Xuan Sijiu stated that he couldn't bear to see Gu Hai and Po Xiao compete for merit, resulting in mutual destruction and allowing the Guangming Hall to reap the benefits.
Therefore, he kept Po Xiao, meaning he gave the credit for eliminating the Guangming Squad to Gu Hai. However, at the same time, Po Xiao would not suffer any losses.
The reason lay with the Anying Tower and the Xue family.
Now, by attacking the Dark Association, they had become enemies of the Dark Association. Eliminating them would also be a great achievement.
This arrangement would allow Po Xiao to gain some merit as well.
Haha, I'm truly brilliant!
To even come up with such an excuse!
After explaining everything to Po Xiao, Xuan Sijiu laughed heartily in his mind.
He hadn't truly figured out how to explain it, but he was reminded by Hei Ying and Xue Changjiang leading people to attack.
He believed that with this explanation, Po Xiao would definitely not blame him!
"Heh, I didn't expect you to be so good at quibbling!"
Ye Cangtian glanced dismissively at Xuan Sijiu. He knew perfectly well why the other party had kept him behind.
However, now that Xuan Sijiu had explained it this way, he was too lazy to say more.
After all, even if such an explanation were to reach Xingyuan and Kong Ling, the two of them would only say that Xuan Sijiu had considered everything and effectively avoided internal conflict.
"My subordinate speaks from the bottom of his heart!"
Xuan Sijiu glanced at Ye Cangtian and continued, "However, by doing so, my subordinate has caused you some suffering. I feel deeply ashamed and ask for your forgiveness!"
"Hmph!"
Ye Cangtian snorted upon hearing this and said, "Xuan Sijiu, I'll let this slide this time. But you should know that you won't always be able to come up with perfect excuses. You'd better pray you don't fall into my hands!"
After speaking, Ye Cangtian ignored the other party and turned towards the direction of the prison.
"..."
Watching the other party's retreating back, cold sweat once again broke out on Xuan Sijiu's forehead.
Clearly, his explanation had still offended the other party, which was not good news for him.
With the Anying Tower and the Xue family still lurking, if Po Xiao was unhappy with him, he might retaliate under the guise of official duty, and he wouldn't even know how he died.
Damn it, I need to be more careful in the future and absolutely not provoke Po Xiao.
Of course, if I can appease him during this period, that would be acceptable.
...
Branch Prison.
Ye Cangtian sent people to bring Xue Changjiang and Hei Ying out for interrogation.
When the two saw Po Xiao again, their previous arrogant attitude was gone.
They couldn't even defeat Po Xiao's subordinates, so where would they get the audacity to be arrogant!
Moreover, they were now prisoners of the other party, and their lives were in the other party's hands.
On the other side, seeing the two like defeated roosters, Ye Cangtian spoke directly, "I don't like wasting words. Tell me where the people from Guangming Hall are!"
"What are you talking about? We don't understand!"
"We haven't cooperated with the people from Guangming Hall!"
Upon hearing this, Hei Ying's expression changed, and he quickly said.
Now that the Dark Association was at war with the Guangming Hall, if they admitted to colluding with the Guangming Hall, it would be another major crime.
Therefore, he would never admit to such a thing, even if it meant death.
Besides, only the Anying Tower and the Xue family were involved in the action today, not the Guangming Hall.
And in the battles of the past two days, even though Kuxi from the Guangming Hall was present, he didn't make a move, so it probably wouldn't attract anyone's attention.
Therefore, in his opinion, the other party should not have seen any trace of the Guangming Hall.
As for being asked this now, it was probably an attempt to trick him.
"It seems he is not being honest!"
Ye Cangtian chuckled at Xue Changjiang when he heard this and continued, "Then what is your answer?"
"I..."
Xue Changjiang immediately became nervous. He hesitated for a moment and, bracing himself, said, "This, I don't understand either..."
"Heh, very well, then I'll give you a reminder!"
"Previously, during the attack on the branch and Xuan Sijiu's residence, six Earth-level powerhouses appeared. You two had a total of five Earth-level powerhouses. Who was this sixth female Earth-level powerhouse?"
"And explain to me, why did you arrive precisely after I left today, and how did you know that I went to pursue the Guangming Squad?"
Ye Cangtian listened to Xue Changjiang's words, smiled, and questioned.
