Chapter 26: A Sudden Disappearance - Young Noble Be Monster Slaying

Chapter 26: A Sudden Disappearance "Chu Liang, something's happened..." Lin Bei burst in. He rushed in with a flustered expression, and was momentarily taken aback by the scene in the room. "Song Jiaoxi is here too, huh, it's quite lively." There were enough people standing and lying around to fill a table for mahjong. "What are you doing here, where's Li Jue?" Chu Liang inquired. "Li Jue is missing!" Lin Bei quickly responded. "Hmm?" "I was keeping watch outside. It was quiet inside for ages, so I got curious. When I knocked and checked, the window was open, and I have no idea where Li Jue went!" Lin Bei said. "So I hurried here to find you." "Didn't you hear anything unusual?" Chu Liang asked. "No," Lin Bei shook his head. "There was no unusual aura or sounds. I suspect he might have slipped away on his own, but I don't know why he'd do that." "He might have something he's hiding from us, or perhaps Li Jue is also a target of Situ Yan..." Chu Liang thought rapidly, his brow furrowing as he pondered, "If we don't know where he's gone, what should we do?" "I... I might be able to try something," Song Qingyi suddenly spoke up. "Do you have a way to find Li Jue?" Both Lin Bei and Chu Liang looked at her. "Yes." Song Qingyi nodded gently, then raised her hand to produce a half-sheet of old golden paper, which appeared empty yet had a spiritual glow swirling around it. With her right hand, she used two fingers as a pen, gently tracing them over the paper. A vermilion light flared up, forming words under her fingertips. Li... Jue... After writing his name, Song Qingyi tossed the half-page into the air. It spun around three times and then, as if finding its direction, emitted a guiding light that flew out through the window. "Follow it," Song Qingyi instructed, chasing after the guiding light and the half-sheet of paper as they flew out. "Someone needs to stay and watch over him," Chu Liang pointed to Yan Xiao Hu. "I'll do it," Lin Bei volunteered eagerly this time. Chu Liang nodded and leapt out in pursuit of Song Qingyi. This left Yan Xiao Hu and Lin Bei staring at each other. After a brief silence, Yan Xiao Hu nervously asked, "So... what should we do now?" Lin Bei thought for a moment and said, "Let's order some food first." "Huh?" Yan Xiao Hu was puzzled. Lin Bei casually settled into a chair, "Then we'll wake them up, and we'll resume the music and dance!" "Is that really okay?" Yan Xiao Hu scratched his head, "Aren't I still in danger?" "With me watching over you, you'll be fine," Lin Bei patted his shoulder. "Although the last person I watched just ran into trouble... but that was purely an accident, and I hope to succeed this time..." ... Meanwhile, elsewhere. Chu Liang followed Song Qingyi and the half-sheet of gold paper, riding the wind out of the city. Along the way, he couldn't help but praise, "Song Jiaoxi, your artifact is really handy. As long as you know the name, there's no one you can't find under the heavens." "Not necessarily. My cultivation is limited. I can only track within and around Yanjiao City," Song Qingyi replied. "That's impressive enough," Chu Liang remarked. Song Qingyi continued, "This half-sheet of golden paper was a protective treasure given to me by my master for my travels. It has many uses, though I haven't mastered all of them yet." Chu Liang paused a little. Her master is so kind, hmm, why does this make me feel sad? But he also knew that this wasn't an issue unique to the Imperial Phoenix sect. In Mount Shu, unless one was extremely exceptional or had performed great deeds, receiving a magical artifact from a master was rare. Even outside the impoverished Silver Sword Peak, it remained the same. Ultimately, it's a difference in sect philosophy. Especially among the Three Teachings, Confucian cultivators prioritize scholarship and virtue more than the other two sects. This is particularly true at the School of Gentlemen. Given Song Qingyi's cultivation, she likely wouldn't receive such attention in other sects. However, in the School of Gentlemen, she could gain recognition from her elders through her exceptional scholarship and virtue. The half-sheet of golden paper wasn't flying very quickly. After a while, they arrived at a familiar location. The back hills of the academy, by the small lake. "Li Jue is here." "Don't rush in yet. Let's take a look first." After confirming the direction from afar, Song Qingyi put away the artifact, and the night sky returned to silence. The two advanced slowly. Soon, they noticed a slender figure by the lakeside. "Why..." The figure mumbled something to the water, and both the shape and voice identified him as Li Jue. "Why did you kill so many people..." Li Jue's voice was filled with pain. "I was the one who caused your death. You should just come and kill me directly, why keep killing others..." "Hmm?" Chu Liang's eyes widened as he observed from the shadows. As expected. Li Jue was hiding something. "When you tied me up and threatened to disfigure my face, I was terrified. I struggled violently... and accidentally pushed you into the lake. At that moment, I was so shocked and scared that I fled home without thinking." "It was a long time before I thought you might be in danger after falling into the lake... But when I went back to check on you, I heard that someone had drowned there..." "I didn't do it intentionally... but it was indeed my fault you died." "I've been so frightened all these days, constantly avoiding confronting it... but now I don't want to run anymore..." "Situ Yan, if you've really become a ghost, come after me, but stop killing others." "......" His voice carried on intermittently, blown by the wind into Chu Liang and Song Qingyi's ears. It turns out Li Jue's actions caused Situ Yan's drowning, rather than her drowning herself. No wonder Li Jue was so fearful. He has been tormented by guilt for unintentional manslaughter and fear of retribution by a vengeful spirit, leading to unimaginable psychological torment. Today must have been the day he couldn't endure it any longer and came here. Yet, as he stood alone talking for some time, nothing happened. Li Jue looked around and murmured, "Are you not here, or unwilling to appear? Fine... then I'll atone myself..." He muttered a few words, then stood and began walking towards the water. From his demeanor, it seemed he intended to end his own life! "Li..." Song Qingyi immediately started to rise to stop him, but Chu Liang held her back. "Wait a moment," Chu Liang said softly. Li Jue reached the lakeside, hesitated briefly, then made up his mind and jumped! Just as Song Qingyi was about to intervene, a sinister wind arose! The sudden gust, as if causing waves on the flat ground, blew chillingly from all directions, pushing Li Jue back onto the shore in mid-air. With a thud, Li Jue fell to the ground, immediately getting back up, "Situ Yan, is that you?" The furious wind gathered in one spot, forming into a human shape before dissipating again. Only a faint ghostly figure remained. It was a woman in scholar's robes, with thick scars covering half her face. None other than the rumored Situ Yan Upon seeing the ghost he'd been so afraid of, Li Jue seemed relieved, "You finally came to see me." Chu Liang and Song Qingyi tensed up too. This intense yin energy wasn't that of an ordinary vengeful spirit, and the solid form indicated something significant. Whatever had happened, it had elevated her abilities to this level... However, it could be confirmed. Situ Yan is the Skin-Painting Ghost!