It was actually fake? Changkong turned to look at the Nether monk, understanding that his master’s magical power was at work. He also realised what the visitor’s recent choice and result were about. The result was under his master’s control.
He did not know why his master was doing this. Since they could not avoid worldly customs, were not the connections with the Duke of Xuan’s side closer?
If he wanted to agree to the visitor’s request, he could have just agreed directly. Why go through this trick of a choice to leave it to fate?
He did not know and could not figure it out, but he did not ask any more questions, knowing his master must have his reasons for doing this.
Outside the temple, Long Xingyun and Qingya, having walked out the door, turned back to press their palms together in return to Changkong, who was seeing them off. They thanked him for seeing them out. Changkong said a polite word and closed the door.
Yin Shanhe, Cui You, and Pang Chengqiu, who were waiting outside, each breathed a sigh of relief. It was good that nothing had gone wrong.
“Young Pavilion Master, how did it go?” Yin Shanhe asked.
Long Xingyun and Qingya looked at each other and smiled. The few of them understood at a glance that the matter was settled.
This was not the place to talk anyway. The group decided to leave first and talk later.
On the way, Long and Qing still kept looking back at the Nether Temple from time to time. They still felt like they were dreaming about their previous experience inside the temple. Not only did they get in, but they actually managed to get the job done. It was hard to imagine.
Afterwards, Long Xingyun roughly told Yin Shanhe about what happened inside the temple. As for the fact that he was terrified and almost dared not answer, he naturally would not say that.
Returning to the Mirage City, the carriage dropped Cui You off on the way, letting him go to the inn to pack his things. Their place to stay needed to be moved.
With no concerns about the Nether Temple getting involved in making a move against the Tanhua, Long Xingyun did not plan to be polite anymore. He was going to move directly into Jinghong Hall.
This was also Qingya’s idea, because once he found out about the Tanhua’s movements on his end, Long Xingyun would have to set off immediately. Otherwise, delaying too long would make it difficult to track people in the Nether Sea.
Inside Jinghong Hall, after settling the honoured guests, Gu Qingzhao finally pulled Qingya to a quiet place and asked, “How did the trip to the Nether Temple turn out?”
Qingya said, “Just as my godmother expected, the matter is settled.”
Despite being mentally prepared, Gu Qingzhao was still somewhat surprised. “To be able to easily reach even the Nether Temple, is my godmother really so incredibly powerful?”
Qingya shelled some peanuts and put them in his mouth. Chewing and hesitating, he said, “It seems we can send greetings, but it is not as mysterious as we thought.”
Gu Qingzhao did not understand. “Is that not mysterious? In a place like the Nether Temple, they follow their own ways. I am afraid even a greeting from the Great Sage might not be useful, yet my godmother easily got it done.”
“My godmother did not get it done directly either. It was Long Xingyun who won the gamble…”
Qingya explained the whole process.
After listening, Gu Qingzhao was speechless for a while, then sighed and said, “Putting it that way, that Tanhua can only blame his own bad luck.”
Qingya said, “Do not worry about his luck. Just tell me first what the situation is on his end.”
After he and Pang Chengqiu went to the Nether Temple, it was inconvenient to pass relevant news and situations to the Nether Temple side. Any news was instructed to be passed to Gu Qingzhao’s side.
Gu Qingzhao said, “He has no intention of leaving. He is still cooped up in that small pavilion and not coming out. I do not know when exactly he will leave.”
Qingya said, “Since my godmother had some expectations, she should have grasped some situation that we do not know about. I estimate it will be soon.”
Just as these words fell, Pang Chengqiu arrived quickly and reported, “Master Qing, someone came from the mountain top to pass a message, asking you to go over there.”
The so called mountain top was the highest place in the Mirage City, the Zhenhai Division.
“I knew I could not avoid it.” Qingya sighed, then said to Gu Qingzhao, “I was not wrong, was I? Without me making a fuss, they will naturally come looking for me.” He looked down at his lame leg and said, “Damn it. When I am useful, they open their mouths to call me. When I am useless, they pretend not to see even if my leg is broken. What do they think I am?”
Gu Qingzhao shook her round fan and remained silent. Was she not also catering to everyone everywhere in the Mirage City?
