Chapter 323: 299 Trouble, Part 1

The two of them left the crowd together and came to a pavilion draped with white silk featuring a Yin Yang Diagram, where they sat down.

“Speak, what’s so hard to say? Let me warn you, if you don’t have anything substantial today, don’t blame me for turning hostile!” Xue Ji said coldly.

“Young Master Xue, do you know that after a careful investigation, I discovered that among Princess Yongxiang’s personal guards back then, several of them were… were members of the Secret Sect.” Zhang Rongfang looked around, lowered his voice, and said.

“The Secret Sect!?” Xue Ji was taken aback, “Are you certain? Is this true!?”

“Absolutely true!” Zhang Rongfang said solemnly, “Later, with the help of General Shangguan Lianyue, when I was obliterating a fleet of the Secret Sect’s ships, I saw an expert from the Secret Sect who looked exactly like a personal maidservant who served the Commandery Princess before she was murdered!!”

He unconsciously clenched his fists, his knuckles turning white. He lowered his head.

“When I saw this scene, I was in disbelief… I wanted to report it immediately. But then that maid mysteriously disappeared, and was never seen again… After that, I understood that the depths of what was hidden behind this were… not something I, a mere External Medicine Super Grade, could bear.”

“Are you telling the truth!?” Xue Ji said, his young face frowning deeply.

“Many people saw this at the time. If you investigate carefully, Young Master, you will find out. Even if I wanted to lie, it would be as difficult as ascending to the heavens.” Zhang Rongfang said sincerely.

“I will personally verify it. You better not be lying to me… otherwise…” Xue Ji’s voice turned icy again.

“Young Master Xue….” Zhang Rongfang hesitated.

“What else do you want to say?” Xue Ji frowned; what a cowardly way for a grown man to speak and act.

He was increasingly convinced that Zhang Ying could not possibly be the culprit behind the Commandery Princess’s assassination.

With his lack of cunning and cowardice, how could he have the audacity to assassinate the Commandery Princess?

The Commandery Princess was a Three Emptiness master. If it came to it, this ordinary External Medicine might not even have touched her before being instantly killed.

“Young Master, think carefully….” Zhang Rongfang sighed, “I just turned twenty this year. No matter how gifted, how strong can I be?

I’ve been here in Citong for two years. This place is deep and dark, indescribably so. When you investigate, you must prioritize your own safety.”

“Are you saying!?” Xue Ji’s heart skipped a beat; indeed, this young Daoist is only twenty, and it’s said he’s already reached the Nascent Soul Stage in the Cultivation of Literature.

No matter how talented he is, even if he started cultivating in the womb, how strong could his martial skills be?

So then, why do they say that the Commandery Princess’s death is related to the Great Dao Teaching’s Daoist?

This seems quite like pushing someone forward to take the blame.

Furthermore, if they dared to harm the Commandery Princess, let alone him.

If he really uncovered some troublesome taboo, he would indeed be in great danger.

“Exactly!” Zhang Rongfang nodded, “Actually, Princess Yongxiang is now considered a rebel and isn’t allowed to be publicly investigated.

If Young Master encounters something truly insurmountable, you can secretly send someone to Agarwood Palace. I will do my best to help.”

Xue Ji watched Zhang Rongfang carefully, his expression somber.

“I will first verify the clues you’ve mentioned. If true, I will apologize to you! If false… don’t think that just because you are the Daoist of the Great Dao Teaching, I cannot deal with you…”

“Sigh…. Everything I have said is the truth…” Zhang Rongfang’s face was filled with sorrow, showing worry instead of retorting.

“Regardless, you must be careful. There will inevitably be many obstacles and dangers in this.”

He truly wasn’t lying.

Princess Yongxiang was indeed not killed by him.

Her maidservants and guards did indeed have spies from the Secret Sect.

That Han Jia indeed showed up during the last crackdown.

All of this was true.

Xue Ji would find out as long as he went to investigate.

After hearing all of this, Xue Ji’s face no longer held its previous arrogance.

That had been his disguise.

On this visit, he had intended to provoke Zhang Ying, to work with an associate in the shadows to test Zhang Ying’s foundation.

But unexpectedly, despite provocation after provocation, the other party did not retaliate, but instead provided important clues.

At this moment, Xue Ji had a vague feeling that perhaps he had targeted the wrong suspect?

A mere Zhang Ying, no matter how you look at it, couldn’t have killed a Commandery Princess at the Three Emptiness level.

There must be a greater mastermind behind this case.

“Whether what you say is true or not, once I verify it, the truth will come to light!”

With that, he snorted coldly, stood up, and left briskly.

Shortly after, the soldiers from the army that Xue Ji brought along also followed and left.

Agarwood Palace once again returned to its previous tranquility.

Zhang Rongfang sat upright in the pavilion.

’With the Grandmaster from the Western Sect arriving, and the Xue family father and son causing trouble… the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous…’

He picked up the mare’s milk wine on the table and took a sip, lost in thought.

When he killed Kongxiang, he had already anticipated this day would come.

If it were any other matter, he might seek help from his master, but in this case, he had to bear it alone.

The Xue family father and son held esteemed positions, with martial experts from the Snow Rainbow Pavilion guarding them, and many skilled generals accompanying their military entourage.

They seemed formidable, but it was nothing more than a minor ailment.

The key concern was with the Western Sect, as even a Grandmaster had come…

As Zhang Rongfang was pondering the possible movements of the Western Sect.

Suddenly, a graceful silhouette quietly approached from the side of the pavilion.

