Chapter 624: Savior

Unlike Ning Zhuo stared at Yang Weida's corpse, silent for a moment.

Yang Weida's face was calm, giving the impression that he was just fast asleep.

He couldn't help but recall his interactions with Yang Weida.

At first, it was seeing him on the boat; his appearance was honest and rough, but in reality, he was shrewd and bold, asking Qing Yan for a reward and proposing the Bone-Piercing Crocodile Stomach Bag, only to be rejected by Qing Yan without hesitation.

However, in Unlike Ning Zhuo's view, this was nothing more than the technique of bargaining—starting with a high price.

So, in the end, Qing Yan still gave him six magic-tool-grade Soul-Crossing Lamp Wicks.

Afterward, Yang Weida was taken away by Wen Ruanyu.

Later, at the Hidden Yang Branch Mansion, Yang Weida peddled his virility ointment to the surrounding male cultivators, which was very popular.

Then to the Virility Pavilion, where he cultivated actively and struggled painstakingly.

Finally, after the Jin Yan Fork had a new master, he decisively defected to Unlike Ning Zhuo, attaching a large sum of assets.

He said it was his entire net worth, but there was no proof, so Unlike Ning Zhuo maintained a certain degree of suspicion. Even so, the assets Yang Weida voluntarily offered were definitely a huge sum for most Foundation Establishment cultivators.

To be honest, Unlike Ning Zhuo quite appreciated Yang Weida.

This cultivator's talent was not good, but he had always been very hardworking, did not shy away from sacrifice, and possessed an adventurous spirit. Even after repeated setbacks, he did not change his fighting spirit and could make flexible adjustments according to the actual situation.

Unlike Ning Zhuo promised him to arrange a future for him in White Paper Xiancheng, not just because he valued his gesture of defection, but also because he was optimistic about the person himself.

However...

He died.

All efforts, past bitterness and sweetness, dissipated with the wind, and no one even cared.

Because this time, really too many male consorts died; it was almost everyone in the Virility Pavilion, and Yang Weida was just one of them.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's emotions were complex.

White Paper Xiancheng was like a huge vortex, and those who lost their lives in it, from the past to the present, were countless.

Cruel wars made the lives of cultivators as cheap as grass.

Yang Weida had once complained to Unlike Ning Zhuo about his own bitterness, saying that the things he pursued painstakingly but could not get were things Unlike Ning Zhuo didn't care about at all.

Unlike Ning Zhuo and his joys and sorrows were not shared, but at the same time, they were fellow sufferers.

Yang Weida's death touched Unlike Ning Zhuo quite a bit.

"What is the difference between me and Yang Weida?"

"To the White Paper Xiancheng City Lord, to the Forget-River Mansion Lord, I am also just an ant."

"In such a turbulent vortex, I too will die if I am not careful."

Wen Ruanyu, who rushed to the Virility Pavilion, had a flushed face, filled with anger.

"This damn mole! Who exactly is he?!"

Wen Ruanyu wished he could fight the mole to the death right now.

Before, he thought that by monitoring with all his might, the mole would have no more opportunities.

As it turned out now, the mole just hadn't made a move, or was preparing dark schemes, ready to strike.

Wen Ruanyu clenched his fists tightly, blue veins popping out on the back of his hands.

He dared not imagine to what extent the news of the Virility Pavilion's near-total annihilation would ferment, and how huge the blow to the morale of the entire White Paper Xiancheng would be.

Every time he guessed in this direction, Wen Ruanyu felt a chill from the bottom of his heart.

Unlike Ning Zhuo spoke from the side: "Once the mole still cannot be found, it is bound to cause panic."

"Even I, at this moment, feel that this mole is simply omnipotent!"

Wen Ruanyu nodded, his voice becoming hoarse: "We must investigate with all our might, we must find out the identity of the mole and give an explanation to the Xiancheng; otherwise, White Paper Xiancheng is very likely to face a collapse!"

The mole's move this time directly placed White Paper Xiancheng in a quite dangerous situation.

