Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 141

"That's why she and Wei Qi staged a ruse to deceive the young master. What's so strange about that?" someone among the Qi family members said.

“A self-inflicted injury scheme…” Xiao Xiao nodded knowingly. “She gave up the easy way to return to the Qi family, and then used a painful self-inflicted injury scheme to gain someone’s trust and return to the Qi family… Are there really such fools in the world who would choose the more complicated path and invite trouble for themselves?” Xiao Xiao paused, then added, “Even if Miss Zhao had cooperated with Wei Qi beforehand and couldn’t have foreseen this turn of events, leaving her with no choice but to use complex methods to return to the Qi family, what would her purpose be in returning to the Qi family?”

“Revenge…” Qi Han began, uttering those two words indifferently.

"Revenge?" Xiao Xiao chuckled. "If it's revenge, why are you all standing here peacefully, while Miss Zhao is acting like this?"

"Wei Qi spared our lives only so he could find out the secret of the Nine Emperors' Divine Artifacts!" one of the disciples shouted indignantly.

Xiao Xiao smiled. "That's right. Wei Qi's goal has always been the 'Nine Emperors' Divine Artifacts.' Now it seems that either Miss Zhao is using Wei Qi's desire to find the 'Nine Emperors' Divine Artifacts' to help her destroy the Qi Clan, or Wei Qi is using Miss Zhao's desire for revenge to help him find the Qi Clan."

"What exactly are you trying to say after all this beating around the bush?" Qi Han interrupted.

Xiao Xiao said, "Cooperation is about mutual benefit. But, Master Qi, what gives Miss Zhao the right to use Wei Qi?"

Xiao Xiao walked up to Zhao Yan. "You all not only don't understand Miss Zhao, but you also don't understand Wei Qi. Wei Qi would never cooperate with anyone. The Shennong family and the Lian family of Divine Arrows were once his allies, but now they have both been betrayed. Miss Zhao is just a weak woman who doesn't know martial arts and has no power or wealth. Why would Wei Qi be used by her to avenge her?" Xiao Xiao turned to Qi Han and said, "Besides, the person who knows the whereabouts of the Qi family is not Miss Zhao, but Young Master Mo Yun. If you want Young Master Mo Yun to give in, why go through the trouble of a self-inflicted injury? Just threaten Miss Zhao's life, and it will surely succeed. Isn't that right?"

When Xiao Xiao finished speaking, everyone in the room was astonished. This time, she wasn't making things up; although some parts were conjecture, they were probably not far from the truth.

Qi Han suddenly understood something. He turned to look at Zhao Yan, his expression becoming increasingly complicated.

"Whether Miss Zhao betrayed the Qi family, I cannot say for sure. However, Wei Qi's actions are truly strange, clearly indicating ulterior motives. If you all act impulsively today and kill Miss Zhao, it will only cause pain to your loved ones and joy to your enemies, benefiting others instead," Xiao Xiao continued. "Admittedly, Miss Zhao has done many wrong things, and there are many here who want to settle scores with her. Martial arts feuds have their own ways of settling accounts. I have no intention of getting involved. However, Wei Qi and his group have now disappeared without a trace, and Miss Zhao may know some clues. She is an important guest to me. Can I, the dignified leader of the martial arts alliance, not even protect the face of a young lady today?"

Xiao Xiao finished speaking in one breath and let out a deep sigh of relief. Turning around, she saw Oniusu and Kanoko looking at her with great admiration.

Qi Han hesitated, unsure of what to do. Then, his gaze fell on Xiao Xiao, who was holding a wooden box. The first lid of the box was open, revealing a slipknot made of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches; he was intimately familiar with the eight characters on the lock.

His tightly furrowed brows relaxed, and he stared at Xiao Xiao in astonishment.

Xiao Xiao noticed his gaze, smiled slightly, and said, "Master Qi, some things are not as simple as they seem on the surface, and some things are not as complicated as they seem on the surface, right?"

Qi Han watched, his expression gradually calming down. He remained silent for a moment, then said to the doorman, "Let's go."

Upon hearing this, Qi's followers didn't say anything more and dispersed.

As Qi Han was leaving, he turned back to look at Xiao Xiao and nodded slightly.

She smiled slightly in response.

After they left, Xiao Xiao squatted down and said to Zhao Yan, "Miss Zhao..."

