When Duan Liantian left Shangde Peak, he didn't alert anybody and also didn't tell anyone where he was going.
So it was quite odd that Chi Yan had suddenly appeared outside Lianli City, unless Chi Yan traced him to this place.
A disciple of the Green Mountain had just died tragically in this ruined temple, and this event had something to do with a devil man of the Underworld; but Chi Yan simply said to talk about it after going back to the Green Mountain.
What did this mean? Why did he suddenly appear here?
Duan Liantian looked at Chi Yan in silence, waiting for him to give an answer.
Chi Yan didn't say anything.
The snowfall outside the ruined temple suddenly grew heavier.
The snowflakes fell down like the goose feathers.
The expression on Duan Liantian's face changed a little, as he didn't expect that Chi Yan would be so forceful about the demand. "I came to Lianli to investigate a case," Duan Liantian said sharply.
Chi Yan still remained silent, and did nothing but to stare at Duan Liantian calmly.
Duan Liantian sneered, and the wind and snow had suddenly grown stronger.
Two elders of Shangde Peak confronted each other in a ruined temple far away from the Green Mountain.
The ruined temple had already been utterly damaged. Its walls and windows had all collapsed, and the wind and snow streamed in continuously. Soon after, the bonfire had extinguished.
A great deal of snow fell in the forest outside the temple. The tree branches could hardly support the heavy load, on the brink of breaking off. The previous grassland mixed with green and yellow colors was now totally covered by the white snow.
The grasshoppers hiding in the undergrowth had frozen in the cold before dying in tandem, robbed of their chance to see any new days.
Duan Liantian staggered a little, then withdrew his sword will because he was well aware that he wasn't a match of Chi Yan. "You think you are invincible now in your Brocken Sea State," Duan Liantian said tersely to Chi Yan who was showing a calm expression.
Chi Yan still didn't respond to Duan Liantian, and left by riding the sword.
After a glance at the remaining bonfire, Duan Liantian sighed, and then rode the sword following behind Chi Yan.
The sword lights vanished into the darkness of the night.
The wind and snow had gradually petered out.
There was no snowfall on Shangde Peak, but it was even colder there.
The coldness was especially evident in the deep end of the forbidden manor cave, where the cold intent was even more evident than the bone-piercing cold snowland. On the cliff walls was ice and frost that hadn't melted for tens of thousands of years, forming a myriad of patterns on the walls.
Yuan Qijing stood by the well, and it was unclear if he was looking at the scene at the bottom of the well. He didn't turn his head around after hearing the footsteps and greeting.
"I have the right to go outside the mountain to investigate cases without permission, but I don't understand why I was stopped and forcefully brought back."
Duan Liantian sounded rather reasonable, but anyone could tell from his tone that he was ill at ease.
Yuan Qijing didn't say anything.
"Who asked you to investigate the Zuo Yi case?" Chi Yan questioned.
Duan Liantian snapped, "I was in charge of this case; why can't I investigate it?"
Chi Yan questioned again, "You haven't investigated the case in over ten years; why do you suddenly want to investigate it now?"
Duan Liantian retorted, "Liu Shisui wasn't on Green Mountain in the last ten years, so how could I investigate it then?"
Chi Yan arched his eyebrows slightly and pressed, "You do know that Junior Master Liu has done a great service for our Green Mountain, right?"
Duan Liantian was hesitant for a while before saying, "I didn't think that much about it; but I'm sure Liu Shisui had something to do with the death of Zuo Yi. Otherwise, why would he rather die than tell us where he went that night? What does he try to cover up?"
"It's well said that he'd rather die than tell the truth."
Chi Yan looked at Duan Liantian, as he said nonchalantly, "You thought he was a traitor who had stolen and eaten the Devil Pill and learned the secret methods of the deviant sects back then, so you tortured him without mercy. Now he has come back to Green Mountain honorably as a hero, so you feel a bit apprehensive now."
Duan Liantian's expression changed slightly, saying, "You and I didn't even know it was the Immortal Sect Master who asked Liangwang Peak to plot such a scheme. How can you hold me responsible for the mistreatment of Liu Shisui?"
Chi Yan said dispassionately, "The problem is, Liu Shisui might not forget what he had suffered through at your hands. Since he is going to have a bright future, now is your time to apprehensive."
