"So naive — who would have thought that even the Great Thousand Upper Realm had such foolish people," Her Majesty remarked.
"Foolish people are everywhere. Those like the Zhao Manor, who grow arrogant the moment they have a tiny bit of backing, can be found on every corner."
"Of course, no matter where you go, people like that are nothing more than bottom-dwelling nobodies," Chu Feng said.
He had been venturing alone for so long now that he had seen all kinds of people. The most common type, by far, were exactly like those from the Zhao Manor — people with a smidgen of ability who became blind to how vast the world truly was, bullied the common folk, and acted with reckless arrogance.
It was precisely these people who were most likely to offend someone, and when they inevitably provoked someone stronger than themselves, all that awaited them was utter destruction.
Chu Feng turned his gaze back toward the corpses and said, "These people died in a rather strange manner."
"It looks like their souls were drained while they were still alive."
"The killer certainly has a ruthless heart. Chu Feng… who do you think did this? Is someone deliberately framing you?" Her Majesty asked.
"I only just arrived here. I haven't made any enemies yet — who would frame me?"
"It couldn't possibly be the Zhao Manor killing their own people just to frame me, could it?" Chu Feng said.
"Ha! Then they really are idiots," Her Majesty laughed. In her view, the people of the Zhao Manor were indeed quite stupid.
"In my opinion, this wasn't done by a human," Chu Feng said.
"Now that you mention it, it really does seem that way." Her Majesty's tone grew solemn as well.
"Song Xi, you mentioned before that people who enter the Divine Mountain die in mysterious ways. How did their symptoms compare to this?" Chu Feng asked.
"I only heard about those cases — I never saw them myself. But from what I was told, the descriptions are very similar to what happened here."
"Oh no — could it be that something from the Divine Mountain has gotten loose?" At this point, Song Xi was growing increasingly panicked.
"So you're the killer?!" Just then, a furious voice erupted like a clap of thunder.
It belonged to an elderly man who possessed the cultivation of a seventh-stage Martial Ancestor. Standing beside him was the Zhao Manor's chief steward, with over a thousand of the manor's lackeys trailing behind.
This, clearly, was the Lord of the Zhao Manor.
And this Manor Lord was even more oblivious to his own insignificance than the chief steward had been.
The way he looked at Chu Feng contained not a trace of respect — it was filled entirely with hostility.
"Obviously, I am not the killer," Chu Feng said calmly.
"You say you're not the killer — who can vouch for you?" the Manor Lord demanded, his manner overbearing and rude.
"I can, Lord Manor Lord! I can vouch for Chu Feng. He truly didn't kill these people. I left with him that day," Song Xi said.
"And who do you think you are?" The Manor Lord cast a dismissive glance at Song Xi, his eyes filled with contempt.
This was to be expected. Although Song Xi had some reputation around Falling Phoenix City, that didn't mean everyone knew him. In the Manor Lord's eyes, Song Xi was nothing but a small fry — even if the boy had once done work for the Zhao Manor, he simply hadn't bothered to learn his name.
"Lord Manor Lord." Just then, a man stepped forward.
It was none other than Little Liu.
"Lord Manor Lord, this Song Xi is indeed a worker of our Zhao Manor. That day, we were escorting goods together when we left."
"And that man — he injured every single one of us that day, yet he left Song Xi completely unharmed. I have no idea what kind of relationship the two of them have."
"After injuring us all, that man did indeed leave together with Song Xi."
"However, after they departed, the Vice Manor Lord instructed me to return and report. Whether or not they came back after that, I have no way of knowing," Little Liu explained.
"Lord Manor Lord, I swear it really wasn't Chu Feng! If I'm lying, let the heavens strike me dead and condemn my soul!" Song Xi, terrified that they wouldn't believe him, actually raised his hand and swore an oath.
"Shut your mouth, you treacherous dog — you'd vouch for the very killer who slaughtered my Zhao Manor's people. You deserve to die too!"
In that instant, the Zhao Manor Lord struck without warning.
Murderous intent flooded the air. The Manor Lord's very first move was a killing blow.
He intended to slaughter both Chu Feng and Song Xi at once, leaving no witnesses alive.