Burn

Xiao Yuan finished speaking and waited in silence for two seconds before grasping the doorknob and twisting it gently open. The scene before her transformed. Like ripples across water, the hotel corridor distorted into an ancient, solemn Buddhist hall. A towering Buddha statue stood with downcast eyes, its gaze half-open and half-closed, at once compassionate and ferocious. Xiao Yuan studied the Buddha statue carefully, then quietly withdrew her gaze. The Buddhist temple was an illusion born from the realm within Master Wuhen's heart, not a physical reality. The statue—both merciful and ferocious—was a manifestation of Master Wuhen's mind. He had conjured this temple and trapped himself inside it. The statue symbolized Master Wuhen's inner state. As long as it remained still, Master Wuhen would not lose control. If the day ever came when the statue shed its compassion and assumed the wrathful glare of a vajra guardian, it would prove that Master Wuhen could no longer suppress the murderous intent in his heart. "Master Wuhen, Yuanshi Tianzun has helped Kou Beiyue achieve his vengeance. The boy has settled his past ties and wishes to return to your fold to resume his cultivation," Xiao Yuan said earnestly. "Please take him back." The hall remained dead silent. The robed figure in green stood as unmoving as a mountain. After a dozen seconds, Master Wuhen's voice echoed, thick with strained suppression: "Just this once; never again!" Xiao Yuan felt a weight lift from her chest. "Understood!" she replied with joy. She quickly lowered her head, pressed her palms together, and bowed to the statue. Just as she was about to step out of the hall, the low, tormented voice echoed in her ears once more: "You may ask Yuanshi Tianzun for help in finding evil professionals who harbor kindness in their hearts." Entrust such an important matter to Yuanshi Tianzun? Master Wuhen fully recognized him? Xiao Yuan froze, an indescribable wave of joy surging within her. When she had agreed to join the Return of the Dead guild, Master Wuhen's answer had been: *Then go verify it yourself.* This showed that Master Wuhen cared deeply about whether Yuanshi Tianzun's ideals were merely superficial slogans. And now, Yuanshi Tianzun had proven his ideals through concrete action. Master Wuhen had truly accepted and recognized him. This small group had finally welcomed its first orthodox professional. "Yes!" The corners of Xiao Yuan's lips curved into a smile. *Ding!* On an expensive leather sofa in the first-floor hall at Fujia Bay, Zhang Yuanqing pulled out his phone. After reading the message, he looked up at Fu Qingyang sitting across from him. "Centurion, Master Wuhen's side just messaged me back. You really can predict everything like a deity—they've truly accepted me." He smoothly slipped in some flattery. Xiao Yuan had sent a message expressing her gratitude and conveying Master Wuhen's request: to help seek out evil professionals who inclined toward good. This was effectively telling him that Master Wuhen considered him one of their own. *From now on, I can ask Master Wuhen for help with a clear conscience. Even if I run into Heavenly King Demonic Eye, I'll have the means to protect myself. Plus the reward of two thousand Morality Points—even though I didn't fuss over the gains when doing all this, the payoff is genuinely gratifying...* Zhang Yuanqing felt a surge of joyful satisfaction. Fu Qingyang picked up his porcelain cup, took a sip of tea, and stood up. "Good. Come with me to interrogate Chi Yue'an." Zhang Yuanqing quickly got to his feet and followed. The two descended the dual staircase, returning to the basement level. "Centurion, last time, with Elder Gou's permission, you killed Deacon Pang." Having just discussed Chi Yue'an in the living room, he had learned that Chi Yue'an had embezzled over two billion over the years, with more than half of the funds unaccounted for. There was likely a bigger fish behind him. Zhang Yuanqing leaned toward simply killing Chi Yue'an and performing spirit questioning. Now that he was a Level 3 Night Wanderer, paired with the Demon-Subduing Pestle, he could withstand the mental pollution of a Level 4 orthodox walker. "Those were extraordinary circumstances. Can Bronze Sparrow Tower compare to the importance of the Fallen Holy Grail and Dark Night Rose?" Fu Qingyang said calmly. *Oh, so our rules and bottom lines are quite flexible after all...* Zhang Yuanqing complained inwardly. Fu Qingyang said expressionlessly, "Are you badmouthing me in your head?" Zhang Yuanqing flatly denied it. "No, no... Centurion, do you think Chi Yue'an could be a money-making tool for the Zhu family?" "Not the Zhu family," Fu Qingyang said indifferently. Not the Zhu family? The tall, upright Centurion walked with graceful strides and explained, "The Zhu family sells Life Essence to the Five Elements Alliance every year, raking in tens of billions in profits, not to mention their other businesses. They can make money cleanly—why would they muddy themselves for petty gains like this? However, the Zhu family is a massive clan with numerous factions. There will always be people scheming through crooked avenues to make a fortune..." Zhang Yuanqing had a sudden realization. "You mean Chi Yue'an's ex-wife?" Fu Qingyang said impassively, "It's also possible Chi Yue'an belongs to another organization. We'll only know after the interrogation. Unfortunately, the Tiger Tally has already been returned to headquarters. And my lie-detecting item has little effect on Saints." *No matter who's behind this, we have to drag them into the light. Someone this depraved can't be let off!