Ch.132: The Ninety-Ninth Ghost Robe Hiding in Danger
Xie Lian instantly shot to his feet, “THE BROCADE IMMORTAL?!”
Naturally, that silhouette didn’t respond and didn’t move either, only standing there, still.
Xie Lian pressed his hands down on the shoulders of the other two and whispered, “Don’t move.”
A moment later, a night breeze blew by, and that silhouette of a man seemed to have sighed before dispersing, gone with the wind. Xie Lian abruptly stood up. Just then, outside the door of the textile house suddenly came a knocking sound. The three all looked towards it and Xie Lian raised his voice, “Who is it?”
The voice of a man rang from outside the door, “Your Highness, it’s me.”
Xie Lian went over to open the door, and outside the textile house was a man with an open countenance, his form immaculate and chaste, and he entered with his hands on his sides. Xie Lian was slightly bewildered, “Ling Wen, why did you come yourself?”
Ling Wen fixed his sleeves, “Since I heard Your Highness say things were difficult, I figure your typical heavenly officials wouldn’t be able to assist, so I’ve come to see things for myself. Greetings, Your Highness Qi Ying. Why are you sitting on the ground?
What’s wrong? What’s with that look?”
It was Ling Wen in male form. Xie Lian walked to that cloth curtain and flipped it open, and sure enough there was nothing behind. A moment later, he turned his head, “The Brocade Immortal showed itself.”
Ling Wen was amazed, “What?”
“It should be it, I’m sure of it.” Xie Lian said, “It was a young man, very tall in height, maybe two inches taller than me. Judging by his bone structure, he must be someone skilled in martial arts.”
Ling Wen was somewhat doubtful, “Your Highness, are you sure? In the past so many years, there’s never been word that the Brocade Immortal had shown itself to anyone.
Besides, didn’t you say that none of these ninety-eight pieces of ghost robes were the real thing? Could it be someone in disguise and playing tricks?”
“I’m afraid that’s not possible,” Xie Lian replied, “After that wave of chaos was over, to prevent ghost robes from sneaking out and harassing mortals, we shut the door and windows and set an array. Things inside couldn’t get out and things outside couldn’t come in. There’s only the three of us in the textile house, no one can plot anything.
Humming for a moment, Ling Wen said, “Then the real thing must’ve run into a special circumstance, or, what you all saw was a silhouette of a vengeful spirit possessing one of the ghost robes?”
Lang Ying and Quan Yizhen were crouched on the ground, both in a state of spacing out. Xie Lian and Ling Wen stood with their arms crossed, assuming the appearance of adults, and were in serious discussion. Finally, Ling Wen suggested, “Why don’t I take these ghost robes to the Palace of Ling Wen and have my people examine them? If that won’t work, then we can make inquiries at the next meeting. I’m sure someone in the Upper Court is an expert.”
Giving the idea a thought, Xie Lian nodded, “That’s probably a good idea. But, this was a mission we’re responsible for after all, I still want to be a little more thorough. Since the real Brocade Immortal is mixed in here, let me think of a few more ways to bring it out. If there’s still no results by tomorrow then I’ll pass the ninety-eight ghost robes to you.” After all, this affair wasn’t under the jurisdiction of the Palace of Ling Wen.
“There’s no need for Your Highness to be so polite.” Ling Wen said, “Oh, if you’ll be sending them over tomorrow, it should be a hundred and one pieces, right?”
Xie Lian was taken aback, “Why are there suddenly three more?” Then it dawned on him. “You’re suspicious of the robes we’re wearing right now?”
“It’s not impossible.” Ling Wen said.
Xie Lian lifted the sleeve corner of his cultivation robes so worn that threads were loose, “I’ve worn this robe for several years now, it definitely wouldn’t have issues. The one Lang Ying is wearing right now was newly bought, but he didn’t obey my words so it shouldn’t be problematic either.” He told Lang Ying not to work but Lang Ying still chopped wood; he told him to stay home like a good boy but Lang Ying still came out.
However, Ling Wen shook his head, “That’s not what I meant. Your Highness, you might not be aware of this, but the essence of evil of the Brocade Immortal is strong, and since it’s here, that essence would affect other normal clothing. In any case, just to be safe, don’t wear the clothes you have on anymore and do something about them.”
