Inner Demons

Chapter 91: Surrender

Li Yunxin raised his head without the slightest hesitation, offering a sincere smile. "Okay. I will never do anything foolish."

Lingkongzi watched him for a while longer, seeing nothing more unusual in his eyes than a certain "fanatical" emotion. She sighed softly and tapped her finger lightly on the table.

The invisible power released the restrictions she had previously placed on everyone. However, to those present, the conversation between the two high-ranking individuals had only lasted for a brief moment—one moment they were preparing to prick up their ears and listen, the next, the two were already sitting silently opposite each other.

Outside the window, the last clap of thunder sounded, and then the rain gradually subsided, and the wind died down.

Even the most unperceptive person realized that they had just been subjected to "Immortal Arts" by "Immortals," but they didn't know what had happened between the two "Immortals."

They only saw Fairy Lingkong stand up and say, "This person is no longer human."

She pointed to Pei Juezi: "A ghost with a hundred years of cultivation has possessed him. Pei Juezi himself has had his soul devoured."

Then she turned to Li Yunxin: "This one is a fellow Daoist from my Langya Grotto-Heaven. There were some misunderstandings before, but they have been resolved. This ghost will be managed by him from now on. If this steward of the Qin Mansion has any objections, he may come and ask me."

The steward by Pei Juezi's side was dumbfounded—on the one hand, he couldn't believe his master had become a "possessed ghost," and on the other hand, he instinctively waved his hands repeatedly: "...I wouldn't dare... I wouldn't dare..."

—How could he have the courage or qualifications to "ask Fairy Lingkong"?"This person—what's your name?" She looked at Old Daoist Liu again.

"...Ah, ah, I am... ah, Hunyuanzi, ah..."

"Hmm. This Daoist Hunyuanzi is a friend of my Langya Grotto-Heaven—he will still live in Weicheng in the future. But he must not be treated lightly."

The only ones with the authority to nod to this were a Prefect and three Prefectural Governors. The three said "Yes, yes" repeatedly, agreeing profusely, only wishing to end this Treasure Blossom Assembly as soon as possible and get away from this woman.

But the next words made their hearts clench—it had finally come.

"Well, I said before that I was going to Transcending the Killing Tribulation, and now I have crossed it," Lingkongzi said, pacing slowly, "Many of you know Pu Nanzi—Pu Nanzi of Lingxu Sword Sect. Some people know he returned to the sect, but in reality, he did not. That person was killed by me."

The main hall instantly fell silent; no one made a sound.

"As for why I killed him, you should know. You mortals raise poultry, kill them and eat them, and don't feel anything is wrong. But if the poultry themselves kill their own kind and offer them to you to eat... I think you would feel displeased."

"Among my Daoist Orthodoxy and Sword Sect, many people come from the mortal world. When the Celestial Being transmitted the Ancestral Celestial Heart Orthodox Law, he also said to have compassion for the people of the world and to protect their continuous survival. Therefore, the first commandment of the Daoist Orthodoxy Sword Sect is not to wantonly kill mortal lives."

"Some scoundrels collude with mortals and use mortal lives to Transcending the Killing Tribulation. Such people, I kill them whenever I see one. And several of you present should also know about Pu Nanzi's actions—I think you even provided some convenience."

"Immortal, we... we have our difficulties..."

The Prefect, seeing that things had come to this point, no longer cared about his dignity and cried out sorrowfully. When the Prefect cried out, the three Prefectural Governors knelt on the ground and bowed. Xuan Chengzi's situation was even worse—he had been sitting with a blank stare, but at this moment, his body softened, and he completely collapsed.

"Difficulties, you say. Then tell me."

The Prefect was stunned and hurriedly said, "Immortal, please understand—although Lingxu Sword Sect is not a famous sect in your eyes, in the eyes of us mortals, it is already a genuine Immortal Sect—and our Great Qing Dynasty also has regulations stating that local officials have no right to interfere when Immortal Sects act in the mortal world."

"Such are the rules on the surface, and in specific localities, one can only be more cautious—Immortal Masters are aloof and detached, and their tempers... are different from ours, mere mortals. Whenever they have a request, who dares to disobey? We can only say..."

"You mean Lingxu Sword Sect coerced you into doing this."

The Prefect was slightly stunned, sweat breaking out on his forehead. As a fourth-rank official, how could he not know the implication of such words...

He might have...

Participated in...

The internal struggles of the Immortal Sect.

"Oh. Do you think... you participated in the internal struggles of the Immortal Sect?"

But at this moment, Lingkongzi actually spoke the words in the Prefect's heart.

The Prefect was even more stunned—if not for that... then why else?

Could it really be just because—Lingxu Sword Sect killed mortals?

This Fairy Lingkong actually killed a fellow cultivator?!

But Lingkongzi only sneered slightly and ignored him. She pointed at the four officials and three Artificers: "You seven, surrender within three days. You, Prefect, will preside over their trial, and then try yourself. Since you are mortals, you will be dealt with according to the laws of your Qing Kingdom."

"If you dare to pervert justice, I will deal with you according to the Immortal Sect's commandments."

After saying these few words, the rain outside the building had already stopped. Lingkongzi stood in the hall, looked up at the sky for a while, and then said to Li Yunxin, "I'll see you in three days. This Precious Scroll..."

"It was painted for you, so it's yours."

"...Okay."

She took one step, and in that single step, she was outside the building.

So everyone was looking at him.

Li Yunxin stood up from behind the table and stretched his arms a few times. He turned around and saw that the Prefect, the Prefectural Governors, and several Artificers were still staring at him. He exaggeratedly exclaimed, "Oh dear, if I were you, I'd be running to the yamen right now to seriously work, study, and live."

"Because... you know how she kills when she's angry?"

"Have you ever seen sticky, thick rice spilled all over the floor? Now imagine that replaced with bloody..."

"Alright, don't look at me like that. I certainly won't intercede for you, nor will I come up with ideas for you—and I definitely won't help you. Because right now I'm busy with other things—talking seriously with these fellow cultivators. Frankly speaking, I'm actually more troublesome than that Lingkongzi—I won't be soft-hearted when I kill."

"Get lost. I haven't even eaten yet."

...

...

A quarter of an hour later, only Li Yunxin and the wild Taoist priests were left on the second floor of Qionghua Tower. Delicious delicacies had been ordered, and now they were served one by one. But instead of separate tables, they were seated around large tables, eight people to a table, like at a Great Qing Dynasty wedding.

Many, like Old Daoist Liu, had been hungry all day and were looking forward to this meal, but at this moment... they had no desire to touch the food. Having realized that Li Yunxin probably had an "extraordinary" identity, they were speculating about his intentions in keeping them there.

When all the dishes were served, Li Yunxin stood up and smiled: "I know you're all hungry, so I'll keep it short."