“Concubine Huo?” Pei Liang raised a brow and asked Jiang Xun, “Whose concubine?”
Jiang Xun smiled. “Who do you think?”
Pei Liang understood at once. “Of course. For her to become your concubine, the Jiang family hasn’t sunk so low as to completely abandon all decency. These past two years, you’ve certainly done plenty of humiliating things to piece your reputation back together and restore your former prestige.”
“You—” Jiang Xun’s expression darkened. He had thought that, with his current strength, Pei Liang’s petty provocations would no longer be enough to anger him.
Yet whenever she opened her mouth, she still knew exactly where to stab him.
And after stabbing him, she continued indifferently, as if nothing had happened. “Oh, don’t take it so personally. You said it yourself: as long as you don’t feel embarrassed, then it’s everyone else who should be embarrassed. Three years have passed, and yet your cultivation is still lacking.”
Jiang Xun gritted his teeth. It was not that his cultivation was inadequate. Before outsiders, he truly had learned to endure insults without batting an eye.
But when it came to the culprit—the fiancée who had betrayed him in a way he could never have anticipated—Jiang Xun found it impossible to remain calm.
Pei Liang, however, seemed as though she were merely making casual conversation. She went on, “Besides, considering Huo Shiliu’s determination to enter the Jiang household even if she couldn’t become the principal wife, becoming your concubine ought to be the fulfillment of her dearest wish. Why would she look so haggard and resentful now?”
“Did Uncle Jiang demote his wife to a concubine?”
Jiang Xun had lowered his voice when he spoke, but Pei Liang certainly had not. With Huo Shiliu’s sharp hearing, she heard every word clearly.
Her eyes reddened as she glared at Pei Liang, as if she wished to carve her into a thousand pieces. Grinding her teeth as though she were chewing Pei Liang’s flesh, she hissed, “Bitch!”
Pei Liang spread her hands helplessly. “You make it sound as though I’m the reason the two of you ended up like this. I merely repeated the facts.”
“If your illicit affair had been allowed to continue, wouldn’t honest, guileless Uncle Jiang have been the pitiable one?” She even sighed. “Sure enough, it is rare in this world for all parties to have their way.”
Huo Shiliu nearly went mad at those words. She was about to draw the whip from her waist and lash out regardless of the consequences when someone suddenly appeared beside her.
That person slapped her across the face. Huo Shiliu’s already pale cheeks were instantly marked with several red welts, swelling before everyone’s eyes.
It was Jiang Wu. His bearing had changed greatly from a few years ago.
Back then, although he was known as “Blockhead,” and his honest, ordinary features could not compare with Jiang Xun’s, he had nevertheless made a favorable impression on those who met him.
Now, however, his face was twisted with malice, his gaze dark and vicious. He paid no heed to the impropriety of striking a woman in public, nor to the probing stares around him.
In a gloomy voice, he said, “Bitch. How dare you behave so outrageously in front of honored guests?”
Then he glanced toward Jiang Xun and gave Huo Shiliu another slap across her other cheek. “So this is why you’ve been dawdling here—your adulterous lover is here.”
“Why not hand the entire council hall over to the two of you so you can roll around in passion to your hearts’ content? The two of you have no shame anyway, so it would suit you perfectly.”
Huo Shiliu’s face burned with humiliation, so fiercely that it overshadowed even the redness left by the slaps. Even Jiang Xun, who had always maintained an air of composure, looked grim.
The people present seemed to recall the delight of gossiping at the funeral hall years ago. Though some frowned deeply at Jiang Wu’s crude language, even more of them showed a flicker of excitement.
Fortunately, the Jiang family had no desire to lose face a second time. The Jiang patriarch snapped at Jiang Wu, “If you have so much time on your hands, go outside the main gate and see to the distinguished guests from the various sects. Stop pestering a servant here.”
Jiang Wu cast a vicious glare at Huo Shiliu and Jiang Xun, but in the end he obeyed the sect leader and left.
Pei Liang watched the spectacle with evident relish. Turning to Jiang Xun, whose expression had become noticeably less composed, she asked, “By the way, where’s your mother?”
“For the past three years, I don’t believe I’ve heard anything about Madam Jiang appearing in public. Is she unwell?”
Jiang Xun nearly exploded. Yet perhaps he had prepared himself thoroughly for today and imagined every possible scenario.
After a moment, he managed to calm down. He even smiled at Pei Liang. “My mother is indeed in poor health and is recuperating in the inner residence.”
“If Junior Sister Liang is truly concerned, once we are married, you and I may show filial devotion before her more often.”
Pei Liang put on an expression of awkward reluctance. “I’d rather not. The topics Auntie and I have in common would be rather embarrassing.”
