The people from the Deacon Hall attacked with even greater speed upon hearing this.
Zhao Chang, seeing this, had no choice but to resort to his life-saving trump card.
However, in the face of absolute strength, all schemes and tricks were but paper tigers.
Ma Li and the others, upon hearing the order to capture alive, were no longer afraid. To avoid further injury, they quickly surrendered and ceased fighting.
After being captured, Zhao Chang once again put on an innocent and slightly angry expression.
"Fellow Daoists, we have no past grudges, nor any present enmity. Why do you arrest me?"
The leader of the Deacon Hall replied in a flat tone, "Zhao Chang, we suspect you are involved with the nameless cultivators who went missing today. You must come with us."
Zhao Chang's face displayed a complex mix of emotions: feigned innocence, a belief that they had misunderstood, a gentle displeasure, and a feigned concern for them mistaking their enemy.
"How could the missing people possibly be related to me? It must be some rogue cultivators framing me. The rogue cultivators surely want to sow discord among the righteous sects so they can benefit. This is all a conspiracy.
If the missing cultivators were connected to me, why would I be foolish enough to expose the appearances of the rogue cultivators? As they just stated, they are from the Blood Fiend Pavilion and are here to retaliate against me. What would I gain from doing this? It's completely illogical. Please do not be deceived."
At this moment, Nangong Xiao stepped forward. He had observed the situation for a while and had already formed a guess.
Zhao Chang was likely a rogue cultivator, and the captors were probably members of the clandestine branch of the Purple Cloud Sect's Deacon Hall.
"Esteemed sirs, if I am not mistaken, you are from the Purple Cloud Sect's Deacon Hall, correct? I am Nangong Xiao, the son of the City Lord of Tianyi City."
Si Chen and his companions had been dealing with rogue cultivator organizations for a long time and were knowledgeable about the information of various factions when they went out on missions. Therefore, how could they not recognize Nangong Xiao? He was quite famous in Tianyi City, known as the "Gentle Jade Xiao Young Master" and "Cold Noble Chen Young Master." Two of the four great young masters of Tianyi City belonged to the Nangong family.
"Does Young Master Xiao have something to discuss?" Si Chen did not answer directly but instead countered with a question.
"These are my people, and they are not rogue cultivators. I sent them out today. Yesterday, I observed Zhao Chang acting suspiciously and sent my subordinates to keep an eye on him, intending to observe the situation. Seeing him acting furtively today, I dispatched my subordinates to capture him alive.
As for why they were made to impersonate rogue cultivators, there was a reason.
Firstly, I wanted to spread word of today's events, making the rogue cultivators believe there was infighting among them. Secondly, in this chaotic era, I wanted to indirectly boost the morale of our righteous cultivators. Thirdly... my father has always taught us not to seek the limelight; punishing evil and aiding good requires no revelation of identity. Fourthly, many younger disciples from our clan go out for trials, and rogue cultivators are becoming increasingly rampant..."
Nangong Xiao said hesitantly, appearing as though he feared his family's disciples might be implicated by his actions, suggesting this was his sole undertaking. He continued,
"Esteemed sirs, my subordinates are absolutely not rogue cultivators. I did not anticipate such a coincidence as meeting you today, which has led to this misunderstanding."
Upon hearing Nangong Xiao's explanation, Ma Li and the others wished they could slap the table in applause.
As expected of their master, he had come up with a plausible explanation so quickly.
It was truly remarkable.
Hidden somewhere nearby, Xue Mei'er listened to their conversation and was furious.
Initially, after learning of Zhao Chang's plan, Xue Mei'er had intended to interfere, pretend to help Zhao Chang fight the rogue cultivators, sustain minor injuries, and thereby gain a reputation for saving people. When Zhao Chang and Luo Yun Shi developed a relationship, she could also win Luo Yun Shi's favor by protecting a witness. To her dismay, her plan had been exposed so easily.
Not only had all her efforts been in vain, but she hadn't even been informed. This scoundrel had fled on his own.
