Chapter 588 - Past Matters
One week after, Lailai Inn.
Luo Zhilai's face is very frosty as he glared at Jin Chong who is seating across him. But, this is his territory so he should be the first to speak, thus breaking the tense atmosphere. "Thank you, sect leader Jin, for your disciples escorting my important guests on their way back to Cuiyi Town." He said.
"It is fine. I am also grateful for them saving one of my disciples." Jin Chong calmly spoke.
Luo Zhilai's brow twitched. They said that you can't hit a smiling person. Thus, he had to hold back his anger.
Huo Ling coughed. "Sect leader Jin, your disciples saving our lives back there can be counted as you repaying us. So…" he spoke and glanced at Luo Zhilai. "May I ask why are you here? You don't need to extend your gratitude to us personally…" he said.
Luo Zhilai's expression eased upon hearing that. Although he is the boss of the Lailai Inn, he just can't kick out Jin Chong, right? Although he wants to return to jianghu, he would be declaring right now a war against the martial alliance if he would kick Jin Chong out of the Lailai Inn. Him asking Jin Chong of his presence here in the Lailai Inn would also be like slapping the entire martial alliance, for it was obvious that Luo Zhilai doesn't like Jin Chong. In fact, he loathes him.
But, for Huo Ling's and the others' sake, he is giving Jin Chong face already by giving him a seat here.
"In fact, not only am I here to personally express my gratitude toward you – " Jin Chong finally spoke. " – I also want to tell something to boss Luo." He said and looked at Luo Zhilai.
Luo Zhilai almost exploded on the spot. "You have something to say to me?" he asked, using all of his strength to remain polite. "Why didn't you say something to my father back then?" he said and murderously glared at Jin Chong.
Jin Chong's expression remained calm. "The former alliance leader forbade me after the news of your father killing the innocent people of your valley – " he said.
"You of all people know the most of what kind of person my father is!" Luo Zhilai finally snapped. He rose from his seat and flicked his sleeve. "Jin Chong, my father trusted you… my father trusted you at the last moment to send reinforcements when our sect was attacked! You should have trusted him as your closest friend! You know that he wasn't the one who killed those people! He was wronged! Our sect was wronged!" he shouted.
Huo Ling and the others gasped in shock. They didn't know that Luo Zhou and Jin Chong were actually best friends. They also don't know that Luo Zhou actually didn't kill those people! How long has the Ruojian Valley Sect was carrying this black pot?! No wonder Luo Zhilai hated the martial alliance. No wonder Luo Zhilai hated Jin Chong very much!
Jin Chong heaved a deep sigh. "I know I was wrong. Things have been very confusing back then, and happened too fast." He said.
Luo Zhilai sneered.
"Even Huai Sen can't beg to clear your names!" Jin Chong said.
"We know Huai Sen's stance, and he lend us a hand. Or else, will there still be me or my father's disciples standing before you now?" Luo Zhilai said and sarcastically smiled at Jin Chong.
Jin Chong knows how wrong he was.
"I don't want to talk with you about the past anymore – " Luo Zhilai said.
Jin Chong cut him off. "You have to!" he said. Before any of them could speak, he continued. "I… you father once mentioned to be about your family's heirloom… and I… I have seen it recently – " he looked at Luo Zhilai. " – back in the martial alliance." He told him.
Huo Ling and the others were stunned.
But, Luo Zhilai finally erupted in anger. "You… Jin Chong, did you also betray my father and helped this person steal my family's heirloom?!" he asked. No one expected for Luo Zhilai to grab Mu Fan's sword and aimed it on Jin Chong's neck!
"Sect leader!" Mu Fan and Lei Wei exclaimed in shock and panic.
But, Jin Chong remained calm despite the cold sweat that trickled down his face. "I didn't." he answered. "I only realized what had transpired in the past after I saw that sword. Your father… he was framed up just for them to steal that sword." He said and a heavy tone.
