Chapter 19

The match began.

The area around the Qian Arena was packed with people, while the leaders of every sect sat on Tianshan’s ceremonial platform, overlooking the entire battlefield.

Wen Wanxi rested one hand against her temple and tilted her head as she watched the man and woman on the arena.

Song Tianxing possessed solid fundamentals, used his sword techniques flexibly, and attacked boldly. Although Bing Xian’s swordsmanship was light and graceful and her movement extremely swift, she still found it difficult to match him.

The two quickly became locked in combat.

Song Tianxing executed every move with perfect timing. Neither his offense nor defense revealed any openings, though his approach was comparatively conservative.

Bing Xian, meanwhile, attacked with fierce precision, giving her opponent no opportunity to catch his breath. Her assault was beautiful to watch.

Song Qi knew Bing Xian could not defeat Song Tianxing, so she was not particularly nervous while watching.

Instead, it was Xiao Sheng, who had remained beside her all this time, who made her uneasy.

His temperament had probably been influenced by Wen Wanxi. He was somewhat unpredictable, and when he remained silent, he became even harder to read.

“Song Qi.”

“…Can you finish everything at once? Stop calling my name every few minutes.”

Compared with Wen Wanxi, Song Qi dared talk back to Xiao Sheng.

Their martial arts were evenly matched, and she had done nothing to betray Wen Wanxi. Xiao Sheng would not try to kill her.

Xiao Sheng: “…”

He had not expected that response.

Still, he did not become angry.

“I’ll assist you. If you need anything, send a message to Yunmeng House in Tianshui City.”

Song Qi knew Xiao Sheng was not helping merely because he feared her mission might fail.

He was even more concerned that she might reveal Wucheng’s assignment to Yu Mingshun.

In other words, he was there to monitor her.

“Understood.”

When Song Qi saw Song Tianxing gain the upper hand by another half-move, she excitedly raised her arms and cheered, blending seamlessly into the lively atmosphere around her.

Clang—!

Song Tianxing knocked Bing Xian’s longsword aside.

The Seven Stars Sword in his hand moved like a nimble serpent, thrusting directly toward the unguarded center of Bing Xian’s defenses.

It was the most ordinary form of Straight to the Point.

However, Song Tianxing immediately followed it with Splitting Heaven and Earth, sweeping horizontally toward his opponent with sharp sword energy and overwhelming force.

Bing Xian released a long water sleeve from her arm.

The soft fabric wrapped around the entirety of Song Tianxing’s attack and cleverly neutralized its momentum.

“Excellent!”

Someone below shouted praise for Bing Xian.

Song Qi also thought it was impressive.

She had read in the novel that Bing Xian’s water sleeves were among her weapons, capable of both offense and defense.

She simply had no idea how Bing Xian managed to hide such long sleeves inside her clothing.

Unfortunately…

A harsh ripping sound rang out.

Song Tianxing used his internal force to shatter the water sleeve.

The beautiful, flowing fabric tore into scraps.

Everyone who had just cheered instantly fell silent.

“Ha!”

Song Tianxing shouted as his longsword arrived before Bing Xian.

Bing Xian raised the flat of her sword and blocked his sword tip in front of her chest.

Then she bent backward at the waist, dispersing the force behind Song Tianxing’s attack.

With a turn of her wrist, her longsword slashed toward his waist.

Song Tianxing quickly retreated several steps, and the two once again opened the distance between them.

Song Qi watched without blinking.

Although she already knew the result, the back-and-forth exchange was simply too exciting.

Wen Wanxi was equally absorbed in the match from Tianshan’s ceremonial platform.

Then her gaze drifted toward Song Qi, reminding her of what had happened the previous night.

There were far too many things about Song Qi that Wen Wanxi could not understand.

She did not trust Song Qi.

The only reason she had dared entrust the mission to her was because killing Song Qi would be effortless if necessary.

Suddenly, Wen Wanxi remembered the jade pendant that had fallen from Song Qi’s robe the previous night.

A trace of killing intent flashed through her eyes before quickly disappearing.

How had that pendant ended up in Song Qi’s possession?

She had dug it out of the ground?

Where had she been digging?

Wen Wanxi still had many questions.

