Chapter 250 : Suspicion
Chapter 250: Suspicion
Princess Mingyu held Chen Ming’s hand and led him all the way to her residence in the rear courtyard. Today was a private banquet, making the atmosphere appear even more intimate. This gesture clearly showed that she already regarded him as a close friend.
“Ever since you became the head of Jin Yutang, there has been no news from you. Sister Yingsnow has been very worried about you. But after the incident last time, the Jiang Family assigned people to guard her closely. She is no longer as free to go wherever she pleases, so she had no choice but to come to me.”
Princess Mingyu explained softly, “Yesterday when I failed to see you at Jin Yutang, I grew quite anxious. I thought something really had happened to you. Now that I see you safe and sound, I can finally be at ease.”
Chen Ming’s heart warmed. So it was that little girl Jiang Yingsnow.
His smile also became much more genuine. “I truly feel sorry to trouble the Princess for this trip. Tomorrow I will write a letter and send someone to deliver it to Yingsnow, lest she worry.”
As they spoke, they entered the courtyard and sat down on chairs. Maids streamed in like flowing water, bringing various kinds of food, pastries, and fruits.
Princess Mingyu advised, “Now that Jin Yutang has become a place of trouble, since elder sister has already left there, why not leave altogether? That way you won’t be entangled in unnecessary disputes.”
“Thank you for the Princess’s reminder. However, I have reasons why I cannot leave. Once the matter is settled, I will naturally not linger here.”
Chen Ming had not forgotten that Third Elder who was skilled in Cursing Techniques. If that man was not eliminated, he would never feel safe enough to depart.
Princess Mingyu smiled. “It seems elder sister already has a plan, so it was this younger sister who spoke out of turn. I will punish myself with a drink.”
Saying this, she raised the cup before her and downed it in one gulp.
Out of courtesy, Chen Ming also drained a cup. The wine flowed in smoothly, and in moments, a warm current spread into his limbs and bones. He couldn’t help but praise, “Good wine!”
The wine contained spiritual energy—it was clearly some kind of spirit wine. However, with his current cultivation, this sort of spirit wine brought him little improvement.
The two were chatting happily when suddenly a man’s voice came from outside.
“Even this Young Lord you dare to block? You must be tired of living! Move aside, I want to see my sister.”
“Your Highness, please forgive us. The Princess is entertaining an esteemed guest—”
“Esteemed guest? Then I must see him even more. Out of my way.”
Upon hearing this, Princess Mingyu’s brows knitted in anger. She said to Chen Ming with a trace of helplessness, “I must apologize for the disturbance, elder sister. That is my younger brother, spoiled as he is.”
Chen Ming replied, “The Young Lord is simply a man of passion—”
Before he could finish speaking, the Young Lord had already barged in.
He was a youth of fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a black robe embroidered with a golden flood dragon pattern.
As soon as he entered, he stared fixedly at Chen Ming, grinning. “As expected, there is a beauty here in elder sister’s place. Let me see… today’s one is not only beautiful, but carries a unique charm—”
“Jingyang!”
Princess Mingyu’s face turned cold as frost. Her voice was sharp with anger. “This is the head of Jin Yutang, you must not be rude.”
The Young Lord named Jingyang shrank his neck at first, clearly somewhat afraid of his sister. But unwilling to back down, he retorted, “What is a trifling Jin Yutang worth? Even sects with Heaven-and-Man realm masters, this Young Lord does not place in his eyes.”
Princess Mingyu said coldly, “It seems I have been too lenient with you in daily discipline. Servants, bring the family rod!”
Seeing the situation turning dire, the Young Lord turned and ran, shouting as he fled, “You would punish me for the sake of a wild woman? I’ll go complain to Great-Grandmother…”
Very soon, he had disappeared into the distance, his voice fading away.
The anger vanished from Princess Mingyu’s face, replaced by a sudden sigh. “My brother is already fifteen, and next year he is to inherit the title of Sea-Calming King. Yet he is still this unruly and unworthy. I truly don’t know what to do with him…”
Chen Ming comforted her, “The Young Lord is still young. Once he matures, he will naturally become sensible.”
Earlier, Chen Ming had asked Jiang Yingsnow about this pair of siblings.
They were true siblings, both of royal blood, adopted into the line of the Sea-Calming King from his younger brother.
It was said that the pair were favored in the imperial palace, which was why they received this opportunity to be adopted into the Sea-Calming King’s branch.
In Chen Ming’s eyes, this Young Lord was merely a bit rebellious. At fifteen, the peak of adolescence, who wasn’t?
Only… those words he had just spoken about his sister—what did they mean? Speaking of her in such a way, it felt rather odd.
“It is getting late, I should return now.”
After such an incident, Chen Ming had lost his mood. He rose to take his leave.
Princess Mingyu suggested, “Why not stay here tonight?”
“That would be too inconvenient.”
Chen Ming thought to himself: with Second Elder missing, if he failed to return tonight, Sun Chuxian would surely suspect he had run away. At that point, he might even order Third Elder to use her Cursing Technique.
He had no desire to experience the power of that sinister art.
…
Back at Jin Yutang, still in that same study.
Sun Chuxian was reading a secret letter. Before he finished, despite his usual composure, a trace of joy surfaced in his eyes.
