Chapter 2249: Past Events

The stone pavilion at Yanyue Nunnery was meticulously built by the nuns and had a very unique design. The pavilion before him was identical to it, matching even in construction details. The only difference was the material. While the Yanyue Nunnery pavilion was crafted from spiritual materials, this one was made of ordinary stone and wood. Nevertheless, even in the mortal realm, these common materials were clearly of high quality. Though abandoned for many years, only the surface showed signs of weathering; it had not decayed.

One was located in a distant small world, while the other was in an ancient era within an illusion. Could such a coincidence truly exist?

Upon closer inspection, Qin Sang noticed few signs of wear from use inside the pavilion, suggesting it had been abandoned not long after its construction.

The courtyard housing the stone pavilion was larger than the mansions of nearby wealthy families. Within it, small bridges spanned flowing streams, and pavilions and towers were all meticulously arranged. Each step revealed a new, harmonious, and natural scene, a stark contrast to the opulent mansions elsewhere. Despite its long abandonment, it was clear the owner possessed substantial wealth and exceptional taste, a rare find in such a location. The owner must have invested great effort in designing this courtyard; it was unclear why it had been abandoned.

Years of erosion, wind, and rain had left most of the courtyard's buildings dilapidated and collapsed, utterly devoid of human presence for a long time.

Among these ruins, Qin Sang discovered some unusual details. He instantly appeared before the courtyard's main hall. The main hall was the most severely damaged, its roof having completely collapsed, leaving little more than the frame. Qin Sang stood at the entrance and gently brushed dust from the doorframe, revealing some slender carved marks. These were marks left by sword or blade strikes!

Qin Sang traced the delicate marks with his finger, his eyes glinting. He then activated his spiritual sense to carefully scan the entire courtyard before turning to walk out.

Outside the courtyard lay a wide, overgrown road, capable of accommodating carriages side-by-side. Following this mountain path downwards, and turning past a bamboo grove, one could see patches of farmland.

As day broke, Qin Sang noticed a shirtless farmer toiling in the fields, the morning sun casting a glow on his tanned skin. The farmer didn't notice Qin Sang until he reached the edge of the field and was startled.

"Greetings, my friend," Qin Sang said, bowing slightly.

"N-no... I wouldn't dare..."

The man, simple and honest by nature, hastily returned the greeting. Upon noticing Qin Sang's distinguished appearance and demeanor, he finally relaxed. He then cautiously glanced at the mountain and whispered, "Young master, did you just come down from up there?"

Qin Sang nodded. "Indeed," he replied, "Last night, I was passing by the foot of the mountain and saw a large mansion, intending to seek shelter for the night. However, it was deserted and abandoned, so I had to make do in a dilapidated house."

Hearing Qin Sang's words, the man's mouth fell open, his face filled with admiration. "Young master, you have great courage!" he exclaimed.

Qin Sang looked puzzled. "What does an abandoned, ownerless house have to do with my courage?" he asked.

The man exclaimed, "Oh, young master, you must be from out of town, aren't you? You don't know, this is a highly ominous house! You..."

Before he could finish, a gust of mountain wind blew, carrying a slight morning chill. The man shivered, his face turning pale, and he repeatedly cupped his hands towards the mountain. "I mustn't speak of it! I mustn't speak of it! Forgive my loose tongue, grandpas and grandmas, please have mercy and spare my life!" With that, as if fearing retribution from vengeful spirits, the man hoisted his hoe and started to descend the mountain, abandoning his work entirely.

Qin Sang could already guess part of the story, and his heart sank slightly. He followed the man all the way to the main road at the foot of the mountain. As more pedestrians appeared on the road, the man wiped the cold sweat from his forehead. Seeing Qin Sang still beside him, he kindly advised, "Young master, you should leave quickly! It's fortunate nothing happened last night, but in the future, don't enter just any house!"

Qin Sang feigned curiosity. "May I ask, my friend, what happened back then that frightens you so much?"

"Oh dear, you really shouldn't ask..."

Unable to refuse, the man cautiously looked left and right before whispering, "Overnight, an entire family, old and young, was wiped out—even the maids in the mansion perished. Isn't that terrifying? I heard several people who went to see what happened the next day were driven mad on the spot! It's been decades now, and no one dares to go up there; people don't even dare to mention it."

Qin Sang continued to press, but the man absolutely refused to say anything more.

Seeing this, Qin Sang offered a piece of silver. "To be frank, my friend," he said, "I travel far and wide and enjoy collecting mysterious stories. Please do me a favor. I swear I will never reveal your identity to anyone."

"Well..."

The man ultimately couldn't resist the lure of the silver. Making up his mind, he said, "If you want to hear stories, young master, come home with me. My father knows even more."

The man's home was on the outskirts of the town. Its courtyard, though old, was meticulously clean. A woman was busy preparing food, while an old man sat in a reclining chair, basking in the sun, with two children playing joyfully around his knees.

