Chapter 424 - 257: One Move

Chapter 424: Chapter 257: One Move

"I’d like to ask if anyone knows the whereabouts of Elder Lou Fuzhao. Also, I’ve investigated the situation in Tianming Village. Who is supposed to take over his duties?"

Su Xing asked.

"Hm? Elder Su, that’s a rather strange question. Regarding Elder Lou’s travels... he is an Elder of the Qi Sect, after all. Naturally, only people from the Qi Sect would know his whereabouts."

"As for who will take over Elder Lou’s duties, if I recall correctly, he only took on that role temporarily. I suppose a proper handover will occur when a more suitable candidate is found."

Elder Gong said, pondering.

Elder Ling...

Su Xing wasn’t very familiar with the man, but throughout his investigation, everyone from the Cyan Cloud Sect to the ordinary folk of Tianming Village had nothing but praise for this elder. ’His character must be decent,’ he thought.

However...

Su Xing recalled that he was also a member of the Qi Sect.

"Did you find something, Elder Su?"

Seeing Su Xing’s pensive expression, Elder Gong asked immediately. Su Xing didn’t answer directly, instead circling around the issue.

"I haven’t found Tong Yinyin’s location, but I have gathered some clues. I now plan to return to the Cyan Cloud Sect and report these matters to Sect Leader Gu Che."

"Heh..."

Steward Gong chuckled. He clearly understood the subtext of Su Xing’s words, but he seemed completely unconcerned, merely nodding as he spoke.

"I’ve been investigating for days without finding any useful leads, but the moment Elder Su steps in, you get detailed clues. Truly worthy of your reputation, Elder Su."

"You praise me too highly, Steward Gong. I only discovered these things by accident. If there’s nothing else, I’ll return to the Cyan Cloud Sect to make my report. Farewell."

Su Xing said.

"Of course, of course. I won’t delay you any further, Elder," Steward Gong said with a cupped-fist salute.

...

At the main gate of the Cyan Cloud Sect, Su Xing had just arrived when he suddenly heard a sharp cry.

"Hold it."

Twice in a short span of time, Su Xing had been stopped in his tracks. The first time, it was a villager too weak to have stepped onto the Extraordinary path, so Su Xing hadn’t immediately sensed him.

This time, however, the person who stopped him was leaning against a nearby tree, watching him in silence. Su Xing couldn’t sense any aura from the man at all. He narrowed his eyes and spoke.

"What is it?"

This was the main gate of the Cyan Cloud Sect. If the other party dared to try anything, the people of Cyan Cloud would surely react quickly, even with his ability to conceal his aura. Therefore, Su Xing wasn’t worried about having to fight and simply asked his question.

Even so, the Black Sword materialized in Su Xing’s hand in an instant, its heavy blade pointing toward the ground.

"Knowing too much isn’t a good thing. It runs counter to the path of longevity, to say the least."

The man spoke, but his voice was odd—unnatural, as if he were using some technique to deliberately disguise it.

"..."

"I am no Qi Cultivator, nor did I step onto the Extraordinary path for the sake of longevity."

Su Xing replied, "Besides... I was born with a heavy dose of curiosity. If I don’t get to the bottom of this, I’m afraid I’ll lose sleep over it."

"Your identity, for example. I’m very curious about that."

Not only was his voice strange, but he also wore a dark gray conical hat with a hanging veil that completely obscured his face. The only certainty was that the person was a man.

Even without hearing his voice or seeing his face, Su Xing could easily reach this conclusion just by looking at the man’s sturdy build and well-defined limbs.

’But why is he masked? Perhaps it isn’t just that his identity can’t see the light of day. It’s possible I’ve met him before,’ Su Xing thought, having a vague feeling about it.

"Hahaha! The price of curiosity... If it leads to an eternal slumber, will you still be curious then?"

"You talk too much."

Su Xing said flatly, "If you want to fight, then let’s fight!"

"..."

The man fell silent for a moment, not expecting the person before him to be so direct. His right hand instinctively moved as if to draw something, but he stopped himself and spoke.

"...Ultimately, the affairs of Luocheng have nothing to do with you, a man from Cang City. Why must you insist on meddling?"

"..."

Su Xing didn’t answer. He simply raised the sword in his hand. The man had already spouted too much nonsense, and Su Xing had already explained his reasons for interfering far too many times.

Besides, Su Xing had always been this way. Once he set a goal, he would never waver. If someone wanted to forcibly change his mind, they would first have to face the sword in his hand.

"You unreasonable people... are such a pain. Fine! Let me see what you’re made of."

The moment the words fell, the man struck first. His movements were as graceful as the wind and as sharp as a sword. He took a step forward, his right hand a spear of five straightened fingers, thrusting toward the left side of Su Xing’s chest.

The strike was aimed just beside the heart. Even if it landed, it wouldn’t be a fatal blow. It was a small detail, but Su Xing noticed it with perfect clarity.

His years of combat experience had honed his instinct for rapidly processing battlefield information, and it told him that his opponent had no killing intent.

’No killing intent, yet he’s trying to stop me. His identity is certainly interesting,’ Su Xing thought. Even as his mind raced, his sword didn’t slow. It had been aimed at the man’s head, but seeing the attack, it changed course, twisting to slash at the conical hat.

But the man’s counter was like a thunderclap. His thrusting right hand changed its trajectory, tapping directly against the Black Sword as if it were a straight sword itself. At the same time, his body snapped backward, narrowly dodging the slash aimed at his hat.

"..."

The man clearly hadn’t expected Su Xing to make such a move. After a moment’s hesitation, he simply turned and left, vanishing in the blink of an eye.

They had only exchanged a single blow,

but Su Xing already had a vague assessment of his opponent’s strength.

He was one of the best among the eighth-rank.

Although he used his fist, it faintly held the "way of the sword." He was likely using his fist deliberately to conceal his identity.

"Interesting."

Thinking of this, Su Xing gave a faint smile. He knew someone didn’t want him to continue his investigation. Without a doubt, that man was one of Tong Yinyin’s companions.

’Li Ye... could it be him?’

An image of his first meeting with him in Desperate Gorge flashed through Su Xing’s mind, and his curiosity piqued.

’Li Ye, how could he have known when I would return to the Cyan Cloud Sect? How could he have been waiting for me here in advance?’

’Whatever. I’ll find Sect Leader Gu Che first.’

Su Xing shook his head and turned toward the Cyan Cloud Sect. He soon arrived at the Sect Master’s Hall, Gu Che’s usual residence. Upon seeing Su Xing, Sect Leader Gu Che immediately broke into an even more enthusiastic smile than before.

"Young Friend Su! Even sitting here in the Cyan Cloud Sect, tales of your deeds have reached my ears like thunder!"

"You’re too kind, Sect Leader Gu."

Su Xing shook his head. ’Steward Gong seemed completely unaware of outside events, but you congratulate me the moment I arrive. You clearly know what happened. It seems you haven’t told others about the events in Desperate Gorge,’ he thought.

"Seeing that you’ve come to me, Young Friend, I assume you have something to discuss?" Gu Che, noticing Su Xing’s apparent dislike for flattery, cut to the chase.

"Indeed. I’ve made an unexpected discovery."

"Oh?"

Gu Che asked, his curiosity piqued.

Then, Su Xing told Sect Leader Gu Che everything about what had happened in Tianming Village. As Su Xing spoke, the Sect Leader’s expression grew darker and darker, until he finally exploded in a furious shout:

"Hmph! Those parasites from the Qi Sect!"