White-Robed Chief

Panda Novel

Chu Li left the place hurriedly. There was a tense atmosphere surrounding the five people in the stone room.

Chen Donghai looked at the square-faced middle-aged man that Chu Li had pointed out and frowned. “You’re Yu Zhensheng, right?”

“Yes, Centurion Chen,” the square-faced middle-aged man said as he held a fist salute.

Chen Donghai pondered for a moment and asked, “Are you from Ju Yi Courtyard?”

“Yes.” Yu Zhen Sheng nodded.

Chen Donghai said, “As I recall, you joined the Secret Guardians Hall very early. Why this then? Is there anything that you’re not satisfied in the Secret Guardians Hall?”

“Centurion Chen, do you believe in Centurion Chu and think that I’m a Holy Church of Light disciple as well?”

“Yes.” Chen Donghai nodded. “Chu Li may have a vendetta against me but he won’t lie to me about things like these, so you should be a disciple of the Holy Church of Light. I’m curious how you managed to lay low until now. Are you a Holy Church of Light disciple from the very beginning or did you only join them after you were here?”

Gu Yu frowned and looked at Chen Donghai. “Centurion Chen, this hasn’t been proven yet right?”

“Commander, I believe Chu Li!”

“Centurion Chen, you’d rather trust an outsider, someone who despises our Secret Guardians Hall, than one of our own?” Yu Zhensheng quickly added.

“Yes.” Chen Donghai nodded. “I trust Chu Li more than I trust you.”

“Then I have nothing left to say.” Yu Zhensheng sighed. “I can’t prove my innocence.”

“Then, it shows that you’re a disciple from the Holy Church of Light,” Chen Donghai said.

“Centurion Chen!” Gu Yu furrowed his brows as he said, “Don’t jump to conclusions so quickly! Yu Zhensheng, you’re forbidden from leaving the stone room. The Hall will give you a statement soon. If you’re innocent, I’ll help you seek justice from Chu Li personally! ”

“Yes, Commander!” Yu Zhensheng hurriedly gave him a fist salute. “Thank you, Commander!”

Gu Yu waved his hand and walked out of the stone room with Chen Donghai.

“Do you believe Chu Li?” Gu Yu frowned as he asked. When both of them arrived at the main hall, they ordered their men to surround the stone chamber and imprison Yu Zhensheng in it.

Chen Donghai replied, “Commander, Chu Li is very arrogant. He wouldn’t contempt himself to telling such lies. It seems that Secret Guardians Hall has been infiltrated by the Holy Church of Light. We need to investigate carefully.”

“We can’t investigate.” Gu Yu shook his head. “If we do that, we’ll cause confusion and distrust among our men.”

“What if this happens next time?” Chen Donghai frowned. “Why did they kill Li Shangshu’s family? I think this is very important and we should find out the reason.”

“How to check if they’re all dead?” Gu Yu asked. “Check Yu Zhensheng first.”

…

Two days later, the setting sun bathed the garden in hues of red in the evening.

Chu Li sat at a small gazebo. Opposite the stone table was Fa Yuan.

Fa Yuan was donned in a gray monk robe with a bright bald head, a tall and upright figure, and his eyes were shining brightly with energy. He put his palms together, chanted a mantra and then said, “Brother Chu, I wonder what’s the matter that made you call me here?”

Chu Li sent someone to the Mercy Temple to deliver a message that he wanted to meet Fa Yuan. Fa Yuan received the message in no time and rushed over.

“Are you aware of the massacre at Li Shangshu’s house, Fa Yuan?” Chu Li asked, “Why the heck did it happen?”

“This incident is being investigated by the Temple.” Fa Yuan showed a solemn expression and said slowly, “That disciple seems to have no resentment with Li Shangshu. So far, we haven’t figured out why he wiped out Li Shangshu’s entire family. There has to be a reason.”

“Li Shangshu has defected to the Holy Church of Light.” Chu Li shook his head and said, “I guess that his family were held hostage by the Holy Church of Light.”

“Yes, this has been found out.” Fa Yuan said in a low voice, “His daughter was taken away by the Holy Church of Light.”

Chu Li frowned. “He didn’t ask you for help?”

“No.” Fa Yuan shook his head and said, “Maybe he thought we can’t find a way to save her. After all, she had already been kidnapped by the Li Dynasty. Truthfully, she can’t be saved. The Holy Church of Light did not have the grandeur of a major faction, which is disappointing.”

