Chapter 708: Setting Out Again

Che Lin asked this, though it was to obtain a confession, he also hoped Che Yu would choose to turn back from his misguided path, leaving room for maneuver.

But he was destined to be disappointed.

Che Yu stared at him, the two brothers locking eyes.

Suddenly—

For an instant, it seemed as if Che Yu's feet jumped off the ground.

Just as the jumping motion occurred, a golden light shot in from behind.

With a thud, Che Yu landed, becoming a golden, shimmering zongzi.

It was precisely Tang Zhao who had struck.

Without Tang Zhao needing to speak, Che Lin already understood, pointing at him and saying, "You... you are still going to launch a sneak attack?"

Che Lin nodded silently. In truth, his experience was richer than Tang Zhao's; he did not need Tang Zhao's reminder.

Never mind that he had no powerful backing; even if he did, he would still have to shed a layer of skin.

In any case, the Demon Cave had been quelled this time, the chief culprits were all wiped out, and only this one remained. Now that the living were to be taken away by the Youzhou Land Inspection Division, whether Che Lin would harden his heart to use methods to force out the Demon Sect's conspiracy and successfully resolve this case—even uncovering a heaven-shaking plot—or whether he would release the person privately for the sake of brotherhood and ruin his own future, or perhaps take a middle path to give his brother a quick end by claiming he committed suicide to preserve the family's face, Tang Zhao did not care.

Although both were from outside provinces, they were both people of the Land Inspection Division, and Tang Zhao in particular held a valuable status. If he were willing to testify, others naturally could not help but weigh the consequences.

Sui Feng was an important person on his life's journey, not just for their friendship, but for a deeper significance.

When the two met, they were overcome with both sorrow and joy; Sui Feng was especially moved, grabbing Tang Zhao's hand and saying, "Azhao, there is still a path for good people to walk in this world."

But as for whether Tang Zhao's words were applying pressure, requiring Che Lin to handle the matter impartially and not condone family ties, Tang Zhao actually had no such intention.

Chi Qianli was also outside. However, he was not needed, and he did not come to take action.

Sui Feng went "Ah? Ah?" a few times, momentarily dazed.

Master Che only took it as a compliment and hurriedly declined with modesty.

Xue Xianyun had also once let Shi Chunqing go.

This was largely because the number of Sword Guests was scarce. Even though there were more and more Sword Guests nowadays, and even local power-holders who previously couldn't touch the threshold of a Sword Guest could now gradually produce them, the total number was still small. Because they were so few and their status was high, they conversely did not show off their might before the common people. Therefore, what the commoners saw were, at most, "Knight-Errant masters."

At one moment, which was Che Yu's clamoring at Che Lin, Tang Zhao even had a visual hallucination of another person.

Tang Zhao had drawn this blueprint with care, but unfortunately, Sui Feng did not know how to consume it. Nowadays, the martial spirit in the world was gradually flourishing while culture declined; ordinary people already knew the nobility of a Martial Artist and were even more aware of the ferocity of the Land Inspection Division. But for those who had not entered the path, the distinction between Knight-Errants, Loose Practitioners, and Sword Guests remained unclear, nor did they know that Sword Guests were the pillar strength of the world.

Now Che Yu was ten thousand times unconvinced.

Che Yu was only a brother in Che Lin's eyes; in Tang Zhao's eyes, he was a maniacal Demon Sect member who must never be taken lightly.

Although today was a great day for the Che family's YoungMaster to become a Sword Guest, most of the performers, including Sui Feng, only knew it was a joyous occasion and could not figure out what the YoungMaster was actually trying to do.

Good heavens, the younger brother of a Town Guardian was a Demon Sect member, and he had operated a series of major events, ruining the reputation of the Land Inspection Division first and intending to lurk and plot later; who knew what kind of trickery was involved?

With such blood ties, would Che Lin not bear responsibility?

"There is nothing to say to such demonic heretics; everyone, let's attack together."

He seemed to be about to do something, but the next moment the golden light flared, and he fainted without a sound.

Having said that, Tang Zhao and Chi Qianli turned and left. Chi Qianli would return to Yunzhou first, as there were many things waiting for him to do; although Yunzhou did not directly manage the aftermath here, they had to pay attention to the dynamics here at all times. If Youzhou controlled the aftermath, that was fine, but if the leadership of Youzhou were truly a bunch of good-for-nothings and were usurped by the Demon Sect to cause a great disaster, Yunzhou could not just stand by and watch.