And Unlike Ning Zhuo and Wen Ruanyu, who had been responsible for this matter, bore an even greater responsibility.

The relevant cultivators soon came to report.

"You mean these male consorts all died of poison?" Wen Ruanyu frowned.

Unlike Ning Zhuo, however, showed no surprise.

There were no wounds on the bodies of the male consorts, just ferocious and painful expressions. Poison was the most likely cause of death.

"What kind of poison, and what clues are there now?" Wen Ruanyu continued to ask.

"A fierce poison, coming from—some spirit food." The cultivator replied immediately.

"Where did the spirit food come from?" Wen Ruanyu continued to ask.

The cultivator answered with a name, making Unlike Ning Zhuo's eyes widen instantly.

Wen Ruanyu also felt it was inconceivable: "From his hands? Are you sure?! This is impossible! It cannot be his."

Wen Ruanyu was actually the first to defend the suspected person.

This was because this person was an old-timer of White Paper Xiancheng, a senior spirit chef of the Dark Cuisine faction, and also the old man who had voluntarily gifted Unlike Ning Zhuo the spirit chef inheritance.

Soon, the spirit chef old man was brought before Wen Ruanyu and Unlike Ning Zhuo.

"Simply ridiculous!" The spirit chef old man was tied up like a dumpling and denied it flatly, his emotions very agitated.

"Chef, please calm down; with me here, I will definitely not wrong you." Wen Ruanyu was the first to guarantee.

The spirit chef old man was very angry: "Even if you suspect others, you shouldn't suspect me!!"

"Yes, yes, yes." Wen Ruanyu nodded and bowed hurriedly, sweat seeping from his forehead.

Although the spirit chef old man firmly denied it, in the short term, he was the only suspect.

Wen Ruanyu persuaded him with kind words, finally convincing the spirit chef old man not to be anxious for the time being, to be temporarily detained pending trial, and suggested he think of evidence for himself.

Unlike Ning Zhuo also persuaded him a few words.

Only Wen Ruanyu and Unlike Ning Zhuo remained, and the former held his forehead and said: "Things are becoming more and more complex; I can almost be certain that this is the mole framing the Chef."

"Although this move is childish, it is also too disgusting!"

"This mole wants to mess up our state of mind; do not be too agitated."

Unlike Ning Zhuo shook his head slightly, arms crossed: "I have the same judgment as you. This is clearly a frame-up, but..."

"But what?" Wen Ruanyu asked, "You have been thinking since just now."

"I know you have received the Chef's favor and accepted a spirit chef inheritance from him. But just now, you only said a few words."

"If viewed by an outsider, I fear they would think I was the one who received the inheritance gifted by the Chef."

Wen Ruanyu was ultimately a Confucian cultivator; his criticisms of others were so subtle.

Unlike Ning Zhuo continued to shake his head, looking at Wen Ruanyu expressionlessly: "You misunderstood me; I just feel something is a bit strange."

Wen Ruanyu became interested instantly: "Oh? What is strange?"

Wen Ruanyu valued and regarded Unlike Ning Zhuo highly; if the latter felt it was strange, then it was very likely problematic.

But Unlike Ning Zhuo shrugged the next moment and smiled bitterly: "This is just an inexplicable feeling of mine; I always feel something is wrong somewhere, but I can't grasp it for a moment!"

"I see—"

Wen Ruanyu sighed in disappointment, "If you figure it out, you must notify me first."

"Hmm." Unlike Ning Zhuo nodded, "Before that, I'd better go to the prison and personally instruct the jailer to take good care of the Chef."

Wen Ruanyu shook his head: "The mole is so rampant and cruel, it would be better if your identity as Deputy City Lord is not exposed. I will go. If you are not at ease, why not go with me."

"Then forget it." Unlike Ning Zhuo frowned and shook his head in refusal, "Just take good care of the Chef; the most critical problem at the moment is to investigate the mole."

"I want to search the scene personally."

"Hmm." Wen Ruanyu nodded, "I will accompany you."

