395: Chapter 7 Gift Giving 395: Chapter 7 Gift Giving Above the North Suburb, a flock of crows took flight.
Cries of alarm sounded.
One after another, the disciples of Taishang Pavilion rushed to the side of their second senior brother.
Qi Yu lay in a pool of blood, his head slightly askew, pierced by Sword Qi, creating a dark cavity that resembled a bottomless pit.
Fresh blood incessantly flowed out from it.
The Rule of Destruction had, in a single strike, completely destroyed his Purple Mansion, his Divine Sea.
“Who did this?!”
Someone cried out furiously.
This other yard was enveloped in array patterns, and although they released their Divine Thought, they could not sense the slightest trace of Sword Qi.
The sword strike was too fast.
So fast that not even a flash of cold light appeared.
The void was instantly torn asunder and then just as quickly sealed shut.
Even the sound of Sword Qi striking could not be captured or perceived.
By the time everyone reacted, the strongest among the Taishang Pavilion at the time had already fallen at the sound, thus meeting his end.
A cold chill rose in everyone’s Heart Lake.
“Da da da—”
Just as the Taishang Pavilion disciples were holding their senior brother’s body, crying and angrily cursing in confusion, the sound of horse hooves approached from afar.
“Iron Face!”
A Taishang Pavilion disciple lifted his head and angrily questioned, “Under the broad daylight, in this clear universe, someone is murdered in public.
Does Imperial City no longer uphold the law?!”
Iron Face’s brows furrowed.
He observed the pool of blood on the ground, then looked around, and finally, his gaze rested on a fallen leaf in the pool of blood.
Qi Yu’s forehead was bleeding profusely, and that leaf was slowly spinning in the blood…
Iron Face raised his hand to signal that his subordinates need not advance any further, to guard the Taishang Pavilion’s other yard, while he dismounted alone and approached the pool of blood.
He reached out to pick up the leaf, calmly stating, “Imperial City indeed has its laws.
But rather than questioning the law, what you should do now is to inform the Pavilion Master of Taishang Pavilion.”
“Quick, quick, quick…
notify the Master!”
The assassination had come too suddenly, too irrationally.
These disciples hadn’t reacted, but after being reminded by Iron Face, they realized what they should do.
The Communication Order was taken out, and Divine Thought was sent forth.
But for some reason…
There was no reply from the Pavilion Master of Taishang Pavilion.
“Master may be entangled in some matter.”
One disciple said through clenched teeth, “This is a grave matter, Sir Special Enforcement Officer.
The Imperial City Division should immediately seal off the scene and hunt for the assassin!”
“A flying sword can kill from miles away.”
Iron Face shook his head, “Sealing off the scene is meaningless.
By the time we do that, the assassin would have long since fled Imperial City.”
“That makes sense.”
At that moment, a voice with a hint of a smile rang out in front of the other yard.
A black-robed young man, holding a teacup in one hand, strolled out from the Baihua Valley other yard and stopped in front of the Taishang Pavilion yard.
He looked indifferently at Qi Yu’s corpse and said with regret, “So young, and after surviving the Great Yue Kingdom’s Secret Realm, how did he end up dead upon returning to Imperial City?”
“Xie Zhen?!”
A Taishang Pavilion disciple angrily stood up, “You killed my senior brother, and yet you dare to show up here!”
“Brother, we must speak clearly.”
Xie Xuanyi said calmly, “I indeed killed your senior brother…
but it certainly wasn’t the one here.”
Previously at Yuanqing Building, Xie Zhen had already admitted that he killed Fang Hang.
And he even presented the Divine Soul Bamboo Scroll, proving it was “self-defense.”
The outcome of that confrontation had already spread through the streets and alleys of Imperial City.
The Pavilion Master of Taishang Pavilion did not pursue the matter.
Thus, these juniors had even less to say.
“You…”
That Taishang Pavilion disciple’s face turned dark, his teeth clenched in anger, “If Qi Yu senior brother’s death has nothing to do with you, why would you happen to be here?”
“One must speak of evidence.”
