MOF Chapter 77
by Volare“You might have misunderstood.”…
After Nangong Yue sensed the fluctuations of the formation at Endless Peak from Huai Feng Pavilion, he remembered that Xie Yiling was on duty today and suddenly felt a little uneasy.
Although he had promised Nangong Ci before that he would treat Xie Yiling like an ordinary disciple, his attitude towards Xie Yiling had been strict for at least five years, and he couldn’t change it in a short time.
However, he was just going to check on the situation and not to reprimand him, so it shouldn’t count as violating his promise to Nangong Ci.
On the way to Endless Depths, Nangong Yue met Nangong Fu and Elder Ming Nan. He greeted the two of them, and after walking for a while, he realized something was wrong.
Nangong Yue said, “Sect Leader, are you also going to Endless Depths?”
The Sect Leader nodded in agreement, so the three of them flew towards Endless Peak together.
As soon as they entered Endless Peak, the three of them immediately noticed that the Demon Sealing Spiritual Chains had changed.
Every year, Nangong Fu had to lead the elders and the Nangong brothers to reinforce a seal on these Demon Sealing Spiritual Chains to ensure that nothing went wrong.
Nangong Yue frowned and said, “A’Ling has moved the spiritual chains.”
Nangong Fu said, “Fufeng? Didn’t you say that Yiling was guarding it today?”
Nangong Yue’s expression changed slightly, and he quickened his pace to rush over. Who knew that before he arrived, he heard the sounds first.
Lu Jinnian was being pinned to the ground and beaten by Xie Yiling, occasionally letting out unbearable screams of pain.
Nangong Ci listened to the sound and slowly walked over, about to continue to dissuade him, when a gust of wind swept past, and Lu Jinnian’s cries disappeared.
A spiritual force struck from behind. Before Xie Yiling could react, his back hurt, and he was sent flying.
“Brother!” Nangong Ci felt a pang in his heart, “What did you do?”
Nangong Yue turned around to look at Nangong Ci. The coldness on his face instantly shattered, revealing an eager and worried expression. He asked, “A’Ling, what’s wrong with you?”
Nangong Fu only glanced at him and understood, “Fufeng is injured by baleful energy. It can’t be delayed. It’s best to purify the baleful energy as soon as possible.”
He and Elder Ming Nan came here today precisely because they found a way to possibly resolve the baleful energy.
With the combined efforts of Nangong Fu and Elder Ming Nan, the severe pain in Nangong Ci’s eyes gradually dissipated, but since the injury was in his eyes and caused by baleful energy, it couldn’t be restored immediately like treating ordinary wounds.
Lu Jinnian propped himself up, quickly glanced at Nangong Ci with his head lowered, and then looked at Nangong Yue’s livid face. He suppressed the thought in his heart and changed to a charge of informing against someone.
“I want to expose Xie Yiling! He practices demonic arts!” Lu Jinnian dragged his body and threw himself at Nangong Yue’s feet. “Young Master Yue, Xie Yiling secretly practices demonic arts. I saw it with my own eyes!”
The surroundings instantly became as quiet as an empty forest. Xie Yiling’s back hurt as if a layer of skin had been peeled off. He thought to himself, “Nangong Yue is so ruthless, maybe he’s taking revenge for personal grudges.” No, there are no personal grudges. He just doesn’t like me.
After thinking this, he heard Lu Jinnian say this, and he pursed his lips tightly, subconsciously looking at Nangong Ci.
Seeing that the others were silent, looking at him with suspicion or contemplation, Lu Jinnian, in order to prove that what he said was true, continued, “Young Master Yue, if you don’t believe me, search Xie Yiling’s body. He must still have evidence on him! Or, or use a spiritual incantation to make him tell the truth. I swear, I definitely didn’t lie…”
“You might have misunderstood.” Nangong Ci suddenly interrupted Lu Jinnian. His voice was undeniably pleasant, as melodious as clear waves flowing, and low and magnetic.
But now, Lu Jinnian found this voice extremely harsh, and his heart sank heavily.
“What you saw should be the sword technique I taught Xie Ci.” Nangong Ci’s face still had traces of dried blood, and he tilted his head and smiled slightly, explaining for Xie Yiling.
