"The Heavenly Mystery Pavilion naturally has its own secrets. If the old pavilion master has not told you, I cannot say anything more."
Regardless of Lingyan's private speculations, Xia Xiange was unwilling to say anything more.
Aside from that initial day, Lingbo Sect has been well-behaved ever since and has not caused any further disturbances.
Ye Feng recently led his entourage to the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, but Ling Yan did not personally receive them. Upon hearing this news, Cheng Yun disregarded his reputation and met with Ye Feng, even making a big fuss about it, as if he wanted to announce it to the world, and many rumors began to circulate.
It was also because Ye Feng's fiancée was stationed at Tianwu Sect this time and did not come, otherwise there would have been no shortage of conflicts and setbacks.
This matter alone caused Lingyan a lot of headaches. She wanted to simply ignore the young lady, but she also cared about her younger sister, which put her in a real dilemma.
As for what the Sword Saint mentioned, Ling Yan had read through more than twenty years of intelligence files and vaguely sensed some clues, and also vaguely understood what Xia Xiange meant.
The Cui family has intricate connections with the Tianji Pavilion, Tianwu Sect, and Lingbo Sect, as well as many other sects of varying sizes, encompassing almost half of the martial arts world.
However, the root cause of the tragedy and the reasons for the entanglements remain unknown.
However, now that we have a direction for the investigation, it's only a matter of time before we thoroughly expose this matter to the light of day.
Unfortunately, Lingyan is currently lacking time, as the poison has been flaring up more and more frequently in the past few days. Even the Valley Master of Medicine Valley could only shake his head repeatedly at this.
However, it was impossible for the Lingbo Sect to know that she had been poisoned, lest it backfire and cause trouble for them. For a time, there was no solution.
The only consolation was receiving a letter from Gu Zhong, saying that she would be returning soon and might be able to catch the grand gathering of the righteous path.
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Author's Note:
(Catching a bug)
Chapter 68 The Leader of the Righteous Alliance and the Leader of the Demonic Cult (Part 21)
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Lingyan was completely immersed in her private white marble hot spring, but the fragrant flower petals that had originally covered the surface of the water had all disappeared, replaced by a brownish medicinal liquid with an indescribable smell.
Fine beads of sweat appeared on her forehead, and her brows were slightly furrowed, as if she were enduring immense pain.
"Sect Master..." A faint voice came from behind her. If it weren't for the burning heat that pressed against her at the same time, Ling Yan would have almost thought she was hallucinating.
"Ah Chong?" She tried to turn around, but the person pressed her chin against hers.
Gu Zhong held her tightly, leaning against her shoulder, but remained silent.
"You're injured?" After a moment of slowed reaction, Ling Yan belatedly noticed the smell of blood that had been masked by the scent of medicine.
Why is it that every time this man meets her, he always looks so disheveled?
"It's nothing, just a minor injury. But you, why didn't you go to the Lingbo Sect to get the antidote?"
Gu Zhong casually glossed over his injuries, instead turning his attention to questioning Ling Yan.
"It's not that easy, Master."
"You!" As Ling Yan finished speaking, Gu Zhong only had time to let out a cry of surprise before he collapsed without any warning.
This situation is surprisingly consistent with what happened before.
"They never learn their lesson..." Ling Yan sighed helplessly.
When Gu Zhong slowly awoke from the incense-scented bed curtains, he felt annoyed that he had been drugged by Ling Yan again.
"Judging from these injuries, the journey to the Southern Frontier will be extremely dangerous." Lingyan then sat beside the bed and carefully applied medicine to her.
"The sect's internal discipline was lax, and they were caught off guard and their whereabouts were exposed, allowing some mad dogs to catch up with them."
Gu Zhong sneered, his eyes filled with murderous intent.
"Over the years, you've stolen quite a few martial arts manuals. Martial arts sects value the preservation of their secrets above all else, so this is an irreconcilable feud, a fight to the death. You should be extra careful next time you travel."
Lingyan had no intention of criticizing Gu Zhong's actions as right or wrong; she was more worried about Gu Zhong's safety. No matter how skilled Gu Zhong was in martial arts, she was no match for an enemy that was against everyone.
"It's just a minor inconvenience, I don't care about it. But Lord Pavilion Master, if you don't take care of your injuries soon, they'll really be beyond saving! Are you really willing to let me remain a widow?"
Unable to bear Lingyan's nagging any longer, Gu Zhong straightened up and wrapped himself around her, mischievously breathing into her ear.
"If it's difficult, I might as well let you destroy the Lingbo Sect and then slowly search for the medicine."
"Stop fooling around... The Lingbo Sect is not to be underestimated. This matter involves many things and should be planned carefully. The grand event is approaching, so please wait a little longer."
Even though she knew Gu Zhong was probably joking, Ling Yan was still afraid that he might not be able to suppress his desire for revenge and act impulsively, which would disrupt the whole plan. So she quickly comforted him.
"So it seems that the Pavilion Master has discovered something. Coincidentally, I also heard some reliable information during my trip to the Southern Frontier."
