"Catch the killer!"
"Catch the killer!"
After the menacing cultivator spoke, hundreds of cultivators from Xingluo Town shouted loudly.
Qin Gengyun frowned and asked Qiu Zhihe, "Dear, whatâs going on?"
Liu Su said angrily, "Master, Miss and I just came downstairs and were surrounded by these people lurking outside. They accuse us of killing Chang Shengzi and want to seize us and send us to the Zhenyang Sect!"
Liu Su pointed at the people lying on the ground and said, "These scoundrels saw Missâs beauty and dared to speak rudely!"
Qin Gengyun squinted his eyes, and the Heaven-Reaching Staff appeared in his hand with a thud, thud, thud!
With several screams echoing, the people on the ground clutched their legs and wailed:
"Ah! My leg, my leg is broken!"
"We have no grievance with you, yet you strike so viciously! Ah!"
Qin Gengyun said coldly, "You spoke rudely to my wife; breaking your legs was already lenient. Dare to utter another word, and I wonât show mercy!"
His expression was extremely cold, and his Foundation Establishment Cultivation was evident.
These few instantly fell silent, not daring to even scream.
"Thatâs him, heâs the one who killed the Guardian!"
"If Zhenyang Sect holds us accountable, our entire town will suffer!"
"We canât let him leave!"
Qiu Zhiheâs expression was icy as she waved her hand, and an array floated above everyoneâs heads, revealing hundreds of flying swords.
"Hundred Sword Array?!"
"That woman actually knows the Hundred Sword Array!"
The cultivators were shocked and retreated. The menacing cultivator held the Thunder Array and shouted loudly:
"Ladies and gentlemen, we have numbers on our side, and theyâre just three people. How can they escape from us?"
"Weâre all Xingluo Town cultivators, under Zhenyang Sectâs jurisdiction. I donât believe she dares kill us all!"
Qiu Zhihe sneered, and the swords in the Hundred Sword Array trembled fiercely, ready to fall.
"Fang Zhi, what are you doing?!"
At this moment, a voice rang out from afar, and Luo Wenzhi led hundreds of people to confront the hundreds of cultivators led by the menacing cultivator.
The male cultivator named Fang Zhi said coldly, "The Chang family has been Xingluo Townâs Guardian for generations, and the Patriarch is highly trusted by Zhenyang Sect. Now heâs been killed by outsiders, and not a single member of the Chang family is alive. This will reach Zhenyang Sect soon, and if we let them leave today, Zhenyang Sect will investigate, and weâll all be in trouble."
Luo Wenzhi said, "Fang Zhi, you donât have family, so you canât understand the heart-wrenching pain of having your wife or daughter killed..."
Saying this, Luo Wenzhi seemed to recall his own wife, tears streaming down his face as he cried:
"Senior Qinâs wife and companions avenged our families, for Xingluo Townâs good. We should be grateful, not repay kindness with animosity!"
Though Luo Wenzhi sobbed, his words were bold and stirring, and silence fell around them.
"Um, Iâm not a concubine, Iâm the sister-in-law. Youâre speaking wrongly, or my sister will get jealous."
A moment later, Liu Su raised her hand, gently correcting him.
Qiu Zhihe turned and stared coldly at her; Liu Su immediately covered her mouth, blinking innocently.
Seeing his group wavering, Fang Zhi quickly shouted:
"Regardless of what the Chang familyâs Patriarch did, he was Xingluo Townâs Guardian, and should face Zhenyang Sectâs judgment, not be killed at will!"
"With so many in the Chang family, did they all deserve death?"
Qiu Zhihe said coolly, "Chang Shengzi ate people, and they helped catch people for him. They all deserved to die."
Around them, there was a commotion, shocked by the ruthlessness of the seemingly celestial female cultivator.
Fang Zhi laughed, "This Senior, your intentions are good, exterminating evil for Xingluo Town, but if Zhenyang Sect investigates and youâve left, how will we explain to them? Better stay a few days, and let Zhenyang Sect handle it justly."
Hundreds of cultivators behind him echoed, "Right, you fight for justice, but donât involve us!"
These people, untouched by the Chang family, cared not whether they committed evil, only their own safety.
Luo Wenzhi walked to Qin Gengyun and his companions, shouting:
"Folks, you live in Xingluo Town for generations. Were it not for Senior Qin, your wives and daughters might have suffered too; they saved your families!"
Fang Zhi sneered, "Luo Wenzhi, stop pretending. Youâre eying the Guardian position yourself and aim to use these outsiders. When Zhenyang Sect learns you released killers privately, how will you answer?"
"Understood, youâre fighting for the Guardian position?"
Qiu Zhihe suddenly spoke, her delicate hand waving, turning the Hundred Sword Array, dozens of flying swords formed from array patterns hovering over Fang Zhi:
"Luo Wenzhi, if I kill him, no one will contest your Guardian role."
Qiu Zhiheâs move stunned everyone into silence.
Was it really alright to openly discuss the secret struggle for the Guardian position?
If you killed Fang Zhi, how could Luo Wenzhi ever assume the Guardian position?
Liu Su covered her face; Miss had been designated as the Cyan Lotus Sectâs Saintess, naive to such intricacies, to her, disliking someone meant erasing them.
"Ha, empty threat. Iâm Chiba Streetâs manager, if you dare touch me, beware of Zhenyang Sect..."
The next moment, sword light flashed, blood spurted.
Fang Zhi looked down at his cleanly severed right arm, stunned before screaming:
"My hand! Ah! My hand! You, you..."
Silence enveloped the area; those shouting to catch killers shut their mouths.
"Wife?"
Qin Gengyun was also stunned.
"Letâs go."
Qiu Zhihe stepped forward calmly; the crowd parted, making way.
"Oh."
Qin Gengyun uttered, following behind her, and then Si Minglan, Fang Xue, and Mo Xiaolan descended, joining Qiu Zhihe, leaving Xingluo Town under countless shocked gazes.
Luo Wenzhi led dozens of cultivators to escort them, and once outside Xingluo Town, he came forward, bowing:
"Sorry, Seniors, Fang Zhi nearly became the Chang familyâs manager; the family wiped out, his prospects dashed, and he resents you."
Qin Gengyun bowed, "Taoist Friend Luo, thank you for your help today."
Fang Xue suddenly said, "I want to stay."
Everyone turned to look at her in surprise; Fang Xue said, "Theyâre right, though Chang Shengzi deserved death, he was Zhenyang Sectâs appointed guardian. Now dead, Zhenyang Sect will definitely investigate. Being one of their disciples, I will stay to explain, and they will not blame Uncle Qin or Xingluo Townâs people."
"Junior sister, wonât you come with us?"
Si Minglan hurriedly asked.
Fang Xue smiled slightly, "Third senior sister, I feel lost and directionless. Itâs good to stay and cultivate quietly until I understand myself, then Iâll continue seeking the Way."
She paused, speaking softly, "I still canât see clearly what Zhenyang Sect truly is. Watching how they handle this might clear my doubts."