“Sister!” Yang Jin let out a heart-wrenching roar. Immediately afterward, he felt a blinding light seize him like tentacles, and a long beam of light tightened around his neck. At once, he felt as if he could no longer breathe, his vision blurred into a hazy fog, and he nearly died.
“Hahahaha…” Shi Hufa let out a burst of laughter filled with hatred. Suddenly, he shook his hand, flinging Yang Jin, who kicked wildly, to the ground. Looking at Yang Jin, who was coughing and struggling, he said, “You bastard, daring to harm this guardian. If I don’t make you suffer the torment of a hundred ghosts devouring your soul, how could I ever quell my hatred!”
Yang Jin saw that his puppet had once again been subdued by the crimson bracelet. Only then did he realize that after Wu Juan was injured, the long ribbon could no longer contain the bracelet, allowing Shi Hufa to escape.
“Sister!” Yang Jin let out a heart-wrenching roar, and then felt a radiant light, like tentacles, grab him. A long beam tightened around his neck, making it impossible to breathe. His vision blurred, and he felt as if he were on the verge of death.
“Haha…” The Stone Guardian let out a venomous laugh, suddenly flicking his wrist and throwing the flailing Yang Jin to the ground. He looked at Yang Jin, who was coughing and struggling, and said, “You scoundrel, how dare you harm me! If I don’t make you suffer the torment of a hundred ghosts devouring your soul, how can I quench my hatred!”
Yang Jin saw that his puppet had been restrained once again by the Crimson Glow Bracelet. Only then did he realize that after Wu Juan was injured, the long silk ribbon could no longer hold the Crimson Glow Bracelet, allowing the Stone Guardian to break free.
At this moment, Yang Jin was covered in blood. After struggling on the ground for a long time, he barely managed to stand up. His eyes fixed on the Stone Guardian, and suddenly, a strange smile appeared on his face. “Is that so, Stone Guardian? Look at this!” As he spoke, his lips moved slightly, and he softly chanted an incantation. A stone inkstone suddenly appeared in his hand.
“Stone Guardian, this is the treasure the sect leader ordered me to retrieve… Haha, it truly is a treasure. Stone Guardian, you must be eager to take it back and report to the sect leader, hoping to gain his favor and receive rewards from the elders, right?” Seeing the Stone Guardian’s eyes light up and his intent to step forward, Yang Jin suddenly raised his hand to stop him. “Wait! Stone Guardian, I must tell you that I’ve placed a small curse on this inkstone. With just a thought, this inkstone will turn into a pile of rubble! Would you like to try?”
Seeing Yang Jin’s resolute expression, as if he were ready to destroy everything, the Stone Guardian dared not act rashly. The two of them stood in a stalemate. After a moment, the Stone Guardian coldly said, “Yang Jin, haven’t you figured it out yet? Your father ended up like this because someone harmed him. If you want revenge, hand over the inkstone to the sect leader. If you’re lucky, he might pardon your crimes, and you’ll have a chance to seek out the culprit and avenge your father. If you insist on being stubborn, not only will you be in danger, but your father’s vengeance will never be achieved.”
If the Stone Guardian had said this earlier, Yang Jin might have been swayed. But just moments ago, Wu Juan had been utterly destroyed by the Stone Guardian. How could Yang Jin possibly listen now? Yang Jin’s lips twitched, and he snorted, “Stone Guardian, you’re just here on orders, afraid of being punished if you fail to retrieve the inkstone. That’s why you’re trying to deceive me. Do you think I’d believe you again? At midnight tonight, my father will be freed. If you try to stop me, it will be a fight to the death.”
The Stone Guardian sneered, “Do you think I’m a child? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. Your father’s soul is trapped in his corpse, cursed by someone who nailed his three souls and six spirits. That’s why he can’t be freed. This inkstone is a highly evil object, undoubtedly housing a malevolent spirit. You want to use a soul-transferring technique to extract your father’s soul from the corpse and replace it with the evil spirit from the inkstone. But have you considered that this inkstone is an extremely evil object? The spirit inside is likely a vicious entity. If it takes over your father’s corpse, it will go on a rampage. By then, everyone nearby will be in danger of death! Rather than that, I’d rather risk punishment and take you down first!”
With that, the Stone Guardian moved both hands, and the iron ring in the air suddenly shone with a golden light, increasing its power.
Yang Jin’s expression changed. He had thought he could pressure the Stone Guardian and wait for the right moment to activate the spell to free his father’s soul. But the Stone Guardian was too shrewd and remained unmoved. Yang Jin had no more tricks up his sleeve and truly had no way out.
Just as Yang Jin was about to use his last desperate move, a sudden change occurred.
A massive bronze bowl appeared in the scene, accompanied by a resonant hum.
