Chapter 132: Chapter 131: Resolute

With the coordination of the Cyan Dragon Bureau and the alchemists of the Profound Celestial Temple, the group that followed He Yeqian was quickly suppressed.

“Captain Tan Wujiu of the Cyan Dragon Bureau, greets the Lord.”

Tan Wujiu approached the Cyan Dragon Lord, kneeling on one knee, and said in a deep voice, “I am late, and I hope the Lord will forgive my offense.”

“Hehe.”

Qingmu chuckled softly and said, “Captain Tan, you’re not late. Last night, the Huo Family and Black Water Gang committed treason, attacking my residence, yet your Cyan Dragon Bureau showed no activity at all. You simply didn’t show up.”

“What happened?”

The Cyan Dragon Lord frowned and asked.

Tan Wujiu, with his head bowed, replied, “The situation erupted suddenly. The Huo Family and Black Water Gang launched a rebellion, took control of the city garrison, and nearly seized Wu’an County. Moreover, it’s said that the Great Army of Black Water Country is about to arrive.”

“In such a situation, even if I led men out, it would be a futile death, so I opted to hibernate in Wu’an County, waiting for the Qian Country Army and your orders, ready to coordinate from the inside and the outside.”

“However, later, a Grandmaster intervened and turned the tide. By then, my assistance would only be decorative, so I held back.”

Chen Tang, of course, knew that the matter wasn’t as simple as it seemed.

But he had no evidence.

Even any thoughts he had were mere conjectures.

“Is this Elder Feng, known as One Step to the Clouds?”

The Cyan Dragon Lord looked towards the chubby old man not far away, cupping his hands, “This time, He Yeqian’s rebellion failed, thanks in large part to you, Elder, for infiltrating Black Water Country, stealing talismans, intercepting orders, and cutting off their support.”

“Hey!”

The chubby old man sneered at the Cyan Dragon Lord for being cowardly earlier and letting He Yeqian go, ignoring him.

“Isn’t this questionable?”

The Vermilion Bird Lord suddenly said, “If the Great Army of Black Water Country had entered Wu’an County, how could your Cyan Dragon Bureau people hide and hibernate? Black Water Country wouldn’t spare you, right?”

The Cyan Dragon Lord had already deflected this issue, but the Vermilion Bird Lord brought it back, addressing the key point!

“It was my idea given to Lord Tan.”

The Observatory Master of Profound Celestial Temple, Song Wood, suddenly spoke, “If the Great Army of Black Water Country enters the city, the members of the Cyan Dragon Bureau can all hide in my Profound Celestial Temple. I believe the Black Water Country generals, no matter how bold, must show some respect for the Profound Celestial Sect.”

The Vermilion Bird Lord nodded and refrained from further questioning.

The chubby old man smirked with disdain, unimpressed.

In the face of the chubby old man’s derision, Song Wood maintained a composed demeanor, showing no anger, exuding the aura of a serene sage.

He didn’t even look at the chubby old man, seemingly deliberately avoiding his gaze.

“Sister Ling Guang.”

Qingmu called softly.

The Vermilion Bird Lord glanced at Qingmu, smiling gently, with a hint of affection in her eyes, she said softly, “It’s been many years since we last met, you’ve grown so beautiful, I almost couldn’t recognize you.”

“Greetings, Eldest Princess.”

The other three Lords all cupped their hands in respect.

Wei Qun and others exchanged glances, their expressions somewhat worried.

They were still concerned about Cai Yin.

Beside Tan Wujiu, Cai Yin was conspicuously absent.

But with the Four Great Department Lords present, all being figures not ordinarily seen, they, as members of the Cyan Dragon Guard, dared not inquire recklessly.

“Lord Tan.”

At this moment, Chen Tang approached Tan Wujiu, cupped his hands slightly, and asked, “There’s been no news of Cai for a whole day and night. Do you know where he is?”