Jiang Xun had a bad feeling about this. Sure enough, Pei Liang continued, “Discussing my fiancé’s endowment and bedroom skills with his mother—however open-minded I may be, I simply couldn’t do it.”
She even looked faintly apologetic. “Senior Brother, I’m afraid I’ve disappointed you.”
Jiang Xun was certain of it now. This woman had never held him in her heart. Worse, she was treating him as a joke, something to toy with for amusement.
For Jiang Xun, who had always been so confident in his own appeal, it was especially unbearable.
He smiled, deciding to go all out. “There will always be some occasion for you to meet. Still, Junior Sister, you care only about Concubine Huo and my mother. The other women of the household would be deeply saddened to know it.”
“Over these past three years, everyone has thought of Junior Sister constantly. They speak of you day and night. Some even called for you on their deathbeds.”
“Though Junior Sister has grown somewhat distant from the Jiang family, so many have waited for you so earnestly, yet have received not the slightest favor from you. Is that not rather pitiful?”
Pei Liang smiled. “Then I have been discourteous. May I ask how the women of your household are doing? Since the formal discussion has not yet begun, could you invite them out so that we may meet?”
She even turned to the Jiang patriarch some distance away. “Uncle Jiang, Senior Brother says the women of your household have missed me greatly. Since I cannot conveniently leave at the moment, could you summon the ladies and young misses of your family so that we may have a chat?”
“And your cousin’s daughter—the one who was orphaned and lived under your roof. I have missed her as well after all these years. How is she now? Has she been married?”
Jiang Xun had not expected this woman to remain so utterly unfazed. They were no longer at the Pei residence, where she could speak as freely as she pleased, yet she actually demanded that everyone be brought out at once.
Sure enough, upon hearing this, the Jiang patriarch’s body went rigid. He shot Jiang Xun a resentful glare, blaming him for meddling and insisting on provoking Pei Liang with his sharp tongue.
Had the lessons from their previous losses not been enough to teach him caution?
Just as he was about to force a smile and smooth things over, an onlooker—someone on poor terms with the Jiang family, who had paid close attention to them after hearing so much gossip—spoke up.
“Patriarch Pei may not know this, but the Jiang family’s women have not appeared in the martial world or associated with any of the major sects in recent years. I seem to recall hearing that the Jiangs held several hasty funerals over the past few years.”
“As for the cousin’s daughter, she was married off three years ago. I heard she was wed to one of the Jiang family’s estate stewards.”
At this, murmurs of discontent rose from the crowd.
“What? The legitimate young lady of the family is being married off to no more than a manor steward? Master Jiang, is that true?”
“This is far too humiliating. Even if she had an affair with Jiang Xun, those married women may be wanton and deserve punishment—but an unmarried girl from a respectable family was led astray in the first place. Even if she has lost her chastity, her status and looks are still there. How can the Jiang family be so harsh?”
“Exactly. They could at least have married her to some less fastidious wealthy merchant and ensured she lived in comfort for the rest of her life.”
“Her father died protecting Master Jiang when they were ambushed by bandits together, and her mother soon followed, overcome by grief. How can the Jiang family treat the orphaned daughter of their benefactor this way?”
The surrounding discussion left Master Jiang unable to lift his head. He wanted to explain that the steward in question was a trusted servant of the household, and that under the Jiang family’s protection, the match would be far more secure than marrying her off to an ordinary merchant.
But everyone had already formed their own conclusions. Who would listen to his explanation now?
And even if he wanted to explain, Pei Liang would not let him. She once again put on her usual performance of fanning the flames, wearing an expression of astonishment as she said, “Several funerals?”
“How could I not have known? Uncle Jiang, Senior Brother, you have both been far too distant with me. We are related by marriage, after all.”
As if there was anything she did not know. What matter could possibly be kept from her?
Pei Liang hurriedly asked again, “Who passed away? Why were the funerals handled so hastily? I’m afraid I cannot agree with this.”
“Several aunts married into the Jiang family and spent years laboring diligently, allowing you men to pursue your affairs outside the home without worry. If they had no great merit, they at least had worked hard. Yet after their deaths, they were not even given proper funerals. Their friends and relatives had no chance to pay their respects, and they were buried in such a hasty manner. It is truly unfair.”
Who present did not understand what was going on?
Among the women who had secretly slept with Jiang Xun, those from prominent families were either punished and confined to their inner quarters, or, if they had powerful natal families behind them, simply divorced.
The women who could become the Jiang family’s principal wives were unlikely to have been killed over such a matter.
Those who had died were most likely concubines and secondary wives. To them, such women were mere playthings—how dare they betray their men and have affairs with a younger member of the family? They had been courting death.
Such women would never have been granted dignified funerals. But now that the matter had been pointed out so openly, the Jiang family could hardly save face.
