Chapter 242. Who Exactly Is Lin Nianci?

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Lin Nianci was too weak to speak, and could only mouth the words, “I don’t understand what you’re saying.”

Fan Jialuo crouched down, extended his slender fingertips, and gently plucked out one of Lin Nianci’s few remaining white hairs, chuckling softly, “I knocked down the sculpture in the Holy Maiden Hall, do you understand now?”

Standing behind him, Song Rui added casually, “It wasn’t just in Beijing, the Holy Maiden Hall across the country were demolished.”

Chang Sheng stared at them in disbelief, his voice filled with anger, “What right do you have to demolish the Holy Maiden Hall of our Tianshui Temple? The golden statue of our venerable Enci Shibo is enshrined there. You are committing sacrilege!”

Fan Jialuo’s lips, which had been pursed in a slight smile, slowly straightened, and his gentle voice suddenly took on a chilling tone, “Sacrilege? Is Song Enci worthy of such a word? There will never be any gods in this world, because I will not allow it.”

Lin Nianci shook her head from side to side, tears streaming down her face. Her expression was anxious and helpless, but she couldn’t utter a single word. She could only mouth the words, “I’m not, I’m not, I’m Lin Nianci.”

Fan Jialuo blew away the strand of white hair, slowly stood up, looked down at her, and said in a deep voice, “I just knocked down the statue, and you’ve already suffered a backlash. Do you think I’d believe you?”

“I’m really not Song Enci, that’s my mother. I don’t understand a word you’re saying.” Lin Nianci’s aged face was already submerged in tears. She began to fear this inexplicable person in front of her, and also began to feel helpless and confused about her situation. She truly didn’t know why she had become like this.

Unable to speak, she could only mouth her words to defend herself, her nose emitting soft sobs, her fragile and helpless appearance making her seem so innocent.

Even Song Rui, who possessed the ability to read minds, wavered after carefully observing her micro-expressions. However, this professional judgment was far from enough to overshadow his trust in Fan Jialuo, so he simply stood aside without saying a word.

Chang Sheng finally understood the whole story and was instantly enraged, “Fan Jialuo, you’ve gone too far! Just because you suspected Nianci was Enci Shibo, you destroyed our Tianshui Temple’s Holy Maiden Hall! You’re truly ruthless! Let me tell you, Nianci is Nianci, and Enci Shibo is Enci Shibo, they can’t possibly be the same person. When Shizu found Nianci, she was covered in blood, still connected by an umbilical cord, clutching half of Enci Shibo’s sleeve, and was so small, barely the size of Shizu’s palm. She was carried for ten months by Enci Shibo and given birth, and her soul was kept in a water vat for decades to stabilize. Shouldn’t you know better than anyone where Enci Shibo went and what happened to her? You killed her, and now you’re trying to find an excuse to kill Nianci? What deep-seated hatred do you have for those two women? Have you gone mad?”

As Chang Sheng questioned them, Chang Zhen and Lin Nian’en had already taken out their magical artifacts and were ready for battle.

However, Fan Jialuo ignored them completely, only lowering his eyes and staring at Lin Nianci for a long time until she was trembling all over before slowly saying, “I don’t know what method you used to turn yourself into an infant and grow up again, but I will find evidence to prove that you are Song Enci.”

He tapped his temple, his tone so matter-of-fact, “My intuition tells me that you are Song Enci, and you should know that I have never been wrong in terms of intuition.”

Lin Nianci opened her parched, bloodied lips and silently replied, word by word, “You’re completely out of your mind.”

Fan Jialuo smiled dismissively and glanced at Chang Sheng and the others.

The three men holding the peach wood swords couldn’t help but take a few steps back, then quickly stood still after realizing they had shown their fear.

Fan Jialuo bent down, reached out and gently stroked Lin Nianci’s pale and sparse hair, and asked softly, “When will your Shifu be able to come and save you?”

Lin Nianci naturally couldn’t answer, while Chang Sheng threatened him with a fierce but weak tone, “Shifu and Shizu will be arriving in Beijing soon, and they will naturally come looking for you then! Let go of ShiMei and stay away from her!”

