https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-34-Afeng-the-Dead-Dog-Enters-Shaolin/12535959/
https://novelcool.info/chapter/Chapter-36-Li-Xinhuan-and-A-Fei-Lovers-of-Throat-Stabbing/12535966/
Chapter 35: Heart's Mirror Enters the Trap
Chapter 35: Heart's Mirror Enters the Trap
"Li Xunhuan, do you know him?"
Bai Xiaosheng, with his hands clasped behind his back, smiled triumphantly, "He admitted that he is the Plum Blossom Thief, and he also claimed he doesn't know you. Tsk tsk, he's willing to go to great lengths to protect you. I wonder what Li Xunhuan plans to do about him?"
Li Xunhuan turned to A Fei, and A Fei looked back at him expressionlessly.
His eyes conveyed to Li Xunhuan that he had no regrets and did not expect Li Xunhuan to save him.
Bai Xiaosheng goaded, "Of course, if you also believe that he is the Plum Blossom Thief, I'll kill him right now and clear your name."
"He is my friend," Li Xunhuan said in a low voice.
A Fei suddenly spoke up, "I don't know you, and I am the Plum Blossom Thief."
You Longsheng shook his head in exasperation, "The Plum Blossom Thief has stolen countless treasures and is incredibly wealthy. How could he be wearing a tattered robe in winter and carrying a thin iron sheet as a sword? Do you take everyone for fools?"
A Fei glared at You Longsheng.
Although he considered You Longsheng a friend, he didn't want his efforts to go to waste. He knew all too well how silver-tongued You Longsheng could be.
"Li Xunhuan wasn't in any danger at Shaolin Temple. What idiot told you to impersonate the Plum Blossom Thief to rescue him? This is just an unnecessary move," You Longsheng said, ignoring A Fei's glare.
A Fei grit his teeth.
His mind was in turmoil.
He felt annoyed with himself and had lost hope in Lin Xian'er.
You Longsheng's words only added to his worries about Li Xunhuan.
However, contrary to You Longsheng's banter, Li Xunhuan said in a solemn voice, "He is my friend, my best friend. He is not the Plum Blossom Thief!"
Seeing A Fei's injuries, he had no heart for jokes.
At this, Bai Xiaosheng laughed, and Xin Jian, who was standing nearby, also laughed.
"If he isn't the Plum Blossom Thief, then why would he pretend to be?" Bai Xiaosheng asked.
"To save me," Li Xunhuan replied.
"But we haven't confirmed that you are the Plum Blossom Thief. Why is he so eager to clear your name?" Bai Xiaosheng said indifferently, "Unless he knows something."
Master Xin Hu's face turned gloomy, and Xin Hui, Xin Zhu, and Xin Deng quietly moved closer to Li Xunhuan.
Li Xunhuan nodded, "He does know something. He's working with me."
"Hmm?"
Li Xunhuan's sudden statement left everyone bewildered.
"What do you mean?" Xin Jian asked.
Li Xunhuan suddenly smiled, "He's doing this to cooperate with me and find the real Plum Blossom Thief, as well as the person who stole the sutras from Shaolin Temple."
"What?"
The crowd gathered in the pavilion was astonished.
One was shocked that Li Xunhuan knew about the stolen sutras from Shaolin Temple, and the other was stunned by Li Xunhuan's words.
What was going on? How could A Fei, by impersonating the Plum Blossom Thief, help find the sutra thief?
"Whether A Fei is the Plum Blossom Thief or not, forget about me, even you yourselves know that when no one can prove that I am the Plum Blossom Thief..." A Fei trailed off.
Li Xunhuan smiled slightly, "Whoever wants to prove that I am the Plum Blossom Thief the most is the real Plum Blossom Thief."
It's just a matter of interpreting things from a different perspective!
The same event can lead to two completely opposite conclusions when explained from different angles.
Li Xunhuan wasn't foolish. After witnessing You Longsheng's analytical skills twice, he immediately grasped the essence of it.
Li Xunhuan looked at Bai Xiaosheng and Xin Jian.
Li Xunhuan said calmly, "It's commendable that Master Xin Jian is so enthusiastic about proving that I am the Plum Blossom Thief."