Be it the Demon Sect or the Turtle Bandits, perhaps they each believed in their own reasons and could even persuade some others, and one could not say they lacked talent; they seemed incomparable to ordinary thieves, yet the things they ultimately did were worse than thieves—killing like hemp and committing every evil. To the Demon Sect, one must add "mysterious, evil, and twisting human nature"; the Turtle Bandits were "rebels," and the Demon Sect were "traitors to humanity." It could be said that the Turtle Bandits still had value for surrender, but one need not waste words with the Demon Sect—

Thinking carefully, one would know that Che Yu had operated under Che Lin's nose for many years without a sound, his talent and methods were no less than his own, and their brotherly bond was limited only to the extent of "sparing your life"; how could he easily bow his head to him in the end?

This was still a matter for the Youzhou Land Inspection Division.

"Town Guardian Che, your Youzhou affairs still have follow-ups, and you must be very busy recently, unable to spare yourself for a while, so I will not disturb you. If you have anything you need my Yunzhou to help with, just speak up; whether it is acting as a witness or providing manpower, neither I nor Town Guardian Chi will refuse. Don't forget to come to Zhuoyu Villa in Yunzhou when you have time; I will return the sword to you."

Tang Zhao had long since thought of his excuse: "A Yun was taken away by an expert."

Tang Zhao and Chi Qianli had come over to clear his name, at least to prove that Che Lin had no prior knowledge, and once he knew, he acted with a clear distinction between public and private, without any cover-up.

Tang Zhao knew that if he stayed any longer, he would witness the Che family's internal strife, which was inconvenient for outsiders to participate in, so he took his leave with the Sui family. The Sui family at this time followed Tang Zhao's lead, so they left as soon as he said so; furthermore, they were not of the same path as Master Che, and having drunk for most of the day, they were already sitting on pins and needles, so they were eager to leave, even helping the still-hungover Sui Laotou up to leave together.

Tang Zhao was well-read and spoke readily: "Just before I left, I saw the shadow of an expert, and then I saw her note. Coincidentally, she turned out to be a senior sister from my own sect. She is the most unrestrained, yet she loves talent as if it were her own life, and she is a judge of character who recognizes a thousand-mile horse. She left a note telling me that A Yun has the potential of a Sword Guest, and she wants to take her back to the sect to raise her; in three or two years, she will surely train her into a Sword Guest."

Fear of death? Once they had joined the Demon Sect, they wouldn't be too afraid of death.

That could be said to be his life's crossroads.

If Tang Zhao had not been outside, even if Che Lin had exposed Che Yu, Che Yu would not have even listened to his detailed enumeration of his own faults; instead, he would have immediately erupted in a counterattack, using the advantage that he was familiar with Che Lin's Sword Image while Che Lin was not familiar with his, to launch a sneak attack. At that point, it would have been uncertain who would emerge the victor.

Although the two differed in many respects, they both abandoned their original comfortable lives for the sake of certain "injustices"—one joined the Demon Sect, and the other joined the Turtle Bandits.

He had already met Sui Dahai before; seeing him again now was to see Sui Feng.

This one sentence disrupted the seniority; Sui Feng was as if in a dream, stammering, "Same joy, same joy."

Tang Zhao knew that based on Che Lin's character, it was enough that he wouldn't follow his brother to join the Demon Sect.

He and Chi Qianli could have gone their separate ways, but they came together specifically to act as witnesses for Che Lin.

Tang Zhao said, "One thing is one thing; the sword is your family's, and if I take it, how can there be no compensation? Town Guardian Che, take care. Remember what I said about Huan Biao. Living in this world, if you have achievements, you can be proud, and if you have faults, you can correct them; that can be called not having lived this life in vain. In my view, there are not that many people in the world better than you."

At this time, the East was already white; the dawn's night was at its end, and as the few walked out the door, they happened to hear the bell tower tolling the morning bell.

In the territory of Kuan Cheng, Tang Zhao accompanied them in the carriage, and on the road, they inevitably continued their old friendship until they reached Yunzhou; the journey was peaceful and uneventful.

