xymnovel Chapter 54 Cunning Villain
Chapter 54 Cunning Villain
The surprise came so suddenly that Xu Wenjue blushed deeply. "Brother, you're practically my second parents!"
Si Chen raised his hand, gratitude being the least valuable emotion. "Wait a minute, I've already said this. In this world, such extraordinary paths are all predetermined."
Supernatural powers enable one to do things that are impossible according to ordinary reason. This is defying fate and must never be privately passed on. Otherwise, divine punishment will surely follow.
Do you understand the implications of this?
He finished speaking.
Si Chen closed his eyes slightly, giving Xu Wenjue some time to think.
As for Si, he is the one who carries out divine punishment.
This official has two mouths, one above and one below. At that time, it will be nothing more than asking who in the court has filed a complaint against him.
Otherwise, why would they be called Heavenly Officials?
In the course of the dynasty, under the laws of heaven, all things in the world are like this.
Xu Wenjue nodded in agreement. What he wanted was to have what others didn't, otherwise, the distinction between high and low status could not be made.
"Understood, understood! I will then go into seclusion here to observe the results."
Although the path of cultivation passed down through generations in the Duke of Wei's family was sufficient for him, it ultimately fell short of his potential. Relying on his family background, he only learned one skill, "Qi Refining," and waited for the right time.
There's no need to rush to find a way out like ordinary people.
Now, my mission is complete, and my wish has been fulfilled.
"Have you made your choice?"
"I want Jiufeng!"
"Are you truly not regretting it?"
"No matter how many supernatural powers you possess, you are nothing but a pile of bones. Within ten paces of a warrior, every man is an enemy. But, is it possible to achieve immortality?" Xu Wenjue was afraid of death. He was born to enjoy wealth and honor, and as long as he lived, there was hope.
For the powerful and wealthy, nothing is more despairing than the fact that even with immense power, they are still no match for fate.
Nine lives, three hundred years.
Is there anything happier than this?
He wouldn't trade it for a mountain of gold!
"Come here." Si Chen didn't say anything, just kept waving his hand.
"Thank you for your guidance, brother." Xu Wenjue bowed his head, his expression joyful and devout.
Si Chen pressed down on Xu Wenjue's head, slapping him with one hand. His eyes were slightly closed, his divine light concealed. Since it was the path he had chosen, he would walk it himself.
A huge phantom of nine phoenixes appeared behind Xu Wenjue, enveloping him within the phantom. Its massive size pierced through the secret chamber and extended outside.
This is a process of cleansing the meridians and marrow, reversing the innate state from the acquired.
Si Chen turned and left, pausing briefly at the doorway to look around. "Keep an eye on your master and don't let anyone disturb him."
"Yes, sir!" Xu Wenjue's men withdrew their gazes and responded repeatedly, standing guard at the door like door gods.
Leaving the secret room, Si Chen walked towards the military camp.
The place held fugitives, as well as six people: Huang Xixian, the Governor of the Waterways; Feng Yuanyang, the Governor of Tianjin; Yuan Yuzong, the Military Commissioner; Yang Ruohan; Xu Ji; and Li Changqiao.
The stables were just a wall away from them.
Jiazi, wielding a silver spear and wearing silver armor, stood guard at the entrance, grooming the white horse's mane with a boar bristle. Beside him was steaming hot horse feed, mixed with Felix Felicis and mithril, which the six-legged celestial horse was gulping down, its eyes glazed over.
Is this how you serve a master?
Si Chen raised an eyebrow.
Jiazi was startled and turned to put down the pig bristles. "Sir, I will lead the way."
"No need for that. I'll interrogate them myself." Si Chen pushed open the door and entered. "There are some things I need to understand."
Descending the stairs, one enters a deep, dark dungeon, dimly lit by a few flickering lamps.
Five people, dressed in yellow (Ding Si), black (Ding You), plain (Ding Wei), blue (Ding Hai), and purple (Ding Chou), closed their eyes to rest.
Yang Ruohan, Xu Ji, and Li Changqiao changed into prison uniforms, had their heads shaved, and sat blankly in chairs, holding crosses in their hands, their eyes closed in deep thought.
Si Chen listened intently, and after a moment, stepped into the prison.
When Yang Ruohan, Xu Ji, and Li Changqiao saw someone coming, they immediately opened their eyes as if they had seen hope.
Si Chen said, "Bring me pen and ink."
The six Ding generals looked at each other, packed their things, and brought Si Chen a writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
Si Chen turned and sat down on the bench, looking down at the three men with an imposing air. "I only have one question for you. Confess, or not?"
Yang Ruohan, Xu Ji, and Li Changqiao shook their heads vigorously, crying out for justice as soon as they met.
"Injustice! Injustice!"
How can one confess without knowing the details?
Even if you beat us to death today, we still won't be able to give you a proper explanation.
I came here with sincere intentions, and every word I spoke is true. How could I have any other intentions? I am grateful for the wise and virtuous guidance of my teacher.
Si Chen's eyes seemed to shoot out two cold beams of light, which fell on the three of them as if they were being cleaved by knives and axes. "Hmph, if you were to say that you were the mastermind, then you would indeed be wronged."
But if you say you are completely innocent, I don't believe it either.
Wanggongchang is located in Dashiyongfang. To the east, across the street, is the Catholic Temple; to the west, the Criminal Affairs Office; to the south, Xuanwu Gate; and to the north, the Three Judicial Offices.
The day of the explosion happened to be the Dragon Boat Festival, a time when all the officials of the imperial court were on holiday.
Being located within the inner city, with the Inspection Office for Warehouses, although personnel were not prohibited from entering or leaving, unauthorized individuals were absolutely not allowed to enter at will.