Master Jiang wanted nothing more than to strike Pei Liang dead with a single blow, and he hated his own son all the more for provoking her.
He shot Jiang Xun a vicious glare. “Xun’er, there are still so many distinguished guests here. Why are you lingering about?”
Jiang Xun was seething with pent-up anger. Yet no matter how unwilling he was, he dared not allow the situation to become even more embarrassing while the Jiang family was hosting the gathering.
But how could Pei Liang let him off so easily just because he wanted to leave? When she toyed with a little mouse, when to stop was entirely up to her.
She called after Jiang Xun, “There are so many people in the hall already that Senior Brother can scarcely attend to them all. If he goes outside as well, he will be stretched too thin.”
Pei Liang looked at Master Jiang. There was not the slightest trace of malicious troublemaking on her face; instead, she appeared genuinely displeased.
“I must look after my own fiancé myself. Senior Brother should remain here to receive the guests. Surely Uncle Jiang will not refuse me even such a small request?”
Pei Liang was the leader of the Moon-Slaying Sect, equal in standing to Sect Leader Jiang, and Jiang Xun’s fiancée. Whether by sentiment or by reason, Sect Leader Jiang had no grounds to refuse her request.
He was thoroughly screwed. By all rights, when a woman learned that her fiancé had been cheating on her left and right—even committing incest with an elder—she ought to have been furious, devastated, perhaps even broken.
Pei Liang’s reaction had indeed been extreme. She had beaten the Jiang family down so thoroughly that they could barely catch their breath. That much suited her ruthless nature. Yet she had never shown the slightest intention of breaking off the engagement.
What was more, whenever she was with Jiang Xun, she seemed entirely relaxed and at ease, with not the least sign of resentment or disgust toward him.
There was simply no logic to be found in any of her actions. This was not at all how a woman was supposed to behave.
Sect Leader Jiang’s expression darkened. The two handsome, upright youths in black standing on either side of Pei Liang, both only sixteen or seventeen, frowned and addressed Jiang Xun.
“Senior Brother Jiang, my sister has been standing here for so long. Why haven’t you invited her to take her seat?”
The two were Pei Liang’s half-brothers. When disaster had befallen the Pei family, they had only just reached adolescence. Having been bullied and suppressed by Young Sect Leader Pei, they had always been inconspicuous.
They had struggled through their days alongside their mother. Young Sect Leader Pei had been naturally wary of and hostile toward his father’s children, particularly the boys. As a result, the concubines and mistresses who bore sons often had especially difficult lives.
After Pei Liang took over, she brought all of the former host’s half-brothers and half-sisters under one system of care and education, improving their treatment. Even Young Sect Leader Pei’s two illegitimate children were not mistreated—though they were still very young and had only just begun their schooling.
Though they had lost their father and elder brother, the illegitimate children’s lives had become far better than before. Their food, clothing, and daily necessities were worlds apart from what they had once known. The Pei father and son had both been harsh and heartless; only while their mothers remained favored had they perhaps lived comfortably. Once the two men grew tired of the women, life in the Pei household became difficult again.
After their eldest sister took the helm, not only did their basic living conditions improve severalfold, but they were also allowed to manage their own courtyards. Once the gates were shut, it was their own little domain.
Moreover, whether they worked hard at their studies, martial arts, or any other craft, so long as they excelled in something—or their diligence was noticed and their progress was clear—they and their mothers would receive rewards.
The mothers saved those rewards bit by bit, and within just three years they had amassed a considerable fortune. Having money in hand naturally gave them peace of mind.
Regardless of gender, anyone with the ability and ambition was given resources without stinginess as long as they made progress in their studies. Suppression and harassment had disappeared entirely.
By now, several of the older half-brothers and half-sisters had distinguished themselves. When they occasionally traveled the martial world, people would remark that the Pei family’s younger generation was full of talent.
How could these half-brothers and half-sisters not revere Pei Liang as though she were a god?
Jiang Xun had found the two unfamiliar, handsome youths—who bore some resemblance to Pei Liang—rather unpleasant to look at. From the way they addressed her, he immediately understood who they were.
He cursed his bad luck inwardly. If Young Sect Leader Pei were still around, how could these two brats possibly have the nerve to act so arrogantly?
Still, he swallowed his anger and led Pei Liang to the seat reserved for the sect leader.
The two boys glanced at the tea and pastries laid out on the table, and their disdain practically leapt from their eyes.
One of them said, “Senior Brother Jiang prides himself on being deeply devoted, yet he treats my sister with such carelessness. Does Senior Brother Jiang not know what tea and pastries my sister likes, or has he already forgotten after only three years?”
“So this is the sort of thing you’re using to fob us off?”