Chen Tang wasn’t concerned about protocol here.

With these prominent figures present, it was the best opportunity to ask.

If they weren’t present, Tan Wujiu wouldn’t even need to acknowledge his inquiry. He could easily dismiss him.

The Observatory Master of the Profound Celestial Temple, Song Wood, glanced over in this direction.

“I don’t know.”

Tan Wujiu shook his head slightly, saying, “He didn’t return after leaving last night.”

“Oh?”

Chen Tang asked, “Do you know where he went?”

Tan Wujiu raised an eyebrow, retorted, “He said he went to help you. I wanted to ask you, didn’t you see him?”

Chen Tang smiled, staring intently at Tan Wujiu, calmly saying, “No one saw Cai leave the Cyan Dragon Bureau last night.”

“The chaos in Wu’an County last night, with night covering everything, are you sure anyone left the Cyan Dragon Bureau?”

Tan Wujiu, with a composed expression, met Chen Tang’s gaze directly, his eyes sharp.

Their gazes collided as if sparks were flying in mid-air!

The atmosphere in the backyard suddenly grew tense!

Tan Wujiu’s statement wasn’t wrong.

Unless someone watched the Cyan Dragon Bureau all night, nobody could be sure if anyone left.

“What’s going on here?”

The commotion attracted the attention of the others, and the Cyan Dragon Lord turned slightly, asking from the side.

Tan Wujiu replied solemnly, “Reporting to the Lord, last night a Guard Captain from the Cyan Dragon Bureau disappeared. One of his Cyan Dragon Guards is inquiring about the Captain’s whereabouts from me.”

The Observatory Master, Song Wood, said, “With the chaos in Wu’an County last night, as forces fought brutally and with a Grandmaster’s intervention, it’s possible that Lord Cai died in the chaos.”

“Impossible!”

Wang Yanli quickly said, “We searched the bodies in Wu’an County and didn’t find Cai’s body.”

The Cyan Dragon Lord frowned, “Such a trivial matter should be handled privately at the Cyan Dragon Bureau, no need to argue here.”

“Yes!”

Tan Wujiu cupped his hands, responding.

“Two things.”

Chen Tang slowly said, “First, when I left the Cyan Dragon Bureau last night, I was no longer a member of the Cyan Dragon Guard; second, to me, this is no trivial matter, so I must get clarity.”

The Cyan Dragon Lord narrowed his eyes slightly and asked, “Who are you?”

“He is my sworn brother.”

Qingmu quickly said, “Moreover, this time in defending Wu’an County and protecting me, he has made great contributions!”

Commander Li Yan said in a deep voice, “What the Eldest Princess says is indeed the case. Being able to defend Wu’an County this time relied entirely on Chen Tang’s plans and strategies, which thwarted the conspiracy of the Huo Family and the Black Water Gang.”

“Oh.”

The Cyan Dragon Lord smiled and said, “No wonder he speaks with such confidence; young man, you are truly promising. Well done.”

Chen Tang turned to look at Tan Wujiu and continued to ask, “Lord Tan, with so many people present, why don’t you go ahead and tell us what happened after Cai came to see you last night.”

The Observatory Master of the Profound Celestial Temple, Song Wood, lowered his eyebrows and eyes.

Tan Wujiu said, “Actually, there’s nothing that can’t be said. Cai Yin wanted to help you, and I advised him to consider the bigger picture and not act impulsively, so we had a bit of an argument.”

“And then?”

Chen Tang pressed on.

“Then he left in anger and never returned.”

Tan Wujiu said, “So, I guess he might have gone to help you.”

“That can’t be.”

Wang Yanli said, “Cai himself told us that if he were to leave, he would take us with him!”

Tan Wujiu said, “In last night’s situation, before a Grandmaster appeared, the Huo Family and the Black Water Gang had over three thousand people. The Li Family was bound to lose. Anyone going would be courting death. I assume he couldn’t bear to see you all going to your deaths in vain.”

