449 - A Sect Leader’s Ascension

Chapter 449: Confrontation Outside As soon as Chu Wen spoke, everyone present immediately understood. "That's right!" They all feigned sudden realization. "Crying so pitifully in front of us, is it really that emotional?" "Just fellow disciples, are the feelings really that strong? Is it necessary?" "Things that are unusual must be suspicious. This person is pretending so much, they're probably hiding something!" "Could it be that the murderer behind the series of killings is someone from the Beast Taming Sect?" With various thoughts in their minds, the atmosphere of sympathy quickly turned icy. People tensed, glaring at Yu He from all angles as if the words 'murderer' were written on his face. Yu He remained engulfed in grief, sitting cross-legged beside Xi Yu's body, slowly tidying up his friend's appearance. After a long while, he raised his head, looking somewhat confused. Recognizing Qi Xiu standing beside Chu Wen, he looked back and forth between them, lips pressed tightly, refusing to speak. With no response from Yu He, the fellow disciples, who were just comforting him, had to step up. The Beast Taming Sect was known for protecting their own, and whether right or wrong, they would stand by their fellow disciple. "Hmph..." One disciple sneered at Chu Wen, "May I ask which sect or faction you belong to? What's your name? Do you have evidence for your words? Are you aware of the consequences!?" "Chu Wen from Qiyun Sect." Being from the superordinate Qiyun Sect, Chu Wen was naturally unafraid to state his name. "I have no evidence, just asking, why? Is it inconvenient for Daoist Yu He to explain?" "Yes! What's wrong with asking? One who's done no wrong has nothing to fear, even if ghosts knock on their door!" Before the Beast Taming Sect disciple could respond, the disgruntled Heifeng Valley cultivator from earlier immediately chimed in to support Chu Wen's words. With him taking the lead, many present naturally sided with Chu Wen. "Indeed, there must be a basis for suspicion; it's better to clarify." "Clarify things, and suspicion will dissipate. What’s there to fear?" "This Daoist Yu He should explain." With everyone voicing their agreement, the majority stood with Chu Wen. The Beast Taming Sect disciples knew that, with suspicion in the air and Chu Wen having steered the conversation, it wouldn't benefit them to confront everyone. Thus, they had to step back and seek Yu He's opinion, "Senior Brother Yu He, what do you think?" Yu He remained silent, his gaze meeting Qi Xiu's with a fleeting fierceness. Qi Xiu offered a slightly apologetic bow, making Yu He instantly realize that the secret of him sneaking in his invisible crane had been exposed by that person. Seeing this, resisting became meaningless. He finally spoke, "I got separated from Xi Yu after the trial scene changed. We never met again, and I don't know when he was killed. How can I account for my whereabouts?" Among those present, some were the first to discover Xi Yu's body. From the state of the body upon discovery, it wasn't hard to estimate the approximate time of death. Under mutual questioning, Yu He claimed he had been traveling alone at that time, having encountered no one, thus leaving no witnesses to vouch for him. Facing everyone's relentless questioning, Yu He ceased his silence, responding fluently without leaving any loopholes. The situation boiled down to those four words, 'no witness to the dead.' Gradually, the gazes towards Chu Wen turned unfriendly, with people wondering why he stirred trouble without solid evidence, thinking him reckless. "Daoist Yu He." By now, Chu Wen knew he had to present more substantial information. "In all your explanations, why haven't you mentioned what your companion beast was doing? The 'Invisible Crane,' silent and unseen, could easily be used to kill someone in the trial grounds, couldn't it?" "What!" "A companion beast can be brought inside?" This revelation was like an explosion, startling everyone awake. "What invisible crane? Daoist Yu He, explain clearly!" "Yes! Explain!" "Good deeds by the Beast Taming Sect!" The incessant demands grew sharp and impolite. Yu He perhaps held a last hope, but when Chu Wen exposed it publicly, he sighed and gave up on all defense, staring blankly at Xi Yu's corpse. "Senior Brother Yu He?" His reaction was akin to an admission, frustrating his fellow disciple, who angrily stomped away, not wanting to be implicated any further. With this tacit admission, the crowd fell into a deadly silence, silently shifting their positions