"This is your dowry... Take a look." Xiao Xiao placed the wooden box on Zhao Yan's lap, said this, and then left.

Zhao Yan stared at the wooden box, motionless for a long time. Her eyes reflected the four sets of Heavenly Stems and Earthly Branches: Bingchen, Bingshen, Yiyou, Renwu…

A light gradually returned to her eyes. Her fingers trembled slightly as she touched the wooden box, and then slowly opened it.

Inside the box lay a bronze rhombus-shaped mirror, its bright surface reflecting her face so clearly. Her face was haggard and pale, devoid of any radiance; her eyes held only sorrow and despair…

Looking at herself in the mirror, Zhao Yan felt a pang of sorrow and couldn't help but shed tears. Tears fell drop by drop onto the mirror's surface, and for a moment she couldn't tell whether it was herself crying or the person in the mirror.

The rhombus-shaped mirror, which Madam Qi claimed was a "treasure of the world," turned out to be just such a rhombus-shaped mirror? This was the dowry that was sent to her from afar?

She trembled as she picked up the mirror and slowly turned it over.

The back of the mirror is engraved with eight characters in elegant running script: "Seeing the light of the sun, never forget each other."

"Seeing the light of the sun... never forgetting each other..." She murmured it once, and understood. The longing in those eight words wasn't for her, but for her mother...

Everything was laid bare before her eyes. At this moment, she could clearly distinguish between truth and falsehood.

“Your master didn’t abandon you. For over a decade, he has been searching for you… That wooden box was made by his own hands and was part of your dowry that he instructed me to give to you…”

Mo Yun's words echoed clearly in his ears.

She had crafted it herself, a priceless artifact of the Qi family… and the method of unlocking it was so simple. She couldn't believe that the reason she couldn't open it was simply because of her deep-seated resistance…

Because they dared not believe and were unwilling to admit their mistake, they failed to understand. All their carefully crafted attempts to convey their message were misunderstood and distorted, ultimately leading to a different outcome…

She slowly raised her head, looking at the table shattered into countless pieces by the force of her palm strike, and a smile appeared on her face. She hugged the mirror to her chest and burst into tears, unable to stop.

...

Xiao Xiao went out the door and hadn't gone far when she saw Shi Le'er and Wei Ying. Beside them was another person, none other than Shen Yuan, the young lady of Jiyu Manor.

When Xiaoxiao saw them, she felt melancholy again.

Shi Le'er is one thing, but Wei Ying and Shen Yuan both have a deep-seated grudge against Zhao Yan. Could it be that they've come seeking revenge? Sigh, it's really a dilemma—whether to stop them or not...

When Shen Yuan saw her, her eyelashes lowered slightly, and she asked, "Is she alright?"

Xiao Xiao took a few steps and nodded.

Shen Yuan sighed softly, her voice tinged with sorrow, "Even if someone is utterly wicked, to have to sacrifice one's own family for the greater good is far too tragic..."

Xiao Xiao didn't know what to say, so she remained silent.

Shen Yuan forced a smile and said, "Those who commit many evils will naturally face retribution. The grudges and entanglements are probably too numerous to count today..."

After she finished speaking, she gave a slight bow and gracefully left.

Xiao Xiao couldn't help but sigh. Zhao Yan had plotted to kill Shen Yuan's father, Shen Chen, and the hatred for that murder was naturally profound. But Shen Chen also deserved his fate, and Miss Shen herself had the intention of upholding justice even against family ties. The complexities of this situation were truly beyond comprehension…

"Hey, Wei Wenxi, you're not thinking of giving up too, are you?" Shi Le'er suddenly spoke up.

Wei Ying shook her head and said, "She helped my elder brother seize Hero's Fortress, indirectly causing the deaths of the Three Heroes. This is a blood debt, and it must be repaid in blood."

Xiao Xiao looked at Wei Ying and sensed that something had changed. The frivolous and impetuous manner of that spoiled brat was gone from his face, replaced by a calm and composed demeanor.

"...However, let's settle these matters together after we retake Hero's Fortress." After saying this, Wei Ying turned and walked away.

Seeing this, Shi Le'er scoffed, "What is this? Playing the 'repay evil with kindness' game? They've got their brains kicked by a donkey! No wonder Wei Qi made them look like they were about to die!" She glanced at Xiao Xiao and said, "Sister, don't you think so?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao immediately nodded, "Yes, yes!"