"Young master, please come in and sit down. I'll go discuss it with my father," the man said, inviting Qin Sang inside before stepping out to persuade the old man. Their conversation naturally didn't escape Qin Sang's ears. He could discern their concerns: first, the fear of vengeful spirits, and second, the greater fear of the murderer hearing about it and bringing disaster upon them. Silver always paved the way.

The old man was finally persuaded by his son. He pushed the door open and entered, his cloudy eyes fixed on Qin Sang. "Young man, you want to hear a story?"

"Please, elder, have a seat!" Qin Sang helped the old man sit down, preparing to listen intently.

"I'm old now, and not much use," the old man began. "But back in my day, this old man's body was strong. I could lift a stone this big with one go!" The old man gestured, a light of recollection in his eyes, then sighed faintly. "When I was young, I was a stonemason. My craftsmanship was quite good, and wealthy families vied to hire me for work in their homes."

"Was that courtyard also built by you, elder?" Qin Sang asked.

"Not that one," the old man shook his head. "It was already there when I was a child. I only built a pavilion for them."

"A pavilion? The one on the ridge?"

"That's the one. Don't let its size fool you, it was a grand project! The stones were all solid 'Boqing' stones, and the wood used was 'Chenxiangzhang' as thick as a bowl, specially transported from Dazhang Prefecture. Master Ning had a daughter in his old age and was overjoyed, so he had this pavilion built specifically for his little miss. I heard the design was drawn by the little miss herself, but it was probably the madam trying to please Master Ning. How old could the little miss be? Even if she was born clever, how could she have drawn something like that? Such a beautiful pavilion, such an intricate design—I've only seen its like once in my life," the old man recalled.

"Surname Ning? Miss Ning?"

Qin Sang asked about the timeframe and found it matched as well. The surname 'Ning' also held significance; he wondered if it was a coincidence. True Immortal Ning must have left a contingency plan for Liu Li when he sent her in. He couldn't possibly place all his hopes on himself, could he?

Could it really be Liu Li? Liu Li fell into the illusion while overcoming her heart demon. Unlike him, she couldn't immediately regain her original consciousness, yet she specifically remembered that pavilion. That pavilion could be seen as a significant turning point in his and Liu Li's relationship; it appeared to hold similar importance in Liu Li's mind. Before this, Liu Li had deliberately avoided him, even going so far as to cut her hair and seek liberation through Buddhism. Ever since Qin Sang expressed his true feelings to Liu Li in the pavilion, he was forced to ascend, while Liu Li remained in the lower realm. Not only did she look after Qingyang Temple, but she also tacitly allowed Yu Fu and others to call her 'Shiniang' (Master's wife), clearly indicating a change in her feelings. Perhaps Liu Li had decided to stop agonizing over whether her feelings were her true self or influenced by demonic cultivation, and had made a certain decision. Had fate not intervened and caused Liu Li to become disheartened, they might have already become Dao companions.

It is said that heart demons often stir up people's most unforgettable memories. The appearance of this pavilion in the illusion, if Miss Ning was indeed Liu Li, suggested that her heart demon was not her master, Bing Yao, but rather related to himself!

Qin Sang felt a mixture of joy and worry. The joy was that since the heart demon was himself, he would undoubtedly find it easier to help Liu Li resolve it. The worry was: where was Liu Li now?

"Not long after Master Ning moved here, he became a renowned philanthropist far and wide. Who knows what powerful people he offended? If it were merely for wealth, that would be one thing, but to slaughter an entire family... such wickedness will surely be punished eventually! It's only this old man who dares to speak a few words. If you ask anyone else about the Ning family, no one will dare to utter a word!" the old man sighed.

He then listened as the old man recounted more stories about the Ning family, but unfortunately, there was no crucial information, and much of what he said was hearsay. However, Qin Sang could tell that the old man seemed to know more.

Under his repeated questioning, the old man finally relented. "A few years after that major case happened," he began, "this old man was conscripted into the city to work at the yamen. I heard a 'Qingtian Grand Master' (a righteous official) arrived, drilled the local militia, and personally led them into the mountains to suppress bandits, killing many of them. It's unknown if any of the culprits behind the Ning family massacre were among them, but such incidents never happened again afterward. Some of the militia who followed that 'Qingtian Grand Master' back then should still be alive; young master, you can go to the prefectural city to inquire. This old man only knows this much, and young master, when you leave, please don't say you heard it from this old man."

The old man's concern was understandable; if the killer was still alive and discovered someone investigating the matter, they would also be implicated.

Qin Sang promised not to reveal anything. He left the old man's home and waited until night. When everyone in the town was fast asleep, he cast a mind-influencing spell, prompting them to voluntarily disclose memories related to the Ning family. He discovered that the townspeople knew very little about the Ning family, and most of their memories revolved around the tragic incident.

That night, Qin Sang left the town and headed straight for the prefectural city. The prefectural city was dozens of times larger than the town, and Qin Sang sensed the aura of a cultivator within its yamen.

Inside the yamen.

A quiet courtyard had been specially established, within which a spiritual formation was laid out. Apart from the chief official, none of the yamen's soldiers or servants were aware of it.

A middle-aged cultivator was meditating in a quiet room when his expression suddenly shifted. He opened his eyes, a look of surprise flashing across his face, and hastily left the room, flying into the sky. "Liu Chengping of Dongliang Sect pays his respects," he said. "I apologize for not having welcomed you sooner, esteemed senior. Please forgive my oversight."

Liu Chengping was filled with apprehension. In his perception, the mysterious figure before him had an aura as profound as a mountain, and their cultivation might even surpass his master's.

"How many years have you been stationed here?" Qin Sang scrutinized the man, realizing that the presence of a cultivator would simplify matters.

"Not long," Liu Chengping replied. "Twenty years ago, I was sent here by my master to guard against evil spirits and demons. My term is nearing its end, and I was just about to return to the sect to report." He secretly cursed his luck, regretting not having returned earlier.

"Twenty years? Who was here before you?"

"It was Junior Brother Wen..."

Liu Chengping answered each question, then added, "Foreign races targeted our human race, fearing that demonic spies might infiltrate the mortal world and cause disaster. That's when our sect began sending disciples down the mountains to guard various regions. Before that, we rarely ventured into the mortal realm, and our sect strictly forbade us from revealing our powers to mortals."

Qin Sang calculated mentally: according to Liu Chengping, there were no cultivators in the city when the Ning family incident occurred.

Seeing Qin Sang remain silent, Liu Chengping raised his head and cautiously asked, "Esteemed senior, may I ask what important matter brings you here? Is there anything this junior can assist you with?"

"This old man is investigating a massacre that occurred decades ago!" Qin Sang stated. "The slain were acquaintances of this old man. I was in secluded cultivation for many years and only learned of this upon emerging..." Qin Sang's tone was heavy with grief.

Liu Chengping's heart immediately froze. He dared not be negligent and listened attentively as Qin Sang slowly narrated his tale. Upon learning the full story, Liu Chengping immediately assented. "Although we were not present back then, there should be records in the yamen. This junior will go and investigate right away! Since the Ning family migrated from elsewhere, there must be clues. One of my senior brothers is stationed in the capital city; I will immediately write a letter and ask him to assist in the investigation!"

He dared not refuse. Even if his sect learned of this matter, they would surely order a thorough investigation. This was Dongliang Sect's territory. If the family of this mysterious senior's acquaintance was annihilated here and the culprit couldn't be found, what if he vented his anger on Dongliang Sect? Wouldn't that be an undeserved calamity?

"Presumably, you wouldn't dare to deceive this old man. I will wait here for your news!" Qin Sang declared. "If the true culprit behind this is eventually found to be a cultivator, no matter their identity, this old man will show no mercy! If your Dongliang Sect dares to shelter them..." Qin Sang's tone turned cold.

Feeling Qin Sang's killing intent, Liu Chengping's heart trembled violently. He stammered a "yes," hastily returned to the yamen to give instructions, and then left the city. His departure immediately caused a huge stir. Not only was the entire nation's power mobilized, but it also affected Dongliang Sect.

Qin Sang's goal was not merely to find the killer; he also held a glimmer of hope that there might have been survivors from the Ning Mansion that night. This was an illusion. If Liu Li was also killed, she might not truly die, but finding her again would be like searching for a needle in a haystack, and this time, it was purely by luck... Thinking of this, Qin Sang's heart stirred. Was it really just luck?

"The Dao of Yin and Yang... the Dao of Yin and Yang..." Qin Sang murmured.

The Sundial of Spring and Autumn was a supreme treasure of the Dao of Yin and Yang. Jade Machine Mountain held a legacy of the Dao of Yin and Yang, and Liu Li happened to reincarnate nearby. Recalling it, the Sundial of Spring and Autumn had also entered the illusionary realm before the illusion erupted. If not for this accident, Liu Li, being in a favorable position, might have had the opportunity to obtain the Jade Machine Mountain legacy earlier. Could the Sundial of Spring and Autumn be playing some role behind the scenes?

Thoughts flooded in, yet they offered no solution to his current predicament. If Miss Ning was still alive, one day she would surely want to return to her hometown to see it. It would be best if someone could guard this place for her indefinitely.

Qin Sang stood on the peak of Jade Machine Mountain, his brows furrowed in deep thought.

"Hey, up there," a voice called from below, "how did you get up? Are you a god?"

Qin Sang looked down at the boy clinging to the cliff face. "Yes," he replied.

"Uh..." The boy was momentarily stunned, not expecting Qin Sang to admit it so readily. After a moment, he asked excitedly, "You're really a god? Did you fly up using magic?"

Qin Sang nodded. "If you can climb up here, I'll teach you this magic," he said.