Although Qingya complained, his body still obediently limped over there.
A carriage arrived at the Zhenhai Division. The process was the same old rule. He was led into a dark room and met the Grand Master of Eyes, Qi Duolai.
What else could it be for Qi Duolai to be so anxious to see him? Naturally, he had found out that he and Long Xingyun had actually entered the Nether Temple, and naturally wanted to figure out what this was all about.
Broadly speaking, Qingya did not hide it either, because for some things, he was also acting on orders. It was a necessary step in the procedure.
He explained that Long Xingyun had come to him, wanting to use his hand to kill Yu Qing. The reason was naturally still the old grudge between them and Yu Qing. He had refused, saying that Yu Qing had the background of the Nether Temple behind him, and he did not want to invite trouble. As a result, Long Xingyun was also a bit worried about the Nether Temple side, so he took a trip to the Nether Temple.
He roughly explained the situation like this, but Qi Duolai was shocked. “The Nether monk actually agreed not to interfere with him killing that Tanhua?”
Qingya shrugged. “It is indeed his good luck. He won the gamble. Thinking about it, with the status and position of the Nether monk, he should not break his word. Then again, it is hard for ordinary people to even get in. The fact that he could get in is not simple. His father has a lot of face. When it comes to background, it really cannot be compared.”
Qi Duolai could not help but stroke his chin and pace back and forth in the quiet room. Suddenly, he stopped and asked, “When and where will they make the move?”
Qingya said, “I do not know. We are currently still watching and looking for an opportunity. I am telling you, Grand Master of Eyes, I really do not want to get involved in this matter. That guy is using his power to suppress me, and even brought his damn Silver Guards to intimidate me. I have no choice. Tell the Division Commander to intervene and manage it a bit, so everyone can be at ease.”
Qi Duolai was somewhat puzzled. “How to manage it? If those above do not give the order, the Division Commander cannot manage it either. That fellow needs at least a few Cave Masters to have the qualification to discipline him.”
“Can you not just order him to stop directly?”
“Would an order from the Zhenhai Division be useful? If we order him, he will agree with his mouth, but turn around and do it anyway. Would that not be offering our face to be slapped? You should know in your heart that for some things, it is one thing if the Zhenhai Division does not know, and another thing if we know but do not manage it.”
“How about this? The Zhenhai Division finds some excuse to lock me up, and I can hide from this matter.”
“How long can you hide in the Zhenhai Division? Hide and never come out? Later, he runs to the Zhenhai Division to ask what crime you committed, and comes to fish you out. How do we explain it here? If he cannot fish you out, that fellow holds grudges. His mother only has this one son, and she is very protective.”
“Then what should I do?”
“That is your business. Here, we can only report the situation. As for how those above decide, it is not for us to worry about. But there is one thing I must remind you. Do not cause trouble in the Mirage City. If you really cannot stop it, try your best to find a way to pull him further away.”
“You worry too much, Grand Master of Eyes. The Nether Temple agreed not to intervene in their affairs. Even if that dog Tanhua dies in the Mirage City, it will not cause too big a wave.”
“Am I afraid of that dog Tanhua dying in the Mirage City? What I am afraid of is that young Pavilion Master being killed by that dog Tanhua. If that person really dies in the Mirage City, the Zhenhai Division will be in big trouble. Whether the Division Commander can keep his position is another matter. At that time, you, who are tangled up with him, will also have to go back to prison and lose a few more layers of skin.”
Qingya was choked speechless. After being stunned for a moment, he asked suspiciously, “It should not come to that, right? With Yin Shanhe protecting him, could the one beating the dog actually be bitten by the dog?”
Qi Duolai said, “I did not say he would definitely have an accident. I am afraid of the worst case. Since that Tanhua came to the Mirage City until now, you also know what has happened. I just carefully sorted out his situation again, and found that this guy is also someone who does not take his own life seriously and likes to play with fire on himself.
That guy basically causes trouble wherever he goes. He could make the capital chaotic just by going there for the imperial exam. When things were fine, he actually dragged out some abandoning literature for martial arts. Who said that martial arts requires abandoning literature? Is he not sick in the head? I do not know if this great talent is smart or just a fool.
