390: Chapter 2 Thunder Falls 390: Chapter 2 Thunder Falls Yuan Yi was right.
He had indeed thought so.
After the Cloud Ship landed, Yuan Jimo immediately applied for a Holy Decree on the legitimate grounds of examining Divine Souls to detain all Cultivators.
The reason for this was to quickly uncover the truth behind the fall of the three prodigies.
Death is like the extinguishing of a lamp.
The moment the seal on Li Lan Mountain was lifted, the news of Fang Hang and the other two’s deaths reached Great Chu.
For Yuan Jimo, this was a thoroughly terrible piece of news.
As the Chief of the Imperial City Department, he had to be responsible for the Northern County hunt…
The deaths of the others were not a big deal.
But these three, their status and identities were too noble!
The Qin Family and Xie Family, at least, talked reason, giving him time to investigate the case.
What really left Yuan Jimo in utter disarray was the Pavilion Master of Tai Shang House.
That man truly was a madman.
As soon as he learned of his Disciple Fang Hang’s death, he immediately came out of seclusion and rushed to the Imperial City.
En route, he didn’t forget to send a message to himself: If he couldn’t get an explanation, he would lay the blame squarely on Yuan Jimo’s shoulders and settle the account immediately!
Yuan Jimo, with his hands behind his back and a dark expression on his face, left Yuan Yi’s Forbidden Room.
“Xie Zhen…”
He muttered the name under his breath.
Based on his understanding of Xie Zhen and according to the information leaked by the informant, he could almost be certain that Xie Zhen was the killer who had slain Fang Hang and Xie Sheng.
As for the young Prince of the Qin Family, he wasn’t sure why he fell, but since he had the “case files” of the other two, he might as well put this blame on Xie Zhen as well.
The Pavilion Master of Tai Shang House had set a meeting for the hour of Shen.
Yuan Jimo walked through the dark corridors when a thin child in black clothing silently floated towards him, holding a lighted match, the flames dispelling the darkness but not the gloom that enveloped Yuan Jimo.
The child spoke in a soft and respectful tone, “Chief, I have good news and bad news.”
“There’s still good news…”
Yuan Jimo scoffed and said, “Copper Bone, start with the bad news.”
“Yu Wenzhong, Shang Yi, Wu Yue’s attitudes are all very consistent.”
Copper Bone, one of the nine Special Enforcement Officers of the Imperial City Department, sighed, “They are all unwilling to serve as witnesses…
Convicting Xie Zhen won’t be so simple.
As a Special Enforcement Officer, I have privately reached out to the aristocratic families of the Northern County.
Those guys originally bore grudges against Xie Zhen, yet somehow, at such a golden opportunity, none wish to ‘cooperate.'”
“As expected.”
Yuan Jimo remained calm, “They’re all smart people.
They know we’re just trying to throw dirty water on them.
It seems that someone like Xie Zhen, even if he kills, wouldn’t leave behind any evidence.”
Copper Bone raised an eyebrow.
Xie Zhen’s master was Xie Xuanyi.
Xie Xuanyi…
was a well-known killer throughout the land.
The reason he had earned the title of killer wasn’t just because of his superb skills; Xie Xuanyi had killed many people, dealt with many corpses, and although many wanted to settle scores with him, they suffered from a lack of evidence.
“Is there a possibility that Xie Zhen really didn’t kill anyone?”
Copper Bone slightly furrowed his brows, expressing the doubt in his heart.
Despite his youthful, baby-faced appearance and being the youngest among the Special Enforcement Officers, he was actually resolute and ruthless.
Someone who worked under Yuan Jimo and trusted by the Chief of the Imperial City Department was no ordinary individual.
“Absolutely not.”
Yuan Jimo let out a cold laugh.
Even if they had only met face to face once, Xie Zhen’s gaze and aura had left him feeling deeply familiar.
Some things can be inferred simply by instinct.
“But…”
Copper Bone hesitated, wanting to say more.
“Xie Zhen has killed, and he didn’t return with the Cloud Ship; based on this alone, there is a ninety percent chance he is the murderer.”
Yuan Jimo’s face was expressionless, cutting off what Copper Bone was about to say, “The Pavilion Master of Tai Shang House wants an explanation, so we’ll give him one…
The deaths of these three will all be blamed on Xie Zhen.”
