Chapter 28: Fuyu has Crow (6)
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The five cultivators finally stopped gossiping as they reached the hall.
Inside, Wang Yu was circling around a Qi Refinement cultivator. This man’s eyes seemed to contain a spring-like warmth, with almond-shaped eyes, thin eyelids that were slightly reddened at the corners, giving him a pitiful look. Clearly a man, yet with delicate features that exuded a soft and charming aura in his plain white daoist robe.
At a glance, Bai Chunsheng knew this must be Su Xiaojing mentioned by the five cultivators earlier.
As for Xu Suifeng, Bai Chunsheng scanned the hall and soon spotted a tall and handsome man in the corner. He stood before the mid-level Golden Core cultivator who had threatened Mu Tingting yesterday.
They seemed to be having a conversation, but Mu Tingting was nowhere to be seen.
Bai Chunsheng and Yan Yi were the first Foundation Establishment cultivators to arrive at the hall. Later, several suspected late Foundation Establishment stage cultivators arrived in succession.
Wang Yu seemed momentarily startled by Yan Yi’s mask. “What’s with…?”
Yan Yi explained, “I have measles.”
“I see,” Wang Yu replied.
He then went back to circling around Su Xiaojing.
Pouring tea and water as naturally as an attendant would.
Once everyone had gathered, Xu Suifeng walked from the corner to the center of the hall and got straight to the point: “Yusheng Sect suspects that the deaths of Hong Chunfeng and the other thirteen were caused by demonic forces.”
Six out of seven people were shocked. Yan Yi didn’t flinch at all. Bai Chunsheng, with his pretense of basic etiquette, feigned a slight tremor as he opened his mouth, pretending to look afraid.
After the shock settled, Xu Suifeng continued, “However, after examining the bodies, it seems unlikely that demons were responsible.”
The five people: “…..” Was this intentional?
Xu Suifeng added, “It’s also possible that demons were involved. Since I haven’t caught the perpetrator, I can’t draw a definitive conclusion.”
Yan Yi transmitted to Bai Chunsheng, “Is this the Wood Spiritual Root guy? I haven’t encountered anyone with Spiritual Roots since losing my memory.”
No, you didn’t encounter anyone with Spiritual Roots even before losing your memory.
Since Yan Yi seemed to answer his own question, Bai Chunsheng decided not to waste time transmitting back.
He thought to himself that in the mortal world, someone with so-called Spiritual Roots sounded impressive, but in the grander scheme of things, they were merely single Spiritual Roots.
Those with single Spiritual Roots were inherently flawed, capable of absorbing only one type of spiritual energy, which was extremely detrimental to cultivation. Although they could advance rapidly in the early stages of cultivation with abundant single type spiritual energy, most would be restricted to the Nascent Soul stage for life, unable to progress further.
In the abundant spiritual energy of the Grand World, only those who reached the Nascent Soul stage were considered the backbone of cultivators. In the mortal realm, achieving the Nascent Soul stage already marked one as a prominent ancestor. In such circumstances, having singular Spiritual Roots unexpectedly became a rare and exceptional talent.
Seeing the silence among the seven people, Xu Suifeng continued, “This morning, Cultivator Su and I carefully inspected the scene and discovered some details that I would like to confirm with all of you.”
“According to the artifact, Hong Chunfeng died on the morning of the sixth. I checked the entries and exits at Fuyu Mountain and found that among you seven, only Fang Tao and Guo Lihua arrived at Fuyu Market on the evening of the fifth.”
Guo Lihua, a female cultivator, was visibly agitated. “What do you mean? I don’t even know this Hong Chunfeng cultivator. I was at an inn here and then went to Hai Palace to gather Immortal Clams. What’s wrong with resting for a day or two?”
Fang Tao was the male cultivator who had mocked Mu Tingting the day before and had been warned by another Golden Core cultivator.
He spoke very little today and, at this point, only muttered, “I have a clear conscience. Ask whatever you want.”
Xu Suifeng did not respond to these two but continued, “Lu Xiali, Han Congzhuo, Yi Mengman, the three of you arrived at Fuyu Market on the sixth, all in the morning. We also discovered that Cultivator Lu had an altercation with Hong Chunfeng at a auction in Tiannan City, and the two had a very unpleasant quarrel.”
Lu Xiali hastily interjected, “That was seven or eight years ago, and besides, over a bottle of Yi Grass Fragrance, why would I risk so much to harm him?”
