135: calm Lin Yu

"Fellow Daoist, was it you who killed Lin Qiuyang?"

Lin Yu had not expected that a chance encounter would lead him to the murderer of Lin Qiuyang.

But...

Even Lin Yu, who could remain unflustered before the Xuan Sheng Empress Nalan Mingyue, lacked that same composure in front of Shen Lian.

"That's right. What, did Zuo Qianyue not inform you?"

As the words fell, Zither Maiden decisively manifested a Heaven-grade zither.

"Since you are the murderer, you must pay the price for what you have done!"

"Hm?"

Shen Lian's brow furrowed.

Just as Zither Maiden plucked the strings, ready to engage Shen Lian in a lethal battle.

"Zither Maiden, do not be rude!"

Lin Yu spoke up in time to stop the impending conflict.

"Sect Master, the murderer is right before us, why do you..."

"Since when did my words stop carrying weight?"

Scolded by Lin Yu, Zither Maiden had no choice but to release her fingers from the strings. She glared at Shen Lian with resentment, then retreated to the side without a word.

Lin Yu raised his hand toward Shen Lian and said, "Apologies, Fellow Daoist. I offer my apologies for my subordinate's rudeness just now."

Shen Lian's expression remained unchanged. "Although your subordinate's actions were reckless and lacked self-awareness, her reaction was only natural. On the contrary, for you, as the Sect Master of the Haoyang Sect, to appear so calm upon hearing the news of your subordinate's death and facing the killer standing right before you... that is perhaps too composed."

Lin Yu: "I believe that you would not kill my subordinate without reason, Fellow Daoist. There must be some misunderstanding here."

Shen Lian: "Misunderstanding or intentional, the fact is that the person died by my hand. I will not stop you if you want revenge, but whether you can kill me depends on your ability. Well, do you intend to make a move?"

Lin Yu shook his head. "I can sense that your cultivation is unfathomable, Fellow Daoist. If we were to fight, the outcome would be hard to predict, so why invite trouble? Furthermore, since you so frankly admit to the killing, there must have been some misunderstanding between you and Lin Qiuyang. After all, Lin Qiuyang was too arrogant, arrogant to the point of being insufferable. I can even guess the reason for his death, so I cannot blame you."

"Hm?"

Lin Yu's words surprised Shen Lian.

Seeing the absolute sincerity in Lin Yu's eyes, a touch of admiration arose in his heart.

"Your name is Lin Yu, is it?"

"Indeed."

"I have noted this name."

Closing his Folding Fan, Shen Lian manifested the netherworld chariot directly.

As he passed by Lin Yu, Shen Lian placed a hand on his shoulder and said softly, "You have successfully won a chance at survival for yourself and your Sect."

After speaking, he stepped into the netherworld chariot. Accompanied by the clanging of iron hooves, he sped off into the distance.

Only after Shen Lian had gone far away did Lin Yu let out a long, heavy breath.

Zither Maiden asked with great dissatisfaction, "Sect Master, are you really going to let him go?"

Lin Yu: "Even with Ren Tianxing and Lu Qinghuan joining forces, they died miserably at his hands. Do you want us to end up like her—strangled by our own intestines and hung from a tree?"

Hearing this, Zither Maiden couldn't help but glance at Lu Qinghuan, who was hung from a tree with her belly ripped open. Her stomach churned.

It was the first time she had learned of such a unique and 'refreshing' way to die.

Fighting the urge to vomit, she immediately looked away. "But how will we answer to the Haoyang Sect?"

"Zither Maiden!"

Lin Yu suddenly stared blankly at Zither Maiden.

"How long has it been since we first met?"

Zither Maiden frowned. "Since we were thirteen, it has been one hundred and twenty-seven years."

"Yes, one hundred and twenty-seven years. We are both one hundred and forty now. So, you won't tell anyone what you saw today, will you, Zither Maiden!"

"But..."

"If you don't speak, and I don't speak, then no one will ever know."

Lin Yu gently held Zither Maiden's jade-like hand.

