Chapter 225: Washing Away Injustice

Meng Chuan gripped his father's arm, transforming into a flash of lightning as they sped along.

They crossed rivers and scaled mountains, the scenery blurring behind them as father and son traveled at incredible speed.

"Chuan'er," Meng Dajiang murmured, truly feeling this pace and understanding how remarkable his son had become. Carrying him, his old father, they were still much faster than Marquis Gong Xu.

"Chuan'er, there's really no need to go to Yuanchu Mountain. I don't want you to be shamed again," Meng Dajiang said.

Meng Chuan glanced at his father, then continued to gaze ahead, his eyes slightly reddened.

He didn't want to explain.

He was convinced that his father was innocent.

He wanted Yuanchu Mountain to clear his father's name.

But what if...

What if his father truly had colluded with the Demon-Slaying Gate? What then?

The thought sent a tearing pain through Meng Chuan's heart. He couldn't accept that outcome.

"He must be innocent. My father must be innocent," Meng Chuan whispered to himself.

After forcibly traveling thousands of miles with his father, Meng Chuan's mind was heavy with conflicting thoughts. Before he knew it, Yuanchu Mountain was already in sight.

"Senior Brother Meng."

The divine demon guarding the mountain immediately greeted Meng Chuan with warmth.

"Mm."

Meng Chuan acknowledged them and, with his father, transformed into lightning and sped directly towards Dongtian Pavilion.

The old steward of Dongtian Pavilion was already waiting. He proactively led Meng Chuan and his father inside, arriving at a pavilion in the back garden where Venerable Qin Wu, with his long hair flowing, sat sipping tea and reading a book.

Meng Chuan immediately dropped to his knees with a thud and bowed deeply, stating solemnly, "This disciple forcibly brought my father from Wuzhou City's dungeon to Yuanchu Mountain. I know I am guilty and am willing to accept any punishment. I only beg Master for mercy, I beg Master, as a son, to investigate the truth of my father's alleged collusion with the Demon-Slaying Gate! This disciple only seeks the truth!"

Beside him, Meng Dajiang watched his son kneeling and pleading, feeling a pang of heartache and self-reproach.

"My foolish child."

Venerable Qin Wu sighed softly at the sight. "You have guarded nearly an entire province for humanity, slain countless demons, and saved innumerable lives. You have made great contributions to all of humanity. How could I allow your father to be executed so unfairly? You are worried and confused."

"Yes," Meng Chuan lowered his head.

"You rashly seized someone and brought them to Yuanchu Mountain. Considering your merits and efforts over the years, and your deep filial love, this punishment will be waived." Venerable Qin Wu looked at Meng Chuan. "But you cannot act so recklessly again. If you are truly anxious or concerned, you only need to report the matter to me. Do you not even trust me?"

Meng Chuan quickly replied, "Of course, this disciple trusts you."

Venerable Qin Wu looked at Meng Dajiang, then spoke to Meng Chuan, "All the evidence for this case has been reported from Wuzhou City. From the evidence, there is indeed nothing amiss. What are your thoughts on this case?"

"My father-in-law and my father are lifelong friends, having known each other for thirty years, and he also believes my father could not possibly collude with the Demon-Slaying Gate," Meng Chuan said. "My father raised me from a young age, and reflecting carefully, I am also convinced he is not that kind of person. But now my father has confessed... I can only suspect that methods of mind control or memory alteration were used on him."

"Mind control, memory alteration?" Venerable Qin Wu nodded slightly. "Your father is a divine demon. For an opponent to achieve this, their illusionary arts must at least reach the 'Dao Realm.' And to investigate this? The difficulty is even higher. There are fewer than a handful of divine demons in Yuanchu Mountain capable of such an investigation."

Meng Chuan understood this.

Even a Marquis-level divine demon specializing in illusionary arts might not be able to uncover it.

"Powerful divine demons are currently stationed across various regions," Venerable Qin Wu stated. "I can try, but I only have about seventy to eighty percent certainty. If I fail... I will send you both to 'King Duyue.' King Duyue is the foremost expert in illusionary arts within Yuanchu Mountain."

"Please, Master," Meng Chuan said with immense gratitude.

Master, after all, was a Creation Venerable with a long lifespan and powerful primordial spirit. Cultivating some secret arts could also lead to extremely profound levels. If Master said 'seventy to eighty percent certainty,' then the problem should not be too great.

Venerable Qin Wu looked at Meng Dajiang and smiled, "Sit."

Meng Dajiang smiled and immediately sat on the stool opposite, clearly completely under control.

"Meng Chuan, for me to investigate, I will need to review your father's memories. You wouldn't mind, would you?" Venerable Qin Wu asked.

"I don't mind," Meng Chuan nodded.

Whether it was Master or King Duyue, to investigate thoroughly, reviewing memories was one of the auxiliary methods.

"Even if a person feels their memories are blurred, they are still clearly recorded within the soul," Venerable Qin Wu began to review Meng Dajiang's memories.

Scene after scene of memories, with sounds and images.

And day by day, month by month, year by year... it was a vast amount.

Venerable Qin Wu examined them, multitasking, and said with a smile, "Memory is very intricate. Events that happened three years ago are often recalled over the subsequent three years, merging with other memories. So, to alter memories, simply reviewing them can help find flaws."

"Hmm?"

"Your mother is actually still alive? The Virgin of the Yin, Bai Nianyun?" Venerable Qin Wu exclaimed, somewhat surprised.

"Yes," Meng Chuan nodded. "I only just learned this, and I can't even fully believe it myself."

"You can believe it."

Venerable Qin Wu looked at Meng Dajiang, sifting through his memories. "Your father and mother spent eight years together, their affection was extremely deep, and he often recalled her afterwards, memories spanning decades. The other party could not possibly modify every single memory and do so flawlessly. Moreover, as far as I know, Bai Nianyun's travels down the mountain back then did last quite a long time, and she did lose contact with Black Sand Grotto-Heaven. Black Sand Grotto-Heaven also tried various ways to trace Bai Nianyun's whereabouts. And the demon invasion you encountered when you were six years old was indeed the work of the Virgin of the Yin, who slew the demon kings."

Venerable Qin Wu had reviewed every record related to the demon invasion, so he remembered clearly.

"My mother, Bai Nianyun?" Meng Chuan's heart trembled.

Master's words completely confirmed it.

Bai Nianyun, before this, was merely an Marquis-level divine demon in the intelligence of Black Sand Grotto-Heaven.

But his mother was the gentle woman from his memories.

"Hmm?"

Venerable Qin Wu furrowed his brow slightly, and his eyes subtly glowed with colorful light. The light penetrated Meng Dajiang's body, seeping into his soul.

Meng Chuan held his breath.

After a full quarter of an hour, Venerable Qin Wu closed his eyes, then reopened them and looked at Meng Chuan: "It's confirmed."

"Confirmed?" Meng Chuan's eyes lit up, his heart quickening.

"Your father's memory has indeed been altered by someone," Venerable Qin Wu stated. "The opponent's method is very clever. Back when your mother left, your father strove to become stronger, even willing to become an assassin for the Demon Extermination Alliance. The opponent added a section about your father colluding with the Demon-Slaying Gate into this memory, leading him on... And because of regret, he stopped doing it later and completely buried it in his heart, not telling anyone else. He didn't even want to recall it! This way, it became logical that he rarely remembered it in subsequent memories. Meng Dajiang's subconscious also believed he rarely remembered it because he didn't want to recall this unbearable memory."

Meng Dajiang nodded repeatedly. His father was innocent! Innocent!

"I then meticulously examined your father's detailed memories from recent times, carefully cross-referencing them," Venerable Qin Wu said with a smile. "Although the other party made your father forget, the soul is not so simple. Their illusionary arts probably only just reached the 'Dao Realm,' and they don't understand the soul so deeply. I still found your father's true memories from recent days."

"I found the opponent's image."

Venerable Qin Wu waved his hand, and a translucent image appeared before them: a seemingly ordinary middle-aged man in a gray robe.

Meng Chuan stared intently. Was this the person?

"A little over a month ago, he met your father and used a hidden technique. Don't just stare blankly; the person has certainly changed their appearance," Venerable Qin Wu chuckled. "However, by observing through your father's soul, it's as if I saw him with my own eyes, and I've established a connection with him. Thus, I can use divine calculation to determine his identity."

I'll take a short break. Only one chapter today.