"How'd you end up at the workshop?"
"You claim eastbound—Beast Taming territory. Who's vouching?"
"No kills on your hands? Proof?"
"Those fifteen days—where? Doing what? Witnesses?"
"..."
Interrogators rotated relentless—three solid days. No food, no shut-eye. Lashed to a stone slab, Qi Xiu teetered on the brink, frayed raw. But [Illuminate Self-Heart] humd quiet in the background, steadying him. The harsher they pressed, the surer he felt: no kill order coming. He clung dogged to the alibi hashed with Kan Lin—answers airtight, seamless.
Cough echoed in the chamber.
An elder cultivator shuffled in, trailed by Chu Duo—that sa shadowy smirk, acting distant like they barely knew each other.
Qi Xiu could've kissed the ground. Never loved the sight more. Salvation walked in.
"Ancestor..."
"Ancestor..."
Grunts bowed quick. The elder? Golden Core, clear. Two of them detouring for one Qi Condensation scrub—face granted, at least.
"Why waste ti with this idiot routine? No [Truth Incense]?"
Elder shot Qi Xiu a glance, irritation flaring at the underlings.
"Uh... well, Ancestor... his natal affinity's odd. Standard tricks flop."
Honest report.
"Hm?"
Spiritual Qi threaded through Qi Xiu's channels.
"[Red-Bottod Horse Monkey]... figures..."
Smack of lips. Turned back. "What'd you dig up?"
"Checks out clean. Identity, motives, movents—all line up."
Elder pored over the scrolls, ticulous.
"He says dueled only Liu Yi. Fetch the man. Confront him."
"Right away!"
One dashed out. Soon, Liu Yi limped in—crutch propped, hobbling.
"You Liu Yi?"
"Yes—Zhen Yang Liu Clan's Liu Yi... greetings, Ancestor."
Dropped the crutch for a full bow.
"Spare it. Looks painful..."
Waved off impatient. Finger jabbed Qi Xiu. "Know this one?"
"Ashes wouldn't fool ..."
Thigh throbbed phantom at the sight—hate gritted teeth.
"Claims he spared you. True?"
"Er..." Flush crept up. "Yeah... could've finished . Didn't."
Cough cleared throat. "Fine. Owe South Chu face this once. Death? Off the table. Punishnt? Earned. Drag him out—nine lashes public. Then release."
No glance at Chu Duo. Swept out.
"Out—execute, free him!"
Grunts grumbled inwardly—three days babysitting a Qi Condensation punk? Pointless.
That Foundation Executioner from before hauled Qi Xiu back out, strung him high on fresh-scaffolded wood center market. Bowl-thick whip cracked down rciless.
Zhang Shishi, Zhan Yuan, He Yu, Bai Muhong, Yu Denou... whole Chu Qin crew gathered—waiting outside all along, eyes brimd watching him take it.
Even nominal wife Wei Minniang showed with the stepdaughter, lingering distant. Dry-eyed, both.
Whip bit flesh—searing drill, corrosive taint. Skin blackened, rotted trail, stench wafting foul.
Qi Xiu fought a grin. I'm alive. Alive! Loop endless in his head. Neck nape scar chilled reminder—real terror buried there.
Beaten senseless. Cut down, crumpled heap—legs gone.
Executioner inspected wounds, muttering dissatisfaction at his own work.
"Enough. Back to it, all."
Chu Duo scooped Qi Xiu one-ard, barked at hovering concerned disciples. Shot skyward—Black River Peak bound.
High altitude, alone finally. Mask dropped—grin cracked. One finger up.
"Once..."
"Bai Xiaosheng too—grand-ancestor says ten years served, he's free..."
Second finger.
Leaned close, whisper. "Help this big? You owe equal favors..."
Black River Peak hit—dumped unceremonious atop the summit. Vanished blink.
Peak desolate quiet. Qi Xiu sprawled half-hour till mortal servants sweeping spotted him—panic flurry, hauled to sect leader quarters.
He Yu's [Water-Holding Sword] sold off—Yu Denou fastest flier, half-day rush back. Treatnt kicked in earnest.
"Aiyo, mighty Sect Leader—charging off solo? No backup? We'd watch each other's backs!"
Older, chattier. Fussed endless while dressing wounds.
Whole crew dead? Qi Xiu bit back. Pain twisted face, forced out: "Never saw it blowing up. Pure bad luck. Who knew Wang Juan's pick for heir such a flake..."
Sigh escaped. "Wang family... done. That quick..."
"Yeah..." Yu Denou slowed hands. "Wang Juan—solid guy. Sha... That Kan senior?"
"Dunno..." Feigned heavy breath. "Hope he's alright..."
Buried deep—Chu secrets tier. His alone forever.
Wei Minniang second arrival—with girl. Cool pleasantries bedside, ready to bounce.
"Hold up..."
Doorway pause. Turned.
"Sothing?"
"Yeah..." Weighing. Wei ties only clean shot—Chu Qin poking suspicious. "Ca out with a Foundation guy, Kan Lin. Might've offed a Qi Cloud cultivator—rough spot. Figured he earned Chu Qin goodwill once. Mind asking Wei folk—relocate his kin to Immortal Forest Valley? Convenient?"
Hair tuck, displeasure sharp. "Remarried out—cut ties mostly. Thought you decent before. Crisis hits, first thought's milking my family? Sa as those fair-weather rats?"
Words choked him. Face hardened. "Lives on line—benefactor's family. Small ask of Weis. Wrong how? Married —half Chu Qin now. Pitching in for your new ho too much?"
Voice climbed—blood surge flared corrosion burns hotter, black fus reeking.
"Fine, fine—I'll handle..."
Look unnerved her—daughter's sake. Details taken, out she went.
Main troop back later—girl pawned to Qin Weiyu. Solo flight Shandu Mountains.
Wei Yue'er mirrored mom looks, but bubbly spark. Days at Black River—bossed dull Qin Weiyu silly. Odd pair clicked sohow.
Crew piled room—tears, comforts galore. Wounds brutal, but exhaustion won. They cleared—sleep claid deep.
"Sect Leader... Sect Leader..."
Zhan Yuan's urgent shake. Felt minutes only. Irritation furrowed brow.
"What now?"
Whisper close: "Wang Qing's waiting to see you."
"Who?" Bolt upright—daze shattered.
"Wang Qing."
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