allendalepharm Chapter 162 The Cruel Truth! The Choice!
Chapter 162 The Cruel Truth! The Choice!
Chapter 162 The Cruel Truth! The Choice!
Mu Changlan's motives for contacting Xiahou Jinxuan and others were impure, but not malicious either, because she had no idea of Mo Yi's intentions. In her view, it was no different from previous intelligence exchanges.
Moreover, Mo Yi used the alias "Kumu" in the human world, and Mu Changlan didn't even know who Mo Yi was.
Therefore, Chu Yang doesn't think Mu Changlan is a bad person, but she does have responsibilities she should bear.
"Miss Mu, I can help save people, but before that, is there something you haven't said?"
'
Chu Yang looked at Mu Changlan with a scrutinizing gaze, hoping that she would confess her deal with Mo Yi before the truth came out.
Feeling guilty, Mu Changlan was suddenly startled and instinctively exclaimed, "How did you know?"
Chu Yang said, "Xie Cangxing and the others have been with you for a long time, so they don't easily notice it, but to outsiders, Miss Mu's thoughts are all written on her face."
Mu Changlan clenched her teeth.
"Sister Mu, just say what's on your mind. We've been traveling together for so long, we're practically friends. Don't you consider us friends anymore?"
Xia became somewhat sad as she spoke.
Mu Changlan said emotionally, "How could that be? I've always considered you my own sister!"
Xia asked, puzzled, "What's troubling you so much?"
Mu Changlan's expression was conflicted, but it finally turned into a sigh. "I did something wrong, and I'm afraid you'll hate me, so I dare not say it."
Connecting this to Chu Yang's earlier attitude, Jiang Cheng suddenly realized something and said in a deep voice, "Does Miss Mu know the mastermind that Sect Leader Chu mentioned?"
Mu Changlan nodded with difficulty.
Xia covered her mouth in shock, retreating in a panic as if trying to keep a great distance from Mu Changlan.
Mu Changlan smiled wryly, "You probably won't believe me, but I really don't know that person's true identity; I'm just exchanging information with him."
Xie Cangxing stroked his chin and asked, "What intelligence?"
Mu Julan replied, "It's mainly about Xia Meizi and Jiang Cheng's recent situation, as well as Young Master Xiahou, but I assure you I'm only passing on information and haven't done anything detrimental to you!"
Xiahou Jinxuan frowned and said, "It's one thing for him to be curious about Miss Xia and Brother Jiang's recent situation, but why does he also want to know about my affairs? That's rather strange."
"That's right, that's right! How come I didn't get any? Who do they think they are?!" Xie Cangxing said jokingly, pretending to be indignant.
Xia's eyes welled up with tears, and she choked out, "From the very beginning, when we met in Bixi Village, it was all a setup? Including you helping me deal with those thugs?"
Mu Changlan no longer wanted to lie, so she nodded honestly and said, "I hired those thugs to deliberately cause you trouble, and then I would step in to help you and gain your trust."
Jiang Cheng shook his head helplessly and said, "I had long felt that the situation that day was strange, and I also thought that you had other plans, but I did not expect the result to be like this."
Chu Yang explained, "Mo Yi wants to expose your demon identity at the right time, so that you will be abandoned by everyone and become a lonely person, and from then on you will be at his mercy."
"The ultimate goal is to get you to gather the half-demons who have wandered the human world and forcibly break the seal located at the bottom of the Demon Locking Tower of Mount Shu."
Jiang Cheng's palms were sweating as he listened. Just imagining that scene filled him with a sense of utter despair.
Mu Changlan apologized with remorse, not daring to even look at Jiang Cheng.
"Miss Mu, what Sect Leader Chu said was just a hypothetical scenario and did not happen. Now that we know everything, we can certainly prevent things from developing in the worst possible direction."
Xiahou Jinxuan comforted him, saying, "Instead of apologizing for something that didn't happen, we should cheer up and find a way to make amends."
Xia took a deep breath and said, "The bookworm is right, Sister Mu. Although I am very angry, I have decided to forgive you. However, from now on, you can no longer hide anything from us."
Mu Changlan nodded quickly.
Jiang Cheng looked at Chu Yang with some confusion and asked, "Sect Leader Chu, no matter what, it is an indisputable fact that I have demon blood in my body. The truth will eventually come out, and sooner or later the world will know my identity. When that happens, how should I face myself?"
Chu Yang pondered for a moment and said, "I suggest you find an opportunity to be honest with Patriarch Ouyang in private. Patriarch Ouyang is broad-minded, and even if he cannot accept your identity, he will never make things difficult for you."
"If the Ouyang family's Broken Sword Manor can no longer accommodate you in the future, Mount Shu will provide you with a place to stay!"
"Not just you, but any half-demon in the world who has not harmed innocent lives, I can provide them with a place to live."
