The Husky and His White Cat Shizun

Chapter 256: The Rise and Fall of the "Heavenly Sound Pavilion"

"The Cold Scale Sage, with his face perpetually veiled in black silk, seldom ventures out of his alchemy laboratory, thus having minimal interaction with the outside world. Hence, as long as one controls a person of similar build, it would be challenging for others to discern the difference."

Jiang Xi furrowed his brow and said, "You're suggesting that the Hua Binan from Solitary Moon Night is an imposter?"

"Sometimes real, sometimes fake. To go undetected, it's best to intertwine truth with deception."

Jiang Xi pondered, "In that case, Shi Mingjing would likely employ the Precious Chess Game. But in our Medicine Sect, our spiritual energy isn't strong, so it's unlikely that anyone has mastered such an art."

"Master Jiang speaks the truth. The Zhenlong Chess Game requires an enormous expenditure of spiritual energy. Hua Binan understands the theory but lacks the power to use it alone. Hence, he had no choice but to conspire with Xu Shuanglin before—"

Jiang Xi shook his head. "That's not right. Xu Shuanglin mentioned that the person behind the scenes was his friend. He refused to betray this friend, even unto death, and thus never revealed their identity. If what you're saying is true, that Shi Mo is Hua Binan, Xu Shuanglin should have recognized him. So why didn't Xu Shuanglin betray them after Hua Binan destroyed the Rebirth Barrier?"

Mo Ran replied, "Because Xu Shuanglin had no idea that Shi Mo and Hua Binan were one and the same."

Master Xuanjing, sitting nearby, stroked his beard. "If they were close friends, how could such a significant matter be unknown to one of them…?"

"Xu Shuanglin considered Shi Mo a dear friend," Mo Ran said, "but Shi Mo couldn't have truly trusted him. On this chessboard, Xu Shuanglin was merely an important pawn, nothing more."

He paused before continuing, "Back in the Dragon Mountain Hall, Hua Binan was injured and removed his veil. His face was hideously ugly, like some kind of echinoderm. Thinking back on it now, it must have been a skillfully crafted human skin mask. For Xu Shuanglin, he might have only ever seen his 'closest friend's' first face - that is, Shi Mo's face. He would never have connected Hua Binan's appearance with Shi Mo. So even until his death, he never thought that he had been betrayed or manipulated by a friend, and therefore wouldn't have revealed the truth behind it all."

Jiang Xi said, "So you're saying that when both Shi Mingjing and Hua Binan appeared on Dragon Mountain at the same time, one of them was actually a manipulated Jingzhong chess piece?"

"I suspect so. But there's another possibility."

"What?"

Mo Ran shook his head. "I'll explain that second possibility later."

Grandmaster Xuanjing said, "Even if Venerable Mo's first theory is correct, I still don't understand one thing - why would Hua Binan disrupt Xu Shuanglin's resurrection array? Did he have a grudge against Xu Shuanglin? Or would letting Xu Shuanglin fulfill his wish to bring Luo Fenghua back harm him in some way?"

Mo Ran sighed. "Has Master forgotten the ultimate outcome of Xu Shuanglin's spell?"

The old monk didn't immediately catch on and shook his head.

Mo Ran said, "From the crack in the sky that opened that day, it's clear that Shi Mo never taught Xu Shuanglin the real resurrection technique."

"Oh…"

"He had been deceiving Xu Shuanglin all along. Xu Shuanglin went through great lengths, believing he was setting up a Rebirth Array, but in reality, he was paving the way for Hua Binan, who lacked spiritual energy."

"What did Hua Binan teach him then?"

"It's the greatest forbidden technique in the world," Mo Ran paused before finally revealing, "He taught Xu Shuanglin the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death."

"!"

Everyone present, having witnessed the battle on Dragon Mountain, couldn't help but recall the black tunnel that split open in the sky, from which emerged a thousand enigmatic cultivators...

Could it be that it was the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death?

Mo Ran continued, "This is the second possibility I mentioned earlier. As long as the Gate exists, both Hua Binan and Shi Mo could be real, with one belonging to this mortal world and the other hailing from another cultivation realm."

The crowd fell silent upon hearing this, only for someone to burst into laughter, slapping their thigh. "Grandmaster Mo, are you trying to lull children to sleep? You're scaring people with a forbidden technique from mythology. Two Shi Mingjings... Hahahaha! You're killing me."

"Exactly, how could that be possible? It's a forbidden technique that's been lost for thousands of years... Who could possibly learn it?"

"The most crucial scroll of the Gate of Time, Space, Life, and Death is said to have been sealed within the divine wood of the Flame Emperor. Even if someone were studying this cursed spell, they could at best master space, not time and space combined. Otherwise, if two mortal worlds overlapped, wouldn't the world fall into chaos?"

