The Aloof Lord's Mysterious Wife
Chapter 315: Utter Foolishness

Chapter 315: Utter Foolishness

Ye Siheng raised an eyebrow. "You came prepared this time."

"Well, if I’m looking for trouble, I must look the part," Nanli replied.

Having made preparations, Nanli leisurely ascended the mountain with Ye Siheng, taking in the scenery around Sanqing Temple.

It had to be said that Sanqing Temple was truly a land of great geomantic fortune and wealth accumulation.

The Black Armor Guard had already secured all entrances and exits of the temple.

Qing Feng led Ming Hao and two or three other Daoists out, sweeping their dusting cloths while grumbling, "In front of the Ancestors of the Three Pure Ones, how can you be so disrespectful!"

"Your ancestors have long been driven to reincarnation by your group of descendants, unseen," Nanli retorted casually as she entered the temple.

Upon seeing Nanli, Ming Hao’s expression stiffened briefly, a hint of panic flashing in his eyes. However, he quickly regained his composure and cleared his throat, adopting a respectful tone, "Ninth Princess, while it’s true that a Qi Nation spy once infiltrated Sanqing Temple, we were completely unaware of it. It’s been so long since then, are you here to revisit this matter?"

Nanli glanced at Ming Hao and the others.

She counted on her fingers. "There are four of you here. Are the other four your reinforcements?"

The faces of Ming Hao and the others changed dramatically.

"What is the Ninth Princess talking about? This Daoist truly cannot comprehend," Ming Hao insisted stubbornly.

"The Eight Trigram Soul-Locking Array in the secret forest, wasn’t that your doing? Do I need to spell it out for you?" Nanli’s recent busyness with other matters and lack of evidence had prevented her from troubling them at Sanqing Temple until now.

Ming Hao vehemently denied, "What Soul-Locking Array? Ninth Princess, please refrain from slandering!"

As he shouted, he withdrew a teleportation talisman he had hidden earlier.

"Move!"

But the teleportation talisman in his hand had no effect whatsoever.

Ming Hao was stunned.

This talisman was drawn by Ming Xu himself. How could it fail?

One of the Daoists, furious, cursed, "Take a good look! There’s a formation laid out in these mountains, and talismans have long been used!"

Ming Hao looked up and saw golden light flowing overhead, faintly revealing rune-like patterns.

Embarrassed, he quickly retracted the teleportation talisman. "Haha, I just wanted to test the power of this formation, and indeed, it has enlightened me. However, Ninth Princess, I truly know nothing about the Eight Trigram Soul-Locking Array you mentioned."

Nanli lifted her eyes without hesitation. Her figure had already swept in front of Ming Hao.

Ming Hao instinctively tried to strike.

With quick eyes and hands, Nanli grabbed his wrist and exerted a hidden force.

Ming Hao exerted all his strength but couldn’t pull his hand back, visibly alarmed.

"Ninth Princess, how can you act so frivolously in front of Ninth Prince? Release me at once!"

"Don’t rush," Nanli replied nonchalantly. "Take a look. Using the Soul-Locking Array doesn’t leave any traces, but refining malevolent spirits always leaves a residue of evil energy on the body and hands. Daoist Ming Hao, you’ve been practicing for years. Surely you’re not unaware of this?"

Ming Hao protested, "Nonsense! I’ve been cultivating uprightly. How could I commit such..."

However, Nanli used a talisman immediately revealing the true form of Ming Hao and his companions.

Ordinary people might not see clearly, but any young Daoist who had spent a few years in the temple could discern the lingering evil energy entwined around Ming Hao and the others!

The young Daoists were dumbfounded.

Although the Temple Master’s skills were mediocre, he was known for his upright character, and they had always respected Ming Hao.

But now, to think that Ming Hao and several senior brothers were involved in such sinister affairs!

Sanqing Temple was doomed!

Ming Hao’s face turned pale, his lips trembling incessantly. He never expected that the concealment talisman he had painstakingly drawn would be exposed by Nanli in front of his disciples!

His dignity was utterly shattered!

A hint of fierceness flashed in his eyes, and his other hand’s dusting cloth suddenly thrust towards Nanli.

A sharp hidden weapon was concealed within the dusting cloth, clearly poisoned, and its icy blue gleam was menacing.

"A’Li!" Ye Siheng was extremely tense.

As he spoke, Nanli effortlessly deflected the attack with a grappling hand technique, then disarmed Ming Hao.

A wail echoed through the mountains.

Ming Hao collapsed to his knees, large beads of cold sweat forming on his forehead.

Ye Siheng hurried to Nanli’s side, his brows still furrowed with worry. "Are you alright?"

"I’m fine. His movements were too slow; trying to ambush someone was just reckless," Nanli replied nonchalantly, shaking her head lightly.

Seeing Ming Hao humiliated by a younger generation member, he almost spat out blood.

The other Daoists immediately tried to shift blame:

"Your Highness, Your Majesty, it was Ming Hao who ordered us to act. As the Temple Master, we had no choice!"

"Yes, yes, we advised against it several times, but it was futile."

"Not only that, he colluded with the Duke of Jin and didn’t even share a single coin with us!"

By the end, the Daoists were becoming increasingly furious.

While they cultivated the Dao, they were not free from worldly desires. After all, people still needed to eat.

Ye Siheng had no interest in their internal strife.

He glanced coldly and ordered, "You have committed grave sins in cultivating evil entities. Instead of being escorted back to the capital for trial, you will be executed here."

"Yes!" Qing Feng obeyed the command and gestured for the men to be taken to the execution site behind the mountain, so as not to offend the eyes of Your Highness and Your Majesty.

The Daoists cried out for mercy.

Meanwhile, Ming Hao glared angrily at Nanli. "You wretched girl! It’s because of you that our Sanqing Temple has fallen into decline, unable to afford even rice! If not for the disciples starving, how could I have fallen so low as to refine malevolent spirits?"

Nanli smiled disdainfully, "You’re good at justifying yourself. How much business can I do alone with drawing a few talismans? If you truly had the ability, the common people wouldn’t have to waste time and effort going elsewhere for talismans."

Ye Siheng sighed rarely and said, "Enough, release these Daoists. Their Temple Master is incredibly foolish; they were just caught up in his mistakes, but their crimes don’t deserve death."

The Daoists were overwhelmed with joy, repeatedly bowing in gratitude.

Ming Hao couldn’t bear to hear such words about his foolishness. He was only lacking in skill, not foolish!

Through gritted teeth, he said, "Shut up! I’m just not as skilled as others, not foolish!"

Ye Siheng quietly smiled, showing a hint of mockery, "Your talismans were useless. You couldn’t save Liang Zhen’s son. He should have killed you to vent his anger, but instead, he chose to cooperate with you. Isn’t that foolish?"

Ming Hao froze, his eyes widening slightly.

To kill a man and uproot his heart was the cruelest way.

The other Daoists and young Daoists looked at each other, showing a look of disdain, contempt, or resentment.

Their Temple Master believed it was cooperation but had fallen into a trap someone else had set.

Even if this matter succeeded, Ming Hao would have a touch of evil on him, and there would be no chance of returning to the true path.

For a cultivator, what could be more painful than this?

It had to be said that Liang Zhen’s heart was truly ruthless.

At this moment, Ming Hao understood, after being reminded by others, that he was indeed foolish! There was no cure!