The sole warmth in the dark secret chamber was the flickering candlelight.
The candlelight swayed, casting You Su’s shadow unsteadily.
You Su remained silent, seemingly struggling to make a decision.
Qiao Xiuyun didn’t understand the underlying complexities; in her view, she simply wanted to bring her sister’s body back home, to be buried in the black sandstone their ancestors were inseparable from.
The poor girl was unaware that she couldn’t take the evil corpse away and might face a disaster because of it.
Ji Lingruo glanced at the woman in a purple dress half-hidden in the shadows, Zi Yiyi without a veil, her defined features outlined by the candlelight adding to the gravity.
She abruptly raised her eyes, meeting Ji Lingruo’s gaze, straightened her back slightly, and said coldly:
"I will not choose to overlook this; I will definitely take this body back to the Exorcism Bureau for investigation. If the situation is true, it will be handled according to the law."
Ji Lingruo tightly bit her thin lips; what she feared most had happened.
Zi Yiyi was just an unemotional observer to them; in her eyes, Qiao Xiuyun was no different from a stranger. She only cared about two things: whether You Su’s assessment could be completed and whether this evil spirit could be eradicated.
This observer’s perspective also doomed her to never protect Qiao Xiuying; You Su’s choice couldn’t sway the situation at all.
Ji Lingruo felt desperate due to Zi Yiyi’s resolution, squeezing Qiao Xiuyun’s little hand full of sadness.
Initially, she couldn’t understand Mr. Xiang’s words ’Once this coffin is opened, it can’t be closed,’ but now she realized it’s not the coffin lid, but human hearts that can’t be closed.
"If it’s determined that Qiao Xiuyun and her family are unrelated to this matter... I will strive to lighten their punishment, doing my best to preserve their lives."
Zi Yiyi’s cold eyes showed a trace of reluctant compassion.
Upon these words, Ji Lingruo’s face regained vitality:
"Thank you..."
For the first time, Ji Lingruo spoke so softly to Zi Yiyi, even nudging Qiao Xiuyun’s shoulder, "Xiuyun, quickly thank Yiyi."
Qiao Xiuyun’s eyes brimmed with tears, realizing her fate was in the hands of the person before her:
"Thank you, Yiyi."
Zi Yiyi wasn’t an emotionless weapon; the idea of a girl traveling far to find her sister only to die because of her was hard to accept, yet she still replied sternly:
"Don’t be too optimistic; although their lives might be spared, Qiao Xiuying’s mistakes will still need atoning. Fortunately, your sister hasn’t harmed anyone else, only led to her own death."
With these words, the method of handling Qiao Xiuying’s body seemed to have reached a definite conclusion.
"May I ask, Fairy, what is your position in the Exorcism Bureau?" Mr. Xiang inquired politely.
"Master of Xuan Order."
Upon being exposed, Zi Yiyi didn’t hide any longer.
"Already an envoy of Xuan Order in the Middle Condensed Water Realm, there’s potential for a promising future."
Mr. Xiang sincerely praised, recognizing this woman’s unusual status in the Central Continent Exorcism Bureau.
The Exorcism Bureau is divided into four levels based on power and merit—Heaven, Earth, Xuan, and Huang.
In fact, most people in the Exorcism Bureau are just at Huang level, having seen some lower-level evil spirits and possessing experience in battling them. The higher the level, the fewer the numbers, with rumors that there are only around ten Heaven-Controlling Order’s exorcists across the Five Continents.
"Since the matter here is settled, please take the body back for assignment, Fairy. When next you visit Mo Ye City to pass judgment on me, I will surely entertain you well."
Mr. Xiang walked to the secret chamber’s door, clearly intending to send them off.
Zi Yiyi knew it was crucial now to immediately deliver the evil corpse back to the Exorcism Bureau for thorough research. She didn’t show much respect to the city lord, saying simply:
"Let’s go."
Saying that, she approached the stone coffin and took out a large, pure white shroud to take away Qiao Xiuying’s body.
Spiritual energy flowed on the shroud; it’s a specialized fabric ensuring the corpse’s state and effectively isolating evil energy.
Yet, You Su stood firmly before the coffin, staring at the female corpse without moving, showing no intention to leave.
Zi Yiyi frowned slightly, understanding why You Su was reluctant to leave:
"No need to worry, your task was completed well. This matter clearly has no relation to Fairy Wangshu’s oversight, being affected by human control of evil spirits. Thus, we needn’t wait for Fairy Wangshu to arrive, we can directly conclude."
Zi Yiyi practically revealed the assessment results to You Su in advance; in her view, You Su should now release the burden and peacefully return to Divine Mountain. Yet, why remained unmoved, as if enchanted by the female corpse, even slightly leaning in, seemingly ready to climb into the coffin.
She assumed You Su didn’t hear her earlier words due to being too focused, thus repeated:
"Let’s go, I will preserve Qiao Xiuying’s family’s lives."
"Why preserve their lives?"
You Su suddenly stood up, at the same time Mr. Xiang opened the secret chamber door, letting in a large flow of light onto You Su. His clear eyes sparkled with brilliance due to reflection, holding a divine aura.
Standing outside, Mr. Xiang immediately paused, turning to look at You Su with some confusion:
"Does Mr. Ye want to eradicate them completely?"
With this, Qiao Xiuyun’s face turned pale with fright.
Zi Yiyi also showed shock; in her impression, You Su wasn’t supposed to be such a ruthless person.
You Su chuckled lightly, responding leisurely:
"They are without guilt, why preserve their lives? Isn’t this creating something from nothing?"