Otherworldly Affairs Office-Chapter 669: Past Events (Please Subscribe)

Zhu Zijian looked at the junior in front of him who spoke arrogantly, and couldn't help but feel a chill. If he hadn't arrived a step later than Bai Xuelin, the two might have already clashed, and the one buried here today could have been himself. The Celestial Secret Pavilion's desolate silhouette proved the strength of the person before him.

"Alas!" Zhu Zijian sighed deeply, glanced at his disciple, then at Gu Shenghui, who was chatting with Bailang in the distance. Noticing his exposed set of black teeth while speaking, Zhu Zijian forced a bitter smile and said, "That's Black Teeth Gu Shenghui, isn't it!"

Pei Yan turned back upon hearing this, puzzled, as Gu Shenghui was quite renowned across the four planes and casually replied, "It's our Gu Chu, what's the matter!"

"Over five hundred years have passed, and in the timeline of your world, it's been over ten years. What is there that can't be let go?! Last time, our sect was disqualified from the Immortal Palace selection because of this, yet you still persistently target our sect. Not only did you spread rumors about our sect colluding with the Blood Demon, but you also came knocking this time. Little friend, as the saying goes, it's better to resolve enmities than to create them. I see by your earlier actions you are a person of temperament, and I hope you can advise this Gu, uh Gu Chu, not to dwell on old grievances and continue to aggressively confront our sect!" Zhu Zijian pondered a while before speaking slowly.

Sword Stand Man next to him, upon hearing his master's words, was bemused and shocked. "Master, are you saying our sect has longstanding grudges with the Investigation Hall? They are indeed here to pick a fight intentionally today... what kind of grudge is it that we've never heard of?"

"Uh!" Zhu Zijian heard this and looked embarrassed, momentarily at a loss for words.

"Such despicable, shameless, degenerate acts disgracing the sect. Why would your master talk about that with you!" Pei Yan interjected with a laugh.

"Pei Yan, stop spouting nonsense and stirring trouble. My Celestial Sword Manor is one of the top Sword Sects in the Daoist Realm, a prestigious and upright sect, and along with the Immortal Palace is considered among the Six Houses and Four Sects, with very strict rules, how could it do the things you speak of!" Sword Stand Man retorted angrily, his shame turning to rage.

Pei Yan listened and snickered repeatedly, looking derisively at Zhu Zijian and said, "Whether it was done or not, you can ask your master. Over ten years ago, in just four months eight people suffered horrific deaths, and the inhuman torment they endured before their deaths is beyond what you could imagine. The one who committed such a heinous, outrageous act was the highly esteemed Celestial Sword Manor Elder you mentioned, Fan Ruyi."

After discovering the potential connection between Celestial Sword Manor and the Blood Demon, Pei Yan specifically sought out Gu Shenghui to uncover the truth behind this event's origin. Yet, Gu Shenghui always hesitated, unwilling to reveal the truth until finally, when pressed hard by Pei Yan, he reluctantly revealed the file from that time. Upon seeing the victims' horrific conditions, Pei Yan felt a burning rage, and since then had less regard for Celestial Sword Manor and the entire Daoist Realm.

"Master! This... ." Pei Yan's words apparently shattered Sword Stand Man's faith in his sect. In disbelief, he turned to look at his mentor. When he saw Zhu Zijian quietly nodding, he collapsed like a deflated balloon, murmuring incredulously, "How is this possible, this, how is this possible!"

"Alas!" Seeing his disciple in such a state, Zhu Zijian sighed again, then began to explain, "Back then, when Fan Ruyi was competing with a Demon Cultivator for the sect, he was severely harmed by extremely insidious means, making him unable to function as a normal man. Who would have thought this would become a heart demon in him, leading to such... ." At this point, Zhu Zijian also found it hard to continue. In truth, Fan Ruyi's vile hobby was not secretive within the Manor. But since he was a descendant of the Manor's esteemed Qi cultivation branch, the Fan Family, and had suffered the injury while contributing to the sect, the sect turned a blind eye to his behavior, with many elders even feeling sympathetic towards him.

Fortunately, Fan Ruyi didn't target cultivators. He always targeted ordinary people, so it didn't draw the attention of other sects in the Daoist Realm. It wasn't until he crossed the line into the foundation plane, tempted by the secular world, and acted without restraint, that the Investigation Hall was incensed and exposed him before the witnesses from the four planes, ultimately executing him on the spot.

Seeing Zhu Zijian's faltering expression, Pei Yan's face showed even more disdain, and he boldly said, "A heart demon? Hahaha, utterly laughable! You all indulged him intentionally, letting him be so unrestrained. After his downfall, his ravings revealed he's been doing this for over a hundred years! How many innocent lives were taken by him over a century? Aren't the ordinary children of your Daoist Plane's lives the same as others'? Upright sect? Strict rules? How shameless!"

Facing Pei Yan's direct accusations, Zhu Zijian instead calmed down and said indifferently, "Though there are reasons behind it, our Celestial Sword Manor seeks no justification or defense for Fan Ruyi. Our Manor bears complete responsibility for this wrong, and Fan Ruyi's punishment was duly delivered. Back then, it was Gu Shenghui, behind you now, who, together with the witnesses from the four planes, drained his Spiritual Qi, sealed his meridians, and disoriented him mentally, then allowed a mortal to end his life with the most ordinary alchemy equipment. Fan Ruyi's disgrace became the shame of the Daoist Realm and tarnished Celestial Sword Manor's name for a hundred years. Isn't that enough?!"

"Isn't that what should have happened?" Pei Yan retorted.

"Yes, but every grievance has a source and every debt its debtor. If those victims' descendants come to Celestial Sword Manor, we would explain and take complete responsibility. But the vendetta with the Investigation Hall should have ended with Fan Ruyi's death. Why are you entangling this matter now?" Zhu Zijian pressed, his eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"The enmity did not die with Fan Ruyi? If that were true, today's events wouldn't have happened!" At this point, Pei Yan seemed tired of beating around the bush and decided to lay it flat: "You accuse me of fabricating stories about your sect colluding with the Blood Demon! But it's not mere fabrication, at most, it's suspecting. The origins trace back to Fan Ruyi. After his death, your Celestial Sword Manor was dissatisfied with the judgment, secretly sending elders with disciples to ambush our Investigation Hall agents. After retaliating against them, we found Origin Seeds related to the Blood Demon on their bodies. At the time, we didn't know what it was, until we discovered its origin after crossing into the Hell Plane. Can you still claim your ties with the Blood Demon are non-existent?!"

Zhu Zijian listened to Pei Yan's questioning first with confusion, then his expression changed dramatically, and finally, he was utterly shocked, blurting out, "Young man, what you say is true! Do not deceive me even in half a word!"