Hearing this, Xie Lian quickly peeled off the outer robes of both Lang Ying and Quan Yizhen, “Don’t wear this anymore, don’t wear this. Take it off, take it off. Then, I’ll wrap up the clothes and bring them to the Palace of Ling Wen tomorrow.”
“I’ll send people to come pick them up?” Ling Wen said.
“No need, no need.” Xie Lian said, “It’s already embarrassing enough to trouble you every time. Your palace is busy, I can handle this myself.”
The next day, Xie Lian arduously wrapped a huge pile of clothes, and carried those large bundles by himself to ascend to the Heavenly Court.
Ling Wen had already been waiting for him in the palace for a long time, and today, it didn’t seem as hectically bustling as before with gods running back and forth. Xie Lian unwrapped the large bundles of ghost robes; colourful clothes burst out and spread about. He wiped at the sweat at the corner of his forehead as Ling Wen walked over leisurely, “Have you made any discoveries?”
Xie Lian sighed helplessly, “Much ashamed, it’s been fruitless. I apologize in advance; since there’s no helping hands, it couldn’t be helped if things are a bit scattered. There was so much chaos yesterday I don’t know if what I’ve brought is all of the robes. I keep feeling like I’m missing one or two pieces, but I’m not sure either.”
“That’s a non issue.” Ling Wen said. Then she looked down and roughly counted, “There really are missing pieces. Your Highness, it seems the clothes that little ghost next to you was wearing isn’t included in here?”
Xie Lian’s right hand clenched into a fist and lightly tapped his left palm, “Ah, you’re right! I remember now. Lang Ying had gotten used to draping that robe over himself and I forgot to collect it. I’ll go grab it right now.”
Ling Wen chuckled, “No rush. Take care, Your Highness.”
However, Xie Lian didn’t move to leave, and instead he stood still on the spot, his expression growing dim. Ling Wen was about to order for the heavenly officials under her command to come take the ghost robes away, but when she turned around and saw he was still there, with just the two of them in the hall, she was puzzled, “Your Highness, do you have something else to say?”
Xie Lian watched her with an unreadable expression, “Nothing much. Only, I was thinking, if I really did bring you the real Brocade Immortal, if I turned around, would you hide the real thing away?”
“…”
Ling Wen’s smile was fading but still was extremely polite, “Your Highness?”
Xie Lian watched her serenely, “From the very beginning, I’ve had this inkling.”
“What of?” Ling Wen asked languidly.
“Normal people, typical demons and ghosts don’t dare to break in to the Great Martial Temple. If someone was familiar with the Great Martial Hall enough to steal objects that were sealed away and still escape capture, then I’m afraid other than Jun Wu himself, there’s only you, Ling Wen Zhen Jun.”
After all, the Palace of Ling Wen roamed all the palaces day in day out, and could be said to be more than familiar with everyone’s domains.
Ling Wen grinned, “Your Highness, your reasoning is a little too matter of fact. “The person with the easiest access is the one who’s the most suspicious”. Based on that train of thought, then wouldn’t Jun Wu robbing himself be more likely?”
Xie Lian nodded. “I must admit you’re not wrong. But, what made me start to think things suspicious was that Half Maquillage Woman.”
“What about the Half Maquillage Woman?” Ling Wen asked.
Xie Lian replied, “She had in her possession the fake Brocade Immortal, and just so happened to come to my door. How can things be so coincidental? Besides, it was like she might as well have written ‘suspicious’ on her face, like she was scared I wouldn’t be suspicious of her being the culprit. Her intention was too obvious.”
“Oh? What intentions?”
“Didn’t she already say it herself?” Xie Lian said, “‘Exchange old for new’. What she wanted was the old clothes in my Puqi Shrine!”
In retrospect, when the Brocade Immortal was stolen, the Great Martial Hall found out really fast and immediately started investigating the moment they realized. Therefore, the thief might not dare to keep it in their own hands and would instead hide it away first. Then, where would be the best hiding place?
Hide leaves among forests.