Duan Liantian was really worried now as he protested, "I don't deny that I have indeed had such a thought, that if something happened to him, I would have no need to worry about his vengeance. Yet, the important thing is that I'm telling the truth: he is very suspicious; then why shouldn't we investigate him?"
Shangde Peak had already found out that the disciple who died in the ruined temple was Jian Rushan, hailing from Liangwang Peak.
Apart from the Zuo Yi case, the death of Jian Rushan seemed to provide evidence, or at least an explanation.
Jian Rushan had died at the hands of a devil man of the Underworld.
He died in a way similar to Wei Chenzi of the Center Sect.
The Cultivation circle believed that the latter was killed by the Old Ones to silence him.
The Dace Devil in the Muddy River and many files confiscated from the Cloud Platform proved that the Old Ones had indeed collaborated with the Underworld in recent years.
At present the Cloud Platform had been destroyed, and the West Ocean Sword Sect had retreated to the ocean six hundred miles away. Who would still be able to summon the devil men of the Underworld to assassinate humans?
"It's Liu Shisui."
Duan Liantian said with gritted teeth, "We all know that Xiwang Sun appreciated him very much, which was mentioned in those files and the statements. If the method and channel used by the Old Ones to contact the Underworld were left, they would most likely be in Liu Shisui's hands."
Upon hearing this, Yuan Qijing finally turned around and asked Duan Liantian, "What have you found out?"
Duan Liantian said, "The connection Zuo Yi had in the Curtain Rollers was someone named Lin Huangyan. This person disappeared right after Zuo Yi's death. And he was dead a few years ago when it was discovered that he was Zuo Yi's connection."
Yuan Qijing said emotionlessly, "Go on."
Duan Liantian continued hesitantly, "I have read the files of the Curtain Rollers and ascertained that Lin Huangyan was at the time investigating…the peak master of Shenmo Peak."
Chi Yan asked with arched brows, "Why would the Curtain Rollers let you see their files?"
The Curtain Rollers had done an excellent job up to this day to safeguard their files.
Duan Liantian wasn't related to the person, so he shouldn't be able to get hold of those files.
Duan Liantian gritted his teeth and claimed, "I asked their permission in the name of the Sword Justice."
Chi Yan's expression changed a bit, but just as he was about to reprimand him, Yuan Qijing urged Duan Liantian to continue.
And he did: "Nobody knew what Lin Huangyan was investigating, all they knew was that he and Zuo Yi met, and then Zuo Yi returned to Green Mountain, dying that same night he returned."
"Do you want to die then?" Yuan Qijing demanded.
Do you want to die?
When the disciples of the Green Mountain uttered this mantra, it sounded quite emotional, full of intimidation or mockery.
Yet, Yuan Qijing said it in such a calm manner, as lightly as the noiseless snowfall.
Duan Liantian knew this was a warning for him, so he knelt down hastily to admit his fault.
First of all, he misused the name of Shangde Peak.
Secondly, he investigated this case improperly.
According to the sect rules of the Green Mountain, it would mean the death penalty for anybody who investigated a peak master without the permission of the Sect Master or the Sword Justice.
"It is immensely confidential information that Zuo Yi's connection in the Curtain Rollers was Lin Huangyan. Who told you this?" Chi Yan suddenly asked.
Duan Liantian didn't dare hold back his discovery any longer, so he took out a letter and handed it over.
After taking the letter, Chi Yan skimmed over it and said to Yuan Qijing, "This letter is the same as the one received by the Jian Clan, devoid of any residual energy, impossible to find its origin."
Hearing this, Duan Liantian had finally understood that this matter was more complex than he had thought, feeling regretful.
"Was it you who had killed Lin Huanyan?"
"The Curtain Rollers had informed me after having found his whereabouts. At the time, I was prepared to kill Luo Huainan outside the mountain, so I decided to kill him in the meantime."
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"You were in the snowland back then."
"Are you still investigating that thing?" Jing Jiu asked while looking at Zhao Layue.
Zhao Layue uttered "Hm" with lowered head.
Just a few days ago Jing Jiu thought that Zhao Layue was much more mature than Liu Shisui, because he thought he had brought her back to the proper path; but he was proven wrong judging by the exchange they had now.
Jing Jiu sighed, and exclaimed, "You are really a handful."