Heaven Official's Blessing: Tian Guan Ci Fu (Novel) Vol. 2(5)
The three of them looked at each other, eyes flitting all over, stealing glimpses at one another but swiftly turning away and pretending not to care. Who knew what the other two were thinking? However, Xie Lian had pretty much figured out why Pei Ming had called them out to help.
As suspected, Pei Ming said, “General Nan Yang and General Xuan Zhen have both fought Hua Cheng before. I’m sure they can speak with authority regarding the weapon used by that person.”
So the point of bringing forth the empty shell A-Zhao was for the court to inspect its wounds. Feng Xin and Mu Qing slowly approached the floating body. Xie Lian himself took a few steps forward to take a look, but it was splotched with so much dark blood that it was hard to discern anything. The other two, faces austere, took their time in their inspection. Finally, they raised their heads and swept a look at each other, seeming like neither of them wanted to speak first.
Ling Wen prompted from next to the throne. “Generals. Your conclusion?”
It was Feng Xin who spoke first, his voice dark. “It’s him.”
“The scimitar Eming,” Mu Qing added.
Xie Lian was probably the only one among the heavenly officials present at the Palace of Divine Might who didn’t know the significance of those words.
The scimitar Eming was the very same freakish weapon Hua Cheng had used when he challenged those thirty-three officials and single-handedly beat them to a pulp, annihilating their souls and dignity both!
Inside the Palace of Divine Might, the heavenly officials started whispering to each other, unreadable eyes watching Xie Lian.
“Many thanks to the two generals for confirming this fact, which verified my conjecture,” Pei Ming said. “If the red-clothed young man who traveled next to Your Highness really was that person, then this matter is considerably more complicated.”
The white-clad cultivator from before spoke up again. “General Pei, do you truly mean to imply that His Highness colluded with a supreme ghost king to frame General Pei Junior?”
Both times that cultivator spoke, he was on Xie Lian’s side, so Xie Lian had to see who exactly this curious fellow cultivator was. What he saw was a person with clear, bright eyes. He wore a white jaded belt, held a whisk in his arms, and had a long sword carried on his back, with a folding fan tucked at his waist. His form was graceful and elegant, his expression spirited. And while he did look familiar, Xie Lian couldn’t recall when he had met a friend such as this.
Pei Ming also gave the man a look, appearing like an annoyed elder who didn’t want to deal with children. He shook his head and waved dismissively, dispersing the floating empty shell that was A-Zhao, then turned around and continued his argument.
“It may not be collusion. That person is powerful and wicked. Who knows what deceptive tricks he might’ve used to blind His Highness.”
Pei Ming intended to pin all the chaos at Banyue Pass on Hua Cheng!
Xie Lian rebuked him, “General Pei, even if you won’t believe me, you should still believe in Lord Wind Master. General Pei Junior admitted to the crime of luring passersby to Banyue Pass with his clone, and Lord Wind Master heard everything.”
Pei Ming glanced at the white-clad cultivator again.
Xie Lian continued, “Besides, since we’re both here at the Palace of Divine Might, you can simply ask the Emperor whether there are traces of any spells of deception cast on me.”
Jun Wu, who sat high above, remained calm and unchanging. That meant Xie Lian was absolved.
Xie Lian then continued, “General Pei, let’s keep things clear and separate. Let’s not talk about whether the young man I traveled with was Hua Cheng or not. At the very least, even if he was indeed Hua Cheng, that has nothing to do with what General Pei Junior has done. A supreme ghost king might have the worst possible name on people’s tongues, but not everything can be blamed on him.”
Xie Lian’s own expression was composed and neutral when he uttered that name, but many in the hall felt cold shivers run down their backs.
Pei Ming replied, “Regardless, I believe this case needs to be re-examined. It would be best if the State Preceptor of Banyue that Your Highness has taken could be brought in for interrogation too.”
To interrogate her for what? Torture her to confess a lie? Xie Lian hadn’t yet responded when someone else spoke up.
Pei Xiu looked as if he didn’t want to remain in the Palace of Divine Might a moment longer. He said in a low voice, “General. Let it go.”
“What?” Pei Ming was irritated.
“There isn’t any spell of deception—this is all my doing. I’ve disappointed you, sir,” Pei Xiu confessed.
Pei Ming was right in the middle of clearing his name when Pei Xiu said this. Pei Ming turned cold, and he said darkly, “What bewitching concoction did that State Preceptor of Banyue feed you? Shut your mouth.”
However, Pei Xiu raised his head. “Let it go, General! Little Pei isn’t afraid to admit to things he’s done. Since I’ve been caught red-handed, I’m prepared to receive any punishment that is handed down.”
Pei Ming’s face was written with shock, and it clearly read as: You’ve always been so sensible, so why did you suddenly go nuts today? He was just about to kick some sense back into Pei Xiu when Jun Wu spoke.
“Enough.”
The moment that word was said, Pei Ming withdrew his leg and bowed.