If Xie Lian wanted to hide the Brocade Immortal, he would turn it into an extremely inconspicuous and normal-looking hemp robe and toss it in the mortal realm, but keeping an eye on it from afar. Normally, not many would want to buy such a coarsely made robe. However, the life Xie Lian led couldn’t be said to be normal, and he himself had been wearing the same worn edged cultivation robe for the past several years; the money he had could only afford such clothing. Besides, as long as the clothing kept him warm and was clean, that was all he asked for and wasn’t picky. Plus, he was the kind of person who possessed the incredible ability to pick out the most dangerous article of clothing in the big discount bin out of countless other clothing. Thus, in a self-congratulating cheer at the major discount, he bought and brought home that legendary Brocade Immortal.
“Your Highness, what you’re saying is a little too much now.” Ling Wen said, “You’re from a martial god background after all, so just thinking about it you’d know that the Half Maquillage Woman would be instantly subdued by you if she approached your door. She wouldn’t be able to take any robes away, old or new.”
“She certainly couldn’t take anything away, but who said she had to? If there were no further incidents, how would she be dealt with?” Xie Lian said.
If Xie Lian had thought that Half Maquillage Woman had in her hand the real Brocade Immortal, then he would for sure report it to Ling Wen, and then, Ling Wen would most likely descend herself. Like the day before, she would probably tell Xie Lian that for the sake of security, all the clothes needed to be brought back to the Palace of Ling Wen to be assessed.
It really was too bad that Quan Yizhen was there too at the time. And, it was unexpected that he was experienced after only having worn the Brocade Immortal once, and could directly determine that the Brocade Immortal the Half Maquillage Woman’s hand was fake. Which meant it was no longer easy nor logical for Ling Wen to take away all the clothes in Puqi Shrine.
All of Xie Lian’s information was provided by Ling Wen, and she could also make inquiries openly; Xie Lian’s whereabouts and movements were fully in her grasp. When that Half Maquillage Woman was exposed, Ling Wen immediately sent Xie Lian new communication through the array, and told him the Ghost City distributed many counterfeits in need of management, throwing new missions at him to give him no time in thinking too deeply about anything that might be questionable.
“I don’t know if those counterfeits were distributed by you, but, it was indeed you who provided me with information. With this step, you probably wanted to divert me away from Puqi Shrine before coming for Lang Ying.” Xie Lian said.
Yet unexpectedly, Lang Ying also followed along and came out.
“I don’t know if the Brocade Immortal showing himself so suddenly was within your anticipation, but for you, thinking fast and changing course of action shouldn’t be something hard.”
With so many ghost robes indiscernible whether real or fake, there would surely be a chance to slip the real Brocade Immortal away amidst the chaos, and with the Brocade Immortal showing himself, Ling Wen could also use it as an excuse to appear personally; openly collecting away all clothing on site. As for how things would be assessed and how the real thing was determined, the explanation of that silhouette, it would all depend on Ling Wen.
Having listened to this point, Ling Wen made a pause hand gesture, “Your Highness, please stop right there. So, you believe that Lang Ying, that’s his name, right? You think that the robe he was wearing was the Brocade Immortal? Don’t forget, once he put it on he still didn’t obey your every order, am I wrong? You said so yourself. You have to know that the Brocade Immortal’s powers are extremely strong, and even a Ghost King is no exception if he was to run into it.”
Xie Lian replied, “You also said, ‘it must’ve run into a special circumstance’. As for what exactly is a special circumstance, I’m sure you’re more well-informed on that subject, pray tell you can answer that question for me.”
Ling Wen’s frowned slightly and clenched her firsts. She said softly, “Your Highness, does this mean you have deemed me the thief? Pardon my honesty, but this makes me somewhat… displeased.”
Xie Lian inclined his head slightly, “I apologize.”
“Apology accepted” Ling Wen said, “However, Your Highness, if you must be adamant about this, you can, as long as you have the evidence. After all, this has been nothing but speculation.”
Xie Lian replied slowly, “Before today, I didn’t have any evidence. In fact, I didn’t have anything before stepping into the Palace of Ling Wen. But, I’ve gotten it since we started this conversation.”
Ling Wen made a welcome hand gesture, “Please.”
