Treasures are easy to find, but murderers are hard to catch. Tianwu Sect has gathered hundreds of martial arts masters, and no matter how anxious Ye Tian is or how many attempts he makes, he cannot find a single clue. He can only give up helplessly, lift the seal, and let the resentful crowd leave on their own.
Just as Lingyan was leading the Tianji Pavilion members to prepare for their departure, Cheng Yun caused a minor disturbance.
Why don't you want to leave?
Gu Zhong asked her questions carefully and gently, using all the tenderness in her life, appearing as a kind and caring older sister who could never be more protective.
"I just... I just don't want to leave!"
Cheng Yun, however, still acted like a spoiled and unreasonable young lady.
"It's for Ye Feng." Ling Yan coldly exposed her secret, and Cheng Yun's face instantly turned red with embarrassment.
"You should know that Ye Feng is already engaged, and there is no possibility for you two," Gu Zhong continued to comfort him.
"He wasn't like this before! It must be that young lady and his master! They must have forced him to do this!"
Cheng Yun's rebuttal was utterly naive; she still wanted to believe that Ye Feng had some hidden difficulties.
"As the dignified leader of the Tianwu Sect, he has many female confidantes and is just playing along. Only a fool would take it seriously."
Lingyan didn't have the same patience for Cheng Yun as she did for Gu Zhong; breaking her expectations was the most effective method.
"You!" Cheng Yun was furious and drew his sword, intending to stab Ling Yan.
Ling Yan dodged to the side and appeared behind her, knocking the spoiled young lady unconscious with a single palm strike.
"Why bother with further words? Just knock him out and carry him away." These words were meant for Gu Zhong to hear.
"...When did the Pavilion Master learn to be so crude?"
Gu Zhong sighed, but ultimately didn't say anything more.
Chapter 64 The Leader of the Righteous Alliance and the Leader of the Demonic Cult (Part 17)
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After returning to Tianji Pavilion, Cheng Yun could not return to Tianwu Sect no matter how much he cried and made a scene.
No one knows what kind of spell Ye Feng cast on this girl, making her so infatuated that she's practically determined to marry no one but him.
Taking this opportunity, Gu Zhong also tested Cheng Yun to see if she knew about her background. As expected, this naive and arrogant young lady firmly believed that she came from the Cheng family.
After all, when the Gu family was destroyed, the youngest daughter of the Gu family had only been born recently. How could an infant have any memory? If the family that adopted her did not tell her, she would have no idea.
Are you really sure she's your long-lost sister?
Knowing the truth, Lingyan still asked this question.
“That plum blossom birthmark is indeed on my younger sister’s body. Since we’re on the topic, I have another matter to ask of you, Master.”
Perhaps realizing he had made too many requests, Gu Zhong's expression showed a hint of shame.
"Please feel free to speak."
Lingyan was quite happy to accept Gu Zhong's request.
"Regarding Cheng Yun's matter, I hope the Pavilion Master can help investigate."
"Of course there is no problem. But I must say this first: Cheng Yun's character is already set and it is difficult to change. Even if she is really your younger sister, you must remember to prioritize your own safety."
Concerned that Gu Zhong might repeat the mistakes of his previous life, Lingyan couldn't help but give him earnest instructions.
"The Pavilion Master is indeed overthinking things. She's just a pampered young lady from an ordinary wealthy family. How could she possibly be a threat to me?"
This time, Gu Zhong did not get angry, but he seemed quite dismissive. The Pavilion Master could only shake his head helplessly and could only keep a closer eye on him.
The turbulent undercurrents once again disappeared into the depths, and everything returned to calm, like a stagnant pool that could not be stirred up, waiting for a storm to arrive so that the shadows hidden beneath the surface could be disturbed.
Under a clear blue sky, the lush trees shielded the last vestiges of summer heat. The mountain paths, muddy and slippery from yesterday's rain, were deserted, as were the usual hunters.
Only a ragged, weathered old man slowly walked along the lonely mountain, leaning on a cane, deliberately taking detours on what was clearly a straight road.
Upon closer inspection, the old man's gait seemed strange and mysterious, as if it followed a certain pattern.
In less than half an hour, the old man appeared in front of a magnificent mountain gate and casually called out to the black-clad, silver-masked disciples below.
"Tell your lord that I have come to visit as promised."
Not knowing his name, the two disciples looked at each other in bewilderment. However, since this person had escaped unscathed from the mountain's strange formations all by himself, he was certainly not someone to be trifled with. It was best to treat him with the utmost hospitality.
"Please wait a moment, senior. We will inform them immediately."
Hearing from the disciples of the pavilion that a strange old man outside the mountain gate requested an audience with her, Lingyan knew that the visitor must be the Sword Saint.
Such senior figures in the martial arts world always keep their promises. Besides, judging from his behavior that day, the Sword Saint must have had something to consult with the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion.
"Senior, it's been many days. How have you been?"
Lingyan respectfully welcomed the Sword Saint into the main hall of the council chamber, and after instructing people to serve tea and refreshments, she dismissed everyone else.
"There's no need for such formalities with this old man."
The Sword Saint glanced sideways at the teacup on the table, but didn't move an inch.
"Then...I wonder what brings you here today, senior, that you have any guidance?"