The sound of the bronze bowl wasn’t particularly loud, but to the Stone Guardian, it was like a thunderclap right next to his ear. Already severely injured, the shock caused his mind to waver, and his golden core became unstable.
The Stone Guardian knew something was wrong. He hadn’t expected someone else to be hiding in this dilapidated ancestral hall. Just as he was about to summon the Crimson Glow Bracelet to protect himself, a deep voice from behind shouted, “Command!”
Suddenly, his entire body’s true energy was stirred by a fierce wind, causing it to tremble uncontrollably. Before he could react, a green light descended from the sky, and he felt as if he had been struck by a massive object. His golden core shook violently, and his true energy scattered in all directions. Then, an overwhelming true energy penetrated his body, enveloping his golden core, and he lost consciousness.
Yang Jin, upon hearing the sound of the bowl, was also knocked to the ground.
Two figures appeared in the scene—one tall and one short. The tall one wore a kasaya, while the short one was dressed in a brocade robe. They were none other than the infamous Sun Bu San and Sun Bu Si.
“Ambushing someone is not befitting of a monk. Sin, sin…” Sun Bu Si said, clasping his hands together.
“Enough, you’ve already knocked him out. Stop pretending to be merciful,” Sun Bu San said in a sharp voice.
“Not at all, not at all. The two of you, once you act, the situation is settled. Truly the demeanor of masters,” Mei Qing said with a smile, walking in with Zhao Da You, Yao Ding Guo, and Zhou Chang.
“Of course. Dealing with small fry like this is child’s play for us,” Sun Bu San said with a sharp laugh.
Zhao Da You hurried over, first checking on Yang Jin and nudging him with his foot. Seeing that Yang Jin was indeed unconscious, he laughed, “This kid is quite cunning. How did he manage to escape that day? But no matter how cunning you are, you’ll still end up in our hands. I don’t know what happened to him, but he’s aged so much in just a few days, and he’s covered in blood.” As he spoke, he picked up the inkstone, examining it closely as if trying to find something significant.
Mei Qing, however, didn’t have time for him. He turned to Sun Bu San and Sun Bu Si and said, “This Stone Guardian seems to know something about the theft of this inkstone. Please seal his cultivation and then wake him up so we can interrogate him.”
Sun Bu San chuckled, raising his left hand. True energy condensed like mist at his fingertips, and he began to draw a strange symbol above the Stone Guardian’s head. Strangely, the symbol formed by the mist didn’t dissipate. Only after Sun Bu San finished drawing it and chanted an incantation, shouting, “Seal!” did the symbol suddenly sink into the Stone Guardian’s body and disappear.
Once the symbol entered his body, the Stone Guardian groaned, his limbs twitching slightly before he slowly turned over. He kept his eyes closed at first, taking a few deep breaths, his brow twitching. Then, he slowly opened his eyes and looked at the people standing around him, remaining silent.
Mei Qing stepped forward, standing in front of the Stone Guardian, and smiled, “How do you feel, Stone Guardian?”
The Stone Guardian’s face was dark as he looked at Mei Qing and asked, “Who are you people?”
Mei Qing shook his head and said, “Who we are isn’t important. What matters is who you are.”
“Oh?” The Stone Guardian’s eyes showed mockery. “Then, may I ask, who am I?”
Mei Qing looked directly at the Stone Guardian and said, “No matter what sect you were a guardian for or how important you were, you’re now our prisoner. If you want to avoid humiliation, it’s best to cooperate.”
The Stone Guardian remained silent for a long time before finally saying in a low voice, “What do you want to know?”
Mei Qing asked, “Who are you, and why did you come to the capital?”
The Stone Guardian replied, “My surname is Stone. I’m from Yuzhou, a guardian of the Eastern Daoist sect, Zhen Da Yi. I came to the capital because someone from our sect defected, and I was sent to capture them.”
Mei Qing noticed the flicker in the Stone Guardian’s eyes and knew he wasn’t telling the whole truth, but he didn’t press the issue. Instead, he asked calmly, “Oh? Is the defector the person lying on the ground over there?” He pointed to Yang Jin, who was still unconscious.
The Stone Guardian said, “Yes.”
“And what about the inkstone in his hand? I saw the two of you fighting over it. What’s the story there?” Mei Qing continued to ask calmly.
“That inkstone… it’s a cherished item of our sect leader, highly valuable. This thief stole it on a whim, so I pursued him,” the Stone Guardian said, lowering his head.
“Nonsense!” Zhao Da You, standing next to Yang Jin, interjected. “That inkstone is clearly from our imperial guard’s treasury. When did it become your sect’s property? Speak the truth, or you’ll suffer!”
The Stone Guardian didn’t argue with Zhao Da You. He simply lowered his head and said, “Everything I’ve said is true. I hope you can investigate thoroughly.”
