Embers of Sword

Chapter 277 The Wind Comes
The imperial city has been very uneasy lately.

Ten days have passed since Lord Wu Zexian escorted the Northern Hunting Team back to Da Chu, and single-handedly used the magical power of Yangshen to carry all the cloud boats to the northern suburbs of the imperial city.

Ten full days.

Qiantian Palace, Baihua Valley, Taoist sects... In the territory of the Da Chu Dynasty, almost all the holy places and sects that participated in the Northern Hunt were shocked, and they sent their famous elders to the imperial city to pick up their disciples.

The news of the Northern Hunting robbery had spread back to Da Chu, causing a sensation.

Don’t talk about Da Chu.

Even the Dali Dynasty in the east was paying attention to the "results" of this northern hunt.

In the past, when the cloud ships returned to the capital, it was time to count the spoils. The Da Chu royal family would rank the various forces based on the number and grade of monsters hunted, and select the champion... Fang Yuanfang has already released the news that the next ranking of the Tianjiao list will refer to the performance of the geniuses from all parties in this northern hunt.

Nowadays, how can there be any ranking for Beihu?

On the day when the cloud ship landed, most of the cultivators waiting in the northern suburbs had solemn expressions and were nervous. Everyone knew that the casualties in this Northern Hunt were extremely high, and compared to the big sects and families, the sects behind most of the participants were not very powerful.

The young men who are sent to participate in the Northern Hunt are all good talents picked out from hundreds.

I don't know how many people were robbed during this hunt to the north.

After the cloud ship landed, the Imperial City Administration took over the scene. They did not release anyone directly, but instead blocked the cloud ship first, and only allowed the people waiting there to recognize each other from afar through the formation patterns.

All the sects responded and went forward to check.

Most of them had sad faces and looked hopeless.

After the Imperial City Bureau took control of the cloud ship, it was not just for inventory, statistics, and reporting.

It is also to examine the "returnees".

Soon, news came out that shocked everyone.

This time, the hunt was in the north.

More than half of the young monks died in the attack on Chiling City!

There were ten people when they left, but only three or four came back.

Lord Jiu went on a killing spree, and even the three Yin God-level supervisors were unable to return with the cloud ship...

Three top geniuses died.

Fang Hang, the Taoist priest of the Supreme Master's Palace! Xie Sheng, the prince of Jiangning! Qin Wanyang, the young prince of the Qin family!

In terms of background, family and strength, these three people are definitely among the best in the Northern Hunters. They have countless means of saving their lives and magical instruments for communication. Logically speaking, they are the ones with the most potential to survive to the end... It's a pity that the path of cultivation is often unpredictable.

The Ruyi Dao principles of Emperor Qi's heavenly realm and the Black Evil wrapped around each other, completely cutting off the possibility of the magic weapon transmitting any information to the outside.

These three geniuses were unable to send out any message until their death.

However, after the news of the three geniuses' deaths came out, an even more explosive piece of news came out -

The heavy losses in this northern expedition were caused by the fact that Prince Jiu of Chiling City "happened" to pass through Lilan Mountain.

Most people died because they were ambushed and killed by demons.

But someone inside the Yun ship revealed it.

The deaths of these three human geniuses were not caused by the hands of the demon race!

The instigator...

He is the new master of Xuanshui Cave Heaven who is currently in the limelight of Dashui Sword Palace.

Thank you!

All the surviving monks who returned with the cloud ship this time needed to be "interrogated" by the Imperial City Bureau. Even big figures like Senior Brother Wuzong and Fairy Yuqingzhai were no exception.

The interrogation process was extremely secretive.

The identity of the person who revealed the information is unknown at this time, but it doesn’t matter.

As soon as this news came out, it quickly set off an uproar in the imperial city and even in the entire Da Chu——

Countless people were shocked!
Did Xie Zhen really kill Fang Hang, Xie Sheng, and Qin Wanyang?

Most people's shock came from their disbelief in Xie Zhen's strength... Although Xie Zhen defeated Xie Sheng in the previous Xuanshui competition, after all, this Xuanshui competition did not test actual combat power, but rather swordsmanship.

