Once the Killing Taboo Is Broken, It May Affect Your State of Mind
“I already told you. Third Prince died at the hands of a demon while we were exterminating it. I’m deeply grieved that I couldn’t save him.”
“Yes, I witnessed it myself, so I killed that demon to avenge Third Prince.”
“The demon’s corpse? Oh, my Xiaohua ate it. Would you like me to have him spit it back out?”
Inside the lightless dungeon, Feng Qi leaned against a corner of the wall, both wrists tightly shackled in iron chains. Repeated rounds of interrogation had not made him look the least bit disheveled. His complexion remained good, and his manner was so composed that he even seemed somewhat leisurely.
At least a dozen people were crowded inside the dungeon, all their gazes fixed upon Feng Qi. The elder seated behind the table in the middle slammed his palm down. “Stop speaking nonsense. Third Prince was clearly killed after his dragon pearl was shattered and his dragon tendon torn out. One look tells you this was revenge. What demon would kill someone in such a manner?”
“How would I know what goes through a demon’s mind? As for this revenge you speak of...” Feng Qi tilted his head with a smile, making the chains around his wrists rustle. “That is a strange thing to say. Third Prince and I had never even met before. How could I possibly have had a grudge against him?”
Murmurs immediately spread throughout the dungeon.
Third Prince Jun Jue of the Dragon King had been killed in the mortal realm. Lingyuan Sea rushed there upon receiving the news and caught Feng Qi at the scene before he could leave.
Since the matter involved the long-standing grievances between the Dragon and Phoenix clans, several major clans of the Immortal Realm sent representatives to participate in the investigation. After several days of repeated questioning, Feng Qi still insisted that Jun Jue had been killed by a demon that escaped through the crack in the Demon Realm’s seal.
Someone else asked, “If, as you claim, the two of you had never met, why were you exterminating a demon together?”
“Did I not already explain? We happened to encounter each other.” Feng Qi said, “Everyone in the Immortal Realm knows that I was ambushed by demons in the mortal realm. I followed the clues to seek revenge and eventually traced them to that Dragon King Temple. Third Prince must likewise have noticed something strange there, which is how we happened to meet.”
Having said this, he lazily yawned. “You have asked these same questions countless times over the past few days. The truth is right before your eyes. Why exhaust yourselves staying here with me?”
“Who wants to remain here with you? It’s because your story is vague and full of contradictions!” An elder in silver robes embroidered with dragon patterns angrily rebuked him from among the crowd. “The murderer of our Third Prince possessed exceedingly advanced swordsmanship. To shatter a dragon pearl with one strike and tear out a dragon tendon, his cultivation must have been extraordinarily profound. Yet the weapon used was an ordinary iron sword that can be found anywhere in the mortal realm. Tell me, what demon would use such a sword?”
“You claim you came to investigate clues concerning the demons yet refuse to explain why those clues led you to the Dragon King Temple. Are you implying that Lingyuan Sea has colluded with demons?!”
This elder was Elder Changhong, one of the highest-ranking elders of Lingyuan Sea.
Throughout the investigation into Third Prince Jun Jue’s death, the Dragon King of Lingyuan Sea had never appeared. He had sent only this elder in his place.
The Dragon clan explained that the Dragon King could not endure the grief of losing his son and was thus unable to appear, leaving Elder Changhong to decide all matters on his behalf.
Feng Qi remained perfectly calm. “I’d also very much like to know the answers to everything Elder Changhong just mentioned. Since Lingyuan Sea cannot uncover the truth, why not release me and let me investigate it for you?”
“You—” Elder Changhong’s face flushed red with anger. “Insolent brat! It seems you will refuse to speak unless we resort to punishment!”
Feng Qi raised a brow. “Lingyuan Sea arrested me without evidence, and now you want to torture a confession out of me? This Prince is Second Prince of the Phoenix clan. Do you dare touch me?”
“Today, I will show you whether I dare!”
Elder Changhong flew into a rage. The two men beside him immediately broke out in cold sweat and hurriedly restrained him. “We can discuss this peacefully. Don’t strike him. Whatever you do, don’t strike him...”
Feng Qi was a prince of the Phoenix clan, while the deceased was Third Prince of the Dragon King. The Dragon and Phoenix clans held extraordinary status among the great clans of the Immortal Realm. The slightest mishandling could lead to consequences beyond repair.
They could neither beat nor curse the suspect, yet they also truly lacked any conclusive evidence. That was why the matter had dragged on for so many days.
Feng Qi coldly watched the crowd arguing before him, a trace of dark chill surfacing in his eyes.
Fortunately, it wasn’t Ji Chaoyun.
Feng Qi had the Phoenix clan behind him, yet even after being arrested, he had still endured nearly ten days of interrogation. If it had been Ji Chaoyun instead, there was no telling what they would have put him through.
