Afterlife Department

Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai looked at each other and decided in a split second.

"They… in fact, we are really looking for the elixir of immortality after we heard a 'doctor' spoke about it. But, how can we know that we have been deceived?!" Shi Yi, who has the best acting skills among them four, spoke and cried.

Jiang Ci and Rong Huai were shocked. "It was actually the four of you who heard that charlatan spoke about the elixir?!" Jiang Ci exclaimed in shock. They already heard of this from Lu Xiu.

"Yes ah…" Qi Bai answered with a nod as he lowered his head and acted as wiping his fake tear.

"Then, that time when I met your group…" Lu Xiu spoke as he looked at them.

"We were afraid that you might be like those two people, since you also looked strong. Thus, we exhausted ourselves and pockets to go back to Cuiyi Town." Qian San explained.

"So that's it…" Lu Xiu muttered.

"Who are they? Do you have any idea?" Rong Huai asked.

The four shook their heads. "They just suddenly trussed us up like chickens waiting to be slaughtered… then, they took all our money and wasted it like it was theirs." Shi Yi explained.

"How pitiful…" Jiang Ci sighed as he looked at them with pity. "You… what do we do now?" he asked Rong Huai.

"Since they have chosen these four young masters, it must mean that their goal is also the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain." Rong Huai answered. "Specifically, Huai Sen." He said.

"But, Huai Sen…" Jiang Ci spoke.

Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai immediately perked their ears up.

"Ai. Say no more." Lu Xiu waved his hand.

Qian San, Shi Yi and Qi Bai. "…" fck! They almost heard another news! They thought.

Wu Ling gnashed his teeth, hating Lu Xiu to the bones. This meddler! He thought, wanting to pummel him to death.

"What about them?" Jiang Ci asked and pointed the four 'pitiful' souls.

Rong Huai fell silent for a moment. "We have lost those two. If what I guess is right, then we can't let them go to the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain." He said. "But, we can't just let them, too, go back on their own…" he said.

Lu Xiu rubbed his chin. "Furthermore, if we will leave them four, those mysterious two people might attack them again." He said.

Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai uncontrollably 'shivered' in 'fear.

Jiang Ci saw their 'pitiful' appearances. "We'll take them with us as we lie in ambush for those two near the Sunrise and Sunset Manor." He suggested.

Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai felt like Jiang Ci is an angel, although he has a bad temper. He is better than Lu Xiu!

"Then, you look after them." Rong Huai told Jiang Ci. "I and Lu Xiu will fight them." he said.

"En." Jiang Ci nodded as he led Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai ahead while Rong Huai and Lu Xiu silently followed behind them, vigilantly looking around in case Huo Ling and Yi Bing would appear.

…

Contrary to Lu Xiu's and Rong Huai's expectation, Yi Bing and Huo Ling are leisurely leaning on the trunk of the tree as they watched them all walking below.

"The Zhuo family's massacre… the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain being sealed but it actually wasn't Huai Sen who sealed it…" Huo Ling muttered as they silently and stealthily followed the large group. "There is also the Luojian Valley Sect's tragedy in the past… how chaotic jianghu is?" he asked.

Yi Bing looked at him. "Why did you include the Luojian Valley Sect's tragedy?" he asked.

"Because of the Martial Alliance." Huo Ling answered.

Yi Bing didn't speak and just waited for him to explain.

"In the past, the Luojian Valley Sect met a tragedy but the Martial Alliance didn't help them." Huo Ling spoke. "Then, last time, the Beggar Sect admitted that they don't take seriously the Alliance Order. Now, we found out that it wasn't Huai Sen who sealed the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain, but highly likely the Martial Alliance since they are the only ones capable of doing it." He explained. "Not to mention the Zhuo family's massacre… heh." He sneered.

"You mean to say, the Martial Alliance is experiencing internal conflicts?" Yi Bing spoke.

Huo Ling nodded as an answer. "Mu Fan said that his master suddenly fell ill." He spoke. "If what he is saying true, then Jin Chong must have fallen ill because of too much worry as the Alliance leader." He explained.

"I understand." Yi Bing muttered.

"So far, the antagonistic sects that we have encountered are the Beggar Sect, and the Green River Sect." Huo Ling spoke. "Oh. Add the Ruojian Valley Sect." he said.

Yi Bing nodded. "The one affiliated to the Martial Alliance are the Clear Lake Sect and Jin Chong himself's sect, Liulin Sect." he spoke.

"The Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain was a neutral party. But, now, we found out that Huai Sen is on friendly terms with the Ruojian Valley Sect." Huo Ling said.

"The Martial Alliance might have found out about this and thus killed Huai Sen and his disciples?" Yi Bing asked.

Huo Ling fell silent. That's right… the only explanation for the sealing of the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain is that Huai Sen and his disciples were dead. The Martial Alliance wanted to cover this up by sealing the mountain, making it look like it was Huai Sen doing this instead of them, the culprits.

"How about the Zhuo family, then?" Yi Bing asked.

"I have two guesses." Huo Ling spoke.

Yi Bing nodded at him, urging him to speak.

"One, they have offended an important person and became an eyesore to that person. Thus, they were killed." Huo Ling said.

Yi Bing frowned. "Just for this?" he asked.

"It is related to my second guess." Huo Ling said and raised his two fingers. "The Zhuo family might possess something, and these people wanted to take it from them. Or that – " he looked at Yi Bing. " – they might possess something they shouldn't have, and thus the one that killed them all sought revenge." He explained. "Of course, we can't deny the fact that a thief wants to steal from another thief." He added, referring to the Zhuo family as being thieves and new thieves wanted to take what they have.

Yi Bing felt disgusted upon hearing this. But, he has seen so many things thus he immediately calmed his mood.

Huo Ling didn't say anything either. "As for Zhuo Xia's and the four disciples' souls… I believe that this word has an artifact that could trap one's soul." He said.

Yi Bing's expression turned gloomy. "So, our direct teleportation spell not working is because it doesn't want us to be also trapped, wherever it is." He said. "But, we still have to save them." he looked at Huo Ling.

Huo Ling nodded in understanding. "What is common among all these cases is the Martial Alliance. We might be able to find an answer there." He said. "But, for now…" he looked at Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai chatting with Jiang Ci. "Since we are already here, it wouldn't hurt for us to check the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain, right?" he asked as he looked at Yi Bing.

Yi Bing nodded. "We have to return before the Martial Conference." He spoke.

Huo Ling then was reminded. "I know." He spoke. "We have to investigate this mountain faster than them." he said as he looked at Jiang Ci, Rong Huai and Lu Xiu.

"En." Yi Bing nodded in agreement.

…

"What do you think?" Lu Xiu asked Rong Huai as he looked at the group of four.

Rong Huai looked at him instead. "… you are actually suspecting them?" he asked. Who was it the one who defended these four people's innocence before?

"Well, I just… think that there is something strange." Lu Xiu muttered. "But, I can't put a finger what and where." He said.

Rong Huai fell silent. He trusts Lu Xiu's judgement so every time Lu Xiu and Jiang Ci clashes, he is making Jiang Ci concede. Jiang Ci also knows this thus he fought against Lu Xiu less. After all, Lu Xiu has saved their lives many times just relying on his gut feel.

So, Lu Xiu saying that there is something strange with Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai, then there must be something strange. It is just that – "Why did you say before that they are innocent, then?" he asked him.

Lu Xiu looked at Rong Huai. "Because they are." He said. He knows that these things are contradictory, but this is what he think.

Rong Huai heaved a sigh. "Then, just tell me one thing – " he spoke.. " – will they be our enemies?" he asked him.