Xie Zhen defeated Prince Jiangning with the help of the sword power of Lotus River.

This was the public statement made by the Jiangning Xie family in order to save face.

Xie Xuanyi naturally didn't bother to respond.

Everyone believed it to be true.

Moreover, in Fangyuanfang's case files, Xie Zhen's strength was only at the initial stage of the Cave Heaven Realm.

Xie Sheng and Fang Hang are both perfect beings in the cave heaven.

In the Tianjiao Ranking, these two are listed as strong contenders for the top three!
Just... dead?
Killed by Xie Zhen alone?

As soon as the news came out, it caused a huge shock.

The master of Tai Shang Zhai immediately left the Taoist sect and headed for the imperial city.

Also setting off with him was Xie Zhisui, the head of the Xie family.

but.

Xie Zhen was not on the return cloud boat.

These two big men came with great momentum and rushed to the imperial city, but they came back empty-handed.

……

……

"Everyone, I'm sorry, but please stay here until the review is completed."

A mansion in the northern suburbs of the imperial city.

Everyone in Baihua Valley was settled here.

Dozens of iron cavalry were stationed outside. The leader wore an iron mask and spoke in a cold voice. He stopped a disciple with the scabbard in his hand.

"Investigation, investigation, investigation... It's already been ten days! How long will this detention last?!"

A sword cultivator from Baihua Valley spoke with hidden anger.

After getting off the cloud ship, they were brought here... If they were just ordinary cultivators, it would be fine, but behind them is the Baihua Valley, one of the largest sects in Qingzhou.

"This is a royal decree, and it's not just aimed at Baihua Valley. When everything is over, the Imperial City Department will release the people."

Tiemian remained indifferent and responded coldly.

The female disciple gritted her teeth, helpless.

"Master Tie, don't be angry."

Just at this moment, a voice of apologetic laughter sounded from outside the yard.

It was Lu Yuan.

In the past few days, all the Northern Hunting monks brought back by the exiled immortal Wu Ze had to undergo a soul examination by the Imperial City Administration.

On the one hand, the Da Chu royal family wanted to restore the truth of "Northern Hunting" as much as possible. On the other hand, they wanted to ensure that the surviving young cultivators of the human race were not bewitched by the magic of Chiling City and planted the seeds of the soul.

The soul examination is actually simple.

But the young monks who participated in the Northern Hunt were all talented and capable people.

This is not easy.

If the Imperial City Bureau used rough means and only cared about getting the job done, it would inevitably hurt the soul. If they wanted to interrogate and examine carefully, it would be a huge task.

This went on for a full ten days.

"My fellow apprentice sisters are young, impatient, and don't know the rules."

Lu Yuan had just finished the second interrogation. She quickly stepped between the two and explained with a smile, "I have heard of the name of the special envoy 'Iron Eyes' for a long time. Your Excellency is very generous. Don't bother with her."

The first seat of the Imperial City Division was Yuan Jimo, and the second seat was Jiang Qihu.

Both of them are "famous" figures.

In addition, there are nine special envoys with impressive strength and prominent status. The nine of them were originally called the Nine Tigers of the Imperial City, but because the second-in-command Jiang Qihu's name also has the word "tiger", they were combined into the Ten Tigers of the Imperial City.

Tietong is one of the Ten Tigers.

These nine special envoys all have strength at the peak of Cave Heaven or above. Although there is only one word difference between special envoy and special envoy, their scope of authority is completely different. Special envoys are lower in status and can hardly leave the imperial city. They need to obey the orders of the First and Second Seats at any time.

Special envoys are just the opposite. They do not need to obey the orders of the head of the Imperial City Bureau. They are directly under the royal family of Da Chu and most of the time they carry out missions in foreign lands.

Correspondingly, one stands in the sun and the other stands in the shadow.

This is also the reason why Lu Yuan was so polite to the iron-faced man in front of him.

A special envoy came out and sealed off the house.

This means...the actions of the monks monitoring the cloud ship were clearly stated in the order.

"Qiang!"

