396: Chapter 8 Red Pavilion 396: Chapter 8 Red Pavilion Shang Yi infused the bamboo slip with Divine Thought, and after exploring it, felt somewhat disappointed.
Sure enough.
Xie Zhen had not presented the ancient text from the Great Yue Kingdom to the Taoist sects.
Within the bamboo slip, hidden was an outline of swordsmanship.
Shang Yi didn’t have time for a careful look, but she could vaguely sense the profound and deep implications of the sword techniques.
“I saw a Sword Palace predecessor practicing swordsmanship in the Xuanshui Cave Heaven,” said Xie Xuanyi with a smile, “and this sword technique is very similar to the heritage of the Yuqing Pavilion, around seventy to eighty percent.”
“The outline of this sword technique is the gift I am giving to the Yuqing Pavilion.”
Shang Yi’s expression was subtle.
It was said that a thousand years ago, the ancestor of the Yuqing Pavilion had a very deep connection with the founder Sect Leader of the Da Sui Sword Palace, which is why among the seven pavilions of the Taoist sect, only the Yuqing Pavilion practiced swordsmanship.
This…
was indeed a valuable gift.
If she could return to her sect, calm her mind and thoroughly contemplate it, she would undoubtedly benefit greatly.
She held the bamboo slip in her fingers and hesitated on whether to accept it or not.
“If you don’t accept it, the trouble will only increase.”
Xie Xuanyi conveyed with a sound transmission, “The events of today’s North Suburb Villa will be passed on in full to outsiders.
Do you remember the bamboo slip I gave you in the Great Yue Kingdom?”
Shang Yi’s eyes brightened.
The truth behind Xie Sheng’s death…
was known to few.
She had heard about the commotion in the Yuanqing Building.
And she guessed the reason why the Jiangning Family Master did not pursue the matter and why the Tai Shang House Master sought to quell the situation.
If Xie Sheng’s death were thoroughly investigated, it would involve Great True Master Chong Kan!
“Compared with the previous bamboo slip, this one is unimportant,”
said Xie Xuanyi lightly, “If you return to the Taoist sect and someone asks for this outline of swordsmanship, just give it to them…
Whatever happens, one cannot return empty-handed from a northern hunt; one must have something tangible to show for it.”
“Why are you helping me?”
Shang Yi furrowed her brow.
She and Xie Zhen met by chance, only for a few encounters, and most of those were clashes of swords.
The matter concerning Chong Kan, Xie Zhen was unexpectedly informing her.
And the bamboo slip, it was something that Xie Zhen need not have given.
“Mutual benefit, that’s all.”
Xie Xuanyi smiled indifferently, “During the northern hunt, I only broke with the Tai Shang House, not with the entire Taoist sect…”
He knew that the seven pavilions of the Taoist sect weren’t as harmonious as they appeared on the surface.
The Taoist sect was too powerful with each pavilion having its own strengths.
Pulled out individually, each was powerful enough to dominate on its own.
The Seven Pavilion Masters seemed to be on an equal footing, but in truth, there was a hierarchy of status.
The Incense Fire House’s Daoist Zhu was ranked last, while the World Pavilion’s Tang Fengshu sat firmly at the top…
This was a ranking known to everyone, but did the other masters really agree with this order?
The Tai Shang House Master, Li Chen, was always a loner, acting vigorously and had made many enemies.
Normally, these fellow disciples didn’t say much due to sect rules.
But privately, there must have been dissatisfaction.
The northern hunt was, after all, a dispute among juniors.
Xie Xuanyi was clear that the other masters wouldn’t take extreme actions like Li Chen did over someone dead like Fang Hang.
To gift this outline of swordsmanship was to soften the relationship with the Yuqing Pavilion.
“I will report everything that happened during this northern hunt to my Master,” Shang Yi inhaled deeply and said gravely, “including the content of the bamboo slip you previously gave…
nothing will be concealed.”
Xie Xuanyi continued to smile indifferently.