One of the female martial artists could no longer stand it. “Enough. The moment your Moon-Slaying Sect entered, you started finding fault with everything. Today, the many sects have gathered to discuss joining forces against the demonic cult—not for you delicate ladies to swagger about the Jiang residence.”
“Master Pei is now the head of a sect. After remaining within the Moon-Slaying Manor for three years, perhaps she still thinks of herself as the frail young miss she once was?”
Pei Wen and Pei Wu, her two half-brothers born of concubines, immediately took offense. “May we ask which sect this senior sister belongs to? What is her standing in the hierarchy? What rank of disciple is she within her sect?”
Before the woman could answer, the two continued in perfect tandem.
“Never mind. Something so obvious hardly needs Senior Sister to explain in person.”
“Senior Sister’s iron wrist ring, which signifies her status within her sect, and the proper position in which she stands make it clear at a glance.”
“Senior Sister is merely a second-rank disciple. Please do not apply your standards to our elder sister. Not only is it an insult to her, it also makes Senior Sister appear arrogant—and brings disgrace upon the Jiang family.”
“You…” The heroine flushed with anger.
“If Senior Sister does not believe us, she need only ask Senior Brother Jiang whether this was appropriate.”
Jiang Xun gritted his teeth, forcing a stiff smile. “It was appropriate! I was at fault. Please forgive me, younger brothers. Do not take your anger out on Heroine Zhen.”
Pei Wen and Pei Wu went on, “Since Senior Brother Jiang knows it was improper, he should replace it at once. Why is he standing here doing nothing? Instead of correcting the matter, he is trying to play peacemaker over the two little remarks we made?”
“Senior Sister has an open and forthright face; clearly, she would not hold a grudge against two boys like us. By making such a point of it, Senior Brother only makes Senior Sister seem petty.”
Jiang Xun and the heroine: “…”
“Before you have even handled the actual matter properly, you rush to mediate between others. No wonder that whenever Senior Brother Jiang does something, he ends up offending everyone on both sides.”
Jiang Xun was nearly angered to death by these two illegitimate boys. They looked about the same age and even resembled each other. He could not tell whether they were twins.
They spoke with extraordinary coordination. One would say the first half of a sentence, and the other would immediately pick it up. Two against one, without the slightest pause between them—it was impossible to react in time.
Then the pair continued, “Senior Brother Jiang, please do not blame us for speaking too much. It is only that, since our elder sister has chosen you and does not mind your countless blemishes, you ought to be all the more careful and attentive. With Senior Brother Jiang being so clumsy at a moment like this, let alone compared to the men who have shared our sister’s bed, even we two—careless as we are—know better how to conduct ourselves.”
“If, after marriage, our elder sister comes to despise you, Senior Brother Jiang will understand that every word we said today was priceless advice.”
Some of those nearby could no longer contain their laughter.
Among the Pei family’s younger generation, Pei Liang had once been the only one known to stand out. But now, it seemed that every one of them was clever.
Even as they enjoyed the spectacle, they could not help admiring Pei Liang’s skill in raising them. Before her, when had the Pei family ever been known to produce any promising younger members?
As the head of a sect, the only thing she might lack was martial prowess.
Though the Jiang family had been humiliated like this, if they truly married a woman of such capability into the family, the next three generations would benefit immeasurably. For a clan, that was what mattered most.
So what did it matter if they had to swallow a little humiliation? Besides, the Jiang family had been in the wrong to begin with.
As everyone thought this, the women who felt sorry for Jiang Xun grew even more disgusted by Pei Liang’s high-handed display.
Jiang Xun hurried off to replace the tea and refreshments. He had finally understood that he was no match for them in an exchange of words. The only thing left for him was to hide.
Fortunately, these interruptions did not last long. A few moments later, every sect that had received the Heroes’ Invitation had arrived.
Within the vast assembly hall sat the leaders—or elite disciples standing in for them—of the Four Sects, Eight Schools, and dozens of other martial arts factions.
Seated in the place of honor, Sect Leader Jiang felt a surge of pride as he looked upon the gathered heroes.
The Jiang family would use this campaign to eradicate the Demon Sect and reclaim its former prestige.
Sect Leader Jiang spoke. “Twenty years ago, it was the combined forces of the sects present here that drove the Demon Sect out of the Central Plains.
“Yet we failed to pull them out by the roots. Today, the Demon Sect has returned. In only a few short months, they have committed crime after crime, their arrogance and cruelty enough to provoke the wrath of both man and heaven.
“On the fourteenth of the third month, a village called Cotton Village, located within a hundred li of the Demon Sect, was slaughtered in a single night.
“Every child in the village was taken away. This is the severing of worldly ties that makes the Demon Sect so abhorrent. To recruit disciples, they forcibly abduct children and murder their parents. Their brutality today is worse than ever.”
