Tumor Sword Immortal

Chapter 67 The Third

Pei Xia did not see the body this time; Xueyan Sect only called on the Zuoshan Sect to claim it.

The old servant Xu Zhuofeng went to inquire and found that the manner of death was very similar to that of the cultivator from the Well Gang. Both had scratches across the abdomen, with the intestines ruptured and the stomach rotten, but there were no other external injuries.

However, this murder dispelled Pei Xia's suspicions about Li Tan.

It's not just because Sun Tingfeng and she are from the same school.

What's more, her senior sister really stayed in the courtyard the whole time without going out, and everyone in the Zuoshan Sect can testify to that.

However, this also gave rise to another speculation.

"The Well Gang was the first to be caught off guard, which is one thing, but seeing that members of the Well Gang had died, why would Sun Tingfeng leave the inn alone?"

Pei Xia's gaze swept across Xu Shangxin, Lu Li, and Feng Xi's faces before finally settling on Xu Zhuofeng.

The room was brightly lit, but no one was resting.

The young镖头 (bodyguard) dared not sleep, and Xu Shangxin couldn't sleep either.

Pear didn't want to think about these nagging things; she really wanted to sleep, but Pei Xia wouldn't allow it. How annoying!
Xu Zhuofeng looked into Pei Xia's eyes and understood what she meant, so his face remained ashen.

The fact that the Well Gang monks and Sun Tingfeng died one after another in the same way clearly indicates that it was the work of the same person, and that it was a planned and premeditated murder.

Therefore, this person must have a method that can ensure the deceased leaves the guesthouse on their own initiative, or even goes to a fixed location.

It's hard.

For example, one can exploit a weakness as leverage, or use irresistible benefits as an incentive.

But in the face of a life-or-death crisis, such a method must strike at the deepest desire of the other party. It is not easy to grasp even one such weakness, let alone to succeed in it repeatedly.
However, there is currently one person in the Snow Swallow Sect who can easily do this.

Xu Chengfeng.

As the head of the Jingbang and Zuoshan faction, and the so-called administrator of "martial law," it wouldn't be difficult for Xu Chengfeng to lure out Sun Tingfeng if he intended to.

"Moreover, Xing Fengcai once said that the Zuoshan Sect had sent female disciples to Xu Chengfeng for his lewd pleasure, so they probably have a lot of secrets in private."

Pei Xia looked at Xu Zhuofeng: "Old Xu, we can't treat human lives like a game."

Xu Zhuofeng breathed a sigh of relief: "I know, I'll go find him now."

Regardless of what his younger brother is plotting, Xu Zhuofeng is the pillar of the Xueyan Sect. As long as he reveals his identity and cultivation, he can enter the inner hall of the sect at any time to question Xu Chengfeng.

Pei Xia also stood up: "I'll go with you."

Old Xu turned around: "Aren't you afraid of your identity being exposed?"

"With you in charge, what am I afraid of? Besides, the mountain-protecting formation is still active. We can just let us leave sooner," Pei Xia smiled at him. "I think you're not the kind of person who's ruthless enough to be trusted."

Xu Zhuofeng gave a wry smile.

However, Pei Xia is right. Perhaps it's because he's not ruthless enough that he was kicked out of the Palace of the Holy Lords sooner or later.

The young镖头 (bodyguard/escort) looked completely bewildered: "Wait, where are you going so late at night?"

Pei Xia ignored him and looked at Xu Shangxin and Lu Li: "You two come too, I'm worried about leaving you here."

When Feng Xi looked around, he saw that everyone had left. Good heavens, I'm all alone now. He quickly dusted himself off and followed them.

To Pei Xia's surprise, the Xu family patriarch was indeed a pragmatist. He didn't unleash his cultivation and crash into the sect's main hall like a meteorite before going berserk.

There was no casual remark like, "Let your sect leader come see me."

Instead, he led Pei Xia and the others around to the back of the inn and climbed over the wall.

"Isn't it a bit too plain?"

"Oh dear, if you go through the main gate, you'll definitely have to argue with the guards. These lower-level disciples don't recognize me, and I can't prove that I'm who I am. If things get out of hand, it will not only waste time, but it will also make things difficult for the kids!"

Fortunately, Pei Xia and her group were all agile. Even Xu Shangxin, after her period of cultivation in the Netherworld, could easily climb over a wall.

They sneaked out and followed closely behind to the main hall.

At 9 PM, the magnificent and towering main building of Xueyan Gate was still brightly lit.

Pei Xia and her group were discovered by several patrolling disciples when they got nearby.

Perhaps because of the series of murders, everyone was on edge. As soon as they saw strangers approaching the main building, the Xueyan Sect disciples immediately drew their weapons and shouted, "Halt!"

They stopped, but the disciples had no intention of interrogating them. They stepped forward with their swords drawn, ready to seize the person.

Pei Xia let out a soft breath and pulled out the "Hero, have mercy" sign from behind Xu Shangxin's back.

In the darkness under the lamplight, a longsword as thin as a cicada's wing flashed by, its blade reflecting light as if a butterfly's wing had fluttered lightly.

Then came a series of synchronized "ding-dong" sounds.