Sun Bu San chuckled and said, “You fool, if you’re thinking of trying to break my seal while talking nonsense, don’t bother. A seal placed by someone of my caliber isn’t something you can undo. If you had been awed by my presence and obediently cooperated, I might have been inclined to release you. But since you’re being stubborn, I’ll keep you sealed for ten or twenty years, so you won’t even have the energy to eat.”
Mei Qing and the others couldn’t help but smile. Sun Bu Si, however, solemnly objected, “Sin, sin. Second Brother, since you’ve already sealed him, you shouldn’t provoke him with sarcastic remarks. Even if he were to cooperate, would you really release him? A monk shouldn’t speak falsely. Second Brother, you’re wrong.”
Sun Bu San angrily retorted, “Third Brother, what do you know? I’m using a psychological tactic. The best way to defeat an enemy is to break their spirit without fighting. By playing mind games, I can make him spill everything. It was a good strategy, but you ruined it. It’s impossible to explain things to someone as dense as you.”
Sun Bu Si muttered, still wanting to argue, but seeing the murderous look in his brother’s eyes, he decided to silently recite “sin” a few times and let it go.
“Guardian Shi, this is the treasure the leader ordered me to retrieve… Hahaha… Indeed, it’s a treasure. Guardian Shi, you must also be eager to take it back to report, hoping to gain the leader’s favor and earn the elders’ reward, right?” Seeing Shi Hufa’s eyes light up as he was about to step forward, Yang Jin suddenly raised his hand to stop him. “Hold on. Guardian Shi, I must tell you, I’ve placed a small spell on this inkstone. With just a thought, this inkstone will immediately turn into a pile of rubble! Would you like to try it?”
Seeing Yang Jin’s resolute expression, as if ready to die together, Shi Hufa dared not act rashly, and the two reached a stalemate. After a while, Shi Hufa coldly said, “Yang Jin, since it’s come to this, haven’t you figured it out yet? Your father’s current state must be the result of someone else’s doing. If you want revenge, hand this inkstone over to the leader. If the leader shows mercy, your punishment might be waived, giving you another chance to seek out your enemy and avenge your father. But if you insist on going your own way recklessly, not only will you be in danger, but also the chance to avenge your father will be lost forever.”
If Shi Hufa had said this at the beginning, Yang Jin might have been somewhat moved. But just now, Wu Juan had been utterly destroyed by Shi Hufa’s hand; how could Yang Jin listen to anything he said? Yang Jin’s lips twitched a few times, then he snorted, “Guardian Shi, you’re just following orders, afraid of being punished for failing to retrieve the inkstone, so you’re trying to deceive me. Do you really think I’ll fall for it again? At midnight tonight, my father will be freed. If you try to stop me, it will end in mutual destruction.”
Shi Hufa sneered, “Do you take me for a three-year-old? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. Your father’s soul is trapped within his body, someone has cast a spell binding his three souls and six spirits, so he cannot be freed. This inkstone is a great evil object, certainly containing an evil spirit. You want to use the method of transferring form and changing souls to extract your father’s soul from his body and place the evil spirit from the inkstone inside. But have you considered that this inkstone is an extremely evil object, and the evil spirit within it could be some ferocious entity. If it gets hold of your father’s spiritually refined corpse, it will surely go on a rampage, and everyone nearby will be in mortal danger. Rather than let that happen, I’d rather risk punishment and capture you first!”
Having said this, he moved both hands, and the iron ring in the air suddenly emitted a stronger golden glow, increasing its power.
Yang Jin’s face changed. Originally, he had hoped to threaten Shi Hufa into submission, then at the appointed hour, use his magic to extract his father’s soul. But he hadn’t expected Shi Hufa to be so sharp and unmoved. At this point, he had no more resources to rely on, truly at the end of his rope.
Just as Yang Jin steeled himself to use his last resort, a sudden unexpected event occurred.
A huge bronze bowl suddenly appeared in the middle of the scene, followed by a resonant humming sound.
This sound of the bronze bowl did not seem particularly loud, but to Shi Hufa, it was like a thunderclap right beside his ear. He had already been severely injured, and with this vibration, his mind wavered, and even his golden core became unstable.
Realizing the danger, Shi Hufa was startled to find that there was someone else hidden in this dilapidated ancestral hall. Just as he was trying to recall the crimson bracelet to protect himself, he heard a deep voice behind him shout, “Seal!”
At once, his entire body’s true energy was suddenly stirred by a gale, causing him to tremble violently. Startled, he turned his head, but before he could react, his peripheral vision caught sight of a streak of green light descending from the sky. Immediately afterward, he felt as if struck by a massive object, his golden core violently shaken, his true energy scattering chaotically throughout his body. Then he felt an immense force pierce his body and envelop his golden core, after which he lost consciousness.
When Yang Jin first heard the sound of the bowl, he was stunned and fell to the ground.