Zither Maiden was speechless for a moment. "Sect Master, what is all this for?"

"For the peace of the Haoyang Sect. Neither you nor I have any chance of winning against Shen Lian. If the Haoyang Sect were to get involved, how do you think things would turn out?"

"But if you don't report Shen Lian's whereabouts, I'm afraid you won't be able to keep your position as Sect Master!"

"I've said it before, I never wanted to be this Sect Master in the first place. Why not take this opportunity to leave this place of turmoil and roam the world freely together?"

Just as Zither Maiden was about to retort, the sound transmission stone at Lin Yu's waist suddenly began to flash.

"Sect Master, it's bad! Something major has happened in the Xuan Sheng Immortal Dynasty."

As soon as he picked up the sound transmission stone, a hurried voice came from within.

"Speak slowly, don't be anxious, I'm listening."

"Sect Master, the Xuan Sheng Empress has completely broken ties with the Prince Jings Estate. The Imperial Guards within Liyang City are everywhere, hunting down the retainers of the Prince Jings Estate. Prince Jing Nalan Shu is currently missing. The Council of Elders believes this is the best time to overthrow the Empress and are using your name to summon the Disciples of the Haoyang Sect, ready to march on Liyang at any moment."

Lin Yu's expression darkened. "Without my permission, where did He Gang get the nerve to summon the Haoyang Sect Disciples in the name of the Sect Master? Tell the entire Sect that everything must wait until I return. Violators will die."

After speaking, he cut off the sound transmission stone and said to Zither Maiden, "The Sacred Domain is about to change."

Zither Maiden: "Isn't this the best opportunity we've been waiting for? What are we waiting for?"

Lin Yu sighed. "I only wonder how many lives will be lost in this catastrophe."

...

Just as civil war broke out across the Sacred Domain, within the Ice and Snow Sect, Grand Elder Qin Chaomu personally took her seat in the main hall and convened a Sect meeting.

"Everyone, Sect Master Liu Yixue of the Ice and Snow Sect was murdered a month ago. Along with her, the entire Xie Family of Yuntian City was also slaughtered. In the ten thousand years since the founding of our Ice and Snow Sect, such a thing has never happened before. We must never tolerate the murderer who slaughtered our Sect Master!"

The Aura of the seventh level of the Immortal Realm instantly spread throughout the hall. Everyone could feel the intense fury emanating from Qin Chaomu.

A Sect Master had been murdered, along with the entire household of the Yuntian City Lord's Mansion, and the murderer remained at large. This was a collective humiliation for the entire Sect.

"Xue Yuan, Han Yan, have you found Yixue's remains?"

As soon as Qin Chaomu spoke, two Disciples appeared in the hall.

"Grand Ancestor, please calm your anger. We are incompetent; we have yet to find the Sect Master's remains."

Qin Chaomu frowned slightly, her heart filled with doubt.

Just as she intended to continue the search, a flash of Sword Light drifted down outside the Ice and Snow Sect's main hall.

"Acting Sect Master of the Chess Sword Pavilion, Lord Youyang, greets the Grand Elder of the Ice and Snow Sect."

"Chess Sword Pavilion? The Ice and Snow Sect has never had any dealings with your Sect. I wonder what business brings Sect Master Youyang here?"

Lord Youyang replied: "Regarding the events that have occurred in the Ice and Snow Sect during this time, I have inquired a bit on the way here. I imagine the Ice and Snow Sect is currently troubled by the search for the murderer."

Qin Chaomu's eyes turned cold. "Do you happen to know who the murderer is?"

Lord Youyang sighed. "To be honest, not long ago, our former Sect Master Nangong Li was also murdered by a villain. That murderer once caused chaos in the Chess Sword Pavilion. I came here this time to tell your Sect that perhaps the person who killed Sect Master Liu and our former Sect Master is the same individual."

"Hm? Who is it!"

"Shen Lian!"

Hearing this name, Qin Chaomu immediately frowned.

"How could it be him?"

"If I had not seen his ferocity with my own eyes, I would not have believed it either."