Inner Demons

Chapter 48: Experiment (1)

Li Yunxin only smiled faintly, saying, "Let's talk later. We'll leave in a bit."

In reality, they did leave a while later.

The employer was killed right under the noses of the two – and this was after they had spent a fortune to set up the Grand Yin Spirit Formation. A grand formation that could make even a quasi-Manifestation Realm person like Li Yunxin feel it was tricky must not have been something these two Illusory Realm cultivators could complete on their own. They had indeed sought help from their sects and friends.

This doesn't mean the two were particularly concerned about Li Yaosi. Rather, as cultivators, taking on such a task was effectively engaging in a battle with a potentially great demon or enemy. Being careless was acceptable, and so was simply going through the motions. The death of a mortal wouldn't trouble most cultivators.

But their own reputation would be ruined.

Just as it was today – probably, the impression these two would leave in the minds of cultivators across the world would be... "the ones who set up the Grand Yin Spirit Formation, yet didn't even detect who made a move."

Their reputation was utterly ruined – not because they were cruel, treacherous, or malicious, but because they were incompetent.

Thus, after Cong Yunzi glanced at Madam Qiao Liu's corpse on the ground, he merely frowned slightly: "You struck a bit too hard."

Pu Nanzi of the Lingxu Sword Sect had completely lost his patience. He simply glared, using all his spiritual consciousness to diligently search for traces of the "enemy," while scolding: "I don't have the same compassionate heart as your Shangqing sect. I've already passed the killing tribulation long ago."

His gaze swept over Yin Pingzhi, then he scolded him again: "Get these people out! Don't get in this Daoist Master's way! If anyone else dares to wail, I'll kill them too!"The people in the hall were ordinary; this could be confirmed. Even if there was a great demon like Bai Yunxin, whom Huainanzi couldn't detect, if they had made a move within such a Yin Spirit Array, it would certainly not go undetected.

If they stayed here, with so many mouths, whatever means the two used would be seen by these ignorant commoners. It wasn't that they feared them learning their techniques; occasionally displaying a skill for the commoners to worship was good, but they weren't in the mood right now.

In fact, after the two gradually calmed down, they now suspected –

Was it the demon who acted, or... was it the other party who acted? And why.

At the Immortal Master's reprimand, Yin Pingzhi shivered slightly. Gritting his teeth, he glanced at Li Yunxin out of the corner of his eye, and whispered, "Please, Immortal Masters, give us a plan. This case still..."

"What a pile of crap about a case. Do you think I don't know what's going on?" Pu Nanzi lost the last shred of his patience, his eyes narrowing dangerously. "Do you want to stay here with them and make me go through another killing tribulation?! The case... This case is the cause of all this trouble! You murderers! If I hear about this case again, all of you worms will die!"

Yin Pingzhi didn't know what the concept of a "killing tribulation" was, but he knew it probably meant people would die. He also knew that this Immortal Master didn't truly care whether they were "worms" or if the people below were wronged – he was simply irritated and taking it out on them.

But this "transferred anger" came at just the right time. He quickly glared and waved his hand: "Didn't you hear the Immortal Master? Disperse everyone! Disperse them! And quickly carry that one away, don't delay the Immortal Master!"

The Yamen Runners were utterly bewildered from beginning to end. In the eyes of both the Head Constable and the Immortal Masters, they were small fries; they just had to follow orders. Even though they still didn't understand what had happened, they had to obey dutifully.

At once, some people rushed outside the Prefectural Office to disperse the curious onlookers, some went to carry Madam Qiao Liu's corpse, and some went to escort the prisoners away.

But Yin Pingzhi personally went to escort Li Yunxin.

When this Head Constable reached Li Yunxin amidst the chaos, Qiao Jiaming and Madam Qiao Wang had already been pushed away by Yamen Runners – because these two dared not shout loudly again and had already been scared out of their wits.

Li Yunxin's expression and words from before were still vivid in their minds – "None of you will escape."

They wanted to quickly beg for mercy, but were driven out by the Yamen Runners, stumbling as they walked, looking back at Li Yunxin, almost in tears.

Yin Pingzhi... pursed his lips tightly, walked to Li Yunxin and Old Daoist Qiao.

His posture was no longer as upright as before; his shoulders were slightly slumped, and his neck was slightly bent forward. He probably didn't even realize that this was his usual stance when facing a superior official.

"..." He thought for a moment, actually not knowing how to address Li Yunxin now, and then saw the extremely faint smile on the other's face, so he could only say in a hoarse voice, "Both of you, please... follow me out of the yamen."

A Yamen Runner heard his words and glanced at him in surprise.

But at this moment, Yin Pingzhi had no mind to care what others thought of him.

Li Yunxin looked at him with a noncommittal smile, then tugged Old Daoist Liu: "Head Constable Yin has spoken, Master, let's go."

The old Taoist was good at reading expressions and knew that at this moment, he had to obey either of these two. So, he walked silently beside Li Yunxin, filled with immense relief and gratitude for surviving the ordeal.

Stepping out of the main hall, Li Yunxin glanced at Yin Pingzhi, who was cautiously observing his expression, and smiled: "Hmm, don't guess anymore. I killed that person. But even if you calmly tell those two later, they won't believe it, and you'll be in trouble instead – they'll think you're making fun of them. Just like that Madam Qiao Liu."

"You know, those kinds of people are always very confident in themselves. It's hard for them to accept things outside their perception." Li Yunxin shrugged, "They're just stubborn. Actually, quite similar to your state before. I said there might be a way, but you see, you just wouldn't believe it."

Yin Pingzhi's heart skipped a beat at his words, and he quickly said, "Yes... it was me, I..."

"You want to humble yourself to me, admit your mistake, and apologize. But you're not sure if I really did it, or if I'm just putting on a show." The three of them had already walked outside the Prefectural Office gate, out of sight of the two cultivators inside the hall. Li Yunxin stopped, turned, and looked at Yin Pingzhi. "I understand. After all, you've been a Head Constable for so many years, treated with deference at home and at work. It's also hard for you to accept things outside your understanding."

"If you're so undecided, I can give you another eye-opener." Li Yunxin tilted his head and looked at Qiao Jiaming and Madam Qiao Wang, who were guarded near a weeping willow not far away, pointing at them. "Those two were scared stiff by what just happened. I also told them they would die. Now I've told you too."

"In a bit, go help me stop those two from coming to bother me, and don't let them beg for my mercy. Tell them both that they are dead men. See, this is an opportunity for you to confirm your suspicions – you can observe and watch, and see if you can find any evidence to say I did it."