As Cui Fengxi's side's squad leaders drew their weapons one by one, a palpable tension filled the air. Though they knew they were outmatched in a direct confrontation, and the enemy clearly didn't consider them allies, they figured it was better to fight now than be used as cannon fodder later. On the other side, seeing their opponents draw steel, Tu Wu and his men didn't hesitate either. With things escalating to this point, they refused to be slaughtered like sheep.
*Bang!*
Just as the atmosphere thickened with hostility, a loud crash echoed through the area. Turning their heads, they saw the Butcher smash the stone table before him, his face contorted with rage, his eyes burning with murderous intent.
"Lay down your weapons, all of you! Or don't blame me for being harsh!" As the Hall Master of the Black Wind Gate, he couldn't stand by and watch an internal conflict erupt.
Seeing the Butcher's fury, everyone immediately sheathed their weapons.
Not far away, Ye Cangtian, who was observing the situation, let out a sigh of regret. If not for the Butcher's intervention, a fight would surely have broken out. However, it didn't matter; the seeds of conflict had been sown. With a little manipulation later, they would still clash.
"Death God, what's your assessment?" Tu Fu's voice boomed out. "Who do you think is responsible for this?"
He couldn't believe his own men would cause such a disturbance. After all, he had known them for some time, and any grievances would have been settled long ago. Therefore, he largely ruled out an internal dispute among his own ranks. His suspicions primarily fell on Cui Fengxi's men, as he had recently received intelligence indicating growing dissatisfaction among them. Among those initially excluded from suspicion were Ye Cangtian, who had only recently joined the Black Wind Gate and was unfamiliar with the internal dynamics, having no prior grievances with anyone, thus lacking any motive. Next was Cui Yi, a trusted confidant of Cui Fengxi and a man of strict conduct, making him an unlikely suspect for assassination.
Me? Called out by the Butcher, Ye Cangtian couldn't help but smile wryly. In that instant, he had become the focus of everyone's attention. Cui Fengxi's men watched him with smiles, exuding an air of camaraderie, as if saying, "Brother, we're all on the same side." Meanwhile, the Butcher's men cast him warning glances, their message clear: do not speak carelessly.
After a moment of deliberation, Ye Cangtian glanced at the Butcher and began, "According to Tu Wu's account, Cui Si and Cui Wu are the most suspicious..."
"Death God! What nonsense are you spouting!" Cui Si erupted, pointing furiously at Ye Cangtian. Though he had only just met the Death God, he clearly considered himself part of Cui Fengxi's faction and thus an insider. The betrayal of an insider, he roared, filled him with indignation!
On the other side, Tu Wu's face lit up with a subtle smile. Now that even the Death God suspected Cui Si and Cui Wu, the matter was all but settled. To put it bluntly, even if Cui Si and Cui Wu were not the culprits, the Butcher would likely find someone to take the blame in the absence of concrete evidence, as the men's anger needed an outlet. If that were the case, Cui Si and Cui Wu would be the most convenient scapegoats.
"Don't rush, don't rush, I haven't finished!" Ye Cangtian quickly calmed Cui Si, continuing, "I arrived yesterday and happened to be staying next door to them. I overheard some gossip, but I can assure you that Cui Si and Cui Wu were resting in their rooms."
*Hmph!* Cui Si's anger subsided slightly upon hearing the latter half of Ye Cangtian's statement. While it acknowledged his discontent, it also served as an alibi, dispelling suspicion.
"Continue," the Butcher nodded, finding Ye Cangtian's words to be honest and fair, as there was no reason to disclose such information otherwise.
"My apologies, Butcher, but this is all I could discern for now." Ye Cangtian rose and bowed to the Butcher. He could only say so much; revealing too much would only draw suspicion.
*Mm.* The Butcher acknowledged with a faint nod, not blaming him. After all, Ye Cangtian was new and unfamiliar with the Black Wind Gate's internal affairs, so providing an honest account was commendable. He couldn't expect him to fabricate information.
After a moment of thought, the Butcher announced, "I will get to the bottom of this matter! No one is to discuss this privately or engage in any conflicts, or face my wrath!" The Butcher's information was extremely limited, and while he was certain the culprit was among them, he lacked irrefutable evidence to expose them. Moreover, since the suspect was one of Cui Fengxi's men, he couldn't act too rashly. It would be best to wait for Cui Fengxi's return. After a stern warning, the matter was temporarily put to rest, and the squad leaders returned to their respective rooms.
Not long after, Cui Yi arrived at Ye Cangtian's room. He extended his hand, gritting his teeth, "I've dealt with Tu Liu, which should count as my oath of allegiance. Can you give me the antidote now?"
"Heh heh, I don't have any antidote," Ye Cangtian replied with a smile.
"You! You broke your promise!" Cui Yi's face turned ashen. Without the antidote, he was surely doomed! He turned to leave, intending to report Ye Cangtian to the Butcher, seeking mutual destruction if he couldn't survive. However, he stopped at the doorway. Firstly, he knew it would be difficult to leave this room in Ye Cangtian's presence. Secondly, the fact that Ye Cangtian hadn't attacked him or stopped him indicated that he wasn't afraid of being reported. Upon reflection, his report might not carry much weight. After all, he had seen Ye Cangtian before, and if he had intended harm, why hadn't he reported him then? This alone was difficult to explain.
"What exactly do you want?" Cui Yi returned to Ye Cangtian, asking powerlessly.
Ye Cangtian smiled with satisfaction. "I gave you a youth-preserving pill. Naturally, there's no antidote. You should thank me for eternal youth!"
"You..." Cui Yi almost spat out blood, filled with regret. Had he known it was a youth-preserving pill, he would have reported Ye Cangtian immediately. He was trusted by Cui Fengxi and didn't want to be a traitor to the Black Wind Gate! But what was the point of knowing this now? He had already pledged his allegiance and couldn't turn back!
"From now on, work for me diligently, and I promise you won't be mistreated." Ye Cangtian patted Cui Yi's shoulder, comforting him as he looked at his crestfallen face. He then took two pills from his Qiankun bag and tossed them to Cui Yi.
"What are these?" Cui Yi asked, looking at Ye Cangtian in confusion.
Ye Cangtian smiled and said, "One is a Foundation Establishment Pill, which can cleanse your marrow and strengthen your body, accelerating your progress. The other is a Minor Restoration Pill, which can save your life in critical moments."
This... Cui Yi was stunned. He had heard of both Foundation Establishment Pills and Minor Restoration Pills. In his understanding, these were legendary elixirs, and in all his years at the Black Wind Gate, he had never seen them. Now, on his very first day following Ye Cangtian, after merely pledging his allegiance, he was bestowed with two such pills. This was infinitely more generous than the Black Wind Gate! Most importantly, the Foundation Establishment Pill could help him break through the Xuan level barrier, paving the way for a brilliant future. After all, in the ruins of Huaxia, strength reigned supreme; power was everything!
With this thought, Cui Yi looked at Ye Cangtian again, his eyes devoid of any animosity, replaced by deep respect. Ye Cangtian was the first person to consider his future and treat him with such kindness.
"Cui Yi is willing to dedicate his life and pledge his unwavering loyalty to Lord Death God!"