Two figures appeared in the scene—one tall and one short. The tall one wore a Buddhist robe, and the short one wore a brocade robe. Indeed, it was none other than the brothers Sun Sansi and Sun Busi.
“Attacking secretly from the shadows is not the way of a monk. What a sin, what a sin…” Sun Busi clasped his palms together.
“Enough. You already knocked him out, so why pretend to be compassionate?” Sun Sansi’s sharp voice retorted.
“Oh, come now. If the two elders don’t act, then when they do, the battle is already decided. Truly worthy of the style of a martial arts master.” Mei Qing laughed, walking in with Zhao Dayou, Yao Dingguo, Zhou Chang, and others from the doorway.
“Hehe, naturally. For such small fry, when we brothers act, it’s just a matter of time before we capture them.” Sun Sansi cackled.
Zhao Dayou hurried over, first glancing at Yang Jin, then poking at him with his foot. Seeing that Yang Jin was indeed unconscious, he laughed, “This kid is quite cunning. How did he escape that day? But no matter how clever he is, he still ended up in our hands. And this kid, who knows what he’s been up to, has aged so much in just a few days. Look at all this blood on him.” As he spoke, he picked up the inkstone, examining it left and right, as if trying to find something special about it.
Mei Qing had no time to pay attention to him. Turning to the brothers Sun Sansi and Sun Busi, he said, “The guardian Shi on the ground seems to know something about the truth of stealing this inkstone. Please, senior, seal his cultivation first, then wake him up so we can interrogate him.”
Sun Sansi chuckled, raising his left hand. The true energy between his fingers condensed into a mist-like substance, beginning to draw an unusual talisman symbol on Shi Hufa’s head. Strangely, the talisman drawn from mist did not dissipate. Until Sun Sansi had finished drawing, he began chanting a spell and shouted, “Zhe!” Then, the talisman symbol suddenly seeped into Shi Hufa’s body and vanished.
After the talisman entered his body, Shi Hufa groaned, his limbs twitching a few times, slowly turning over. He first tightly closed his eyes, deeply inhaling several times, then his eyebrows trembled a few times, before slowly opening his eyes to look at the people standing around him, saying nothing.
Mei Qing stepped forward, standing in front of Shi Hufa and smiling, “How is Guardian Shi feeling?”
Shi Hufa’s face was dark as he looked at Mei Qing and said, “Who are you people?”
Mei Qing shook his head and said, “Who we are isn’t important. The key is, who are you?”
“Oh?” Shi Hufa’s eyes showed mockery as he said, “Then, may I ask you, who am I?”
“Sister!” Yang Jin let out a heart-wrenching roar, and then felt a light like tentacles grabbing him. A long beam tightened around his neck, and he immediately felt suffocated, his vision blurred, and he was on the verge of death.
“Haha…” The Stone Guardian let out a venomous laugh, suddenly flicking his hand and throwing Yang Jin, who was kicking wildly, to the ground. He looked at Yang Jin, who was coughing and struggling, and said, “You bastard, how dare you hurt me. If I don’t make you suffer the torment of a hundred ghosts devouring your soul, how can I quench my hatred!”
Yang Jin saw that his puppet had been restrained again by the Red Light Bracelet, realizing that after Wu Juan was injured, the long silk could no longer hold the Red Light Bracelet, allowing the Stone Guardian to break free.
At this moment, Yang Jin was covered in blood, struggling on the ground for a long time before barely standing up. He stared fixedly at the Stone Guardian, suddenly revealing a strange smile and said, “Is that so? Stone Guardian, look at this.” As he spoke, his lips moved slightly, chanting a spell, and a stone inkstone suddenly appeared in his hand.
“Stone Guardian, this is the treasure the sect leader ordered me to retrieve… Haha… it truly is a treasure. Stone Guardian, you must want to take it back to complete your mission, hoping to gain the sect leader’s favor and receive the elder’s rewards, right?” Seeing the Stone Guardian’s eyes light up and about to step forward, Yang Jin suddenly raised his hand to stop him and said, “Wait. Stone Guardian, I must tell you, I’ve placed a small curse on this inkstone. With just a thought, this inkstone will turn into a pile of rubble! Do you want to try it?”
Seeing Yang Jin’s resolute expression, the Stone Guardian dared not act rashly, and the two stood in a stalemate. After a while, the Stone Guardian coldly said, “Yang Jin, haven’t you figured it out yet? Your father ended up like this because someone harmed him. If you want revenge, hand over the inkstone to the sect leader. If you’re lucky, the sect leader might spare you, and you’ll have a chance to seek revenge. If you insist on being stubborn, not only will you be in danger, but your father’s vengeance will never be realized.”
