124: Chapter 124 Long Tian’s Sorrow

Early the next morning.

The eastern sky was still draped in a thin, gray veil, the dawn light seemingly blocked by this mysterious curtain, unable to fully spill onto the earth.

Faint, hazy light filtered through the broken window lattice, like a gentle mist, quietly creeping up to the sixth floor of the Yingxian Pavilion, casting a faint shadow over the entire space.

At this moment, Chen Zilong, Ye Xishui, Tu Shan Xiaoxiao, and Lu Bingyun sat silently like four statues, each immersed in deep meditation.

Suddenly, a spine-chilling scream shattered the tranquility, like a sharp blade slicing through the air, piercing their ears.

The sound came from the fifth floor below, so wretched it was heart-stopping, as if a beast trapped in a cage was suffering unspeakable torment.

It began with a sharp, piercing roar, then abruptly vanished as if someone had violently choked it off.

Chen Zilong slowly opened his eyes. His previously closed pupils were now exceptionally bright, his deep, sea-like gaze devoid of weariness, instead flickering with a cold glint imperceptible to others.

The corner of his mouth lifted, the movement so slight it was almost negligible, yet one could still catch that faint, elusive sneer.

Sitting to Chen Zilong's left, Ye Xishui raised a slender, jade-like hand, gently brushing back a strand of hair that had fallen near her ear, deftly tucking it back with her fingertips.

This seemingly ordinary little gesture, performed with her graceful posture, carried a unique charm.

After doing so, she turned her head to look at Chen Zilong. They exchanged a glance filled with perfect understanding, a shared sentiment that needed no words.

Following that, Ye Xishui's vivid, alluring vermilion lips curved slightly, tracing a faint, ambiguous arc that indicated she was fully aware of what had just transpired.

To the right, Tu Shan Xiaoxiao, who had been sitting cross-legged, tilted her head slightly at the sound, revealing a stretch of fair, slender neck.

Her willow-like brows furrowed slightly, a flicker of doubt passing through her eyes, but she soon regained her composure.

Across from them, Lu Bingyun slowly withdrew her energy, her slender hands forming a seal upon her knees, her movements fluid and effortless.

She straightened her elegant back, like a green pine in the snow, maintaining a dignified posture even in such a tense moment.

"It's Long Tianjiao," Chen Zilong's voice was low and calm, breaking the silence in the room.

Ye Xishui gave a slight nod, a hint of mockery playing at the corner of her lips. "It seems they've succeeded."

As she spoke, the corners of her eyes lifted slightly, her bright phoenix eyes gleaming with a cold light.

Even while seated, her tall, perfect figure was evident, with smooth, elegant lines from her shoulders to her neck, a slender waist that did not lack strength.

Lu Bingyun gently straightened her sleeves, her movements graceful and composed:

"We should go down and take a look."

Her voice was as cool and clear as jade. As she spoke, her chin lifted slightly, revealing the elegant lines of her profile.

Even such a simple action, when performed by her, carried an innate air of nobility.

Tu Shan Xiaoxiao rose slowly, her skirt falling like flowing water, outlining her slender figure.

She tilted her head slightly, the jade pendant on her earlobe swaying gently:

"That's just as well. It saves us a lot of trouble."

The four exchanged a smile, a tacit understanding passing between them.

Chen Zilong was the first to stand, his black robe swaying gently with his movement, accentuating his tall, straight figure.

Ye Xishui followed closely behind, her steps light as a cat's, her waist swaying with an innate allure.

Lu Bingyun and Tu Shan Xiaoxiao walked side by side—one cold and beautiful as ice, the other gentle and serene as water—yet both equally graceful and poised.

When they reached the fifth floor, several people had already gathered in the corridor.

Jin Mei of the Hehuan Sect, Lin Yue of the Qingyun Sect, and Wei Guodong of the Tiansha Sect were already standing before an open door, their expressions varied.

As Chen Zilong and the others approached, a heavy smell of blood assailed them, mixed with an indescribable odor of decay.

Inside the room, Long Tianjiao's corpse lay scattered on the floor in an extremely contorted posture, a sight too gruesome to bear.