It was not as though the crowd had never heard of this incident. But hearing it recounted now only intensified their indignation.
“Wherever the Demon Sect passes, not a blade of grass remains! Destroy the Demon Sect and restore peace to the martial world!”
“We must wipe out the Demon Sect! This time, we cannot allow them to flee back to their western stronghold. We must eradicate them completely!”
“I hear the current Demon Sect Leader is no longer the previous one. Witnesses say he is a strapping young man, certainly no more than thirty years old. His inner power cannot possibly rival that of the former devil. He must have taken the position only in recent years and cannot yet command full loyalty. This is precisely the perfect opportunity to destroy them.”
The hall erupted into discussion. The representatives of the Four Sects and Eight Schools remained composed and said little. Those displaying the greatest zeal were instead the leaders of the second- and third-rate factions.
That was only natural. The main force in any campaign against the Demon Sect would certainly be the allied armies of the Four Sects and Eight Schools. The terrain around the Demon Sect was treacherous, its experts numerous, and many of its followers practiced devious arts—poisons, concealed weapons, and traps among them.
During the previous campaign, the major sects had suffered grievous losses. Thus, although the Demon Sect’s return could not be ignored, any actual assault had to be considered carefully. They would not rush in headlong as lesser sects might.
After all, should elite disciples—or even a sect leader—die in the operation, a single sect could be plunged into decline.
Most of the leaders of the Four Sects and Eight Schools merely watched in silence. Then, suddenly, a voice rang out—
“We may discuss the campaign against the Demon Sect later. But the massacre at Cotton Village was not the Demon Sect’s doing.”
The crowd was startled. Looking up, they saw that it was Pei Liang, seated among the foremost places reserved for sect leaders.
Many were already worked up with righteous fury. Her words were like a basin of cold water thrown over them, leaving quite a few displeased.
One person who had disliked her from the start gave a cold laugh. “Who would have thought that among us righteous martial artists, there would be someone speaking on behalf of the Demon Sect?
“And that person is none other than the leader of the Moon-Slaying Sect, one of the Four Sects and Eight Schools—the very leaders of the righteous path.”
Pei Liang smiled. “So you do know we are honorable and upright sects? For a moment, I thought this was the scene of some wrongful trial, where the accused is condemned before being allowed to speak in their own defense.”
“You—”
Sect Master Jiang raised a hand, frowning as he said to Pei Liang, “Sect Master Pei, this concerns the Demon Cult. This is not the time for you to sow doubt and stir up trouble. Let what happened earlier pass—we can chalk it up to the willfulness of your younger daughter—but now is not—”
“Sect Master Jiang!” Pei Liang smiled without warmth. “Since you sent out invitations to the heroes of the realm and called everyone here to discuss a grand undertaking, I had assumed you regarded every sect representative present as an equal.”
“Yet in your eyes, I am merely a little girl who disregards the greater good. If you invited such a little girl as myself to take part in these discussions only to treat your fellow deliberators with such contempt, then are you planning to make decisions for your own household without tolerating a single question—”
“Or do you already intend, before these talks have even begun, to place all the sects under your command?”
Sect Master Jiang’s expression changed. He glanced around and saw that, indeed, the others might have been displeased by Pei Liang’s questioning whether the Demon Cult’s atrocities were real.
But once the matter returned to this sensitive point, the martial world became wary.
Everyone knew perfectly well what the Jiang family hoped to gain by taking the lead. But they still had to produce some convincing leverage, or promise to contribute more than the other sects.
Through the tacit bargaining and tug-of-war, perhaps the sects present might be willing to yield a little.
But before anything had even begun, what gave the Jiang family the right? Although Sect Master Pei’s words were infuriating, one thing she had said was not wrong.
If they were to discuss a great undertaking together, then everyone had to be allowed to speak. No matter how unpleasant her words might be, she had the right to state her position.
Sect Master Jiang nearly crushed the armrest beneath his palm. Swallowing back a mouthful of blood, he swore that he would be a fool if he ever engaged Pei Liang in another war of words.
He could only force out a strained smile. “It is Jiang’s habit to regard Sect Master Pei as a junior. I was inappropriate today. Sect Master Pei, please raise whatever doubts you may have.”
Only then did Pei Liang nod in satisfaction. “The Cotton Village massacre has been circulating through the martial world for some time now. Everyone says the Demon Cult was responsible, and so I became curious.”
“I sent members of my sect to investigate the scene, and I also wrote to an old acquaintance in the Six Doors to obtain the initial report from the site.”
“There are many suspicious points. First, the victims’ wounds were rough and ragged, many of them scarcely even shaped like proper weapon wounds. Most of the victims were fatally injured by blunt-force blows.”