Luo Zhilai's hand trembled. "You… you wanted me to claim that sword because the one who currently possess that sword threatens your position as the alliance leader." He said and coldly glared at Jin Chong. "Jin Chong. Have you no shame? You have stepped on my father once to obtain your position as the alliance leader in the past, forsaking your friendship. Now, you want to use his only son to keep your position?" he asked. "Dream on!" he said and threw the sword to Jin Chong's chest.
"Ugh!" Jin Chong grunted when the heavy handle of the sword hit him in the chest.
"Get out." Luo Zhilai glared at him. "I will take back what is mine, but not for you, and without your help, scum!" he said. He glanced at Mu Fan and Lei Wei and they immediately took Jin Chong away. They still haven't forgotten that this is Luo Zhilai's territory, especially how crazy the Ruojian Valley Sect is.
"Boss Luo…" Huo Ling called.
Luo Zhilai took a deep breath to calm his anger. "I have embarrassed myself in front of you." He said and forced a smile, back to being just the boss of the Lailai Inn.
"No." Huo Ling shook his head. "Actually, our aim is also that sword." He said.
Luo Zhilai's eyes widened in surprise before his eyes sharpened.
"You have misunderstood!" Shi Yi immediately waved his hands while Qi Bai raised his hands holding desserts. Qi Bai and Wu Ling also raised their hands.
"Young master." Rong Huai called as he, Lu Xiu and Jiang Ci appeared.
"They only want to release the souls of Huai Sen's disciples that were trapped inside that sword." Lu Xiu explained.
"They are on our side." Jiang Ci added.
Hearing this, Lu Xiu's expression eased.
"That sword was stolen for many years now… how will you claim it back?" Yi Bing asked.
"My father told me that the sword has already recognized me as its next owner before my father died. It can never recognize others." Luo Zhilai spoke. "It should have returned to my side, but even if I waited for a long time, it didn't. Thus, I guessed that the person who stole it has come prepared and used something to suppress the sword's power. Or else, the sword should have left his side and returned to me." He explained.
Yi Bing and Huo Ling looked at each other.
"Do you know of a way to release the souls trapped in there?" Luo Zhilai asked.
"We can try. We have to release the souls of Huai Sen's disciples. This way, we will know the truth." Huo Ling said.
"Boss, that Zhuo Xia… ah, no. Not him, but his family." Lu Xiu said. "They said that the Zhuo family might be involved, that's why they became rich." He explained.
But, they didn't expect for Luo Zhilai to be calm.
"… you know?" they asked, shocked.
"En." Luo Zhilai nodded. "I have already suspected them. But – " the corners of his lips were pulled down. " – the next generation isn't responsible for what the previous generation did." He said.
They all fell silent. That's right… Zhuo Xia, as well as his siblings, shouldn't have died just because of their father's crime. Yet, they were forced to bear the responsibility. Zhuo Xiao was even hunted down until he was found in the Snow Clouds Spring Blossoms Mountain that led to the deaths of Huai Sen, Wu Tong, Yu Qiao, Zhang Yi and Ping Kun.
"… wait." Huo Ling muttered when he thought of something.
They all looked at him.
"Your family was robbed of your treasure. Let's say that it was the Zhuo patriarch who stole that treasure." Huo Ling spoke. "Then, they became rich overnight. No one knows that what they have is ill-gotten wealth until six months ago, when their entire family was killed, leaving Zhuo Xia alone." He said. "This means that someone has found out about this treasure that the Zhuo family stole from your family and killed the Zhuo family. But, why did they still looked for Zhuo Xia?" he asked.
They all fell silent.
"Either to silence him since he knows the killer, or – " Rong Huai spoke.
" – the one who killed the Zhuo family didn't find the treasure and thought that Zhuo Xia might know it." Jiang Ci said.
"But, how did they find out about this treasure when no one knew about it for so long?" Huo Ling asked them.
They all looked at each other, before they all reached a conclusion.. "Someone other than the Zhuo patriarch knows about the treasure!" they exclaimed.
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