Chu Yang's bold words deeply moved the people in the side hall!
They could hardly imagine how much courage and boldness it took for the head of the Shu Mountain Sect to say such a thing.
These words gave Jiang Cheng some confidence and dispelled his hesitation.
Xie Cangxing scratched his head and laughed, "Although I'm really looking forward to Brother Jiang coming to Shu Mountain to keep us company, as a friend, I still hope that you can get your wish and stay at Zhejian Manor."
Jiang Cheng thanked him.
Xia said, "Brother Jiang, don't worry. We'll go with you to explain. I think your master will accept you. Sect Leader Chu said that we can't distinguish between good and evil based on whether someone is human or demon."
After much deliberation, Jiang Cheng declined Xia's offer, saying, "It's better if I explain to Master myself."
.——."
Seeing that he had become stubborn again, Xia turned to Xiahou Jinxuan and said, "Bookworm, you should try to persuade Brother Jiang!"
Xiahou Jinxuan had been keeping his head down and not speaking since earlier, seemingly thinking about something important, and showed no reaction to Xia's words.
Xia leaned closer and patted him on the back. "What are you thinking about?"
Xiahou Jinxuan was startled and patted his chest twice, still shaken, and said, "I was just wondering why that person named Mo Yi wanted my information? I clearly have nothing to do with him, just like Brother Xie."
Xia Dian nodded and said, "It is indeed quite strange."
Mu Changlan asked, "Is it possible that he actually knows you, but you've just forgotten?"
Xiahou Jinxuan said, "Sect Leader Chu just said that Mo Yi cannot personally descend to the human realm, so how could he know me? Unless the puppet he controls has seen me before."
Jiang Cheng continued, "If it was just a one-time encounter, he wouldn't need to know anything about you. The most likely explanation is that you not only know that puppet, but are very familiar with it."
Jiang Cheng and Xiahou Jinxuan are both very intelligent people. From the slightest clues, they have found the key to the problem and are gradually getting closer to the truth.
Since both of them had guessed this much, Chu Yang simply revealed the truth directly, carrying out the spirit of spoilers to the end.
"The two bodies that Mo Yi found during the great earthquake, one was Xia's, and the other was Xiahou Tao, the second sect leader of the Xiahou family!"
Upon hearing this, Xiahou Jinxuan showed an incredulous expression and stood there stunned.
He simply couldn't accept this cruel truth.
"How could this be—this is impossible!"
For the first time, the usually gentle and refined Xiahou Jinxuan revealed a hysterical expression in front of everyone.
Only then did he realize how desperate Jiang Cheng felt when he learned that he was a demon.
If someone else had said this to him, Xiahou Jinxuan would have called them a madman, but so far, Chu Yang has not uttered a single falsehood.
Xiahou Jinxuan and Xiahou Tao had a very good relationship. They were kindred spirits. Because Xiahou Zhang was busy with official business, Xiahou Tao took care of Xiahou Jinxuan's upbringing and education.
Thinking of his second uncle's earnest teachings over the years, Xiahou Jinxuan became even more unwilling to believe that the person was a fake, but reason told him that what Chu Yang said was the truth.
"Rumor has it that the second sect leader rarely leaves the Xiahou family due to poor health. He stays at home to manage the Xiahou family's business, and under his management, the Xiahou family's business is thriving."
As Mu Changlan recounted Xiahou Tao's information, she also found it difficult to connect him with Kumu (Moyi).
Xiahou Jinxuan still looked dazed.
Seeing this, Jiang Cheng couldn't help but remind him, "Young Master Xiahou, the most important thing right now is the safety of Uncle Xiahou. If that person really is Mo Yi, it's hard to say when he might harm Uncle Xiahou."
Hearing that it concerned his father's safety, Xiahou Jinxuan finally snapped out of his daze and strode outside. "No, I must tell Father about this immediately!"
Jiang Cheng walked up to him, stopped him, and said, "Given Xiahou Shibo's character, he won't easily believe these words, even if Sect Leader Chu said them himself. What if he goes back and confronts Mo Yi? Wouldn't that alert the enemy?"
"But—" Xiahou Jinxuan couldn't refute, and could only say anxiously, "Then what should I do? I can't just stand by and watch my father be in danger!"
Jiang Cheng said, "As long as he feels that everything is still under control, Uncle Xiahou will not be in danger. We should proceed with caution."
Xia looked at Chu Yang with her big, watery eyes and asked, "Sect Leader, you're so powerful, can't you eliminate that guy?"
Chu Yang remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Of course I can destroy Mo Yi, but how you deal with Mo Yi, or rather, the Yaksha Kingdom, is up to you. Whether to kill or save is entirely up to you."
Silence fell over the side hall.
As Chu Yang just mentioned, the whole incident stemmed from the depletion of the water veins in the Demon Realm. The Yaksha Kingdom had only two options: either repair the water veins or relocate its entire clan to the human realm to find a new place to settle down.
