58: Chapter 58 I'll only wait ten days

A few days later, the towering mountain gate of the Tiangang Sect reappeared in Su Chengyuan's field of vision.

Coming here this time, his state of mind was completely different from previous times; his heart was filled with a painful suppression that had nowhere to be released.

He briefly tidied his appearance, controlled his cultivation aura to the Peak Qi Refining Third Layer, and put on an expression of honest grief as he walked toward the mountain gate.

The Mountain-guarding Disciples were still the same familiar faces. Seeing Su Chengyuan, one of them froze for a moment before recognizing him.

"Su... Fellow Daoist Su?" The Disciple's expression was somewhat complicated, containing both sympathy and an awkwardness of not knowing how to speak.

"Immortal Master, I... I've come to... ask about Yun Ling." Su Chengyuan's voice was hoarse and carried a faint tremor.

The several Mountain-guarding Disciples exchanged glances and all sighed.

The leading Disciple stepped forward, patted Su Chengyuan's shoulder, and consoled him, "Fellow Daoist Su, please accept your grief. Regarding this matter... the Sect has already done its best. Elder Li and the others remained at the Qingxuan Sect's side and searched for nearly a month, but it was truly... Sigh, you should just go back."

These words were spoken tactfully, but they also completely shattered the last sliver of hope in Su Chengyuan's heart.

His body swayed, and his face instantly turned deathly pale, as if all his strength had been drained.

"Is there truly... truly no news at all?" he asked, clinging to the last thread of hope.

"None," the Disciple shook his head. "Junior Sister Su went missing, and Senior Brother Wenren was heavily injured. The opponents were three Loose Cultivators at Peak Tenth Layer Qi Refining; it seems it was long premeditated. When the Sect Elders found Senior Brother Wenren, there were only some simple signs of fighting at the scene, and nothing else was left."

Su Chengyuan stood rooted to the spot, his eyes glazed over.

Just then, several figures walked out from the mountain gate.

Leading them was Lin Feier, followed by two female Disciples; it looked like they were returning from an external mission.

Lin Feier spotted the despondent Su Chengyuan at once. She was first taken aback, then a flash of undisguised schadenfreude crossed her eyes.

She had also heard about Su Yunling's situation and was naturally overjoyed.

She walked gracefully over to Su Chengyuan and feigned surprise, covering her mouth.

"Oh my, isn't this Junior Sister Su's father? Why are you here?" she said sarcastically. "Junior Sister Su really is something; clearly possessing no skill, yet she insisted on leaving the Sect to show off. Now look, she's lost her little life. Tell me, why did she even bother?"

The two female Disciples beside her felt this was a bit much and tried to pull her away, but she shook them off.

Even the Mountain-guarding Disciples looked at Lin Feier with indignation, but since Lin Feier had a grandfather who was an Early Foundation Establishment Stage deacon, they didn't dare offend her.

Lin Feier's words made the already struggling Su Chengyuan even more furious.

He slowly raised his head, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

If looks could kill, Lin Feier would already be dead.

If this weren't the Tiangang Sect mountain gate, Lin Feier would also already be dead.

That gaze held none of the cowardice or humility belonging to a Qi Refining Third Layer Cultivator; instead, it was like an ancient beast lurking in the abyss, coldly watching a death-seeking ant.

Lin Feier felt her heart hair stand on end from that gaze; an inexplicable chill rushed up her spine to the top of her head, making her subconsciously take a step back.

"What... what are you looking at! You trash!" After hurling an insult, she didn't dare meet Su Chengyuan's gaze again and hurried into the mountain gate with her companions.

Su Chengyuan withdrew his gaze, cupped his hands to the indignant Mountain-guarding Disciples, hoarsely thanked them, and turned to leave despondently.

No one saw that the moment he turned around, a crazed and cold flame ignited deep within those lifeless eyes.

Lin Feier!

He remembered that name.

At the same time, he recalled that when he came to the Tiangang Sect for the second time to deliver Medicinal Pills, this woman seemed to be on bad terms with his daughter.

Now that his daughter had met with misfortune, she not only showed no fellow-Disciple affection but kicked him while he was down, her words filled with delight.

Even if this matter had nothing to do with her, he, Su Chengyuan, would definitely kill this woman!

He returned to the Qinghe Prefecture City at his fastest speed.

After several twists and turns and inquiries, Su Chengyuan found a hidden Stronghold; this was the most well-informed underground power in the Prefecture City's black market.

Inside a Quiet Room sealed off from all prying eyes, Su Chengyuan met with the public Spokesperson of this power.

Without any nonsense, he directly placed a Storage Pouch containing one hundred supreme-grade pills on the table.

"I want to post a Bounty; this is the deposit." Su Chengyuan's voice was hoarse, carrying an undeniable firmness.

The other party silently picked up the Storage Pouch, and after their Mental Energy probed inside, their aura clearly fluctuated slightly.

Even having seen many storms in the black market, this amount of wealth—enough to make a small Foundation Establishment Family go mad—was enough to move them.

Moreover, this was only the deposit.

"Target?" A processed voice that could not distinguish gender or age came from the shadows.

"Target one: the three Tenth Level of Qi Refining Cultivators who ambushed the Tiangang Sect Disciples in the Qingxuan Sect territory a month ago. I want their identities, their whereabouts, their everything! Find them, and these hundred supreme-grade pills are yours."

"Target two," Su Chengyuan's voice grew colder, "Tiangang Sect Inner Sect Disciple, Su Yunling. I want to know if she is currently alive or dead; if alive, where she is; if dead, where her remains are. Find her exact whereabouts, and I have another two hundred supreme-grade pills for you."

The person in the shadows fell silent for a moment, seemingly evaluating the difficulty and reward of the mission.

The voice sounded again, but with a hint of inquiry: "Such a grand gesture just to find a missing Qi Refinement Stage Disciple and three unknown Loose Cultivators... Your Excellency, what is your relationship with this Su Yunling?"

Su Chengyuan did not answer.

He just quietly raised his eyes and looked toward the shadows.

In the next instant, a majestic pressure belonging to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator suddenly descended within this small Quiet Room!

The air seemed to freeze, and the teacup on the table silently turned to dust.

The figure in the shadows stiffened abruptly, and a hint of alarm leaked through the processed voice. "It... it was my meddling."

"We take this business," the voice sounded again. "One month. In one month, regardless of whether there are results, we will give you an answer. According to the rules, you just need to leave a Contact Mark."

"Ten days," Su Chengyuan finally spoke. "I will only wait ten days."

"Fine!" The person in the shadows did not hesitate much and agreed decisively.

Su Chengyuan didn't say another word and turned to leave the Quiet Room.

Stepping out of the black market and seeing the light of day again, he felt as though the whole world was gray.

He did not leave the Prefecture City but instead rented the most ordinary inn room and began a long wait.

To him, every minute and every second of those ten days was torture.

He did not Cultivate, but simply sat quietly in the room, wiping that azure dragon sword over and over again.

The blade's cold light was sharp and biting, reflecting his expressionless face which was surging with killing intent.