It made her so angry.
The more Xue Mei'er thought about it, the angrier she became, and her aura was instantly exposed.
Suddenly, Si Chen swept his gaze towards a certain direction and said sternly,
"Who's there? Come out!" Simultaneously, an attack was launched.
"Damn it, I didn't expect to be discovered. It's all Zhao Chang's fault."
Xue Mei'er cursed inwardly. She quickly dodged the attack, removed her invisibility talisman, and put on an innocent and harmless expression. "Fellow Daoist, I was merely passing by. I heard the sounds of fighting and came to investigate using an invisibility talisman. I heard you mention rogue cultivators and was about to report to the Purple Cloud Sect branch."
...
Inside the Golden Bell Shield Cloud Flying Vessel, which could render itself invisible and soundproof, Luo Yun Shi sat observing the scene below from high in the sky with great interest. She munched on sunflower seeds rapidly, occasionally offering commentary.
"Tsk tsk. What a grand drama. If one doesn't say that cultivators in the cultivation world have many schemes, these people are so eloquent. This Zhao Chang, with his good looks, is truly skilled at shifting blame."
"This Nangong Xiao also seems suspicious. And this female cultivator is quite interesting. I remember she lived in a small wooden hut with Zhao Chang, weren't they a couple? There must be something going on."
This plot, she thought, must be written into a novel when she returned to modern times.
Soon, the people below below left the area and headed towards the Good Fortune Purple Cloud Sect teleportation array.
The Purple Cloud Sect's teleportation array was located at the edge of Good Fortune's protected area. Next to it were newly constructed rows of houses.
Si Chen remembered that Luo Yun Shi wanted to know about the rogue cultivators and their situation. After capturing them, he sent a communication transmission to Luo Yun Shi, informing her that the captives had been apprehended and that the interrogation would take place in the hall next to the teleportation array, asking if she wished to come.
Upon receiving the message, Luo Yun Shi naturally agreed to go and see. After all, the missing cultivators had also stayed at her shop, so it was perfectly reasonable for her to go and check.
After ending the communication, she boarded the flying vessel and arrived at the Good Fortune Purple Cloud Sect's hall.
Good Fortune Branch of the Purple Cloud Sect's Hall.
It included the Service Area, Law Enforcement Hall, Mission Area, Study Area, Exchange Area, Elixir Area, and so on.
This was Luo Yun Shi's first time inside. She followed Si Chen to a room.
"Fairy Luo. From this room, you can observe what is happening in the inner chamber," Si Chen said.
Soon, another disciple prepared tea and pastries and placed them on the table.
"Alright, thank you," Luo Yun Shi expressed her gratitude.
"Fairy Luo is too kind," Si Chen said before entering the inner room.
The people from the Deacon Hall briefly questioned Nangong Xiao and his subordinates.
Nangong Xiao's subordinates had no corrupt energy within them, making their innocence easy to prove. Moreover, Nangong Xiao and his companions were from the City Lord of Tianyi City, and without concrete evidence, they could not be held.
The Deacon Hall stated that Nangong Xiao's subordinates had admitted to being rogue cultivators themselves. In the Purple Cloud Sect's jurisdiction, they could not ignore the presence of rogue cultivators.
Nangong Xiao expressed his complete understanding, stating that if they heard of rogue cultivators appearing in Tianyi City, they too would send people to investigate. It was all for the sake of capturing rogue cultivators and upholding justice, and so on. Afterward, both sides exchanged pleasantries before concluding the matter.
Nangong Xiao and his group left through another door.
Only Zhao Chang remained inside.
Although Xue Mei'er was present at the time, there was no evidence, so they did not arrest her. Si Chen merely dispatched several cultivators to secretly monitor Xue Mei'er. If Zhao Chang confessed and implicated Xue Mei'er, the observing cultivators could then apprehend her.
Zhao Chang had not given up. Despite being severely injured, he still attempted to offer further explanations.