He had given out that bamboo slip without fear of Shang Yi telling others; it was Chong Kan who should be worried about making a fuss, not himself.
The greatest use of that bamboo slip
was to let Chong Kan understand that the Red Dragon Fortune indeed was not with himself.
To reclaim the karmic fortune nurtured over twenty years, one would need to traverse mountains and rivers, traveling to the Demon Country a thousand miles away.
At this thought, Xie Xuanyi felt somewhat emotional.
He also wondered how Ao Ying was faring now…
The Lotus Token showed no activity, perhaps the demoness had found a secluded place and had already started her closed-door cultivation.
…
…
One by one, everyone gradually left the North Suburb Villa.
Xie Xuanyi, until the end, did not see the Tai Shang House Master.
This was a slight regret.
“Senior Brother Qi said that after Li Chen left the Imperial City, he vanished into thin air and it’s unknown where he went,” Huang Su’s voice transmission rang within the Heart Lake, “There likely won’t be any more disturbances in today’s villa.”
“That’s good, today was tiring for Uncle-Master.”
Xie Xuanyi lifted his head to look at the sky.
After the great sun had set, the night deepened; among the few passing clouds, there sat someone in black robes.
Huang Su had not left from start to finish.
She sat upon the fleeting clouds, silently watching over everything in the North Suburb Villa.
“It’s nothing.”
Huang Su did not mind, but her interest was suddenly piqued, raising her eyebrows, she asked, “Did you kill Qi Yu on a whim today, or was he specifically selected?”
She could tell that the earlier spectacle was deliberately staged by Xie Zhen.
In front of Baihua Valley, he beheaded Qi Yu with a flying sword.
This was a warning, a demonstration to remind Lu Yuan not to continue making mistakes.
“What kind of question is that…
Do I look like someone who kills without justification?”
Xie Xuanyi sighed lightly.
Huang Su fell silent, the youth’s tone and demeanor were exactly like her own senior brother’s.
“How could I draw my sword without evidence?”
Xie Xuanyi smiled, “I killed him because he deserved to die.”
“Are there informants for you within the Imperial City Department?”
Huang Su tilted her head slightly, somewhat puzzled.
“Uncle-Master, please wait a moment, and you shall understand,”
Xie Xuanyi departed from the villa.
He utilized Qi Control to travel and reached the top of a desolate wilderness hill a dozen miles away.
Huang Su, who had been hanging unseen in the sky, followed quietly behind Xie Zhen’s Sword Qi.
At this moment, she frowned prettily.
In this desolate mountain, a Red Pavilion had been built, and most importantly, around this Red Pavilion hung talismans and spiritual treasures, which vaguely formed an array.
Her Sword Qi was actually blocked from entering.
This was a high-grade formation.
This makeshift Red Pavilion was even a Spirit Treasure Level artifact!
Outside the Red Pavilion, a faint frost and snow lingered.
This frost and snow stopped Huang Su’s Sword Intent from probing…
but this was no longer important, as Huang Su had already found the answer to her curiosity.
A plainly dressed, handsome young man with a gourd hanging at his waist stood outside the Red Pavilion, silently waiting.
The Chief of the Refining Department, the legitimate eldest son of the Qin Family, Qin Baihuang.
In addition.
Another familiar figure stood outside the Red Pavilion, astride a horse with an indifferent expression and an iron sword at his waist.
It was the Special Enforcement Officer charged with blockading the Taishang Pavilion earlier.
Iron Face.
The appearance of these two men explained everything that happened at North Suburb Villa.
This was not an accident.
But a long-premeditated assassination.
Yuan Jimo’s Divine Soul inspection was extremely covert, but the insider details could not be hidden from the Special Enforcement Officer who was personally involved.
The Qin Family’s strategists were numerous, and Iron Face was one of them.
Not to mention that the assailant was Xie Xuanyi.
Even if someone else were to take the place, today’s assassination attempt was destined not to “capture the assassin.”
Huang Su chuckled lightly, her little martial nephew was quite good at arranging surprises…
Becoming worthy of a Book Tower background, he even hid such a hand.