The other party clearly wouldn't shed tears until they saw their coffin, so he could only give them a little hint.
"This..."
This question made Xue Changjiang break out in a cold sweat and become even more nervous. He truly didn't know how to explain.
Hei Ying, on the other hand, appeared much calmer. His eyes darted around as his mind raced.
After a moment, he looked at Ye Cangtian and said, "My lord, that woman is an expert we invited from another city. As for today's events, it's not surprising. We are all locals, so our information is naturally very well-informed..."
"Yes, yes, that's right."
After hearing Hei Ying's words, Xue Changjiang repeatedly nodded in agreement.
Heh heh.
Ye Cangtian smiled upon hearing this.
While the other party's explanation seemed plausible, it appeared somewhat contradictory when considering past events.
Before the other party's last operation, Xue Changjiang had deliberately sought trouble with him, meaning he knew of his arrival before the operation.
Under such circumstances, their best option should have been to stop the operation and act after he had left.
This way, after eliminating Xuan Sijiu, they would have had ample time to prepare for retaliation from the Dark Association.
However, the other party did not do so and chose to act directly. The consequence of doing so was forcing him to investigate the matter.
After all, he was a member of the Dark Association, and he couldn't ignore such a major incident.
Compared to the two, the former was clearly more advantageous.
Thus, the only reasonable explanation for the other party choosing the latter was that there was a mastermind pushing them to act in the dark.
This mastermind could only be the Guangming Hall.
Furthermore, Xue Changjiang's demeanor was clearly wrong.
Therefore, Ye Cangtian directly concluded that both of them were lying.
Thinking this, he looked at them and smiled, "Perhaps you are too nervous here and have forgotten something. I'll help you recall it!"
As he spoke, Ye Cangtian directly unleashed Soul Piercing.
In an instant, Hei Ying and Xue Changjiang began to scream and wail.
The pain was ten thousand times more agonizing than being cut into a thousand pieces. In this pain, they even forgot about time, only feeling an endless duration, with no end in sight and no hope.
Most importantly, with other kinds of pain, the body might eventually adapt over time.
But the pain they were currently enduring was tormenting them every moment, and they couldn't adapt at all.
After an unknown period, the sensation of pain finally disappeared.
Hei Ying and Xue Changjiang regained consciousness. When they looked at each other, they immediately screamed, "Ghosts!"
It wasn't because they had actually seen ghosts.
It was because in the midst of such extreme pain, they had unconsciously chosen to self-mutilate to alleviate it, to the extent that both of them were now in a terrible state.
"Heh heh, gentlemen, do you remember anything?"
"Do you want me to help you recall again? I have plenty of time now and can play with you as I please!"
As the voice came, Hei Ying and Xue Changjiang's bodies trembled, and their crotches were already wet, emitting a foul odor.
After experiencing that extreme pain, all they felt towards Po Xiao was extreme fear.
"My lord, I remember!"
"My lord, I remember too! No, no, there's no need for you to help me recall."
The next moment, the two spoke almost in unison, quickly.
They would rather die than experience that kind of pain again.
Seeing this, Ye Cangtian showed a satisfied smile. "Heh heh, since you remember, then tell me."
Upon hearing this, Hei Ying and Xue Changjiang confessed without hesitation.
The story began from Kong Ling ascending to power.
After Kong Ling took power, the series of policies he implemented made many forces dare not speak out, including the Anying Tower and the Xue family.
The two sides were still hesitating whether to resist, but at this time, Kuxi from the Guangming Hall found them, and they quickly reached an agreement.
The Guangming Hall's request was very simple. Their goal was for the Anying Tower and the Xue family to eliminate the local Dark Association branch and Xuan Sijiu.
This way, they would have no worries when exploring the eastern region.
In return, the Guangming Hall would give both sides a certain amount of Nine Revolutions Golden Elixirs or even Enlightenment Pills upon their return.
If the Anying Tower and the Xue family performed well, the Guangming Hall might even support them in the future to challenge the Dark Association.
This would allow them to achieve their dream of dominating the region.
As for continuing to attack Xuan Sijiu this time, it was because many families were still watching.
Only by eliminating Xuan Sijiu could they see some hope of success and choose to stand on their side.
This way, they would have sufficient strength to counter the retaliation from the Dark Association.