Chu Li’s expression turned gloomy as he slowly nodded.

When Chi Li caught the murderer, Chu Li didn’t look deep into the murderer’s thoughts. Chu Li only knew that the murderer was a disciple of Tempest Temple who later devoted himself to the Holy Church of Light. As for why the murderer had betrayed Tempest Temple, Chu Li didn’t delve into it. For whatever reason, the murderer should be damned for killing so many people, especially women and children.

Now, it seemed that this matter was not that simple.

“In your opinion, Brother Chu, why did they kill Li Shangshu’s family?” Fa Yuan asked.

Chu Li groaned, “This kind of cruel behavior! I’m afraid it’s for punishing traitors. Li Shangshu is also likely to be a disciple of the Holy Church of Light. When I think of it, it gives me the chills. How many Holy Church of Light disciples are there in the Ji Dynasty court?”

Fa Yuan said, “The Holy Church of Light is currently in a fierce battle with the Qiu Dynasty. How can they have the energy to deal with the Ji Dynasty?”

Chu Li sighed. “It’s likely that Li Shangshu’s betrayal has involved the Qiu Dynasty. I’m afraid this case will become a mystery. All the people have died and there’s still a Holy Church of Light disciple in the Secret Guardians Hall. I’m afraid there’s too much that I don’t know of.”

“Brother Chu, you’re no longer a secret guardian now. Why do you still do stuff for the Secret Guardians Hall?”

Chu Li shook her head and said, “I went there temporarily to help out. The people of Tempest Temple almost became a scapegoat.”

Fa Yuan sighed. “Tempest Temple and the Secret Guardians Hall have been secretly fighting all these while. I feel helpless about that. Now that King An is dead, you can finally stay at the imperial court without worries.”

Chu Li looked at him and laughed. “Fa Yuan, what do you mean?”

Fa Yuan smiled and put his palms together. He said, “You’re responsible for the death of King An, right Brother Chu?”

“What a joke!” Chu Li burst into laughter. “Bold of you to assume that. If I’ve killed King An, will the Emperor spare me? He too has suspected me and summoned me to the Forbidden Palace for interrogation!”

Fa Yuan said, “Brother Chu, even if you didn’t do it with your own hands, you must also be the mastermind, right? According to my humble knowledge, you have a close relationship with Du Feng, Brother Chu.”

Chu Li waved his hand and said, “I haven’t met Du Feng, otherwise, I would’ve decided who’s the better between us.”

Fa Yuan shook his head and smiled. “Why would you hide the truth from me, Brother Chu? You have close ties to Snow Lunar Pavilion and so does Du Feng. Snow Lunar Pavilion would most probably have let you two meet each other. It’s just whether or not you’ve been seen in public.”

Chu Li was not impressed as he rambled, “Fa Yuan, your words are becoming more accusing. You’re merely guessing without any evidence. I have never seen Du Feng. This is by no means a falsehood.”

“Even if you haven’t met each other, you two would’ve been allies since a long time ago. Besides, you have Snow Lunar Pavilion which serves to bridge your gap, so you two have topics to talk about.” Fa Yuan smiled. “Through Snow Lunar Pavilion, you’ve passed a message to Du Feng and let him help you kill King An.”

Chu Li sighed. “Do you think Du Feng would agree? He’s coming up against an Enlightened Master there, wouldn’t that be seeking his death?”

“Didn’t Du Feng succeed in escaping?” Fa Yuan smiled. “It shows that he can fight against Enlightened Masters.”

“What are you talking about?” Chu Li smiled. “This isn’t a trivial matter. Once it’s proven that it was me, my life will be taken away! Don’t tell me you Tempest Temple still hold a grudge against me and wish to spread this rumor?”

“We didn’t spread it out,” Fa Yuan answered. “It’s not difficult to figure this out. Somebody just has to ask Snow Lunar Pavilion.”

Chu Li’s expression sank. “Fa Yuan, you guys plan to deal with Snow Lunar Pavilion?”

“I’m just curious. I want to inquire about Du Feng’s whereabouts.” Fa Yuan smiled. “Of all the factions, only Snow Lunar Pavilion had the closest association to Du Feng. I just don’t know why the Emperor hasn’t touched Snow Lunar Pavilion.”

Chu Li was fuming but he suppressed his anger. He appeared calm on the surface as he warned, “You guys better not touch Snow Lunar Pavilion.”