Tietong did not respond to the compliment, but chose to put away his sword and leave without thinking too much about it.

Lu Yuan walked quickly into the courtyard.

"Senior sister...what are the results of the review?"

A junior sister asked cautiously, "This is the second time you have cooperated with the investigation in the past few days."

"I'm fine."

Lu Yuan shook her head and said helplessly, "As for Yuan Yi... She has been detained by the Imperial City Bureau. The Yuans are eager to close the case, and now she and the others have been detained and are being interrogated by Yuan Jimo himself."

"..."

Several disciples from Baihua Valley looked at each other, not knowing what to say.

……

……

"Miss Yuan, you are just an ordinary disciple of Baihua Valley."

"Yes."

"You have just been accepted by Ye Qinglian for only three years."

"Yes."

"You've known Xie Zhen for less than a year?"

"Yes."

The lights are dim and the sandalwood is swaying.

Yuan Jimo withdrew his gaze from the case file, frowned at the girl in front of him, and said in a low voice: "After saying so much, you should understand what I mean."

Opposite was a mahogany chair.

But Yuan Yi chose to sit on the ground, on the messy grass leaves. His snow-white clothes were a little dirty, but his expression was aloof and cold.

"Your master, Ye Qinglian, is only the young master of Baihua Valley."

Yuan Jimo said quietly, "The people who are being held accountable this time are the head of the Tai Shang Zhai, the head of the Xie family, and the Qin family."

Yuan Yi certainly understood what Yuan Jimo meant.

Taoism, Xie family, Qin family... every one of them is more powerful than Baihua Valley.

She couldn't even afford to offend her master.

How could she resist?

"The Imperial City Division saw many fragments about Xie Zhen from your soul."

Yuan Jimo tried to maintain a gentle tone: "You are one of the people who had the most contact with him during this Northern Hunt. I left a chair and tea here. You can choose to sit comfortably, sip tea slowly, and recall the details of the Northern Hunt. You can also choose to leave more comfortably. Why must you choose the worst ending?"

"..."

Yuan Yi raised his head and looked at Yuan Jimo seriously.

She has been detained here for several days.

As long as she is willing to identify Xie Zhen.

Then she can leave soon, and Baihua Valley can be completely removed from this incident.

"where are they?"

Yuan Yi spoke softly.

"them?"

Yuan Jimo was stunned for a moment, then realized that Yuan Yi was asking about the people who were also "invited" here.

"They are not like you."

Yuan Jimo smiled and said, "Behind them are Qiantian Palace, Yuqingzhai, and Wuzong. If they don't speak, no one will say anything. The head of Taishangzhai has arrived in the imperial city, and I have to give an explanation."

“They’re no different than me.”

Yuan Yi shook his head.

She said calmly, "All cultivators in the world must first enlighten their minds before practicing. Although Yuan Yi's cultivation is weak, he has never said anything against his conscience. I have already explained the details of this northern hunt. I did not see Xie Zhen kill anyone with my own eyes, and it is impossible for me to stand up and provide false evidence for the Imperial City Bureau."

"You are really... hopelessly stupid."

Yuan Jimo's tone suddenly became cold and stern. He lost his patience, stood up, and looked down at the girl sitting on the cattails indifferently: "The Master of the Supreme Zhai just wants an answer. You just cooperate with the Imperial City Bureau and give an answer. What's the problem? After causing such a big disaster, do you think Xie Zhen will return to the Imperial City? As long as you are willing to stand up, no one will be a victim. This account... The Master of the Supreme Zhai will slowly settle with Xie Zhen."

"So, this is why you are in a hurry to detain me."

In the dark forbidden room, there was wind blowing.

Yuan Yi raised his head, his eyes became brighter and there was a hint of smile.

"I heard that the head of Tai Shang Zhai is an unreasonable, paranoid and protective lunatic. You are afraid that if you fail to investigate this matter properly, he will settle accounts with you, so you want to put me on the stage, produce evidence, and throw the dirty water on Xie Zhen first."

The girl said sarcastically, "It turns out that the head of the Imperial City Bureau is also afraid of something."

(End of this chapter)