“How can Taishang Pavilion accuse someone without any evidence?”
Xie Xuanyi slowly turned around, “I came to the North Suburb today merely to meet an old friend and happen to jointly drink tea with the Dao friends from Baihua Valley; they can all vouch for me.
Is that not so, Lu Yuan Fairy?”
“…Yes.”
Lu Yuan sighed softly, her expression complex as she looked at the pool of blood on the ground.
She understood the real intention behind Xie Zhen’s visit to the Baihua Valley other yard today.
The scrutiny by the Imperial City Division over these days had been intense.
When interrogating her, Yuan Jimo personally took charge.
Lu Yuan always put the interests of her sect above herself, and to remove Baihua Valley safely from this turmoil, she chose to disclose all relevant information about the Dragon Array…
In other words, the “leaker” that had been the talk of Imperial City in recent days was her.
But now, seeing Qi Yu’s corpse.
Lu Yuan realized one thing – the “leaker” was not just one person.
At least, it wasn’t only her.
Xie Zhen’s words seemed to be directed at Taishang Pavilion on the surface, but obviously, they were a warning to her; this time, he let it pass in front of Yuan Yi, but next time, it wouldn’t be so simple.
Yet, Lu Yuan was puzzled.
It had only been an hour since the Imperial City Division lifted the blockade, and after dealing with the Yuanqing Building incident, Xie Zhen had rushed there; how did he become so quickly aware of the events in the Forbidden Room?
…
…
After Qi Yu’s death, the Imperial City Division once again sealed off the scene, but this time, only Taishang Pavilion’s other yard was cordoned off.
This assassination by a flying sword had come without warning, arriving and departing in an instant.
Moreover, the “assassin” was extremely efficient, leaving behind absolutely no evidence at the scene.
Special Enforcement Officer Iron Face waited for a long time.
The Pavilion Master of Taishang Pavilion did not appear after a delay.
This matter caused quite a stir, and many speculated that Qi Yu’s death…
was the work of Xie Zhen.
It was being said everywhere that the one who leaked the Northern Expedition information to Imperial City Division and tried to splash the dirty water on Xie Zhen’s head was Qi Yu.
In this way.
Xie Zhen had sufficient motive to kill Qi Yu.
This speculation hit close to the truth, but it was meaningless.
Without evidence, no matter how close to the truth, all speculations were in vain.
Xie Xuanyi was in no hurry to leave the alternate pavilion.
Holding a teacup, he waited for a long time at the entrance, but unfortunately, it seemed the Pavilion Master was truly held up by “important matters.” Even as the sun set, no one appeared.
Otherwise,
he was actually quite looking forward to meeting the Pavilion Master again after their brief separation.
What would Li Chen, who was always “protective” of his disciples, do when he saw that his second disciple had perished in his pursuit of the Dao?
Yu Wenzhong, Shang Yi, and Wu Yue all arrived at the Taishang Pavilion.
They saw the pool of blood in front of the courtyard.
They also saw Xie Zhen waiting with a teacup in hand.
Although during the Northern Hunt, they had only briefly interacted with Xie Zhen,
they all understood his character quite well; the youth and his master were cut from the same cloth: vengeful and ready to draw his sword at the slightest provocation.
Some matters, laid bare before their eyes, needed no further explanation.
Everyone very clearly understood…
what the situation with the corpse in the Taishang Pavilion was.
“Yu Wen Saint, no need to hurry,”
Xie Xuanyi called out, gesturing to stop the people from Qiantian Palace who were ready to leave first, and he took out a bamboo scroll from Sword Qi Cave Heaven and tossed it over.
“What is this?”
Yu Wenzhong caught it instinctively.
This Northern Hunt had made it clear to him that the bamboo scrolls in Xie Zhen’s hands always seemed to be valuable items.
“Ancient texts from the Great Yue Kingdom.”
Xie Xuanyi said nonchalantly: “Xie has decided on behalf of Sword Palace to gift a copy to Qiantian Palace.”
Yu Wenzhong’s eyes brightened.
But he then shook his head and said earnestly, “Young Master Xie Xuanyi, this gift is far too generous.
Without rendering any service, it is improper to accept such reward.
Qiantian Palace truly cannot shoulder this.”
Ancient texts from a thousand years ago were exceedingly precious.
The Dachu Royal Family, Da Li Royal Family, were all very interested in history from a thousand years ago.
Various holy lands were also eagerly searching for related historical records.
One of the greatest gains from this Northern Hunt should have been the ancient books and historical texts from the Great Yue Kingdom.
Such valuable things.
Could Xie Zhen really decide to give them away?
Unfortunately,
while Xie Zhen dared to give them away, he did not dare to accept them carelessly.
“It’s not the only copy,”
Xie Xuanyi said indifferently: “Yu Wen Saint, please accept it—consider it making a good connection.
You’ve worked hard these past ten days.”
Yu Wenzhong paused for a moment.
He glanced involuntarily at the pool of blood in the Taishang Pavilion and suddenly understood why Xie Zhen was giving this gift.
He wanted to thoroughly infuriate those cultivators from Taishang Pavilion.
During the Cloud Ship investigation, Yuan Jimo deliberately detained a few geniuses, under the pretext of investigating the case, as a small detention, but in fact, he sought an “alliance” to push the blame for the three murders entirely onto Xie Zhen.
Yu Wenzhong did not choose to collude with them.
Very simply.
Who was he?
Saint Heir of Qiantian Palace!
If he could step into the Yang God Realm, he would be able to take over the entire Qiantian Palace!
Cooperating with Yuan Jimo and doing something against his conscience would definitely affect his Dao Heart…
With the way Yu Wenzhong conducted himself.
Even if he truly became mortal enemies with Xie Zhen, he would not choose such means to strike back.
“Young Master Xie Xuanyi, you are really too courteous,”
Yu Wenzhong accepted the bamboo scroll, clasped his hands together, and said gravely, “Qiantian Palace will remember this gift of the scroll today.
In the future, when we meet again, we will definitely return the favor.”
“No problem, no problem,”
Xie Xuanyi said with a smile, waving his hand and watching the people from Qiantian Palace depart.
Immediately after,
he tossed out another bamboo scroll.
“Brother Wu.
You have one too.”
The people from Martial Sect also left the pavilion, and Wu Yue, not as reserved and courteous as Yu Wenzhong, straightforwardly accepted it, then stepped forward to make a bow.
This bow was not for himself.
It was for his junior brother Lin Yu and the young scions from the Northern County noble families behind him.
This Northern Hunt,
Xie Zhen had saved them more than once.
With the case at Lin Mansion having passed for some time and the anger-clouded youths calming down, they vaguely guessed the truth…
This was a plot killing two birds with one stone.
They and Xie Zhen were merely pawns!
If they truly wanted to settle the score, they ought to look for Yuan Jimo!
“Brother Xie Zhen, there were many misunderstandings regarding the case at Lin Mansion,”
Wu Yue spoke sincerely: “When I return to the Sect, I will have our Master intervene…
For these days’ misunderstandings, I hope Brother Xie won’t take them to heart.”
“It’s a trivial matter, just talk it out,”
Xie Xuanyi still appeared utterly unconcerned as he waved his hand.
He hadn’t really taken the issue to heart.
Wu Yue bowed again, and Lin Yu, along with the scions from Northern County noble families, all bowed in turn.
The second group left.
Then, Shang Yi from Yuqing Pavilion, leading the female cultivators, also left the alternate pavilion.
“Miss Shang, please wait a moment,”
“Yuqing Pavilion also has a ‘gift’.”
Shang Yi had thought she wouldn’t receive anything.
But to her astonishment,
Xie Zhen actually threw a bamboo scroll her way as well.
She caught the bamboo scroll and looked puzzled.
Yuqing Pavilion and Taishang Pavilion were both from the Taoist lineage and had a close relationship.
If she were to give out the ancient texts from the Great Yue Kingdom…
did Xie Zhen not worry that the Yuqing Pavilion Master might turn around and give them to the Taishang Pavilion Master?