Ling Yan didn't take the Sword Saint's excessive vigilance to heart. This was a common problem among martial artists; otherwise, they might unwittingly become victims of someone else's blade one day.
"If you have any questions, please consult the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion."
The Sword Saint pulled a cloth bag from his robes and threw it in front of Ling Yan. The bag slammed heavily onto the table with a thud, and from the drooping corner, it was a bright yellow, which must have been a considerable amount of gold.
"What is it?"
Lingyan reached out and lifted the cloth bag, weighing it in her hand. She couldn't help but marvel at how generous the Sword Saint was.
"You also heard that I was investigating the Cui family that day. With the capabilities of the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion, you should know which Cui family I am referring to."
After saying this, the Sword Saint paused for a moment, waiting for Ling Yan's response.
"Ghost Blade Cui Yu, of course, knows this."
As expected of the Sword Saint, Ling Yan did indeed know. The other person she had mentioned that day, a master of both swords and sabers, was Cui Yu, who was unruly, arrogant, and outrageous, offending many people. He was plotted against and killed by his enemies more than twenty years ago.
“My brother died young, and although his descendants are not very capable, as long as I am alive, I will naturally take good care of them.”
Speaking of the deceased Cui Yu, the Sword Saint's originally fierce temperament softened considerably, but also became filled with grief.
"That's natural."
"Fifteen years ago, when the Cui family was traveling in the border desert, they encountered bandits, and none of them survived. I presume that the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion is aware of this now."
"The records are indeed true."
"For this reason, I went to the border and wiped out all the bandits in the surrounding area."
"I heard that the yellow sand and gravel of that desert turned into red soil back then."
Lingyan, at this moment, was like a straight man in a comedy duo, fully supporting the Sword Saint's reminiscences.
“Some time ago, I suddenly received a message saying that there was something fishy about the Cui family’s accident. After going through many twists and turns and investigating several times, I found that someone had indeed bribed bandits to assassinate them.”
At this point, the Sword Saint gritted his teeth, showing the depth of his hatred.
"If that's the case, then you must have had some doubts when you attacked Tianwu Gate."
"It's not just Tianwu Sect, the same goes for Tianji Pavilion."
Upon hearing this, Lingyan paused as she lifted the tea lid, and only after a moment of stunned silence did she realize the Sword Saint's implication.
"Senior, are you saying that the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was involved in this matter?"
"I'm not sure. Fifteen years ago, you were just a child, and this matter had nothing to do with you. Now that you're in charge, I hope that you, the new head of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, will abide by the rules of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion and find out the truth about this matter."
"What if it really is related to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion?"
"Then your Heavenly Mystery Pavilion should also close down."
The Sword Saint's answer was blunt and quite confident.
"You've really put me in a difficult position, senior..."
Ling Yan couldn't help but smile wryly; the Sword Saint was clearly planning to force a sale.
Whether you take this job or not is entirely up to you. However, if I find out anything, the reckoning won't be so simple!
After uttering a harsh remark, the Sword Saint drifted away.
Rubbing her throbbing temples, Lingyan sensed the thorniness of the situation. If the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion was truly involved, things would certainly not end well. Who would have thought that her master had left behind such a formidable enemy?
Lingyan truly did not wish to antagonize the Sword Saint unless absolutely necessary. His martial arts had reached a state of perfection, and even if she were to fight with all her might, she would likely only suffer mutual destruction.
"The Pavilion Master seems quite troubled? I heard that the Sword Saint just visited; was it about the Cui family?"
Before anyone knew it, Gu Zhong stood at the doorway, dressed in a purple gauze dress that revealed her slender, fair waist, so delicate it could be grasped in one hand. Silver bells were tied to her feet, jingling as she moved.
"The Cui family..."
Lingyan murmured something, looked up at her, and instantly understood. Perhaps she had always underestimated Gu Zhong; this bait was actually laid by her herself, and what she knew was far more than Lingyan thought.
"Let's put that aside for now. The Pavilion Master has one more thing to worry about—"
Placing the red, gold-embossed letter in front of Ling Yan, Gu Zhong smiled and said, with a hint of schadenfreude.
Chapter 65 The Leader of the Righteous Alliance and the Leader of the Demonic Cult (18)
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Sitting in the viewing pavilion by the lake, looking at the summer colors in the garden, Lingyan had already drunk nearly three pots of cold tea, but still could not calm the restlessness in her heart.
The visiting card that Gu Zhong delivered that day was written by a highly respected figure from another major sect in the martial arts world, specifically requesting an alliance to besiege the Demonic Sect.
Gu Zhong's recent frequent actions have already aroused the vigilance of many people, and there is already a desire in the martial arts world to unite and attack him.
However, due to the previous succession of the Tianwu Sect, everyone had temporarily put the matter aside. Now it was time to bring up the old issue again, with her, the leader of the martial arts alliance, taking the lead in the discussion.
Lingyan naturally did not want to be enemies with Gu Zhong, but given her current status, she could not openly shirk this responsibility.
How to prevent the alliance of righteous martial arts sects from taking place is a problem she needs to consider. She can't do something too offensive to the world, and she also has to make it difficult for others to notice. It's really a difficult situation.