Gentlemen, it's time to enter the Banner of Ten Thousand Souls.

Chapter 193 It doesn’t look like acting
Both Chen Ye and the monk Bu Mei had their brows furrowed.

If it wasn't music or food, then how did it manage to bewitch everyone in the Moon Gazing Tower?

Chen Ye said helplessly, "This is tricky. We can't just rush in and grab a few prostitutes to torture them, can we?"

For righteous cultivators, what they fear most when slaying demons is not the demon's powerful methods, but the fact that they cannot find the demon's location or understand what methods the demon used.

Just like when Su Chunyi was at a loss when faced with a group of ordinary people, he could only rely on Chen Ye to help investigate.

At this point, Chen Yeming knew there was something wrong, but he couldn't resort to torture to extract a confession.

Monk Bumei also looked troubled, as Cixin Temple did not have any secret techniques to directly perceive what others were thinking.

Chen Ye thought for a moment and said to Monk Bu Mei, "Master, since we can't get any results from the investigation in secret, why don't we stir up trouble and alert them?"

Chen Ye originally didn't want things to get out of control, but now the mastermind behind it all is hiding too deep, and Chen Ye doesn't want to waste ten days or half a month here.

The monk Bu Mei asked in confusion, "What plan do you have, benefactor? Should we just go up there and cause a scene?"

Monk Bumei thought Chen Ye was going to demolish the Moon Gazing Tower to force the mastermind out, but Chen Ye shook his head and said, "No, of course not. That might make the mastermind hide even deeper. Now is an era where the Tao prevails and the demons decline. If we take action directly, the demon will definitely not dare to show himself and will most likely choose to avoid the limelight. In that case, the place will be empty, and the clues will be cut off."

"But what if other villains set their sights on this lucrative opportunity and try to get a piece of the pie, thus ruining their business? Would the person behind it all just sit idly by?"

Monk Bumei asked in confusion, "Does Benefactor Chen mean... that we pretend to be demons and lure the mastermind behind it all out?"

"That's exactly right! Master, you've got it right away!" Chen Ye praised. "Think about it, even thugs are afraid of the police coming to their door. If they encounter them, they'll usually pay up to avoid trouble or close down and hide. But if another group of thugs comes to collect protection money and seize territory, can they really hide and not show their faces in order to protect their own territory?"

"But how do we impersonate the demon?"

Chen Ye said to the monk Bu Mei, "What's so difficult about that? Master, you just need to recite 'Lay down the butcher's knife and become a Buddha on the spot' a few times after you go in. Cixin Temple and Nirvana Sect are of the same origin. As for me..."

Chen Ye took out a hooded black robe, covering his entire body completely. With a gentle flip of his hand, two red snakes coiled around it, creating a sinister and terrifying appearance.

Having done all this, Chen Ye deliberately lowered his voice, and with a hint of sinister arrogance, said to Monk Bu Mei, "Master, what do you think of my attire as a core disciple of the 'Crimson Serpent Holy Sect'? Does it look convincing?"

The monk Bu Mei put his palms together and said, "Amitabha, although this humble monk is blind, I can tell from my feelings... you don't seem to be acting at all."

Chen Ye: ...

Let's just take it as the monk praising his acting skills.

Chen Ye thought for a moment and then said to Monk Bu Mei, "Master, you still need to disguise yourself. If Qiu Shuixian sees you like this, she might recognize you."

The monk Bu Mei responded, and his face slowly became dull and lifeless, his skin and flesh loosened, as if he had aged decades.

In a short while, he transformed into an old monk, completely unrecognizable from his original appearance.

"Master, what kind of technique is this?" Chen Ye asked in surprise.

The monk Bu Mei explained, "Amitabha, this humble monk is not young at all; I have simply revealed the years that were concealed by my cultivation."

Those who cultivate themselves can easily live past a hundred years old, and indeed they are all centenarians. But to be able to switch between youth and old age at will is no ordinary ability. It seems that this monk Bumei has practiced a special supernatural power.

