45: Chapter 45 Heart-Questioning Talisman

"I can testify for Senior Brother Baili!"

A crisp voice sounded from the crowd.

A thin, frail young boy squeezed out from the crowd.

He wore a faded grey Utility Disciple robe, with several unhealed scars on his face, but there was not a trace of fear in his eyes.

The thin youth walked to the center of the hall, bowed first to Steward Wang Ganju, and then said word by word:

"Zhu Yue frequently collects protection money from us Utility Disciples. If we don't hand it over, we get brutally beaten. We've always been furious, but too afraid to speak out."

He rolled up his sleeves, revealing black-and-blue bruises all over his arms:

"This is from last month when I didn't hand over enough Spirit Stones, and his henchmen beat me up. It still hasn't healed."

An uproar erupted in the hall.

Several other Utility Disciples looked at one another until someone finally gathered the courage to step forward.

"I can testify too! Zhu Yue is a tyrant!"

"He demands Spirit Stones from us every month and beats us if we don't pay!"

"Zhu Biao, why are you still acting like a good guy here? Do you not know what kind of scum your brother was?"

One voice followed another, as more and more people stepped forward.

Zhu Biao's face turned paler and paler, his lips trembling, unable to speak.

Meanwhile, at the back of the crowd, Fei Yangyang's expression grew gloomy enough to drip water.

Zhu Biao gnashed his teeth and continued, "I saw my brother leave the Sect with you that day with my own eyes!"

"Ever since that departure, he never returned. You are the only one with a motive to kill him!"

His voice grew increasingly sharp, as if clinging to his last desperate hope.

Baili Yunche let out a cold laugh and unhurriedly countered, "Oh? Then why was Zhu Yue tailing me?"

"He tailed me out of the Sect. Can I not also assume that Zhu Yue was suspected of plotting to kill me for revenge?"

"This..." Zhu Biao's face stiffened. His lips twitched a few times, but he couldn't form a coherent response.

Baili Yunche continued, "Determining that I committed murder based solely on a minor conflict? If so, who knows how many people in the Sect could be convicted at whim!"

He turned to Steward Wang Ganju and said with righteous fervor:

"Deacon Wang, he can't even produce evidence. This is clearly a frame-up!"

"I want to counter-report Zhu Biao! This man maliciously framed a fellow Disciple. I ask Deacon Wang to severely punish him!"

Baili Yunche spoke with such righteous indignation that he seemed like the victim who had suffered an enormous injustice.

His forceful voice echoed in the hall, causing those Utility Disciples who had originally joined in the commotion to look at one another, uncertain of whom to believe.

Steward Wang Ganju frowned deeply, falling into thought as he looked at the two men presenting conflicting arguments.

Of course, he wanted to convict Baili Yunche of murdering a fellow Disciple.

This kid had just embarrassed him publicly. If he didn't teach him a lesson, where would he hide his dignity?

However, the boy was extremely eloquent, with every word making sense, while Zhu Biao truly couldn't produce any decent evidence.

Murdering a fellow Disciple was a capital offense; it had to be thoroughly investigated to convince the masses.

Convicting someone on one-sided testimony alone would ruin his reputation as a Deacon if word got out.

Steward Wang Ganju pondered for a moment before finally speaking, "Zhu Biao, murdering a fellow Disciple is a capital offense, but conviction requires proof."

"If you cannot produce evidence proving Baili Yunche killed your brother, then stop making a scene."

He paused, his tone easing slightly. "Given that you were merely distraught over losing your brother, I won't press charges this time. If there is a next time, framing a fellow Disciple will be punished without leniency!"

Saying this, he waved his hand, signaling the crowd to disperse. "Get back to your duties. Dismissed!"

Zhu Biao's face turned livid, his lips trembling as he wanted to say something more, but he found himself completely powerless to refute.

Subconsciously, he turned his head and shot a glance toward a certain direction in the crowd.

Baili Yunche followed his gaze and sneered internally—as expected, he was an stooge arranged by Fei Yangyang.

Right at that moment...

"Wait."

An unhurried voice sounded from behind the crowd.

Everyone turned toward the sound and saw Fei Yangyang slowly stepping out from the crowd.