The two joined forces and patrolled the entire Virility Pavilion, but had no gains.

"I just feel it's even stranger," Unlike Ning Zhuo watched the corpses being collected by the cultivators one by one, but could not grasp the point.

Wen Ruanyu: "Sigh! You think about it carefully; I will go and mobilize manpower to think about how to deal with this mess."

Since the death of the Mourning Music Youling, his pressure had increased a lot.

Now that such a big thing had happened, his pressure had skyrocketed.

The next day.

Unlike Ning Zhuo received a flying letter from Wen Ruanyu.

The content of the letter made Unlike Ning Zhuo's expression change on the spot, shocked, and after the shock, he felt it was inconceivable.

He hurriedly came to the prison, where he met Wen Ruanyu and the spirit chef old man.

The spirit chef old man had multiple wounds on his body, was tied up like a dumpling, and his breath was dying.

Wen Ruanyu stood before him, glanced at Unlike Ning Zhuo, then turned to look at the old man: "You really confessed? This is no joke!"

The spirit chef old man sneered: "I did it! It was I who killed this group of male consorts; I am one of the moles."

9

"The White Paper City Lord wants to use the Jin Yan Fork to return to the old appearance and regain control of the center; this is impossible!"

"Hehehe."

"The Sun family is too fond of grandeur; you cultivators who secretly look after Sun Tiesheng are also too childish and shallow. I came in and out several times, as if entering an empty place."

"You held a celebration banquet and invited me to make spirit food; in my view, what is the difference between that and actively sending yourselves to death?"

"Hahaha, this is a heaven-sent opportunity, and it is also White Paper Xiancheng's fate to be destroyed!"

The spirit chef old man actually confessed to the crime without reservation.

His attitude had undergone a earth-shaking change from before.

Even if Wen Ruanyu and Unlike Ning Zhuo said anything, he bit down hard on this crime and did not change his words at all.

There was no other way, so the two had to make arrangements to settle the spirit chef old man properly, and the two of them walked out to discuss.

"Do you think he is the mole?" Unlike Ning Zhuo asked first, then answered himself, "I don't think so."

Unlike Ning Zhuo still remembered the scene where the spirit chef old man made spirit food for him on the spot and voluntarily gifted him the spirit chef inheritance.

There is no reason for a mole to do such a thing.

"But if he is not, why admit that he did it?" Wen Ruanyu's brows were tightly locked, "And his attitude is so firm; he must know that the end waiting for him is to be convicted and executed!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo stared at Wen Ruanyu: "Actually, the old man confessing like this is beneficial to both you and me, isn't it?"

After all, they had been ordered to investigate before, but had never had any results.

The mole's move this time killed almost all the male consorts in the Virility Pavilion; the heavy responsibility these two bore was huge, and Unlike Ning Zhuo, as one of the few ordinary male consorts, also had huge suspicion himself.

If they really went with the flow, then Unlike Ning Zhuo and Wen Ruanyu would at least have their pressure greatly reduced for the moment.

Wen Ruanyu looked at Unlike Ning Zhuo without hesitation: "Why should we test each other? I know your temperament, and you should also know my aspirations and ambitions. I am a Confucian cultivator; I cannot commit a miscarriage of justice by forcing a confession through torture for the sake of my own private interests!"

Wen Ruanyu was categorical, his expression firm.

Unlike Ning Zhuo nodded: "Did you order someone to torture him?"

Wen Ruanyu shook his head again: "Absolutely not. Last night, I left with you and never came back. And I gave strict orders that apart from you and me, no third person is allowed to approach the cell; violators will be executed without mercy!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo nodded again: "Good, since it is not you, then who else could give this order? Who else could quietly come to the prison?"

Wen Ruanyu's face was as heavy as water; he lowered his head and stared fixedly at the floor tiles, falling into a deathly silence.

After a long while, he said in a hoarse and strained voice: "I know what you want to say."

"The current City Lord did indeed have a life-saving grace for the old man—"

This simple sentence, when Wen Ruanyu said it, felt extremely painful, every word weighing a thousand jun.