If the Stone Guardian had said this earlier, Yang Jin might have been swayed. But just now, Wu Juan had been utterly destroyed by the Stone Guardian, and Yang Jin couldn’t listen anymore. Yang Jin’s lips twitched, and he snorted, “Stone Guardian, you’re just here on orders, afraid of being punished if you can’t retrieve the inkstone, so you’re trying to deceive me. Do you think I’ll believe you? At midnight tonight, my father will break free. If you try to stop me, it will be a fight to the death.”
The Stone Guardian sneered, “Do you think I’m a three-year-old child? Don’t think I don’t know your plan. Your father’s soul is trapped in his corpse, someone cursed him, sealing his three souls and six spirits, so he can’t be freed. This inkstone is an extremely evil object, surely housing a malevolent spirit. You want to use a soul transfer technique to extract your father’s soul from the corpse and replace it with the evil spirit from the inkstone. But have you considered that this inkstone is inherently evil, and the spirit within it is likely a ferocious entity? If it takes over your father’s refined corpse, it will go berserk, and everyone nearby will be in mortal danger. Rather than that, I’d rather risk punishment and take you down first!”
With that, he moved both hands, and the iron ring in the air suddenly shone with a golden light, increasing its power.
Yang Jin’s expression changed. He had thought he could pressure the Stone Guardian and wait for the right moment to perform the spell to free his father’s soul. But the Stone Guardian was too shrewd and remained unmoved. Yang Jin had no more tricks up his sleeve and truly had no way out.
Just as Yang Jin was about to desperately use his last resort, a sudden change occurred.
A huge copper bowl appeared in the field, accompanied by a resonant sound.
The sound of the copper bowl wasn’t very loud, but to the Stone Guardian, it was like a thunderclap right next to his ear. Already severely injured, the vibration shook his core, and his golden core became unstable.
The Stone Guardian knew something was wrong. He hadn’t expected someone else to be hiding in this dilapidated ancestral hall. Just as he was about to summon the Red Light Bracelet to protect himself, a deep voice behind him shouted, “Command!”
Suddenly, his true essence was stirred by a fierce wind, and his entire body trembled. Before he could react, a green light descended from the sky, and he felt as if he had been struck by a massive object. His golden core shook violently, his true essence scattered, and then a tremendous force enveloped his golden core, and he lost consciousness.
Yang Jin collapsed to the ground at the sound of the bowl.
Two figures appeared in the field, one tall and one short. The tall one wore a kasaya, and the short one wore a brocade robe. They were none other than the brothers Sun Bu San and Sun Bu Si.
“Sneak attacks are not befitting of a monk, sin sin…” Sun Bu Si said, clasping his hands together.
“Enough, you’ve already knocked him out, no need to pretend to be merciful,” Sun Bu San said sharply.
“Indeed, indeed, the two of you are truly masters, decisive and powerful,” Mei Qing said with a smile, as he, Zhao Da You, Yao Ding Guo, and Zhou Chang walked in from the door.
“Of course, dealing with small fry like this is child’s play for us,” Sun Bu San said with a sharp laugh.
Zhao Da You ran over, first checking on Yang Jin, then nudging him with his foot. Seeing that Yang Jin was indeed unconscious, he laughed, “This kid is cunning, how did he manage to escape that day? But no matter how cunning, he still ended up in our hands. Though I don’t know how he aged so much in just a few days, look at all this blood.” As he spoke, he picked up the inkstone, examining it closely as if trying to find something significant.
Mei Qing didn’t have time for him and turned to the brothers, “This Stone Guardian seems to know the truth about the stolen inkstone. Please seal his cultivation and then wake him up so we can interrogate him.”
Sun Bu San chuckled, raising his left hand. True essence condensed like mist between his fingers, and he began to draw a strange symbol on the Stone Guardian’s head. Strangely, the symbol formed by the mist didn’t dissipate. After Sun Bu San finished drawing, he chanted a spell and shouted, “Command!” The symbol then seeped into the Stone Guardian’s body and disappeared.
After the symbol entered his body, the Stone Guardian groaned, his limbs twitched, and he slowly turned over. He first took a deep breath, his eyebrows twitching, and then slowly opened his eyes, looking at the people standing around him without saying a word.
Mei Qing stepped forward, standing in front of the Stone Guardian, and smiled, “How do you feel, Stone Guardian?”
The Stone Guardian looked at Mei Qing with a dark expression and said, “Who are you?”
Mei Qing shook his head, “Who we are isn’t important. What’s important is who you are.”
“Oh?” The Stone Guardian said with a sneer, “Then, may I ask, who am I?”
Mei Qing looked directly at the Stone Guardian, “No matter which cult you were a guardian of before, or what important figure you were, now you’re our prisoner. If you want to avoid humiliation, it’s better to cooperate.”
The Stone Guardian was silent for a long time before he said in a low voice, “What do you want to know?”