Chang Sheng brandished his peach wood sword and charged forward, only to be horrified to find himself trapped in an invisible space. He could see others, and others could see him, but six walls made of air inexplicably rose up around him, isolating him.

Chang Zhen and Lin Nian’en encountered the same situation. They were fiercely attacking the transparent walls with their magical artifacts, but they couldn’t break through. They still existed in the mortal world, yet they were trapped within it. This ability was clearly a variant of Ma You’s spatial manipulation, yet it seemed to surpass it!

The Tianshui Sect also possesses techniques for trapping people, but they must draw talismans or arrays, making it impossible to achieve what Fan Jialuo does so effortlessly. With just a casual glance, a brief breath, or even a flicker of his will, he can silently activate his abilities to trap and kill several people. He seems even more powerful than when they first met!

Let alone the fact that he was only facing three people, even if there were thirty more, they would probably be completely subdued by him in a single exchange.

Just as Chang Sheng thought of this, he saw that the senior monks were also blocked by an invisible wall. They wanted to go up to the altar to help, but they could only stand still. Even Abbot Changjing’s staff could not break through this barrier.

Now, the only ones who could move freely were Lin Nianci, Fan Jialuo, and Song Rui. But Lin Nianci was too weak to move, so how could she save herself?

Chang Sheng broke out in a cold sweat, pounding his fists into the invisible space while shouting, “Fan Jialuo, if you dare touch a hair on ShiMei’s head, our Tianshui Sect will hunt you down to the ends of the earth!”

Upon hearing this, Fan Jialuo showed no hesitation. Instead, he plucked a strand of Lin Nianci’s white hair with his fingertips, waved his hand, and let it drift away in the wind. His actions infuriated Chang Sheng and the others, and also completely destroyed the fragile sense of acceptance they had painstakingly developed toward him

How could Fan Jialuo be a good person? He is just too good at pretending!

“Fan Jialuo, release ShiMei at once! Otherwise, Shizu will kill you with his own hands! Shizu will arrive in the capital soon, you can’t escape!” Chang Sheng shouted hoarsely, while Chang Zhen and Lin Nian’en were also frantic.

Song Rui shook his head and chuckled, “Don’t believe them. They themselves don’t even know when that so-called Shizu will arrive.” Lying to his face, these people are really amusing.

Having received a definite answer, Fan Jialuo squatted down and examined Lin Nianci’s aged face with great interest.

Faced with absolute power, Chang Sheng and the others had no power to resist and could only watch helplessly as he placed his hand on Lin Nianci’s forehead, extracting the last bit of life from her.

Lin Nianci trembled with fear, her low sobs turning into broken moans, her mouth opening and closing in silent pleading, “Please let me go, I beg you!”

The response she received was Fan Jialuo’s serene smile and even faster absorption.

This was the first time Song Rui had ever seen Fan Jialuo absorb someone else’s life force and he couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows, showing a surprised look. Unless he loathed someone to the absolute extreme, he would never commit an act so contrary to his principles, it appears that the animosity between him and Song Enci runs incredibly deep, to the point of becoming a bitter, life-and-death struggle.

After a short while, Fan Jialuo withdrew his hand and placed his fair palm flat in front of Dr. Song’s eyes.

Song Rui immediately put aside those chaotic thoughts, took out a pack of disinfectant wipes from his pocket, and carefully wiped him down, glancing at Lin Nianci out of the corner of his eye.

Surprisingly, Lin Nianci had lost all her hair and teeth, and her body was as withered as a skeleton. Yet, a breath remained in her nasal cavity, intermittent and very weak, and it was unknown when it would suddenly stop.

Fan Jialuo took away her life, but left her with a chance to linger on.

Having done all this, he jumped off the altar and strode away. As he walked away, the invisible walls gradually thinned and then disappeared completely, freeing those who had been trapped. Chang Sheng and the other two rushed to Lin Nianci, knelt down, and their eyes immediately welled up with tears.