Unlike Ning Zhuo no longer stared at Wen Ruanyu, but turned his gaze toward the direction of the City Lord's Mansion.

He asked with deep meaning: "How long has it been since you saw the City Lord?"

After a pause, Unlike Ning Zhuo added: "I mean, her true body."

Wen Ruanyu was shocked and also looked toward the City Lord's Mansion: "A long time, really—a long time."

Wen Ruanyu was the right-hand man of the White Paper Xiancheng City Lord; especially after the sacrifice of the Mourning Music Youling, in the vast White Paper Xiancheng, the only true backbone left was Wen Ruanyu and Tie Guzheng.

And Unlike Ning Zhuo held the position of Deputy City Lord.

The only person who could override the two and quietly come to the prison to change the spirit chef old man's attitude was probably the City Lord alone.

Why did she do this?

This question, Unlike Ning Zhuo could answer himself—"For the sake of White Paper Xiancheng."

The Virility Pavilion matter caused too much of a stir; the entire Xiancheng was in panic, and morale suffered a huge blow. People would inevitably substitute themselves and think: A dignified Virility Pavilion, a place guarded by heavy troops, could be wiped out in one go; what about us?

The performance of the City Lord's Mansion was repeatedly disappointing; can we really resist this ghost tide under her leadership?

And this ghost tide is not just a ghost tide, but also an army from the Underworld!

In this situation, the White Paper City Lord chose to sacrifice a cultivator, indicating that her side had quickly verified and found one of the moles; this was undoubtedly the fastest way to resolve the crisis.

It must be fast!

Otherwise, if public opinion spread again, deeply affecting the entire Xiancheng and leading to a comprehensive collapse, that would be almost irreversible.

Unlike Ning Zhuo's heart was filled with mixed feelings.

"I understand the City Lord; everything is for the big picture, and it requires endurance. And many times, such sacrifices are necessary and worth it."

Endurance... just like Unlike Ning Zhuo's ten-plus years in Fire Persimmon Xiancheng.

Unlike Ning Zhuo frowned, feeling very uncomfortable.

If it were the him from Fire Persimmon Xiancheng, he would swallow all kinds of complex emotions, lower his head, grit his teeth, and endure silently.

But having traveled to many places and changed his life, a voice rose from the bottom of his heart at this moment, and this voice became louder: "If I were the White Paper City Lord, I should not do this! Even if someone is willing to die for me!"

Unlike Ning Zhuo had such people by his side.

He did not doubt at all that Sun Lingtong would make sacrifices for him.

Just as he did not doubt at all that he would also willingly make such actions for Sun Lingtong.

This point had already been verified by facts in Fire Persimmon Xiancheng, during the confrontation with Qi Bai.

"The White Paper City Lord gave me the four treasures of soul cultivation, gave me the position of Deputy City Lord, and subsequently vigorously subsidized the Qingjiao Army,

but what kind of existence am I as this savior in her heart?"

He subconsciously looked toward the south of the city, where the Paper Giant Statue left by his mother was.

Meng Yaoyin was the former savior; to save this Xiancheng, she did not hesitate to consume her own lifespan, and now only a Paper Giant Statue remained.

"The White Paper City Lord arranged the old spirit chef like this, and she also arranged my mother before."

"What about me?"

"How will she arrange me?"

"Savior—"

Just at this moment, the sound of ghosts crying and wolves howling came from outside the city.

Immediately, war drums were beaten one after another, and war flags fluttered.

The ghost tide came again, its scale far exceeding the past.

The city defense battle started again.

Tie Guzheng's face was as heavy as water; he stared fixedly and saw the Yin army appearing on the horizon in a mighty force.

Referring to the gathered military intelligence, Tie Guzheng immediately judged: This constantly growing Yin army is coming out in full force this time!

The mole almost wiped out the entire Virility Pavilion; just when the whole city was in panic, launching an attack at this moment was indeed an excellent opportunity.

White Paper Xiancheng, in danger!