“After examining the wounds, the experienced coroners of the Six Doors concluded that the murder weapons were mostly farming tools. Even if the Demon Cult was driven from the Central Plains in dire straits back then, after twenty years of rebuilding, could they truly be so impoverished that their followers lacked even decent weapons and had to kill with farm implements?”
“Furthermore, before the massacre occurred, the dogs belonging to several households in the village had been poisoned in advance. Cotton Village had fewer than thirty households in all. According to the investigation of the scene, most people died inside their own homes, and few managed to flee. Judging from the number of bloody footprints left when the perpetrators departed, there could not have been fewer than twenty of them.”
“More than twenty Demon Cult followers, slaughtering a mere isolated village, and they still had to poison the dogs first? And anyone who knew exactly which households had dogs, and could poison them so precisely without putting the dogs on alert, must have been intimately familiar with the village—perhaps even someone who had visited the homes of those dog-owning families countless times. The dogs knew the scent of the person who poisoned them; unless that person deliberately entered the house, they would not bark without cause.”
The crowd exchanged uneasy looks. All along, they had only heard it said that the Demon Sect had slaughtered the village. No one knew where the rumor had originated; those who claimed to know spoke with absolute conviction, while those who believed them had never bothered to investigate the details.
None of them had known there were so many unanswered questions surrounding the massacre.
Someone protested, “Sect Master Pei, these are merely doubts. They do not directly prove that the village massacre was not the Demon Sect’s doing.”
Pei Liang replied, “Has the Demon Sect ever stepped forward to claim responsibility for it? If not, why is everyone so convinced that they did it?”
“Whose side are you on, exactly?”
Pei Liang said, “That is what I would like to ask all of you. If your sole purpose is to wipe out the Demon Sect, then the difference in your stances is reason enough. Why insist on pinning crimes they did not commit on them?”
“I do not care about the Demon Sect’s reputation. But those villagers were innocent. If the rumors point to the wrong culprit—and even interfere with the authorities’ investigation—then who will catch the true murderer and seek justice for them?”
“None of you made any attempt to verify the matter, yet you pass judgment so decisively. In my view, that is no different from shielding the real culprit.”
Quite a few people fell silent. Even those who had been the loudest did not dare say that Pei Liang was wrong.
As for those eager to make the Demon Sect bear the blame, they were even less willing to speak rashly now. Since Pei Liang had put it so plainly, it seemed that the Six Gates had long since reached a conclusion as to whether the murderer was truly from the Demon Sect.
If they continued to make a scene and the real culprit was later exposed, they would only humiliate themselves.
Yet there were always fools too slow to grasp even that much. Unable to stand Pei Liang’s arrogance, Cao Hui spoke up. “But what if it really was the Demon Sect?”
Pei Liang looked at her with a faint, mocking smile. “So, in Miss Cao’s eyes, it is better to let the true murderer go free than to spare the Demon Sect by mistake?”
“If anyone else here shares such a view, then forgive Zhan Yue Manor for not remaining in your company.”
“The Pei family’s ancestral teachings forbid me from associating with those who would abandon justice merely to eliminate their rivals. We call ourselves members of the righteous sects—should we not remember the greater duty of a true hero?”
“Those who blindly follow hearsay, disregard the grievances of innocent commoners, recognize only the culprit they have already decided upon, and ignore the evidence and its inconsistencies are unworthy of being called ‘heroes.’”
Pei Liang’s words rang out with unshakable force. Among the disciples of Zhan Yue Sect, those still unversed in the depths and dangers of the martial world but full of youthful passion nodded repeatedly, their eyes bright.
But several old foxes among those present inwardly cursed their own carelessness. How had they failed to seize such a fine opportunity?
By taking this stance, the Pei family had claimed the moral high ground while leaving themselves free to withdraw at any time. Should the terms fail to satisfy them later, they would not be bound by righteousness—and would avoid suffering considerable losses.
Once several sects realized this, they too voiced their agreement. Those who had previously shouted the loudest saw the Four Clans and Eight Sects taking that position, and their momentum naturally died away.
The Jiang family saw that the situation was turning against them. Before matters had even begun, things had already become like this—how were they supposed to rally the crowd into action?
They hurriedly said, “Even if the Cotton Village massacre may not have been the Demon Sect’s work, the crimes they have committed go far beyond that.”
“The Qiao family of Luoyang rendered great service in the campaign against the Demon Sect. The old patriarch of the Qiao family even lost his only son because of it.”
“When the Demon Sect returned to the Central Plains, the first thing they did was slaughter the entire Qiao family in revenge. They even left the Demon Sect’s sacred flame emblem at the scene. Surely that cannot be false.”
“That is true. Unlike an ordinary village massacre, the annihilation of a martial arts family would naturally draw far more attention from those of the jianghu.
