Chapter 258: Taking Over the Mess? Or Playing the Mixed Plate!

Gu Qing stood before the Water Moon Nunnery, suddenly frowning.

"Master, what's wrong?"

Gui Hai Yidao halted and asked.

On the way back to the Water Moon Nunnery, Gui Hai Yidao had thought deeply—he had not yet fallen to darkness, and after hearing Zhang Jinjiu's words, he felt he must first uncover the truth before passing judgment… His father's death remained the greatest unresolved mystery weighing on his heart.

Now Gu Qing's sudden change in expression filled Gui Hai Yidao with dread.

"Something's wrong."

As Gu Qing spoke, he led the others into the room, where the Water Moon Nunnery lay in ruins—three corpses lay within: Jian Jingfeng, the world's greatest swordsman; Abbot Liao Kong of Shaolin; and Gui Hai Yidao's mother, Lu Huanong.

"How could this be?"

Gui Hai Yidao rushed forward; trained at the Protecting Dragon Manor, he could verify corpses. As he touched them, his face turned pale. "Jian Jingfeng and Abbot Liao Kong died from heavy finger force. As for my mother… she was killed by the Tyrant Blade."

Gui Hai Yidao was deeply confused. "Abbot Liao Kong was revered throughout the Jianghu. Jian Jingfeng, the world's greatest swordsman, rarely left the World's No. 1 Manor since arriving. And my mother—she spent years fasting and chanting sutras. Why would anyone kill her…?"

The truth of that year hung in his heart, now shattered—he stood lost and helpless.

His mother's death ended his old grievance but began a new one.

"Someone is framing us."

Gu Qing lowered his gaze, studying the three corpses—his only thought: This must be Zhu Wushi's scheme!

Gu Qing had never fought Jian Jingfeng and didn't know his true strength, but Abbot Liao Kong of Shaolin had effortlessly handled Gui Hai Yidao when he was on the verge of dominating the Jianghu—he died willingly.

These three died silently here, and Gu Qing immediately thought of the Iron Shield Divine Marquis.

After all, few in the Jianghu could accomplish this.

Gu Qing had previously thought the Iron Shield Divine Marquis sought to re-ally with Gui Hai Yidao; now it was clear the Iron Shield Divine Marquis had deliberately framed him—and dragged Gu Qing into it as well.

Gu Qing shook his head. Zhang Jinjiu had delivered the warning, then taken another assignment and left—clearly all within the Iron Shield Divine Marquis's calculations.

Rapid footsteps echoed outside.

Gu Qing turned to see a group of Shaolin monks arriving at the Water Moon Nunnery's entrance. The one out front was Monk Liao Fan, who began calling out for the abbot as soon as he reached the gate.

Gui Hai Yidao stepped outside, his face cold. "Abbot Liao Kong is dead."

"How did he die?"

"Who killed him?"

The Shaolin monks gathered around, examined the corpses, and upon seeing the Tyrant Blade marks on Lu Huanong's body, immediately turned their accusations toward Gui Hai Yidao.

"You killed this one."

Liao Fan pointed at Lu Huanong's corpse and said to Gui Hai Yidao, then turned to Gu Qing: "I suspect Abbot Liao Kong and Jian Jingfeng were assassinated by your finger force."

In the martial world, cases were judged by martial traces. Seeing the Tyrant Blade marks on Lu Huanong, they pinned her death on Gui Hai Yidao. As for the finger force, Liao Fan noticed little disturbance around—no signs of a fierce battle—so he assumed it was a surprise attack.

"Does my husband need to ambush them to kill them?"

Liu Sheng Piaoxu sneered.

"If he didn't ambush them, how could he kill the Shaolin abbot?"

Liao Fan demanded.

"Slap!"

Gu Qing raised his hand—a flash of white light—and Liao Fan was knocked flat to the ground.

"You ignorant fool. Never speak such insults to my intelligence again!" After withdrawing his hand, Gu Qing studied the corpses of Jian Jingfeng, Liao Kong, and Lu Huanong—he sensed Zhu Wushi intended to turn the Jianghu against him, just as he once turned it against Gu Santong.

"I was originally going to watch you take over the mess."

Gu Qing sneered. "Then go play your mixed plate with Gu Santong."

Gu Qing had originally planned to wander the Jianghu, meeting its famed masters—now, with Zhu Wushi's setup, he could directly clash with these Jianghu figures.

As for explanations—what good would explaining be to these pawns being used as weapons?

After Liao Fan was knocked down, the surrounding Shaolin monks erupted in fury, raising staves and surrounding him.

Liu Sheng Xueji and Liu Sheng Piaoxu struck simultaneously, blades drawn, forcing the Shaolin monks back and giving Gui Hai Yidao space to collect his mother's body.

Gui Hai Yidao's expression was complex as he stared at his mother's wounds, lifted her gently, and walked step by step toward his father's coffin.

All these years, Gui Hai Bailian's body had not been buried—his coffin still stood outside. When Gui Hai Yidao arrived, he lifted the coffin lid, intending to move his father's body slightly so his mother could lie beside him—when he saw a dagger on his father's corpse.

It was the very dagger Gui Hai Yidao had seen his father forge in childhood and give to his mother.

The fact that his mother had killed his father was now certain.

!

Gui Hai Yidao buried his parents together, turned, and saw Gu Qing still beside him, while the Shaolin monks watched from afar. Today's events would surely make him bear the blame.

"I trained my blade all these years to avenge my father."

Gui Hai Yidao gripped his sword tightly and said to Gu Qing: "But now, I will avenge my mother!"

Gui Hai Bailian was killed by Lu Huanong.

Gui Hai Yidao accepted it.

But Lu Huanong was killed by someone else—and that someone was trying to frame Gui Hai Yidao.

Gui Hai Yidao must uncover the truth and retaliate.

"Good."

Gu Qing nodded. "But from now on, you'll endure hardship in the Jianghu."

The Iron Shield Divine Marquis's schemes always targeted the weaknesses of the heart—and once launched, they never held back.

Gui Hai Yidao nodded.

The once-peaceful Jianghu suddenly erupted. Everyone knew a new demon had appeared—Gu Qing—who had killed the Shaolin abbot, killed Jian Jingfeng, and now countless blood cases across the Jianghu all pointed to him. In an instant, Gu Qing seemed utterly evil, his infamy surpassing even that of Gu Santong.

"Heh…"

Zhu Wushi, in his hidden chamber, studied the reports before him, recalling the past.

In those days, Zhu Wushi had manipulated Gu Santong this way. And Gu Qing had one clearer weakness than Gu Santong: women.

Gu Santong had paid little attention to women, allowing Zhu Wushi to strike. But Gu Qing had always traveled with the Liu sisters—his constraints were greater.

"Love binds, hero's spirit fades."

Zhu Wushi sneered. "Your indecisiveness over women proves you'll never accomplish great things." As he spoke, he studied the reports and saw Gu Qing heading straight for Tianshan. He summoned a trusted aide. "Why is Gu Qing going to Tianshan?"

"Gu Qing said he was going to Tianshan to dig up Su Xin…"

"Su Xin! Su Xin!"

Zhu Wushi stood straight, his hands trembling.

(End of Chapter)