Lu Jinnian felt a chill down his spine, and a look of horror flashed in his eyes. He insisted, “If Xie Shidi is indeed innocent after being questioned with a spiritual incantation, this disciple is willing to accept punishment.”
Nangong Ci glanced at him and said, “Xie Yiling, do you have anything to say?”
Xie Yiling was hissing and gasping beside him. Hearing the question, the pain in his back continued to expand in waves as he turned around.
“What can I say? It’s not been a day or two since Senior Brother Lu has been against me. He’s been using slander since he was a child.” He curled his lips, revealing a bit of sarcasm, “I don’t know if he’s treating me like an idiot, or treating others like idiots.”
“You!” Lu Jinnian was agitated, and the wounds on his body immediately caused him to grimace in pain. “Immortal Lord Fufeng, since you think I misunderstood Junior Brother Xie, why not give Junior Brother Xie a chance to prove his innocence and demonstrate that sword technique to us on the spot? How about that?”
Nangong Ci’s face remained unchanged, “I can’t see now, so let the Sect Leader decide. Xie Ci, can you still get up?”
He had to get up even if he couldn’t.
Nangong Yue’s attack didn’t leave any room for leniency. Xie Yiling gritted his teeth and forced himself to stand up and said, “Yes. Since Senior Brother Lu wants to see it so much, I will definitely let him see it clearly.”
As he summoned his sword, the bones in his back crackled. Amidst the pain, a bit of inexplicable sympathy arose in his heart: I have to say, Lu Jinnian’s luck is extremely bad. A long time ago, Nangong Ci really did teach him a unique sword technique, but the moves were slightly complicated. It required extremely high coordination between the sword and the spirit, and he didn’t have a sword at the time, so he only learned the beginning.
Although it was only the beginning, and this sword technique was very unfamiliar to the others present, it was not difficult to see that it was indeed created by Nangong Ci.
What’s more, Xie Yiling suddenly discovered while performing the sword technique that the beginning of this sword technique had several movements similar to the ghost techniques he had learned.
Lu Jinnian was completely stunned in place.
How could this be? If Xie Yiling was practicing the sword technique that Immortal Lord Fufeng taught him, then everything he had done today would be wrong from the beginning?
After completing the last movement, Xie Yiling almost fell to the ground with his sword. He leaned his body against the sword that was inserted into the ground, unloading his entire weight on it.
Nangong Yue asked, “Lu Jinnian, is this what you saw?”
Lu Jinnian’s chest heaved violently. He opened his mouth, almost unable to make a sound, and stammered, “No, it’s a bit like… But this can’t, can’t prove… Young Master Yue, I still think we should ask with a spiritual incantation. Xie Yiling once took out a piece of paper in front of me, on which…”
“You want to see this?” Xie Yiling suddenly spoke, taking out a folded piece of paper from his sleeve, “Senior Brother Lu, it’s not that I’m overstepping my bounds. I remember there’s a rule in the Southern Return Pavilion’s instructions that one must not pry into other people’s privacy. I thought you had already memorized it by heart after copying it so many times.”
He unfolded the piece of paper, and what was written on it in ghost-like symbols was exactly the Southern Return Pavilion’s instructions.
Lu Jinnian was completely speechless. He looked at Nangong Fu, who had been a hands-off shopkeeper for many years, and then looked at Nangong Yue, who was impartial and would never deal with things leniently. Finally, he placed his hope on the most tolerant Nangong Ci.
“Immortal Lord Fufeng, I…”
Nangong Ci seemed not to have heard this sentence, and said, “Xie Ci, tell me what happened today from beginning to end.”
As he spoke, blood and tears slowly seeped from his eyelashes.
Xie Yiling felt a pain in his heart as he watched, wanting to go over and wipe it clean for him, but he was wary of the others present.
He recounted in detail how he entered Endless Peak and discovered that Lu Jinnian was already waiting there, and then the two of them had an argument.
After listening to his words, Nangong Fu’s white eyebrows furrowed into a line and said, “Huai Feng, you handle this matter.”
