Chapter 393 - 221: The Grandmaster’s Path, Resistance in Jinling

Chapter 393: Chapter 221: The Grandmaster’s Path, Resistance in Jinling

The host from the Yao family was an elder of external affairs, Yao Qinglai. He was from the main family branch and his cultivation was at the Qi Blood Third Transformation. In his youth, he had been a renowned Martial Artist, and he now held a position of considerable power managing the Yao family’s external affairs. That he was sent to personally receive the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect showed that they were being treated with great importance.

However, none of the members from the Sword Sect were in the mood to eat or drink. After three rounds of toasts, Qin Zhenyang glanced over at Xie Yuan. When he saw Xie Yuan finish his cup and give a slight nod, he seized the opportunity, raised his own cup, and proposed a toast to Yao Qinglai.

"Elder Yao, a toast to you."

Yao Qinglai laughed heartily.

"I’m honored to receive a toast from the future Sect Leader of the Cloud Mountain Sword Sect."

Qin Zhenyang offered the toast but did not drink. Instead, he stared intently at Yao Qinglai.

"Elder Yao, there is something I must ask."

"Nephew Qin, feel free to speak your mind."

Seeing his expression, Yao Qinglai’s smile faded slightly as he spoke coolly.

Qin Zhenyang looked at Yao Qinglai and asked bluntly,

"Elder Yao, how was Steward Wang from my Sword Sect’s courtyard murdered?"

The expressions of everyone from the Yao family, including Yao Qinglai, changed. Yao Qinglai’s face darkened, and he said with forced patience,

"Nephew Qin, I am deeply grieved by Steward Wang’s murder, but his death has nothing to do with my Yao family. How would I know?"

Qin Zhenyang’s expression remained unchanged.

"The Yao family of Jinling... are you truly ignorant of what happens right under your noses?"

If his expression had only changed slightly before, now it changed drastically, becoming quite unpleasant. He scowled and asked,

"Nephew Qin, what is the meaning of this question?"

"The steward of my Sword Sect’s courtyard was murdered. We are deeply aggrieved, and so we ask for Elder Yao’s assistance in finding the true culprit."

Yao Qinglai’s expression was grave.

"Nephew, I am more than willing to help, but forgive me, my hands are tied."

Qin Zhenyang gave him a long look, then downed his wine in one gulp.

The banquet ended on a sour note. After returning to the Sword Sect’s courtyard, Xie Yuan asked in a low voice,

"Senior Brother Qin, was that... a bit too extreme?"

Although he had suggested the direct approach to startle a reaction, he hadn’t expected his seemingly conservative senior brother to be so aggressive, giving the Yao family absolutely no face.

Qin Zhenyang shook his head.

"This is the only way to get answers. Besides, with the things the Yao family has done in Yunzhou, they were never on our side to begin with! Even if Master Wang wasn’t killed by them, there’s no need to play nice. What’s more..."

A glint flashed in his eyes.

"Yao Qinglai clearly knows something."

Xie Yuan nodded silently.

"But he won’t talk."

The two of them frowned, pondering their next move, when Yu Wensheng hurried over, a look of delight on his face.

"An invitation has arrived from the Marshal of Jinling Prefecture!"

"The Marshal of Jinling Prefecture?"

"Marshal Niu and Senior Brother Wang were very close friends. He even wanted to send his son to the Sword Sect to learn the sword. He hasn’t said anything until now. This invitation might mean he has some news!"

Hearing this, Xie Yuan and Qin Zhenyang exchanged a look, their spirits lifting.

「The next day, in a seven-story restaurant overlooking the river.」

Qin Zhenyang quietly watched the large, uniformed man and asked in a low voice,

"Lord Niu, are you saying...?"

"Ah, Young Hero Qin, don’t be so serious! I very much want you to get to the bottom of this and let Brother Wang rest in peace! But this place is too complicated. You won’t find anything."

Marshal Niu shook his head and poured Qin Zhenyang a cup of wine.

"Young Hero Qin, I want to help you, but I don’t know anything."

