Today I have to go out and stock up on some New Year's goods. It's almost New Year after all, the household is quite busy, and I need to pitch in. Don't bother waiting for me at noon. There will be a second update tonight.
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Hu Jiao'er had always been a bit more domineering than her younger sister. On ordinary days she would respectfully address Elder Fang as "Senior," but now, seeing that he actually intended to kill Yang Kai, she couldn't help but hurl an insult at him.
Elder Fang's face turned ashen at the abuse. Given her status, he didn't dare fly into a rage on the spot, so he merely said with a grim expression, "Does his condition not look like Qi Deviation to you?"
Hu Jiao'er laughed coldly. "If he had truly suffered Qi Deviation, would we still be able to stand safely beside him? Are you blind?"
Elder Fang and Elder Xu both froze, then considered it and found themselves somewhat at a loss. Yang Kai's current state was entirely beyond their comprehension. Under the influence of that sky-high murderous aura, it should have been impossible for him to retain any rationality. Yet looking at his eyes, he was clearly calm and composed, without the slightest hint of the vacant stare that should follow Qi Deviation.
"Besides," Hu Jiao'er continued in a raised voice, "you only saw him kill Cheng Ming. Have you considered what that old man did to him first?"
Elder Fang moved his lips, hesitated for a moment, then said, "This old man only believes what he sees with his own eyes."
Hu Jiao'er sneered repeatedly. "Half a month ago, Leiguang and the Feihong Academy people suffered a crushing defeat at his hands. Today they broke away from the front line ahead of schedule and returned here — and I'm sure you can guess what their purpose was. Even if Yang Kai truly killed them, he did it in self-defense. Every one of those dead men brought their doom upon themselves. What does that have to do with him? Or are you saying that when someone comes to murder you, you're supposed to stick your neck out for the blade and aren't allowed to resist?"
Guan Chile nodded as well. "The Young Miss speaks the truth. The people from Leiguang and Feihong Academy not only disobeyed orders and acted on their own, they returned here ahead of schedule with the intent to murder fellow disciples. We ask Young Master Xiang to uphold justice!"
"Please uphold justice, Young Master Xiang!" Fang Ziqi, a faint smile playing on his lips, also raised his voice and called out.
Xiang Chu smiled faintly. "If that is truly what happened, then naturally I will not shirk my duty. I will certainly punish the people from Leiguang and Feihong Academy severely as an example to the rest!"
His tone shifted slightly, and Xiang Chu added, "But this is still only your speculation. You all returned with me. I did not witness how events unfolded, and naturally neither did you. How about this — let both sides who were involved in the conflict explain what actually happened?"
"I have no objections!" Yang Kai chuckled.
"I'm glad this friend is understanding." Xiang Chu nodded, then turned his gaze. "Elder Fang, Elder Xu — bring the survivors here!"
"Yes!" The two Shenyou Realm cultivators shot off, and before long they had brought back every person who had survived.
Many of these people were gravely wounded and unable to stand. Although Xie Rong and Li Fu weren't quite in such a sorry state, their bodies still trembled uncontrollably.
They glanced furtively at Yang Kai, then hastily averted their gazes in a panic. The other young disciples didn't even dare look in his direction.
The battle just now had shattered their courage.
Even their own elders — such powerful figures — had been killed in a single move at Yang Kai's hands. How could these youngsters possibly hope to resist?
"Xie Rong. Li Fu." Xiang Chu called out softly.
"H-Here... here... here." Xie Rong stuttered like a riddled sieve, his response barely coherent. Li Fu managed only a faint murmur of acknowledgment.
Xiang Chu's brows furrowed slightly, then his expression suddenly softened. "You two should have seen everything just now, correct?"
"Y-Yes."
"Then recount the entire sequence of events truthfully. Leave out no detail. If I find even the slightest bit of falsehood or concealment — you know what the consequences will be!" Xiang Chu said with a light smile.
Xie Rong and Li Fu exchanged a glance. Neither dared speak.
Hu Jiao'er let out a cold laugh. "Guilty consciences need no accusation."
Xiang Chu rubbed his forehead and said with a wry smile, "Jiao'er, before the matter has been decided, it's better not to say things like that."
Hu Jiao'er snorted coldly. "Young Master Xiang, I won't remind you again — please refrain from addressing me so familiarly. Is that clear?"
"My apologies, my apologies. A slip of the tongue." Xiang Chu showed not the slightest embarrassment, cupping his hands repeatedly. Then he looked back at Xie Rong and Li Fu. "If you dare not speak, then this Young Master will assume you were in the wrong first — and I can have you killed right now!"
Xie Rong and Li Fu couldn't help but shudder, staring at Xiang Chu in horror.
Xiang Chu continued, "However, if you have any grievances, this Young Master can uphold justice on your behalf as well!"
Hearing these words, the people from the Wind and Rain Tower and the Blood Battle Gang couldn't help but let their faces darken.
Xiang Chu's words sounded perfectly reasonable on the surface, but examined more carefully, they carried a great deal of hidden meaning.
Sure enough, Xie Rong and Li Fu exchanged another glance, and the panic in their eyes gradually subsided — as if they had found a patron.
Li Fu spoke. "Xie Rong, you tell him."
Xie Rong swallowed hard, gritted his teeth, and nodded. "Fine."
He took a deep breath, not daring to look at Yang Kai. In a low, sorrowful voice he said, "Today our two sects were fighting atop Taifang Mountain, pursuing a group of martial artists from the Cangyun Evil Ground. After we had killed them all, we realized the camp wasn't far away, so rather than regrouping with you, Young Master Xiang, we decided to return directly."
"Bullshit!" Hu Jiao'er couldn't help but cry out. "Ever since the battle began, I haven't seen you at all. You weren't chasing Cangyun Evil Ground fighters — you obviously planned this from the start and headed straight back!"
"We didn't! Young Master Xiang, every word I say is the truth. If you don't believe me, you can go check the western slope right now — there should still be some corpses there."
Xiang Chu nodded slightly. "I will verify it. For now, I'll accept that you were pursuing the enemy. However — failing to return and regroup in a timely manner is still the fault of your two sects. I will punish this lapse heavily. Do you have any complaints?"
"No!" Xie Rong and Li Fu shook their heads simultaneously.