“Yes.” Nangong Yue’s tone was respectful, “Sect Leader, rest assured, Huai Feng will definitely act according to the rules.”
“I’m old, and I can’t manage so much anymore. Yiling,” Nangong Fu suddenly looked at Xie Yiling, “You have to be more serious about practicing in the future.”
Xie Yiling felt guilty and wanted to look away. He pinched the palm of his hand and resisted the urge to do so, and said, “Sect Leader, rest assured, this disciple will definitely not fail the Sect Leader’s high expectations.”
Nangong Fu nodded, and then left with Elder Ming Nan.
“Xie Yiling,” As soon as the Sect Leader left, Nangong Yue said without stopping for even half a moment, “Meditate on your mistakes in the Jing Shen Cave for three days. Lu Jinnian, go to the Southern Return Ancestral Hall and receive three lashes with the whip.”
Xie Yiling first breathed a sigh of relief, then became worried. What will Nangong Ci do while he is meditating on his mistakes in Jing Shen Cave?
It’s always inconvenient to have injured eyes, and he will inevitably bump around if no one takes care of him. Although he can use magic to restore it, the pain at that time cannot be avoided.
As if guessing that Xie Yiling would worry about him, Nangong Ci said, “Southern Return has spiritual medicine, and the injury to my eyes won’t last too long. You also have to reflect carefully. You can’t be so impulsive in the future.”
The sourness in Xie Yiling’s nose quickly spread to his eyes. He lowered his head and pressed his eyes with the back of his hand and said, “Thank you for the teachings, Immortal Lord Fufeng. This disciple knows his mistake.”
Nangong Yue said, “A’Ling, let’s go. If either of you does this again, I will never be merciful.”
*
Imprisoning disciples and meditating on their mistakes. Upon hearing these eight characters, the disciples of Southern Return could easily imagine what kind of place the Jing Shen Cave was.
It is said that the place is gloomy and empty, and the night wind howls like fierce beasts emerging from the forest. There are also shadows running around in the cave.
In reality, however, it has beautiful scenery, located on a cliff next to the Southern Return Great Hall. The entrance of the cave faces the mountains on the other side. The white mist is wet and green, and in the morning, you can see strings of water droplets hanging on the green branches. If you encounter a sunrise, the water droplets reflect golden light, which is even more wonderful.
However, Xie Yiling could not see any of these scenes. The place where he meditated on his mistakes was in the innermost part of the Jing Shen Cave. All he could see every day, besides the dripping grotesque rocks, was a few rays of sunlight that occasionally leaked out from above.
Now the days were short and the nights were long, and the sky darkened quickly. Xie Yiling sat cross-legged on a giant rock, adjusting his spiritual power. Logically speaking, late at night, with a peaceful mind, was the best time to circulate his spirit. However, at this moment, he couldn’t calm down at all. His mind was full of the scene of Nangong Ci being injured.
The difference was that the Nangong Ci that appeared in his mind was not shot in the eye by baleful energy, but had his chest pierced by an arrow.
Before the blood splashed on his face, Xie Yiling suddenly opened his eyes. Feeling the agitation of the golden core in his body, he felt a little uneasy, wondering if it was because he had practiced the contents of the Record of Strange Contracts.
Worried about Nangong Ci, Xie Yiling couldn’t circulate his spirit anymore. He slid down from the giant rock and landed on the ground.
The walls of Jing Shen Cave were smooth on all four sides, with only stalactite-like stones hanging upside down from the ceiling. He counted the tips of the stones one by one out of boredom, but halfway through he realized that he couldn’t remember which ones he had counted and which ones he hadn’t.
Xie Yiling sighed and touched his sword on his body. After observing the surrounding walls, which were natural and uncarved, his heart itched and he decided to carve something.
He picked up his sword and used his spiritual power to write three characters on the wall, stroke by stroke.
His handwriting had always been scrawled and unrestrained. However, the characters on the wall were vigorous and powerful, with the momentum of clouds traveling and rain gathering. The handwriting was neat and very beautiful.
Nangong Ci.
Xie Yiling rubbed the surface of the wall with his fingers, muttering the name as he wiped away the debris from the characters.