Chapter 54: Not a Single Truth

While the two were conversing, a powerful aura rose ahead as a Silver-Armored Cultivator blocked their path.

“Snow Moon City is under lockdown! No entry allowed!”

Both the crane and the white horse came to a halt. Gao Sheng took out a token and said, “Gao Sheng of the Demon Subduing Division. I have come to Snow Moon City specifically to subdue demons.”

Lin Jing also produced a token and said, “Lin Jing of the Beast Taming Sect. I have come to Snow Moon City specifically to investigate the disappearance of livestock.”

The Silver-Armored Cultivator looked at this pair—one at the Qi Training Ninth Layer and the other at the fourth—riding Foundation Establishment mounts, and didn’t know what to say.

Gao Sheng looked toward Lin Jing. “You’re also here to subdue demons?”

“You think my cultivation is low? You’re only at the fourth layer yourself!”

“A pleasure. Your Excellency’s horse is truly magnificent,” Lin Jing remarked.

“This is a Dragon Horse. You from the Beast Taming Sect better not get any ideas.”

After checking their tokens, the Silver-Armored Cultivator sent word ahead.

Soon, a middle-aged Cultivator whose face was covered by a thick, snow-white beard arrived personally.

Lin Jing had seen a portrait of this man; he was the City Lord of Snow Moon City, Tang Qinghan.

Lin Jing was momentarily dazed. He hadn’t expected to receive the same treatment as Senior Brother Ouyang—to be personally received by a Golden Core Cultivator!

“Young Master Gao—what brings you here? Is your esteemed father well?” The City Lord of Snow Moon City ignored Lin Jing and spoke to the young man in black with a kind face.

“City Lord Tang, please do not be like this. I am Gao Sheng of the Demon Subduing Division, not Gao Sheng of the Gao Family. I am here to solve a case and subdue demons.” The young man in black said, “This is my first case since joining the Demon Subduing Division. I ask for City Lord Tang’s cooperation.”

“Snow Moon City will certainly cooperate fully with the Demon Subduing Division.” City Lord Tang nodded, and only then did he look at Lin Jing.

Lin Jing looked up at the sky.

The Sky Feather Crane said, “Beast Taming Sect! We are from the Beast Taming Sect!”

“So you are a Disciple of the Beast Taming Sect—it was my failure as City Lord that your Sect’s Disciple, Ouyang Hao, met with misfortune in my Snow Moon City. I promise that within one month, I will find the true culprit and give your Sect an explanation.” City Lord Tang was incredibly solemn.

“Thank you, City Lord Tang. We have come this time also wishing to participate in the investigation.” Lin Jing said, “I am a Disciple of Danxia Peak. I have studied the Dao of Poison with my Master for over twenty years since childhood. Based on the judgment of our Sect’s Old Ancestor, Senior Brother Ouyang was injured by poison, so I was sent here to investigate.”

“I see. Then please follow me into the city first,” City Lord Tang said. As the snow mist dissipated, a tall city wall appeared ahead.

At the City Lord’s Manor, City Lord Tang originally intended to host the two properly, but Gao Sheng said, “Ordinary pleasantries are unnecessary.”

“City Lord Tang, I already have an understanding of what happened in Snow Moon City—I have preliminarily determined who the culprit is!”

“What?!” City Lord Tang was shocked. He had just arrived at Snow Moon City and already determined the culprit?

Lin Jing was also surprised, wondering if this fellow was reliable. Even the Divine Pine hadn’t discerned anything yet.

“First, Snow Moon City’s property has been harmed, and a Disciple of a major Sect was attacked here. In such a serious security issue, who suffers the greatest loss?” Gao Sheng said, “It must be City Lord Tang. If this causes a greater impact later, City Lord Tang’s official career will surely be affected!”

“Therefore, while this event seems like the work of demons, it is also possible that it is an enemy of City Lord Tang acting under the guise of demons!”

“I collected detailed information before coming. After Pavilion Master Hua of the Lotus Pavilion came to this godforsaken Snow Moon City, the various policies established by City Lord Tang caused the Lotus Pavilion’s business here to be very bleak—with no hope of promotion. Just now, Brother Lin of the Beast Taming Sect said their Disciple suffered a poison injury here…”

“One must know that the Lotus Pavilion mainly deals in the Medicinal Pill business. Every medicine is thirty percent poison; only they would have such deep research into poisons!”

“I ask City Lord Tang to quickly arrest Pavilion Master Hua Qiandao of the Lotus Pavilion.” After Gao Sheng finished speaking, he took out a fan and began fanning himself, looking incredibly elegant.

