Chapter 348: Cleverly Using a Spirit-Substitution to Deceive the Golden Array

Although Xiao Chiyanzi had long since ceased to care about others commenting on his appearance, having it brought up to his face still made him feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Watching Chiyanzi lower his head, the fire in Tumi Xianzi's heart flared up.

Tumi Xianzi loved excitement most of all, so in the past, she would never have settled in such a desolate place. But ever since she had this disciple, she rarely even went to the town, fearing that others would criticize the child's appearance.

After all, people who judge by appearances are everywhere in this world.

Yet, that ignorant fool, Director Chen, had repeatedly mocked Chiyanzi's appearance to Tumi Xianzi's face without fearing for his life; how could Tumi Xianzi not be angry?

The child whom Tumi Xianzi protected so well was not to be bullied by anyone.

Except, of course, by herself.

"Is this how Baili Laoer taught you? If he doesn't know how to discipline, then I will teach you a lesson for him, you foul-mouthed brat."

As soon as she finished speaking, Tumi Xianzi reached into her sleeve, pulled out a medicinal plaster, pinched a finger seal, and flicked it; the plaster stuck firmly onto Director Chen's mouth.

This plaster was one Tumi Xianzi had made for the village elders to remove dampness from their feet a few days ago; she hadn't expected it to come in handy right at her own doorstep.

At first, Director Chen only felt a cooling sensation on his mouth. He hurriedly tried to peel it off, but the plaster seemed to have grown onto his face and would not come off no matter what. After struggling for a long time, his mouth felt burning hot, as if ten bottles of sesame oil had been poured into it.

Xiao Liangqing glanced at Director Chen, feigning a look of concern, while inwardly feeling delighted and cheering—serves you right for chattering on the whole way!

However, he still had to keep up appearances.

Xiao Liangqing hurriedly pleaded with Tumi Xianzi, but the schadenfreude in his eyes could not be hidden from her.

Hah! The pettiness of officialdom!

However, Tumi Xianzi felt that Xiao Liangqing was at least someone who could speak reasonably, so she did not expose him, merely saying that if Director Chen knew how to repent, the Witchcraft would naturally be lifted, otherwise, he would have to let Baili Laoer undo it, and so on.

Since it was just for show, Xiao Liangqing did not press the matter further; he just gave Director Chen a couple of words of advice and said nothing more.

Once Xiao Liangqing had finished his performance, Tumi Xianzi finally spoke.

"By the time you all return to the capital, this heavy rain will have stopped. Baili Laoer sent you here merely to put the Emperor's mind at ease; that you all actually took it seriously is truly a joke."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Liangqing frowned.

Their trip was not ordered by the Imperial Preceptor but was commissioned by the Crown Prince, and it had not been publicly announced. How did this woman know?

Tumi Xianzi saw Xiao Liangqing's confusion and just smiled: "Baili Wudao is most skilled in psychological manipulation. Although he did not come forward openly, he fanned the flames in secret, dropping a few hints to the Crown Prince, and that greenhorn took it for real."

Xiao Liangqing studied the woman before him, pondering for a long time.

It had to be said that this woman was indeed capable, and she did not seem to respect the Imperial Preceptor, so her words were likely not false, but...

But the imperial order was hard to defy; what was he to do?

Looking at the conflicted Xiao Liangqing, Tumi Xianzi shrugged.

"Did that old man not give you a message before you left? Or perhaps a piece of calligraphy or a silk pouch?"

Tumi Xianzi naturally knew that Director Chen had a silk pouch on him; she was just saying it on purpose.

After all, they were people from the Imperial Court; it was better to save some face for each other. Who knew if she might need Baili Laoer in the future!

Xiao Liangqing had no idea what Tumi Xianzi was thinking, but her words reminded him—Director Chen still had a silk pouch!

Hearing what Tumi Xianzi said, Director Chen, who had been picking at the plaster for a long time, also froze, then hurriedly pulled the ochre-colored silk pouch from his robes.

From the beginning, Director Chen had been puzzled as to why this silk pouch given by the Imperial Preceptor was different from the previous two. Now, hearing Tumi Xianzi say this, even he had to believe it.

Inside the silk pouch was a glass marble and a note. Director Chen hurriedly opened the note and saw a line written in a flamboyant, cursive hand:

"If you encounter a strange person, use the glass to cover the Golden Array. If there is an anomaly, kill them all; if there is no anomaly, turn back and return home."

Director Chen was stunned. He looked up at Tumi Xianzi, only to find her lips curled upward, her face full of disdain, looking at him like a fool.

This...

This woman had known about this all along?

Then...

Tumi Xianzi said nothing more and simply pushed Xiao Chiyanzi forward.

Director Chen had no choice but to bite the bullet and step forward.

Under the reinforcement of the Dharma Array, the glass marble turned golden, shrouding Xiao Chiyanzi in a golden light. Yet, he remained as if nothing had happened, just blinking his eyes with an innocent look on his face.

This!

Director Chen was speechless—though, even if he wanted to speak, he couldn't.

He just hadn't expected things to be exactly as Tumi Xianzi had said.

Could he really have been wrong?

Watching the people from the Imperial Court leave, Tumi Xianzi let out a long sigh of relief and took a Spirit-Substitution Talisman from Xiao Chiyanzi's inner lining—she really did not want to deal with such people.

"You just tricked them like that?"

A voice came from the Xianyun Abode behind them. Chiyanzi was about to turn around, but Tumi Xianzi held him down and replied without looking back:

"Wumin Jun, your grand arrival truly makes this small courtyard shine. What? Your father was willing to let you out?"

So it was Wumin Jun, only the current Wumin Jun had a handsome face and had not yet been injured.

Wumin Jun just smiled and ignored Tumi Xianzi's sarcasm.

"In two days, I will send someone here. At that time, I ask the Fairy to please take care of them."

As soon as he finished speaking, there was a sound of rustling, and Wumin Jun vanished without a trace.

Hah! As expected! He wouldn't visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason!

Xiao Chiyanzi was bewildered; he really didn't know why Tumi Xianzi wouldn't let him turn around.

"Who was that?"

"A passerby," Tumi Xianzi said dismissively.

Hah! As expected! He wouldn't visit the Three Treasures Hall without a reason!

"So, you were the one who personally placed Demon Lord Boyan into the human world and delivered him to my mother?" Lingxiang summarized after hearing the story.

It was not that Lingxiang insisted on harping on the matter of Wumin Jun letting Demon Lord Boyan go; she was simply too angry with him. If not for Wumin Jun's womanish benevolence, how could all these subsequent bullshit troubles have happened?

Hah! You deserved to have your face split open by Ziboyan!

It is said that when Ziboyan originally seized back the Demon Realm, Wumin Jun became a prisoner.

Ziboyan, mindful of their childhood bond and because Wumin had once spared him, did not inflict the ultimate punishment, but instead replaced it with the axe penalty.

The so-called axe penalty is to use a giant axe to split a criminal from head to toe into two halves.

This is a punishment of the Demon Realm; if it were in the human world, it would count as an ultimate punishment. But the Demon Race has the enhancement of cultivation, so they can often survive this penalty.

Before the punishment was carried out, Demon Lord Boyan stated in advance that if Wumin Jun survived the penalty, he would be considered innocent and would take over the position previously held by Nanshan Jun.

If he could not survive it, he would naturally vanish into ashes.