Mei Qing said, “Who are you, and why did you come to the capital?”
The Stone Guardian said, “My surname is Stone, I’m from Yuzhou, and I’m a guardian of the Eastern Daoist True Unity Sect. I came to the capital because someone from our sect defected, and I was sent to capture them.”
Mei Qing noticed the flicker in the Stone Guardian’s eyes and knew he wasn’t telling the whole truth, but he didn’t press it, just said lightly, “Oh? Is the defector the person lying on the ground over there?” He pointed to Yang Jin, who was still lying on the ground.
The Stone Guardian said, “Yes.”
“And what about the inkstone in his hand? I saw you two fighting over it earlier. What’s the story?” Mei Qing continued to ask calmly.
“That inkstone… it’s a treasured item of our sect leader, very valuable. This thief stole it on a whim, so I pursued him,” the Stone Guardian said, lowering his head.
“Nonsense!” Zhao Da You, standing next to Yang Jin, said, “This inkstone is clearly from our Imperial Guard’s treasury, when did it become your sect’s property? Speak the truth, or you’ll suffer!”
The Stone Guardian didn’t argue, just lowered his head and said, “I’ve told the truth, please investigate thoroughly.”
Sun Bu San chuckled, “You fool, if you’re thinking of talking nonsense to try and break my seal, don’t bother. A seal placed by someone like me isn’t something you can break. If you had been awed by my presence and obediently cooperated, showing my masterful demeanor, I might have been pleased and released you. But since you didn’t, I’ll keep you sealed for ten or eight years, making sure you can’t even enjoy your meals.”
Mei Qing and the others couldn’t help but smile. Sun Bu Si, standing to the side, solemnly objected, “Sin sin, brother, since you’ve already sealed him, you shouldn’t provoke him with sarcasm. Even if he were obedient, would you really release him? A monk shouldn’t speak deceitfully, brother, you’re wrong.”
Sun Bu San angrily said, “What do you know, third brother? I’m using a psychological tactic, attacking the heart is better than attacking the city, subduing the enemy without fighting. My psychological attack would have made him spill everything. But you ruined it, making it worthless. It’s impossible to explain things to someone as dense as you.”
Sun Bu Si muttered, wanting to argue back, but seeing the murderous look in his brother’s eyes, he silently chanted “sin” a few times and said no more.
Shi Hufa was silent for a long time before replying in a low voice, “What do you want to know?”
Mei Qing asked, “Who exactly are you, and what are you doing in the capital?”
Shi Hufa replied, “My surname is Shi. I am from Yuzhou, and I am the guardian of the Eastern Daoist Sect, the Zhen Da Sect. This time I came to the capital because someone from our sect has betrayed us, and I came specially to capture him.”
Mei Qing noticed Shi Hufa’s shifting gaze as he spoke, knowing his words were not entirely truthful. He did not expose him, merely asking indifferently, “Oh? The traitor you mentioned—is it the person lying on the ground over there?” He pointed toward Yang Jin, who was still unconscious.
Shi Hufa replied, “Exactly.”
“Then… what is the inkstone in his hand? Just now I saw you two fighting fiercely over it. May I ask why?” Mei Qing continued asking casually.
“That inkstone…” Shi Hufa lowered his head and said, “It originally belonged to our sect’s leader, a highly valuable object. This young thief stole it on a whim, so I came chasing after him.”
“Nonsense!” Zhao Dayou, standing beside Yang Jin, shouted, “This inkstone clearly belongs to our Jinyi Guard’s treasury. When did it become your sect’s property? Confess the truth quickly, or you’ll suffer the consequences!”
“Sister!” Yang Jin let out a heart-wrenching roar, and then felt a light like tentacles grabbing him. A long beam tightened around his neck, making it impossible to breathe. His vision blurred, and he felt as if he was about to die.
“Haha…” The Stone Guardian let out a venomous laugh, suddenly flicking his hand and throwing Yang Jin, who was kicking wildly, to the ground. He looked at Yang Jin, who was coughing and struggling, and said, “You bastard, you dare to harm me. If I don’t make you suffer the torment of a hundred ghosts devouring your soul, how can I quench my hatred!”
Yang Jin saw that his puppet had been restrained again by the Crimson Bracelet, realizing that Wu Juan’s injury had caused the long silk to lose its grip on the bracelet, allowing the Stone Guardian to break free.
At this moment, Yang Jin was covered in blood, struggling on the ground for a long time before barely managing to stand up. His eyes fixed on the Stone Guardian, and he suddenly revealed a strange smile, saying, “Is that so? Stone Guardian, look at this!” As he spoke, his lips moved slightly, chanting a spell, and a stone inkstone suddenly appeared in his hand.