But this is even better, Chen Ye won't recognize him.

"Then let's go to the brothel to listen to music, Master."

Chen Ye and the monk Bu Mei walked arm in arm toward the Moon Gazing Tower.

A moment later, two uninvited guests appeared at the entrance of Wangyue Tower.

One of them was wearing a black hooded robe that completely concealed his figure. He smelled of sulfur and blood, which made people feel uneasy.

The other was an old monk with a withered face and closed eyes, wearing a faded monk's robe, holding a string of ordinary wooden prayer beads in his hand, and muttering incantations, but he exuded an aura of looking down on all living beings, as if he regarded all living beings in the world as ants.

Although it was already past midnight, the Moon Gazing Tower was still brightly lit, with music playing continuously inside and crowds thronging the outside.

Even if the two of them reached the door, they shouldn't have been able to squeeze in.

But Chen Ye merely snorted coldly, his chilling aura spreading out, causing the crowded people at the door to involuntarily make way for him.

The guests, who had been staring blankly, seemed to be jolted back to their senses by Chen Ye's words. When they looked at Chen Ye again, they felt as if he were a demon crawling out of a mountain of corpses and a sea of ​​blood. They dared not linger any longer and scrambled away.

Upon seeing this, the pimp at the entrance quickly put on a smile and came forward: "Oh, gentlemen, please come in, please come in! Are you here to listen to music or..."

Before he could finish speaking, Chen Ye glanced at him, and the pimp's smile froze. He trembled as if he had been doused with ice water, and he could no longer utter a word.

Chen Ye let out a strange, cackling laugh and said in a hoarse voice, "I heard the music here is quite good? Find me the best spot! And call out your most popular courtesan to sing me a few songs to amuse me!"

The pimp snapped out of his daze and hurriedly replied, "Sir, the most popular girl at Wangyue Tower is Miss Xiyue, but she's not feeling well tonight..." Chen Ye interrupted, "Even if she's lame, she'll crawl over here for me."

A fiery serpent coiled around the pimp's neck, its fangs bared as if to bite down on his throat.

The pimp turned pale with fright and collapsed to the ground.

The monk Bu Mei put his palms together and said, "Amitabha, one can become a Buddha on the spot by laying down the butcher's knife. Benefactor, please don't make things difficult for this mortal."

Chen Ye asked, "Oh, what are your thoughts, Master?"

The monk Bu Mei said, “This humble monk observes that this person is entangled in sins, and has likely committed many evil deeds such as forcing women into prostitution and harming the innocent. Our meeting here today is a matter of fate. Since that is the case, let this humble monk take action and guide him to enlightenment.”

As he spoke, the monk Bumei stretched out his hand, and golden light appeared in his palm. He immediately slapped the pimp on the head.

This is not salvation, it is clearly deliverance.

Chen Ye thought to himself, "This monk Bu Mei's acting is really good. His disregard for human life is exactly the same as that of the demon of the Nirvana Sect."

Just then, a soft, charming voice rang out from inside the building: "Honorable guests, we apologize for not welcoming you properly. Please come in, I will serve you."

A moment later, a middle-aged man dressed in fine clothes and slightly overweight, with a perfectly measured smile on his face, strode out of the building and cupped his hands in greeting to Chen Ye and Monk Bu Mei: "Distinguished guests, please follow me."

Unlike the pimp, Chen Ye could tell at a glance that this was no ordinary person. There were faint fluctuations of spiritual energy on his body, so he must be a cultivator.

Chen Ye sneered inwardly. It seemed their "performance" had already caught the other party's attention. He didn't stand on ceremony and swaggered into the building, with Monk Bu Mei following silently behind.

The steward led the two through the bustling first-floor lobby and straight up to a window seat on the second floor with an excellent location and a wide view. The seat was already prepared with fragrant tea and snacks and was decorated quite elegantly.

"Please have a seat, distinguished guests. Miss Xiyue will be here shortly." The steward said respectfully, then bowed and withdrew, giving the two of them a meaningful look before leaving.