City Lord Tang had a strange expression and said, “Young Master Gao, in the early years, Pavilion Master Hua and I did indeed have some conflicts, but we reconciled long ago. Snow Moon City has already reached a deep level of cooperation with the Lotus Pavilion, and a Contract has been set. If I fall, he will also be in trouble. Now—we rise and fall together.”

Gao Sheng continued fanning, falling silent for a moment.

“Then… act as if I said nothing.”

Lin Jing cupped his fists and took his leave first, feeling that this person from the Demon Subduing Division would likely be of no help in this matter.

“Senior Divine Pine—is there anything wrong with this City Lord’s Manor?” After leaving, Lin Jing opened his palm.

Inside was a Pine Cone.

A voice came from within the Pine Cone.

“No abnormalities were found, and that City Lord Tang is also fine. However, I already know what poison your Senior Brother was afflicted with.”

“What?” Lin Jing was startled.

“Follow my guidance,” the Divine Pine spoke.

Lin Jing nodded quickly. After walking for about a few kilometers, he arrived at a patch of grass covered in ice and snow.

Under the Divine Pine’s guidance, Lin Jing bent down, blew away the snow covering the bushes, and pulled out a few purple plants.

“Look at what this is.”

Lin Jing looked at the small purple grass and fell into deep thought. The Compendium of Flora did not record this kind of plant.

His brain quickly recalled the miscellaneous books he had read. Suddenly, noticing red spots appearing on his palm, he immediately said, “Split petals, snake-like leaves, causes a rash upon contact… this is Insect Feather Grass.”

“Correct.” Seeing that Lin Jing recognized the plant, the Divine Pine said, “Then do you know where it likes to grow?”

Lin Jing said, “Insect Feather Grass likes to grow in places where venomous insects reside. It is a poisonous grass produced in abundance over in the Cloud Sea Mountain Range. Does Senior mean that Senior Brother was injured by a venomous insect—?”

“Wait, if it were just an ordinary venomous insect, it definitely wouldn’t leave Golden Core Elders and Nascent Soul Old Ancestors helpless.”

“Poison—” Lin Jing said, “One of the three great demonic Sects, the Gu God Sect, has studied the Dao of Poison for tens of thousands of years. Only they would possess such troublesome and exotic poisons. Gu poison is expert at changing infinitely, making it impossible to guard against. Aside from the Gu insect itself, there are few cures. Senior, the source of the poison you want to find is a Gu insect?”

“Yes.” The Divine Pine said, “Not only is it not an ordinary venomous insect, it is definitely no ordinary Gu insect. This Snow Moon City hides a significant secret. Your Senior Brother was likely injured by a Sub-Gu, so as long as the Mother-Gu is found,”

“His Ice Gu Poison can be perfectly cured.”

“Brother Lin!” At this moment, someone caught up to Lin Jing; it was Gao Sheng from the Demon Subduing Division.

Lin Jing stowed away the Pine Cone and looked at this second-generation immortal.

He shouted to Lin Jing, “Brother Lin, I’ve finally found you.”

“Brother Gao, why did you also leave the City Lord’s Manor?”

Gao Sheng looked fearful. “I have a new deduction! So I escaped.”

“I’ve thought of it. What your Sect’s Disciple was hit with might be the ‘Gu Poison’ from the Gu God Sect, one of the three great demonic Sects!”

Lin Jing couldn’t help but feel some admiration; it seemed this man did have some genuine learning. Who knew he would continue: “Because I suddenly remembered my father once said that in recent years, the Gu God Sect has been using Gu poison to control people’s hearts and has increased its infiltration of the Ancient Kingdom’s regions. City Lord Tang… might have already been controlled by the Gu God Sect using Gu, becoming a puppet! After all, the Cultivation Technique he practices seems very compatible with Ice Gu Poison. He is the culprit behind everything in Snow Moon City!”

Lin Jing:?

“Brother Gao is truly a talent. Do you have any evidence?”

“No.”

“Then you’re talking nonsense.” Lin Jing was speechless and said, “If the lord of a city wanted to raise Gu using beasts, with the Tang family’s foundation in Snow Moon City, would he need to go to the Beast Taming Sect to steal rabbits?”

“Uh—Brother Lin’s point is not without merit.” This Genius of the Demon Subduing Division fell into deep thought again.

“Brother Lin, do you think it’s possible—” He suddenly looked at Lin Jing warily and took a step back.

“Are you trying to say that my Beast Taming Sect has always been known as a demonic Sect, and you suspect someone within our Sect is colluding with the demonic Sects, first harming their own interests to deflect suspicion, and then playing the victim to catch the thief?”

Gao Sheng was stunned. “How did you know!”

“Brother Gao, you should just go home and inherit your family’s immortal business!”