Cang Dongqing's voice was soft, yet it carried an imperceptible trace of sharpness.
"Junior Sister Li seems to be hiding something."
Her gaze swept casually over Li Nanzhu's storage bag before landing on Suisui.
The little skeleton was currently curled up in Li Nanzhu's arms. The ice-blue patterns on its bones had faded, but upon closer inspection, one could still detect a slight abnormality.
Li Nanzhu's fingertips tightened imperceptibly, yet her expression remained calm. "What do you mean by that, Daoist Cang?"
"It’s nothing," Cang Dongqing said with a slight smile. "It just seems strange. If the evil cultivators could create something like a mother nest, why would they suddenly self-destruct? And..." She paused. "The commotion from that explosion was so great that we felt it even in Chishui City. How is it that the four of you managed to escape unscathed?"
It was a tricky question. It sounded like concern, but in reality, it hinted that the four might be in league with the evil cultivators.
Feng Qingping let out a cold laugh. "Are you questioning us?"
"I wouldn't dare." Cang Dongqing lowered her head slightly, though a faint curve appeared at the corner of her lips. "It's just that the matter is of great importance. There's nothing wrong with asking a few more questions."
Even Pei Ji nodded in agreement. "That is a fair point."
Elder Yan's gaze also swept across the four of them. "The four of you must follow me back to the Sword Heart Sect to undergo an investigation!"
As soon as he spoke, the air instantly froze.
A flicker of secret joy passed beneath Cang Dongqing's lowered eyelashes. If she could bring these four back to the Sword Heart Sect, that strange bone spirit and the secrets it held would eventually fall into her hands.
"What is the meaning of this, Elder Yan?" Rong Yuying's round fan snapped open, shielding Li Nanzhu. "Junior Sister Li and her companions just helped destroy an evil cultivator's nest. They've performed a great service. How have they become suspects instead?"
"Merit and fault will be judged in time," Elder Yan said coldly. "But the appearance of demon qi is no small matter. It must be thoroughly investigated!"
Before his voice even faded, the disciples of the Sword Heart Sect spread out in a coordinated fashion, faintly forming a surrounding formation. Although Pei Ji's long sword remained in its sheath, his fingertips were already pressed against the hilt. Li Nanyi went even further, directly manifesting his long sword, his face written with schadenfreude.
Feng Qingping's array disk hummed with golden light. "What? Is the Sword Heart Sect planning to commit open robbery?"
"Daoist Yan," Elder Hua suddenly spoke. Her voice was soft but carried an unquestionable authority. "Little Friend Li is a benefactor of my Hehuan Sect. If not for their risky rescue, the disciples of my sect would have perished at the hands of the evil cultivators. If you wish to take people away today, you must provide a justification."
Elder Yan narrowed his eyes. "Does Daoist Hua intend to shield them?"
"Shield them?" Elder Hua chuckled. "I am simply curious. When did the Sword Heart Sect gain the authority to arrest disciples of other sects? Or rather..." She glanced pointedly at Cang Dongqing. "Is someone after something else?"
Cang Dongqing's expression shifted slightly, but she quickly recovered. "Elder Hua, you overstate things. We are merely worried that Junior Sister Li and the others might have been corrupted by demon qi without realizing it..."
"Bullshit!" Yu'er suddenly jumped out. "Junior Sister Li and the others are perfectly clear-headed! It's you people who start shouting for blood the moment you show up. Who knows what your real intentions are!"
Li Nanyi sneered, saying snidely, "Who knows if your Hehuan Sect and the Five Elements Dao Sect have colluded together..."
"Li Nanyi!" Pei Ji shouted sharply to stop him, veins bulging on his forehead. Although he had suspicions about Li Nanzhu and the others, he knew that such groundless accusations would only put the Sword Heart Sect in a disadvantageous position.
The situation was on the verge of exploding.
Feng Weilan gripped his long blade. "Elder Yan, instead of pestering us here, why don't you go find out why the evil cultivators have been able to run so rampant?"
