97: Is Jinglei Pavilion really losing face?

“The Purple Cloud Sect disciples are still unconscious. When the Zhao Dynasty people arrive later, we’ll hand them over. Who would know that it was the three of us who did this?”

“Anyway, they’re the ones who wanted them.”

Turning to look at his second brother's timid expression, the bearded big man, as the eldest, didn't scold him or get angry at his lack of ambition. Instead, he offered earnest advice.

He patted his second brother’s shoulder, reassuring him, then continued to look at the four unconscious Purple Cloud Sect disciples. He poured another large bottle of anesthetic down their throats to ensure they wouldn't wake up en route and identify the trio.

“That’s true. We’ll take the money and leave immediately. If the Zhao Dynasty dares to break their promise, we’ll go cause some trouble in their Ying Province and let them know that the name of our Vulture Fiend Trio isn’t for nothing.”

Upon receiving the bearded big man's reply, the timid and cowering second brother finally smiled, no longer as anxious as before.

After all, anyone who heard the three words “Purple Cloud Sect” would feel reverence.

Even villains like them, who licked blood from the blade, were no exception. However, along with reverence, there was also a hint of envy.

If they could take a bite out of this big fat sheep, it would be incredibly satisfying. They were about to take their bite; whether they could swallow it depended on if their appetites were big enough.

“Alright, calm down first. According to the time, the people from the Zhao Dynasty should have arrived.”

“I’ll go outside the cave to check the situation and bring those people in. Without my guidance, I’m afraid they wouldn’t even dare to go deep into the cave.”

“Third brother, keep an eye on second brother, don’t be careless.”

The bearded big man was satisfied when he saw his second brother’s mind return to peace.

Then, estimating the time, he gave instructions to his two younger brothers, specifically admonishing the third brother, who had been silently recuperating.

After speaking, he walked out of the cave, ready to complete the final agreement with the people from the Zhao Dynasty… “No one… only four storage bags left. Those four people were kidnapped, then.”

“This is truly outrageous. Someone actually dared to kidnap people from the Purple Cloud Sect?”

“Let me think…”

“The Purple Cloud Sect doesn’t have any deep grudges with other sects that would require such a large-scale kidnapping of disciples!”

In the Absolute Peak Mountain Range, standing still amidst the sweeping north wind, Xu Xi felt utterly confused and bewildered by the current situation.

Looking at the four storage bags he had dug out of the ground, the spiritual imprints on them were still there, indicating that the four people were still alive.

However, Xu Xi pondered repeatedly but couldn't figure out who, on the Xuan Yuan Continent, had the audacity to kidnap people from the Purple Cloud Sect.

Did they really think the sect master, a tenth-stage Reaching the Profound overlord, was joking around?

With a single slap, unless it was a strong individual of the same level, it would be a complete annihilation of the family tree, and the entire sect would suffer.

“Senior Brother, are the people sent by the Right Prime Minister really heading this way? We’ve been following for so long and haven’t found anything. Why don’t we go back first?”

Just as Xu Xi was standing there in a daze, he suddenly heard a tender voice from behind him.

Unable to resist, he turned his head to look back. Xu Xi then saw a group of three, two men and one woman, looking around in the distance, as if searching for something.

Among them, a young man, about eleven or twelve years old, finally lost his patience and complained to his senior brother.

“I saw it with my own eyes, so it can’t be wrong.”

“However… is this friend also here because he sensed something amiss? I wonder if you’ve observed anything?”

Calming his junior brother, the leading senior brother among the three, seeing Xu Xi standing not far away, cupped his hands and asked.

However, he immediately felt presumptuous and, before Xu Xi could reply, he spoke again:

“Uh… sorry, I forgot to introduce myself.”

“I am Xie Qingzhou, the eldest disciple of the Hunyuan Sect, a jianghu sect under the jurisdiction of the Zhao Dynasty in Ying Province. This is my junior brother, Ye Gou, and my junior sister, Roufu.”

“I am Yi Zhusheng, a disciple of the Thunderclap Pavilion in Central Province.”

“Are you looking for someone?”

“I’m here because I was tracking my friends from the Purple Cloud Sect, but it seems there was an accident.”

Cupping his hands in return, Xu Xi saw that the newcomers had no ill intentions, so he wasn't in a hurry to leave.

Revealing some insignificant details, Xu Xi also hoped to get answers from them, perhaps they really knew something.

“Thunderclap Pavilion in Central Province?”

“I’ve long admired your name, but it’s truly shocking to hear that someone is bold enough to abduct Purple Cloud Sect disciples.”

Upon hearing Xu Xi’s words, Xie Qingzhou’s expression fluctuated but quickly returned to normal after a moment.

Although he concealed it well, Xu Xi, who had been observing him, noticed something amiss.

“He really does know something! Xu Xi, you’re a genius!”

A wave of joy surged in Xu Xi’s heart. He knew what he needed to do next.

Staring at Xie Qingzhou, Xu Xi saw that Xie Qingzhou’s expression was now gentle. Realizing Xu Xi was staring at him, he knew he couldn’t hide it and then suddenly said:

“Then I know what the situation is. Let me explain.”

After another moment of silence, Xie Qingzhou recalled the purpose of his trip and then slowly began to narrate.

“In Ziyuan City, my junior brother, junior sister, and I originally intended to find Purple Cloud Sect disciples to request a furnace of pills.”

“However, unexpectedly, midway, we saw the Purple Cloud Sect disciples enter an inn but never reappear. When we went in to investigate, we only saw a group of three people leaving in a hurry.”

“We followed them all the way here, and my junior brother, junior sister, and I arrived at this spot. We didn’t expect to be so slow, allowing the culprits to escape first. Otherwise, we might have been able to provide more information.”

After finishing his explanation, Xie Qingzhou looked back at Xu Xi. The bright light in his eyes made Xu Xi couldn't help but praise him. He was truly good at acting; even if he made something up on the spot, he could make people believe him.

“They really were captured. It’s absurd that you managed to see it.”

“Kidnapping people from the Purple Cloud Sect in broad daylight, do they not know how to write the word ‘death’? Or do they think they have no trump cards to save their lives?”

Having obtained the information he wanted, Xu Xi finally understood. After a few breaths, his mind went over it, and he quickly became aware of the suspicious points.

What kind of good person would openly kidnap Purple Cloud Sect disciples in broad daylight and be seen doing it!

Most importantly, if you haven’t reached Reaching the Profound, how could you have captured those four people?

And if you have reached Reaching the Profound, how could these three people in front of him not be discovered?

“You wouldn’t be an accomplice, would you? Coming back to the crime scene to admire your masterpiece?”

This thought immediately popped into Xu Xi’s mind. He didn’t believe those villains would be so foolish as to be seen and then not kill their witnesses, but instead arrogantly leave.