Enraged by the disdain in Xu Zifan's words, Xuan Tong flung his whisk at Xu Zifan! Jiang Tianxin dodged in front of him, channeling her spiritual power to strike his whisk with her palm, and said unhappily, "Master Xuan Tong, your opponent is me."
"You know cultivation techniques?" Xuan Tong looked at her in surprise, then glanced at her cultivation level in disbelief. He couldn't see anything, but that palm strike just now carried pure spiritual power. What kind of cultivation technique was that?
Xu Zifan slowly opened the backpack he was using for concealment, reached inside and took out the python whip from his spatial storage, tossing it to Jiang Tianxin. "Xinxin, catch this. The Taoist priest bullied you with a weapon, so you should fight back with a weapon too."
"Yes, Master!" Jiang Tianxin turned around and caught the python whip. The slender, fiery red whip looked surprisingly good in her hand. She lashed it out at Xuan Tong with her own hands, her eyes shining as she shouted, "Please enlighten me, Daoist Master!"
Xuan Tong, no longer able to be surprised, accepted the attack with a dark face. He didn't want to fight anymore, but in the blink of an eye, more than a dozen moves had passed. He hadn't won by much against Jiang Tianxin at all. If he stopped now, it wouldn't be letting the junior win, but rather admitting defeat. How could that be allowed?
Just then, Xu Zifan started instructing Jiang Tianxin on whip techniques, his relaxed demeanor completely disregarding him, which reignited his anger, causing him to unleash his full power.
Xu Zifan raised an eyebrow and said, "Xinxin, don't hold back either. Even when Master Xuantong is sparring with a junior like you, he's using his full strength. Pay attention to technique. The whip is like an extension of your hand; you can make it go wherever you want. If you can't hit Master Xuantong with your whip today, I'll consider you a failure."
"I won't let you down, Master!" Jiang Tianxin became even more serious. He seemed to have figured out how to wield the whip, and his movements became more and more agile. He also completely avoided Xuan Tong's attacks.
Xuan Tong wanted to end things quickly but failed. He was also mocked by Xu Zifan, which made him extremely disgusted with them. Suddenly, he took out a fire talisman and threw it at Jiang Tianxin!
Jiang Tianxin lashed out with her whip, made a hand seal, and chanted an incantation, causing the flame talisman to spontaneously combust in mid-air. Taking advantage of Xuan Tong's momentary surprise, she swiftly lashed the whip back at his hand. Xuan Tong's hand immediately burned as if it were on fire. In that moment of distraction, Jiang Tianxin quickly and accurately snatched his horsetail whisk, stood still, and cupped her hands in a gesture of respect, saying, "You lost. I'm sorry."
Then she turned back to Xu Zifan with a happy smile, "Master, did I pass?"
Xu Zifan clapped his hands and stood up straight. "Excellent! You were able to remain calm and respond successfully to the Xuan Tong Daoist's sneak attack, and even disarm him. You did a great job. You know, the most important things on the battlefield are weapons and composure. Since the opponent lost both of these, he naturally lost his chance of winning."
Xuan Tong covered the back of his hand, looking at the whisk in Jiang Tianxin's hand, and listening to Xu Zifan's seemingly lecturing but actually sarcastic words. His face turned pale and then red, and he couldn't help but defend himself, "When did this humble Taoist attack? Is it not permissible to use a talisman?"
Xu Zifan looked surprised and clicked his tongue in amazement, "You, a senior, really have the nerve to go all out against a junior? Xin Xin has only been a disciple for less than half a year, and she just wanted to learn a couple of moves from you. Not only did you use a weapon, but you also suddenly threw out a talisman. If Xin Xin hadn't reacted in time, wouldn't she have been burned? A girl's skin and clothes shouldn't be burned. Do you have no shame? No wonder you taught such a despicable and shameless disciple. Like master, like disciple."
"You! How dare you!" Xuan Tong's face flushed red with anger!
Wang Xiaofeng turned pale with fright and subconsciously took two steps back, shouting loudly, "You're just here to settle personal scores. I only said a few words to you, why are you being so petty? Master, Master, please think of something! If we, master and disciple, are taken away by them today, how can we hold our heads high in the metaphysical world? That's exactly what they're after!"
Jiang Tianxin stood beside Xu Zifan, slowly tapping the whip in her other palm, and sneered, "In your eyes, the Special Affairs Bureau is a place without rules or discipline? I have to have a good talk with Uncle Liao about this. Since when can you question national organizations at will? This unhealthy trend must be thoroughly eradicated."
Xuan Tong immediately said seriously, "We did not mean to question the Special Affairs Bureau, I simply..."
"Enough nonsense. The Special Affairs Bureau is investigating a case. We originally asked you to come and cooperate with the investigation. Now that you've resisted arrest, your crime is compounded. Immediately put your hands behind your head and squat on the ground, or don't blame me for being impolite!" Jiang Tianxin took two steps forward and actually took out two pairs of handcuffs!
How could a dignified master like Xuantong possibly make such a move? Wang Xiaofeng was even jumping around, trying to provoke him not to compromise.
In that brief moment of hesitation, Jiang Tianxin's face turned cold. She whipped Wang Xiaofeng, threw him to the ground, and swiftly handcuffed his hands behind his back. At the same time, Xu Zifan grabbed Xuan Tong's collar, handcuffed his hands, and then stuck a talisman on them. The master and disciple's coordination was so perfect that they gave them no time to react.
Xuan Tong's expression changed drastically. He struggled violently, but the talisman on the handcuffs was some unknown substance. He used all his skills but couldn't break free. Only then did he truly realize that Xu Zifan was far more powerful than he had imagined. Even Xu Zifan's disciple was exceptionally strong. He was shocked and couldn't believe it. "You really obtained the inheritance of Qingfeng Temple? Does Qingfeng Temple have such powerful techniques and talismans?"
