Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 260 - 260 259 Conclusive Evidence

260: Chapter 259 Conclusive Evidence 260: Chapter 259 Conclusive Evidence Hu Wen was still somewhat dazed, “Upper Envoy, what do you mean by that?

Could it be that if a human loses in a poetry contest, they must resort to knives and guns?”

Master Nanneng also furrowed his brows, “Hou Niao, threatening others without cause, that’s not right, is it?”

Hou Niao smiled faintly and drew out two bamboo slips from the Treasure Gourd, holding them against his chest to show everyone,

“Here are two bamboo slips, one of which is Scholar Qian’s secret collection of writings, which contains many articles and poems he had prepared for his future imperial examinations.

He never showed them to anyone, and even in his home, only his mother knew of their existence, and even she did not know the content; I took it in my search for the true culprit.

The other is left by the mentally-impaired Wang Sheng who died three years ago, with the same purpose of private keeping.”

The content on both scrolls had never been made public; they were private gains from their owners’ studies, buried in obscurity due to their masters’ untimely fates.

“Please examine carefully, Master.

On page seven of Wang Sheng’s bamboo slip and the last page of Qian Sheng’s scroll, there might be some surprises?”

As the bamboo slips were turned to the pages mentioned by Hou Niao, to everyone’s astonishment, the poem written on page seven of Wang Sheng’s slip was precisely the five-character poem ‘A Hermitage Amidst Autumn Hues’!

And the last page of Qian Sheng’s scroll contained the seven-character poem ‘Have Seen the Phoenix’s Love for the Morning Sun’!

All were clever individuals; upon seeing this, they all understood.

Master Nanneng let out a long sigh, closed his eyes and said nothing, which seemed to suggest he had given up and would leave the handling to the others.

Taking a step forward, Tideng Monk tensed up, ready to act, “Stealing literary essence?

Causing others to become mentally impaired?

I can’t believe you’d go so far!

Do you know what it means for these scholars to lose all their learning?

It’s a fate more painful than death!”

Hu Wen’s face lost all color; it was completely stunned by the sudden attack.

What it hadn’t anticipated was that real versions of the two poems it had stolen still existed in the human world.

It had thought these compositions existed only in the scholars’ minds, and that using them was completely foolproof.

“I, I didn’t kill them!”

Tideng Monk rebuked, “Do you think just because they didn’t die, you haven’t committed evil?

Do you realize the repercussions of your actions, how many families have been ruined, parents dying from broken hearts, children left to wander the streets?

All these human tragedies happened just because a demon like you wanted to learn to compose poetry?

“Don’t you know, there is something more painful than death for humans, and that is what you’ve done!

Just as if cutting off a Sword Cultivator’s hands or sealing a Daoist’s mouth!”

Hou Niao rolled his eyes on the side, thinking how melodramatic the monk was being, obviously striking back and getting the upper hand with his words; but he didn’t care, having already trapped the victim, why wouldn’t he allow himself some verbal satisfaction?

Hu Wen sensed that things were going really bad, but everything happened so suddenly; if the two human Upper Envoys had asked about the murder right from the start, it would have had numerous contingency plans.

Yet, those shrewd humans chose to take an indirect approach — attacking in an area it most enjoyed and was proudest of, letting down its guard, before suddenly revealing their trap.

Caught off guard, it hadn’t had time to react, but now it had regained its composure, though it was all too late.

At the critical moment, it hadn’t managed a rebuttal, but rather subconsciously confessed, which was its biggest mistake.

Now, it was powerless to turn things around.

“They were not blameless themselves, each one was captivated by lust; I never forced them into anything, they were always willing…

the theft of literary essence was not a conscious act of evil skill, it’s just because my current strength is insufficient, leaving them with these consequences…”

Tideng Monk, furious, laughed, “Unrepentant till death!

Do you still think your actions are justifiable?

Let me tell you, even if you really could steal literary essence without harming others, it would still be an inexcusably terrible crime!

“Today you steal others’ literary essence, tomorrow will you steal their cultivation understandings?

Cultivation insights?

And eventually, anything others have that you lack, you would just take?”

Tideng Monk was still indignantly arguing, but Hou Niao had already grown impatient!

This monk was detestable, buying time for Nanneng Monk to consider the most secure course of action.

Of course, the problem now wasn’t about how to save Hu Wen’s little life anymore, but rather how to rescue Master Nanneng from this crisis of trust, or to put it another way, how to preserve the face of the Buddhist Sect.

In this lawless land, the inclinations of the people were important.

If a power repeatedly lost favor in the eyes of the people, it would cause the locals to lean towards the other houses.

Over time, the rule of three could possibly become the rule of two, or even just one.

This was a disaster every power was desperately trying to avoid.

Hou Niao reached out and pulled out the hilt of the sword from the Treasure Gourd, drawing it slowly as the sword made a vibrating sound, and its killing aura was chilling.

“I am a fair person, and I give everyone a chance.

Whether you are at fault or not, you all have the right to fight with all your might.

We have already competed in poetry, and the outcome need not be mentioned.

Now, let’s compete in our respective trades and see if your Divine Skills can withstand my sharp sword?”

Hu Wen had not yet reacted, but Tideng Monk took a step forward, standing in front of Hou Niao,

“Hou Daoist, it’s my turn now!

You’ve overstepped!”

Hou Niao sighed, sheathed his sword, and knew he could not compete for this opportunity.

Otherwise, he would truly be slinging mud in the face of the Buddhist Sect; this chance had to come from the Buddhist Sect, and could only come from them, because the Demon Fox was raised by the Buddhist Sect, and everyone in Xionger Town knew this.

Tideng could no longer stall for time.

As he took out his lantern, preparing to catch the demon, a heavy sigh came from behind,

“…The day when the Buddhist fox goes south, the green mud will be a thousand feet thick under the Skull Platform; we have known each other in this life, and it was I who brought you here, I who didn’t discipline you strictly have harmed you.

Go now, and I will see you off!”

The sound of the wooden fish rang out, and before the two of them, Hu Wen slowly transformed, shedding his human skin, sprouting fur, in unbearable agony, yet unable to make a sound.

His Realm was just too far lacking, which also explained why he never had the thought of running away from the beginning.

Hu Wen was waiting for a chance, a chance to redeem himself.

He believed he had such a chance.

After all, he hadn’t actually killed anyone, he could still make up for their losses, and he wasn’t lacking money…

plus the decades of affection with his master.

But what he didn’t expect was that Master Nanneng’s choice would be so resolute, utterly merciless, entirely different from what he had envisioned over the years.

Nanneng was right; he had harmed him.

If Nanneng had demonstrated such ruthlessness earlier, he may not have had the audacity to steal the literary energy.

As Demon Fox Hu Wen suffered, he gradually lost his vitality, hearing Master Nanneng’s voice,

“The reason I don’t end it swiftly for him is not because I am heartless, but only in this way is it possible for the literary energy to return to its rightful owners.

Even if not all of it returns, as long as a portion does, it’s possible that those victims can return to their normal state.

In three days, I will hold a Buddhist assembly at Jianjia Temple, admit my fault, and display the fox skin as a warning to future generations.

Hu Wen has a Cave Mansion outside the temple with some wealth; take it and distribute it among the victims.

This matter ends here, you may all disperse now.”