Chapter 675: Wuxia: Even Archrivals Can Become Lovers 09

The next day, Sang Ning woke up to find that the two people's figures were gone from the courtyard.

He thought he had been abandoned, pacing anxiously; luckily Jin Chen returned once to fetch something, and only then brought Sang Ning to the ruined temple.

Upon hearing from Mu Huaizhi what had happened the previous night, he was both shocked and ashamed.

"No…… we're all martial artists; how could you hear the fighting while I heard nothing at all!"

Sang Ning leaned against the doorframe, his waist pouch bulging, both hands cupping his face, a worried frown: "Really worrisome; Master even said to let me come here for training to save people."

"Saving people you're capable of, training……"

Mu Huaizhi is not good with words, let alone comforting others; after thinking, he said, "Preserving one's life is most important."

Sang Ning cradled the injured little heart, "Brother Mu, you really know how to comfort people."

Mu Huaizhi, hearing that, relaxed his brows and eyes, "Thank you."

Sang Ning: "……"

He wasn't praising at all!

Jin Chen leaned against the coffin, laughing out loud, his shoulders shaking.

Seeing the two's strange reaction, Mu Huaizhi realized he might have said something wrong; he pressed his lips and refused to speak.

While they were speaking, a person dressed as a constable actually burst into the ruined temple.

The three instantly became alert; who would have thought the leading constable would clasp his fists and say, "Three heroes, our superior invites you."

"Superior?"

Jin Chen stepped forward to block the front, "Yunshu Town isn't a military stronghold; how could it even have a government war office?"

As far as he knew, the nearest county office wasn't here either.

"This hero may not know, but our superior is the Li Zhou Inspector, who came specially for Yunshu Town to investigate the strange matters."

Indeed, there were also imperial officials investigating; the few no longer doubted, followed them, and only then discovered that Fang Xun and the other had also been invited.

Besides these five people, there were actually two sects' members also waiting at the Inspector's office.

"The Daodao Sect and the Zhenwu Sect—quite a few people have come to meddle."

Sang Ning let out a wow, trailing beside Mu Huaizhi, muttering.

The Inspector was a steady middle-aged man, but now looked weathered and worried; seeing them enter, he hurried forward to greet them.

"Heroes, coming to Yunshu Town, you must also be here for that strange matter; frankly, my men have suffered heavy losses, yet no one has seen who exactly is behind it."

"The deadline set by the emperor is approaching; I really have no choice, so I invited you all to discuss together—if we find the true culprit behind it, I will reward you with five thousand taels of silver."

Jin Chen stood beside Mu Huaizhi, hearing this he gave a light scoff, "Really poor… hiss!"

He stared at Mu Huaizhi, muttering softly, "Mu Huaizhi! Why are you stepping on me!"

"Not speaking won't turn you into a mute."

Mu Huaizhi's expression remained unchanged, but he was gritting his teeth, telling Jin Chen to behave a bit.

The Daodao Sect and the Zhenwu Sect are brother sects, with no interest disputes, and have long shared clues.

But if it were another small sect, they'd just ask and be done; yet seeing these five enter today, their faces grew increasingly grave.

Just now they boasted to the Inspector that newcomers would surely share clues; who would have expected it to be these few!

Among the Four Young Masters of the Jianghu, three are present here: the eldest, Mu Huaizhi, owner of the Number One Sword under Heaven, said to have swordsmanship that reaches the divine, with no equal.

The second young master, Fu Zhiyuan, deputy leader of the Tianjian Alliance, very likely the future alliance leader, likewise wields a fine sword.

These few from the two sects have been in the town for some days, unaware that the outside world has already been hunting Mu Huaizhi, and also unaware of the grudges between these two.

Also there is the third young master, Fang Xun, the young palace master of the Qianji Palace, whose divination and Qi Men Dun Jia are profoundly mysterious.

That slightly shorter boy, his outfit is utterly familiar—the standard cloth bundle of the Medicine King Valley; judging by his age, he is likely a disciple of the reclusive valley master.

And also this……

This youth, however, I have never seen before.

The few from the Zhenwu Sect were observing; upon seeing Jin Chen, they all stared blankly, unable to recall which sect he belonged to even after a while.

But being on good terms with these people, he must certainly be a formidable young hero!

Jin Chen didn't care about their gazes, and knowing why he had come this time, he proactively spoke first.

"Last night we discovered something strange on the eastern street: several black-clad individuals carrying two pairs of puppets, bearing a coffin containing the desiccated corpses of children, heading south."

Jin Chen also had the constable bring the coffin over, then immediately pushed it open for them to see.

Fang Xun also asked, "We've just arrived with no other clues; I don't know what discoveries you seniors have made."

Mu Huaizhi remained silent throughout, carefully listening to what they said.

"Ashamed, we've been here so long and found nothing; only the night before did a girl about twelve or thirteen return, perhaps she was too old for them to abduct."

Dao Three stroked his beard, "reckoning the time, today she ought to have awakened."

"Right, right, right—someone, go fetch that girl!" the Inspector hurriedly called.

He also called a servant to bring tea for the several, worriedly saying, "A few days ago the court sent word that they would dispatch a Junior Minister of the Dali Temple to assist the investigation; I don't know what's going on, and even today there's still no definite news."

"Junior Minister of the Dali Temple?"

Sang Ning exclaimed in surprise; seeing everyone's gaze turn to him, he shifted his seat somewhat uncomfortably.

"I just left the valley last week; passing through the capital, I heard someone say that the Miss of the Shen family, Junior Minister of the Dali Temple, had been snatched by some protector of the Nine Nether Demonic Cult; that Shen official, having only that unmarried daughter, is anxiously wanting to get her back."

Sang Ning, nervous, spoke extremely fast, took a big gulp of tea to calm himself, then added: "Official Shen took the prefectural troops to demand her return; not only did he not get Miss Shen back, but over twenty of his troops were all killed, and he himself suffered serious injury."

"No wonder!"

The Inspector sighed deeply, "What can be done about this!"

Mu Huaizhi, hearing this, frowned tightly and stared at Jin Chen.

"……It wasn't me who snatched her; glaring at me is useless."

Jin Chen snorted.

"The Nine Abyss Demon Sect truly is a malignant tumor of the martial world! Arrogant to the extreme!"

Xiuwu slammed the table hard, "I also know many innocent civilians have died at the hands of the demon sect; I truly wish to drink their blood and eat their flesh to feel satisfied!"

"Exactly!"

It inexplicably turned into a struggle session against the Nine Abyss Demon Sect; Jin Chen's expression remained calm, as if he weren't scolding his hometown.

But Mu Huaizhi could feel that the person's aura was dropping lower and lower; he lowered his eyes and remained silent, as if pondering something.

"... Everyone, that little girl has arrived."

Jin Chen tapped the table to remind them, his voice turning cold.

Everyone's attention then shifted back.

The little girl was born and raised here; she had never seen so many important figures, hiding behind her mother, not daring to show her face.

But since the matter was important, the Imperial Inspector still posed the question.

"I, I that night heard a sound outside the window, thought it was a thief… so I secretly cracked open a slit in the window to look."

The little girl's voice was crisp and lively, but her trembling tone still betrayed her nervousness.