He stopped his steps, standing at the entrance of the dark corridor.
Sunlight fell before him.
Accustomed to the dark, Yuan Jimo shielded his eyes with his hand.
The appointed time had come, yet no one was there to meet him in front of the forbidden grounds of the Imperial City Department.
The impetuous Pavilion Master of Tai Shang House could not possibly forget this appointment.
Only then did he remember what Copper Bone had mentioned earlier, about having good news.
“What’s the good news?” Yuan Jimo asked.
“Sir, the meeting scheduled at the hour of Shen has been canceled at the last minute.”
Copper Bone still held the match, its feeble flame flickering in the final patches of shade.
He said softly, “Just now, Xie Zhen has returned to the Imperial City.
The Pavilion Master of Tai Shang House canceled the meeting, precisely to seek him out.”
“…?”
Amidst the prolonged silence.
Yuan Jimo slowly turned around, staring at Copper Bone for a long while, making sure he was not joking.
The Chief of the Imperial City Department had a rich expression at this moment.
His eyes, usually as tranquil as the abyss, were filled with disbelief and confusion.
No wonder Copper Bone had that earlier question—could it be that Xie Zhen truly hadn’t killed anyone?
He actually dared to return to the Imperial City!
…
…
After the Northern Hunt, the city was abuzz with rumors.
Everyone was waiting for a result, not just about the outcome of the “Northern Hunt” but also regarding “Xie Zhen”.
Everything that transpired on Snow Mountain was too mysterious, and until the investigation revealed the truth, no one knew the reality of Fang Hang’s death.
But until then, everything had developed just as Yuan Jimo had anticipated.
Xie Zhen had not returned with the Cloud Ship to the Imperial City, a hard fact.
As long as he refused to appear, refused to respond.
Then this dirty water would be thoroughly splashed upon him.
What would follow.
It was the enmity between the three major families and Xie Zhen.
But…
no one expected that, ten days later, Xie Zhen would actually return to the Imperial City alone.
An hour before.
A dark Sword Intent streaked across the skies of the Imperial City, slowing down, not only revealing his face but also deliberately showing his Token for all to see who he was.
“Xie Zhen!”
“Xie Zhen has appeared!”
An exclamation arose from the city gates and gradually spread into the city.
The dark Sword Intent, skimming the ground, proceeded “slowly” through the streets, heading straight for the heart of the city.
No one thought it possible.
Not only had Xie Zhen come back.
But he also returned so openly and grandiosely.
Even…
with an air of arrogance.
The flying sword finally landed on Xining Street.
Xie Zhen entered Yuanqing Building directly, booked the top floor, ordered a lavish meal, and then began to wait.
He had been traveling southward, rushing back to the Imperial City, naturally hearing rumors about himself along the way.
He knew that the Pavilion Master of the Tai Shang House and the Xie Family of Jiangning had both arrived in the Imperial City, seeking an explanation.
He also knew.
That once he showed himself today, many would come.
Sure enough, hardly any time had passed since he ordered the wine and food, less than the time it took to drink a cup of tea, when the outside of the Yuanqing Building was thronged with people.
Xie Xuanyi sat by the top-floor window, silently drinking, observing the dense crowd of figures outside, and thought that this scene seemed all too familiar.
In his past life, it had been like this too, but he was unsure how many among those gathered on Xining Street this time wanted his head, and how many were just there to watch the excitement.
Not much later.
The crowd parted to make way.
A middle-aged man, draped in an azure Daoist robe with a black-golden crown on his head, stepped into the Yuanqing Building under the watchful eyes of everyone present.
It was none other than the Pavilion Master of the Tai Shang House.
“…Li Chen.”
Upon seeing the arrival, Xie Xuanyi maintained his usual expression, scoffing inwardly.
Shang Yi’s master, Shu Ning, was an old acquaintance of his, so Xie Xuanyi had given Shang Yi some care in the Great Yue Kingdom.
But this Pavilion Master of the Tai Shang House was different.
Li Chen was over twenty years his senior, nearly sixty years old.
When Xie Xuanyi was first making his mark, Li Chen had already been the Pavilion Master of the Tai Shang House.
