Chapter 29: It Seems Something Is Still Missing

"I am a person who never lies; I have always treated others with honesty."

"So, before we begin, I will tell you in advance."

The current interrogator of Luoyue Peak kindly assured the traitorous fellow disciple who was about to undergo reformation:

"My moral bottom line regarding enemies has always been very low, so low that it exceeds your imagination."

"I guarantee you, I will definitely leave you with an incomparably unforgettable memory."

With a beast-like cruel glint in his pupils, the young man gently added:

"If, that is, you still have the chance to have memories."

The next instant, the spikes of the mace magnified infinitely in the eyes of Zhang Zongrui.

Pfft.

"Ahhhhhh—"

After that...

Zhang Zongrui was never able to say a complete sentence again.

Tap, tap, tap.

"Not right, it seems something is still missing... Oh?"

Tapping the Wooden Fish as he walked out of the prison, Ren Yidao saw an unexpected guest.

No, actually, it should have been expected.

The Peak Master of Lieyang Peak, Zuo Su.

Only stunned for a moment, Ren Yidao put away the Wooden Fish, beamed with joy as he walked up to greet him, and bowed respectfully:

"Greetings, Senior Uncle Zuo. It has been many days, and Senior Uncle's demeanor remains as elegant as ever."

Without waiting for Zuo Su to answer, he proactively asked with great perceptiveness:

"Is there something you need, Senior Uncle, coming to Luoyue Peak? Do you need me to go notify Senior Sister?"

"..."

Zuo Su remained silent, squinting as he observed this third disciple of Luoyue Peak, whom he had always heard about but never truly conversed with face-to-face.

Even now, he could not believe the news he had learned from his grandson.

Could such a heaven-gifted talent with a gentle smile and an otherworldly aura truly kidnap a fellow disciple in broad daylight?

Which one was the truth?

"I want to see her."

"See Jing Yueqin? I will go notify her right away; please wait a moment."

Without saying more to Ren Yidao, Zuo Su straightforwardly ended his uninteresting performance:

"I want to see Zhang Zongrui."

His smile did not diminish in the slightest; Ren Yidao was not flustered, nor did he tell any lies that would be exposed at a glance.

"Oh—so you came to find Senior Brother Zong Rui!"

He merely shook his head regretfully at the grim-faced Left Peak Master and sighed:

"I am afraid that cannot be as you wish."

His gaze became sharp; Zuo Su did not expect the other party to not even bother with a cover-up, and he spoke gloomily:

"Did he have a grudge against you?"

"What are you saying? I didn't even know him before, so naturally, there was none."

"Because he is a disciple of Lieyang Peak?"

"It has nothing to do with which peak he is a disciple of."

Frowning deeply, Zuo Su lost the patience to continue playing word games and spoke directly:

"Then why did you kidnap Zhang Zongrui?"

Hearing this, Ren Yidao finally changed his expression.

He was not aggrieved, nor was he in a hurry to explain, but instead looked quietly at Zuo Su.

Zuo Su was not just the Peak Master of Lieyang Peak; he was also the second-in-command of the Divine Path Sect, second only to the Sect Leader in both strength and power.

At the same time, he was also the one most at odds with Luoyue Peak.

The two stood there looking at each other quietly, letting the breeze blow their lapels and hair.

Not until Zuo Su's gaze wavered slightly did Ren Yidao speak slowly:

"Senior Uncle Zuo, the reason I brought Senior Brother Zong Rui to Luoyue Peak, can you... really not guess it at all?"

Zuo Su: "..."

Could he not guess?

How could he not guess.

If he truly could not guess, he would not have come alone just now...

Zuo Su coming alone meant he hoped Ren Yidao would show mercy and let Zhang Zongrui go.

Ren Yidao was equally clear on this point.

But he did not give Zuo Su that face, calmly stating the cruel fact that both had been deliberately covering up:

"This is the sect prison, responsible for detaining all foreign enemies, internal spies, and traitors."

"And Senior Brother Zong Rui, he..."

Not letting Ren Yidao say that word, Zuo Su's voice was filled with anger:

"Zhang Zongrui cannot possibly be a traitor!"

"His parents lost their lives to the mouths of demons; I was the one who personally carried him up the mountain when he was still in swaddling clothes."

"If he is a traitor, then everyone is a suspect."

Zuo Su rebuked angrily, trying his utmost to prove his disciple's innocence.

Ren Yidao did not refute him and listened quietly the entire time, only speaking softly after Zuo Su could say no more:

"Left Peak Master, you understand the rules; please return."

His expression did not change, but Zuo Su felt himself grow several years older, and a heavy, twilight air gathered upon him.

Staring into Ren Yidao's eyes, Zuo Su spoke slowly:

"If in the end, Zhang Zongrui is proven innocent, you understand what that means."

Resorting to lynching to harm a fellow sect member is never a minor crime.

"Of course, Left Peak Master, I am very clear on this point, and I am prepared to take responsibility for it."

Ren Yidao likewise looked back into Zuo Su's eyes and asked in return:

"However, I would like to ask you a question in return, Left Peak Master..."

"Are you prepared?"

"Once it is confirmed that Zhang Zongrui colluded with external enemies and even intended to harm the sect's heaven-gifted talent, you, as the Peak Master of Lieyang Peak, will also have to bear the responsibility."

"Hmph! When that time comes, I will naturally take responsibility."

Zuo Su gave Ren Yidao a deep look, then turned around directly and said nothing more.

And the twilight air on his body had been dispersed by his anger, though he knew not when.

Standing still and watching Zuo Su's figure recede, Ren Yidao let out a long sigh:

"The hearts of parents under Heaven are truly pitiful..."

"It is just that, Senior Uncle Zuo, you will not live to see the day I am punished."

Taking a crumpled blood-written letter from his robes, Ren Yidao shook his head slightly:

"Because he has already confessed long ago."

Tucking the blood-written letter into his robes, Ren Yidao walked slowly toward his Cave Abode.

Having returned to his little nest after a long time, Ren Yidao felt his mood return to calm as he looked at the various tools hanging all over the wall.

It was full of peace of mind.

Casually pulling a tool made of multiple beads and a string from the wall, Ren Yidao nodded with satisfaction.

"I've decided on this one for today."

After speaking, he held the Prayer Beads in one hand and tapped the Wooden Fish with the other.

Tap, tap, tap, tap...

Merit +1

Merit +1

Merit +1

Hmm.

As expected, tapping the Wooden Fish really must be paired with Prayer Beads.

Also in his own room, Zuo Yungui did not have the leisure and elegance of Ren Yidao.

He opened all the materials he had found in the Scripture Pavilion regarding the Eight-Tailed Heavenly Fox and studied them carefully.

"The Eight-Tailed Heavenly Fox is most skilled at spiritual Illusion Technique and is not good at physical combat, so the Dao God it manifests must also have similar characteristics."

"In other words, Ren Yidao's physical body is his greatest weakness!"

"That's right, although he let him escape today, he was indeed avoiding close-quarters combat with me the entire time."

Zuo Yungui clenched his fists in excitement and quickly deduced:

"As long as I seize the opportunity to get close to him, at that moment... he will be a fish on the chopping block, ready for me to slaughter."

"It feels like something is still missing... but never mind, that's right, I cannot possibly lose to him again!"

Imagining the moment he would trample that guy under his feet and take back everything that was his, Zuo Yungui could no longer suppress his smile.

"Hahahaha, haha-hic."

(End of chapter)