Xie Yuan’s expression was calm. He silently poked at the food on his plate with his chopsticks. ’This whole table of food is neither nutritious nor flavorful.’

’Perhaps only in a place like Jinling could a restaurant like this stay in business.’

After returning to the courtyard, both of their expressions turned serious.

"I didn’t expect the pressure to come so quickly,"

Qin Zhenyang said slowly.

Xie Yuan nodded, then shook his head.

"It’s to be expected. This is Jinling, after all."

Qin Zhenyang looked at Xie Yuan.

"Junior Brother Zhang, what’s our next move?"

Xie Yuan let out a breath.

"We’ll finish our rounds and ask everyone we need to. Let’s cover all our bases first."

Qin Zhenyang nodded.

In the following days, Ning Zi and the other two focused on their training in the courtyard to prepare for battle, while Xie Yuan and Qin Zhenyang went around making visits, investigating Wang Zhiyi’s movements before his death.

However, as expected, nearly everyone who had been on good terms with him now claimed to know nothing. The polite ones would at least share a meal; the less polite ones wouldn’t even offer them a cup of tea.

SLAM—

In the courtyard, Qin Zhenyang slammed his teacup down on the table, his brow tightly furrowed.

Even with his calm temperament and meticulous mind, he was at a loss.

"Have all our leads just dried up like this?"

His brows knitted together as he asked in a low voice.

Xie Yuan let out a breath. He looked at the list; ninety-nine percent of the names had been crossed off, leaving only one.

"Let’s try visiting Duke Ning,"

Xie Yuan said in a low voice.

Qin Zhenyang mused,

"Duke Ning’s status is exceptional. He might not deign to meet with a few disciples from a Sect."

"That may be true, but Duke Ning is here for much the same reason that Prince Cloud Mountain is at the foot of Cloud Mountain."

A glint flashed in Xie Yuan’s eyes.

"If the aristocratic families are truly causing trouble, then Duke Ning will surely be willing to tell us something."

Hearing this, Qin Zhenyang slowly nodded.

The two immediately had Yu Wensheng submit their calling cards.

Three days passed. The day of the Young Dragons’ Meet was drawing ever closer when a reply finally came from Duke Ning’s Mansion:

"Duke Ning is currently in closed-door cultivation and is not receiving guests."

Seeing this reply, the hearts of both Xie Yuan and Qin Zhenyang sank.

’Why would Duke Ning, who’s supposed to be keeping an eye on the aristocratic families, be unwilling to see them?’

’Is he really in seclusion?’

Both of them were temporarily out of ideas. If the straightforward methods didn’t work, perhaps they would have to resort to riskier ones.

Qin Zhenyang looked at Xie Yuan, pondered for a moment, and shook his head lightly.

"Junior Brother Zhang, let’s wait a little longer. You shouldn’t take any unnecessary risks. It’s better to be cautious."

Xie Yuan nodded silently.

Feeling the immense, head-on resistance from the aristocratic families, Xie Yuan sighed and decided to go out for a walk to clear his head.

Jinling was bustling, its streets woven with pedestrians, and tour boats constantly crisscrossed the Qinhuai River.

With the Young Dragons’ Meet approaching, the already prosperous Jinling was now even more lively.

But Xie Yuan was in no mood for this lively atmosphere, his mind preoccupied with planning his next move.

He walked on and on, eventually wandering into a small, quiet alley where the crowds began to thin. ’Finally, some peace and quiet.’

Ahead of him was a small roadside temple. Its doors suddenly swung open.

A clean and serene-looking monk walked out. He looked at Xie Yuan, who was looking his way, and pressed his palms together.

"The Buddha said the world is like an Ouroboros. Everything is within the circle, merely an illusion."

"?"

Question marks filled Xie Yuan’s head. He was about to tell the monk he had no money when he suddenly felt the monk looked familiar.

The next moment, the monk smiled faintly at Xie Yuan and said,

"Patron Xie, this humble monk is Huie Jue. I hope you will enlighten me."