Not only was the energy of the crystal essence majestic, but it was also extremely pure. After Sang Ye absorbed it, he wasn’t able to return to his human form.
Huanhuan was very worried about him and stayed by his side to help take care of him.
On the third day, Sang Ye’s spirits improved slightly.
He said, “I might be advancing.”
Huanhuan touched the python’s body. “Do you need our help?”
Sang Ye stuck out his snake tongue and licked her cheek. “I might have to shed my skin this time, so I have to leave the rock mountain and find a safe place outside.”
Huanhuan asked, “Can’t you shed your skin on the rock mountain? Aren’t there two empty floors underground? It’s a big and quiet place. You can go there to shed your skin.”
“No way.”
“Why?”
Sang Ye explained patiently, “Snake beasts need a lot of water to shed their skin. Moreover, when I shed my skin, I’ll cause a huge commotion. I’m afraid I’ll destroy the foundation of the fortress. I can’t shed my skin here.”
Helpless, Huanhuan could only sigh. “Alright, we’ll do as you say.”
Huanhuan and Bai Di sent Sang Ye out of the fortress. Shuang Yun was still busy interrogating Ma Qing and had no time to come out.
Sang Ye had chosen that lake.
That was where he had first mated with Huanhuan. The lake was as quiet as a mirror. The fireflies that once flew everywhere had disappeared.
The black python slowly slithered into the water.
He looked back at Huanhuan and Bai Di, who were standing on the shore. “You guys go back first,” he said. “I’ll go back myself after I shed my skin.”
Huanhuan quickly asked, “How long will it take?”
“I don’t know the exact time it’ll take. A day or two at the earliest. Maybe a month or two at the longest.”
Huanhuan watched helplessly as the python sank into the water.
When the lake was calm and the python was gone, Bai Di said slowly, “Let’s go back.”
Huanhuan nodded. “Alright.”
Bai Di transformed into a white tiger and lowered himself so that the little female could climb onto his back.
When she was seated, he rose and headed back to the rock mountain.
Huanhuan looked back at the lake and prayed silently. She hoped that Sang Ye could successfully shed his skin and their family could reunite.
…
Shuang Yun interrogated Ma Qing for several days, almost torturing him to death.
He told Bai Di and Huanhuan the results of the interrogation.
“Ma Qing is a divine servant of the Dark Moon Temple. He has always been by the high priest’s side and is considered the high priest’s trusted aide. However, this guy is very ambitious and wanted to replace the high priest. Unfortunately, although the high priest is old, his health is still good. He showed no signs of dying. A while ago, Ma Qing couldn’t wait any longer, so he secretly poisoned the high priest to death and framed Sang Ye.”
Hearing this, Huanhuan was furious. “So, he’s the one who framed Sang Ye for murder, causing him to escape!”
Bai Di stroked her back. “Calm down. Let Shuang Yun finish.”
Huanhuan calmed down and asked, “Why did Ma Qing frame Sang Ye? Even if he wants to replace the high priest, there should be other scapegoats in the temple, right?”
When most people framed others, they would prioritize those who looked easier to bully.
No matter what, Sang Ye did not seem like such a person.
Shuang Yun said, “Because Sang Ye is the next candidate appointed by the high priest. His status in the Dark Moon Temple is second only to the high priest.”
Huanhuan and Bai Di were stunned.
They only knew that Sang Ye had grown up in the Dark Moon Temple, but they did not know that he was actually the successor of the high priest.
Huanhuan felt a chill in her heart. “First, he killed the high priest, then he framed Sang Ye. He got rid of two competitors at once. Ma Qing’s thoughts and methods are indeed powerful.”
However, Bai Di keenly realized that something was wrong. “If Ma Qing only wanted to get rid of his competitors, he should have achieved his goal when Sang Ye left the Dark Moon Temple. Why did he go through so much trouble to hunt Sang Ye down? He even forced out the demon bloodline hidden in Sang Ye’s body.”
After hearing his analysis, Huanhuan also felt that things were not as simple.
Bai Di said, “Ma Qing must have only told part of the truth. He’s still hiding a lot of things.”
“I’ll continue to interrogate him. This guy is very cunning. His words are all mixed up with the truth. Sometimes, he even deliberately says something specious to confuse me.” Shuang Yun scratched his short silver-white hair. “By the way, he said something else today.”
Bai Di and Huanhuan looked at him. “What is it?”
“He said that the reason why the high priest appointed Sang Ye as his successor is because the high priest is Sang Ye’s grandfather.”
After a while, Huanhuan finally understood the relationship. She was very surprised. “The high priest is Sang Ye’s grandfather?”
“Yes, Sang Ye’s father is a sinner. He was executed a long time ago for colluding with demons. Sang Ye should’ve been executed too, but because of the high priest’s extreme protection, he was barely spared. The high priest is very protective of Sang Ye and has always brought him along to nurture him. He even planned to let him inherit the position of the high priest. Thus, Ma Qing got jealous of Sang Ye and deliberately framed him.”
All of this sounded logical.
But Huanhuan felt that something was wrong.
She couldn’t tell what was wrong, though.
She couldn’t help but ask, “What Ma Qing said should be true, right?”
Shuang Yun said, “I can’t guarantee that everything else is true, but Ma Qing shouldn’t be lying about Sang Ye. After all, Sang Ye is on the rock mountain. If he’s lying, as long as Sang Ye comes forward to confront him, Ma Qing will immediately give himself away. He’s so cunning. He’s not stupid enough to make such a low-level mistake.”
Bai Di nodded in agreement.
Huanhuan said slowly, “Not only was Sang Ye framed for killing the high priest, but he was also framed for stealing a holy artifact. Could it be that the holy artifact was also stolen by Ma Qing?”
“I’ve already asked Ma Qing about this. He insists that he doesn’t know the whereabouts of the holy artifact.”
“What exactly is the holy artifact of the Dark Moon Temple?”
Shuang Yun shook his head. “Ma Qing said he has never seen the holy artifact before. He doesn’t know what the holy artifact is. I think this guy isn’t telling the truth.”
Bai Di said, “Let’s continue the interrogation. We still have time. One day, we’ll be able to dig out everything Ma Qing knows.”
“Yes, I know.”
“Remember to get someone to keep an eye on Ma Qing. Don’t let him run away again.”
Shuang Yun patted his chest and promised, “Don’t worry, his limbs are all broken. He definitely won’t be able to escape. Moreover, I’ve asked Jiu Yuan to keep an eye on the cell. There won’t be any mistakes this time!”
“I hope so.”
What Shuang Yun did not expect was that he would be slapped in the face by reality the next day.
