PDLP Chapter 24 The Power of Rumors
Chapter 24 The Power of Rumors
Without the steward's supervision, the servants lost their will to work and gathered in small groups, discussing amongst themselves with expressions of shock, curiosity, and delight.
"Have you heard? Liu Jincai has been taken away by the Enforcement Hall!"
"He got what he deserved! His greed and misappropriation of our spirit stones have brought him retribution!"
"That's not all! I heard he's incredibly audacious, daring to harbor that Hu Wenbiao and even plotting to betray Elder Pang!"
"Serves him right! I've disliked him for a long time!"
……
Just as the crowd grew larger and the discussions became increasingly noisy, a powerful, mountain-like pressure from the Foundation Establishment stage suddenly spread around the servants' hall without warning!
The noise stopped abruptly.
An elderly man dressed in a simple gray robe, with white hair and beard, appeared at the entrance of the servants' quarters.
His gaze was calm yet carried immense authority as he said indifferently, "This is not the place for you to argue. Disperse and return to your posts!"
"Deacon Yang...Deacon Yang?!"
The more senior disciples recognized the old man and exclaimed in surprise.
This person is Yang Yuanwu, the other and only Foundation Establishment stage steward in the Miscellaneous Service Hall!
In terms of position, he was the highest-ranking steward in the Miscellaneous Services Hall.
However, he spent many years in seclusion cultivating his skills and almost never paid attention to worldly affairs. This allowed Liu Jincai to seize power, and over time, many new disciples didn't even know he existed.
Now that Liu Jincai has fallen from power, the servants are leaderless, and this elusive Steward Yang has finally made his appearance.
With a Foundation Establishment stage senior speaking, none of the servants dared to slack off in the slightest. They all dispersed and returned to their respective posts.
Shen Li also mingled in the crowd and quietly left.
He sighed inwardly: The Enforcement Hall is really efficient; they took Liu Jincai away immediately.
I never expected the rumors I spread would have such a good effect. Now that the head of the Enforcement Hall has personally taken him away, Liu Jincai is definitely not coming back.
He was astute and saw things clearly: even if no evidence could be found that he harbored Hu Wenbiao, his crimes of embezzlement, bribery, abuse of power, and bullying of his disciples over the years were irrefutable, and he deserved to die.
Even if nothing happens, the Enforcement Hall will still skin you alive.
Moreover, Liu Jincai's record is tainted and he cannot withstand scrutiny.
......
As evening fell, the afterglow of the setting sun painted the horizon a vibrant orange-red.
The atmosphere inside the council hall of the Heavenly Demon Sect was somewhat strange.
The five high-ranking members of the sect reunited.
Sect Master Luo Tianxing, Elders Pang Tianjue, Du Tianmei, Luo Tianjing, and Feng Tianheng.
Besides these five Golden Core cultivators, there are two more.
A man knelt in the center, his face pale and trembling; it was Liu Jincai.
The other person was Wan Xing, the head of the Enforcement Hall.
Sect Master Luo Tianxing spoke first, his tone calm: "Hall Master Wan, how did the interrogation go? Has Liu Jincai confessed?"
Wan Xing immediately bowed and replied, "Reporting to the sect leader, I have questioned him repeatedly. He vehemently denies harboring Hu Wenbiao, only admitting to embezzling spirit stones and oppressing servants."
Upon hearing this, Luo Tianxing remained silent, only taking a small sip of the spiritual tea.
"Snapped!"
Pang Tianjue, standing to the side, slammed his hand on the table, staring coldly at Liu Jincai, and shouted sharply, "Liu Jincai! Even now you still dare to be stubborn!"
Tell me, where exactly is Hu Wenbiao?!
Liu Jincai trembled with fright and pleaded in a tearful voice, "Elder Pang, please be wise! I am loyal to you and the Pang family."
I have never met Hu Wenbiao, and I don't know where those rumors came from!
This...this must be someone trying to harm me, trying to sow discord between us! Please don't believe it!
Pang Tianjue's face was gloomy, and he said coldly, "There's no smoke without fire!"
"It's understandable that you want to leave for another branch, using Hu Wenbiao as a pledge of loyalty. But things have come to this point; if you don't tell the truth now, no one can protect you!"
His words, seemingly interrogating Liu Jincai, were actually loaded with hidden meaning.
Luo Tianxing turned his gaze to Pang Tianjue, his tone still calm: "Elder Pang, your words seem to have a hidden meaning? Could it be that you suspect Hu Wenbiao is in my hands?"
Pang Tianjue replied with a forced smile, "Sect Master, you flatter me. Where Hu Wenbiao is is not important. It doesn't even matter whether he's alive or dead."
The key point is that someone is using him to repeatedly slander my grandson Sicheng, and even my Pang family. Their intentions are despicable!
Feng Tianheng, who had been sitting quietly observing, chuckled and said, "Senior Brother Pang, that 'Luanfeng Yin Yang Technique' is said to be both righteous and evil. Whether someone has truly practiced it or not is difficult to discern from their outward aura alone. Just now, Senior Brother Pang also said, 'There's no smoke without fire'..."
"Snapped!"
Pang Tianjue slammed his fist on the table again, his face ashen, and said, "Junior Brother Feng! What do you mean by that? Are you also going to slander Pang Sicheng for practicing evil arts?!"
Luo Tianxing waved his hand and said calmly, "Elder Pang, please calm down. The most urgent thing is to find a way to find Hu Wenbiao as soon as possible."
We must see him alive or dead. Otherwise, this matter will never be truly resolved, and the rumors will never be quelled.
Pang Tianjue's face instantly turned a deep liver color, his anger barely contained.
He was furious: "I, Pang Tianjue, a dignified Golden Core cultivator, have been forced into such a predicament by Hu Wenbiao, a mere servant! What a ridiculous joke!"
His gaze swept over Luo Tianxing and Feng Tianheng with a sinister intensity, and he was certain that the sect leader's lineage was behind this!
Just a few days after the rumors were suppressed, Hu Wenbiao has resurfaced.
If this hidden danger cannot be completely eradicated, he might jump out again and cause trouble one day, and then I will never have peace!
Thinking of this, a cold glint flashed in his eyes, and he made a ruthless decision.
Pang Tianjue looked at Liu Jincai again, his voice icy cold: "Liu Jincai, I'm giving you one last chance!"
If you don't reveal Hu Wenbiao's whereabouts, don't blame this elder for disregarding our past relationship and using the "Soul Searching Technique" on you!
"A...soul-searching technique?!"
Upon hearing these three words, Liu Jincai turned deathly pale with fright!
The Soul Searching Technique is a forbidden technique in the cultivation world, extremely domineering. Those who are subjected to it will either become idiots or have their souls scattered!
Tears streaming down his face, he pleaded, "Elder Pang! Spare me, Elder Pang! I've always been loyal to you, I'm one of your men! You can't do this to me!"
Just as Pang Tianjue was about to make a move, Luo Tianxing spoke again, his tone leaving no room for doubt: "Elder Pang, the Soul Searching Technique is a technique explicitly prohibited in the cultivation world."
Even if we are a demonic sect, if we use this against our own disciples and it gets out, what will become of our sect's reputation?
In my opinion, it would be better to detain Liu Jincai first and deal with his embezzlement according to the sect rules. As for Hu Wenbiao's matter, we can discuss it further and deal with it gradually.
"You...!" Pang Tianjue was speechless for a moment, choked by Luo Tianxing's high-sounding words, but could not find a suitable reason to refute them.