Bang!
Jiang Boqing slammed the table and stood up.
His entire body was trembling, the killing intent spilling over every inch of the room.
This was an unbearable humiliation for a man.
Bai Zonghui stood as white as a sheet in front of Jiang Boqing, bearing her husband's killing intent, utterly stunned.
It could have been hard for Jiang Boqing to believe, but she was innocent.
"Scum."
Jiang Boqing's face turned green.
His gaze on Bai Zonghui was full of rage.
"No wonder you were so close to that little bastard. You've been involved with him all along."
Jiang Boqing clenched his fists, the killing intent in his heart barely constrained.
If it wasn't for her bearing the surname Bai.
If it wasn't for her being the adopted daughter of Old Madam Bai.
He would have already tortured her until death was a mercy she could only yearn for.
Regrettably, her surname was Bai.
Thus, he had to suffer in silence for the time being.
Until the Bai family gave him an explanation.
Bai Zonghui wept.
"Husband, I swear I'm innocent."
Jiang Boqing laughed in his fury, "Do you take me for a fool?"
Bai Zonghui began to sob earnestly, "I have been close to Bai Guanlin only because he is the son of Fairy Linglong, it has nothing to do with personal feelings. I just wanted to curry his favor."
Jiang Boqing didn't believe a word of it, gritting his teeth, "So you ended up in his bed."
Bai Zonghui took out the Sound Transmission Talisman, and handed it directly to Jiang Boqing.
"Husband, if you don't believe me, you can check the Sound Transmission records between myself and Bai Guanlin. We have absolutely no illicit relationship."
Jiang Boqing chuckled mockingly, "With your means, naturally the transmission record would have been cleaned long ago, leaving no trace behind. You've concealed it so well for so many years. I've always admired your methods. Unfortunately, that little bastard is a good-for-nothing. The message he meant to send privately to you, he ended up broadcasting in the family chat group. You made no mistakes, yet you've been let down by a useless partner."
Bai Zonghui swore up to heaven, "Husband, there must be some misunderstanding. Guanlin is not foolish enough to suddenly go mad, perhaps his Sound Transmission Talisman was lost?"
Seemingly on cue.
Just after Bai Zonghui proposed this possibility, someone in the family chat group named "One Big Happy Family" spoke up:
I just checked with Guanlin, his Sound Transmission Talisman is indeed lost. @Jiang Boqing, Boqing, this has to be a misunderstanding.
Bai Guanlin's new account also appeared in the family chat, eagerly proclaiming his innocence:
"Uncle, I swear to the heavens, someone is undoubtedly setting me up. My Sound Transmission Talisman was stolen."
Jiang Boqing saw the chat in the "One Big Happy Family" group, then glanced at Bai Zonghui, who looked even paler now, and he himself regained an eerie calmness.
"So it's like that. It seems I've misunderstood you, wife."
Instead of relief, Bai Zonghui was alarmed and sank to her knees with a thud, seizing Jiang Boqing's hand in hers.
"Husband, this was not planned in advance, nor was there any intent to insult you."
Bai Zonghui was a smart woman.
She also understood her husband well.
If Jiang Boqing continued to be furious, it would mean he still cared about her. Because he cared, he was angry.
As long as she could prove her innocence, their relationship might even progress further.
But now Jiang Boqing had stopped being angry.
He had regained his composure completely.
It meant Jiang Boqing had given up on her completely.
If she were a stranger, no matter what she did, she wouldn't be able to hurt Jiang Boqing.
Not just her, but the Bai family as well.
Jiang Boqing would only calmly accept reality like this if he had given up completely on them.
The cooperation between herself and the Bai family, especially Bai Guanlin, was too flawless in this.
Their cover-up was done as smoothly as flowing water, making it look rehearsed-- the more one looked at it, the more it appeared to be a clumsy after-the-fact damage control.
It was like arrogantly forcing Jiang Boqing to swallow an insult, making it hard for him to retaliate.
The arrogance of an aristocratic family towards a son-in-law was very much in line with the style of a cultivation family like the Bai family.
Bai Zonghui knew she had to salvage the situation.
