dognovel Chapter 425 Further Investigation Faces Many Obstacles
Chapter 425 Further Investigation Faces Many Obstacles
"That's good. Next, we'll..." Before I could finish speaking, Junior Sister Chu vanished in a flash, like a rabbit.
What's this girl up to?
My heart skipped a beat and an ominous premonition came over me.
I was absolutely certain I saw that glint of light in her eyes just now; there was something hidden in it!
With the clues provided by Deacon Wu, the subsequent investigation finally made some progress.
He pointed out several suspicious locations, one of which was an abandoned alchemy room near the sect's forbidden area.
That place is gloomy and no one goes there normally.
I wrapped my cloak tighter around myself; the night wind felt like knives on my face, making me shiver.
The alchemy room was filled with a pungent medicinal smell, mixed with the smell of dust, which made me cough.
I carefully looked around and saw some broken porcelain bottles and fragments of runes that I couldn't understand scattered on the ground.
I bent down and picked up a fragment. It was cold to the touch, and the runes engraved on it were complex and eerie.
Strange, this feeling... is like someone deliberately set up a maze here to confuse my vision.
I looked around and felt that something was wrong.
Suddenly, I heard light footsteps behind me.
I turned my head sharply, but saw nothing.
Is it my imagination?
I was puzzled and checked the alchemy room again carefully, but still found nothing.
Over the next few days, following the clues provided by Deacon Wu, I went to several more suspicious places, but each time it was the same. I always felt like someone was secretly watching me, but I couldn't find any clues.
The feeling of being stared at is like having a fishbone stuck in your throat, you can't swallow it or spit it out, it's extremely uncomfortable.
What's even more troubling is that Mingyue, that coward, has started spreading rumors everywhere, saying that I'm deliberately framing innocent people.
I knew she must have been threatened, but this undoubtedly put me under tremendous pressure.
Those disciples who were unaware of the truth began to point fingers at me, and some even openly questioned my investigation.
I feel like I'm standing on the edge of a storm, ready to be swallowed up by a giant wave at any moment.
"Senior Sister Xiao, why are you doing this? There are some people you can't afford to offend!" Junior Sister Chu appeared in front of me at some point. Her tone was tinged with sarcasm, but her eyes flashed with a hint of smugness.
I sneered, "You think I can't afford to offend you? I, Xiao Yao, have never been afraid of anyone! I will definitely find out the truth!"
"Hmph, stubbornly persistent!" Junior Sister Chu snorted coldly and turned to leave.
Her silhouette, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, appeared particularly eerie.
Just when I was at my wit's end, Deacon Wu suddenly found me. He was pale and injured.
"Senior Sister Xiao, I...I've been exposed..." he said breathlessly, "They...they found out I was helping you..."
My heart sank, and a chill ran from the soles of my feet straight to the top of my head.
Deacon Wu's injury means I've lost my most important source of intelligence.
This is undoubtedly adding insult to injury for me.
I supported Deacon Wu, my mind a complete mess.
To make matters worse, Junior Sister Chu somehow found a group of disciples who were unaware of the truth and began to besiege me.
They pointed their fingers at me and cursed me, saying I was a traitor to the sect and that I was deliberately creating chaos.
I feel like I'm trapped in a huge swamp, and the more I struggle, the deeper I sink.
"Enough!" I yelled, trying to suppress the noise.
However, my voice was quickly drowned out by the shouts and curses of the crowd.
I felt a deep sense of powerlessness. Was I really going to give up?
Just when I was about to despair, a familiar voice came from outside the crowd: "Shut up, all of you!"
I looked up abruptly and saw Elder Xuanfeng walking towards us...
Elder Xuanfeng's appearance was like a clear stream flowing into this murky swamp.
The shouting disciples instantly fell silent, like ducks with their necks being choked, each one as quiet as a cicada in winter.
He walked up to me, a hint of worry in his eyes: "Xiao Yao, are you alright?" I shook my head, took a deep breath, and tried to stay calm.
"I'm fine, Elder."
"What's going on?" Elder Xuanfeng glanced at the disciples around him, his tone carrying a hint of authority.
The disciples looked at each other, none of them daring to speak.
The disciple who had been shouting the loudest just now was now shrinking back, wishing he could disappear into a crack in the ground.
I sneered inwardly, "Serves you right!"
“Elder, they…” I was about to explain when a sharp voice interrupted me: “Elder, Senior Sister Xiao is eliminating dissidents! She’s arbitrarily framing us just because she’s favored by the sect leader! Junior Sister Mingyue only said a few fair words, and she…” Junior Sister Chu cried with a wronged expression; her acting skills were so good, it’s a pity she’s not an actress.
I was almost laughing in exasperation at her ability to distort the truth.
"Junior Sister Chu, you can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want! When did I eliminate dissidents? When did I wrong Mingyue?"
"You..." Junior Sister Chu wanted to say something, but was interrupted by Elder Xuanfeng.
"Alright, stop arguing! I'll investigate this matter thoroughly." He turned to me, his tone softening. "Xiao Yao, I know you're investigating the traitor, but you should also be careful with your methods and avoid causing unnecessary panic."
"Elder, I..." I opened my mouth, but didn't know what to say.
I know Elder Xuanfeng is protecting me, but his words are undoubtedly putting pressure on me.
Over the next few days, I clearly felt the pressure increase significantly.
Some elders, because they had connections with the disciples who were suspected, began to pressure me to stop the investigation.
They subtly suggested to me that some things are better left unsaid and shouldn't be taken too seriously.
Some people even told me directly that continuing the investigation would not benefit anyone, and that it would be better to just give up.
I was seething with anger. Why?
Just because they hold high positions of power, can they cover up the truth and let it sink without a trace?
I don't!
I refuse to believe that there is no justice in this world!
I began to re-examine the existing clues, scrutinizing them again and again, and simulating the scene from time to time.
The clues provided by Deacon Wu, Mingyue's evasive explanations, and Junior Sister Chu's unusual behavior... these fragmented pieces of information kept colliding and combining in my mind, and finally, a bold guess emerged.
I didn't make a fuss, but secretly contacted Senior Brother Lin and asked him to help me collect some evidence.
Brother Lin has always supported my investigation. He is an upright person and reliable in his work. He is a partner I can trust.
A few days later, Senior Brother Lin brought good news.
He found new evidence proving the innocence of some of the disciples who had been suspected.
At the same time, he also discovered some new clues that pointed in another direction.
With this evidence in hand, I went to the elders who had exerted pressure on me again.
I laid out the evidence before them and said, word by word, "Elders, I know you mean well for the sect, but there is only one truth! I will not wrong any good person, nor will I let any bad person go unpunished!"
The elders were speechless as they looked at the evidence laid out before them.
They never expected that I could find new evidence and turn the tide under such immense pressure.
I watched the fascinating expressions on their faces and felt a secret sense of satisfaction.
Hmph, you want me to compromise?
Not that easy!
The investigation is back on track, and I feel like a traveler groping forward in the dark who has finally seen a glimmer of light.
But I know in my heart that this is only the first step in a long journey, and the real challenges are yet to come.
Just then, Senior Brother Lin walked up to me with a serious expression and whispered in my ear, "Senior Sister Xiao, I've discovered..." He stopped abruptly before he could finish, his eyes fixed on something behind me...