nyslfriends Chapter 25 The Impact of Rumors
Chapter 25 The Impact of Rumors
Ultimately, this high-level public trial, which concerned the fate of a deacon and actually involved the two major factions of the sect, could only end inconclusively due to mutual suspicion, checks and balances, and power struggles between the two sides.
Liu Jincai was taken away, where he awaited trial according to the sect rules.
The name "Hu Wenbiao" lingers like a ghost over the Heavenly Demon Sect, becoming a thorn in the side between the two factions that cannot be removed for the time being.
......
Three days later at midnight, the bright moonlight poured down like mercury, turning the earth into a silvery white expanse.
Shen Li slowly awoke from his cultivation, feeling the surging magical power within his body, and felt extremely happy.
After this period of arduous training, his cultivation level has reached the peak of the third level of Qi Refining, and he is only one step away from breaking through to the fourth level of Qi Refining.
Shen Li instinctively focused her mind into her sea of consciousness, and the divination result appeared as expected:
[The divination result has been updated].
Today's divination result: Minor good fortune.
[Suitable for: travel, making an engagement].
[Avoid: building roofs with ridge beams, constructing warehouses, or living separately].
[The Divination] The rumors you spread have had a significant effect. Liu Jincai died suddenly in his cell in the Law Enforcement Hall, and Pang Sicheng was confined to his home for six months.
The new steward of the Miscellaneous Affairs Hall is about to take office and is preparing to vigorously rectify malpractices, from which you will also benefit.
Looking at the divination results, Shen Li was surprised: Liu Jincai died just like that? Or did he die in the Hall of Enforcement?
Who did it? The sect leader, or Elder Pang?
He quickly came to the conclusion that it was most likely Elder Pang.
The sect leader's faction was eager for this matter to continue to escalate, so they could use Liu Jincai and Hu Wenbiao as tools to constantly undermine Elder Pang's prestige.
Only Elder Pang urgently needs to put an end to all of this, so that all the troubles will vanish with Liu Jincai's death.
Having figured this out, he sneered inwardly: Poor Pang Sicheng, confined for another six months, how delightful.
My plan to kill two birds with one stone has been a complete success.
That old bastard Liu Jincai is finally dead. Now no one in the miscellaneous servants' quarters will make things difficult for me anymore.
At this moment, Shen Li was filled with a sense of accomplishment. He, a low-level handyman disciple, was able to instigate a battle between powerful figures behind the scenes, making him the number one Qi Refining disciple.
The ultimate beneficiaries of this matter, besides myself, are the sect leader's lineage.
The newly appointed steward of the miscellaneous servants' quarters is probably one of the sect leader's men.
Under the guise of rectifying conduct, he successfully placed his own people in the miscellaneous servants' hall, completely seizing control of the sphere of influence that originally belonged to Elder Pang.
There are nearly a thousand menial disciples. Although they are not strong individually, they are a force to be reckoned with when they come together. They are very useful whether they are handling miscellaneous tasks, collecting information, or serving as reserves for the inner sect.
That way, no one should bother me anymore.
Shen Li let out a long sigh of relief; the tension in her heart that had been running high finally eased a little.
......
At the same time, on Haoyang Peak, inside Pang Sicheng's cave.
Pang Sicheng sat on the cold stone bed, his face ashen, his fists clenched, his liver qi stagnant.
He let out a roar, his voice filled with frustration and anger: "Why?! Why?! What did I do wrong?! Another six months of confinement! Six months!"
The roar echoed within the cave. Pang Sicheng gritted his teeth and cursed, "Hu Wenbiao! Liu Jincai! And that damned Shen Li! There's not a single good person in the servants' quarters, a bunch of useless trash who's good for nothing!"
He recalled the recent series of troubles; every time he ordered the servants in the miscellaneous service hall to do something, he would get himself into a foul mess and lose face.
Pang Sicheng slammed his fist on the stone bed in anger, shouting, "Bad luck! Absolutely bad luck! From now on, I never want to have anything to do with the servants' quarters again! I never want to see you again!"
He made up his mind that he would never set foot in the servants' quarters again, nor would he ever speak or meet anyone there.
That place had become a forbidden zone for him.
......
In the sect leader's cave, Luo Tianxing and his junior brother Feng Tianheng sat facing each other, playing chess. The black and white pieces on the chessboard were intertwined, evenly matched.
Feng Tianheng placed a piece and said calmly, "Senior brother, those two incidents in the Miscellaneous Service Hall were clearly not our doing, but Senior Brother Pang has probably already held us accountable."
Luo Tianxing's gaze remained fixed on the intricate chessboard situation, a slight smile playing on his lips. He said, "Oh? Tianheng, you think it's a bad thing?"
Feng Tianheng frowned slightly: "Further escalating the conflict with Senior Brother Pang is not the best course of action. Moreover, I still believe that those who secretly spread rumors are despicable, intending to incite conflict between our two factions. Should we...?"
"Investigate?" Luo Tianxing asked calmly, his tone as deep as an ancient well.
He gently placed the white piece in a seemingly insignificant position on the board, and instantly, the entire course of the game changed.
Immediately afterwards, Luo Tianxing said calmly, "Why should we investigate? Someone gave us a big gift. If we rush to investigate the person who gave the gift, wouldn't that chill 'his' heart?"
Besides, even without these things, Senior Brother Pang wouldn't be on good terms with me, so let him be.
Upon hearing this, Feng Tianheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light, as if he had realized something: "What Senior Brother means is..."
Luo Tianxing said leisurely, "Senior Brother Pang's faction has been operating in the Miscellaneous Service Hall for a long time. Liu Jincai is just a pawn. Their roots are already deeply entrenched. I want to reorganize them, but I'm struggling to find a suitable opportunity so as not to give others grounds to accuse me of eliminating dissidents."
He paused, then continued, "Now, this vague rumor has struck right where it hurts. It has forced Senior Brother Pang to clean up his own ranks, greatly damaging his prestige among the menial disciples."
Most importantly, this gives us a legitimate reason to send Han Hui to the Miscellaneous Service Hall to rectify the atmosphere and firmly grasp the Miscellaneous Service Hall in our hands.
We've gained all this without lifting a finger. Why investigate something so good?!
Feng Tianheng clapped his hands and chuckled: "So, not only can we not investigate, but we must also tacitly accept it. The more nonchalant we appear, the more Senior Brother Pang will believe that we have a far-reaching plan."
This made him hesitant to act rashly; this very air of mystery was a deterrent in itself.
Luo Tianxing nodded, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes: "I wonder who the mastermind behind this rumor is. They seem to have some connections. I estimate that Pang Sicheng must have offended them, which is why they're plotting this counterattack."
But regardless, what he did was exactly what we wanted to do but couldn't. As long as he continues to target Senior Brother Pang's faction, in a way, he's working for us.
He placed another piece and said calmly, "If the water is too clear, there will be no fish. The more muddy this pool is right now, the more advantageous it will be for us."
If this person resurfaces in the future, we can discuss whether he is friend or foe then. But for now…”
Luo Tianxing turned his gaze back to the chessboard and said calmly, "Let him remain hidden in the shadows. We appreciate this favor."
Feng Tianheng smiled and said, "Senior brother has such insight and confidence; I admire you."