Qin Zhaoyang rushed urgently into a courtyard compound, his gaze sweeping inward the moment he arrived, and his expression immediately darkened.
A sizable crowd had gathered within the courtyard. Some were Eight Directions Sect Disciples residing at the Qin family estate, while others were the Qin family's guards and servants.
Though the Eight Directions Sect members were few in number, every one of them possessed Dao Origin Realm cultivation. The Qin family guards had surrounded them layer upon layer, but each one was merely a Void King Realm or Void Returning Stage martial artist.
Despite their numerical superiority, there was no comparison whatsoever when it came to momentum.
The atmosphere on the scene was heavy, and a faint trace of blood hung in the air.
The sound of Qin Zhaoyang's heavy, urgent footsteps drew everyone's attention. The guards turned to look, and upon seeing him arrive, they all called out in low voices: "Ancestor!"
The Eight Directions Sect Disciples who found themselves encircled in the center, however, looked rather uneasy.
Qin Zhaoyang gave a slight nod and walked straight ahead.
The crowd parted on its own accord, clearing an unobstructed path for him.
When he reached the center, Qin Zhaoyang swept his gaze toward the ground, and his eyelids contracted slightly as a surge of fury climbed into his heart.
There, lying across the ground, was a female corpse. Blood pooled around her, and her death had been a wretched one. She was clearly a servant girl of the Qin family—Qin Zhaoyang recognized her at a glance. Just a few days ago, this maid had served him tea, yet today she lay here dead, her once-beautiful eyes wide open, dying with her grievances unresolved.
Judging by the cause of death, it appeared someone had shattered her chest with tremendous force. The entire cavity had caved inward, and the vomit at the corners of her mouth still contained fragments of organs.
Qin Zhaoyang stared at this ghastly scene, his emotions surging violently, the Origin Power throughout his body trembling slightly.
The Eight Directions Sect Disciples exchanged glances with one another, every one of them wearing an awkward expression. Among them, a fair-skinned young man with strikingly handsome features was particularly conspicuous.
"Who did this?" After a long silence, Qin Zhaoyang finally drew a deep breath. His tone was calm, yet the slight tremor in his voice betrayed the indignation burning within him.
As he spoke, he lifted his eyes and swept his gaze across the Eight Directions Sect group.
The others averted their eyes, unable to meet his stare.
"Is there anyone who witnessed what happened? Step forward. Speak up—there's no need to be afraid!" Qin Zhaoyang barked in a low voice, his gaze passing over his own guards and servant girls.
One of the maids bit her red lips and stepped forward. Her face was deathly pale, as though she still hadn't recovered from the horror she had witnessed. Her eyes were swollen and red from crying, and she was struggling to hold back her sobs as she dropped to her knees before Qin Zhaoyang with a thud. "Ancestor, Xiao Huan died with her grievances unaddressed! Please, Ancestor, deliver justice for her!"
"Stand up and tell me what happened." Qin Zhaoyang bent down and helped the maid to her feet.
Once standing, the maid looked up and glanced toward one of the Eight Directions Sect Disciples—only to find that person glaring viciously at her. The sight startled her so badly that she lost all color in her face and let out a small scream.
Qin Zhaoyang naturally noticed this. He placed his hand on the maid's shoulder and channeled a stream of pure, refined Origin Power into her, soothing the fear in her heart. "The Ancestor is here. No one will bully you. Tell me everything exactly as it happened."
"Yes!" The maid nodded gently, then parted her lips and said, "This servant and Xiao Huan were carrying out your orders, taking care of the daily needs of the honored guests here. We served with full dedication and did not dare slack off in the slightest. Today, this servant and Xiao Huan came here together to deliver food to one of the honored guests. After setting down the fruit platter, we were preparing to leave, but then… but then…"
At this point, as though recalling something utterly terrifying, her delicate body began to tremble, and she found herself unable to continue.
Qin Zhaoyang waited patiently, continuing to lend his Origin Power to steady her.
After a good while, the maid gradually calmed down enough to speak again. "But then that honored guest harbored evil intent. He tried to force this servant and Xiao Huan to stay and serve him. We naturally refused and made every excuse we could, but somehow… Xiao Huan suddenly let out a horrible scream and flew out of that side room. By the time this servant rushed out to check, she was already… she was already…"
Hearing this, Qin Zhaoyang applied a slight pressure with his hand, and the maid fell into a deep sleep. He turned to a nearby guard and said, "Take her away. Let her rest properly."
"Understood!" The guard quickly picked up the maid and darted out of the courtyard.
Only then did Qin Zhaoyang turn his gaze toward one particular side room within the compound. The door had been completely shattered, evidently smashed apart by some force. Combined with what the maid had described, it must have been destroyed when Xiao Huan was sent flying out of the room.
"Which friend is staying in this room?" Qin Zhaoyang pointed at the side room where the incident had occurred, his sharp gaze sweeping over the group of Eight Directions Sect Disciples.
Several of them avoided his eyes, their gazes flickering evasively, seemingly aware they were in the wrong and too ashamed to meet his stare.
But one of them, flushed with anger from the humiliation, puffed out his chest and shouted, "I'm the one staying there! What about it?"
The moment these words left his mouth, every single Qin family guard locked their eyes onto him, and Qin Zhaoyang did the same.
The speaker was none other than that fair-skinned, handsome young man among the Eight Directions Sect Disciples.