Mo Ran didn't engage in argument with them but instead shared all his thoughts aloud. He knew this might be his last confession as Grandmaster Mo; after today, these people might no longer give him the chance to explain anything.

Using his confession as leverage to gain a moment of calm from those who sought his life, he hoped to convey everything he had guessed and knew to those present. Regardless of whether they believed him now, his words would serve as a warning bell. If chaos erupted in the future, some might recall his forewarnings, and it might not be too late then.

"Imagine, if I were Hua Binan, holding the essence of the Precious Chess Game and the Gate of Time and Life and Death, but lacking innate spiritual power and lacking the status to act boldly, what would I do?"

Most of those present held grudges against Mo Ran and were unwilling to heed his advice.

However, Jiang Xi had developed a certain appreciation for Mo Ran due to previous events, and he was also skeptical about the murder case involving Solitary Moon Night. Thus, after some thoughtful consideration, he said, "…I'd seek help."

"Who would help you?"

"No one."

Mo Ran replied, "That's right, indeed no one. So, you'd have to deceive someone, like Xu Shuanglin, someone with immense inner desires, to assist in fulfilling your plans step by step."

Master Xuanjing said, "Venerable Mo, that's absurd. Couldn't that array be something else? The Gate of Time and Life and Death is truly not within the reach of ordinary people. For thousands of years, no one has ever mastered it. The most crucial scroll of its essence has been lost—how could anyone possibly practice it?"

"Indeed, it sounds like a fairy tale."

"You might as well say that the great deity Fu Xi has descended upon us. There's no real difference between that and the Time-Space Door of Life and Death opening."

"That's utterly absurd, even storytellers wouldn't dare to spin such a tale."

Amidst the buzz in the Heart Dan Hall, someone sneered, "Grandmaster Mo, after all that buildup, are you about to tell us that the one who killed these heroes at Solitary Moon Night was another version of yourself who came through the Door of Life and Death?"

Mo Ran: "…."

Upon seeing his silence, laughter erupted in the hall. "Impressive, truly impressive. Grandmaster Mo will weave any story to clear your name."

"So all this time, you were trying to absolve yourself of guilt?"

Unable to tolerate the commotion, Jiang Xi turned, waved his sleeves, and angrily addressed the ringleaders, "Speak if you have something to say, why resort to ambiguity?"

Master Xuanjing clasped his hands together and said, "Venerable Headmaster Jiang, it's not that others are being ambiguous, but rather, Grandmaster Mo's words are too inconceivable. In this old monk's opinion, it would be best to invite him to the Heavenly Sound Pavilion for questioning before making any decisions."

"Yes, the head of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion will arrive shortly. Once she's here, let Grandmaster Mo accompany her for an investigation."

Before Jiang Xi could respond, Xue Zhengyong spoke up. Despite his conflicted emotions, he said, "I believe everything Ran'er has said can be logically explained. Perhaps the Time-Space Door really has been torn open. The Heavenly Sound Pavilion is where irredeemable criminals are interrogated. Until the truth is uncovered, he cannot leave with you."

"Indeed!" A disciple from the Peak of Life and Death stepped forward. "The situation on Dragon Mountain was dire; if not for Senior Brother Mo's rescue, would you all be standing here unscathed? If he truly intended to overthrow the Upper and Lower Realms, wouldn't it have been easier for him to trap everyone on Dragon Mountain at that time?"

Master Profound Mirror was taken aback. "This...?"

Someone spoke up. "That's true. Back then, we were trapped in Dragon Mountain's tunnels, but Grandmaster Mo found a way to let us out. If he wanted to harm us, he could have done so then."

These words rang true, and many began pondering this, falling silent for a moment.

But silence didn't mean agreement. Many present still wore mourning clothes, their hearts heavy with grief over the loss of loved ones. Moreover, those who had survived in Dragon Mountain's reception hall had witnessed Mo Ran commit murder with their own eyes. Except for Mei Hanxue, who had expressed doubt about the circumstances, everyone else was certain that it was Mo Ran himself. Under these circumstances, asking them to abandon their quest for vengeance against Mo Ran and instead believe in some mythical Time and Life Gate was no simple task.

Thus, someone quickly countered, "But I find this whole situation unsettling. Have you forgotten? On Phoenix Mountain, Grandmaster Mo demonstrated an exceptional grasp of the overall situation and the Jinglong Chess Game. He claimed that Shi Mingjing knew the Jinglong Spell, but I think the person with intimate knowledge of this forbidden art is none other than Mo Ran himself."

"That's right." After the rebuttal, others chimed in. "Isn't it strange? How did Mo Ran manage to break through Dragon Mountain's barrier? He's not a descendant of the Nangong family, after all."