“Stone Guardian, this is the treasure the Sect Master ordered me to retrieve… Haha… it truly is a treasure. Stone Guardian, you must be eager to take it back and gain the Sect Master’s favor, hoping for the elders’ rewards, right?” Seeing the Stone Guardian’s eyes light up and about to step forward, Yang Jin suddenly raised his hand to stop him, saying, “Wait. Stone Guardian, I must tell you, I’ve placed a small curse on this inkstone. With just a thought, it will turn into a pile of rubble! Do you want to try it?”
Seeing Yang Jin’s resolute expression, the Stone Guardian dared not act rashly, and the two stood in a stalemate. After a while, the Stone Guardian coldly said, “Yang Jin, haven’t you figured it out yet? Your father ended up like this because someone harmed him. If you want revenge, hand over the inkstone to the Sect Master. If you are lucky enough to gain his mercy and have your crimes forgiven, you might still have a chance to seek revenge. If you insist on being stubborn, not only will you be in danger, but your father’s grudge will also remain unavenged.”
If the Stone Guardian had said this earlier, Yang Jin might have been swayed. But just now, Wu Juan had been utterly destroyed by the Stone Guardian, and Yang Jin could no longer listen. Yang Jin’s lips twitched, and he snorted, “Stone Guardian, you’re just here on orders, afraid of being punished if you don’t retrieve the inkstone, so you’re trying to deceive me. Do you think I would believe you again? At midnight tonight, my father will be freed. If you try to stop me, it will be a fight to the death.”
The Stone Guardian sneered, “Do you think I’m a three-year-old child? Don’t think I don’t know what you’re planning. Your father’s soul is trapped in his corpse, cursed by someone who nailed his three souls and six spirits, preventing him from being freed. This inkstone is an extremely evil object, surely containing a malevolent spirit. You want to use a soul-transferring technique to extract your father’s soul from the corpse and replace it with the evil spirit from the inkstone. But have you considered that this inkstone is a highly evil object? The malevolent spirit inside is unknown, but if it gains control of your father’s refined corpse, it will surely go berserk. By then, everyone around will be in mortal danger. Rather than that, I’d rather risk punishment and take you down first!”
With that, he moved both hands, and the iron ring in the air suddenly shone with a golden light, increasing its power.
Yang Jin’s face changed. He had thought he could pressure the Stone Guardian and wait for the right moment to cast the spell to free his father’s soul. But the Stone Guardian was too shrewd and remained unmoved. Yang Jin had nothing left to rely on and truly had no way out.
Just as Yang Jin was about to use his last resort, a sudden change occurred.
A huge bronze bowl appeared in the field, accompanied by a resonant sound.
The sound of the bronze bowl wasn’t very loud, but to the Stone Guardian, it was like a thunderclap right next to his ear. Already severely injured, the vibration shook his core, and his golden core became unstable.
The Stone Guardian knew something was wrong. He hadn’t expected someone else to be hiding in this dilapidated ancestral hall. Just as he was about to summon the Crimson Bracelet to protect himself, a deep voice from behind shouted, “Command!”
His entire body’s true energy was suddenly agitated by a fierce wind, causing him to tremble. Before he could react, he saw a green light descending from the sky, and then felt as if he had been struck by a massive object. His golden core shook violently, and his true energy scattered in all directions. Then, an overwhelming true energy penetrated his body, enveloping his golden core, and he lost consciousness.
Yang Jin, upon hearing the sound of the bowl, was also shaken and collapsed to the ground.
Two figures, one tall and one short, appeared in the field. The tall one wore a kasaya, and the short one wore a brocade robe. They were none other than the brothers Sun Bu San and Sun Bu Si.
“Sneak attacks are not befitting of a monk, a sin, a sin…” Sun Bu Si said, clasping his hands together.
“Enough, you’ve already knocked him out, stop pretending to be merciful,” Sun Bu San said sharply.
“Indeed, indeed, the two seniors only need to strike once to settle the matter, truly a display of masterful skill,” Mei Qing said with a smile, walking in with Zhao Da You, Yao Ding Guo, and Zhou Chang.
“Of course, dealing with such small fry is a piece of cake for us brothers,” Sun Bu San said with a sharp laugh.
Zhao Da You ran over, first checking on Yang Jin and nudging him with his foot. Seeing that Yang Jin was indeed unconscious, he laughed, “This kid is quite cunning, how did he manage to escape that day? But no matter how cunning you are, you’ll still end up in our hands. It’s just that this kid seems to have aged so much in a few days, look at all this blood.” As he spoke, he picked up the inkstone, examining it closely as if trying to find something.
Mei Qing didn’t have time to deal with him and turned to the brothers, “This Stone Guardian seems to know something about the theft of this inkstone. Please, seniors, seal his cultivation and then wake him up so we can interrogate him.”
