Wen Yu's tears fell right on cue, dripping onto her plain white mourning clothes and spreading into a small, dark stain. “It... it was a servant who found them. They said... they said they noticed something wasn't right inside. By the time we went to check, my mother's room was covered in scorch marks. When I went back to the Wen family ancestral hall, I found that my mother's soul lamp had also gone out...”
Song Yao had a sudden realization. “Ah, then I get it.”
She stood up and walked toward Wen Yu, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Both Xie Zhou and Zhu Zhao's expressions changed, and they reached out almost simultaneously to block her path.
Song Yao had originally wanted to get closer before speaking. Blinking her eyes, she was forced to stop behind the two of them, but she still spoke with an air of absolute gravity: “I've heard that there is a secret technique in this world that can extinguish a soul lamp to fake one's death.”
Wen Yu froze, tears still hanging on her face. “What do you mean?”
Song Yao said in all seriousness, “Since there are neither bodies nor ashes, it's highly likely that they actually faked their deaths and eloped.”
Wen Yu: “...”
The silence that fell over the scene was deafening.
Xie Zhou and Zhu Zhao pursed their lips, both wearing expressions that said they had expected nothing less from her.
A moment later, the others finally seemed to digest the information in her words, their faces written with unspeakable complexity.
The veins on Ye Chongguang's temples throbbed violently. Unable to control his rage, a surge of hostility erupted from him as he drew his longsword and pointed it at Song Yao. “What an insolent little girl! How dare you slander your seniors like this? Today, I shall teach you a good lesson on behalf of your master!”
Xie Zhou and Zhu Zhao looked up, quietly stepping forward to shield her.
Yet Song Yao poked her head out from behind them anyway. “I only said they eloped, but you all are cursing them to death. In comparison, you're the ones being disrespectful.”
Ye Chongguang roared, “Outrageous!”
When had he ever been talked back to like this? A wave of malice surged in his heart. His sword hummed and vibrated as the spiritual energy around his body erupted, looking as if he was about to strike at any moment.
The Third Elder instantly felt a headache coming on.
He didn't know what cultivation realm Ye Chongguang had reached by now.
On his side, he was carrying two reckless personal disciples—no, make that three now. If they really started fighting, let alone the Wen family estate, this entire area for a hundred miles around would be flattened.
He quickly stepped forward, reaching out to push Song Yao's head back behind Xie Zhou and Zhu Zhao.
Standing firmly in front of them, his expression was calm and steady. “Pavilion Master Ye, please calm your anger. This child is not speaking nonsense. There indeed exist secret techniques in this world that can extinguish a soul lamp and fake a death. Since the truth has not yet been revealed, it is somewhat unfair for you to attack blindly without checking the facts.”
He looked directly at the furious Ye Chongguang, his tone growing a bit firmer. “Or is it that Pavilion Master Ye insists on acting without reason today, intent on using your numbers to bully the few?”
Having watched enough of the show, Ji Duchuan lazily chimed in from the side, “For the Pavilion Master of Taiqing Pavilion to be the first to attack, and against a child of Nine Saints Hall at that... it really won't sound very good if word gets out.”
Ye Chongguang's raging fury was forcefully choked back into his chest.
If there were only the three parties present, it would have been fine, but Ji Duchuan from Medicine King Valley had inexplicably interfered.
Although Medicine King Valley did not have many people, they had countless supporters and followers. Most sects had received favors from them at some point, giving them an exceptionally high reputation in the Tianshu Realm.
If he were to fight today and this Ji Duchuan went out to spread the word, Taiqing Pavilion's reputation would be completely ruined.
The longsword in his hand trembled slightly before he slowly sheathed it. “Since Young Master Ji insists on investigating, then let us investigate thoroughly. I trust that Young Master Ji will give me a satisfactory answer.”
Ji Duchuan smiled. “Of course.”
Turning to Wen Yu, he said, “In that case, please lead the way, Young Mistress Wen, so that I may examine Family Head Wen's chambers.”
Wen Yu hesitantly glanced at Ye Chongguang. Seeing no reaction from him, she had no choice but to nod. “This way, please.”
Before stepping forward to follow her, Ji Duchuan turned back and asked, “Pavilion Master Ye, Elder He, would you like to accompany me? Lest anyone claims I fabricated evidence to show favoritism.”
Ye Chongguang sneered, “No need. It is enough for Chang'an to go with you.”
Since they were only sending Ye Chang'an, the Nine Saints Hall side couldn't all tag along either.
Song Yao volunteered herself. “I'll go, I'll go!”
Last night, she had spotted a dark shadow on the courtyard wall, and she couldn't help but feel it was connected to this matter.
Her curiosity was killing her; she had to investigate.
Realizing that the other party wouldn't dare do anything at a time like this, the Third Elder nodded. “Alright, but be careful.”
A nearby Wen family cultivator stepped forward and said, “Then please follow me to the main hall to wait and rest for a while.”
...
Ye Chang'an did not want to go at all.
Just moments ago, relying on his father's presence, he had bickered with Song Yao.
And now, he actually had to investigate the case alongside her.
He wanted to die.
Once they entered the Wen estate and only a few of them were left, Ye Chang'an, in a desperate bid for self-preservation, approached Song Yao with an incredibly obsequious smile. “Senior Sister Lin, have you had breakfast yet? Do you need me to get you something to eat?”
Song Yao cast a lazy glance at him. “Didn't you just say I have no respect for my seniors? What's this? Are you demonstrating how to show respect now?”
Ye Chang'an stammered, “Haha, how could that be? Just now was only because my father was there, so I had to speak up for him. I definitely wasn't targeting you on purpose.”
Walking ahead, Ji Duchuan found the exchange highly amusing and glanced back at Song Yao.
Not bad, not bad at all.
This kid was indeed the little troublemaker he had pegged her to be.
Even a playboy like Ye Chang'an was so obedient in front of her.
He asked considerately, “Junior Sister Lin, you probably just woke up, right? Do you want to freshen up and grab some food first?”
Song Yao had already eaten some poria cake earlier and wasn't hungry.
Wiping her face casually, she shook her head. “No need. There are barely any clues to begin with. If we go too late and give them time to clean up, we won't see anything at all.”
Walking at the very front, the already tense Wen Yu stumbled slightly. She turned around and snapped in anger, “Young lady, do not make such slanderous accusations!”
Song Yao smiled at her, her voice soft and sweet. “Fine, fine. I won't say it anymore. Lead the way.”
Wen Yu: “...”
This was the first time she had ever met someone who would talk bad about you to your face, and then coax you with such good temper right after.
No wonder when Wen Wushuang returned yesterday, she had specifically warned them to watch out for someone named Lin Mu.
At the time, she had thought, She's just a little girl who recently joined a sect. What is there to worry about?
But looking at it now, for this girl to dare to publicly provoke Pavilion Master Ye, she was indeed very different.
Yet, at the end of the day, she was still just a child.
As she thought this, she quickened her pace, but Song Yao spoke up again: “Wait, before we go there, does Senior Ji want to visit Hall Master Ming and Daoist Huachao first?”
Wen Yu's heart clenched, but Ji Duchuan had already agreed, “Sure. Where are the two of them?”
Wen Yu: “...”
This was not in the plan.
Or rather, absolutely nothing that was happening now was in the plan.
She had always focused solely on cultivation, leaving all family affairs to her mother. Now that her mother had suddenly died, even with the help of a few uncles and aunts, there were certain secrets that only she and her mother knew.
With all the burdens suddenly crashing down on her shoulders, she was caught completely off guard.
She opened her mouth, but in the end, she could only yield. “Follow me.”
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