The timing and location were chosen so cleverly.
What natural disasters are they? They're all man-made disasters!
Shameless!
But you didn't expect that, did you?
This explosion has unleashed a devastating disaster; who can take responsibility?
No one can bear this responsibility.
From the inner city wall, one could overlook the entire neighborhood, and the civilians and soldiers nearby, regardless of whether they were slightly or seriously injured, all died suddenly the next day.
The missionaries carried out the act, but the person who silenced them must have been in the capital, while the mastermind was hiding behind the scenes, and there must have been someone in the middle providing support.
Every single one of these things bears your mark.
How dare you claim you knew nothing about it?
Every action leaves a trace, but it's truly strange that in broad daylight, not a single murderer could be found.
Si Chen raised his hand and waved it, "The more petty and scheming a person is, the more they like to form cliques and seek power through despicable means. A bunch of hypocrites, they deserve to be punished!"
His gaze shifted to Xu Ji, who gritted his teeth and remained silent.
Si Chen pointed, "Not going to talk? Fine, then! We'll plot in secret! We'll take him down first!"
The Six Ding Divine Generals raised their hands and lashed out with their whips.
"Ah!" A bloody mark spread from his abdomen to the corner of his eye. Xu Ji convulsed and foamed at the mouth. After all, he was just a mortal.
Yang Ruohan felt a chill run down his spine and blurted out, "This is the will of Heaven, it is the will of Heaven!"
Si Chen frowned. "Nonsense, utter nonsense. So it's fate that I hit you, you bastard!"
Dingyou was ruthless; one lash of the whip went deep enough to see the bone.
"Ah!" Yang Ruohan rolled his eyes and fainted on the spot.
Li Changqiao immediately yelled at the top of his lungs, "Stop hitting him! Stop hitting him! It's the Duke of England! It really is the Duke of England!"
Everyone stopped what they were doing, suddenly startled.
Si Chen glared angrily, but said, "Nonsense, making baseless accusations everywhere."
Clap clap clap!
Si Chen personally took action, imbuing the whip with spiritual energy, which crackled in the air. After a few lashes, the effect was remarkable; the whip was visibly on its last legs.
I immediately felt refreshed and invigorated.
These bastards always have a foul mouth and spew feces everywhere.
"Apply the medicine!" Si Chen raised his hand and waved it. Three Felix Felicis pills were neatly arranged and swallowed by Yang Ruohan, Xu Ji, and Li Changqiao. They immediately became energetic again.
However, physical damage can still be reversed.
The pain remains permanently in my memory.
Si Chen merely raised his hand, and they felt an itch deep within their bones. He said in a low voice, "The three of you won't shed tears until you see the coffin. Fine, men, cut off their ears, chop them up, and feed them to them."
With a swift movement of their blades, the Six Ding Gods cut off one ear from each person, grabbed their necks and forced them to drink, or even smashed the knife handles into their stomachs.
Si Chen pointed, "Bitter!"
In an instant, the three men felt as if they were in a furnace, their skin feeling like it was being cut by knives, their feet like they were being branded with iron, and their arms like they were frozen in ice. In a flash, countless sorrows surged into their hearts, and the pain was like being torn apart by knives.
His breath was like burning coals, his blood was boiling, he was afflicted with a chronic illness, his body was frail and weak, and he was nearing the end of his life...
Having experienced the cycle of life and death, and tasted all kinds of suffering in the world.
The hardships Si Chen endured in the Inner Realm Demon Trial gave the three of them a real taste of what it was like.
It's as if I've died a hundred times.
When the three of them slowly woke up, their hands and feet were ice cold.
Finally, he uttered eight words.
"The homeland of emptiness, the eternal mother."
Si Chen said, "Xu Hongru has already been executed and beheaded."
Xu Ji's face was pale, but he straightened his spirits and said, "Although Xu Hongru is dead, the White Lotus Sect has been revived in the hands of the Wang family, and has even secretly sided with the Jurchens, becoming their henchmen."
Wang Ke then renamed the Wenxiang Sect to the Hongyang Sect and continued to preach.
In the ninth year of the Chongzhen Emperor's reign, he left the pass and voluntarily surrendered to the Later Jin, ordering his followers to spy on the military situation in various northern cities and border towns.
They finally revealed some useful information, but in Si Chen's view, it was nothing more than a charade.
Si Chen pondered for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn before finally sighing, "What a bunch of worthless bastards."
Such a big deal, even the White Lotus Sect's few big cats and little cats are not worthy of being on the table?
He turned to Liu Ding and gave instructions.
"They're stubborn, keep going. Don't let them sleep, and if they're about to die, give them Felix Felicis. I want to see how long they can hold on."
There's also the River Conservancy Commissioner Huang Xixian, the Tianjin Governor Feng Yuanyang, and the Military Commissioner Yuan Yuzong. These three abandoned the city and fled, but now they've returned. Such fickle villains only have their supernatural fire powers to do with anything.
"Send the three of them to the Heavenly Crafts Department to serve as fire-breathing boys and help out."
The Six Ding Gods bowed and agreed.
As the last glimmer of light disappeared.
The dungeon was plunged into darkness and silence.
The three men, enduring the churning nausea in their stomachs and the earthy smell of the reed mats, gripped the crucifix tightly, silently chanting, "What is destined to happen will happen. When one's time is up, one will go to a land of abundant water and grass, where one will be reborn and dedicate oneself to the supreme authority..."
"No pain, no gain; no pain, no gain..."
And Jesus on the cross has transformed into a two-headed blue bird...
Squeak squeak squeak...
A mouse squeak sounded from underground, then gradually faded away.