Xu Zifan pushed him and his disciple together, shrugged, and said, "You've studied for so many years, don't you know that everyone has their own destiny? If you went to Qingfeng Temple, you could dig three feet into the ground and still not learn anything. There are always some people who are favored by the Heavenly Dao. However, the reason why your cultivation has not progressed is not because of this, but because your heart is not righteous, and the Heavenly Dao does not give you a chance."
Xuan Tong couldn't stand it when people said he had wicked intentions. He glared at Xu Zifan angrily, "I have never done anything bad, so how can you say I have wicked intentions?"
Boy, stop talking nonsense!
"Not having done anything evil doesn't mean you're on the right path. Besides, are you sure you haven't done anything evil? Your disciple's crimes are already irrefutable." Jiang Tianxin made a hand gesture to shut them up. Just hand them over to the Special Affairs Bureau once they've caught them; the reward isn't much, so there's no need to do anything more.
She returned the python whip to Xu Zifan, laughing and saying, "This whip is really useful. It feels like it's connected with spiritual energy, and it's much easier to use than any weapon I've used before."
Xu Zifan didn't take it, but raised his chin. "Then you keep it. It's made from python skin and has fire properties. Anyone hit by it will feel excruciating pain, like being burned. Your yang energy is strong, so this is perfect for you. I'll teach you an even better whip technique later."
"Good!" Jiang Tianxin lovingly stroked the whip, which was only as thick as her index finger. She wrapped it around her waist, making it look like a beautiful decorative belt. The more she looked at it, the more she liked it, and she couldn't help but exclaim, "Master, you are truly a treasure, always surprising us!"
"You're already surprised? You're too easily satisfied." Xu Zifan shook his head and chuckled, feeling that his little apprentice was so easy to coax and fool. He figured the only reason he hadn't been easily swayed all these years was because of his strong sense of vigilance.
Jiang Tianxin touched the whip at her waist, her eyes full of smiles. She was not easily satisfied. These past few months had been the most exciting, interesting, and heartwarming life she had ever had. If she wasn't satisfied with this, even God would find it hard to bear!
She still remembered her business, so she drove over and put the teacher and student in the trunk.
Xu Zifan looked back from the passenger seat and said, "Why did you put it in there? There's room in the back seat."
As Jiang Tianxin got into the car, he laughed and said, "They're so blind. They've mocked Master several times. I'll just let them curl up inside so that Master won't see them and get in my way."
Xu Zifan propped his head up and laughed. What could he do when his little apprentice was so considerate? Of course, he had to treat her even better.
Jiang Tianxin drove directly to the airport and met up with Liao Cheng, who had just gotten off the plane.
"Little Jiang, you're very efficient! Not bad at all!" Liao Cheng greeted Jiang Tianxin warmly and shook hands with Xu Zifan. "Thank you so much, Qingfeng. You must have put in a lot of effort this time. Little Jiang is so lucky to have such a good mentor. Our Special Affairs Bureau also wants to thank you."
Xu Zifan smiled slightly, "Uncle Liao, you're too kind. I only intervened because I heard that the Special Affairs Bureau receives extra subsidies. By the way, the Special Affairs Bureau is so important to the country, its subsidies must be quite substantial, right?"
Liao Cheng's smile froze, and he cursed under his breath, calling her a little fox. He coughed twice and could only say, "Qingfeng, you've worked hard. Xiao Jiang, you can collect your subsidy when you go back and write your report."
Xu Zifan nodded, "Uncle Liao, don't forget there are two separate matters: the mountain village and the film set. I'd like to thank you in advance."
Jiang Tianxin hurriedly said, "These two things are really too exhausting. My master and I may need to rest for a long time."
This master and apprentice are really... shameless!!!
Liao Cheng gave a forced smile and agreed, not wanting to talk to them anymore. He told them to take him to see Xuan Tong and his disciples.
Liao Cheng set up a meeting room for the on-the-spot interrogation, mainly asking if they had any accomplices. At first, the two vehemently denied it, accusing Xu Zifan and his group of framing them. However, as Jiang Tianxin presented the evidence one by one, Wang Xiaofeng turned pale and broke out in a cold sweat, while Xuan Tong looked at Wang Xiaofeng with disbelief, as if he were a stranger.
Xu Zifan watched for a long time, then suddenly narrowed his eyes and said, "Master Xuantong, did you teach Wang Xiaofeng how to turn people into vengeful ghosts and force other souls to become husband and wife?"
Xuan Tong immediately shook his head, "No, I absolutely did not teach him these things."
"You don't seem like someone who's completely heartless," Xu Zifan said, then looked at Wang Xiaofeng. "Who taught you to do this? Or rather… who told you to do it?"
Wang Xiaofeng's expression changed slightly, his eyes becoming more flustered. These subtle changes were all noticed by Xu Zifan. Before he could speak, Xu Zifan put his index finger to his lips. "Shh, lying is useless. I can see you're hiding the truth. Look, you're all alone, you suffered misfortune in your childhood... someone saved you, provided you with food and clothing, raised you... and you were fortunate enough to enter the Xuanmen sect, your future is bright. Don't you want to repay this kindness? Do you have a grateful heart...?"
Wang Xiaofeng stared at his raised index finger, watching his lips move. The voice seemed both near and far, a dreamlike illusion. He could hear nothing but Xu Zifan's voice, and he remembered his childhood experiences and later good fortune…
His emotions were turbulent, yet he had let down all his defenses and felt incredibly safe. He wanted to say everything on his mind. As he relaxed more and more, the truth slipped out: "Yes, I'm grateful. I did everything he said. I'm a person with a conscience. I did it..."