Afterwards, as Xie Xuanyi emerged to challenge and overwhelmingly defeated his rivals, gaining unparalleled fame for a time and even eclipsing the Taoist sects, it had caused many controversies.
Li Chen had taken part in these disputes, attempting to suppress and teach Xie Xuanyi a lesson as an elder.
However, they weren’t of the same generation back then.
Due to face and status, Li Chen had never truly made a move.
Many years had passed.
Xie Xuanyi still remembered those events from the past.
Thinking back now, it seemed rather ridiculous; the Taoist sects emphasized seclusion and avoiding karma.
Yet this Pavilion Master of the Tai Shang House was doing quite the opposite.
“Xie Zhen!”
The voice arrived before the person.
Even in the rune-laden Yuanqing Building, it rang clearly, causing a rustling sound.
The Pavilion Master of the Tai Shang House practiced Thunder Techniques, and Li Chen had accumulated his cultivation in the Yin God Realm for over twenty years, nearing the Asking Realm, and was one of the Taoist sects’ most likely candidates to become a Yang God.
As he climbed the floors, he expanded his Grotto Heaven, exerting pressure.
Above Xining Street, dark clouds quickly gathered.
Thunder sounded across the entire building.
“Master Li.”
Compared to the thunderous fury of the Pavilion Master of the Tai Shang House, Xie Xuanyi’s reaction was much calmer.
Leaning by the window, he barely glanced over before continuing to look outside at the distant street scene, not giving the approaching Li Chen another glance.
…
Li Chen halted his steps, his Daoist robe settling around him, frowning as he looked at the youth in front of him.
During this period, the Pavilion Master of the Tai Shang House had been in seclusion within the sect.
Regarding the news from outside.
Li Chen wasn’t completely unaware…
he knew Xie Xuanyi had suddenly taken on a disciple.
But seeing with his own eyes now.
He felt, in this black-clad youth, a familiar aura he hadn’t encountered in a long time.
Robes as dark as ink.
Eyes deep as abysses.
This youth’s aura was almost identical to the Xie Xuanyi of yesteryear.
Yet there was something distinctly different.
The Xie Xuanyi of the past practiced the “Rule of Destruction,” exuding a chilling aura that warned others to stay away.
It was Sword Intent, and it was also Taoist Intent.
But in this youth now…
there was an additional complex aura.
Li Chen’s eyes narrowed instinctively as he examined carefully, and after a long time, he was shocked to find that with his perfect Yin God Realm Divine Soul, he could not discern the youth’s Taoist Intent.
Xie Zhen’s Taoist Intent was not the same as Xie Xuanyi’s from the past.
What Li Chen felt was not just the cold, deadly intent of annihilation but also something else.
However, just when he tried to sense it more clearly, he was blocked.
A burning light radiated from the youth’s forehead.
Vaguely, it seemed to form an incomplete lotus.
Was it the restriction left by Zhao Chunyang that prevented his probing?
“I’m here for one thing only.”
Li Chen took a deep breath, casting aside useless thoughts, then spoke coldly, his voice tinged with anger and sorrow, “My disciple Fang Hang died during the hunt in the Northern County…”
Vast thunder brewed above the Yuanqing Building, lingering and resonating.
And so did Li Chen’s voice.
“Was it you who killed him?!”
With this question.
He employed the Thunder Sound Secret Technique of the Tai Shang House, aimed to shock the Divine Soul.
Thunder beckoned to fall, and Divine Soul trembled.
He wanted Xie Zhen not to lie, not to conceal, and under this questioning, to reveal the truth!
Booming thunder!
Thunder fell, startling the crowd above Xining Street.
But Xie Xuanyi, sitting by the window, remained utterly indifferent.
He could feel the thunderous might above Xining Street.
If he went against his Heart Lake’s will and spoke a lie, the other would notice.
Thunder would strike immediately.
Unfortunately.
He had no intention of lying.
He had come to the Imperial City to enter the Yuanqing Building openly and honestly.
Without a single talisman paper laid out.
For.
He wanted everyone to see.
“Yes.”
In the presence of myriad onlookers, Xie Xuanyi calmly admitted with a soft chuckle, “Fang Hang was killed by me.”