Wearing luxurious brocade robes with a jade pendant hanging from his waist, he carried an extraordinary aura.

In his hand, he pinched a Talisman. The paper was pale gold, with faint light flowing on its surface, emitting a mysterious aura.

"I have a questioning talisman here, which can discern whether this person is lying."

A smile curled on Fei Yangyang's lips. He cast provocative glances at Baili Yunche out of the corner of his eyes.

The questioning talisman!

Baili Yunche's pupils contracted slightly.

A Rank 3 Talisman worth thousands of Spirit Stones. Once used, the target would fall into an illusion for thirty breaths, during which they could not lie, allowing the caster to easily extract any desired answer.

Such Talismans were extremely precious; how could Fei Yangyang happen to have one on hand?

Baili Yunche's mind raced, and he understood in an instant.

This was clearly a meticulously designed trap!

Fei Yangyang had calculated Zhu Yue's disappearance and deliberately triggered it on this occasion, intending to confirm his crime of murdering a fellow Disciple right in front of everyone!

Baili Yunche's fist clenched tightly inside his sleeve, knuckles turning white, as a flash of icy murderous intent glinted in his eyes.

Fei Yangyang—he would definitely kill this man!

Seeing Baili Yunche's slightly stiff expression, Fei Yangyang felt a surge of gratification inside.

He took a step forward, twirling the questioning talisman between his fingertips, his voice tinged with the smugness of having victory in his grasp:

"Under the questioning talisman, no one can lie. I wonder if Junior Brother Baili is willing to give it a try?"

"After all, you were just claiming so loudly that you didn't kill Zhu Yue, and an upright person fears no shadow."

"If you truly didn't kill Zhu Yue, this questioning talisman can serve to prove your innocence and leave everyone speechless."

He looked at Baili Yunche with a smile, the corners of his mouth turned up.

The surrounding Disciples whispered among themselves, their gazes shifting back and forth between Baili Yunche and Fei Yangyang.

"The questioning talisman... That's good stuff. One test will reveal the truth."

"Baili Yunche sounded so confident just now, he shouldn't be afraid to try, right?"

"Not necessarily. What if he has a guilty conscience?"

Hearing these discussions, the smile on Fei Yangyang's face deepened.

Steward Wang Ganju looked at Baili Yunche and said expressionlessly, "Baili Yunche, are you willing to use the questioning talisman to prove your innocence?"

Baili Yunche stood in place, his legs slightly stiff.

Of course he couldn't test it.

Zhu Yue had indeed died at his hands.

Although Zhu Yue had initiated the attempt on his life, the Sect wouldn't care about such details.

Murdering a fellow Disciple was murdering a fellow Disciple. Once exposed, at best his Dantian would be crippled and he would be expelled from the Sect; at worst, he would be slain on the spot!

He took a deep breath, his brain working at top speed, just about to speak.

"I..."

"What happened here?"

Right then, a charmingly lazy voice drifted in from outside the hall, interrupting Baili Yunche.

"Why is Zhishi Hall so lively today?"

The voice was bone-meltingly soft, carrying a hint of casual indifference yet subtly imbued with an unquestionable authority.

Everyone in the hall turned in unison toward the entrance.

Outside the hall, a woman was swaying gracefully as she walked in slowly.

She wore a sexy dark-purple leather outfit. Her top was a tight corset featuring hollow-out designs paired with semi-transparent black mesh long sleeves that gleamed dimly under the candlelight.

Her bottom was a high-slitted skirt in the same color tone with a heavy drape that swayed gently as she stepped, revealing glimpses of her long, slender legs through the slit.

Ultra-thin dark grey stockings outlined her leg contours to be even sleeker and delicate, while a pair of silver-grey tall boots adorned her feet.

Fine silver chains adorned her ankles, emitting a soft tinkling sound with every step she took.

Her face was exquisitely enchanting, with picturesque eyes and brows, lightly pressed red lips, and dark hair casually draped over her shoulders, a few strands resting across her chest.

Standing there, she resembled a blooming datura flower—beautiful, bewitching, yet carrying an aura of fatal danger.

Baili Yunche looked toward the voice, his pupils suddenly contracting as his expression changed slightly.