Chapter 335 - Inverting the Truth (2/2)
Ling Fei put on a mocking smile. “You jest, Perfected Immortal Fengxi. How would I dare interfere with the affairs of your Jade Qing Sect and Xianyong Sect?” It was evident that he had dragged Xianyong Sect into the matter as well. “This person’s identity is greatly suspect. We won’t know where he came from. If we don’t clarify his origin, how can we answer those who have died? How can we answer everyone in the world?”
“That’s right! Give the dead an answer!” No one knew who spoke but it stirred up the crowd again.
Senior Xingxiu of the White Mist Academy stepped forward and said coldly, “I don’t care about the grudge between you two, but I won’t let my disciple die in vain. Xiao Chen, if you don’t explain yourself today, don’t even think of leaving!”
Some turned their attention to Perfected Immortal Qing Chen. He sighed and said, “Forget it. This child was acceptable as a disciple when my Junior Brother Qingfeng and Junior Brother Xiaoyao were roaming the Human World…”
“What?!” The crowd cried in surprise before he could finish. “From the Human World? Impossible! Someone like him would never appear in the Human World!”
Whether they considered Xiao Chen a demon or devil, they subconsciously saw him as a powerhouse. Meanwhile, a minority of the hecklers was paid handsomely to do so by the Ling family and the Order of the Divine Fire. No matter what Xiao Chen says, they would stir up the crowd to push the blame on Xiao Chen. The majority was either lashing out due to envy or being yesmen without an opinion of their own.
Most of them would rather believe that Xiao Chen came from some Ancient Immortal Clan in a mystic domain than accept the ridiculous story of him coming from the Human World. That was out of their subconscious view of the dwellers of the Human World as people beneath them, people who had no right to enter the Violet Manor and cultivate. It was the same logic behind the perception of those from the Heaven Realm about the Violet Manor in the Human World.
Discussions erupted among the crowd. Over at Yang family’s corner in the distance, Chu Hanyan’s clenched fist hid a palm full of sweat. She never once stopped worrying about her husband, Yang Shaochen, in the past few days, unable to even sleep well. Now, she feared that Xiao Chen’s identity would be revealed and that her own identity as a citizen of the Human World would be as well.
Perfected Immortal Qing Chen sighed. “Violet Manor has a rule of not questioning the origin of a dweller of the Human World. Therefore, I’m uncertain of Xiao Chen’s exact origin.”
Many remained unconvinced by his words. Ling Fei sneered. “From the Human World? Did you think that’s enough to fool everyone?”
Xiao Chen’s expression was so dark that it was as if dark clouds had gathered on his face. He said solemnly, “What else do you want…”
Ling Fei jeered. “Then, my final question to you: What’s your relationship to the demonic woman Yu Linglong? Many in Canglan City witnessed you saving her that day! And what’s your relationship to followers of the Devil’s Practice like None-flower Dust? The two twelve ladies with you as well! Do you dare to swear to the heavens that you have nothing to do with Senior Zhu Danfeng of the Order of the Divine Fire last month? Do you dare to swear on it?”
Ziyun’er stepped forward and yelled, “I was the one who killed that wretched Zhu Danfeng! It has nothing to do with my Master! You may punish me as you please, be it killing or skinning me!”
Ling Fei raised his head and guffawed. He then turned around to address everyone. “Did you hear that? It’s his subordinate who killed a senior of our Orthodox sects! That’s Xiao Chen’s doing! He conspired to bring about the ruin of the Immortal’s Sword Assembly! What is he if not a follower of the Devil’s Practice? Us Orthodox folks must not allow him to exist!”
He was so convincing that the crowd became sure that Xiao Chen won the Sword Assembly due to his dirty tricks. After all, many of them weren’t there to witness the battle. In particular, the hecklers immediately spurred the rest to shout, “Eliminate the follower of the Devil’s Practice! Demonstrate the might of the Orthodox Path!”
“Kill him! Kill this Devil Clan’s follower!”
“Us Orthodox folks must not allow a Devil’s Practice follower to do as he pleases! Kill him!”
The mob became so impassioned that their voices were enough to shatter the peace of heaven. Xiao Chen felt a wave of vertigo hit him. In his state of confusion, he felt as if he could hear someone saying, “To think your Mystic Cyan Sect would produce such this scum of humanity! Ling Yin! What do you have to say for yourself? If you don’t personally kill this Devil’s Practice follower today, I fear you won’t be able to answer the world satisfactorily! Kill him!”
“Argh…”
Suddenly, Xiao Chen let out of a drawn-out scream. A fierce power erupted from within him and scattered the clouds within five kilometers. Many in the crowd below were nearly sent flying by that power.
Black Qi whirled up all around him. He stared at Ling Fei with a cold gaze akin to that of a God of Death. “Since you call me a demon, let me show what a real demon is! Go to hell…”
“Xiao Chen, calm down!” Yu Yifeng immediately set into motion, wanting to stop him. But when he was about two meters away from Xiao Chen, the latter shoved him aside with a palm attack.
Murderous aura instantly enveloped the public square. Sensing the vivid call of death, Ling Fei didn’t think twice before summoning his True Energy to fly toward Situ Bei.
“Not even a God can save you!” Xiao Chen howled. He reached out and Ling Fei flew toward him as if an invisible force was grabbing him.
“Senior Situ, save me!”