Chapter 866

At these words, everyone's expressions changed drastically.

Ye Hong's sorrowful face showed even greater disbelief.

Xiao Tianquan's face paled slightly, and he forced a smile: "Young Master, I don't know what you're talking about…"

Mo Hua recalled how he had just crushed Sister Shuixian's flower beneath his foot, grinding it into the dust—with that cold, satisfied expression—and now, seeing his current demeanor and sensing the fear within his soul, he gradually became certain.

"You are the Water Yama!"

"Baseless accusations—you…"

Mo Hua shook his head. "You and that dead 'Water Yama' must have known each other for a long time—in the bandit stronghold, on the Rouge Boat, at the Long Wang Temple—you repeatedly tried to kill him."

"And in the Bone Labyrinth, under such dangerous conditions, it was you who rushed forward to deliver the final strike."

"Because once he was dead, no one would know you were the Water Yama."

Xiao Tianquan sneered a few times. "What nonsense are you spouting?"

"It's not just that…" Mo Hua's gaze sharpened as he began connecting all the dots:

"Long ago, in the Bishan Demon Cave, when I, Uncle Gu, and Dao Ting Si cultivators cornered and hunted down Huo Fotuo, you pretended to block our path—but during the clash, you deliberately let him escape."

"When you passed each other, you unconsciously exchanged a glance—this look was deeply significant, and carried a hint of familiarity."

"Thus, you knew Huo Fotuo as well."

"That glance signified a transfer of authority."

"And in the Long Wang Temple that night, I overheard your conversation with Xiao Diansi inside the soundproof array."

"Xiao Diansi said he used every resource to promote you, to pave your way—even personally bringing you aboard the Rouge Boat."

"You've been on the Rouge Boat—so you couldn't possibly have been uninvolved in what happened there."

"Also, the Water Yama slaughtered the entire Ye family water fortress using brutal tortures—some of which even resembled Dao Ting Si interrogation methods."

"The Water Yama is a cruel person—but so are you."

"I've seen you many times—behind others' backs, killing and mutilating corpses…"

Mo Hua spoke coldly, listing each point one by one.

Xiao Tianquan's face turned increasingly pale, his lips twitching as he forced a smile: "You say I'm the Water Yama—then who was that dead 'Water Yama'?"

Mo Hua said: "'Water Yama' is merely a title. This title, one visible, one hidden, is shared by two people—one is the water bandit who slaughters mercilessly on the Yan River, the other is a promising judicial officer within Dao Ting Si."

"But the one who died was the fake—the true Water Yama…" Mo Hua gazed deeply into Xiao Tianquan's eyes, "is you!"

Or rather, the one who signed the Soul Pact with the Demon God and left his name upon the altar was Xiao Tianquan.

Thus, the fake Water Yama died—but the name on the list was never erased.

Because the true Water Yama—the one who sold his soul to the Demon God—is still alive…

"Rubbish!" Xiao Tianquan roared.

But his words now lacked conviction, even revealing a hint of bluster masking fear.

Mo Hua had no intention of letting him go, and spoke in a low, steady voice:

"You're the one who truly killed Sister Ye Jin, aren't you…"

He had felt something odd before.

On the Rouge Boat, he had confronted the already-dead Water Yama and asked if he had driven Sister Ye Jin of the Hundred Flowers Valley to her death.

The Water Yama's reaction, Mo Hua still remembered.

He had first been stunned, then grinned and said: "I've bedded countless women; I've killed too many who bored me to count—how would I know which one you mean?"

Mo Hua had assumed this was due to his cruel nature, his bloodthirsty habits, his lack of concealment—but later, upon reflection, he found it unsettling.

Sister Ye Jin was no ordinary woman.

Her appearance, demeanor, talent, and status were all sufficient to make a water bandit like him drool.

If he had truly touched her, he could not have forgotten her.

Even if his heart were truly stone, mentioning her name would have elicited *some* reaction.

Moreover, Hua Ruyu was naturally jealous.

She had been involved with the fake "Water Yama"—she would never have arranged a liaison for her lover.

The only possibility was that the fake "Water Yama" had no idea who Ye Jin was.

The dead Water Yama had merely taken the blame for Xiao Tianquan.

Xiao Tianquan's face darkened; he stood silently, wanting to speak in defense but finding no solid argument.

Gu Changhuai and Xia Diansi's faces slowly darkened with anger.

When they first heard Xiao Tianquan was the Water Yama, they had been shocked.

But now, all the evidence suggested it was likely true…

Especially Xiao Tianquan's current demeanor—in the eyes of experienced judicial officers like Gu Changhuai—it was equivalent to a confession.

Ye Hong could hardly believe it, murmuring: "Why? Young Master Xiao? Why… after all I've done for you… why did you kill…"

These words seemed to strike Xiao Tianquan; his face twitched, and he gritted his teeth, defiantly insisting:

"No! I don't know what you're talking about! Water Yama? Has nothing to do with me…"

As he spoke, he shifted his steps backward, trying to flee.

Gu Changhuai's expression turned icy, and he reached for Xiao Tianquan's shoulder.

Xiao Tianquan hastily drew his sword and slashed at Gu Changhuai's hand.

Xia Diansi's beautiful face turned frosty; a blade of icy qi shot out, slicing through Xiao Tianquan's arm—his sword clattered to the ground.

Gu Changhuai seized the moment, lunging forward to seize him.

Xiao Tianquan had always despised Gu Changhuai; now, feeling his pressure, his crimes exposed, and his mind in chaos, he instinctively let blood-red hues, mixed with gray-black qi, flare in his eyes as he stared into Gu Changhuai's.

Mo Hua gasped in alarm and cried out: "He's cultivated Sha Qi!"

And it was that dark, filthy aura.

Fortunately, Gu Changhuai had been plagued by this aura many times before and had long gained experience; upon sensing something amiss, he had already averted his eyes.

But his heart surged with fury, and he immediately ceased holding back, slapping Xiao Tianquan on the shoulder.

On the other side, Xia Diansi's face turned icy as frost; he thrust forward a sword, slicing through Xiao Tianquan's right thigh, the chilling energy seeping into flesh and blood through the wound.

Xiao Tianquan staggered a few steps and collapsed to the ground, hair disheveled, utterly humiliated.

To be so humiliated before Xia Diansi's eyes—especially by these two working together—filled Xiao Tianquan with shame and rage.

Beside them, Ye Hong remained dazed, muttering: "Why?"

These words were a question directed at Xiao Tianquan.

Xiao Tianquan's face twisted in fury: "Why? Of course it's because of your precious daughter—ungrateful wretch. A girl from a mere third-grade family, I wanted to bed her, and that was giving her honor; yet she repeatedly refused my goodwill."

"I had no choice but to ask Lady Miao to use some methods to lure her onto the boat."

"Once aboard the Crimson Boat shrouded in mist, I fed her a pill, and she became obedient, letting me do as I pleased."

Xiao Tianquan glanced at Ye Hong and smiled coldly:

"But come to think of it, your daughter was truly exceptional—not only beautiful, but her body was supple and moist. When she was visiting the Ye household, I set eyes on her at once. On the Crimson Boat, you have no idea how much I cherished her; her Bai Xi skin, I wonder what state I reduced it to."

"Too bad she was stubborn. Otherwise, I could have kept her outside as a concubine, visiting her occasionally—better than her dying in vain, burned into a Blackie."

These words pierced the heart with every syllable.

Especially for Ye Hong, a father, it was like a sharp knife carving flesh from his heart over and over.

Not only Ye Hong—even Gu Changhuai and Xia Diansi trembled with rage.

"I'll kill you, you beast!"

Ye Hong's eyes bulged with fury as he lunged at Xiao Tianquan, desperate to tear him apart with his teeth.

But he was no match for Xiao Tianquan; Xiao Tianquan dodged and countered with a palm strike to his chest, sending Ye Hong stumbling backward, spitting blood.

Xiao Tianquan's gaze turned icy; he tried to secretly draw a Ji Anqi from his sleeve to kill Ye Hong and silence him.

Gu Changhuai, already enraged beyond endurance, kicked out and shattered Xiao Tianquan's arm; his right hand gathered a torrent of wind, slamming a palm toward Xiao Tianquan's crown.

Xiao Tianquan screamed:

"Gu Changhuai!"

"Gu Changhuai! You can't kill me!"

Gu Changhuai's palm wind halted abruptly.

Xiao Tianquan shrieked: "Don't forget—I'm from the Xiao family, a direct heir, favored by the Ancestor, and I'm an official of the Dao Ting Si! Even if I'm guilty and deserve death, only the Dao Ting Si can judge me, only Dao Law can convict me, only the executioner may carry out the sentence—you have no right to kill me!"

Gu Changhuai's expression was cold: "Your crimes are heinous. Whether you die now or later, you're dead."

Xiao Tianquan sneered: "Do you want to make the Xiao and Gu families sworn enemies? Don't you want your position as Diansi? And what will you tell Xia Jiancha?"

Xia Diansi's face was like frost: "How dare you mention Jiancha?"

Now that all was exposed, Xiao Tianquan tore off his mask, throwing caution to the wind, shamelessly saying:

"I haven't committed any crime—why can't I mention Jiancha?"

Xia Diansi frowned: "You yourself just confessed…"

Xiao Tianquan smiled, blood on his teeth: "Proof? I was just talking. I'm an official of the Dao Ting Si—how could I possibly do such things?"

"Besides, Xia Jiancha values me, entrusts me with important duties—he won't let me die."

"You all know the internal rules: nobles are not subject to punishment. I'm from a noble family, a direct heir—I'm not like those lowly lives."

Gu Changhuai nodded, his voice icy:

"Fine. Then I'll first cripple you, leave you half alive—so when you enter the Dao Prison, whether you're punished or not won't matter."

"Gu Changhuai!" Xiao Tianquan paled.

At that moment, a deep, bell-like voice rang out: "Stop!"

Gu Changhuai's gaze sharpened; he halted, turning to see Xia Jiancha—towering like a mountain—standing nearby, having arrived without notice.

He was Liu Yuhua, with immense spiritual sense.

What happened here could not have escaped him.

Yet even he hadn't expected things to reach this point.

"Uncle…" Xia Diansi said.

Xia Jiancha shook his head: "This isn't the place to speak. Get aboard."

He turned to leave, but Gu Changhuai called after him: "Xia Jiancha…"

Xia Jiancha turned back and saw Gu Changhuai's handsome face stern, his gaze as sharp as a blade.

Gu Changhuai said: "Xia Jiancha, will you act according to Dao Law?"

Xia Jiancha paused slightly, then his expression turned impassive, revealing no emotion.

"The Dao Ting Si acts according to its own rules."

With that, Xia Jiancha departed.

Several Xiao family cultivators stepped before Gu Changhuai, bowed, and carried the severely wounded Xiao Tianquan aboard the ship.

Gu Changhuai made no move to stop them.

Mo Hua and Ye Hong stood where they were.

Xia Diansi glanced at the group, lips tightly pressed, then followed Xia Jiancha back onto the Xiao family's spiritual vessel.

Inside a secret chamber aboard the ship, Xia Diansi spoke bluntly:

"Uncle, Xiao Tianquan has committed countless crimes, vile beyond measure—killing him ten times over would still be too lenient."

"On the Crimson Boat, countless women have been victimized by them…"

Xia Jiancha said coolly: "I understand…"

Xia Diansi frowned. "Uncle!"

Xia Jiancha lifted his gaze, glancing briefly at Xia Diansi. "What do you want to do?"

Xia Diansi fell silent for a moment, then declared firmly: "Convict him. Execute him."

Xia Jiancha let out a deep sigh.

He turned his gaze away, looking out the window at the vast, swirling waters of the Yan Shui River, his eyes dim. "There's no one else here. There are things I can tell you plainly…"

"Xiao Tianquan cannot die."

Xia Diansi bit her lip hard, fingers clenched white, voice hoarse with disappointment. "After committing such a grave crime, can he not die?"

Xia Jiancha said: "Such a grave crime deserves ten thousand deaths. But his status stands as it is."

"If he dies, the Xiao family will never, under any moral or rational grounds, submit to our Xia family or serve us loyally."

"Here in Qianxue Zhou, we are the powerful dragons. To crush the local snakes, we need one snake willing to serve us. The Xiao family is that snake. Without them, our future plans will stall completely."

"This is the bigger picture! Xiao Tianquan's life or death may be trivial, but this involves too much power and network manipulation—it cannot be wasted so carelessly."

"What about Hua Ruyu?" Xia Diansi asked.

Xia Jiancha's gaze darkened slightly, displeased, but he answered: "That woman has powerful patrons. This person's influence is too great—I must repay this favor."

Xia Diansi sneered, voice icy. "Do our noble families still hold the 'Dao Law' in any regard?"

Seeing Xia Diansi still did not understand, Xia Jiancha sighed:

"You've spent too long in Dao Ting Si. You see only the surface, unaware that power itself is merely a game, and the 'Dao Law' is just one of its rules. Since it's a rule, it's meant to be exploited. In this game of fame and profit, if you wish to win, the first thing you must learn is 'compromise' and 'trade'."

"Then…" Xia Diansi grew colder by the moment, "my marriage is just a means for me to compromise, to facilitate my family's deals?"

Xia Jiancha hesitated, left speechless.

Xia Diansi said: "Uncle, at this point, you're not still trying to make me… betrothed to Xiao Tianquan, are you?"

Xia Jiancha said nothing, only stared silently at Xia Diansi.

Xia Diansi's face grew paler, more disappointed.

Xia Jiancha could not bear to meet her gaze, and spoke slowly:

"Life is inherently burdened with sin. Human hearts are inherently filthy. You're just pure-hearted, clear on good and evil, and simply didn't know."

"You don't know that behavior like Xiao Tianquan's is not uncommon among noble scions."

"In Daozhou, those noble prodigies who appear radiant and peerless on the surface may indulge in even greater excesses behind closed doors."

