Chapter 74: Something Feels Off

Zhu Xuanji let out a cold snort. "So now you suspect me first!"

"I use Golden Eyes to observe, seeing through the heavens and earth—how could mere flames block my sight?"

"I discerned that the old ape had cultivated demonic arts, quite profound, yet he never unleashed them. He would rather risk his life to protect his master."

"Truly a creature of loyalty and righteousness!"

"How many among us humans could truly act to such an extent?"

"I was moved by this, and could not bear to let it die, so I administered healing."

Here Zhu Xuanji’s tone grew heavier: "But precisely because I treated it myself—not only observing with Golden Eyes but also probing with my own power—I can be absolutely certain: aside from heavy injuries, the old ape was otherwise normal. There was absolutely no demonic cultivator hiding within!"

The crowd, seeing Zhu Xuanji speak with such conviction, fell silent once more.

If this was true, then there was no room for doubt.

It became much more likely that someone had secretly released the demonic cultivator in advance.

Fei Si’s brow gradually furrowed. He opened his mouth as if to speak, then closed it again.

The Patriarch of the Zhou clan also frowned, but pressed on: "Master Zhu, forgive this old man’s boldness, but are you absolutely certain?"

"Is there truly no other technique or power in this world that could deceive both your Golden Eyes and your spiritual probing?"

Zhu Xuanji sneered, "Now you’re just being unreasonable."

"Who in this world can guarantee absolute certainty?"

"This world is full of talents and prodigies, with countless mystical arts, divine abilities, and treasures. How could we possibly know them all?"

"I can only tell you that I’ve mastered the Golden Eyes, nearly at the level of divine power. In my decades with the Divine Constabulary, I’ve only met three Core Formation cultivators who could withstand my perception. Below Core Formation, nothing living escapes my gaze."

Silence fell once again.

But Zhu Xuanji wanted to completely rid himself of suspicion, so he suggested, "Since some among you don’t trust me, it’s no matter. Let’s go find that old ape right now, and all of you can examine it yourselves. What do you say?"

"That’s reasonable," Chi Dun nodded.

"Very well," the Zhou family patriarch agreed.

But Fei Si felt a jolt in his heart.

He thought again of Ning Zhuo.

After this, Ning Zhuo had volunteered to persuade Yuan Er to surrender, to threaten and bribe him into killing the old ape.

Who knew how far things had progressed by now?

The thought of Ning Zhuo holding his own token filled Fei Si with rising anxiety.

Outwardly, he remained calm: "I have my own doubts as well. Seeing it with my own eyes would be best."

"Chi Dun, you remain here and continue to oversee matters. Lead the rest of the Core Formation cultivators and continue the search. There may be people hiding underground; we must not let them slip away!"

Fei Si then invited the Zhou patriarch and Zhu Xuanji, along with himself, to go investigate Yuan Dasheng.

Chi Dun protested, "Why am I the one to stay? You should be in charge here!"

Fei Si replied with a single sentence that silenced him: "The City Lord appointed me to oversee the Fire Persimmon Festival. Are you refusing my orders?"

Chi Dun snorted but could only obey.

The three Core Formation cultivators flew together to the Monkey Head Gang’s headquarters.

Yuan Er was still kneeling on the floor by the bed, dazed and hollow-eyed.

Suddenly, the three Core Formation masters descended from the sky, smashing through the rooftop and looming over him.

Yuan Er trembled in terror.

"Where is your old ape?" Zhu Xuanji swept the rear yard with his divine sense, a sense of foreboding growing within him.

Yuan Er’s face turned deathly pale, and he burst into tears. "Dead. My Uncle Monkey is dead!"

Golden light flashed in Zhu Xuanji’s eyes as he demanded sharply, "I gave you the Late Autumn Life-Preserving Pill. How could the old ape die?"

Yuan Er shook like a leaf, not daring to hide anything. In a trembling voice, he confessed the whole story.

Zhu Xuanji’s face turned white with rage as he pointed at Yuan Er, "You ungrateful wretch!"

He turned to Fei Si. "Well done, Fei Si. You show me your true colors so quickly. Impressive."

Fei Si was secretly delighted. "I didn’t expect that boy Ning Zhuo to work so quickly—well done!"