Chen Ye sat down with an air of superiority, casually picked up a teacup, smelled it, then put it down, curling his lip in disdain. The monk Bu Mei remained seated with his eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to everything around him, silently fiddling with the prayer beads in his hand.

Soon, the sound of string and wind instruments filled the air, and a graceful young woman entered the private room, holding a carved sandalwood pipa in her arms. Her fingertips lightly touched the strings, plucking out a clear note as if it were nothing.

Her figure was graceful and delicate, like a willow swaying in the breeze. As she walked, her skirt swayed slightly, and her lotus-like steps exuded a natural charm. A light blue silk dress hugged her slender and well-proportioned figure, and a silver silk sash tied around her waist, making her waist appear even more delicate.

The sound of the pipa seemed to blend seamlessly with her attire; Xi Yue's fingers plucked not only the strings, but also the silk dress and the heartstrings of Chen Ye and the monk Bu Mei.

Before Chen Ye could even get a good look at Xi Yue's face, he had a strange feeling that this girl must be incredibly beautiful. When their eyes met, he indeed saw a pair of bright and sparkling eyes.

This young lady, Xiyue, had lips like a touch of vermilion, without heavy makeup, yet possessed a natural charm. Her skin was as white as jade, glowing faintly in the candlelight, as if formed from moonlight.

Chen Ye's heart fluttered, and he almost became intoxicated by the girl's beauty.

But with the ringing of a bell, Chen Ye regained consciousness.

The sound of the bell interrupted Xi Yue's pipa playing, causing the stunning beauty to pause in her dance. She then seemed to lose her balance and fell towards Chen Ye.

The beauty threw herself into Chen Ye's arms, and Chen Ye reached out to catch her. However, Xi Yue, who was about to fall into Chen Ye's arms, suddenly turned around, her body floating up like a cloud, and stood firmly in front of Chen Ye again.

Before Chen Ye could speak, Xi Yue said, "Fellow Daoist, what a cruel heart you have."

Chen Ye smiled and retracted the red snake from his sleeve, then said, "It was you who used your charm first, and you still have the nerve to blame me for being heartless?"

Knowing that her previous tactics had been ineffective, Xi Yue also dropped her coquettishness and said with a serious expression, "You two didn't come to my Wangyue Tower to listen to music. If you have any advice, please speak frankly."

Chen Ye chuckled and then asked, "Do you know what this Moon Gazing Tower was originally? And do you know the background of this master?"

Xi Yue looked at the monk Bu Mei and said cautiously, "There are only two Buddhist sects in the world. This master is probably from the Nirvana Sect."

“It’s good that you know. This Moon Gazing Pavilion is Nirvana Sect’s territory. I’m friends with this master and just happened to be passing by. I just don’t know when it changed owners. Miss Xiyue, you have to give Nirvana Sect an explanation.”

Upon hearing this, Xi Yue sneered, "Heh, what explanation do you want? The Nirvana Sect was wiped out by the Qinghe Sword Sect leader after a blood sacrifice in the Northern Frontier. Instead of hiding, you remnants dare to swagger into my Wangyue Tower to cause trouble?"

Chen Ye was puzzled. Why did this girl sound so righteous? Who was the real devil?
Monk Bumei also sensed something was wrong, so he said to Xiyue, "Amitabha, female benefactor, if you think that the Qinghe Sword Sect can protect you at all times, then you are too naive. Even the Buddha cannot protect all sentient beings."

"You'd better tell me the truth. First, tell me where my fellow disciple is now, whether you killed him or imprisoned him. Only after you've explained it clearly can I decide whether or not to convert you."

Monk Bumei felt that no matter what methods this woman had, they should find Qiu Shuixian first, and then inquire about the others later.

Xi Yue's eyes narrowed, she took two steps back, and then threatened, "You two are highly skilled, and I may not be your match. But do you know that Luoyan Town is connected to the Northern Frontier? If you commit any violence here, the Yellow Springs Sect will not let you off!"

Chen Ye frowned. Why did those words sound so strange?

(End of this chapter)