Despite what others think and had thought of him, WuXian never had seen much reason to lie or deceive, not on matters like this. He did lie in the past, but it was never to cause harm, it was to protect others from him.

But maybe he should have lied just this once, knowing the result of what this specific truth did to XingChen, but there was no turning back now. No denying the truth when he's already said the things he did. Even if WuXian was excellent at playing something serious off in a joking manner. And so, after a long moment of silence, the words come out with weight in his voice.

"Yes. Living people... And by removing their tongues they could not beg you not to. Shanghua has the ability to detect corpse energy does it not? What worse way to trick your sword than to infect someone with corpse poisoning?"

His gaze intensifies all over XingChen, watching for any movement similar to the gruesome sight he witnessed through A-Qing, not wishing to see that happen in such a public space. He didn't need to see for a second time the classmate of his mother's make an attempt on his life. Then, without hesitation, he attempts a subject change.

"Daozhang. You knew my mom, better than I can remember her.. would you tell me more?"