* Zhang Yuanqing's anger lingered unappeased. Talking as they walked, the two traversed the long corridor lined with holding cells before stopping at the very end. Chi Yue'an was detained in this final cell. He still wore his white suit, but it was crumpled and covered in grime. His slicked-back hair hung loose and disheveled. A wooden cangue was locked around his neck, and manacles bound his ankles. He lay half-reclined on the bed, looking feeble. Both the cangue and the manacles were items. Restraining a Saint was a bit of a stretch for them, so Ling Jun had injected him with an additional vial of biological toxin. It was worth noting that items could be brought into the Spirit Realm; in this state, if Chi Yue'an were drawn into a dungeon run, he would be as good as dead. Hearing footsteps, Chi Yue'an immediately turned his head. Glancing past Fu Qingyang, his eyes locked onto Zhang Yuanqing's face. Fury and hatred flashed across the Fire Master's features as he gritted his teeth, hissing word by word: "Yuanshi Tianzun!" If asked whom he hated most, it was undoubtedly Yuanshi Tianzun. Chi Yue'an did not even hate that Bewitching Demon, because that guy was a minor pawn who couldn't stir up any real waves or threaten him. It was all because Yuanshi Tianzun had stuck his nose where it didn't belong that Bronze Sparrow Tower had been raided, and he himself reduced to a prisoner. "I still prefer how arrogant and rampant you were last night," Zhang Yuanqing mocked. "Look at yourself now. You look like a dog." How could a hot-tempered Fire Master stomach such taunts and provocation? Blue veins bulged violently across Chi Yue'an's forehead, his eyes nearly popping from their sockets. Suppressing the rage churning inside, he suddenly sneered: "How long do you think you can stay smug? Colluding with an evil professional, investigating a case without authorization—even if you're Yuanshi Tianzun, the Council of Elders won't let you off." In a conflict where orthodox and evil factions fought to the death, associating with an evil professional was an egregious felony. Yuanshi Tianzun had no background. No matter how great his contributions were, he couldn't dream of dodging responsibility. "Oh, that evil professional just left," Zhang Yuanqing said. "The Council of Elders ruled that I'm innocent!" Chi Yue'an sneered. "Keep putting on a brave face, then." Fu Qingyang said calmly, "He is indeed innocent." Hearing his endorsement, Chi Yue'an's expression instantly froze. He raised his voice: "Impossible! Colluding with an evil profession is a felony! And you critically injured and killed constables..." He refused to believe the powerful elites backing him would accept slaughter lying down; they would definitely step into the arena to maneuver. As a Deacon, the Five Elements Alliance had full authority to handle him, but those dignitaries were beyond the Alliance's jurisdiction. Even the Songhai municipal government had to report to the capital before acting against them. Until the capital stated its position, the elites of Shakou District would naturally pull strings, and the Kangyang District walker squad's violent law enforcement would be their biggest opening. "Colluding with an evil profession was authorized by the Council of Elders. As for injuring constables—sorry, but I wasn't the one who did that," Zhang Yuanqing chuckled. *What difference does that make?* Chi Yue'an glared at him. "That fellow's name is Ling Jun!" Zhang Yuanqing dropped the playboy's name. Ling Jun... Chi Yue'an froze, his wrathful expression suddenly solidifying. He knew that name: one of the Four Young Masters of the Official Faction, son of the Taiyi Sect Master, with a grandfather who was the Grand Elder of Baihui. In terms of pedigree, he was half a notch above even Fu Qingyang. How could the elites of Shakou District use that pretext to attack a crown prince of that caliber? They didn't have the leverage or the courage. Despair washed over Chi Yue'an's heart. To make matters worse, Zhang Yuanqing continued outside the iron door, "The Council of Elders' verdict on you is—death! Once headquarters approves it, your end will have arrived." Chi Yue'an seemed to collapse completely, his gaze going dull. He had anticipated it, but hearing it with his own ears was still hard to swallow. Despair and terror surged unstoppably. Zhang Yuanqing shifted his tone. "Chi Yue'an, you still have a chance. As long as you name the mastermind behind this, we'll plead your case with the Council of Elders to push for life imprisonment. You'll lose your freedom, but that's better than dying." Hearing this, a spark of hope ignited in Chi Yue'an's ashen eyes. Yet in the very next second, Chi Yue'an sneered, "There is no mastermind. I did it all myself. It has nothing to do with anyone else." Zhang Yuanqing immediately looked toward Fu Qingyang. When it came to interrogation, he was an absolute novice. Chi Yue'an was a Deacon and couldn't be bluffed by a few casual