to form a circular formation around Yu He. With his disheveled hair covering his bowed head, no one could discern Yu He's expression despite many eyes on him, which made him seem all the more dangerous and eerie, like a wolf licking its wounds, ready to retaliate at any moment. Qi Xiu glanced around, noting everyone clutching all sorts of personal items as makeshift weapons, vigilant not only toward Yu He but also periodically eyeing the sky above. Chu Wen held a conspicuous silver wine pot in his hand, arguably the 'strongest weapon' available there. The others mostly grasped items like jade pieces, hairpins, anything as hard objects for fighting, better than nothing. Some were even more desperate, like the short-tempered Heifeng Valley cultivator who had removed his belt, holding it taut, ready to strangle someone if needed. The existence of the invisible crane highlighted the potential threat, suggesting to them that the culprit might not be human but a bird. And with everyone virtually unarmed, dealing even with a spirit bird of Qi Condensation level seemed daunting. Thus, Yu He's danger level multiplied exponentially. "That bird might be capable of slaughtering everyone present?" This alarming thought crossed everyone’s mind simultaneously. Despite their feeble strength, they had no choice but to brace themselves. "Xi Yu..." After a tense standoff lasting several burning incense sticks, Yu He slowly broke the suffocating silence. "Having discovered his hatred-linked past, Xi Yu defected from your hypocritical Chu family. As his close friend, I sought justice, killing your Chu family’s Chu Duo at Heihe Fang. As adversaries on both sides, hatred is all we have. Now you, Chu Wen, are sanctimoniously accusing me of his murder... don’t you find this laughable? Does it make any sense?" "But I didn’t sneak in an invisible crane!" Faced with Yu He's retort, Chu Wen effortlessly quashed him with a single light statement. After all was said and done, the invisible crane was the core issue. Chu Wen, everyone present, including Yu He, understood this clearly. "Right, surrender the invisible crane, and everything can be resolved." "Hand it over!" "Hand it over!" A unified call arose as everyone wielded their eclectic 'weapons,' demanding to first address the largest threat over their heads, reassuring themselves before anything else. "Daoist Yu He." The Xixia City cultivator, subtly leading the group, raised his hands to quiet them and spoke, "Regardless of your grievances with the Chu family, should we not first address the matter of the invisible crane? I propose this: the trial grounds are not the place to resolve such matters. Brother Yu He, bring the invisible crane, and come with me out of the trial grounds. We will explain everything before the city lord, agreed?" "Quite right!" Whether he's the true culprit or wrongly accused, getting out first was undoubtedly the most prudent solution, and everyone nodded in agreement. "I'll leave too." Chu Wen took out a trial wood token, indicating his intention. "I'll go as well." The Heifeng Valley cultivator copied him, involving himself in matters unrelated to him without apparent reason. "I’ll... go along." Yu He’s fellow disciple reluctantly took out his trial wood token. With An Siyan's death being the initial cause for Qi Xiu’s suspicion of Yu He, he estimated he would inevitably have to confront Yu He, so he too took out his trial wood token. As for the trial, he could only accept that it was not meant to be. "Good!" Yu He suddenly raised his head, giving Qi Xiu a deep, intense stare before cradling Xi Yu's body with his right hand and producing the trial wood token with his left. At the same time, he raised his left forearm, causing the folds of his robe to shift slightly, revealing the imprint of two bird claws. "Invisible crane!" The crowd first gasped, then collectively exhaled a sigh of relief. That silent and unseen 'assassin' was closer than expected! Recalling the victims' grisly deaths with skull-piercing injuries, everyone felt chills running down their spines. Now, with Yu He willing to cooperate and leave the trial grounds without any further conflict, it was the best outcome! "So it's settled then!" The Xixia City cultivator didn't dare to relax, gesturing for Yu He to proceed, "Brother Yu He, after you!" "Hmph!" Yu He, ignoring him, let out a cold snort and was just about to break the wood token when the familiar authoritative voice suddenly resounded in the sky, "Chu Wuying of Southern Chu obtains the victory for this stage!" (To be continued)