Chapter 428 - 259: The Truth (2)

Chapter 428: Chapter 259: The Truth (2)

Looking at the text that popped up on the screen, Su Xing felt a sense of relief. Having someone behind him, helping and trusting him, was indeed more reassuring than facing the world alone as he had before.

"Don’t worry, Elder Li. I’m strong enough to protect myself now. I’ll bring Tong Yinyin back to Cang City as we agreed."

After typing his message, Su Xing put the phone in his pocket. He glanced at the food on the table and, after a moment’s thought, decided it would be a waste not to eat it. So, he polished off all the dishes before heading toward the Purple Bamboo Forest.

This time, Su Xing used spatial teleportation directly, avoiding being seen by the villagers. He soon arrived deep within the Purple Bamboo Forest and saw the three people standing in different spots.

Ling Zhongxing stood alone by the river, staring into the water, lost in thought. The other two stood side-by-side on a bridge, seemingly discussing something important.

"I am but Ling Zhongxing, and I have long awaited you, Elder Su." Seeing Su Xing appear, Ling Zhongxing spoke immediately.

"Why are you standing here all alone?"

Su Xing glanced at the other two in the distance. They had also noticed him and turned their gazes his way.

"Heh, the two of them are having a private chat. It wouldn’t be right for me to interrupt. Besides, I have matters to discuss with you, Elder."

Ling Zhongxing said with a smile.

"Is Elder Ling now comfortable enough to openly admit he’s working with those two? In that case, I’d like to ask, when did this cooperation begin?"

Su Xing asked, his eyes narrowing.

"A very, very long time ago. If I have to be specific, I was a piece in this game from the very beginning. As you’ve seen, Elder, we are indeed here for revenge. It’s just that our target for revenge is not the Cyan Cloud Sect."

Ling Zhongxing said slowly.

"Hm?"

Su Xing was taken aback. ’Could it be that this has nothing to do with the Cyan Cloud Sect?’ he thought. He had never considered that. ’Then why did these three cause so much trouble for the sect? Could it be that their target for revenge will only appear because of the Cyan Cloud Sect?’

Thinking of this, Su Xing asked:

"Then who are you seeking revenge against?"

"It’s a long story. Please be patient, Elder, and allow me to explain it in detail."

Ling Zhongxing spoke at a measured pace. "Several major incidents occurred here in Luocheng over a decade ago."

"The first was the major incident that shook the Cyan Cloud Sect and even drew the attention of a special organization—the matter concerning Tong Yinyin, which you are familiar with, Elder."

"The second was when the Cyan Cloud Sect’s genius, Li Ye, attempted to assassinate Gu Che, but by a strange twist of fate, killed Gu Che’s sister, Gu Yan, instead."

"But besides these two incidents, there was a third that many people have overlooked. Liu Li, who was investigating Tong Yinyin and had run into Li Ye, was also killed by someone else."

"Liu Li wasn’t killed by Li Ye?"

Su Xing said, as if he had suddenly realized something.

"Li Ye had already been exposed, and the news had spread throughout the Cyan Cloud Sect. Why would he leave and then return to the sect just to kill him?"

Elder Ling immediately retorted. However, seeing Su Xing’s expression, he added with a smile:

"Let’s put it this way, Elder Su. Assuming Li Ye was truly framed, from your perspective, what kind of person would want to kill Liu Li?"

"..." Su Xing was silent for a moment before finally nodding. "Liu Li’s death is indeed highly suspicious."

"Indeed. But don’t forget, Elder, on the night of the assassination attempt, the person who appeared outside the Sect Master’s Hall and identified Li Ye was Liu Li."

"Liu Li identified Li Ye as the assailant, but then he himself died shortly after. Could it be that he was killed by the real culprit?"

Su Xing said suddenly. ’Though, something about that still feels off,’ he thought. Just as this thought crossed his mind, Li Ye leaped down from the bridge and said slowly:

"Zhongxing, as for what happened that night, let me tell Fellow Daoist Su myself."

Li Ye. Su Xing had met this man before in Desperate Gorge, but observing him up close now, Su Xing caught the scent of blood. It was the smell of an injury. ’When and where did he get hurt?’

"Heh, Brother Ye and I were just chatting. Sorry to have kept Brother Zhongxing and our distinguished guest waiting."