“Especially since quite a few people present were old friends of the Qiao family, and some had even paid their respects afterward. There could not possibly have been the doubts Sect Leader Pei mentioned earlier.”
“Precisely. Let us set aside the matter of Cotton Village for now. The Qiao family massacre cannot be blamed on the Demon Sect without cause. The Demon Sect came bearing resentment and hatred; they must surely seek revenge against the sects and families that took part in that battle years ago. The Qiao family was merely the least fortunate. Having fallen on hard times, they became the first soft target.”
“Sect Leader Pei, you must not hold out any wishful hopes regarding the Demon Sect.”
Pei Liang wore an awkward expression. “Unfortunately, the Qiao family massacre was not committed by the Demon Sect either.”
“What?” The crowd was startled. “Impossible! The Demon Sect’s sacred flame insignia is still there.”
“A crude, lifeless mark like that? Anyone here could paint one with a handful of gold dust. What does it prove?” Pei Liang said. “I was still investigating the matter of Cotton Village, but the Qiao family had longstanding ties with my Pei family. Naturally, I would not allow the murderer to roam free.”
“Though the Qiao family massacre bore none of the crude signs seen elsewhere, it was clearly the work of someone from the martial world. Yet according to the clues my people uncovered, no fierce fighting took place on the night of the massacre.”
“Apart from a small number of victims, most were killed in their own rooms. Their fatal wounds were largely to the back or the back of the head. Before death, their faces did not show hatred or terror, but rather surprise.”
“If enemies had broken into a martial arts clan’s rooms, who would turn their back on them? Clearly, it was the work of someone they knew—someone within the family who could enter and leave every room freely.”
“As it happened, after the Qiao family’s eldest son died, Master Qiao, wishing to preserve the family line, took in a highly skilled martial artist as a live-in son-in-law for his eldest daughter.”
“You cannot falsely accuse a good man without evidence.” Someone who had a close friendship with the Qiao family’s son-in-law immediately stepped forward in his defense.
Pei Liang smiled. “Naturally. But that does not change the fact that it was an extraordinary coincidence for the Qiao family’s son-in-law to have returned to his parents’ home that very night. Nor does it change the fact that he stands to gain the most from this.”
“He could inherit the Qiao family’s connections and estate in their entirety. He could even resume his original surname, and no one would stop him.”
Seeing the man’s friend bristle with anger, Pei Liang raised a hand to calm him. “There is no need to rush to defend him, sir.”
“Loyalty to a friend is only natural. But as the person handling the Qiao family’s affairs after their deaths, his conduct has been far too lax. He did not even report the matter to the authorities. Those of us in the martial world may dislike involving the government when trouble arises, but for the sake of the dead, someone should at least have examined the scene for anything suspicious. Instead, he seized upon a flame emblem that anyone could imitate, declared the culprit identified, and spread the claim far and wide.”
“Since the Qiao family’s son-in-law proved so incapable in such matters, my Pei family, as old friends of the deceased, lent him a hand. I reported the case to the Six Fan Bureau on his behalf.”
“Whoa—” No one had expected the Pei family to handle matters this way: suspecting the man’s son-in-law, yet simply filing a case with the authorities. But on reflection, they could find no fault with it.
The dead came first. Seeking justice for them was naturally of paramount importance. Perhaps it was improper to suspect the man, but so long as there was even the slightest doubt, it could not be ignored.
They had thought that was all, only to hear Pei Liang continue. “After filing the report, I sent a letter to a friend in the Six Fan Bureau, detailing the suspicious points in the case as well as my own deductions.”
“The Six Doors truly held their position. Secretly, they sent skilled agents to follow the Qiao family’s live-in son-in-law, and found among his personal effects a scented sachet whose stitching did not belong to his wife, daughter, or elderly mother. And after his wife and daughter died, he went to a silver shop to buy a hairpin in the style favored by young women.”
“Clearly, once the Qiao family was dead, he grew careless. Though he did not dare act openly at such a suspicious time, he was no longer as cautious as he had once been.”
“The Six Doors’ agents continued to shadow him and eventually caught him meeting in secret with a woman of the martial world. Her name was Second Madam Chun, a former bandit, and she had long been his lover. After the two parted, the Six Doors seized Second Madam Chun and used a ruse to lure her into taking the blame for the Qiao family massacre. The Qiao family’s son-in-law was arrested, but he has now pushed all responsibility onto her. With his alibi, he hopes to clear himself of suspicion and inherit the Qiao family fortune.”
“As expected, Second Madam Chun fell for it and exposed flaws in her story, allowing the Six Doors to uncover the evidence. It proved that the Qiao family’s son-in-law had long harbored designs on seizing their estate. The resurgence of the Demon Sect was simply the perfect opportunity to frame them.”