Her condition was already extremely critical, and with Fan Jialuo’s actions, she was already halfway to death, with no chance of her master and grandmaster coming to save her.

“Abbot Changjing, please come and see my ShiMei!” Chang Sheng cried out helplessly.

Chang Zhen and Lin Nian’en knelt beside the dying Lin Nianci, wanting to touch her but not daring to reach out, for fear that she would disappear like a grain of sand in the wind.

Abbot Changjing gave Fan Jialuo a deep look before quickly stepping onto the altar, taking Lin Nianci’s pulse, and shaking his head, saying, “Amituofu, even this humble monk cannot save Benefactor Lin, her life force is about to be cut off.”

“Didn’t you restore her youth by chanting sutras for her before? Keep chanting!” Lin Nian’en urged anxiously.

“The blessing of prayers takes time.” Abbot Changjing waved his hand, “Benefactor Lin does not have enough time.”

“How could this be? It’s impossible!” Lin Nian’en burst into tears as he spoke, then suddenly looked at Fan Jialuo, his eyes flashing with deep-seated hatred.

Abbot Changjing knew that Lin Nianci was beyond saving, but he still gathered all the monks in the temple to chant sutras and bless her.

The ethereal chanting of Buddhist scriptures rose and swirled, shaking the heavens, yet it couldn’t shake Fan Jialuo’s cold expression. He ignored Lin Nian’en’s hatred and paid no heed to the murderous aura emanating from Chang Sheng and Chang Zhen. He simply said slowly, “Song Enci holds the other half of the Double Fish Pendant. That jade pendant belongs to Yang, to Truth, and to the birth of all things, so she will never die. I’ll bet you all that by tomorrow morning, she will naturally be back to normal. Unless we push her to the brink, how will she willingly reveal her identity?”

“You’re out of your mind!” Chang Sheng roared, “You’re willing to toy with human lives just for a conjecture?”

Fan Jialuo chuckled, “I’m not toying with a human life. I am toying with Song Enci. Don’t worry, her life is tougher than anyone else’s.” The implication was that he absolutely refused to acknowledge Song Enci as human, so he could manipulate her fate without any qualms.

He really is the murderer who killed his ShiShuzu and Shibo! He is utterly depraved! Chang Sheng was filled with anger and hatred, clearly wanting to kill him with his own hands, but he was powerless to do so.

Chang Zhen and Lin Nian’en had already decided to perish together with Fan Jialuo, and they took out all their most treasured magical artifacts.

Seeing that a bloody battle was about to break out, Abbot Changjing immediately stepped forward to separate the two groups of people, and said gently but firmly, “Amituofu, please give me face, Benefactor Fan, and refrain from resorting to violence within the precincts of Longyin Temple, otherwise this old monk shall personally see you off the mountain premises.” He had fully expected that he would inevitably have to take action, yet, much to his surprise, Fan Jialuo merely cast a deep, penetrating glance at him before turning away and departing, without uttering a single word of provocation or difficulty.

Abbot Changjing was stunned.

Without turning his head, Fan Jialuo said, “I’ll be waiting for Song Enci outside the temple. Even if you don’t chant sutras, she won’t die.”

Abbot Changjing didn’t believe him at all. After getting rid of this big trouble, he immediately sat down cross-legged under the altar and sincerely chanted sutras for Lin Nianci. He could see that she was already burdened by evil karma and her life was coming to an end, but this evil karma came from elsewhere and had little to do with her personally, so she still had to be saved.

As soon as Fan Jialuo and Song Rui stepped out of Longyin Temple, the gate behind them slammed shut and was locked, as if afraid that they would force their way in.

“What do we do now?” Song Rui asked in a light tone.

“Wait here tonight.” Fan Jialuo casually found a stone bench to sit on, took out his phone and said, “I’ll call Director Meng and ask him to help pick up Yangyang.”

“Let Wennuan pick him up, she’s better at taking care of children.” Song Rui also took out his phone.

“Okay. I’ll send Yangyang an apology text message.” As he said this, a hint of guilt inevitably showed between Fan Jialuo’s brows.