The broken blade fell to the ground.

The disciples of Xueyan Sect looked at their weapons, which had been broken off at some unknown time, and their faces immediately turned terrified.

"An assassin—it's an assassin!"

Screams echoed through the night.

A stranger, acting suspiciously, and possessing extraordinary strength... Isn't this the assassin who injured the old sect leader before?
"Hey!" Xu Zhuofeng raised his hand, about to explain.

A figure in white robes gracefully descended from the tall building.

The man moved with lightning speed, drawing his long sword from its sheath. There was no clanging of metal, only a clear, melodious sound like the clinking of glass and jade.

What slid out of the sheath was actually a solidified ice crystal!

Before Pei Xia could explain, she flipped her longsword, gripped it with one hand, and charged forward.

As their swords clashed, a shockwave returned to Pei Xia's hand, causing a sharp pain in his tiger's mouth. He frowned and looked up to see a man dressed in white with a cold expression—one of the two who had appeared on the arena during the day.

Ice Sword Xu Chuan.

Xu Chuan was even more astonished at this moment.

He was at the Opening Mansion Realm, possessing a spiritual mansion within, a self-generated source of spiritual power, and the surging spiritual energy was far beyond what ordinary cultivators could match.

The person in front of me clearly had internal energy floating on his sword.

Yet, in a clash of blades, he found himself unable to subdue the opponent in an instant?!

Could it really be...? Impossible, there's no assassin out there...

Just as he was about to further activate his spiritual palace, a hand quietly pressed down on his sword-wielding hand.

Then he forcefully grabbed Xu Chuan's hand and twisted his sword away as well.

This truly shocked Xu Chuan.

I am already at the Opening Realm!

To be able to suppress oneself so effortlessly, could this person be... a Transformation Realm expert?!

With a solemn and wary expression, he turned his head and saw Xu Zhuofeng's face.

Ice Sword Xu Chuan was a cultivation prodigy handpicked by Xu Zhuofeng back then, so he naturally recognized this family patriarch.

"Xu, Xu Bai..."

Xu Chuan still subconsciously wanted to address Xu Baiyi, but because of his surprise, he stammered.

Why is Xu Baiyi here? When did he return?

Xu Zhuofeng waved his hand: "I'm no longer in white robes, call me Senior Uncle."

Xu Chuan's attitude immediately changed. He lowered the tip of his sword and clasped his hands together, saying, "Uncle-Master."

Pei Xia, who was standing to the side, also breathed a sigh of relief and shook her hand, which was still sore from the shock.

Fortunately, Xu Zhuofeng got straight to the point. If he had kept pretending, he probably wouldn't have been a match for Xu Chuan.

His current level of cultivation is sufficient to deal with someone like Luo Xiaojin, whose foundation is still unstable at the Tongxuan stage.

However, it is clearly insufficient to match a Master of the Opening Realm, especially a Master of the Opening Realm with superior cultivation like Xu Chuan.

Of course, being unable to win is one thing, but running away is another.

Xu Zhuofeng looked up at the sect's main hall and said, "Take me to see Cheng Feng."

Xu Chuan lowered his head and said softly, "The sect leader is injured and should rest early."

The way he said it only made Xu Zhuofeng more irritated: "Then I'll go myself!"

"Hey, Uncle-Master, I..."

Xu Chuan knew, of course, that he was no match for Xu Zhuofeng and couldn't stop him, so he could only sigh and say, "I'll take you there."

The main hall of Xueyan Gate has six floors and is extremely luxurious.

There were not many disciples or followers to be seen inside the building, but rather quite a few young and beautiful maids.

In terms of scale, many powerful and influential people in Beijing are far inferior.

As Xu Zhuofeng walked along the road, he was so angry that he laughed: "They really have become local tyrants."

Xu Chuan pursed his lips, not daring to respond.

Pei Xia and the others followed behind, remaining silent.

The young镖头's eyes lit up, but due to his status, he dared not be presumptuous.

Xu Chuan walked all the way to the sixth floor, and stopped in front of a spacious bedroom with its doors tightly closed.

"After the old sect leader was injured, he has been recuperating in his room without being disturbed." After Xu Chuan finished speaking, he took a few steps back with his sword.

Perhaps they sensed that Xu Zhuofeng would be angry.

Xu Zhuofeng was indeed angry.

When I was preoccupied with the murder case, it was alright if I had any thoughts on my mind, but on the way upstairs, I was just building up my anger.

He reached out and pounded on the door twice: "Cheng Feng!"

Throughout the entire Xueyan Sect, who dares to address Xu Chengfeng by his given name so directly?

Logically, upon hearing this title, Xu Chengfeng inside the room should have known who had arrived.

But the room remained silent, and no one responded.

Xu Zhuofeng patted him twice more: "Cheng Feng?!"

Still no one responded.

Old Xu's face contorted with rage. He raised his foot, and with a surge of powerful spiritual energy, he kicked the door apart.

What was revealed to everyone was a magnificent, golden bedroom.

There were also people lying in bed, their faces bearing five wounds, their flesh torn apart...

Xu Chengfeng's body.

(End of this chapter)