It seemed she would have to meet Song Qi again today.

“I wonder how Sect Leader He’s investigation is progressing?”

At that moment, Perfected Qing Shang’s voice interrupted Wen Wanxi’s thoughts.

She cast him a displeased glance and discovered that he was staring at her with open hostility.

“We’re still investigating. However, no one on the mountain appears suspicious. I’m afraid an outsider may have infiltrated the summit of Tianshan.”

He Rui wanted to use that explanation to dismiss the matter.

In truth, he had been unable to uncover anything.

Although Wen Wanxi remained the greatest suspect and possessed a motive, there was no evidence proving that she had attacked Xu Yan.

Moreover, Wen Wanxi was the only woman Wucheng had brought this time. All her subordinates were men, while Xu Yan had identified his attacker as a woman.

It also made no sense to claim Wen Wanxi had ordered one of her subordinates to commit the attack.

He Rui had genuinely run out of ideas.

He could not find even the slightest clue.

“Xu Yan said the attacker wore entirely black clothing and a mask. Now that every disciple has come out, why doesn’t Sect Leadestolen contentr He search all their luggage?”

Perfected Qing Shang’s suggestion caused Wen Wanxi’s grip on her teacup to tighten.

She had not expected this old Daoist to be so persistent.

Wen Wanxi glanced toward Song Qi.

The girl remained completely unaware of the danger.

Her own people were already under Perfected Qing Shang’s scrutiny.

What should she do?

“That may not be appropriate…”

He Rui believed that searching everyone’s luggage without warning would undoubtedly attract criticism from the martial world.

However, Perfected Qing Shang said, “I’ll take responsibility for anything that happens. We absolutely cannot allow the culprit to escape!”

After hearing this, He Rui considered the matter repeatedly.

He glanced at Wen Wanxi and, seeing no objection from her, was about to agree when she finally spoke.

“Do not touch my luggage. Otherwise, I’ll kill you.”

Wen Wanxi already disliked others touching her personal belongings.

Now that it was being done under the pretext of a search, she was even less willing to allow it.

“If you refuse the search, could it be that City Lord Wen has something to hide?”

Perfected Qing Shang raised his voice.

Wen Wanxi merely shook her head.

“You may search. But I will no longer want anything you touch.”

“If you find nothing, Perfected Qing Shang, why don’t you guess what the consequences will be?”

“City Lord Wen, Perfected Qing Shang only wants to find the true culprit and restore justice to Brother Xu. Please make this easier for us.”

He Rui also tried to persuade her.

Wen Wanxi’s brows drew together, and a faint anger entered her beautiful eyes.

“Fine. I’ll make it easy for you.”

She looked at Perfected Qing Shang and smiled with restrained fury.

“Sect Leader He, once we leave Tianshan, you won’t be able to interfere with what happens next, will you?”

Wen Wanxi did not state the threat directly, but its meaning was unmistakable.

For a moment, He Rui did not know whether to agree or refuse.

He was placed in an extremely difficult position.

“You. Accompany Sect Leader He’s disciple and bring over all of Wucheng’s luggage. Let everyone inspect it publicly so no one can later accuse me of trickery.”

Wen Wanxi ordered one of her subordinates to accompany them.

She remained seated in the grand armchair while the leaders of every sect looked over, eager to watch the spectacle.

The argument between Perfected Qing Shang and Wen Wanxi had already attracted everyone’s attention, but no one wanted to wade into the conflict.

When profit was involved, everyone rushed forward while loudly proclaiming the righteousness of the martial world.

When there was no benefit, they scattered and behaved as though the matter had nothing to do with them.

That was the martial world.

How many people were truly willing to oppose the current Wen Wanxi?

One of Wen Wanxi’s subordinates followed He Rui’s disciple to retrieve the luggage.

Before long, every Wucheng disciple’s belongings were brought over.

He Rui sent a female disciple to inspect Wen Wanxi’s luggage.

The disciple searched carefully and cautiously, not daring to disturb anything inside.

The people of Wucheng all wore black clothing, but their outfits were never entirely black.

Golden, silver, or red thread was used to embroider flame designs onto the fabric, which would remain visible even at night.

