The Interrogation of Bai Yunbo

The arrogance Bai Yunbo had displayed moments before had now completely dissolved into abject wretchedness. Seizing him, they delivered two sharp blows. His left eye was already swollen black, and they seemed intent on completing the ‘panda eye’ look by bruising his right as well. Xu Qingzhu produced a rope, binding him tightly, and then, with precise movements, sealed his acupoints, effectively preventing him from circulating any spiritual energy.

“Ridiculous! A true scholar may be killed, but never humiliated! If you possess any shred of ability, then kill me outright!” The ‘Bai Yunbo,’ utterly devoid of patience after their relentless torment, bellowed in fury. His eyes, wide and blazing with indignation, made him appear, to any unaware observer, like a valiant martyr.

“Xu Qingzhu, I’m sensing something amiss,” Su Mo murmured, a note of suspicion in her voice. She still hadn’t caught sight of Lian Huan.

“Indeed,” Xu Qingzhu affirmed with a nod, then effortlessly leaped onto the rooftop. Blinking her eyes, Su Mo gazed up at the sky, where a vast expanse of white mist obscured everything. She was utterly perplexed.

“Where has he gone?”

“Thud.” A figure tumbled from the rooftop, and to Su Mo’s astonishment, it was another Bai Yunbo. The two Bai Yunbos, one on each side, exchanged glances. The earlier bravado about ‘a scholar may be killed’ vanished completely; neither dared utter such words again.

Xu Qingzhu descended moments later, his sword held upright, a faint, knowing smile gracing his lips as he spoke:

“Daoist Bai, a scholar may be killed, you say?”

“What *he* said has absolutely nothing to do with me. I am his elder brother, and my name is Bai Yunhou,” the *real* Bai Yunbo declared, gesturing towards the bound ‘Bai Yunbo’ with an expression of profound innocence.

Xu Qingzhu merely offered a subtle smile. What kind of man was he? A True Lord Dàngpǔ, one who would not rest until every last member of his enemies’ clans had been utterly eradicated. He had discerned the true Bai Yunbo at a single glance.

Squinting her eyes, Su Mo, however, couldn’t distinguish that one of them was merely an intricate paper effigy. Picking up a sturdy stick, she struck both figures once, then clapped the dust from her hands before inquiring sharply:

“Demonic Daoist, where are those people you harmed currently imprisoned?”

“Bai Yunbo, you speak,” the real Bai Yunbo instructed the paper effigy.

“Elder brother, Little Bo here dares not speak. I fear that if I reveal anything, they will surely kill me…”

“Oh, what ever shall we do?” The two Bai Yunbos volleyed words back and forth, playing their parts with remarkable conviction. It was as if they were genuinely brothers, bound by ties thicker than blood.

Glancing from one to the other, Su Mo proposed:

“How about this: the one who speaks will be allowed to live? Seeing such brotherly deference makes it quite difficult to choose.”

“Ah?” Bai Yunbo uttered, as if a question mark had appeared above his head.

The tone abruptly shifted as the *true* Bai Yunbo turned to the paper effigy and declared:

“Little Bo, your elder brother has pressing family matters, and I cannot be absent. As a younger brother, you must understand the importance of filial piety towards your elder brother.”

“Elder brother, I…”

Truth be told, Bai Yunbo possessed remarkable eloquence. Indeed, as a fortune-teller, his words were truly moving and heartfelt. In that brief span, the paper effigy, ‘Bai Yunbo,’ had performed the entire spectrum of emotions: from reluctance and regret, culminating in a poignant acceptance and noble sacrifice.

“Elder brother, you must strive to live on!” The paper effigy offered a bitter smile.

“Alas, I still know not of their fate…” Even as he sighed, he subtly cast a glance in their direction.

Having no intention of prolonging the charade, Xu Qingzhu raised his sword and, with a swift motion, directly slit the paper effigy’s throat. Yet, even with half its head severed, the paper effigy’s eyes continued to dart about, unmistakably indicating it was not truly vanquished. Peering into its neck, they found nothing but an ethereal white mist that refused to dissipate.

“This is fake?” Su Mo exclaimed in astonishment. It was truly an eye-opening revelation. Turning her head to face the ashen-faced Bai Yunbo, Su Mo felt a genuine pang of wasted sentiment.

“To think I offered you brothers a choice, only for you to deceive me so!” she seethed, gritting her teeth.

Her words, far from calming him, ignited Bai Yunbo’s fury even further:

“What kind of damned choice was that?! And you have the audacity to speak, making yourself out to be some benevolent savior! Bah!”

Feeling utterly wronged, Su Mo tugged at Xu Qingzhu’s sleeve, pointing a trembling finger as she said pitifully:

“Xu Qingzhu, he spat at me.”

“Mm.” Xu Qingzhu subtly raised his sword, and Bai Yunbo, surprisingly, offered no objection. Withdrawing his neck and tucking in his legs, Bai Yunbo transformed into a figure akin to a ‘meek wife,’ his gaze filled with a profound sense of resentment and desolation.