Sun Bu San chuckled, raising his left hand. True energy condensed like mist at his fingertips, and he began to draw a strange symbol on the Stone Guardian’s head. Strangely, the symbol made of mist did not dissipate. After Sun Bu San finished drawing, he chanted a spell and shouted, “Command!” The symbol then suddenly seeped into the Stone Guardian’s body and disappeared.
After the symbol entered his body, the Stone Guardian groaned, his limbs twitched, and he slowly turned over. He first closed his eyes, took a few deep breaths, his eyebrows twitched, and then he slowly opened his eyes, looking at the people standing around him, saying nothing.
Mei Qing stepped forward, standing in front of the Stone Guardian, and smiled, “How do you feel, Stone Guardian?”
The Stone Guardian looked at Mei Qing with a dark expression and asked, “Who are you?”
Mei Qing shook his head, “Who we are is not important. What matters is who you are.”
“Oh?” The Stone Guardian said with a mocking tone, “Then, may I ask, who am I?”
Mei Qing looked directly at the Stone Guardian, “No matter which cult’s guardian you were before, or what important figure you were, now you are our prisoner. If you want to avoid further humiliation, it’s best to cooperate.”
The Stone Guardian remained silent for a long time before saying in a low voice, “What do you want to know?”
Mei Qing asked, “Who are you, and why have you come to the capital?”
The Stone Guardian said, “My surname is Shi, I’m from Yuzhou, and I’m a guardian of the Eastern Daoist True Unity Sect. I came to the capital because someone from our sect has defected, and I’m here to capture them.”
Mei Qing noticed the flicker in his eyes and knew he wasn’t telling the whole truth, but he didn’t press it, only saying lightly, “Oh? Is the defector the person lying on the ground over there?” He pointed to Yang Jin, who was still lying on the ground.
The Stone Guardian said, “Yes.”
“And what about the inkstone in his hand? I saw you two fighting over it earlier. What’s the reason for that?” Mei Qing continued to ask calmly.
“The inkstone… is a cherished possession of our sect’s leader, highly valuable. This thief stole it on a whim, so I pursued him,” the Stone Guardian said, lowering his head.
“Nonsense!” Zhao Da You, standing next to Yang Jin, said, “This inkstone is clearly from our Imperial Guards’ treasury. When did it become your sect’s property? Speak the truth quickly, or you’ll suffer!”
The Stone Guardian didn’t argue, only lowered his head and said, “What I said is the truth, I hope you can investigate clearly.”
Sun Bu San chuckled, “You fool, if you’re thinking of talking nonsense to try and break my seal, don’t bother. A seal placed by someone of my caliber is not something you can break. If you had been awed by my presence and obediently cooperated, perhaps I would have been in a good mood and released you. But since you didn’t, I’ll keep you sealed for ten or eight years, making sure you can’t even eat with any spirit.”
Mei Qing and the others couldn’t help but smile. Sun Bu Si, standing beside him, solemnly objected, “A sin, a sin. Second brother, since you’ve already sealed him, you shouldn’t provoke him with words and sarcasm. Even if he were obedient, would you really release him? A monk should not speak falsely, second brother, you are wrong.”
Sun Bu San angrily retorted, “Third brother, what do you know? I’m using a psychological strategy. The best way to win a battle is to conquer the heart without fighting. By attacking his mind, he might be swayed and confess everything. It was a good strategy, but you ruined it, making it worthless. It’s impossible to explain things to someone as foolish as you.”
Sun Bu Si muttered, wanting to argue back, but seeing the murderous look in his second brother’s eyes, he knew he was extremely displeased. He silently chanted “sin” a few times and said no more.
Sun Sansi chuckled and said, “That fool, if you’re thinking of saying anything to try to undo my seal, forget it. For a high-level expert like me, the talisman I personally cast—how could you possibly break it? If you had shown respect upon seeing me, been obedient, listened to my every word, and highlighted my image as a great master, maybe I would have released you out of happiness. Otherwise, I’ll seal you for ten or eight years, making you unable to even eat properly.”
Upon hearing this, everyone couldn’t help but smile. Indeed, Sun Busi solemnly opposed him beside him, saying, “What a sin, what a sin. Brother, since you’ve already sealed him, you shouldn’t provoke him further with words, mocking and ridiculing him. Besides, even if he did obey you, would you really have released him? How can a monk speak such false words? Brother, you’re wrong.”
Sun Sansi angrily replied, “Third brother, you don’t understand anything! I’m using a psychological strategy. As the saying goes, capturing a city is easier than capturing the heart. Winning without fighting is the best strategy. With my psychological attack, this kid might be moved and tell everything. It was originally a good plan, but you ruined it, making it worthless. It’s always hard to explain things to a stupid person like you.”
Sun Busi mumbled something, wanting to argue further, but seeing his second brother’s murderous gaze and obvious dissatisfaction, he could only silently chant “What a sin” a few times and remained silent.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage