Lying Low in the Martial World to Become a Saint

Chapter 422: Chapter 192: Exposed

Just then, two figures sped over from the distance.

All eyes turned towards the hall’s entrance.

They saw Chen Qing briskly entering the hall, supporting Du Lingchuan, whose face was as pale as a sheet and his aura faint.

Upon seeing Du Lingchuan being helped in by Chen Qing, Elder Shi Zhenyue of the Xuanjia Sect was overjoyed and hurried to greet them. "Brother Du! It’s wonderful that you’re alright! How are your injuries?"

Du Lingchuan waved his hand. His breath was weak, but his tone was urgent. "Junior Brother Shi, I’m fine!"

Chen Qing seized the opportunity. His gaze quickly locked onto He Yuzhou on the main seat, and he sent a mental transmission: "Sect Leader, Feng Shuhao ambushed me but was killed in the counterattack. Before he died, he confessed that the Demon Skill he cultivated was taught to him by Zhou Nianchu! Zhou Nianchu is very likely a mole for the Demon Sect, and could even be Heart Devourer himself!"

He Yuzhou’s seated figure jolted imperceptibly. A storm raged in his eyes for an instant, but having long held the position of Sect Leader, he was exceptionally composed. His expression remained impassive; only the fingers holding his teacup tightened ever so slightly.

’He had been suspicious for a long time.’

’Feng Shuhao’s breakthrough speed, Zhou Nianchu’s occasional strange behavior in recent years, and the Demon Sect’s repeated ability to perfectly evade encirclement...’

He Yuzhou slowly set down his teacup. His gaze swept over to Zhou Nianchu as if by chance, and he spoke in a calm tone, as if making a casual remark. "Manor Master Zhou, speaking of which, your Nephew Feng Shuhao is truly exceptionally talented. To come from behind and be the first of the younger generation to break through to the Astral Force realm... I wonder what sort of fortuitous opportunity he came upon?"

Hearing this, Zhou Nianchu’s heart lurched, but his face remained humble. "Sect Leader He, you flatter me. That boy Shuhao was just a bit lucky. Some time ago, he had a moment of insight during his secluded cultivation in the back mountains and was fortunate enough to break through. There was no unique Secret Technique; it was simply a matter of diligent practice leading to a natural result."

Though he spoke lightly, suspicion brewed in his heart, and his guard went up.

Feng Shuhao’s breakthrough had been a closely guarded secret; he had given strict orders to keep it confidential, but somehow, word had gotten out.

He had investigated secretly afterward but found nothing.

The matter had been a persistent worry for him.

He Yuzhou’s sudden mention of it now seemed to hold a deeper meaning.

"Oh?"

Just then, Leng Qianqiu, who was at the side, suddenly snorted. "Diligent practice? A natural result? I’m afraid I don’t think so."

"Manor Master Zhou, my Cold Jade Valley recently discovered that Elder Qian, a Tributor of the Liu Family, died mysteriously a month ago. Someone saw your Nephew Feng’s figure in the vicinity! How do you explain this, Manor Master Zhou?"

In truth, Leng Qianqiu had suspected Qixia Manor after investigating the matter. But the implications were enormous, and without concrete evidence, it would undoubtedly affect the Four Sects Alliance.

As soon as she spoke, the hall erupted in an uproar!

"Elder Qian of the Liu Family? Wasn’t he rumored to have been killed by the Demon Sect?"

"How could Feng Shuhao be involved?"

"Could it be..."

Everyone’s gaze shifted back and forth between Zhou Nianchu and Leng Qianqiu, filled with shock and suspicion.

Zhou Nianchu’s expression changed slightly, but he forced himself to remain calm and flatly denied it. "Cold Valley Master, what is the meaning of this? I too am deeply grieved by Elder Qian’s death, but that was the work of Demon Sect villains. How could it possibly have anything to do with Shuhao?"

As he spoke, his gaze subconsciously swept toward the hall’s exit, and his body shifted backward a fraction of an inch, almost imperceptibly.

Leng Qianqiu slowly rose from her seat. Her steps were light, and she moved as if without intention, yet perfectly blocked a path to the hall’s exit. She looked at Zhou Nianchu. "Oh? Is that so? Then why was the progress of Feng Shuhao’s Cultivation so strange? And why did his whereabouts happen to be unknown around the time Elder Qian was killed? Manor Master Zhou, if you have a clear conscience, why not allow us to verify Feng Shuhao’s current location and whether the True Astral he cultivates is pure?"

Zhou Nianchu’s face suddenly darkened. "Cold Valley Master! What is the meaning of this?! The truth about Elder Qian’s matter will come to light eventually. How can you suspect my disciple, Shuhao, based on a few baseless rumors? He is my only disciple, after all! What martial artist doesn’t have their own secrets? Do you think you can just inspect him whenever you please?"

His tone grew more heated. "To question Shuhao is to question me, Zhou Nianchu! To question my entire Qixia Manor! I received the call for aid and personally led my people to provide support at the first possible moment, without a second’s delay! Now, with the demon scourge not yet quelled and Heart Devourer on the loose, you people aren’t focused on working together to hunt down the true culprit, but are instead here suspecting an ally? Is this your so-called Four Sects Alliance, united as one? What an absolute joke!"

His gaze, filled with undisguised disappointment and fury, swept over He Yuzhou and Leng Qianqiu. "If you all harbor such suspicions and believe my Qixia Manor is involved with the Demon Sect, then there is no point in me, Zhou Nianchu, being here. I will take my leave! The day Heart Devourer is captured will be the day my innocence is proven!"

With that, he made a show of flicking his sleeves and turning to leave, his posture uncompromisingly firm.

The atmosphere in the hall instantly became tense enough to draw swords. The members of Qixia Manor all looked alarmed and moved to stand behind Zhou Nianchu.

"Manor Master Zhou, wait a moment."

At that moment, He Yuzhou’s steady voice rang out as he slowly stood up. "What Sect Leader Leng said was not without basis. As for Nephew Feng..."

He paused slightly, his gaze turning to Chen Qing at the hall’s entrance. "Chen Qing! Repeat what you just said, and bring forth the ’evidence’ you witnessed! Let Manor Master Zhou, and everyone else, see it clearly!"

From outside, Chen Qing answered, "Yes!"

Soon, two Wutai Sect disciples carried Feng Shuhao’s body into the hall and placed it on the floor.

Feng Shuhao’s face was ashen, and he was completely devoid of breath.

He Yuzhou pointed at the corpse, his gaze as sharp as a torch as he stared at Zhou Nianchu, and said in a heavy voice, "Manor Master Zhou, look closely! Just now, Feng Shuhao ambushed our sect’s Chen Qing using nothing but sinister Demon Skills, and he was killed in the counterattack! The attribute of the True Astral in his body is by no means the orthodox one of Qixia Manor! As his master and teacher, what is your explanation? It is absolutely impossible that you knew nothing of this!"