The Observatory Master of the Profound Celestial Temple, Song Wood, chuckled softly, “Why do you all insist that Lord Cai is already dead? Perhaps he is still alive and will return in a few days.”

Hearing this, Wei Qun and the others felt a glimmer of hope rekindle in their hearts.

After all, no one wanted to believe that Cai had encountered misfortune.

“He is already dead.”

At this moment, a voice suddenly rang out from the crowd.

Everyone looked towards the sound and saw Qin Xiaomei stepping out from the crowd, a hint of determination in her eyes.

The Observatory Master of the Profound Celestial Temple, Song Wood, suddenly raised his head, a glint of cold light flashing in his eyes!

Tan Wujiu remained expressionless, seemingly unsurprised by this turn of events.

“What did you say!”

Wei Qun and the others quickly stepped forward, staring at Qin Xiaomei and asking loudly.

“Cai Yin is already dead.”

Qin Xiaomei turned to look at the Observatory Master Song Wood and stated each word with conviction, “Cai Yin was killed by the Observatory Master Song Wood at the Cyan Dragon Bureau, and his body was burned to ashes by a talisman he used!”

This statement caused a commotion in the hall!

In an instant, countless eyes turned towards the Observatory Master Song Wood.

Chen Tang also turned his head to look at Song Wood.

Song Wood remained calm, smiled slightly, and shook his head, saying, “Lord Qin, you weren’t possibly bewitched, were you? How could you start speaking nonsense, as if you witnessed it with your own eyes.”

“I did witness it with my own eyes!”

Qin Xiaomei said with a firm tone.

“This is getting interesting.”

Song Wood asked, “I have to ask more clearly, where did Cai Yin die?”

“Outside the Captain’s quarters at the Cyan Dragon Bureau.”

“Oh, where were you at the time, Lord Qin, to have seen it with your own eyes?”

Qin Xiaomei fell silent.

After a moment, she said, “I was in Lord Tan’s quarters.”

As her words fell, many people stared at Qin Xiaomei with odd expressions, and some had already begun to whisper among themselves.

“Let me make sense of this.”

Song Wood smiled and said, “Last night, Lord Tan was resting with you in your quarters, Cai Yin came to the door and quarreled with Lord Tan, what does any of this have to do with me?”

Qin Xiaomei immediately recounted everything she saw and heard that night without missing a detail.

Even many specifics were described clearly.

By the time she finished, many already started to believe Qin Xiaomei’s account.

Some details would be incredibly hard to imagine without having seen them with one’s own eyes.

Song Wood showed no signs of panic, and sneered, “Since Lord Tan was on the scene, he can testify for me. Isn’t that right, Lord Tan?”

“Indeed.”

Tan Wujiu said, “This has nothing to do with Observatory Master Song, Xiaomei, you have no evidence, mere words are unconvincing, there’s no need for pointless entanglement.”

“I have evidence!”

Suddenly, Qin Xiaomei drew the sword from her waist, the blade covered with small nicks and scratches.

She held the heavily scarred Cyan Dragon Sword in front of everyone and said solemnly, “This is Cai Yin’s personal sword, and the marks on it were left from the fierce clash with Song Wood’s flying sword!”

That time, Tan Wujiu asked her to smelt Cai Yin’s sword.

She swapped the sword midway.

Qin Xiaomei knew that if this sword melted, no matter what she said, people might not believe her.

Mere words are unconvincing.

This sword is the only evidence!

The Cyan Dragon Sword is identical in specifications.

Qin Xiaomei inserted Cai Yin’s sword into her own scabbard; superficially, there appeared little difference.

When she saw Cai Yin’s death, she resolved that she would bring everything she saw that night to the public.

Now was the best opportunity.

Even if it couldn’t take down Song Wood, even if it meant her destruction.

She would not let Cai Yin die in obscurity!

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep