Chapter 317: Setting a Trap

By the time Yuan Yao and her group returned to Yunshui Street, it was already midnight; only scattered lights remained on the street, and most shops had closed.

After returning to the inn and meeting Song Yan and Xiao Lingwei, they exchanged some information about the Water Mirror Immortal Academy Extermination Case.

Xiao Lingwei said, "Let's go back to our rooms to rest first; we'll investigate again tomorrow morning."

Everyone agreed, and each went back to their rooms to rest.

Yuan Yao returned to her room, but instead of resting, she sat cross-legged on the bed to cultivate.

The next morning.

Yuan Yao then sought out Cang Li, asking him to accompany her to the various pharmacies on Yunshui Street.

By the time she and Cang Li had visited all the major shops, it was already noon.

As they walked along the street, Cang Li asked, "Yao Yao, have you figured out who the culprit is?"

Yuan Yao said, "If I'm not mistaken, it should be him."

"Could it be that the culprit we suspect is the same person?" Cang Li raised an eyebrow. "But we currently have no solid evidence; baseless accusations won't be believed by anyone."

Yuan Yao said, "Then we'll set a trap and wait for him to walk into it."

Cang Li asked, "What is your plan?"

Yuan Yao said mysteriously, "This will require your cooperation, Third Senior Brother."

Seeing her ill-intentioned smile, Cang Li's brow twitched and a sense of unease welled up in him.

Cooperate on what?

Yuan Yao's lips curled up involuntarily.

You'll find out later.

As evening approached, Weng Mingshu, who was sitting in the inn's lobby, saw Yuan Yao and Cang Li; her eyes lit up, she quickly rose and went to them.

Yao Yao, where did you go today?

Yuan Yao replied, "I went to investigate some matters with Third Senior Brother."

After letting out an "oh," Weng Mingshu curiously asked, "Did you uncover any clues?"

Yuan Yao shook her head.

No.

Weng Mingshu said, "Then you haven't heard about Wang San's supposed death and resurrection this afternoon?"

Wang San died and came back to life? How is that possible? Yuan Yao's face showed shock.

I saw it myself—Wang San was acting mad at the gate of the Water Mirror Immortal Academy, muttering something under his breath. Your Second Senior Sister pressed him with a few questions, and then he shouted in terror, 'It wasn't me! It wasn't me! I've been framed!' Weng Mingshu then began to imitate his tone.

Cang Li couldn't help but chuckle.

Weng Mingshu froze, "What are you laughing at?"

Cang Li gave a light cough, "Nothing."

Weng Mingshu's imitation of Wang San's tone and mannerisms was truly hilarious, even endearing in an indescribable way.

It made people unable to hold back their laughter.

Yuan Yao asked, "What about Wang San's corpse, then?"

I heard they had mistaken the corpse.

And what about Wang San now?

Weng Mingshu exclaimed excitedly, "He was captured by your Second Senior Sister; other factions still wanted to take him from her, but she lashed out with a whip and they dared not speak. Your Second Senior Sister truly deserves to be the top female cultivator of the younger generation in the Ninth Province!"

At the time you weren't there, many young disciples turned pale, while the old fogeys turned black with anger. Hahaha...

My Second Senior Sister is certainly formidable! Yuan Yao said, sharing in the pride.

Weng Mingshu thought of something and said ruefully, "It's a pity that no one could extract any clues from Wang San, since he's gone mad."

Weng Mingshu yawned tiredly and said, "Wang San is still in the Water Mirror Immortal Academy, and your Second Senior Sister and her group are still there too; they asked me to tell you that they won't be returning to the inn tonight."

Yuan Yao asked, "So you're staying here on purpose to wait for us?"

Weng Mingshu nodded.

Immediately after, she shook her head and said, "I haven't seen you all day, so I also wanted to see you and have a chat."

Are you hungry? Yuan Yao chuckled.

Weng Mingshu raised an eyebrow and said, "I'm not hungry, but if you invite me to eat, I won't refuse."

Yuan Yao took out various bird eggs from her storage space and said, "I won't treat you to a meal; I'll treat you to Yunshui Street's bird eggs."

Weng Mingshu's mouth twitched slightly.

She wasn't interested in bird eggs.

But meeting Yuan Yao's gaze, she could only accept them, peel them, and eat.

How are they?

Not bad. Weng Mingshu said reluctantly, then she lifted her gaze toward the usually silent Cang Li, found it odd, narrowed her eyes, scrutinized him, and said, "You're off! Very off!"

Cang Li froze, "Why do you say that?"

Seeing his reaction, Weng Mingshu felt even stranger.

Usually, wherever Cang Li is, he never stops spouting nonsense; today he's unusually serious.

The only possibility Weng Mingshu could think of was, "Are you sick?"

Upon hearing that, Cang Li's expression grew slightly complex.

He turned his head to look at Yuan Yao.

"... I... I'm feeling a bit unwell," Cang Li said, covering his mouth as he suddenly coughed.

"Even a doctor cannot heal himself," Weng Mingshu remarked, seeing his state.

"Then I... I'll go back to the guest room to rest," Cang Li said, his face slightly red from coughing, as he glanced at Weng Mingshu and then at Yuan Yao.

Yuan Yao laughed: "Third senior brother, you may go."

Cang Li lightly nodded, then stepped toward the stairs.

After Cang Li left, Weng Mingshu said: "Your third senior brother looks terribly ill; he seems completely lacking in spirit."

Yuan Yao chuckled: "It's a bit."

Shortly after, the two chatted for a moment.

After Weng Mingshu left, Yuan Yao went to the guest room.

She took out a set of nightclothes from her storage space, quickly put them on, and also donned a mask with a green face and fangs.

…

At this moment, Water Mirror Immortal Academy.

Water Mirror Immortal Academy still had many people gathered inside and out, because they were investigating the truth.

They felt the key figure in solving the case was Wang San.

But Wang San now is mad and dazed; at times his expression is blank and empty, at times he seems stimulated and suddenly babbles nonsense, laughing foolishly nonstop.

Someone once proposed using the Soul Search Technique on him.

But this suggestion was quickly rejected by the elders of the orthodox cultivators from the respectable sects.

Because it hasn't been confirmed whether Wang San is the murderer or an accomplice; if we used the Soul Search Technique on him, it would be tantamount to putting him to death!

Lightly, it would cause severe idiocy; heavily, it would take his life.

For a moment, everyone was at an impasse.

Meanwhile, inside Water Mirror Immortal Academy, on that narrow corridor, a youth and a little boy tightly clutching a wooden doll could still be seen.

The boy still drooped his head, his gaze fixed tightly on the wooden doll in his hand.

Voices of discussion came from various places within the academy.

Seeing the night deepening, the youth feared Zhang Cheng couldn't hold out, so he spoke up: "Zhang Cheng, it's very late; let's first return to Earth Spirit Immortal Academy to rest, and come back tomorrow, okay?"