Elder Yan's expression flickered between shadow and light. He knew, of course, that the priority was to track down the evil cultivators, but the abnormality of that bone spirit was equally concerning to him. Moreover, Immortal Venerable Ling Xiao had given specific instructions before they arrived...
"How about this," Elder Hua suddenly proposed. "The Hehuan Sect will act as their guarantor. Little Friend Li and the others will stay temporarily at my sect. If the Sword Heart Sect has questions, you are more than welcome to come and verify them at any time."
This compromise left Yan Zhengqing temporarily speechless.
If he forcibly took them, it would mean offending both the Hehuan Sect and the Five Elements Dao Sect at once. But if he backed down now...
Cang Dongqing suddenly coughed lightly. "Senior Martial Uncle Yan, Elder Hua's words make sense. However..." She looked toward Li Nanzhu. "To show her sincerity, shouldn't Junior Sister Li allow the bone spirit to be inspected? After all, no one knows what might happen if an entity like that is tainted by demon qi..."
"No!" Li Nanzhu refused categorically. "Suisui is my sect's dao-protecting bone spirit. How can it be left to others to probe?"
She knew their tricks all too well. This so-called inspection was likely an excuse to cut Suisui open for research!
"A guilty conscience!" Li Nanyi immediately shouted.
"Shut up!" Rong Yuying's round fan suddenly flew out. The fan's ribs grazed Li Nanyi's cheek, leaving a bloody streak. "Dare to slander Junior Sister Li again, and next time it will be your tongue!"
Seeing the conflict escalate, Daoist Master Xuan Shuang finally stepped forward. "Everyone, stop!"
He first glared at Li Nanyi, then spoke to Elder Yan. "Senior Brother, the priority is indeed to track the evil cultivators. As for these young friends from the Five Elements Dao Sect..." He gave Suisui a meaningful look. "There will be plenty of time in the future."
These words seemed like a concession, but they contained a hidden threat.
Elder Yan understood and gave a cold huff. "Then we shall do as Daoist Hua says. However..." His sharp gaze pierced toward Li Nanzhu. "If I discover anyone colluding with evil cultivators, do not blame the Sword Heart Sect for being merciless!"
Elder Yan huffed again and turned to command the Sword Heart Sect members. "Pei Ji, Cang Dongqing, you and Xuanling's group will continue searching the Blackwater Marsh. You must find the remnants of the evil cultivators! Li Nanyi, you follow me back to the sect to report!"
Li Nanyi's face changed. "Senior Martial Uncle Yan, I..."
"Silence!" Elder Yan shouted sternly. "Haven't you embarrassed us enough?"
Li Nanyi immediately shut his mouth and slinked off to the side.
Cang Dongqing lowered her eyes and complied. "The disciple obeys."
As she turned, her gaze lingered briefly on Suisui, a hidden scheme flashing in the depths of her eyes.
"Junior Sister Li," Rong Yuying said, putting away her fan. "We should set out as well."
Elder Hua nodded slightly. "Friends from the Sword Heart Sect, why don't we split up? The Hehuan Sect will be responsible for escorting Little Friend Li back, while the Sword Heart Sect continues searching the Blackwater Marsh."
Daoist Master Xuanling pondered for a moment before nodding in agreement. "Very well."
Daoist Master Xuan Shuang gave Li Nanzhu a profound look. "I hope that when we meet next time, Little Friend Li can provide a more detailed explanation."
Li Nanzhu remained neither humble nor arrogant. "If Senior Xuan Shuang has questions, you are always welcome to visit the Five Elements Dao Sect as a guest."
Her implication was clear: if there was a problem, they should go talk to her master, Feng Yi, who would surely provide a 'reasonable' explanation.
Daoist Master Xuan Shuang's face twitched slightly, but he quickly returned to normal.
"If there is an opportunity, we shall naturally accompany our Sovereign to pay a visit."
As their gazes met, both sides understood the deeper meaning behind the words. This was no longer just a spat between juniors; it was a game played by the high-level powers of two major sects.
They also intended to take this opportunity to test the waters... and see what kind of commotion the Five Elements Dao Sect, which had been silent for a millennium, was planning to stir up next.
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