He had regained the upper hand, feeling content, and slowly narrowed his eyes, replying with deliberate nonchalance: "Thank you for the praise, Master Zhu."

"I’m only thinking for the good of Fire Persimmon Immortal City."

"After all, it’s rather cruel to keep picking fire persimmons with monkey pets. The Three Sects’ Patriarch was compassionate; if not for the Immortal Palace he left behind, Fire Persimmon Mountain would not be the paradise it is today."

"As later generations, we must deeply understand the Patriarch’s spirit. Releasing these monkeys and relying entirely on constructs is for the good of all beings, out of compassion—and it is the true path of virtue."

Fei Si feigned ignorance, pretending not to notice Zhu Xuanji’s veiled sarcasm, and lavishly praised himself.

Zhu Xuanji’s breath came short, his face turning from pale to blue with anger.

Fei Si felt even more satisfied.

But this wasn’t merely about saving face.

Cultivators of the orthodox path could not contend with the demonic way in a direct, bloody fashion.

Thus, these confrontations within the bounds of propriety became the measure of a cultivator’s true strength.

Fame and profit—reputation often leads to real benefits.

If Fei Si had allowed Zhu Xuanji to pressure him into opening the array before everyone, such weakness would have shifted future loyalties toward Zhu Xuanji. That would have undermined Fei Si’s authority and lessened his influence.

At its core, it would have diminished the prestige of the City Lord’s Manor and the current City Lord, Meng Kui.

Zhu Xuanji represented the royal family and the Divine Constabulary, and was naturally at odds with Meng Kui’s faction.

If Fei Si failed to fight back—specifically, to respond appropriately within the rules—Meng Kui would be disappointed.

Now that he’d regained the initiative, neutralizing the earlier setback, Fei Si could finally relax.

The Zhou family patriarch, meanwhile, frowned, not wishing to get entangled in the open and covert struggle between Fei Si and Zhu Xuanji. As a third party, it was far too soon to make a choice.

He was more concerned with solving the matter of the demonic infiltrator, so he said, "Since the old ape has already been taken away, what are we doing here?"

"Fei Si, where is your messenger now?" the patriarch asked.

The city’s great formation severely limited spiritual perception, but Fei Si had authority and immediately used the array to extend his senses, locating his own token.

"Follow me!" Fei Si led the way, soaring from the Monkey Head Gang.

Zhu Xuanji and the Zhou patriarch followed close behind.

Three beams of light arced across the sky and landed at the flying disc workshop.

Zhu Xuanji made a grasping gesture, and an invisible force tore open the rooftop, revealing Ning Zhuo and Chen Cha.

The old ape the three Core Formation cultivators sought lay upon the construct’s platform, its essence entirely drained, about to be dismembered.

"Stop at once!" the Zhou patriarch shouted.

Ning Zhuo and Chen Cha, faces full of shock, hurried to pay their respects.

The three Core Formation cultivators ignored them and swept their divine senses over Yuan Dasheng’s corpse.

They found no trace of any demonic cultivator hiding within.

"It did cultivate demonic arts, and rather well at that," the Zhou patriarch remarked.

Zhu Xuanji confirmed his earlier findings. He cast a regretful glance at the old ape’s corpse, then turned his gaze to Ning Zhuo. "You boy, you do have a silver tongue. Yuan Er is a fool to be so easily convinced by you."

Ning Zhuo drew a deep breath, his face anxious. "Master Zhu, please judge fairly. My cooperation with Yuan Er was a win-win! I wanted to make money, and Yuan Er wanted to keep his position as leader."

"With all due respect, Master, you acted righteously in saving the old ape. But was it truly a kindness to it? Given its loyalty to its master, wouldn’t it rather not become a burden?"

"Hmph, sharp-tongued brat!" Zhu Xuanji’s opinion of Ning Zhuo dropped sharply.

At the side, Fei Si stroked his beard, growing ever more appreciative of Ning Zhuo.

Finding nothing suspicious, the three Core Formation cultivators swiftly departed.

Fei Si returned to the fire persimmon groves, but halfway there, Zhu Xuanji paused.

His brows furrowed deeply as he brooded, "Something still doesn’t feel quite right!"