"Not just men. Those noblewomen who seem pure and beautiful, hailed as 'Immortal Maidens' or 'Goddesses,' with countless admirers, may be just as corrupt in private."

"Judging by appearance is a stupidity humans can never overcome."

"Noble family networking is a marketplace of fame and profit—and a filthy dye vat. Few within it remain clean."

"But because the scions noble families promote usually have fine appearances, outsiders mistakenly believe them virtuous."

"You're pure-minded and wholly devoted to Dao Ting Si's affairs, so you've never entered this vat—and thus hold such shallow ideas."

"Among noble families, truly pure men are exceedingly rare."

"Therefore…"

Xia Jiancha glanced at Xia Diansi. "If you understand this, you'll see that Xiao Tianquan's conduct isn't entirely intolerable."

"At least you know his filth now—it's better than marrying some noble Young Master who appears pristine but is even more corrupt behind the scenes."

"Besides, I've taught you before: don't act on emotion. Learn to calculate. Learn to manipulate."

"If you know his vices yet still marry him, he'll be eternally grateful—his entire life, he'll never defy your will."

"After I maneuver things, I'll make him the next designated head of the Xiao family. In time, the entire Xiao family will be under your control."

But no matter how he spoke, Xia Diansi ignored him entirely, her expression growing colder, her heart dead.

She had often heard others speak of noble family coldness, but never believed it.

Now, at this moment, she felt it firsthand—the bone-deep chill.

Noble scions were not "people" anymore. They had long been transformed into tools, into pawns.

Xia Diansi looked at Xia Jiancha with vacant eyes; after her gaze lost its hope, it gradually hardened:

"Uncle, I will not marry a beast like Xiao Tianquan. Even if my family disowns me, I will not agree to this alliance."

"If you force me, I will… kill Xiao Tianquan first, then take my own life."

Xia Diansi's expression was bleak.

Xia Jiancha froze slightly.

He knew his niece's nature: cold outside, kind within, burdened by duty.

She had always respected him, never defied his will.

Yet now, she had spoken to him with such finality.

Xia Jiancha's emotions churned. At last, he sighed deeply. "I won't force you. Do as you see fit…"

"I'll keep Xiao Tianquan. From now on, don't involve yourself in Xia family matters again…"

Xia Diansi left the spirit vessel alone.

Gu Changhuai, Mo Hua, and Ye Hong waited outside the spirit vessel.

Gu Changhuai saw Xia Diansi, suppressing his anger, his face cold as he prepared to ask something—but seeing her pale, hollow-eyed state, his heart ached slightly. He understood, and couldn't bring himself to speak.

"Sister Xia…" Mo Hua said, with pity.

Xia Diansi gave a bitter smile and shook her head.

Everyone understood: not only Hua Ruyu, but Xiao Tianquan too would not die.

Later, the Xia family's spirit vessel departed the ferry, carrying Xiao Tianquan.

Xiao Tianquan might not even enter Dao Ting Si, let alone Dao Yu.

Mo Hua and the others silently returned to Qianxue Zhou. When passing through Yan Shui City, Ye Hong forced a smile and said to them:

"Although things did not go as hoped, Ye still deeply appreciates your great kindness. Now that we have arrived in Yan Shui City, let Ye offer a modest host's hospitality and treat you all."

Mo Hua and the others had wished to refuse, but seeing Ye Hong's ashen face and terrible spirits, they nodded in acceptance.

Ye Hong arranged a banquet of wine and dishes at a tavern and hosted Mo Hua and the other two.

But the banquet was grim; all were burdened with worries.

Ye Hong had wished to express his gratitude, but after drinking a few cups, he found no taste of wine—only bitter anguish he could not bear—and tears streamed down his face as he murmured:

"Even committing such a crime, one still cannot die...?"

"Does being in Gao Wei, wielding power and influence, make their lives different from ours? Are our lowly lives so expendable that we die and it's over, while theirs—no matter how they break the Dao's laws—are always protected? Even when guilty of capital crimes, they still walk free..."

"In my lifetime... will I never be able to avenge myself...?"

Gu Changhuai felt shame and had no reply.

Xia Diansi's face turned pale.

After a moment, Mo Hua, who had been silent until now, spoke: "It's alright..."

Ye Hong froze; Xia Diansi could not help but turn to look at Mo Hua.

Mo Hua said: "Those who deserve to die, will die."

Gu Changhuai frowned, "You..."

Mo Hua shook his head, "I am but a Foundation Establishment cultivator, my realm is low—I can surely do nothing. But..."

Mo Hua pointed to the sky and said seriously:

"Men act, Heaven watches. Especially Xiao Tianquan has done too much injustice; who knows what day Heaven may punish him with sudden death."

This sounded naive, even presumptuous.

Gu Changhuai, Xia Diansi, and Ye Hong merely listened, taking no real heed.