“Daoist.” The newcomer was Zhang Zhenhai.

Currently using another identity in Agarwood Palace, she served in a position as a close aide.

She wore a tight-fitting black outfit, had her hair in a high ponytail, wore a black mask, and a row of shiny silver throwing knives was strapped to her thigh.

A long single-edged sword was slung over her back.

Just by standing there, her voluptuous figure was highlighted by the tight-fitting clothes, accentuating her curves.

But fortunately, she was wearing a dark cloak over them.

Ever since Zhang Rongfang had mentioned it once, she only dressed like this in front of him.

Zhang Rongfang looked up and gave her a smile.

“What’s the matter? Do you need something?”

“Why is the Daoist being so tolerant with that Xue Ji?” Zhang Zhenhai didn’t understand. “Clearly, handing it over to the subordinates for a little secret lesson would solve it easily. Why go to such lengths?”

“Because it’s not worth it,” Zhang Rongfang shook his head gently. “Now that the army is marching through and Western Sect experts are arriving, we must be extremely cautious. No reckless actions allowed.”

“I understand. But seeing that Xue Ji being so arrogant…” Zhang Zhenhai gritted his teeth.

Watching Zhang Rongfang being humiliated like this, he harbored a suppressed anger.

“It’s okay,” Zhang Rongfang’s expression was calm. “Don’t worry, the Western Sect and the Xue father and son are trivial matters. Once their strength is understood, they can be resolved. The problem is with the Western Sect, but… they won’t be able to stay here for long.”

“I understand, Zhenhai,” Zhang Zhenhai lowered his head.

“Just wait… just wait…” Zhang Rongfang lowered his head and looked at the wine in his cup, no longer speaking.

*

*

*

Huangjing Mountain.

Two Rebel Sect members disguised as herbalists were making their way up the mountain path step by step from the foot of the mountain.

They were skilled in body techniques and were assigned by the Rebel Sect to patrol the area for safety.

However, during their patrol, they didn’t notice two tall, robust figures watching them from afar, observing them disguised as herbalists heading into the mountain.

“According to the locals’ information, martial artists frequently come and go around here, and with Huangjing Mountain’s vast and deep geography, if the Rebel Sect wants to hide, they either hide in the city or around here, or even farther away.”

“Can it be more precise? Huangjing Mountain is vast. We don’t have the time to search bit by bit,” the other person said in a deep voice.

“There’s another way. If Princess Yongxiang was indeed killed by the Rebel Sect, then among their ranks, there must be someone with the purple mark of royal blood murder,” the first person replied.

“Unless people from Snow Rainbow Pavilion come, or the royals themselves, we can’t do that,” the other person shook his head.

The light fell upon the person’s face, softly illuminating it.

The person was a tall monk draped in a black robe with red lines—a renowned expert from True Buddha Temple named Kongding, sent by the Western Sect to investigate Kongxiang’s death.

“There’s another way.”

“What way?” Kongding looked at the other person.

“Finding the local power leaders should lead us quickly to the Rebel Sect’s location. Now, in Citong, there aren’t many people we can visit who are well-informed.”

“That’s a feasible plan,” Kongding nodded slowly.

Being unfamiliar with this place, it was naturally convenient to find someone familiar with the area to act.

Watching the two ’herbalists’ leisurely heading into the depths of the woods, he turned around.

“The Great Dao Teaching’s Daoist Zhang Ying is in this area, also serving as guardian of the teaching. Let’s go directly to him.”

“Yes, master uncle.”

The two immediately stopped observing and turned toward another direction of Citong City.

Agarwood Palace was not in the city but in the suburbs.

Before long, they arrived at the foot of Agarwood Mountain one after the other.

Without hastily climbing the mountain, they respectfully found the Welcoming Daoist at the foot of the mountain, informed him of their identities, and requested an introduction upwards.

Soon, a new Daoist arrived to lead them up the mountain.

At the mountain gate of Agarwood Palace, Kongding could see from afar that someone, accompanied by several Daoists, was already waiting outside the gate.

He scrutinized the leading person.

This person was over two meters tall, with black hair draping over the shoulders, wearing a purple-black Daoist robe adorned with various floral and cloud patterns.

A bright flower white jade Daoist crown adorned his head, and though he appeared robust, his aura was gentle.

From afar, Kongding and this person exchanged glances.

“I am the humble monk Kongding. Is the person ahead the Daoist Zhang Ying from Celestial Treasure Palace?”

Kongding tapped his foot, and his body suddenly shot forward, reaching Zhang Rongfang and others in the blink of an eye.

The distance of several dozen meters disappeared instantly.

It was a nimbleness and speed utterly at odds with his towering, iron-tower-like form.

From a distance, it was fine; up close, the impression was akin to a rhinoceros dancing on the tip of a knife.

Zhang Rongfang felt apprehensive, but displayed a look of appropriate amazement on his face.

“So it’s a master of the Kong generation from True Buddha Temple. Pardon my lack of respect. I am Zhang Ying, Daoist name Qiankun, paying respects to the master.”

He stepped forward and made a formal salute.

“Qiankun?” Kongding paused, his slightly yellow-brown eyes darting up and down as he examined Zhang Rongfang.

The action was quick and stealthy.

“That’s quite an impressive Daoist name,” he said with a smile.

“Perhaps back in the day, my master had high hopes for me, but now it is…” Zhang Rongfang displayed an appropriately helpless expression.

He looked at the person behind Kongding.

“And who might this master be?”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep