Seeking Truth with a Sword-Chapter 364 - 317: Seeking Vengeance (4K)

Chapter 364: Chapter 317: Seeking Vengeance (4K)
The Martial Monks held their clubs with tiger-like ferocity, and the panicking crowd gradually quieted down.
Governor Zhang looked around and, finding no one stepping forward, reluctantly raised his hand to ask, "Abbot Lian Nan, when we came up the mountain, weren’t the protective Prohibitions already used to screen everyone? What is the process of this inspection now?"
"There are two procedures. The first is using Prohibitions to scan the Qi Sea, Spirit Vein, and Quiescent Veins. The second is through Mirror Heart Observation."
Abbot Lian Nan stated indifferently. Several monks, staggering along, carried a huge copper mirror over and stood it upright in front of the round Prohibition on the ground.
The copper mirror was elliptical, its surface smooth and shiny, with two rows of patterns carved around its edges.
"This mirror reveals unspeakable secrets hidden in one’s heart." Abbot Lian Nan spoke solemnly, "Kong Hai, demonstrate."
"Yes."
Monk Kong Hai reluctantly stepped forward, standing on the Prohibition and facing the copper mirror.
The Prohibition under his feet emitted a white light, revealing his Spirit Vein and the Buddha Beads he wore, while the mirror’s brilliance flowed, projecting an Illusion of a young monk resembling Monk Kong Hai, sneaking cakes in the dining hall kitchen.
Abbot Lian Nan imperceptibly nodded. "The secret in your heart is breaking the Precepts by eating at improper times. Once this matter is concluded, go to the Precepts Court to receive your punishment."
"Yes, Abbot."
Monk Kong Hai exhaled a sigh of relief and stepped back two paces, leaving the range of the copper mirror.
Jiu Fenghai, in a corner, squinted as he watched for a while and muttered, "The Heart Mirror... it’s actually real."
Que Teqin raised an eyebrow. "Heart Mirror?"
"It originates from an ancient country in the Western Regions, the Yuezhi Country—a copper mirror. The line of characters above the mirror is similar to Qiang script, meaning: ’Appearance may be true or false; the heart holds good and evil. Though appearances can be discerned, the heart must also be examined.’ Legend has it that ingenious artisans crafted the mirror for their queen, and it somehow acquired supernatural qualities. Later, after the Xiongnu vanquished the Yuezhi, the mirror made its way to the Central Plains. There, it caused more than ten bloody conflicts and changed owners several times before eventually disappearing without a trace. It’s only mentioned as a Second-level Mutated Object in the records. When I accompanied the Dean on a journey, he told me of its history. I never expected it to end up in the Jialan Sect’s possession."
Jiu Fenghai continued, "It figures. The one causing the disturbance can freely enter and exit the Floating Tower in front of several Great Practitioners, treating all kinds of Prohibitions as if they were nothing. Ordinary methods of detecting the Qi Sea, Spirit Vein, and meridians would certainly have no effect on him. On the contrary, the Heart Mirror might actually work." He paused, then muttered, "Still, the scene is bound to be unsightly."
Jiu Fenghai’s words were soon verified.
Under the supervision of the Martial Monks, one pilgrim after another went up to stand before the Heart Mirror. Most of them were devout men and women of the Zen faith, but the unspeakable secrets hidden in their hearts were stranger than the next.
The adulterous, those who came out, thieves, those who cheated on exams, those who abandoned their wives and children, murderers, and arsonists... The Illusions in the mirror came to life, reflecting the many despicable aspects of the people.
"How dare you! I was only on assignment for two months, and you’re already fooling around! I’ll kill you!"
"Ping’er, how could you... Fan Yi is your stepmother!"
"Constable Zhou, you actually took money to forge evidence and frame my brother?! When you were down and out, it was he who helped you!"
For a moment, the crowd was filled with cursing, fighting, grabbing, and accusations; the scene descended into chaos.
"Enough." Abbot Liao Wu shook his head. "Kong Hai, go get people to bring planks and build temporary rooms, allowing only one person in at a time so the other pilgrims can’t watch."
Upon hearing this, the remaining crowd who had not yet been inspected collectively sighed in relief. Some even knelt to express gratitude for Abbot Liao Wu’s wisdom.
"Ah, what a spectacle indeed! Outwardly honest, yet inwardly thieves and prostitutes; outwardly noble, yet secretly debased; outwardly dignified and serious, yet vile and unscrupulous; outwardly kind and generous, yet wicked and venomous."
The voice was neither loud nor soft, but amid a sea of pious words, it was still piercingly clear.
The plaza immediately fell silent. People looked around, trying to locate who was speaking.
"All you masters are also people of this assembly. Why not stand before the mirror yourselves and have a look? ’Correct your offspring and then yourself; aspire to be immortals and Buddhas, but first be human.’"
The voice spoke faintly, "Or is it that the masters also dare not?"
Silence fell over the plaza. Everyone, whether it was the gathered monks on the platform or the surrounding crowd, turned towards the source of the voice.
Yang Shijiu, the Jialan Sect’s lame and mute odd-job man.
Facing everyone’s gazes, he hobbled forward.
A band of Martial Monks quickly picked up their clubs, surrounding him as if facing a great threat.
"Yang Shijiu?" Master Kongwo exclaimed in shock. "How can you..."
"How can I speak? How can I stand out at this time?" The gaunt and elderly Yang Shijiu sighed deeply. "Master Kongwo, you are one of the few good people in this Jialan Sect. There’s no need to stay here for the burial. Escape now—if you can."
"Demon!" a Martial Monk suddenly bellowed, his staff whipping through the air with force, aimed at Yang Shijiu’s neck.
The rest of his comrades also took action, either casting Magic or chanting Buddhist sounds.
Yang Shijiu stood motionless, calmly lowering his eyelids.
WHOOSH— The club descending upon Yang Shijiu slowed in the air, gradually coming to a halt until frozen—along with the Martial Monk wielding it, both rooted to the spot.
Weapons, Buddhist sounds, Magic, Mind Implements, and Magic Artifacts... Everything around Yang Shijiu came to a standstill.
The enraged Martial Monks’ eyes bulged, their mouths agape, frozen in their last poses.