Upon hearing this, Gu Zhong finally took it seriously. The truth that had been buried for twenty years was right in front of her, only covered by a thin veil, waiting for her to lift it and glimpse the long-brewing conspiracy.
The hatred, burning like a raging fire, needs a clearer fuse to ignite the enemy hidden deep behind the scenes, until everything is reduced to ashes before it can come to an end.
"Does Ah Yan know about the secret treasures of the previous dynasty that have been circulating in the martial arts world lately?"
Without warning, Gu Zhong brought up the topic that Xia Xiange had mentioned earlier.
"I thought this was nothing but nonsense, a trap set by the Lingbo Sect to lure the martial arts world into a full-scale search for the Gu family's successor. Could it be...?"
Ling Yan's brow twitched. Back then, the treasure map of the previous dynasty suddenly appeared and caused a bloodbath in the martial arts world, but then it mysteriously disappeared without a trace. Even the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion never recorded it again, which was really strange.
"That's right, the treasure map is real, and it was once in the Gu family's possession, that's also true!"
At this point, Gu Zhong's face grew heavy, and his eyes turned red. The once mighty Gu family was wiped out overnight without a sound, and the treasure map Xu Zang was the source of this tragedy.
A common man is innocent, but possessing a treasure is a crime.
"Yan Luosha once received a secret order to disguise himself and infiltrate my Gu family as a spy. On the night of the massacre, he was supposed to steal the treasure map and bring it back to the Demonic Sect, but he had selfish thoughts and took advantage of the chaos to defect."
Gu Zhong recounted in detail what she had discovered about what happened back then.
"That's why Yan Luosha has been on the run for so many years, with no trace of him, and no one can find him."
"In reality, all I found was a skeleton and a notebook. Only the dead can completely disappear without a trace. However, strangely enough, Yan Luosha only had half of the treasure map."
After hearing Gu Zhong's discovery, Ling Yan frowned, and some thoughts flashed through her mind.
"I recently perused the old records of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion, and it turns out that the Sword Saint's request actually pointed me in the right direction. The extermination of the Cui family was orchestrated by the Heavenly Martial Sect, but behind it were the Lingbo Sect and many other sects, as well as... the shadow of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion."
When the topic turned to Tianji Pavilion, Lingyan paused for a moment.
"My master never spoke of these things to me when he was alive, and the records are mostly vague. I only know that the Cui family seems to have taken something they shouldn't have..."
"The other half of the treasure map!"
Gu Zhong blurted it out.
"It can only be this so-called treasure map from the previous dynasty."
People die for wealth, birds die for food. Those who try to snatch food from a tiger's mouth and hoard it will never have a good end.
However, as the truth gradually comes together, Ling Yan is forced to confront a fact she cannot ignore: the Tianji Pavilion may very well have been involved in the massacre of the Gu family years ago.
After all, both Lingbo Sect and the two sects were involved in the annihilation of Lingbo Sect. This is not something that a single sect or faction could accomplish. Only by always being linked together can one avoid betrayal and selling out.
"But the Cui family is gone, so where is the other half of the treasure map?"
Gu Zhong murmured, clearly not having reacted yet.
"My master once had a notebook, which was kept in the main hall along with his memorial tablet. He said before he died that this notebook should be burned before his spirit tablet. Although I never saw it, I didn't burn it either. Perhaps all the truth lies within it..."
Lingyan suddenly remembered something her master had told her before he passed away a few years ago. At the time, she didn't understand it and didn't follow it, but now it seemed to be the last glimmer of possibility to unravel this mystery.
"Your master?"
Gu Zhong was stunned for a moment before looking at Ling Yan with a deep gaze.
"Yes... your Tianji Pavilion is also involved."
"If the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion had truly been involved in the Gu family's affair back then, even though my master has passed away, I would still give you an explanation."
Lingyan made her promise with absolute certainty, yet a sudden sense of panic welled up inside her.
"Yeah?"
With a soft chuckle, a smile suddenly appeared on Gu Zhong's face.
"You...don't believe me?"
A sense of impending abandonment washed over her, making even Lingyan's usually calm tone become anxious.
"Master, it's more important to find the truth first. As for what happens afterward, things will eventually come to a conclusion."
Gu Zhong lowered his eyes and stopped looking at her, seemingly lost in thought.
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Author's Note:
Sorry! I've missed another update!
The main reason was laziness; the secondary reason was writer's block…
The reason is unimportant; I've just been having some troubles at home lately.
Anyway, it's my problem, and I need to try my best to overcome it.
//Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 2021-09-28 17:37:34 and 2021-10-10 23:58:04!
Thank you to the little angel who watered the nutrient solution: 20 bottles of Noelle;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 69 The Leader of the Righteous Alliance and the Leader of the Demonic Cult (Twenty-Two)
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Before the next day even arrived, Lingyan retrieved Mo Wuwen's notes from the Pavilion Master's Hall that very night and read them with Gu Zhong.
Just as they suspected, this top-secret notebook, which was almost destroyed, recorded all sorts of unspeakable things, as well as the half of the treasure map that had been lost several times.
Everything began with the appearance of this coveted treasure map.
It is human greed that has led to these tragedies—the Gu family, the Cui family…