After all, once many people of the martial world saw that flaming emblem, they could think no further.
The crowd around them was utterly dumbfounded. Pei Liang said, “Before I set out for this place, the Six Doors had likely already departed to arrest the Qiao family’s son-in-law. If nothing has gone wrong, the true culprit behind the Qiao family massacre should be in prison by now.”
The Jiang family’s faces stung as though they had been slapped. The real murderer had already been caught, yet they were still using the case to denounce the Demon Sect?
Pei Liang added, “Oh, and the Cotton Village case was solved today as well. I believe the chief suspects were the people from a neighboring village across the river—a village that had long fought with them over water. Taking advantage of women who had married into the village, they committed this vile crime.”
“Before I left, I received word that the evidence was conclusive. Most of the abducted children had been sold elsewhere, but quite a few have already been found and can serve as witnesses. The authorities should be handling the matter by now.”
So their campaign to condemn the Demon Sect had been utterly pointless. In the end, neither of the two incidents had been the Demon Sect’s doing.
Seeing the crowd’s spirits beginning to flag—the first burst of momentum spent, the second already fading—the Jiang family grew anxious.
This would not do!
They hurriedly brought up another matter. “What about Miss Qiu, the famed Red Maple Beauty? When the Demon Sect abducted her, they also left behind the Sacred Flame insignia.”
He turned to the members of the Qiu family present. “Surely there can be no such doubts in this case?”
The Qiu family did not look pleased. Miss Qiu, a famed beauty of the martial world on par with Pei Liang, was the pride of their family. Their daughter had been abducted, and the household had long been frantic with worry. Even if she were found, her reputation would be ruined.
Yet the Qiu family genuinely loved their daughter, and so they had come without hesitation to this gathering to condemn the Demon Sect.
Now that the Jiang sect leader had raised the matter publicly, they could only endure the humiliation and stand up to confirm it, for the sake of ensuring the campaign against the Demon Sect proceeded smoothly.
But before the head of the Qiu family could utter a word, Pei Liang reassured him, “Don’t worry. Miss Qiu was not abducted by the Demon Sect. She eloped with her lover of her own accord. She’s perfectly safe.”
“Hiss—”
The people around them sucked in sharp breaths. The Qiu family members were stunned, uncertain whether they ought to laugh or cry, feel relieved or fly into a rage.
Although Pei Liang had yet to explain why, in the previous two incidents, she had casually seen through the surface of things and tracked down the true culprits from thousands of miles away.
Years ago, it had also been she who exposed the Jiang family’s scandal, as well as the hidden agent the Heaven-Burning Sect had concealed for decades.
All these deeds had already proven one thing: whatever this woman said, one had best not dismiss it lightly—or risk being slapped in the face by the facts.
It took the head of the Qiu family quite a while to steady himself before he finally gritted his teeth and asked, “Then... then whom did my daughter—”
Before he could finish, he was interrupted again.
The great monk from Shaolin seemed to have sensed something. He abruptly rose to his feet, infusing his voice with inner force. His words rang as though directly beside everyone’s ears, carrying beyond the vast hall and straight toward the outside.
“Benefactor, since you have already paid us a visit, why not come down and have a word? The rooftop is cold. We must not neglect our honored guests.”
The crowd was instantly startled. With so many martial arts masters present, none of them had noticed someone slipping into the Jiang residence—so close at hand.
Quite a few rose to their feet in alarm, watching the entrance warily. Through the broad open doors, the scene outside was plainly visible.
On the eaves of the ornamental gate directly opposite the council hall stood—or sat—several men and women dressed in exotic foreign attire.
At their head was a man in red, his face veiled. Tall and powerfully built, he wore clothing rather revealing by Central Plains standards.
The lines of his bare arms and waist were firm and flawless. Had the occasion been more suitable, some of the bolder female martial artists present might well have lingered over the sight.
Yet no one would mistake this magnificently dressed man for a mere pretty-faced ornament.
He had appeared here without anyone noticing. Even now, standing in plain view before them, few could detect him through their inner force, despite how strikingly conspicuous his presence was.
Even the Shaolin monk admitted that he had not sensed the man immediately.
Rather, it was the arrival of several people behind him—their auras had leaked out, allowing the monk to notice them. At this, the crowd drew in a sharp breath.
Someone recognized one of the men behind him as an elder of the Demon Sect, who had fought them years ago. Combined with their Western Region attire, the visitors’ identities were obvious.
Members of the Jiang family immediately stood up. “Demonic cult fiends! How dare you behave so outrageously in the Jiang residence!”
But the man paid the Jiang family no heed. His gaze settled on Pei Liang instead.
In a lazy voice, he asked, “And then? Who did the Qiu family’s daughter run off with?”
So he had come all this way just to listen to gossip.