words. He needed to leave this to the professional. Sensing his subordinate's gaze, Fu Qingyang spoke calmly: "Chi Yue'an, I've reviewed your psychological evaluation. You have violent and sadomasochistic tendencies. Every disorder has a cause. You used to be a matrilocal son-in-law in the Zhu family, and that older woman from the Zhu family shared those exact same abusive habits. You must have endured agonizing torment at her hands. "Living in that kind of environment for too long inevitably damages a person's psyche. Either they suffer a mental breakdown, or they get broken into a masochist. But you are a Fire Master, and Fire Masters will never willingly accept subjugation. "Therefore, you grew to despise women, to loathe them, and took pleasure in sexually torturing them. After you left the Zhu family and joined the Five Elements Alliance, you thought you were finally free. But slowly, you realized that years of accumulated abuse had completely warped your mind. "And so, under your direction and protection, Bronze Sparrow Tower came into being. It was the outlet for your sick desires, the place where you reclaimed your self-esteem and pleasure from that poor woman. How truly pathetic. I never pity anyone, yet I find myself feeling immense sympathy for you." *How merciless. He's twisting the knife right into his soul...* Zhang Yuanqing glanced at Fu Qingyang, but remembering the man was a high-level Scout, he quickly looked away. Chi Yue'an's eyes were bloodshot and crimson. His fists clenched involuntarily, veins standing out, his face contorting into pure savagery. Fu Qingyang's tone remained as placid as ever, as though he wasn't the one dealing out vicious jabs. He continued: "I haven't publicized this past of yours yet. If you don't mind, I can help broadcast it far and wide. Who knows? You might even garner a wave of sympathy. Escaping the death penalty isn't entirely impossible." "..." Chi Yue'an's lips parted, as if instinctively wanting to say something, but he held back. He took a deep breath. "If you really want to interrogate me, have an Elder come. I'm not telling you two anything." *Acting tough, huh!* Zhang Yuanqing breathed a silent sigh of relief, hiding his satisfaction. This was precisely what they wanted. They hadn't expected to pry the truth out right away; when they discussed it in the living room earlier, their goal had merely been to crack Chi Yue'an's resolve. Fu Qingyang wore the calm look of a man who had everything under control. "I will report this to the Elders." Chi Yue'an lowered his head slightly and exhaled, but then abruptly snapped his head back up, gritting his teeth: "Yuanshi Tianzun, why?" In a dim secret chamber. A long table covered with yellow silk stood in the center, bearing two candleholders where red candles burned silently. On the tabletop sat a bronze basin filled with glutinous rice, copper coins strung on red thread, yellow paper talismans drawn with cinnabar, and a palm-sized wooden puppet. The puppet had no facial features, carved into only the crudest humanoid shape. A paper talisman was pasted across its chest, inscribed not with incantations, but with the name "Chi Yue'an" alongside his Eight Characters of birth. A pair of hands as translucent and white as jade pinched a syringe, depressing the plunger to empty the blood within into a small white porcelain bowl. Next, black juice was poured in, glutinous rice was scattered inside, and a paper talisman was pinched, burned to ash, and tossed into the porcelain bowl. Having completed all this, the jade-white fingers dabbed a bit of the liquid from the bowl and lightly touched the featureless face of the puppet twice, drawing eyes. The pitch-black liquid soaked into the puppet, and Chi Yue'an's facial features coalesced upon it. The jade-white hand lifted the puppet, elegantly pinched a silver needle, and abruptly drove it into the center of the puppet's brow. *Sizzle, sizzle...* Wisps of green smoke billowed straight from between its brows. "Why what?" Zhang Yuanqing countered. Chi Yue'an shouted fiercely, "You and I had no grudges, no enmity! Why did you target me? Why risk your life to infiltrate Bronze Sparrow Tower? Just for a Bewitching Demon?!" He grew increasingly agitated as he spoke, escalating from questioning to roaring, his voice reverberating through the cramped corridor. Fu Qingyang also looked over, fixing his gaze on Zhang Yuanqing. Zhang Yuanqing fell silent for a moment before replying in a calm voice: "Because of anger. Because of disgust. Because I'm young. Because I was born human." Chi Yue'an seemed to feel insulted—an insult to his very character—and burst into manic laughter: "You're so noble! You're so pure! Yuanshi Tianzun, you've offended far too many people. Sooner or later, you'll die without a burial—" Amid his furious curses, green smoke suddenly puffed from between Chi Yue'an's brows. Then, with a *whoosh*, black flames erupted. His flesh and skin dissolved rapidly within the fire, followed by his bones. In less than two seconds, this towering, seven-foot man was burned clean away, while his clothes, trousers, wooden cangue, and manacles remained completely unscathed. It was as if he had been erased out of thin air. *D-Dead?* Zhang Yuanqing's pupils contracted, chilled to the bone by the sight before him.