I Can See Through Everything Chapter 281: Fear and Coercion - Novel Cool

Chapter 281: Fear and Coercion

"Old bald monk, take one more step forward, and do you really think I won’t cut you down?" Lu Qing’s hand rested lightly on his waist, his gaze fixed on the Xuan Kong Shan monks ahead. His voice was calm, yet carried an icy edge.

As he spoke, a suffocating aura of murderous intent suddenly swept across the battlefield, chilling every soul present. A cold shiver ran down their spines, rising from their backs and piercing their skulls. Even the Xuan Kong Shan monks, standing directly across from Lu Qing, felt an instinctive dread. They sensed that if they took another step forward, disaster might very well strike—something unimaginable.

For a moment, all eyes were locked onto Lu Qing, filled with uncertainty and disbelief. How could such a young man command such overwhelming fear? What hidden strength did he possess that even these elite martial artists felt the breath of death?

Even Xuan Ming Da He Shang, the venerable abbot, dared not provoke him further. He feared that any provocation might push Lu Qing into a reckless, all-out fight.

"Hmph. So the so-called fearless spirit of Buddhism is nothing more than this?" Lu Qing smirked at the monks’ visible unease, then turned and walked away, Old Doctor trailing behind him.

Though both men turned their backs, the Xuan Kong Shan monks remained utterly still. They could still feel the lingering presence of Lu Qing’s murderous aura—like a blade hanging over their heads. Any sudden move would invite an earth-shattering strike.

Only when their figures vanished into the distance did the oppressive pressure begin to fade. The moment the tension lifted, the surrounding martial masters exhaled deeply, relief washing over them. Many exchanged uneasy glances, still shaken by the sheer intensity of the aura that had just been radiating from Lu Qing.

There was no way to deny it—the killing intent had been terrifyingly real. That bone-deep chill, the sense of impending death, was unlike anything any of them had ever felt before.

After the storm had passed, one warrior finally broke the silence:

"Who exactly is that boy? With such power and audacity—why has he never been heard of before? When did the world produce such a prodigy?"

The question echoed in the minds of everyone present. They all turned to the Xuan Kong Shan monks, assuming that if they had surrounded Master like that, they must know the truth about the two fugitives.

"Om Mani Padme Hum," Xuan Ming Da He Shang intoned, hands clasped in prayer. His voice was solemn. "I truly do not know the origins of these two individuals. I only sensed that the elder had been overtaken by inner demons, so I sought to use the Jin Gang Fu Mo Array to cleanse his mind. I never expected such a misunderstanding would arise. Now, it seems this is an unavoidable karmic entanglement. However, we did see the young man from Tian Ji Lou accompanying the elder. Perhaps he knows their identities."

All eyes now fell on Lin Zhi Rui.

Aside from the Four Secret Places, many martial masters recognized him instantly. As the most promising young disciple of Tian Ji Lou in Zhong Zhou, Lin Zhi Rui was no stranger to fame. But being stared down by so many powerful cultivators—many of whom had reached the Jingjie realm far beyond his own—was overwhelming. His body stiffened slightly under the weight of their gaze.

Yet he was no ordinary youth. A subtle shift in his aura stirred within him, quietly dissipating the pressure. He smiled faintly.

"Yes, I do know their identities. But I cannot reveal them here. If you truly wish to learn, I suggest you come to Tian Ji Lou yourself and ask Lu Xiao Langjun directly. Wouldn’t that be far more effective?"

His composed demeanor drew a sharp glance from the members of the Four Secret Places.

So it was true. Even after their long isolation, the outside world had birthed remarkable talents. That boy earlier—now this young man too. Few could stand firm before so many masters and remain calm. Simply that level of composure already surpassed many of their own disciples.

"Om Mani Padme Hum," Xuan Ming Da He Shang spoke again, his tone solemn. "You may not realize it, but that young man’s killing intent was overwhelming. He acted without hesitation, ready to take lives at a whim. He already shows signs of descending into the demonic path. If left unchecked, he will one day become a great demon, bringing ruin to the world. For the sake of the greater good, and to prevent these two from further falling into darkness, I urge you to reveal their origins. Let our fellow cultivators be warned."

His words were masterfully crafted. He positioned himself as the righteous guardian of the world, condemning Lu Qing and Old Doctor as demons, all while invoking the fate of the entire realm to justify his demand.

But just then, a cold laugh cut through the air.

"Xuan Ming, stop flattering yourself. Since when did your Xuan Kong Shan become the voice of righteousness?"

Everyone turned. The voice came from a man standing among the Qing Yang Guan faction—another of the Four Secret Places.

It was a middle-aged Daoist, clad in a flowing blue robe, his expression dripping with disdain.

"Your sect is still as shameless as ever. You weren’t trying to purify the elder’s mind—you were after his Merit Light. You used the Jin Gang Fu Mo Array to turn him into a puppet. When your scheme failed, you blamed them for being demons. Honestly, with such wicked intentions, you’re far more like demons than they ever were."

The words struck like thunder.

Where before, the crowd had only doubted, now, with another secret sect openly accusing Xuan Kong Shan, the atmosphere shifted. Suspicion flared in every eye.

All turned to Xuan Ming, waiting to see how he would respond.

Yet the abbot showed no anger. His eyes lowered, his face etched with sorrow.

"Om Mani Padme Hum. Yang Ming Dao Zhang, I know you’ve long held prejudice against us. But my words are true. These two have already been tainted by murderous intent. They stand on the brink of the demonic path. If we do not act now, the consequences could be catastrophic."

"Ah, how wonderful. After all these years, your face has grown even thicker. I suppose it’s true—your shamelessness truly is unmatched. If I combine all four of our secret sects, we still wouldn’t match even a fraction of your audacity!" Yang Ming Dao Zhang sneered, unable to contain his fury. "You’re the master of hypocrisy!"

Xuan Ming remained silent, letting the insults wash over him. Then, slowly, he turned to Lin Zhi Rui.

"Please, young master. Tell us the truth about those two. They are of extraordinary talent, yet already show signs of demonic descent. If we do not act now, the world may face a great calamity."

This time, a new aura emerged from Xuan Ming—deep, heavy, and oppressive. It pressed down on Lin Zhi Rui like a mountain, forcing him to brace against it.

The other martial masters watched closely. They could see clearly—Xuan Kong Shan was determined. They would not leave until they had answers.

Yet no one intervened. Not even Yang Ming Dao Zhang. All were too curious—too eager to learn the truth about Lu Qing.

The pressure intensified—far greater than before.

Lin Zhi Rui’s heart sank.

After a long silence, he finally spoke, voice low:

"Master... if I refuse to speak?"

"Then this matter concerns the fate of all mankind. If you persist in silence, I shall have no choice but to break my vows—just once—to detain you and question you properly."

"Then... I have no choice," Lin Zhi Rui said with a bitter smile.

"Please, think of the world."

"...Alright," he sighed. "I’ll tell you."

(End of Chapter)

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