Che Lin actually wanted them to leave first so he and Che Yu could have some words, but it was inconvenient to say them in front of outsiders. However, upon hearing Tang Zhao say this, he was still startled and said, "The sword..." He only then remembered the Sword Seed taken away by Sui Yun and smiled bitterly, "No need, without a Sword Guest, what is the use of a sword?"

Che Yu gritted his teeth and said, "If it weren't for someone helping you, how could you have restrained me? What do you rely on? Relying on being older than me? Relying on having spent more time comprehending the sword than me? You just took advantage of being the eldest son... Remember, I did not lose to you!"

Master Che sighed, "A person's fate is truly fickle. I had hoped for another Sword Guest in the family, but who knew my son would lack fortune and be dull, missing the opportunity; this is also his destined fate. Compared to your sister's good fortune, he is far inferior."

He had learned many things from Sui Feng, which he still remembered to this day and had no regrets about.

After gathering for a moment, Sui Feng said in a dilemma, "A Yun has not been found, and I don't know how she is. Today is the Calamity Moon, so dangerous; if something happens to her, what should we do?"

Qiao Shuanglian seemed to have sensed something, but was also a bit confused; however, Master Che was greatly shocked and said, "What, Sui... is my brother Sui's family going to produce a Sword Guest? Congratulations, brother Sui!"

It was his former senior fellow apprentice, Shi Chunqing.

Tang Zhao had not intended to lose his composure in front of others, but at this moment, his heart suddenly ached, and he gripped his hand back, saying, "Feng Ge, in this world, good people should become better and better, and bad people should become more and more miserable. If it is not like this..."

Master Che was very enthusiastic and had the driver hitch the carriage to send them off. Tang Zhao firmly declined, saying only that someone was coming to pick them up, and walked out with the Sui family.

Tang Zhao said, "It seems he won't speak for a while. I will let him lose consciousness first. Later, Town Guardian Che can search his body to see what he has, and also prevent him from committing suicide."

Tang Zhao shook his head and said, "Mr. Che, you are truly too modest. Who could compare to your son's ability? Just based on your son, the Che family is by no means an ordinary household."

Everyone was stunned, and Sui Feng stammered, "What... what expert?"

Meanwhile, Tang Zhao finally returned to see the Sui Family Troupe.

Actually, for the sake of thoroughness, Tang Zhao should have released Che Yu, let him and Che Lin face each other sword to sword, and have a fair battle as a Sword Guest to settle their old grudge; perhaps that could have untied the knot in their hearts and made Che Yu willingly spill the information.

Tang Zhao, having controlled the person, finally said to Che Lin, "Town Guardian Che, the person is handed over to you. You handle it. Both Town Guardian Chi and I are witnesses, witnessing the Town Guardian acting impartially and selflessly, putting righteousness before family, and being a meritorious official of the Land Inspection Division."

Although Sui Feng wanted him to take one path in his words, he demonstrated and encouraged him to take another path with his actions.

If he were to speak, it certainly wouldn't be now. At the very least, he must be made to submit first.

A new day has arrived!

The city regained its vitality, and various merchant firms began operating again. Tang Zhao waited at the carriage market in the south of the city, hired two large carriages, picked up Du Aunt, and loaded the three members of the Sui family, plus Shuanglian, and the two Wei siblings, leaving Kuan Cheng together.

Human favors are truly hard to define.

But this is not a stage, and it is not a matter of performing as dramatically as possible.

"Then it is truly the world's fault."

That might be a dead end, but it is a grand and righteous path.

His words made eighty percent of the people present who were still conscious disagree in their hearts, yet he was the person most qualified to speak, so everyone else could only shut their mouths.

Upon reaching the territory of Yunzhou, the first stop was Chi Qianli's turf. He had long since agreed with Chi Qianli to have two trustworthy young men dispatched from the Land Inspection Division to escort the carriages, protecting the Sui family members all the way to Mu City, and settling them in his old residence first, ensuring they would have no worries about food or clothing for at least a period of time. When the time comes, he would ask Liangzi if he wants to meet, and if he does, he can arrange for the old acquaintances to see each other.

As for Tang Zhao himself, he took his leave a step early and returned to Zhuoyu Zhuangyuan.

The Sword Saint Emperor had already been waiting for a long time.