“He’ll understand. We’ll make do in the car tonight, and I happened to bring a blanket.” Song Rui took a down comforter from the trunk and laid it out on the back seat.

“Don’t come near me, you’ll get the cold.” Fan Jialuo stared at his cold hands, a hint of obscurity appearing in his dark eyes.

“I’m not afraid of the cold.” Song Rui took off his trench coat and wrapped himself and Fan Jialuo together, his laughter low and cheerful, “I’m lending you my body heat, you should keep it safe.”

Upon hearing this, Fan Jialuo’s pursed lips couldn’t help but curve into a smile. He proactively closed the gaps in his coat, leaned against the warm chest behind him, and then released a magnetic field, tightly locking the intense heat onto his body. As a result, his originally lifeless and cold body slowly warmed up, as if it had come back to life in another way.

It turns out that living is not a state of being, but a state of mind.

He lowered his head and smiled silently.

Feeling that the body in his arms was no longer as cold as usual, but instead grew warmer the more he held it, Song Rui couldn’t help but let out a soft sound of surprise, then lowered his head to take a look.

Just then, Fan Jialuo extended his slender fingertip and tapped the back of his hand. This silent exchange immediately stopped Song Rui’s investigation, making him burst out laughing.

After a long while, Song Rui finally suppressed his smile and asked, “Are we just going to wait here like this?”

“I possess the other half of the fish pendant, which is yin and associated with death. I will immediately sense if Song Enci uses yang jade.”

“Then we barge in and catch her red-handed?”

“Yes. She values her life very much. Even if she knows I’m lying in wait outside, she will still find a way to save herself.”

“Valuing one’s life is all to achieve godhood?”

“Yes, this is the dream of every Taoist practitioner.”

“Is that also your Shizu’s dream?”

“Um.”

“And what about you?”

After a long silence, Fan Jialuo said firmly, “I will not allow gods to exist in the world.”

Song Rui understood something and couldn’t help but shake his head and chuckle, “You think you’re a savior?”

“I never thought that way. I was just doing what I thought I should do.” Fan Jialuo looked up at the night sky and sighed almost imperceptibly.

He originally thought that Lin Nianci would not be able to endure it for long and would take out the Yang Jade to save herself, but to his surprise, there was no movement in Longyin Temple after a whole night.

At dawn, Fan Jialuo, who had completely lost his patience, grabbed Dr. Song’s hand and led him straight to the tightly closed and locked door. But the moment they bumped into each other, a folding space opened up, connecting to the other side of the door, and they appeared out of thin air in the temple.

Upon seeing the two pass through the wall, the monks who were sweeping the floor were so frightened that they dropped their brooms and hurriedly ran to find the Abbot.

Using several interconnected folded spaces, Fan Jialuo instantly arrived at a row of side rooms several hundred meters away. Following a faint, almost imperceptible aura, he pushed open the door to one of the rooms.

At that moment, Chang Sheng, Chang Zhen, Lin Nian’en, and Abbot Changjing arrived upon hearing the news and shouted in unison, “Stop!”

Fan Jialu ignored them, walked straight into the room, and dragged Lin Nianci out.

The two eight- or nine-year-old novice monks who had been tending to the patient at her bedside were startled awake. They rubbed their eyes and looked over, then let out a soft gasp of disbelief. The woman, who had been on the verge of death and looked frail the night before, was now completely recovered. Her skin was smooth, her body was plump, and her hair and teeth had all grown back, as if she had taken some kind of miraculous elixir that could revive the dead and heal the wounded.

Fan Jialuo, however, was not surprised at all. He casually tossed the dazed Lin Nianci to the ground and asked with a half-smile, “How do you explain this phenomenon?”

Chang Sheng, Chang Zhen, and Lin Nianen were dumbfounded.

Abbot Changjing stared at Lin Nianci for a long while, and said in astonishment, “Amituofu, last night Benefactor Lin was clearly burdened by evil karma and her fate was exhausted, but today she is full of vitality and her fate is soaring. What is going on?”

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