Bai Chunsheng enjoyed watching the drama unfold. Xu Suifeng suddenly turned his attention to Bai Chunsheng and Yan Yi, asking, “Are you two brothers?”
Yan Yi replied, “Yes.”
Xu Suifeng said, “Hong Chunfeng has been stuck in the late Foundation Establishment stage for a long time. His cultivation should have long reached the peak of Foundation Establishment. Among these seven people, none should have been his match. It’s only you two, if you teamed up, who might actually have been able to kill him.”
Bai Chunsheng frowned, listening as Yan Yi continued, “Indeed, you’re right.”
Pointing at Yan Yi, Xu Suifeng said, “So the two of you are the most suspicious among these people.”
Yan Yi nodded slightly.
Xu Suifeng was starting to wonder what Yan Yi was really up to. He cautiously asked, “So should I arrest you and your brother now, just in case, before we find any trace of the demon?”
Yan Yi asked, “Why?”
“You’re asking me why?” Xu Suifeng frowned. “Because the two of you are the prime suspects!”
“But even though my brother and I are the prime suspects among these seven, we’re not the prime suspects overall. We didn’t even arrive at Fuyu Market until noon on the seventh, with no time or opportunity to kill him.”
Bai Chunsheng finally managed to interject, “Moreover, if we were the murderers, after killing someone on the sixth, we would have left immediately. Why would we stay in Fuyu Market and give you a chance to track us?”
Xu Suifeng’s brow furrowed tighter. “…This killer is extremely audacious.”
“After killing all thirteen members of Hong Chunfeng’s family, he stayed at the Hong residence for a day. During this time, he even arrogantly continued Hong Chunfeng’s work—regularly injecting spiritual energy into the Lingyu Mountain puppet to ensure the normal operation of the market entrance. He even imitated Hong Chunfeng’s voice to speak, deceiving people into believing that Hong Chunfeng was still alive.”
This Lingyu Mountain puppet was something Hong Chunfeng had obtained by chance during an exploration of a Demonic Realm a few years ago. It almost cost him his life to acquire, only to discover it was merely a useless item for transmitting spiritual energy and sending messages.
It has no offensive function and no other miraculous effects. Hong Chunfeng was supremely confident, even proud of his infamous past as a notorious demonic cultivator in these mountains. He had no need to hide or disguise himself, and this Lingyu Mountain puppet was utterly useless to him.
In the first year, it could only sit in Hong Chunfeng’s house as a decorative doll, serving as a memento of his tumultuous life as a demonic cultivator.
Hong Chunfeng was dissatisfied with this outcome and boasted about the puppet’s capabilities to anyone who would listen, but no one believed him. Later, it found a practical use in operating the Fuyu Mountain Market, finally proving its worth.
“The discovery of Hong Chunfeng’s death was also related to this. His sudden cessation of operations….. led to chaos at the entrance.”
As if struck by an idea, Xu Suifeng exclaimed, “Everyone, hand over your storage bags. I need to inspect who has the Lingyu Mountain puppet!”
This request seemed absurd. Everyone knew a storage bag contained a cultivator’s entire livelihood, accumulated over years of practice—precious items that were often kept secret.
Even if they could clear their names and walk away with their belongings, who could guarantee that Xu Suifeng or someone else present wouldn’t develop thoughts of robbery and murder, plotting against them in the future?
Fed up, Fang Tao angrily retorted, “Xu Suifeng, you’re going too far!”
The other four also looked indignant, but Bai Chunsheng and Yan Yi remained calm and composed, unfazed by the situation.
Suddenly, Yan Yi transmitted to Bai Chunsheng, “Before you came in, did anyone use this ‘Lingyu Mountain puppet’ to speak with you?”
Bai Chunsheng recalled the peculiar voice from the puppet, “Yes, indeed. But the voice was genderless, impossible to tell who it might be.”
Bai Chunsheng was puzzled, “Didn’t I already discuss this with you at the tavern that day?”
“Sorry, I didn’t pay much attention to it at the time,” Yan Yi replied. “I know who killed Hong Chunfeng and his family.”
Just as Bai Chunsheng was about to ask who it was, Yan Yi interjected, “I’ll tell you when we get back.”
Huge shoutout to @_nyanmaru_ on Discord for commissioning this! The chapter will be posted regularly, show your support for Ciacia at Kofi.
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