Tong Yinyin said with a delicate smile, but her face was still covered in heavy makeup, making it impossible to see her true features. It was as if she detested her former self.

"Since you two are willing to tell the story yourselves, I won’t waste any more words. When it comes to details, nothing beats an account from someone who was actually there."

Elder Ling said with a laugh.

"Su Xing of Cang City. A pleasure to meet you both."

Seeing the two approach, Su Xing cupped his fists and spoke.

"Greetings, Elder."

"I greet you, Fellow Daoist Su. I never thought we would have the fortune to meet again here after parting ways at Dragon Gate."

"I’m afraid that’s not quite right. The Conical Hat Guest who fought me at the entrance to the Cyan Cloud Sect that day was also you, wasn’t it, Fellow Daoist Li?"

Su Xing said.

"Testing you that day was not my idea. It was Zhongxing’s. If you wish to assign blame, Elder, then you should look for him."

Li Ye said with a loud laugh.

"You... you really know how to pass the buck."

Ling Zhongxing also smiled and shook his head. Seeing this atmosphere, Su Xing suddenly realized the three of them might have a good relationship. He had previously assumed they were merely partners in a collaboration, but now it seemed that wasn’t the case.

"I don’t mind that sort of thing. After all, the fact that I was willing to come here shows that I’m not against any of you. On the contrary, I’m very interested in all of you—as people, and in what you’re doing."

Su Xing said.

"That’s true. In that case, let’s get back to the main topic."

Elder Ling’s expression suddenly turned serious. "What I’m about to say is related to the plan we’ve been orchestrating. To be honest, if you were willing to help us, Elder, our plan would be much more certain to succeed."

"But if the plan fails, it could bring you no small amount of trouble, Elder. Therefore, you should first hear the specific details of what happened from these two, and then decide whether or not you want to cooperate with us."

"Alright."

Su Xing nodded, then his gaze fell upon Tong Yinyin’s small, slender frame. He said slowly, "Tong Yinyin, Uncle Yao asked me to give this to you."

With that, Su Xing handed her the item he had been keeping in his pocket. It was a small object, upon which a densely packed letter had been written with spatial power.

"...Sigh. Why must Uncle Yao go to such lengths? He’s already gone so far, and I can never go back to the way things were."

"Aren’t you going to look at it?"

Su Xing asked curiously.

"Why should I?"

Tong Yinyin retorted, "I killed an entire opera troupe, yet I didn’t go after him for revenge. Firstly, I knew he wasn’t in the troupe, so he couldn’t have had the chance to betray me. Secondly, I was grateful for the kindness he showed in raising me."

"Of course," she added, "thinking back on it now, if I had gone to get revenge on him back then, he probably would have beaten me to death."

Tong Yinyin said with a soft laugh.

"..."

"It’s been so long, and Uncle Yao is full of remorse. Why can’t you two just let bygones be bygones?"

Su Xing asked.

"Let bygones be bygones... The seeds of hatred have already been planted. How can they possibly be uprooted?"

"The troupe betrayed me, and I killed everyone in it. Uncle Yao’s... Elder, I’m sorry. I don’t want to talk about this anymore."

"It’s alright."

Su Xing shook his head. He had only asked to test the waters on Yao Yixiao’s behalf. But from the looks of it, there was indeed an insurmountable obstacle between the two of them.

"Li Dao You."

"What exactly happened back then?"

Su Xing stopped asking about Tong Yinyin and Yao Yixiao and turned to Li Ye.

"At that time, someone told me an assassin had appeared in the Cyan Cloud Sect’s Sect Master’s Hall. As soon as I heard, I rushed to the Sect Master’s Hall to try and apprehend the intruder."

"When I arrived, I found the assassin was already inside the hall, so I immediately gave chase and engaged him. But I never could have expected that Gu Yan would be in the Sect Master’s Hall as well."

"And because of some strange, unknown technique the assassin used, I made a careless mistake and struck Gu Yan. With her low cultivation level at the time, she would have certainly died without immediate treatment."

"Then, by a terrible coincidence, just as I was overcome with panic—not even noticing when the assassin had fled—the very person who had told me to go to the Sect Master’s Hall to catch the assassin suddenly appeared and shouted that I was the one attempting an assassination."

...