"In the end, the most despicable one is Wei Qi! So what if he has the Shenxiao Sect backing him! We, the righteous and the wicked of the martial world, are united, and we refuse to believe we can't defeat him!" Shi Le'er said indignantly. "Once we find him, I'll make him wish he were dead!"

Hearing this, Xiao Xiao felt ashamed. As the leader of the alliance, how could she lack such courage?

After Shi Le'er finished speaking, she took the little girl's hand and said, "Sister, there's no time to lose, let's go and interrogate the Lady of the Boat!"

A little helpless, sigh, if only Shi Le'er could be the alliance leader...

...

Unsolvable mystery

In terms of the number of enemies he had made, Xi Yuan was far superior to Zhao Yan. From the murder at Hero's Fortress, to the later annihilation of the East Sea, and then the betrayal of the Shennong family, not to mention the arson attack on the forest, he had offended almost everyone in the martial arts world and the imperial court.

When the interrogation was about to begin, many people demanded severe torture, and some even volunteered to carry it out. The scene was so intense that Xiao Xiao felt ashamed.

However, with so many people involved, opinions were mixed. In the end, Xiao Xiao took charge of the overall situation, with Ba Ji Tian from Taiping City representing the righteous side, He Lan Qi Feng representing the underworld, and Lian Zhao naturally representing the imperial court.

When Xi Yuan saw the four people, her expression remained arrogant and aloof, but fear was also evident in her eyes. Her injuries had not yet healed, leaving her powerless to resist, and she couldn't even commit suicide.

"Master, I think you know why we've come to you," Helan Qifeng spoke first. "Where is Wei Qi now?"

Xi Yuan snorted coldly and did not reply.

“Master Qian, you should understand the current situation. If you can reveal his whereabouts and atone for your crimes through meritorious service, I can petition the court to pardon all the employees of your Qiansi Embroidery Shop,” Lian Zhao said.

Upon hearing this, Xi Yuan frowned and said, "Hmph! Once the nine emperors are gathered and the world is unified, the court you speak of will vanish! What nonsense about redeeming oneself through meritorious service is utterly laughable!"

Upon hearing this, Lian Zhao remained calm and said, "If you gather all nine emperors but still cannot gain the world, how will you conduct yourself?"

Xi Yuan said, "The Celestial Master will never be wrong! Whoever obtains the Nine Emperors will surely obtain the world!" She raised her eyes and looked at everyone in the hall, "This is destiny, and you cannot stop it."

Bajitian sighed, shook her head, and remained silent.

Helan Qifeng chuckled sarcastically, "My Lady, I fear you won't live to see that day." He sighed softly, "You and I are but mortals; fate is a small matter, human life is a great matter. Don't you agree, My Lady?"

Xi Yuan sneered, "Even if I die, I will never betray the Celestial Master!"

"Heh, death isn't scary. But have you ever heard of the poison in the North Divine Palace of the South Sea that's more terrifying than death?"

Xi Yuan showed no fear and said, "'Seven Kills'? Hahaha, I'm afraid that before the poison takes effect in seven days, the Celestial Master will have already attained enlightenment, and you mortals will only have one path: death!"

Such firm statements led to a stalemate.

Xiao Xiao felt a secret admiration; regardless of their stance, Xi Yuan's loyalty was truly admirable. The Celestial Master Wang Wenqing, if you really think about it, was actually her grandmaster. To be able to teach a disciple like the "Ghost Master," Wang Wenqing was definitely no ordinary person.

Wait a minute, how did this turn to Wang Wenqing? Weren't we supposed to be asking about Wei Qi's whereabouts? This whole "gathering the nine emperors and unifying the world" thing is a bit of a tangent, isn't it? Besides, Lian Zhao already said that it's impossible to unify the world with just nine weapons. The Celestial Master's goal is simply to use the nine emperors' influence to install a new ruler. If this guess is wrong, then it means the nine emperors really do possess divine power. It's just a pity that no one knows the secret behind this, otherwise they wouldn't have gone through so much trouble to capture her… Uh? Doesn't that sound contradictory?

Thinking of this, Xiao Xiao suddenly realized something. She looked at Lian Zhao, smiled, and said, "Master Qian, there is something I don't understand."

Xi Yuan glanced at her, a hint of disgust flashing in his eyes.