Although Mo Yi is ruthless, it was because of him that Xia was able to survive, and Xiahou Jinxuan was almost raised by him, so the debt of gratitude for his upbringing is still there.
Once Xiahou Jinxuan calmed down, he really couldn't bear to face the other party in a life-or-death struggle.
Xie Cangxing and Mu Changlan were outsiders and had no right to make a choice. In the end, the four of them could only focus their attention on Jiang Cheng. If Chu Yang hadn't revealed the truth, he would have been the most miserable one among them, and it was only right that he should make the decision.
"Sect Leader Chu said that we cannot distinguish between good and evil based on whether someone is human or demon. Regardless of whether Mo Yi deserves to die, the people of the Yaksha Kingdom are innocent. I want to save them."
Knowing that he was a descendant of Chi You, Jiang Cheng was no longer so hostile to the demon race, and instead began to consider them as ordinary people.
Xie Cangxing said casually, "Since Brother Jiang has no objections, then we have no objections either."
"Since when did it become your turn to represent us?" Mu Changlan frowned and said, "Although I have no objection."
Xie Cangxing glanced at Mu Changlan helplessly, wondering why he always managed to make her angry.
Chu Yang's sharp gaze swept over everyone. "Repairing the water veins requires the Shennong Cauldron and the Water Spirit Pearl. Since the Shennong Cauldron is currently missing, you should take the Water Spirit Pearl to Mingzhou to find Mo Yi and have an open and honest talk with him."
"It would be best if we could reach an agreement. If we can't, I will still take action. I hope Mo Yi can be smart and not let his ambition blind him."
Jiang Cheng nodded. "Then I'll go to Mingzhou first, and report to my master that I am a descendant of Chi You when I return."
Xia and Xie Cangxing said they would also accompany Xiahou Jinxuan and Jiang Cheng back to Mingzhou City.
Only Mu Changlan looked at Chu Yang with unease.
Chu Yang said, "Let's deal with the matter of Twilight Village after you return from Mingzhou."
Upon receiving the answer, Mu Changlan breathed a sigh of relief, her face filled with excitement. The thought of her brother and everyone in the village returning to normal made her so happy she wanted to shout it out.
After explaining everything, Chu Yang led the group out of the side hall and back into the main hall.
When they returned, countless gossipy eyes fell on Jiang Cheng, all seemingly curious about his background. Jiang Cheng didn't say much, silently walked back to the Ouyang family's location, and bowed to Ouyang Ying with clasped hands.
Although Ouyang Ying didn't say it, he was also curious about Jiang Cheng's background. He stared at Jiang Cheng's face, trying to catch a clue from the other's expression, but Jiang Cheng's expression was as cold as ice.
Left with no other option, he could only go back and ask again.
After returning to the main hall, Chu Yang was pulled away by Qingwei to reminisce with the Qingyun Sect. During the conversation, they suddenly started talking about the Seven Sects Martial Arts Tournament, which the Qingyun Sect holds once every few decades.
Dao Xuan Zhenren chuckled and suggested, "Brother Qingwei, our two sects are of one mind and have finally had this opportunity to meet. Why don't we have the Shu Mountain Sect join this martial arts competition as well?"
Qingwei hesitated. Even flying on a sword to cross the Hundred Thousand Mountains was a risky thing.
Chu Yang laughed and said, "I think this is a good suggestion, but could we set the location here? You're already here anyway."
Dao Xuan Zhenren nodded with delight and said, "That's no problem."
The old valley master, Yun Yilan, suddenly appeared and laughed heartily, "Since Shu Mountain is going to participate in the Seven Peaks Martial Arts Tournament of Qingyun Sect, why don't we let Fenxiang Valley join in the fun?"
Dao Xuan Zhenren was immediately troubled. He had invited the Shu Mountain Sect to exchange sword techniques, so what was the meaning of Fenxiang Valley getting involved?
Just as Dao Xuan Zhenren was pondering how to politely refuse Yun Yilan, he suddenly heard Chu Yang's voice in his ear.
"Alright."
Yun Yilan's move was intended to spread the fame of Burning Incense Valley throughout the Central Plains. The prosperity of the Central Plains gave Yun Yilan the idea of opening a branch sect there.
To put it bluntly, he wanted to curry favor with the Shushan sect.
A sect that can deal with both gods and demons, where myths and legends reign supreme, how could Yun Yilan, with his lofty ambitions, not be envious?
Coincidentally, Master Puhong of Tianyin Temple also proposed to participate, for reasons similar to Yun Yilan's: the Buddhist community of Shengyuan is showing signs of prosperity, and if they were to come, they would be the only ones to dominate.
With the instigation of the two sects above it, the once peaceful Seven Veins Gathering has turned into the most rigorous Daoist gathering in the world.