Chapter 459: Su Kang's Remains? Players Pulling Tricks?

What?!

The crowd instantly turned pale, their pupils suddenly contracting!

The shadow's body gave a barely perceptible shiver, then quickly returned to normal.

Zhao Xian, his eyes reddened, yanked his collar and rasped, "You damn fool using the former Hall Master as a shield; I'll kill you!"

Su Kang has been dead for many days, yet he used a dead person as a shield—how could anyone not be enraged?

In Zhao Xian's heart, Su Kang's position is irreplaceable, and he holds him in utmost respect.

Zi Huai did not resist, a sorrowful hue appearing in his eyes, "Perhaps my longing made me mistake the person."

"You still say that?!" Zhao Xian raised his fist and swung it at his face.

"Bang!"

Zi Huai was knocked to the ground instantly; he wiped blood from his mouth corner and said, "Believe it or not, all this stems from that familiar silhouette."

"You..."

"Stop!" Su Yang shouted.

Zhao Xian turned back with an incredulous expression, "Hall Master, he mocked your father—how can you tolerate that?"

"Let him go first," Su Yang said in a commanding tone.

Zhao Xian's chest rose and fell, and after a moment's hesitation he snorted coldly and tossed him aside.

Zi Huai sat back in his seat, a thousand thoughts swirling in his mind, yet he didn't know where to begin.

In fact, his longing was no less than anyone else's.

Su Kang was Zhao Xian's brother-in-arms, and for Zi Huai he was also the lifesaver who pulled him from the abyss.

It is precisely because of this bond that he would pursue without regard for anything.

He never expected, however, to inadvertently encounter the Mighty King.

Zi Huai offered the suggestion for the greater good; otherwise, who would be willing to make the enemy who killed their own brothers into a dog?

Now condemned by countless people, his heart feels both sorrowful and a touch of desolation.

Even the person you trust most doesn't believe you—what a helplessness.

"Are you sure what you saw was Su Kang?" Su Yang confirmed.

"It only looked like him; that day he wore a black coat that wrapped his body tightly, so I couldn't see his face clearly," Zi Huai said.

"Did you notice any distinguishing features?" Su Yang asked again.

Zi Huai recalled carefully and explained, "Height, build, demeanor, and gait were all identical."

"So you think Su Kang hasn't died?" a flash of insight crossed Su Yang's eyes.

"This..." Zi Huai was momentarily at a loss for words.

He dared not speak recklessly about something so huge.

If controversy were stirred, the reputation of everyone in the Six Realms Assembly would be ruined.

Su Yang scanned the crowd, rose slowly and said, "I have a question for everyone: after my father died, his own son hadn't kept vigil, yet you hurriedly cremated him. Whose idea was that?"

At those words, people exchanged glances and then all turned toward Senior Master.

"I instructed them to do so," Senior Master said.

"Oh?" Su Yang raised an eyebrow, "Senior Master, what's the purpose of this? Even for cremation, the process should be handled by me, the biological son, carrying the coffin and following the rites. On what authority do you act unilaterally?"

"I am merely following orders; this was Su Kang's own instruction—to cremate him on the third day after death without delay," Senior Master explained.

"Is there any written documentation?"

"None."

"Then that's a private action?"

Senior Master closed his eyes and whispered, "If the Hall Master wishes to punish me with this, I have nothing to say."

Su Yang smiled, "Senior Master is highly respected, a senior among seniors within the Hall, and my father's mentor; how could I dare disrespect you?"

Finishing, he looked at the various Hall Masters, "Then… who has seen my father's remains?"

After a moment of silence, Zi Huai and Feng Jingchu both raised their hands in unison, saying, "I've seen him."

Feng Jingchu explained first, "I did the corpse makeup; before that I examined the body, hoping to find clues about the murderer from the fatal wound."

She had mentioned this before, and Su Yang had still criticized her for inadequate handling.

Zi Huai followed up, "I also took a look and recorded the remains, including the whole body."

"So, aside from you two, no one else has seen them?" Su Yang's gaze burned.

Zhao Xian and the others gave a slight nod.

"That's odd; those who've never seen him all claim Su Kang is a brother, yet after his death they never even saw his face?" Su Yang walked behind Zhao Xian and asked softly.

Zhao Xian inhaled deeply and explained, "A man sheds blood, not tears; with the others watching, I couldn't bear to look."

"Fine, your reason is sufficient; now the question arises—what motives do the remaining people have?" Su Yang looked at Lei Cheng and the others.

Without waiting for them to speak, he continued, "Let's set that aside for now and return to the opening topic: how can you prove the dead person is Su Kang himself?"

"Appearance? Bone structure?"

Feng Jingchu thought for a moment and said, "Fengyun Hall has abundant experience in this area; we have done extensive work and would never place a stranger's corpse in the coffin for all brothers of the Six Realms Assembly to worship."

"So you can be certain the one lying in the coffin is Su Kang himself?"

"Hmm."

"Then the matter is simple: either Fengyun Hall acted behind the scenes, or the Purple Hall Master lied—choose one." Su Yang said from behind Zi Huai.

"Fengyun Hall never makes mistakes in its actions," Feng Jingchu declared first.

"I unconditionally trust my eyes," Zi Huai affirmed.

Su Yang stroked his chin, suddenly troubled, "What now? The body has turned to ash—how can we identify it?"

Zhao Xian was puzzled, "Gang Leader, why are you entangled in this? Su Kang's death is already a settled fact; there's nothing worth investigating."

"Perhaps I'm overthinking," Su Yang sat back down, speaking calmly, "Debating here now won't yield any conclusion."

"How about this: I assign a Task to the Purple Hall Master; if you complete it well, I will not hold you accountable for the past. How does that sound?"

"Please speak, Gang Leader," Zi Huai sat up straight.

"Your Task is simple: unconditionally speak well of the Six Harmonies Society and find a chance to reveal that we intend to expand."

"Hm?" Zi Huai was startled.

Not only him, but the others were also completely confused.

Su Yang smiled, "It's meant to be contradictory, to test the Mighty King's reaction."

"Isn't this too risky?" Zhao Xian asked anxiously.

"No problem. Being overly cautious only stalls you; since we don't know what he's selling in his gourd, trying will reveal it," Su Yang said.

"I understand," Zi Huai nodded heavily.

"Alright, everyone, carry out your orders. I'll await your good news."

After they left, Lin Yang couldn't help asking, "Do you suspect Su Kang didn't die?"

"What do you think?"

"If we rule out the player possibility, he's most likely truly dead; even disguise couldn't fool everyone," Lin Yang inferred.

"What if he conspired with Feng Jingchu?"

"You mean…"

Su Yang's eyes flickered, "It's just a guess; compared to that…"

"I lean more toward thinking a player is pulling strings behind the scenes."