"Actually, I've always found it strange..." she chuckled slightly, "The Celestial Master is all-knowing and all-seeing, so why is it that he doesn't know the secrets of the Nine Emperors, and has repeatedly arrested a junior like me for this reason?"

Xi Yuan scoffed, saying, "I've already said it before: 'Ghost Master' Han Qing is the Celestial Master's most beloved disciple. You are 'Ghost Master's' apprentice. What's so strange about the Celestial Master wanting to see you?!"

Xiao Xiao lowered her eyes slightly. "All this time, I've been able to keep my life by holding the secret of the Nine Emperors. That day, when I went to the Lian family's ship formation to steal the array diagram, Wei Qi demanded that I reveal the secret of the Nine Emperors, saying that I didn't know, but my master certainly did. After all that back and forth, you're telling me that what the Celestial Master seeks isn't the secret of the Nine Emperors, but rather a reunion?" She then looked up and said, "I think the Celestial Master clearly knows nothing. What's the use of your bluff now?"

Helan Qifeng, standing to the side, laughed, "Ha, that's right. If the Celestial Master doesn't know the secrets of the Nine Emperors, what good is obtaining the divine artifact? He might even have to come and ask our Alliance Leader for advice on how to unify the world."

"Shut up! How dare you slander the Celestial Master's sacred power?!"

"I'm not slandering the Celestial Master, I'm just stating the facts." Xiao Xiao stood up. "Wei Qi poisoned me in the East Sea, and you used needles on me, showing absolutely no brotherly affection. The claim that my master is the Celestial Master's most beloved disciple is utter nonsense! I think he's willing to harm even his own disciple for the sake of the Nine Emperors' secret!"

Xi Yuan immediately flew into a rage, saying, "Nonsense! The Ghost Master has been a traitor to the Divine Firmament Sect for so many years, yet the Celestial Master has never sent anyone to hunt him down. When he learned that you were the Ghost Master's disciple, it was Wei Qi's suggestion to take you back to see the Celestial Master. What does it have to do with the Celestial Master? As for your later methods... that's your own fault for being cunning by nature."

After listening, Xiaoxiao understood all the entanglements involved. She laughed and said, "So, all along, you've been following 'Wei Qi's suggestion'? That means, all along, the person who went to great lengths to force me to reveal the Nine Emperors' secret wasn't the Celestial Master, but Wei Qi?"

Xi Yuan blurted out, "Of course..." However, she froze after saying that.

After listening to their explanations, Lian Zhao understood and said, "If Wei Qi wants to obtain the secrets of the Nine Emperors, his only goal is to possess the world alone... Now that Wei Qi has eight divine artifacts, it is uncertain whether he will hand them over to the Celestial Master."

Xi Yuan was startled, and suddenly realized something.

“You know Wei Qi better than anyone. He can even persecute his own brothers to this extent. Can he be as loyal to the Celestial Master as you are, my lady?” Xiao Xiao added.

Xi Yuan's expression turned fearful. The doubts that had been lurking in her heart slowly grew, finally disrupting her thoughts. She suddenly steadied herself and shouted, "Don't try to sow discord! I won't believe you!"

Sowing discord... she smiled slightly. Isn't that her specialty?

"Wen Jing once told me that back then, the Shenxiao Sect overturned the seventy-two islands of the East Sea in order to seize the Nine Emperors' Divine Artifacts, killing countless of his disciples. He has always remembered this hatred, and everything he has done so far is for revenge. Isn't Wei Qi's cooperation with him the best evidence of disloyalty to Shenxiao?"

Xi Yuan couldn't help but recall the events that happened at the inn that day, and Wei Qi's words at that time were exceptionally clear to her.

Seeing her hesitation, Xiao Xiao thought for a moment and then said, "Master Qian, do you still remember what happened in the crystal chamber of Hero's Fortress that day?"

Xi Yuan was somewhat puzzled.

Xiao Xiao said, "Back then, Hall Master Fang betrayed the Divine Firmament Sect, intending to seize the Nine Emperor Divine Artifacts. According to Master Qian, Hall Master Fang held a low position within the Divine Firmament Sect. However, he possessed the 'Nether Thunder Palm.' In the current martial world, besides him, there are only three others who know this palm technique. One is Celestial Master Wang Wenqing, another is Wen Jing, the former island lord of the Seventy-Two Ring Islands of the East Sea, and the third is Wei Qi, the lord of Hero's Fortress. Hall Master Fang's palm technique is probably..."