The woman, Fo Lian, was truly like a white lotus.
White lotuses emerge from mud unstained.
She recounted her story calmly, with almost no omissions.
She even revealed the origin of the Hell Transformation Scroll.
However, she had subtly altered a part of it.
"Beneath the sea, in that coral cave, I survived by consuming the Dharma body of Patriarch Dong Ling. I also obtained the so-called Hell Transformation Scroll, but how could a girl under ten years old understand such things?"
"When I emerged from the sea and returned to land, bringing the Hell Transformation Scroll to Dong Ling Temple, Fa Wu pretended to acknowledge me as his daughter. His goal, from the very beginning, was the Hell Transformation Scroll. The moment he obtained the scroll, Dong Ling Temple transformed into hell."
"Fa Wu even devoured his own master and uncle, thus acquiring sufficient demonic energy to activate the Hell Transformation Scroll and draw all the then-Dong Ling guards into hell."
"From then on, the Hell Transformation Scroll became the Dharma treasure of Dong Ling Temple."
Qin Ye Xuan gently interrupted her, "How old are you? Old Monk Fa Wu must be over a hundred, right? And he's been abbot for sixty to seventy years."
Fo Lian gave a wry smile, "Counting from now, I am sixty-eight. Perhaps because I consumed the Patriarch's relics, I have remained this way, and this is why I became the so-called Peacock Mingwang Buddha Mother."
Qin Ye Xuan nodded.
Zhu Xiao Qing was around forty years old, and her parents had been consumed by the Hell Transformation Scroll.
Judging by the timeline, it perfectly aligned with Fo Lian's account.
Therefore, she had not lied on this point.
Qin Ye Xuan felt a flicker of doubt, wondering if he had overthought things.
Yet, he trusted his own instincts more.
This Fo Lian was definitely problematic!
Meanwhile, Jun Meng Yao had brought preliminary investigation materials.
"Seventy years ago, Fa Wu was designated as the next abbot of Dong Ling. But within a year, he was suddenly confined to the monastery's small dark room for over half a year."
"Intelligence suggests Fa Wu was punished because he became involved with a fisherman's daughter and had a child. Subsequently, Dong Ling Temple secretly sent assassins to kill the fishing family, but this is all rumor, with no evidence to support it."
These details also aligned perfectly with Fo Lian's words.
Qin Ye Xuan then asked, "When did the Hell Transformation Scroll first appear?"
"Sixty years ago..."
Qin Ye Xuan pointed to the remains of old Monk Fa Wu and said in a low voice, "Take a tissue sample and conduct a DNA test on Miss Fo Lian."
He turned to the quiet woman, "Miss Fo Lian, I need to confirm your situation. I hope these events are truly what happened and not fantasies born from mental manipulation. As you know, these scoundrels of Buddhism are skilled in mental control, especially a esoteric Buddhist sect like Dong Ling Temple, which venerates Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva."
Fo Lian clasped her hands together, "Mr. Qin, you don't need to explain anything to me. I only wish to find a quiet place to spend the remainder of my life."
Qin Ye Xuan still smiled gently, "Ah Xue wouldn't agree to such a thing. I must take good care of you."
Jun Meng Yao had the best testing equipment and experts. Using expedited testing methods, the results came back not long after.
However, these results surprised Qin Ye Xuan.
He walked alone to Jun Meng Yao, and they examined the results together.
The鉴定 was negative!
"She is not Fa Wu's daughter; they have no blood relation!"
Qin Ye Xuan's brow furrowed, a look of confusion on his face.
"Sir, what's wrong? Perhaps this is a misunderstanding."
Qin Ye Xuan waved his hand, stopping her from speaking further.
Then, he made a gesture: prepare a false report!
Jun Meng Yao looked utterly confused but still prepared a fake report. Qin Ye Xuan took the report and walked towards Fo Lian, whispering consolingly, "Fa Wu is your father. The results are beyond doubt. Since this is the case, do not be too saddened. I will arrange for you to stay in my office first. It's in a school within this city, making it convenient to help you recuperate at any time."
Everything was proceeding according to Fo Lian's "plan." She was inwardly delighted, though she continuously expressed her reluctance to trouble Qin Ye Xuan.
After arranging for someone to escort the white lotus away, Qin Ye Xuan said to Jun Meng Yao, "The entire situation is amiss, and this Lotus maiden seems unaware of her true background. Until the truth is uncovered, I must keep her by my side."
Jun Meng Yao hesitated, "But the Hell Transformation Scroll was just burned like that?"
Jun Meng Yao found it hard to believe that such a terrifying Dharma treasure would be afraid of fire.
Qin Ye Xuan looked at the scattered remains, "The Hell Transformation Scroll was originally a knock-off. An ancient painting; if the person controlling it dies, it's not impossible for it to be burned to ashes."
He had many other matters to attend to and left the cleanup to the subordinates of the Night Demon organization.
Qin Ye Xuan did not delay. He called out the names of Li Tian Xing and a few others, leading them through Xiao Yao Peak and into the depths of Ling Meng Mountain.
The Emperor Xin, with Zhang Tai Jia, followed closely behind. Then came Zhu Xiao Qing and Wang Jia Qian and the others.
"Sir, where are you taking us?"
Qin Ye Xuan was already standing between two giant rocks. These two diagonally stacked rocks formed a strange triangular shape.
Beneath the rocks, a round, moss-covered stone drum appeared.
"Didn't I say I left some things here long ago? It's time to retrieve them; perhaps they'll be useful for the current situation."
Li Tian Xing understood, "Could it be Sir's treasury?"
"Heh heh, just some toys I collected in the past."
Qin Ye Xuan raised his hand and gently patted the stone drum, producing a 'dong' sound.
The moss shattered. Qin Ye Xuan continuously struck, creating a rhythmic beat on the stone drum. Su Dan Novel Network
The drum melody was deep and heavy. After one complete performance, the two giant rocks above slowly opened, seemingly shifting apart.
Ah!
Jun Meng Yao looked up. The two massive rocks appeared to transform into legs, and the grass and bushes growing at the junction of the rocks resembled a human face, smiling at her.
Is... is it a stone demon?
Only Jun Meng Yao noticed this anomaly; everyone else was excitedly looking at the opening revealed beneath the giant rocks.
Qin Ye Xuan's cherished treasury, what kind of treasures lay within?