You and I both have some idea of who actually killed Wang Xuetang. He even dares to kill the relatives of the Earth Mother. Do you think he would not dare to kill that young Pavilion Master?
We have also seen the murder methods of the Langhuan Residence. When Wang Xuetang was beating the dog, did he think he would be bitten to death by a dog? Who knows if some accident will happen?
In short, tell those who want to die to die further away from us. Do not die on our turf. Whoever dies or lives has nothing to do with us.”
Qingya smiled bitterly. He had already grasped the matter that Yu Qing was going to the depths of the Nether Sea, but he would not tell this side about it for the time being.
In the dead of night, the Mirage City was still full of brilliant lights, still the most prosperous place in the world.
The three martial brothers, wearing black cloaks, jumped down from the balcony of the aerial pavilion. They walked through the streets and alleys, heading straight for the seaside.
The three of them had no more cover for their actions in the Mirage City recently. With the mentality of having a clear conscience and not fearing knocks on the door, and also knowing that the figures of Nanzhu and Mu Aotie were quite striking, the people who should be watching them had long remembered them. It was hard to avoid the eyes of others by walking from the seaside.
Not long after they boarded the ferry and set off, Long Xingyun, Qingya, and their group, covered in black cloaks, also arrived. They boarded the ferry and left directly.
On the top floor of the Haixiao Pavilion, a lone lamp and an ancient zither were on the desk inside the window. Xu Wenbin, kneeling and sitting in front, gently stroked the strings with his ten fingers, the melodious sound corresponding to the brilliant prosperity outside.
The zither sound carried a touch of bleakness and desolation, and the lamp light occasionally cast swaying shadows.
Hurried footsteps arrived. Emei opened the door and entered, walking quickly to the zither stand and kneeling to sit. Her expression showed some hesitation and reluctance.
Xu Wenbin’s ten fingers suddenly pressed down on the vibrating strings. He turned his head to look at her and said, “Could it be that there is no response from the Nether Temple?”
He was also watching the movements of Yu Qing and his two martial brothers here. As soon as the three of them went out to sea, he knew. He also knew that Long Xingyun and the others went out to sea afterwards. He immediately realised something was wrong and realised the three martial brothers were in danger. He quickly had someone send a letter to the Nether Temple, asking the Nether Temple to mobilise the Sea Clan for help.
On the Nether Sea, as long as the Sea Clan was willing to help, preserving their lives should not be a big problem.
However, the expression and reaction of Emei made him realise something was abnormal.
Sure enough, Emei said with difficulty, “They replied. The Nether Temple said they will not interfere in the personal grudge between Long Xingyun and the Tanhua.”
Xu Wenbin stretched his tall figure and quickly stood up. He walked to a wall, pulled back the curtain hanging on it, and revealed a route mapping drawing. There were also relationship lines drawn on it, including the names of Long Xingyun and Qingya.
The reason he discovered Long Xingyun came to the Mirage City was also because he was watching Qingya, since Yu Qing and Qingya interacted quite frequently.
Emei carried a lamp over to help with the lighting, and the light on the drawing immediately became much brighter.
“Not interfering in personal grudges? The attitude of the Nether Temple seems to be related to the previous visit by Long Xingyun and Qingya.” After muttering to himself, the gaze of Xu Wenbin suddenly fixed on the three character sign for Lingxi Studio on the map. He said coldly and calmly, “The people at Lingxi Studio might know their whereabouts. Send someone to investigate at Lingxi Studio immediately. If necessary, force their mouths open directly. Be quick!”
“Yes.” Emei quickly accepted the order and left.
Not long after, Emei returned, and the zither sound in the room started up again.
Less than half an hour later, the sound of a bell ringing came from outside the door. Emei quickly went out again. When she returned, she almost ran to the side of Xu Wenbin and urgently reported, “Young Master, Lingxi Studio has closed its doors. Our people forced the door open and went in, only to find that the place was already empty and deserted.”
The zither sound stopped again.
“Empty and deserted? Were they not told to keep watching it? So many things were moved away, and they could not see it?”
“It is quite strange. I do not know how they did it.”
Clang, Xu Wenbin casually swept his hand across the zither strings, creating discordant sounds. He resolutely stood up and said, “I will go to the Nether Temple in person. Arrange to go by water route!”