The letter was sent from his grandson on Elysium Island, saying that his master had already prepared himself and would arrive in Jiangzhou City soon. A quota needed to be prepared in advance.
“At last, the day has come!”
At that moment, Sun Chuxian felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted.
The quota had already long been prepared, waiting only for that man to come. As long as he succeeded in breaking through to the Divine Repository Realm, everything Sun Chuxian had done would be worthwhile.
By then, even if that girl surnamed Yuan were to die suddenly, what could the Jiang Family do?
Yet, as he thought this, a sense of foreboding struck him. Why had Second Elder still not returned?
“Someone come.”
He summoned his attendants and asked, “Has Second Elder returned yet?”
“Not yet.”
“Notify me as soon as he does.”
After sending them away, Sun Chuxian’s unease grew stronger. Suddenly he muttered, “This is bad!”
All along, Second Elder had been utterly obedient to him, every task executed flawlessly. He had grown complacent because of this.
But now, with Second Elder still not back, could it be that he harbored other intentions?
“What could he be scheming?”
The Taiyue Sword!
The answer flashed instantly in Sun Chuxian’s mind.
Killing to seize the sword—two birds with one stone.
If Yuan Ziyi died, the Jiang Family would never let it go. They would surely seize the chance to pressure Jin Yutang, biting off a huge chunk of flesh.
“Damn it, to ruin my plans!”
Murderous intent surged in Sun Chuxian’s heart. At last, he was truly enraged. “Does he really think I cannot kill him?”
“Bring Third Elder here.”
He had dared to keep Second Elder by his side—how could he not have prepared a backup plan?
“Yes.”
Not long after his man departed, another came to report. “Great Elder, the Sect Master has returned.”
“…”
Sun Chuxian froze, thinking he had misheard. “What did you say?”
“The Sect Master has returned. But she came alone. She said they were ambushed on the way by unknown assailants, and everyone else perished. She sent me to report, asking that Great Elder arrange a proper burial for the fallen and compensation for their families.”
“Did the Sect Master sustain any injuries?”
“She appeared unhurt.”
“…I see. Do as she has instructed.”
“Yes.”
But in Sun Chuxian’s heart, suspicion and unease swirled.
What was going on?
Second Elder had not returned, yet the Sect Master was back safe and sound.
What went wrong here? Could it be that Second Elder had fled?
Or perhaps the Jiang Family had secretly stationed an expert to protect Yuan Ziyi, and killed Second Elder?
Or maybe Yuan Ziyi had always been guarded by a hidden master?
Countless possibilities flashed through Sun Chuxian’s mind. The only one he did not consider was that Second Elder might have been killed by Yuan Ziyi herself.
That thought never once occurred to him.
In his view, a Second Grade expert was still a Second Grade. Even with a Peerless Divine Weapon in hand, how could one hope to fight a First Grade?
As for the Blood Demon Sect’s so-called First Grade experts, true orthodox First Grades never placed such heretics in their eyes.
The Blood Demon Sect had but one terrifying figure—the Demon Venerable. As long as he remained unrevived, the rest were no threat. Mere wastes who relied on realm suppression, who could be slain across ranks—it was nothing unusual.
…
“Great Elder, you summoned me late at night. What is the matter?”
Third Elder came quickly at the summons, showing utmost respect before Sun Chuxian, clearly regarding herself as a subordinate.
Sun Chuxian treated her gently. “There’s no need for formality, Third Elder. I called you here tonight to confirm something.”
“What is it? Please instruct me.”
“Second Elder went out on an errand but has yet to return. I want you to confirm whether he lives or not.”
“That is simple.”
Third Elder drew out a black alms bowl from her bosom, chanting softly. A gloomy ghostly aura rose within the bowl, chilling the study to freezing.
She pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall into it, then took a small pouch from her waist.
Around her belt, more than a dozen small pouches were tied, dangling heavily.
From one pouch she retrieved a strand of hair, placing it in the bowl, chanting again as her eyes glowed with deep, sinister black light.
A moment later, with a dull bang, the ghostly aura dispersed. The black light faded from her eyes, and she exhaled a long breath. Another wrinkle appeared quietly upon her aged face.
Her expression grave, she said, “Second Elder is already dead.”
Dead—truly dead!
The Great Elder’s eyes narrowed slightly. “Can you tell who killed him?”
Third Elder shook her head with a sigh. “This old woman’s cultivation is shallow. I can only determine life or death.”
“You’ve done well.”
The Great Elder took a porcelain bottle from his sleeve and handed it to her.
After accepting it, Third Elder said, “If there is nothing else, I shall take my leave.”
“Do not spread the news of Second Elder’s death.”
“This old woman understands.”
Then, Third Elder departed.
The Great Elder’s gaze grew solemn as he looked out the window.
He muttered, “I still underestimated you.”
No matter how Second Elder had died, it could not be separated from the new Sect Master. That woman must have an immensely powerful expert at her side—powerful enough to slay Second Elder on the spot.
Normally, in battles between First Grades, even if one could not win, escape was still possible.
This meant that the expert beside the Sect Master was at least at the First Grade Peak.
Most likely, he too was here for Jin Yutang’s quota!
“However, since he has already revealed his presence, he is no longer to be feared!”