Suddenly, an immortal attendant hurried in from outside the dungeon. “His Majesty the Phoenix Lord and the Heavenly Fox Clan Leader have arrived.”
Something flickered faintly in Feng Qi’s eyes.
The crowd automatically parted down the middle as Feng Ji and Bai Qiuyue walked in side by side.
Bai Qiuyue looked perfectly at ease and smiled. “Fortunes truly do turn in cycles. I never thought I would see Second Prince Feng in such a sorry state.”
Feng Qi raised a brow. “Did you come here to laugh at me?”
“Naturally not. I came to save you.” Bai Qiuyue turned to the immortal attendant beside him. “Second Prince Feng is innocent. Release him.”
No one around them dared move.
Bai Qiuyue explained, “His Majesty the Phoenix Lord and I have already verified that there is indeed a crack in the Demon Realm’s seal beneath the Dragon King Temple, and demonic aura has begun seeping through it. We also discovered that mortals have gone missing from Linhai Village and several nearby villages. Those missing mortals were the very ‘demons’ who attacked Second Prince Feng on Mount Sumeru.”
“What? They were mortals?”
“Precisely. Mortals.” Bai Qiuyue said, “The demons used mortal bodies as vessels, infused them with demonic aura, and refined them into a demon army that attacked Second Prince Feng on Mount Sumeru. Second Prince Feng followed those clues to the Dragon King Temple, where he encountered Third Dragon Prince, who was also investigating the demons. The two clashed with the demons, and Third Prince was unfortunately killed. That is the truth of the matter.”
Whispers spread through the dungeon, but no one dared speak aloud.
Only the elder from Lingyuan Sea still refused to yield. “What does finding a crack in the seal prove? Where is the demon’s corpse? Where are the traces of battle? You have no evidence whatsoever that they truly fought a demon!”
“There is evidence.” Feng Ji, who had remained silent until now, finally spoke. “Before Feng Qi left Hongmeng Academy, Academy Master Immortal Venerable Tianshu placed a spell upon him. Everything he does in the mortal realm is recorded in his Merit Ledger.”
“The Merit Ledger is connected to the sea of consciousness and cannot be altered by human means. If he truly slaughtered an innocent person and murdered Third Prince of the Dragon King, Heavenly Dao itself would leave proof of that crime in the Merit Ledger. If he instead rid the people of a scourge, the Merit Ledger would record the corresponding merit.”
Feng Ji paused, then raised his eyes toward Feng Qi. “Feng Qi, show everyone your Merit Ledger.”
Naturally, the Merit Ledger contained no record of Feng Qi slaughtering an innocent person. Instead, because he had rid the people of a scourge, his merit had increased by eight hundred points in a single entry.
Only by slaying a demon that had committed deeds that offended Heaven and violated moral principle could one gain so much merit.
At this, no one dared suspect Feng Qi of murdering Third Prince of the Dragon King any longer.
The Merit Ledger could not be falsified. If they continued pursuing the matter, would they not instead be implying that Third Prince himself had been a demon?
The envoys sent by the other clans showed nothing on their faces, but inwardly, all of them released a breath of relief.
They had not dared lightly conclude that Feng Qi had killed Jun Jue, but neither had they dared suspect Third Prince of the Dragon King of being connected to the demons. This answer was the best possible outcome for everyone.
As for what had truly happened to the Dragon King’s Third Prince, Lingyuan Sea could continue investigating that on its own. The others had no need to involve themselves any further.
The envoys who had come to participate in the interrogation departed one after another. Soon, only Feng Ji, Feng Qi, and Bai Qiuyue remained in the dungeon.
Feng Ji personally crouched down and removed Feng Qi’s shackles. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Lingyuan Sea did not dare touch me.” Feng Qi rubbed his wrists. “Where is he?”
Feng Ji said, “It would be inconvenient for him to enter Lingyuan Sea. He is waiting outside with the Phoenix clan attendants.”
Feng Qi clicked his tongue. “How has he been these past few days?”
“Not eating, not drinking, not sleeping. He is nearly frantic with worry.”
“That fool...” Feng Qi frowned. “I already told him nothing would happen to me.”
Feng Ji gave him an unreadable glance. “Third Dragon Prince’s death truly had nothing to do with you?”
Feng Qi smiled. “Of course not. Why would I kill him for no reason?”
“...Forget it. If you say it was not you, then it was not you.” Feng Ji withdrew his gaze and spoke evenly.
The truth itself was not important. So long as everyone believed Feng Qi was not responsible, the Phoenix clan had no need to concern itself with anything else.
Secure in the knowledge that he had nothing to fear, Feng Qi turned toward Bai Qiuyue. “Why did you come as well?”
Bai Qiuyue said, “Your Highness recovered the Glass Bead for the Heavenly Fox clan. Naturally, I had to offer my thanks.”
