My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 792 - 494: Each Sticking to Their Own Argument (Combined - )_2

Chen Yi listened intently and observed Li Xian's current appearance.

Li Xian shook his sheep's head and said, "Back then she said to me, no need to be a beast of burden, and yet I didn't expect to become a sheep."

The nearby Li Chenghang, who had fallen to the ground, managed to stand up. Hearing the familiar tone, he looked startled.

Chen Yi, catching onto something, suddenly realized and exclaimed, "So you died and were reincarnated into a sheep!"

Li Xian nodded in acknowledgment and continued his narrative—this life, Duan Guanshi had instructed him to first achieve scholarly success and then invite her to the town.

At the time, Li Xian didn't understand why. Only now did it become clear: Duan Guanshi had long seen the unusual traits on him and had her sights set on the Five Deities venerated in the town.

Later, Li Xian passed the examination for the imperial scholar but chose not to take an official position. Reluctant to leave his family's estate, he found ways to decline and became merely an honorary officer. He prided himself on being a scholar, practicing the Middle Way.

Once he gained his scholarly recognition and returned to the town, Duan Guanshi followed shortly after, and within days, she became the caretaker at the town god temple.

Caretaker—a mere servant tending the incense flames. Yet, describing Duan Guanshi as a servant seems misplaced; she was more like the master of the Five Deities. Over the next three years, Li Xian observed: when regular townsfolk sought wealth or fame from the town deity, they were rarely answered. But if Duan Guanshi was present, their wishes were almost always granted.

Back then, Li Xian saw none of this. As a gentleman of the countryside, he believed a more responsive town deity to be a great blessing!

Li Xian watched with satisfaction and joy. Once Li Chenghang came of age, he urged him to worship the town deity and then take the imperial examinations.

Though Li Chenghang lacked devotion and talent, after worshipping, he passed the provincial exam and became a candidate for the imperial examination.

A son who achieved success at twenty—Li Xian couldn't be happier. Once Li Chenghang grew older and steadier, he thought his son's sincere devotion to the town deity would surely grant him a path to become an imperial scholar, just like himself.

The Su family may have boasted three imperial scholars, but his Li family with two scholars was close to matching it.

Delighted, Li Xian hosted a grand banquet for his son's accomplishment. He invited guests far and wide, rich and poor, near and distant, offering each a toast of the Scholar's Wine.

This time, among the guests, appeared someone unfamiliar—a Taoist.

The Taoist claimed he had come from the county and expressed curiosity about the desolation of the incense fires at the City God temple in town, asking Li Xian for details. As it's customary to treat guests well, Li Xian withheld nothing.

But as soon as he started speaking, the Taoist's face turned pale. He handed Li Xian a demon-revealing mirror and told him to take a look at the true form of the town deity.

Li Xian, seeing the fright in the Taoist's expression, dared not dismiss him. After two days, he secretly tested out the mirror, and the result…

The revelation nearly shattered his spirit.

Li Xian sought out the Taoist again, begging for solutions. The Taoist bluntly stated the only way to ensure peace was to invite back the City God and drive away the Five Deities.

Li Xian hesitated—the Five Deities had presided over the town for years. Despite their eeriness, their efficacy was undeniable.

The Taoist repeatedly warned that failing to act would invite disaster. Finally, he invoked the Four Principles to provoke him:

"'Establish the mind for Heaven and Earth, set life for the people, inherit the wisdom of past sages, and open peace for future generations.' As a scholar, can you live up to these four principles?"

Stirred with passion, Li Xian agreed to help the Taoist set up the Magic Platform and entered the town god temple, luring out the Five Deities.

However…

While Li Xian did succeed in luring out the Five Deities, he also secretly repeated the Taoist's words to the Five Deities, negotiating about inviting back the City God, hoping to please both sides.

As a gentleman of the countryside, he wished for peace while also fearing to drive away the town deity…

In the end,

The Taoist retreated gravely injured, and the Five Deities didn't grant gratitude. Instead, they turned on Li Xian, forcing him to help deal with Duan Guanshi.

Li Xian, terrified almost to the point of losing his soul, dared not refuse and hurriedly sought out Duan Guanshi…

Once again, he secretly revealed everything.

