Chapter 245 - 27: City-wide Search, Invitation from the Seven Stars

Chapter 245: Chapter 27: City-wide Search, Invitation from the Seven Stars

As he finished speaking, a furious aura erupted from Xue Shan. The pressure of a Cultivator at the Peak of the Sea Condensation Realm instantly filled the entire tavern. The tables and chairs creaked and groaned under the strain. Some of the Loose Cultivators with lower Cultivation turned pale, finding it difficult to even breathe.

Who in all of Qingzhou Prefecture City didn’t know that he, the Mad Swordsman Xue Shan, was a stubborn man who could be reasoned with, but never forced?

Normally, you could call him brother and drink heartily with him, and everything would be fine. But if anyone dared to put on airs in front of him or use their Identity to pressure him, he couldn’t care less who they were.

"Old Xue! Old Xue! Calm down, calm down!" Chief Wang quickly stepped forward, playing the peacemaker. "Miss Xiao is just following orders and handling official business. There’s no need to get so worked up."

As he spoke, he turned and shot Xiao Zhanbai a meaningful glance, lowering his voice. "Miss Xiao, that’s just Old Xue’s temper. If you speak to him reasonably, he’ll cooperate."

Xiao Zhanbai’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly, but she ultimately humored Chief Wang and reined in her sharp demeanor.

She also knew that Xue Shan was the well-known leader of the Loose Cultivators in the city. Pushing him too far without concrete evidence would do Celestial Sword Manor’s investigation no good.

Xue Shan snorted coldly and slowly retracted his aura. The pressure in the tavern instantly dissipated.

He picked up his wine bowl again, not even glancing at Xiao Zhanbai, and said to Chief Wang, "Chief Wang, it’s not that I’m trying to be difficult, but I was here drinking in this tavern all last night. I didn’t take a single step out. The waiter and this whole room of patrons can testify for me."

"Besides, haven’t your people already been here to ask once? What, you don’t trust your own men? You had to have this Xiao Fairy herself come and interrogate me again?"

His words made Chief Wang a bit awkward, and he could only manage a forced laugh.

Xiao Zhanbai, however, remained expressionless. She said coldly, "It’s just a routine procedure. Since you have witnesses, we will naturally verify their statements. However, until the killer is found, you are not cleared of suspicion. So, during this time, you’d best stay put in the city. Don’t make us have to look for you."

It was a blunt statement, heavy with warning.

Xue Shan barked a laugh, full of mockery.

"A joke! I, Xue Shan, have a clear conscience. You think I’m afraid of your investigation? My Worry-Free Tavern is right here; it’s not going anywhere. But you people from Celestial Sword Manor better not end up without so much as a single trace of the killer. Now *that* would be a disgrace!"

"You!" A Celestial Sword Manor disciple behind Xiao Zhanbai flew into a rage, his hand gripping the hilt of his sword.

Xiao Zhanbai stopped the disciple behind her. She gave Xue Shan a long, hard look, her gaze as sharp as a knife.

"Let’s hope your mouth stays this tough."

With that, she said no more, turned, and left, her movements clean and decisive.

Chief Wang cupped his fists at Xue Shan, sighed, and also hurried away.

Only after their figures had completely vanished from the tavern’s entrance did the oppressive atmosphere slowly dissipate.

"Pah! Who does she think she is?!" a Loose Cultivator spat on the ground.

"Exactly! Trying to put on airs in front of Old Xue? She’s still too green for that!"

"Still, what in the world happened to cause such a commotion? Even Xiao Zhanbai herself had to get involved."

The tavern once again filled with noise as everyone started talking, speculating about what had happened last night.

But Xue Shan, the focus of all this attention, was now surprisingly quiet.

He wasn’t drinking anymore. He just sat there, tracing the rim of his cold wine bowl with his finger, his gaze deep and unreadable, lost in thought.

’Celestial Sword Manor is looking for a master Swordsman?’

’Someone died in the city last night at midnight? And at the hands of a master Swordsman?’

Xue Shan quickly ran through this information in his mind.

He knew basically every skilled Swordsman in Qingzhou Prefecture City, and for Celestial Sword Manor to take this so seriously, the person’s strength must be extraordinary.

’Who could it be?’

Xue Shan thought of a few names, only to dismiss each one.

Those guys either lacked the guts or the strength.

But for some reason, instead of feeling angry about being a suspect, Xue Shan felt a strange flicker of... admiration?

Yes, that was it. Admiration. 𝑓𝑟ℯℴ𝓂

To kill someone in Qingzhou Prefecture City, right under the noses of Celestial Sword Manor... And to do it without leaving a trace before vanishing into thin air.

That kind of courage, those kinds of methods... truly exhilarating!

"Heh heh..." Xue Shan chuckled softly, then downed the strong liquor in his bowl in one gulp. He whispered,

"Whoever you are, I salute you with this bowl!"

「Early the next morning.」

Qingzhou Prefecture City awoke from its slumber, once again returning to its usual bustling state.

The market district was once again a sea of people, bustling with noise.

"Brother Chen Ye, look, look! There are even more patrols out!" Yun Heqing said to Chen Ye in a hushed, furtive voice, a hint of nervousness in his eyes.

Chen Ye followed his gaze.

Sure enough, the number of Celestial Sword Manor disciples and Qingzhou City Armored Warriors patrolling the streets had increased significantly.

They moved in groups of three to five, their steps synchronized, their sharp gazes sweeping over every pedestrian. The inspections had also become exceptionally strict. Occasionally, they would stop Cultivators who looked suspicious and question them thoroughly.

"What’s there to be afraid of?" Su Yuan mumbled, her words muffled by the candied hawthorn she was chewing on nonchalantly. "It’s not like we did anything wrong. Are they going to arrest us or something?"

Chen Ye just gave a soft grunt of acknowledgment, his face betraying no emotion.

He understood. Celestial Sword Manor must have failed to track down the killer, which was why they had become so paranoid.