Chapter 813: Voluntary Admission

Luohuang Zhou.

After learning of Yuan Zhen and Pang Mingde's deaths, Yan Buji immediately showed great sorrow, even joining the Elders to hold a simple funeral for Yuan Zhen.

After it was done, news from the sect arrived, saying that another He Dao stage elder would soon come to take over the mining district affairs.

But the sect's reaction made Yan Buji sense that something was off.

"What's going on? Does the sect not intend to investigate Yuan Zhen's cause of death?" Yan Buji squinted.

After a while, when the new He Dao stage elder Qiu Xing arrived and was seen, Yan Buji found no sign that the elder intended to investigate, which further confirmed the matter for Yan Buji!

"Subordinate Yan Buji, pleased to meet Elder Qiu."

Qiu Xing's face looked much like Yan Buji's, very aged, skin wrinkled and sagging, like a man on the brink of death.

Yet Yan Buji could feel a world of difference between himself and the elder; seeing Elder Qiu smiling at him, he didn't know why the elder had sought him out.

"Hall Master Yan, I heard you are in charge of external trade?"

"Yes. What guidance do you have, Elder Qiu?"

Qiu Xing waved his hand: "I dare not claim any guidance; I have come here by the sect's order and am not well acquainted with the situation. Please, Hall Master Yan, explain in detail."

"I see. So, Elder Qiu, do you want a rough overview or a detailed account..."

"Tell me in detail about your journey here and your contacts with the demon tribe."

"Understood."

Yan Buji recounted in detail his arrival at Luohuang Zhou, the subsequent trade with the demon tribe, and the founding of the Demon Tribe Chamber of Commerce, of course omitting any mention of Yuan Zhen.

"I see. In that case, Hall Master Yan will continue to handle external trade; contact me if any major matters arise."

"Understood."

After leaving Elder Qiu's residence, Yan Buji squinted, feeling something was amiss.

"Elder Qiu really seems not to intend to investigate Yuan Zhen's death, and the sect's reaction is also strange..."

Logically, losing a He Dao stage elder, whose combat power ranks among the top within the Five Realms, must have cost the sect a great amount of resources to cultivate such a cultivator.

Given such a huge loss, the sect's complete lack of inquiry makes Yan Buji think that perhaps the sect knows something but still has reservations, hence has taken no action.

"I would like to consult Ye Lin about this, but it seems not the time yet."

Yan Buji could not pretend to be a fervent avenger for Yuan Zhen; that would clash with his image and easily raise others' doubts.

Therefore, for Yan Buji, the only option is to discreetly inquire with these Elders.

"Wu Elder."

"Hall Master Yan."

Yan Buji clasped his hands and smiled: "Wu Elder, Elder Qiu said..."

Yan Buji relayed some of Elder Qiu's arrangements to Wu Yuan, who nodded: "Alright, no problem."

"By the way, Wu Elder, what exactly is Elder Yuan..."

Wu Yuan shook his head: "I don't know either, but the sect's complete silence is truly disheartening."

Yan Buji nodded; he could understand.

Someone like Wu Yuan, who has cultivated in the sect for years and feels deep affection for the Great Sinful Sect, treats the sect as home. Though he isn't close to Yuan Zhen, the death of a He Dao stage cultivator without any sect response, only the appointment of a new elder, must make Wu Yuan and others wonder.

When a He Dao stage elder dies, that's that; for us of the Lianxu stage, it's even less noteworthy.

That is also a point of Yan Buji's confusion.

If a sect lets a high‑ranking elder who wields great authority die without any reaction, isn't that plainly shaking people's morale?

Yet judging from Wu Yuan's demeanor, it seems no news has come from the sect, or perhaps they plan to investigate Elder Yuan's death privately?

Or, as I first suspected, they know how Yuan Zhen died but are holding back for some reason…

Yan Buji hesitated, his mind swirling with many thoughts.

A few days later.

Yan Buji took the initiative to seek Elder Qiu, arrived at his residence and clasped his hands: "Subordinate Yan Buji requests an audience with Elder Qiu!"

"Hall Master Yan, what business do you have?"

Elder Qiu's voice came from inside; Yan Buji lingered at the door for a long time before saying, "Elder Qiu, it's about Elder Yuan…"

"Very well, come in."

Stepping inside, Yan Buji saw Elder Qiu cross‑legged on the floor and clasped his hands: "Elder Qiu, I have seen you."

"Hmm, regarding Elder Yuan, what would you like to say?"

"Understood." Yan Buji's face turned bitter as he said, "Before Elder Yuan, I..."

Yan Buji recounted his dealings with Yuan Zhen and the Holy Heart Alliance, and also mentioned that Yuan Zhen had previously spoken of luring Pang Mingde away.

The whole episode, Yan Buji portrayed as if Yuan Zhen apparently had a plot, then calculated against Pang Mingde, which led to both of them crashing down together.

Elder Qiu frowned upon hearing this and asked, "Hall Master Yan, is that true?"

"I have the jade tablet Yuan Elder sent me at the time, as well as the image stone... Elder Qiu, I... I think it may be because... Elder Yuan seemed to hold a grudge against Pang Mingde... but... I..." Yan Buji stammered anxiously, while Elder Qiu looked at the evidence Yan Buji produced.

Seeing Yan Buji on the verge of tears, Elder Qiu squinted: "Hall Master Yan, you mean Elder Yuan may have colluded with the Holy Heart Alliance?"

"I don't know, Elder Qiu. Elder Yuan never involves me in his affairs, and I feel he even placed someone to watch me. I truly don't know what happened," Yan Buji said with a bitter face, his eyes reddened.

Elder Qiu looked at Yan Buji: "Then what use is it for you to speak of these matters now?"

"I... I just think the sect couldn't possibly ignore investigating Elder Yuan's death. Rather than wait for you to ask me, I chose to speak up. Elder Qiu, I truly don't know what Elder Yuan was doing!"

Elder Qiu smiled: "The innocent are clear of themselves; Hall Master Yan need not worry. Since this matter doesn't concern you, why are you so eager?"

"I..." Yan Buji began to explain, but Elder Qiu waved his hand:

"Enough, Hall Master Yan, you may leave first; I will report this matter to the sect myself."

"Yes... please, Elder Qiu, speak a few kind words for me," Yan Buji said, then produced a storage bag, set it on the ground, and clasped his hands before leaving.

Elder Qiu watched Yan Buji's departing back, squinting his eyes.

"This Yan Buji, it seems Yuan Zhen's death has put a lot of pressure on him, and he also participated in some of Yuan Zhen's conspiracies, so he's probably afraid of being investigated and purged, right?" Qiu Xing smiled.

After all, it involves the death of a He Dao Qi Elder; no one can stay composed, and if there truly were such a person, Qiu Xing actually thought something was off.

Yan Buji's behavior, though, does indicate a definite link with Yuan Zhen, yet Qiu Xing doesn't believe that a mere Nascent Soul Cultivator could have killed Yuan Zhen.

Moreover, Yuan Zhen died in the Demon Clan's lands, so what could it have to do with Yan Buji?

"Probably Yan Buji is worried about the Holy Heart Alliance that Yuan Zhen mentioned to him, and the Holy Heart Alliance has been active because of that Primordial Son, so Yan Buji likely knows the Alliance will eventually come after him because of the Primordial Son matter," Qiu Xing thought carefully, roughly guessing Yan Buji's reasoning.

Qiu Xing picked up the storage bag on the ground and opened it.

The massive pile of Spiritual Stones made Qiu Xing involuntarily raise an eyebrow, and they laughed, "This Hall Master really knows how to get things done."