Chapter 25: The Underlying Cause

“Enough. No matter what reasons you have for staying silent, I cannot force you.”
“Alas, all these days I have investigated Li Zikun, yet not a single clue has surfaced. I truly do not understand why this is so.”

Bai Feiyu let out a heavy sigh and prepared to leave.
Since no answers could be forced from here, he would have to seek another way.
He could not comprehend why the people of this village possessed such backbone, refusing to reveal anything about Li Zikun even when faced with life and death, as if Li Zikun were their own parent.
It was truly beyond his understanding.

Seeing Bai Feiyu’s sigh was genuine, the husband and wife exchanged a look of suspicion.
The wife seemed about to say something, but was sharply pinched by her husband.
Bai Feiyu naturally sensed their strange behavior, but since they were unwilling to speak, there was nothing more he could do.
He could only depart alone.

“My apologies for disturbing your peace. That was never my intention. I am truly sorry.”
“I lost my head earlier. Please, I hope you both can forgive me.”

After stepping out, Bai Feiyu bowed deeply to the couple, offering a sincere apology.
Regardless of anything else, he had indeed disrupted their domestic happiness just now.
Though an apology could not undo that, the least he could do was offer it.

His words made the wife tremble, and her face was soon streaked with tears.
Seeing this, the husband grew anxious and tried to cover her mouth, but she broke free from his grasp and slapped him hard across the face.

A crisp slap rang out.
“You spineless coward! Get out!”
She screamed hysterically, then ran after Bai Feiyu in a half-run.

Bai Feiyu, perceiving the commotion, stopped and turned back in confusion to look at the woman.

“I don’t care if you’ll kill me after I say it! I have to speak today!”
The woman shouted with all her strength, her voice carrying through the entire village.

Seeing her outburst, the husband’s face went deathly pale. He slumped into a chair, paralyzed.
This only deepened Bai Feiyu’s confusion.
He was here to save these people, so why did their reactions suggest a deep enmity with him?
Could it be that Bai Feiyu himself had once served Li Zikun, and after crossing over, he had forgotten these things?

“I have never wished to harm you. If there is anything, you can tell me.”
Bai Feiyu’s tone was calm.
Now, sensing a glimmer of hope, he had no intention of leaving.

Hearing this, the woman clung to him as if to a lifeline, tears streaming anew.
Earlier, when Bai Feiyu had stumbled upon them in bed and covered his eyes, she had begun to trust him.
He had not harmed them; instead, he had apologized.
Now she could bear it no longer. She had to tell the truth, or she would feel guilty for life.

“Immortal, please come inside. We will tell you everything about Li Zikun!”
Her voice choked with sobs as she stood alone in the night, her thin figure tinged with sorrow.
Bai Feiyu’s heart trembled, and he followed her into the house.

“Speak, then. We of the Guixu Sect will see justice done for you.”
“No matter your reasons for staying silent before, we forgive you, and we understand your difficulties.”
Bai Feiyu’s voice was full of care.

Realizing at last that he meant them no harm, the woman wept all the harder, wiping her tears as she spoke:
“We didn’t speak before because we were afraid.”
“There are spies for Li Zikun in the village, all of them villagers, hidden well. We don’t know who they are.”
“And Li Zikun, to prevent his secrets from being revealed, often sends his men in disguise—sometimes as disciples of the Guixu Sect—to question us about what we know of him.”
“If any of us speaks, we are killed at once. It’s happened many times. People cherish their lives; that’s why none of us dare tell you anything, and why we treat you as if you were plague—because we cannot be sure whether you are truly of the Guixu Sect or one of Li Zikun’s men.”

As she wiped her tears and spoke, Bai Feiyu’s confusion cleared in an instant.
So that was the reason. It was no wonder that his inquiries had yielded nothing.

No wonder, even when he had drawn his sword, this couple had chosen silence.
Evidently, Li Zikun’s men had pressed them even harder, with far crueler methods, and those who spoke were killed at once.

“You can tell me. I am not of Li Zikun’s people—I am truly of the Guixu Sect.”
“If I were Li Zikun’s man, the information you’ve just revealed would be reason enough to kill you.”
“As for the spies in the village, it’s late at night; even if they were awakened, they likely heard nothing.”
“Besides, I will keep a close eye on things here in the coming days. No matter what, I won’t let Li Zikun take revenge on you!”
Bai Feiyu swore with conviction.

Hearing his assurances, the couple broke down in tears. The husband—a man of great stature—sobbed uncontrollably, saying to Bai Feiyu:
“Immortal, at last you’ve come! You have no idea what we’ve endured.”
“Our child was taken by Li Zikun for his dark arts. Our parents died of grief when they heard, and we ourselves were tested by Li Zikun’s people after the child was taken, to see if we would betray him.”
“That Li Zikun deserves to die!”

Bai Feiyu listened patiently as the couple railed bitterly against Li Zikun, inwardly aghast at his cruelty.
By their account, Li Zikun’s crimes could not be atoned for even by a thousand deaths.
Yet because the Guixu Sect had sent no one before, Li Zikun had grown ever more brazen.

“Enough. Now that I am here, all of this will soon be over. Li Zikun—I will see him destroyed.”
“Now, can you tell me where Li Zikun’s lair is? Since I arrived here, I have searched but found nothing. I have been unable to act. I hope you can tell me!”
Bai Feiyu’s voice was low and resolute.