“The souls inside the glazed bead...”
“Those who could be saved were rescued. Those who could not were sent into reincarnation. The Heavenly Fox and Phoenix clans are doing everything possible to repair the crack in the seal. As for the mortals of Linhai Village who became involved in this matter, their memories of it have been blurred. They will remember only that their loved ones went somewhere far away. Given time, they will slowly be able to move forward.”
Feng Qi smiled. “That doesn’t sound much like the way you usually handle things.”
“It was your little dragon’s idea.” Bai Qiuyue seemed to recall something, and the corner of his mouth curved slightly. “He said that rather than force them to clearly face the loss of their loved ones, it would be better to leave them with a little hope in their hearts. If fate allows it, they will meet again.”
If fate allows it, they will meet again.
Feng Qi’s expression went still for a moment. He lowered his eyes, concealing the emotions surging within them.
“Since the matter has been resolved, I won’t remain any longer.” Bai Qiuyue said, “The Glass Bead has been recovered, and there are still matters within the clan awaiting my attention. Your Majesty the Phoenix Lord, I shall take my leave.”
Feng Ji nodded. “Take care, Clan Leader Bai.”
Bai Qiuyue turned back and patted Feng Qi on the shoulder. “Treat your little dragon well. See you at the academy.”
After saying this, he transformed into a wisp of white smoke and drifted out of the dungeon.
“We should leave too. Little Dragon must be frantic from waiting.” Feng Qi headed toward the dungeon exit without noticing the hesitant expression behind him on Feng Ji’s face.
☁
At the shore of Lingyuan Sea, Ji Chaoyun gazed at the eternally unchanging blue sea. His robes and long hair billowed in the sea breeze, and the worry in his eyes was impossible to conceal.
“What are you looking at?” A voice sounded behind Ji Chaoyun. He abruptly turned around and met a pair of smiling eyes.
Feng Qi strode forward, opened his arms, and pulled that thin body tightly into his embrace. When the person in his arms did not struggle, Feng Qi looked rather surprised. “You’re actually letting me hold you so obediently? When did you become this well-behaved?”
Ji Chaoyun looked even more haggard than Feng Qi. He buried his head against Feng Qi’s chest and said quietly, “I was very worried. They didn’t hurt you, did they?”
“No. Who would dare touch me?” Feng Qi lowered his head and whispered beside his ear, “I only missed you terribly. Let me hold you a little longer.”
“Ahem...” Feng Ji raised a fist to his lips and coughed lightly. “There are so many clansmen here. The two of you should at least... mind where you are.”
Ji Chaoyun was about to pull away from Feng Qi’s embrace when Feng Qi tightened his arms around him. “Don’t move. I said to let me hold you a little longer. Let them look if they want.”
“...”
Feng Ji looked away, unable to bear watching. “The immortal carriage is ready. Let’s return to the valley first and discuss everything there.”
Feng Qi said, “We’re not going back.”
Feng Ji paused. “You...”
“Why would I go back just to be watched by that group of old men again? Do you take me for a fool?”
“...” Feng Ji pressed his fingers to his brow. “Do as you please.”
Feng Qi was thoroughly satisfied and was about to lead Ji Chaoyun toward the immortal carriage with an arm still around him when Feng Ji suddenly caught him. “Young Master Ji, would you mind waiting in the carriage first? I have a few words to say to Feng Qi.”
A trace of displeasure flickered through Feng Qi’s eyes. Ji Chaoyun seized the opportunity to escape his embrace and said awkwardly, “I’ll wait in the carriage.”
Ji Chaoyun hurried away the moment he finished speaking.
Feng Ji lowered his voice. “Are you truly all right?”
The smile on Feng Qi’s face suddenly disappeared. He frowned. “What could be wrong with me?”
“Father told you before that your innate cultivation is extraordinarily high, far beyond what you can currently control. That is why, all these years, we have kept you at the academy to cultivate in seclusion and temper your body and nature.” Feng Ji looked intently at Feng Qi, worry faintly visible in his eyes. “First Mount Sumeru, then Linhai Village. Once the killing taboo is broken, I fear it may affect your state of mind.”
For a moment, Feng Qi stared directly back at Feng Ji without so much as shifting his eyes. Those handsome, sharply defined eyes were deep and still, revealing no emotion.
After a long while, he gave a low laugh. “I merely killed a few demons. How could that affect my state of mind? Or does Elder Brother still suspect I killed Jun Jue?”
“...”
“I’m only joking.” Feng Qi raised an arm around Feng Ji’s shoulders and half-pushed, half-embraced him as they walked back. “Elder Brother should hurry back and repair the crack in the seal. There’s no need to worry about these matters. I know my own limits.”
☁︎₊˚⊹ The Author’s Jade-Slip Aside ⊹˚₊☁︎
There should be another chapter tonight.
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