‘A tiger fallen to the plains is bullied by dogs. Just you wait until I’m free!’ Bai Yunbo fumed inwardly.

“Speak,” Xu Qingzhu finally commanded, his voice devoid of all warmth.

Understanding that speaking was inevitable, Bai Yunbo shed every last vestige of his former arrogance. He began to recount the events of the past several years, detailing them as meticulously as if listing precious family heirlooms.

“You’re straying from the topic. I asked about your most recent daughter,” Xu Qingzhu interjected, helpfully nudging his memory with the tip of his sword, a gesture of extreme ‘kindness’.

“You beast! My daughter is only fourteen years old; are you implying you intend to lay hands on her?!” Bai Yunbo suddenly erupted in fury, his tone laced with utter disdain. He presented an image as if utterly unafraid of death.

Nodding subtly, Xu Qingzhu turned to Su Mo, silently prompting her to speak. In that shared glance, she suddenly realized that Xu Qingzhu had, in fact, grasped her unspoken ‘rescue plan.’ And his lack of rebuttal meant it was a success. She spoke without a hint of mercy:

“Bai Yunbo, you’re nearing fifty, aren’t you?”

“What of it?”

“Your fourteen-year-old daughter—did someone else bear her for you?” Su Mo asked, a frown creasing her brow.

“I had a child late in life!”

“Is that so? Then do you know her name?” Su Mo pressed further.

“Of course I know! I was the one who named her—she’s Bai Yun!” Bai Yunbo’s voice was firm, almost defiant.

“Oh, oh… *Ah*?!” It was Su Mo’s turn to be utterly dumbfounded. The name felt incredibly familiar. In the books, there was a Ghost Mother who nurtured countless spirits and held dominion over a vast territory. ‘Bai Yun’… could her true identity actually be Lian Huan? ‘Heaven-defying,’ she thought. ‘A powerful figure is actually right here beside me?’

“What? Still don’t believe me?” Bai Yunbo pressed, seemingly eager to prolong the argument.

Su Mo subtly shook her head, her expression hardening as she subtly gestured to Xu Qingzhu, signaling him to proceed. She couldn’t bear to watch, so she closed her eyes, only to hear a chorus of agonizing screams.

‘Xu Qingzhu possesses skills even in extracting confessions; he truly knows so much,’ Su Mo mused, a sudden, vivid scene flashing into her mind. In a lavish, intimate room, she found herself bound to a bed by Xu Qingzhu.

“Have you agreed to become my wife?”

“You’re dreaming!”

“*Slap, slap!*… And now?”

“I—mmph!… I spit!”

…It was far too terrifying; she dared not dwell on the thought. Just as he had coerced the location from Bai Yunbo, Xu Qingzhu turned around to find Su Mo squirming, her face covered, lost in some unknown thought.

“…Wife Su, it is done.”

“Silence! I am not your wife!” Su Mo retorted, her reaction so vehement she nearly leaped into the air.

“I said, I’ve located the girl,” Xu Qingzhu clarified, looking rather speechless. However, the casual clatter of the iron chains dropping to the ground made Su Mo tremble, and she fell silent.

“Mm,” she murmured softly, her gaze demurely lowered, adopting an air of unexpected gentility. What a truly fickle woman.

After a brief exchange of instructions, Su Mo set off, departing first to undertake the rescue. From the description, it was a matter of utmost urgency. Xu Qingzhu, however, remained behind, seemingly intent on ‘handling’ Bai Yunbo further.

As he watched Su Mo depart, Xu Qingzhu’s entire aura transformed. His previous placid demeanor dissolved, replaced by an oppressive, terrifying presence imbued with palpable killing intent. Like a vengeful specter, he spoke in a low, chilling tone:

“Bai Yunbo, I’m going to have you calculate one person’s whereabouts. You had best not try any tricks.”

“Mmph, mmph…” His mouth gagged, Bai Yunbo nodded his head like a pestle, not daring to harbor a single wicked thought. Xu Qingzhu was a professional at ‘training.’

“Listen closely. Her name is… Lu Yanling. Where is she?”

Su Mo, unaware of this ‘pleasant exchange,’ sped like the wind towards a certain location within the city. It was an extremely secluded and dilapidated place, yet it concealed a hidden cellar. Following the method Bai Yunbo had divulged, Su Mo quickly opened it, pushing the entrance aside with one hand.

“Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh—!!” A blast of frigid, eerie wind rushed forth, causing Su Mo’s hair to ‘take flight.’ Raking a hand through her disheveled locks, she momentarily pondered how powerful cultivators managed to keep their hairstyles immaculate. Shaking off the absurd thought, Su Mo leaped down, her ears immediately assaulted by a chorus of bizarre, whispering laughter. It felt as if she had entered a demonic lair, with grotesque figures dancing wildly in the surrounding gloom. Yet, she understood these were mere illusions; Xu Qingzhu had specifically warned her there would be no actual threats. ‘I always end up trusting him unknowingly…’ Patting her forehead, Su Mo dismissed the thought, and alone, ventured deeper into the darkness.