."

"We also believe in Qingyue and are willing to vouch for her," Senior Brother Luoxi and Yier chimed in.

Lingluo, unable to remain silent, stepped forward under the demon's shocked gaze and said, "I, too, can vouch for Qingyue. I have seen everything with my own eyes."

"Isn't that Lingluo Fairy?"

"Yes, it is. Didn't she always side with Daoist Lingyun? Why the sudden change…"

"She must have been pretending to be close to him to uncover the truth."

The crowd's opinions shifted, and they began to denounce Daoist Lingyun.

It seemed Lingluo's reputation far exceeded that of the demon. Now, he looked more like a pitiful, defeated dog.

Seeing the crowd's growing momentum, I decided to add fuel to the fire. "This demon has deceived you all for so long. Now that the truth is out, let those with grievances settle them. Throw what you can at him, but aim well."

As soon as I finished speaking, an egg hit Daoist Lingyun squarely on the head. I quickly stepped aside, avoiding the onslaught of rotten vegetables and stones that followed, covering him completely.

I sneered at him. This is what you get for your misdeeds. Thinking of Lianmu and Green Shade's ordeal, I couldn't resist picking up a carrot and throwing it at him.

Seeing that he was losing consciousness, I quickly intervened, "Alright, alright, don't kill him. If he dies now, it would be too easy."

Someone shouted, "This demon has harmed so many people! How can we not kill him to avenge our loved ones?"

Another suggested, "Let's hand him over to the authorities. That would be more proper."

Someone else countered, "He can perform sorcery. What if he escapes? The longer he lives, the more harm he could cause."

As the crowd debated how to deal with him, Daxian spoke up, "I can strip him of his powers, rendering him unable to harm anyone or escape. As for the ruins of Lingyun Temple, I will set up a sealing spell to prevent the demons from coming out. Since this matter occurred in Luoyang, let's leave him to the authorities. What do you think?"

"Yes, without his powers, he'll have to face the consequences of his actions. Killing him in a fit of rage won't bring justice," Yier agreed with Daxian's solution.

"Alright, let's do that."

With Daxian around, there was no need to worry. This matter was finally half-resolved.

As for the other half…

I glanced at Lingluo.

Forget it. As long as she doesn't interfere again, I can let bygones be bygones.

After all the chaos, I could finally take a breather. I stretched my arms contentedly and closed my eyes, only to be bumped from behind.

I opened my eyes to find myself surrounded by thick, inky fog. In no time, it enveloped me completely.

Am I being devoured by the fog?