Her body seemed to have been torn apart by some sharp claws, her limbs nearly separated from her torso, connected only by a few strands of flesh and skin.

Blood stained the entire floor, some of it already congealed into dark red clots.

Most chilling was the expression on her face.

Her eyes were wide open, pupils dilated to the extreme, still holding the terror and despair of her final moments.

Tears mixed with blood trailed from the corners of her eyes, leaving two distinct marks on her pallid cheeks.

Her mouth was twisted, saliva mixed with blood froth congealed at the corners of her lips, her entire face contorted into a horrifying expression.

Surprisingly, the storage pouch at her waist remained intact, clearly untouched.

"It's that charcoal-black monster," Tu Shan Xiaoxiao said softly, her beautiful brows slightly furrowed. "But this time, it wasn't heart-ripping."

Ye Xishui calmly surveyed the scene, her slender fingers lightly stroking her chin:

"It changed its killing method."

Just then, a heart-wrenching wail drew everyone's attention.

Long Xiang knelt beside Long Tianjiao's corpse, clutching her already cold arm with both hands, his body trembling with sobs.

His cries echoed in the empty corridor, carrying an indescribable desolation.

"Elder sister... Elder sister..."

He choked on the words, repeating them, his voice so hoarse he could barely speak.

Jin Mei of the Hehuan Sect seemed moved by the grief. She sighed softly and stepped forward, patting Long Xiang's shoulder.

Today, she wore a pink dress that accentuated her snow-white skin, yet her face now held genuine sympathy:

"Junior Brother Long, please accept my condolences. You must be strong."

However, Long Xiang suddenly turned his head. His once handsome face was now twisted with sorrow, his eyes bloodshot.

He glared fiercely at Jin Mei, his voice trembling with rage:

"Demonic path scum, I don't need your false sympathy!"

He staggered to his feet, pointing a finger at everyone present, his hand shaking uncontrollably with agitation:

"You! You're all murderers who killed my elder sister!"

His voice echoed through the corridor, carrying a bone-chilling hatred. "Didn't you all hear my sister's screams last night? Why didn't anyone come out to save her? You cold-blooded demonic path fiends!"

He even turned his accusations toward his fellow sect member, Lin Yue:

"And you! Lin Yue! You're a coward who stood by and watched her die!"

Wei Guodong, Lin Yue, and Jin Mei all lowered their heads in unison at his accusations, complex expressions crossing their faces.

Chen Zilong simply turned his face away, unwilling to watch this unreasonable spectacle.

Amidst this silence, Ye Xishui suddenly let out a cold laugh.

She took a step forward, her posture straight as bamboo, her skirt swaying gently with her movement.

She looked down at Long Xiang, her eyes filled with undisguised mockery:

"What a great joke! By your logic, didn't you hear it too? Why didn't you come out to save your sister then?"

Long Xiang was stunned by her question. He opened his mouth, but no sound came out, and he could only lower his head in frustration.

Ye Xishui had no intention of letting him off. Her red lips parted, her voice as clear as jade beads falling on a plate, yet each word struck at the heart:

"You're merely venting your own resentment and unwillingness. Don't forget, no one here has an obligation to risk their lives to save your sister. Moreover—"

She deliberately paused, her phoenix eyes narrowing slightly, "your sister attempted to kill us just yesterday."

"Regardless of whether we truly heard anything last night, even if we did, I wouldn't save someone who tried to kill me."

Her words were firm and decisive, instantly shattering Long Xiang's moral coercion.

The others present couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, looking at Ye Xishui with gratitude in their eyes.

However, Long Xiang seemed to have completely lost his senses. He continued to point at the crowd, shouting and yelling:

"It was you who killed my sister! All of you!"

Wei Guodong, standing nearby, finally lost his patience. He suddenly kicked Long Xiang to the ground, followed by a flurry of punches and kicks.

Chen Zilong couldn't be bothered to watch this farce any longer and turned to leave.

Since it was already confirmed that everything was orchestrated by the female Village Chief Village Chief behind the scenes, there was only one way to resolve the problem—eliminate her.