Chapter 2051: Heaven and Earth's conscience? Not at all

Ye Zhangqing's brows furrowed slightly, a hint of suspicion flickering in his eyes as he slowly scanned the few people before him.

He secretly wondered, having just dealt with the previous trouble, and with great difficulty wiped his rear clean, how could such an outrageous matter of the treasury being stolen pop up again in an instant? It's simply unacceptable.

Moreover, if I'm not mistaken, take that white-bearded old man for example—the distance between his family and the Wuji Shanmai is actually over a million li.

With such a distance, even if he grew wings he couldn't fly there, let alone the absurd notion of his treasures being stolen.

Looking at the people of the Cloud Immortal Terrace, they are clearly within the Wuji Shanmai right now, so close that claiming their treasures were stolen is hard to believe.

However, when Ye Zhangqing's sharp gaze fell on their faces, he found them unusually calm, as if they had anticipated this.

Then one of them spoke first.

"Young Master Ye, yesterday our group went into the mountains to hunt, and for some reason the treasures we carried vanished inexplicably. Judging by the signs, it's very likely the work of the Thieves' Sect."

Immediately after, another echoed.

"That's right, Young Master Ye, my situation is the same—my treasures also disappeared out of the blue."

At this point, someone else added.

"Young Master Ye, think about it—we're all cultivators, our perception far sharper than ordinary folk; losing treasures like this simply couldn't happen under normal circumstances. Therefore, there must be some unknown conspiracy and Qīqiào behind this."

Listening to these people recount the whole incident one after another, Ye Zhangqing's expression gradually grew complex, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes showing doubt and contemplation.

After a moment of silence, he finally spoke up softly.

"So… your treasures were all lost in the Wuji Shanmai?"

Hearing Ye Zhangqing's question, they hurriedly nodded like chicks pecking at grain.

"Yes, exactly so."

Seeing this, Ye Zhangqing felt speechless, shook his head, and said helplessly.

"If that's the case, what does this have to do with the Thieves' Sect?"

Faced with Ye Zhangqing's questioning, they seemed a bit uneasy, and one of them explained cautiously.

"We're also because we were truly anxious, at a loss for ideas, so we thought to come find Young Master Ye for your help, to brainstorm together on this matter."

Thus, Ye Zhangqing patiently chatted with them for a while; after seeing them off, he felt utterly exhausted, so he simply stopped thinking and went straight back to his room to fall asleep.

Time flew by, and before long it was the next morning.

The canteen, which should have been operating normally, unexpectedly closed for the whole day; taking advantage of this free time, Ye Zhangqing decided to bring Bai Hua Xianzi and the five other women to the Dao One Immortal Sect for a visit.

When Ye Zhangqing's group reappeared at the Dao One Immortal Sect, only a day had passed since their last departure.

Seeing Ye Zhangqing return so quickly, Qi Xiong, Hong Zun, and the others couldn't help but look curious, gathering forward to ask.

"Hey, kid, how did you come back again so fast?"

Ye Zhangqing smiled faintly, with no intention of hiding anything, and answered directly.

"This time I've come, there are indeed some important matters I wish to discuss with you, the Shèngzhǔ."

Then he recounted to Qi Xiong and the others exactly what those people had said the previous day, in full detail.

However, just as Ye Zhangqing finished speaking, the main hall suddenly burst with angry shouts from Qi Xiong and the others.

"This is utter nonsense; we've been in closed-door cultivation these days, diligently practicing Xiūliàn—when would we have time to steal others' treasuries?"

Qi Xiong glared, shouting loudly, his voice shaking the surrounding air as if it trembled slightly.

"Slander, this is clearly malicious slander, going too far."

Those nearby also chimed in, faces full of anger.

One of them even looked at Ye Zhangqing and shouted.

"Youngster Ye Zhangqing, hurry bring those who slandered us; this old man wants to confront them face to face, see what they're basing their nonsense on—this is clearly framing Hǎo rén."

Looking at the indignant Qi Xiong and the others, they certainly didn't seem to be pretending; moreover, from past experience, Ye Zhangqing knew these people had been friends with him for years and would never deceive him.

Yet at this moment Ye Zhangqing's heart was filled with doubt—if they truly hadn't stolen the treasury, then how exactly did those treasures go missing?

Could they have grown legs and run off on their own like living things? As soon as the thought arose, even Ye Zhangqing himself found it somewhat absurd and laughable.

As Ye Zhangqing sat lost in thought, full of suspicion, a familiar face suddenly flashed into his mind without warning.

On that face hung a sly, smirking grin—who else could it be but his third senior brother, Xu Jie?

Thinking this, Ye Zhangqing couldn't help but frown slightly.

After all, he had absolute trust in Qi Xiong and the others; over the years they'd weathered storms together, their bond deep beyond compare.

Since they all said they didn't do it, it must be correct.

Thus, suspicion naturally pointed to Xu Jie.

After briefly organizing his thoughts, he then detailed his suspicions to Qi Xiong and the others.

Not long after, Xu Jie received the summons and was called to the main hall.

Xu Jie trotted into the hall, his face full of bewilderment, completely unaware of what had happened.

Upon seeing Ye Zhangqing standing there, he instantly burst with joy and shouted excitedly.

"Junior brother, you're back."

Hearing Xu Jie's shout, Ye Zhangqing's face immediately broke into a smile.

"Yeah, just got back."

After a bit of small talk, Ye Zhangqing then asked.

"Third senior brother, I want to ask—during this recent period, have you gone to anyone else's treasury?"

As fellow disciples of the same sect, Ye Zhangqing naturally spoke straight, without beating around the bush.

Hearing this, Xu Jie froze, looked at Ye Zhangqing with suspicion, and countered.

"Treasury? No, junior brother—I've been staying in the Wuji Shanmai these days, never leaving; how could I have gone to someone else's treasury?"

Seeing Xu Jie's firm answer, Ye Zhangqing also froze.

Could it also not be the third senior brother's doing? But if this wasn't Xu Jie's work, then within the Dao One Immortal Sect there seemed to be no other suspect… Thinking this, Ye Zhangqing's brows knit tightly as he sank into deep contemplation.