“Chief Qin.”
Xie Xuanyi stepped into the formation of the Red Pavilion.
He looked up, gazed at the familiar face in front of him, and smiled, “We meet again.”
“The scene of the incident at Taishang Pavilion has been properly handled.”
“This leaf has been tainted by a wisp of Sword Qi.”
Qin Baihuang raised his palm, and Iron Face took out the blood-stained leaf from his arm’s iron bracer and handed it over.
“You are a disciple of Xie Xuanyi, you must be skilled in the art of assassination.”
Special Enforcement Officer Iron Face looked at Xie Zhen with an expressionless face and asked, “How could you make such a rookie mistake…
What if the Pavilion Master of Taishang Pavilion saw it?”
“Iron Face sir, you have good eyesight.”
Xie Xuanyi smiled and said, “But…
with or without this leaf, is there really a difference?”
“Of course, there is a difference.”
Iron Face blurted out subconsciously, “This is the difference between having evidence and having no evidence, a world of difference.”
After saying this, he realized something was wrong.
This principle makes sense in most situations.
But in this case…
there really wasn’t such a big difference.
His subconscious act of sealing off the scene and clearing the evidence was out of habit developed over many years.
But the conflict between Taishang Pavilion and Xie Zhen no longer needs to escalate to the level of “evidence.”
“Did you do this on purpose?”
Iron Face asked with a frown, “Did you intentionally leave this leaf at North Suburb Villa to anger the Pavilion Master of Taishang Pavilion?”
Xie Xuanyi smiled without answering.
“Not just to anger the Pavilion Master of Taishang Pavilion.”
At this moment, Qin Baihuang spoke up.
He looked at the young man before him and sighed lightly, “You also wanted to provoke Yuan Jimo.”
Getting accurate information from inside the Imperial City Department and killing the enemy who leaked secrets.
This sword was meant not only for Taishang Pavilion.
“Indeed.”
Xie Xuanyi smiled, “Chief Qin really sees things clearly.”
“Do you know what price you have to pay for today’s performance in North Suburb Villa?”
Qin Baihuang said, “Special Enforcement Officer Iron Face will leave the Imperial City where he has been stationed for ten years to go to a distant land, and he may not return for a long time.”
Yuan Jimo is no fool.
After the death of Qi Yu, he will thoroughly investigate the inner workings of the Imperial City Department, and none of those involved in the inspection can escape.
Since Iron Face has chosen to stand with the Qin Family.
He must bear the consequences of being “exposed.”
The only choice is to leave the Imperial City and the Imperial City Department.
“Leaving this land of right and wrong is not a bad thing.”
Xie Xuanyi spoke indifferently, “Whether I leave this leaf behind or not, Iron Face has to leave.”
“…”
That’s the reasoning.
Qin Baihuang was momentarily speechless.
He looked seriously at Xie Zhen with a solemn expression, “Xie Zhen, you should be clear about why I am helping you this time…
for the sake of your deceased master’s face, and for the sake of the Book Tower, the Qin Family had given up a Special Enforcement Officer who had been deeply planted in the Imperial City Department for many years.”
Xie Xuanyi gradually put away his smile.
He looked towards the Red Pavilion.
The Red Pavilion was entwined with wind and snow, and a figure could vaguely be seen inside.
The person sitting inside the Red Pavilion, quietly watching this unfold.
Xie Xuanyi sighed and said, “If it was just to speak these words, Chief Qin need not have bothered coming today…”
“Of course.”
Qin Baihuang said coldly, “I came here today to see you, don’t you know why?”
This time, three young geniuses had died.
Fang Hang, Xie Sheng…
and Qin Wanyang.
Although the Qin Family had not made a statement.
The Qin Family also needed an answer.
“Qin Wanyang did not die by my hand.”
Xie Xuanyi took out a bamboo slip, tossed it out, and said calmly, “He died at the hands of Yan Xie, this bamboo slip is the proof.”