“The evidence is, just now, you never bothered to count the exact number of those ghost robes.” Xie Lian said.
Ling Wen’s expression barely changed, however, her brows seemed to stiffen slightly.
Xie Lian continued, “The ghost robes I’ve brought were indeed lacking, but it wasn’t just the one missing. In fact, I’ve only brought eighty-eight pieces – a total of ten robes are missing!”
“Every piece of clothing I consider suspicious I kept and didn’t bring it over. You never thought the count was off yet with one glance you noticed the one Lang Ying was wearing wasn’t here. So, pray tell, how did you know it was that particular one that was missing?”
Ling Wen raised her hand, “Please wait.”
Without hurry, she recounted all the ghost robes on the ground once more, and discovered it was indeed eighty-eight pieces of clothing. Maintaining her impassive tone, she replied, “I suppose you can say no one is perfect and there’s always going to be something overlooked.”
“Very well.” Xie Lian said, “Since you’ve counted seriously this time and should’ve looked over every single piece, then, let me tell you something: did you not notice? The robe Lang Ying wore yesterday was among those eighty-eight ghost robes!”
“Your Highness, what are you trying to say?” Ling Wen asked.
Xie Lian crouched down and pulled out a robe from the pile of random clothing, shaking it open, and it was a plain, white hemp robe. “The one Lang Ying wore yesterday was this one, isn’t it right here? How come you didn’t notice it when you were counting just now?”
“Your Highness should also know that there’s nothing special about this hemp robe, so you can’t blame me for not recognizing it with just a glance.” Ling Wen replied.
“It really is nothing to write home about.” Xie Lian said. “Then, you, Ling Wen Zhen Jun who is so competent and reliable, hardworking and cautious, why would you say so rashly that such an inconspicuous robe was missing when you haven’t fully counted?”
Ling Wen’s smile did not falter, “There are too many robes, my eyes glazed over; scrolls are piled high like a mountain, I’m overwhelmed.”
“Your eyes didn’t glaze over, it’s the opposite.” Xie Lian said, “Your eyes are too sharp.
Let me tell you a second thing: I actually didn’t bring the robe Lang Ying wore yesterday.
The one in my hands right now is another one I replicated based on that original one – but, I was careful with the details in this replica, so how were you able to tell with just one look that the real one Lang Ying wore isn’t here?”
Ling Wen was puzzled, “Fake or not, either way I didn’t see it. Your Highness, have you worked too hard on cases and do you always think too much? Why would you spend all this effort in creating a replica?”
Xie Lian lifted that white hemp robe and said softly, “…This hemp robe was but a random one I pulled from the pile. What “replica based on the original” or “careful with the details”, it’s all nonsense I made up just now. As you said, why would I waste my time to make a replica? You’ve been tricked. This one isn’t even the same colour as the robe Lang Ying wore yesterday, but I questioned you holding it in front of you, and never once did you think it strange?”
“…”
Xie Lian stared at Ling Wen intently, “Ling Wen, right now, I only need you to answer a very simple question: what was the colour of the robe Lang Ying wore yesterday?”
Ling Wen didn’t immediately speak, only raising her eyelashes slowly.
That white hemp robe fell to the ground as Xie Lian said, “As the esteemed number one civil god, countless thousands of scrolls detailing the matters of the Upper Court all passed through your hands, so your memory shouldn’t be this bad. How come you can’t even recall the colour of the robe Lang Ying wore yesterday?”
“You can’t answer, because you’re guarded against my potential trickery; you daren’t answer so easily, because you never knew what colour it was in the first place. Because yesterday, what you saw him wear was only a headless, sleeveless, ragged cloth sack!”
He enunciated every word, “The Brocade Immortal takes on thousands of forms, but that’s no doubt nothing more than an illusionment spell. However, no matter how powerful that illusionment spell is, it will always be ineffective to one individual – the one who created it!”
“No matter what form it took on, in the eyes of the creator, it will always be its true form.
Earlier, you glanced through those eighty-eight ghost robes and didn’t see a headless, sleeveless strange cloth sack, so of course you were able to determine immediately that the Brocade Immortal isn’t in the pile!”
————–
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