A true dilemma—at this life-threatening juncture, still trying to walk a Middle Way.

Duan Guanshi subdued the Five Deities but was injured in the process. To replenish herself, she demanded Li Xian's vital energy. At the same time, the Five Deities, consumed by hatred, agreed to be her eternal slaves in exchange for ensuring Li Xian's miserable end.

Forced on both sides, what use was being a scholar?

Out of options, Li Xian picked a lucky date from the almanac, tightened the noose, and hung himself, dying in deep despair…

...…...

Chen Yi listened to Li Xian recount everything and nodded slightly.

Besides the key points, he caught one detail.

Li Xian had received a demon-revealing mirror, so had Duan Zengshi, and both mirrors came from the Taoist. Could this Taoist be the same person?

Calculating the timeline, three years had passed since Li Xian's death. The Taoist still lingered in the county town—but why? Could it truly be out of a sense of justice, slaying demons and righting wrongs?

The world is not devoid of such people, yet Chen Yi pondered and found something amiss. If the Taoist truly intended to exorcise demons, wouldn't he call upon his fellow disciples? If he belonged to no sect or mentor, he would be a rogue cultivator—but most rogue cultivators would not linger in one place, preferring to roam.

Li Xian, perhaps parched after his recounting, moved to the courtyard, bent his sheep's head, and took a big mouthful of lush grass, as casually as sipping tea to quench one's thirst.

Li Chenghang stared wide-eyed at this scene, muttering, "Father? Is that really you?"

"It's me." Li Xian, after swallowing the grass, turned his gaze back.

Struggling to accept the reality, Li Chenghang pointed at himself, saying, "I—I… Just yesterday, I offered incense for you."

"Mm, you're a filial son. I know," Li Xian said flatly.

Li Chenghang, without missing a beat, replied, "You're also a filial father. Your son knows."

"Brat!"

With that, the sheep turned and kicked him with its hoof.

Li Chenghang cried out in pain, tumbling to the ground, shouting, "Damn it! It really is my father!"

Chen Yi, witnessing this scene, was briefly stunned. Ever since meeting Li Chenghang last night, the latter had been prim and proper. Now he revealed this side of him—unexpected.

But upon reflection, it's only natural; many people maintain decorum before strangers but are unrestrained around family. It also indirectly confirmed the sheep's identity as Li Xian.

After scolding his son, Li Xian turned his head and met Chen Yi's steady gaze as the latter contemplated.

"You haven't explained how you killed Duan Guanshi yet."

Li Xian spoke slowly, "It's simple. Recently, for some unknown reason, Duan Guanshi frequently ventured into the western forest. Each time she returned, she seemed more fatigued, more drained. So, seeing an opportunity, I and the Five Deities devised a plan to eliminate her.

Last night, as she entered the forest alone, the Five Deities made their move, restraining her against a willow tree. I immediately bit my tongue to spill sheep's blood, immobilizing her, and finally finished her off with my horn."

Sheep's blood has purifying powers, black sheep's blood being most potent, but white sheep's blood is also effective. Furthermore, tongue-tip blood has an added potency, and the willow tree is considered a sacred wood.

Yet…

Duan Zengshi exclaimed in shock, "She—she didn't die there! I—I saw it with my own eyes. Her body was taken away!"

"Impossible! I clearly killed her in the woods. Her corpse was left hanging on the willow tree." Li Xian, bewildered, retorted, even raising his sharp horn that still bore traces of dark blood.

Chen Yi frowned slightly,

The two accounts conflicted,

He furrowed his brow and calculated a divination—it confirmed both accounts as true.

Yin Tingxue glanced at the divination symbols and froze as well… Both seemed genuine.

Two conflicting truths. Neither side could convince the other. Li Chenghang turned to Chen Yi, asking repeatedly, "Master Taoist, what should we do about this?"

The Taoist's expression grew somber as water, his gaze lowered in thought, before he curved his lips in a faint smile.

"Brother Li, have you heard of Soul Search?"

Li Chenghang trembled with fear; his hair stood on end and his skin crawled.

He stammered, "Master Taoist, are you suggesting—"

"There's only one solution left."

The Taoist uttered four words:

"Kill them all."