Outside, fallen blossoms drifted, and a wisp of fresh breeze carrying floral scents pushed open the window. The pearl curtain tinkled, soon waking the person on the bed.
Ling Xi struggled to open his eyes and sat up, rubbing his temples. He had been lying down for days, his body feeling numb.
“Second Senior Brother, you’re awake!” A disciple beside him quickly brought over a bowl of medicine, his expression a mixture of surprise and joy. “We were so worried about you!”
Ling Xi calmly scanned his surroundings, finding himself back in an inn. The contract vine on his hand was long gone. He asked the disciple, “How did I end up here?”
“You were injured before, and Miss Ye carried you back,” the disciple replied, scratching his head in confusion at Ling Xi’s dazed look.
“Where is she?” Ling Xi’s gaze flickered, a clear hint of worry appearing in his eyes.
“She seems to be… in the room next door.”
Ling Xi couldn’t afford to waste any more time. He threw off the covers, got dressed, and strode out the door. He knocked a few times, but there was no response from within the room.
He only remembered her carrying him to the wolf demon’s cave, after which he had lost consciousness. He didn’t know if she had been injured during her fight with the wolf demon.
[System: Ding—Lord Ling, a new mission is available for you to accept!]
Ling Xi, lost in thought, frowned, his sword-like brows tightening. He ignored the system prompt and asked directly, “Do you know where Miss Ye is?”
[System: I’ll make an exception and help you check her whereabouts. She is… near Ling Xian Manor!]
Ling Xian Manor?
Wasn’t that where the demon hunters resided? Why would she go there?
Ling Xi had no time to ponder. He leaped onto the White Jade Dragon Boat and flew towards Ling Xian Manor.
Upon arriving at Ling Xian Manor, Ling Xi observed the mountains of clothes and the moldering skeletons piled high. His gaze fixed on the wound on the neck of a skeleton.
His brow furrowed, a faint hint of doubt appearing on his handsome face.
These corpses had likely been here for about two months. The necks of the skeletons were almost severed with a single sword stroke, and then they were gnawed clean by worms.
There was only one possible explanation for this.
Someone wanted to frame the demonic beasts. Otherwise, given the abilities of these seniors, even if they couldn't defeat the demonic beasts, it was impossible for not a single one to escape.
Ling Xi paused for a moment, then discovered a dropped veil in the dirt. Although the color had faded somewhat from being washed by the rain, the clear patterns could still be seen.
Ling Xi held the veil and sniffed it lightly. He could still detect a faint scent of balloon flower.
He suddenly thought of something, his gaze darkening.
This scent was the most familiar to him.
Ling Xi sniffed again, somewhat uncertainly. At this moment, he wished he had smelled it wrong, but no matter how he sniffed, it was still that lingering scent of balloon flower.
He pursed his lips, his expression gradually turning cold, and he stared blankly at the veil in his hand.
“Stop guessing. The killer is the person you’re thinking of.” Ling Xi turned his head and saw a handsome and bright young man walking out from beside the pile of bones.
He was dressed in a blue robe that fit his slender figure. His originally clear and bright eyes were now tinged with an unidentifiable ferocity, as if he had undergone a complete transformation.
So, it was the love rival mentioned by the beast.
After a few days, his demeanor had indeed changed for the better.
Ling Xi stood before the young man, his usually placid eyes hiding immense turmoil. He curved his lips into a playful smile. “It’s you?”
The young man let out a scoff, seeing through his thoughts. “What? The Beast Taming Champion doesn’t believe it? Let me tell you the truth. All the disciples of Ling Xian Manor were killed by Ye Ziling!”
Ling Xi’s eyes tightened, and he quietly clenched the veil in his hand, suddenly changing his tone to a smile. “And so what?”
He was also aware of Ling Xian Manor’s dealings in demonic cores and spiritual medicine, and their use of various dirty means to seek exorbitant profits. These people deserved to die.
“You think her goal was just to slaughter Ling Xian Manor? In time, she will slaughter all four great sects of the mortal world, including Shaolin Sect!” Shen Yan’s gaze deepened, and he spoke each word with chilling coldness.
Ling Xi narrowed his eyes and sneered, “What evidence do you have?”
Just before he lost consciousness, he had heard the scoundrel mention wanting to destroy his Shaolin sect. However, given the situation at the time, those words were clearly meant to intimidate him. How had they twisted into this in this person’s mouth?
Shen Yan had anticipated his disbelief. A trace of ruthlessness flashed in his eyes. “Perhaps the Champion doesn’t know that the remaining disciples of your sect are few, right? These are all the good deeds of your beloved. If you don’t believe me, feel free to investigate!”
“I personally witnessed thousands of lives in Ling Xian Manor being buried by her hands. If I hadn’t managed to escape from her, I would have met the same fate as these skeletal remains!”
“So, you are the sole witness to this massacre?” Ling Xi tilted his head, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly, a sharp glint flashing in his unfathomable eyes.
“That’s right. Once I find sufficient evidence, I will report Ye Ziling’s crimes to the Heavenly Realm and seek justice for my Ling Xian Manor!” Shen Yan clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white, the gloom in his eyes growing deeper.
Ling Xi carefully folded the veil in his hand and placed it in his embrace, his gaze dark, a cold murderous intent rippling forth. “In that case, farewell.”
With a flick of his sleeve, he drew the sword at his waist. A burst of fierce sword energy whizzed out, directly cutting Shen Yan in half at the waist.
Ling Xi lowered his gaze, looking at the fallen man. He indifferently sheathed his sword and ascended, leaving.
On the other side, on a small path near Ling Xian Manor, Mu Heng looked at the two disciples of Jiuling Palace lying on the ground and quickly went to check their breathing.
Ye Ziling followed closely, bending down to examine the two corpses that had not been dead for long.
Their complexions were dark, and their lips were black, clearly symptoms of poisoning.
These two disciples had been poisoned by Shen Yan while escorting him back to Jiuling Palace. They had now lost their lives. She had underestimated Shen Yan’s abilities.
Mu Heng scanned the surroundings and found another body near a pile of bones. He walked towards that person and identified him carefully, frowning.
Ye Ziling followed closely and looked at the young man lying in a pool of blood, her heart sinking.
This skeleton was precisely Shen Yan’s. The wound was still warm, indicating he had died recently.
Looking at the fatal wound, a complex expression flashed in Ye Ziling’s eyes.