Bai Xiaosheng narrowed his eyes, "That's only because Master Xin Jian doesn't want the Plum Blossom Thief to go unpunished. If we can prove that the person outside is indeed the real Plum Blossom Thief, wouldn't it also clear your name?"
"Master Xin Jian has always remained at Shaolin, and it wouldn't be convenient for Master Xin Mei to search his quarters thoroughly. Now that Master Xin Jian has descended from the mountain, it's the perfect opportunity to conduct a thorough search."
Bai Xiaosheng's eyes flickered, while Master Xin Jian's face paled in shock as he finally realized that Master Xin Mei was indeed absent from the scene.
Master Xin Shu gracefully stepped forward and stood beside Li Xunhuan. "Elder Brother, when the second elder brother discovered the theft in the Scripture Pavilion, the disciples exhibited symptoms of being drugged with a bewitching fragrance. If we can find the Damo Yijin Classic in Master Xin Jian's bedroom..."
Combining behavior with evidence would implicate Master Xin Jian as the Plum Blossom Thief!
Masters Xin Hu, Xin Hui, Xin Zhu, and Xin Deng exchanged uncertain glances.
With Master Xin Jian and Bai Xiaosheng on one side and Li Xunhuan and Master Xin Shu on the other, both parties presented compelling arguments, leaving them unsure whom to believe.
Li Xunhuan narrowed his eyes and added fuel to the fire. "Master Xin Mei has already gone to search Master Xin Jian's room for the scriptures."
Master Xin Jian could no longer contain himself. Without noticing Bai Xiaosheng's subtle signals, he rushed towards his room, calling out to Master Xin Hu in a loud voice.
"Elder Brother, the second elder brother was rescued by Li Xunhuan, and the fifth elder brother serves in the same palace as him. They were both bewitched by Li Xunhuan, who intends to frame me. They plan to plant the scriptures in my room. I'm going to confront the second elder brother!"
Master Xin Hu frowned, noticing that neither Li Xunhuan nor Master Xin Shu seemed worried. He spread his sleeves and followed behind Master Xin Jian, but he didn't stop him.
Bai Xiaosheng's eyes darted anxiously, and seeing Master Xin Jian's behavior, a sense of unease welled up within him. However, at that moment, Li Xunhuan and Master Xin Shu had already positioned themselves on either side of him.
Master Xin Shu asked, "In your opinion, are we wrongfully accusing Master Xin Jian, or is he simply feeling guilty?"
Bai Xiaosheng suppressed his unease and replied calmly, "Master Xin Jian's investigation into the Plum Blossom Thief is in line with the Shaolin disciples' sense of justice. As for the scripture in his room, who can prove that Master Xin Mei didn't take the opportunity to place it there? After all, the secret Shaolin scripture, the Damo Yijin Classic, was originally in Master Xin Mei's possession. Aside from him, Master Xin Jian wouldn't know where it was kept."
As soon as Bai Xiaosheng finished speaking, those who heard him, including Masters Xin Hui and Xin Zhu, couldn't help but agree. Even Master Xin Hu, at the forefront, furrowed his brows.
Unfortunately...
Master Xin Jian had rushed off too quickly and was too far away to hear Bai Xiaosheng's words.
Taking advantage of the moment when no one was around, You Longsheng, who was at the back, quickly patted Afei on the back, creating an opening in his internal energy. He left with the words, "The rest is up to you," and hurried after them.
He didn't want to miss the spectacle, and he also had an even more important task to accomplish—one that might make Shaolin grateful to him for life.
At the front, when Master Xin Jian reached his meditation room, he found that its door was indeed already open.
Without hesitation, Master Xin Jian rushed inside, went straight to the bedside cabinet, and with a palm strike, opened it. Inside, on the backmost layer, lay a thin volume of scriptures.
Seeing that everyone had followed him in and that Master Xin Mei had also appeared behind them, Master Xin Jian quickly defended himself.
"This scripture was placed in the second elder brother's room. They deliberately put it here to frame me. But this method of framing is centuries old. Elder Brother, with your discerning eyes, how could you be deceived by such a petty scheme?"
(End of Chapter)
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