Xiao Sheng noticed the commotion on the ceremonial platform.

The moment he saw that all of Wucheng’s luggage had been brought out, he immediately understood what was happening.

“Song Qi, is your nightwear still in your wardrobe?”

Xiao Sheng used secret voice transmission.

Song Qi had initially been annoyed to hear him again, but his words made her shudder.

Then she quickly relaxed.

“Don’t worry. I burned everything.”

How could she possibly leave evidence like that behind?

One time, when she returned to her room alone to apply medicine, she had burned the clothing and disposed of the ashes.

“I also used up Wucheng’s healing medicine and got rid of the container.”

After He Rui announced that he would investigate, Song Qi had naturally considered her own situation.

Even if no one suspected her, any remaining evidence could still ruin her.

Therefore, she had destroyed everything she could.

“I didn’t expect you to be so meticulous.”

Song Qi usually appeared careless, constantly bouncing around and making noise.

Xiao Sheng had assumed she was unreliable and inattentive, with no awareness of possible danger.

Unexpectedly, she was extremely careful and had destroyed every piece of evidence that might implicate her.

No wonder the City Lord found this person so intriguing.

She truly had extraordinary qualities.

“Of course. My life is at stake, so I have to be careful.”

Song Qi had no desire to die before accomplishing anything.

After committing a bad deed, destroying the evidence was only natural.

Wasn’t that what happened in television dramas?

Xiao Sheng turned toward Wen Wanxi.

She was also looking at him, apparently waiting for an answer.

Xiao Sheng merely nodded and gave her a reassuring smile.

Wen Wanxi immediately understood.

Song Qi had probably already disposed of the black clothing and mask.

Wen Wanxi had created this entire situation merely so Xiao Sheng would notice the danger.

He was intelligent and naturally understood her intentions.

“Reporting to Sect Leader, we found nothing.”

After the female disciple spoke, Perfected Qing Shang frowned.

“How is that possible?”

“Reporting to Sect Leader, we found nothing here either.”

Every Wucheng disciple’s clothing had been inspected.

There was no entirely black outfit or mask matching Xu Yan’s description.

The corners of Wen Wanxi’s lips curved upward.

“Perfected Qing Shang, are you satisfied with this result?”

“Hmph!”

Perfected Qing Shang remained convinced that Wen Wanxi had been responsible.

The evidence must simply have been destroyed, which was why they could not find anything.

“Go search the other disciples’ rooms.”

After He Rui gave the order, more than ten disciples dispersed to search the rooms.

“City Lord Wen, I apologize for the offense. I hope you can forgive us.”

He Rui bowed to Wen Wanxi.

She waved a hand.

“It’s fine. Sect Leader He is not to blame.”

Wen Wanxi paused, then added, “I only hope Sect Leader He will not interfere in matters that occur outside Tianshan.”

The other sect leaders immediately averted their gazes.

Everyone understood that a grudge had now formed between the Taixu Sect and Wucheng.

No one knew what would happen after they descended from Tianshan, and none of them wanted to become involved.

“City Lord Wen, do not underestimate the Taixu Sect!”

Perfected Qing Shang slammed his hand against the armrest and rose to his feet.

“Do not push people too far!”

Wen Wanxi merely laughed softly.

Unlike Perfected Qing Shang’s fury, she remained calm and composed, handling everything with effortless confidence.

Only her beautiful eyes contained a chilling coldness.

She slowly put on a pair of silver-white gloves and smiled.

“Perfected One, it seems your many years of secluded cultivation were wasted.”

“You suspected me without distinguishing right from wrong, then searched through the belongings of everyone from Wucheng.”

“Who exactly is pushing whom too far?”

“You demoness!”

Humiliated and enraged, Perfected Qing Shang drew his Taixu Sword.

Wen Wanxi swept her wide sleeve outward.

Clang.

The Taixu Sword in his hand became completely immobile.

Under the warm sunlight, silver threads wound around Wen Wanxi’s fingers.

The same silver thread had wrapped itself around Perfected Qing Shang’s sword, with a silver needle at its end.

The needle had nearly buried itself in the ground, completely restraining every movement of the Taixu Sword.

It was a Killing Thread!