The Bai family might not care about a mere elder from the Mystic Temple like Jiang Boqing, but as far as she was concerned, Jiang Boqing was the highest ranking and most suitable husband she could find within her sight.
"My husband, let's investigate this ourselves. I will insist that Bai Guanlin gives you an explanation and that the Bai family finds out the truth about this matter. Trust me, I wouldn't do something as foolish as this."
Jiang Boqing remained silent.
He indeed believed that Bai Zonghui wouldn't do anything so foolish.
But Bai Guanlin might.
He vividly remembered Bai Guanlin's behavior at the grand hall of the main peak earlier today.
In his opinion, it was all too plausible that such a liability of a comrade might do something of this nature.
Jiang Boqing was fully convinced that Bai Guanlin was capable of sending the wrong message.
Nevertheless, he still let it pass.
He had no choice.
The Bai family... He could not afford to upset them at this point.
"I heard that Fairy Linglong's Jade Sword emerged today, leading to Bai Guanlin being released on the spot," Jiang Boqing suddenly said.
Bai Zonghui's face became even paler: "Husband, it has nothing to do with Fairy Linglong, I am truly innocent."
"Then let's investigate," Jiang Boqing suggested, "Clear your name, and Guanlin's too."
Bai Zonghui felt relieved.
Thankfully, she still had a chance to rectify the situation.
Since she and Bai Guanlin had done nothing wrong, what was there to fear about an investigation?
Bai Zonghui immediately devoted all her energy to the cause.
Meanwhile, the Bai family was also making every effort to probe the matter.
After all, the incident involved both Bai Guanlin and Jiang Boqing.
While Bai Guanlin's actions had disappointed the family, there wasn't much they could do. The man had been lucky with his birthright.
No matter how high their potential or ability, outsiders couldn't claim certain positions reserved for those blessed at birth.
Jiang Boqing, despite his humble background, had climbed to the high ranks of Mystic Temple. The Bai family didn't want to lose such a valuable ally.
Therefore, they needed to prove this was all a misunderstanding.
And they succeeded.
Seeking clarity for a situation has always been simple within the Mystic Temple.
But people's hearts and schemes can complicate matters.
"We've found out, Guanlin's Sound Transmission Talisman was located... outside the Illusory Light lineage's Various Illusions?"
"That's right, it was outside the Moon Palace Gate."
"It was Ji Changsheng."
An epiphany struck Bai Guanlin: "I get it now, during the day when Ji Changsheng and I had a conflict, he must've stolen my Sound Transmission Talisman. Yes, it must be so."
He guessed right.
Still, jests about Bai Guanlin aside, when it comes to dealing with Ji Changsheng, Bai Guanlin actually has the clearest understanding amongst his family.
The problem was, the Bai family had too many liabilities.
Bai Guanlin just couldn't keep up with them.
And this time was no different.
"Uncle-in-law, Ji Changsheng can't get away this time," Bai Guanlin was quite excited, "Although I can't enter the Illusory Light lineage's Various Illusions, I've learned my lesson. After exiting from the grand hall of the main peak, I set up the Water Mirror Technique outside of the Various Illusions, this will surely prove my innocence."
To himself, Jiang Boqing scoffed.
Did this dimwit really have such foresight?
But he kept watching Bai Guanlin's performance silently, even playing along: "Then let's have a look at your Water Mirror Technique."
Bai Guanlin immediately pulled out his ace card.
Whatever said and done, Student Bai had grown up quite a bit.
He'd learned to be prepared for Ji Changsheng beforehand.
Unfortunately for him, though, Ji Changsheng had anticipated his anticipations.
Seeing his own figure appear in the Water Mirror Technique and then discarding a Sound Transmission Talisman, Bai Guanlin felt as though a lightning bolt had hit him.
"This..."
The Bai family looked at each other in dismay.
They felt like killing Bai Guanlin.
Even if you're staging a false alibi, at least make it convincing!
At this moment, Jiang Boqing abruptly spoke: "It's an Illusion Technique, Ji Changsheng transformed into Guanlin's image, attempting to drive a wedge between us."