Chapter Thirty-Eight: Testimony

Mo Bai stepped forward, and everyone was stunned. Mo Bai was already one of the suspected killers of Dong Zixuan, so why would he come forward now?

Mo Bai spoke loudly, “Although the Yuntian Sect is the foremost among the five great spiritual sects of Linglong Continent, it is not as glorious as many spiritual cultivators imagine. Isn’t that so, Master Yun Kong?”

Yun Kong’s eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he replied, “Have you found the answer, Hero Mo?”

Mo Bai nodded with confidence. The crowd watched their exchange and gestures, suddenly sensing a mystery winding around them. Mo Bai continued, “I escorted Shun Qing to Yuntian Sect to face justice, but was instead asked by Master Yun Kong to find the one who wounded Master Yun Zui. Before I could unravel that mystery, I was drawn into the case of the murderer at the Sky-Spanning Cliff. Frankly, it was quite unexpected. But now, thinking back, it makes sense—because all of this was secretly orchestrated by one person to achieve his hidden agenda.”

Mo Bai’s words left everyone gaping, conspiracy, mystery, secrets—especially the disciples, who at that moment felt as if their Yuntian Sect was a bottomless abyss, its darkness unfathomable.

Yun Fa snorted and said, “Mo Bai, stop frightening people with wild talk.”

Mo Bai smiled slightly and replied, “Then how does Master Yun Fa explain why so many important members of the Yuntian Sect have died since Master Yun Jin secluded himself in the Yun Ding Palace these past years?”

Yun Fa laughed coldly, “You claim to be a spiritual cultivator, yet you forget that birth, aging, illness, and death are natural. We spiritual cultivators can preserve our appearance and strengthen our bodies, but immortality is impossible. What’s so unusual about that?”

Mo Bai pondered and countered, “Is it really so? Spiritual cultivators may not be immortal, but their bodies are far stronger than ordinary folk. Were all those deaths truly natural? And after their deaths, who replaced them?”

Yun Fa’s heart stirred. He responded slowly, “You’re not of our sect, how would you know about their health? As for who replaces them, it’s naturally those with ability.”

Mo Bai laughed aloud, “So all the capable people in Yuntian Sect are disciples of Master Yun Fa, it seems.”

Yun Fa’s face darkened, “Little sister, did you hear that? This is the result of your reckless words, giving outsiders something to talk about. I, Yun Fa, stand upright, and have nothing to fear from rumors.”

Yun Ling spoke softly, “Is that so? Then Third Brother shouldn’t still be trying to seize the position of master of the Sky-Spanning Cliff today. Senior Brother Yun Du—others may not know, but we siblings all do. Whose man is he?”

Yun Fa shouted angrily, “Little sister, stop talking nonsense! Yun Du is a man of Yuntian Sect.”

Then he turned to Yun Tong and said, “Third Brother, it’s not wrong to want to be the leader of Yuntian Sect, but you are far too ruthless.”

Yun Fa glared at Yun Tong, “If you wish to accuse, any reason will suffice. Just this booklet? What solid evidence do you have that proves I killed all those people?”

At that moment, Jiu Xi slowly stepped out, holding a silver needle. He said, “This is the evidence.”

Yun Fa looked at Jiu Xi coldly and laughed, “How can that prove anything?”

Jiu Xi replied calmly, “Uncle’s paired needles may fool others, but not me.”

When Jiu Xi uttered the words “paired needles,” Yun Fa’s expression changed dramatically. Jiu Xi continued, “As the name suggests, the paired needles are comprised of a mother and a child needle. The child is hidden within the mother; a spiritual master can use spiritual energy to set them in the air. When the time comes to strike, the mother needle is used to launch the child. That’s why, even when I and Aunt Yun Ling were present, Uncle Dong was still easily killed—because it was none other than Master Yun Fa, his companion, who struck. Third Uncle, am I wrong?”

Yun Fa looked steadily at Jiu Xi, “Xi’er, your years in the Hall of Justice were not wasted. You are right, these are paired needles. But how will you prove I used them?”

Jiu Xi glanced at Mo Bai, then cupped his hands, “I must thank Hero Mo. If not for his rescue, I wouldn’t be so certain these paired needles were your fatal mistake, Third Uncle.” He sighed deeply and continued, “After Uncle Dong was killed, I stayed behind to handle the aftermath. I didn’t rush to bury him. With Yu Fei’s permission, we together retrieved the child needle lodged in Uncle Dong’s throat. Upon seeing it, I realized the mother needle must be at the Sky-Spanning Cliff. Because at the moment of the crime, Aunt Yun Ling and I both pursued the assailant but found no one. I was certain there was no outsider. When I sought out the mother needle at the cliff to confirm my theory, you appeared, Third Uncle. When you found the needle, you fought me, presumably so it wouldn’t be discovered.”

At this point, Jiu Xi fixed Yun Fa with a fierce glare and said grimly, “I am no match for you. If not for Hero Mo’s intervention, I wouldn’t have had the chance to speak here today. Moreover, you personally admitted you mastered Cold Monk’s Ice-Spiral Technique. You didn’t expect Uncle Dong’s strength to be so great that he survived your first attack, forcing you to take another risk at the Sky-Spanning Cliff.”

Yun Fa laughed heartily, “Xi’er, are you finished? Even if your guesses are all correct, you only have physical evidence. After all your years in the Hall of Justice, you should know that both evidence and witnesses are required for a verdict. Where are your witnesses? Don’t forget, Yu Fei personally saw Mo Bai injure his uncle. I say these paired needles are yours, and you and Mo Bai are accomplices. Xi’er, do you think I don’t know your ambition? You’ve long wanted to replace me, so you use this incident to frame me for your hidden purpose. Do you think your secret alliance with Mo Bai can overturn everything?”

Mo Bai replied calmly, “Jiu Xi does have ambition, but it’s nothing compared to yours. He only wants to lead the Hall of Justice; you wish to become the leader of Yuntian Sect. Yun Fa, your ambition is great but your wisdom is lacking. You can’t control your actions; your schemes are too obvious and weak. Perhaps someone has been supporting you in secret, but you are merely a pawn, pitifully used. You’ve made mistakes, but those are internal matters for your sect. The real culprit, the one who wounded Master Yun Zui and struck down the master of the Sky-Spanning Cliff, is the one who used you. Yun Fa, if you wake up in time, perhaps you may reflect and repent at the Cliff of Remorse. If you remain ignorant, your fate will surely be one you deeply regret.”

Jiu Xi stared at Mo Bai in disbelief, “Hero Mo, what are you saying? Yun Fa isn’t the killer—how can that be?”

Mo Bai gave a bitter smile, “He isn’t, because the true mastermind is him.” With that, Mo Bai pointed to a man—a large, undeniably fat man. Everyone was utterly shocked!