Just as this was said, a clear feminine voice echoed outside the Heart Pillar Hall.

"There's nothing strange about it. This Grandmaster Mo carries the blood of the Nangong family within him."

Everyone turned around to see a group of guards in silver-green uniforms, adorned with 'Heaven'-marked silver badges, marching in. Leading them was a captivating woman in her late twenties, with bright eyes, pearly teeth, and a stunning appearance that rivaled the former number one beauty in the cultivation world, Song Qiutong. However, despite her beauty, she exuded a cold aura.

Upon seeing her, most people's expressions changed, even the faces of the sect leaders revealed reverence.

Only Jiang Xi didn't react much, nodding slightly. "The Pavilion Master has finally arrived."

This woman in sturdy attire was precisely Mu Yanli, the reclusive head of the Heavenly Sound Pavilion.

Mu Yanli oversaw the Heavenly Sound Pavilion, and major unsolved cases throughout the cultivation world would eventually land on her desk for her to preside over the trials. However, cases that required the Pavilion's intervention were scarce, so the Pavilion Leader might not appear before the public for decades at a time.

Due to her infrequent outings, Mu Yanli's skin was exceptionally fair, with faint blue veins visible beneath its surface. She stepped elegantly into the hall, paused, and said coolly, "My apologies for keeping you all waiting."

Master Black Mirror asked, "The Pavilion Master is later than the agreed-upon time. Was there some matter in the Pavilion that delayed your arrival?"

Mu Yanli shook her head. "Not exactly. The Heavenly Sound Pavilion never apprehends without solid evidence. Before coming here, we thoroughly investigated Grandmaster Mo's past at the Peak of Life and Death."

Pausing, she gazed coldly at Mo Ran with almond-shaped eyes and softly continued, "This investigation uncovered that the matter isn't as straightforward as it seems. Grandmaster Mo's identity... is somehow entangled with an old case from many years ago in Xiangtan."

Everyone exchanged glances, confused. "What old case?"

Mo Ran's face paled further, his palms clammy with sweat.

He hadn't expected this matter to be brought up at this moment.

Mu Yanli was like an executioner, coldly regarding the man kneeling before the hall. "Lord Mo, let's not beat around the bush. You're well aware of your own background. Do you wish to confess it yourself, or would you prefer me to summon witnesses into the hall?"

"..." Mo Ran closed his eyes.

Right from the start of his rebirth, he knew that if he wanted a life free of worries, there were certain individuals he had to eliminate to prevent any future troubles. But at first, he lacked both the strength and the opportunity. Later on, when he gained the power and found the chance, he no longer wished to take human lives for his own selfish gains.

In his past life, in order to conceal his origins and hold onto his leverage, he had already taken too many lives.

Seeing his silence, Mu Yanli said, "It seems that Grandmaster Mo has no intention of confessing himself."

With that, a trace of undisguised disdain appeared on her beautiful, cool face. She then turned away with a flick of her sleeves, facing the assembled guests as her bell-like voice echoed through their minds.

"I'll have to speak then. Listen, everyone—this renowned grandmaster, before joining the Summit of Life and Death, was already a murderer with dozens of lives on his hands. Such a heinous criminal should have been brought to justice long ago!"

"What?!"

"He killed dozens of people even before he joined the sect?"

Xue Meng's eyes widened, a look of utter confusion in them. He murmured, "Brother...?"

The soft exclamation was neither too loud nor too quiet, yet it precisely reached Mu Yanli's ears. He cast a casual glance at the young master of Life and Death Peak and asked coolly, "Brother?"

Xue Meng: "..."

The rain and snow outside grew heavier, the heavens seeming to press down with an increasingly oppressive weight, casting a gloomier shadow. Despite the bright candles illuminating the hall, it still felt suffocating.

Mu Yanli looked at Mo Ran with disdain, and at Xue Meng with a cold sneer. Her lips, like crimson clouds, uttered, "To acknowledge one's enemy as a brother, Young Master Xue truly is pitiful to the extreme."

Xue Meng was clearly still processing the implications of those words, but his mind was already thunderstruck, as if the earth had cracked and the heavens crumbled. With wide, clear eyes, he took a step back. "What... what do you mean by acknowledging an enemy as your brother?"

His entire body trembled. "You're talking nonsense..."

Mu Yanli ignored him, turning to face Mo Weiyu. "Mo Weiyu is not Sect Leader Xue's nephew at all. In fact..." She paused, her beautiful, unfeeling eyes like sharp blades slicing across Xue Zhengyong and Madame Wang's faces as she spoke with a blend of fairness and ruthlessness.

"Sect Leader Xue's own nephew died at the hands of Mo Ran eight years ago!"