Wine Sword Immortal shook his head and said, “I don’t know why Ye Changsheng would kill my junior brother.”
“To be honest, I find the whole thing rather strange myself.”
“I’ve met Ye Changsheng. He is a man of loyalty and righteousness, with upright character. By all reason, he would never kill my junior brother, and given his cultivation level, he simply couldn’t have done it.”
“There must be some hidden truth behind this affair.”
Yun Shan nodded. “I share your view. What do you plan to do?”
Wine Sword Immortal replied, “I intend to find Ye Changsheng and ask him directly.”
Yun Shan nodded again. “I approve. Only by locating Ye Changsheng can we learn exactly how Qin Sword Immortal died.”
“However, you must seek the truth calmly. Do not bully him just because his cultivation is lower.”
“Our Azure Cloud Sword Sect is a righteous sect. We act with reason in all things. We must never behave like the Yin-Yang Sect, bullying others without restraint.”
Wine Sword Immortal smiled. “Rest assured, Sect Master. I will not act rashly. I hold that young man in high regard. If my junior brother’s death turns out to have another cause, not only will I not blame him, I will invite him again to join our Azure Cloud Sword Sect.”
Yun Shan gave a soft grunt, then continued, “If Ye Changsheng has changed his mind and is willing to join us, I would quite like to meet him in person and see what abilities this fellow possesses that made Xi’er look upon him so favourably.”
“Of course, if Qin Sword Immortal’s death truly was his doing and he is in the wrong, then show him no mercy. Eliminate him at once.”
“Although Azure Cloud Sword Sect does not throw its weight around, neither do we allow ourselves to be trampled upon.”
“Anyone who deliberately makes an enemy of us, no matter who they are, will not be spared!”
As Yun Shan finished speaking, his aura suddenly shifted. A heavy pressure burst forth.
In an instant, the sky darkened and the winds howled.
If the earlier Yun Shan had resembled a steady mountain, at this moment he was a divine sword drawn from its sheath, its edge peerless.
Wine Sword Immortal could not withstand the pressure. His spine bent, and he hurriedly said, “Sect Master, please withdraw your pressure, or I shall have to kneel.”
At once, Yun Shan reined in his aura and became calm as still water once more.
Yun Shan said, “Since you have decided to find the boy, go quickly. Uncover the truth behind Qin Sword Immortal’s death. If the boy did it deliberately, make sure he disappears forever.”
“Remember, handle this matter cleanly and thoroughly. Xi’er must never know about it. Understood?”
Wine Sword Immortal nodded. “Understood.”
“Good, you…” Yun Shan had only begun to speak when his gaze suddenly shot toward the horizon, tension flashing across his brow.
In that instant, the air around the peak froze. Even the clouds drifting in the sky halted motionless.
Sensing something amiss, Wine Sword Immortal quickly asked, “Sect Master, what is it?”
Yun Shan replied, “When Xi’er took disciples to the Undying Mountain, I wanted an elder to accompany and protect her, but she refused. So I personally carved an array onto a jade pendant and gave it to her for her safety.”
“Just now, I sensed that Xi’er has activated the array.”
Wine Sword Immortal’s heart jolted. Yunxi was Yun Shan’s only daughter. If anything happened to her, the Sect Master would lose his mind.
“Sect Master, I have received word that this time, apart from Heaven-Mending Sect and Yin-Yang Sect, the holy sons and maidens of the three great holy lands have entered the Undying Mountain, as well as geniuses from Central Continent and the Buddhist Son of Spiritual Mountain’s Great Thunderclap Monastery.”
“Many second-rate sects such as Soul-Severing Gate and Beast Emperor Sect have also sent their geniuses, along with countless rogue cultivators.”
“Sect Master, why not let me head to the Undying Mountain first, and then look for Ye Changsheng afterwards?”
“No rush. Let me first check on Xi’er’s situation.” With a flick of his sleeve, a ring of light appeared in mid-air.
The ring acted like a mirror. The next second, Yunxi’s figure appeared within it.
Yun Shan’s eyes widened.
Wine Sword Immortal glanced at the image, his face filled with shock and awkwardness.
In the scene, Yunxi’s hair was dishevelled, her clothes in disarray. She nestled intimately against a young man, clearly deeply in love.
Moreover, a trace of lingering affection showed at the corners of her eyes, her cheeks flushed. As an experienced man, Yun Shan understood immediately what had taken place.
Crackle!
Yun Shan clenched his fists so hard the air cracked. Through gritted teeth he demanded, “Who is that damned bastard?”
“That is Ye Changsheng,” Wine Sword Immortal answered.
“He is Ye Changsheng?” Yun Shan paused, then stared closely at Ye Qiu in the image for a moment before sneering. “He does have a pretty face. Hmph, to dare lay a hand on my daughter, I will never forgive you.”
At that very moment, voices came from the image.
Yunxi asked, “Ye Lang, I am already yours. When will you come with me to Azure Cloud Sword Sect to meet my father?”
Boom!
Yun Shan felt as though lightning had struck him from a clear sky. His body swayed.
“Ye Lang… Xi’er actually called him Ye Lang… Bastard!”
Yun Shan gnashed his teeth, nails digging into his palms. At this moment, he felt as though someone had stolen the very apple of his eye.
Ye Qiu replied, “The time is not yet ripe. I’m afraid I cannot visit Azure Cloud Sword Sect for the moment.”
“Bastard!” Yun Shan roared. “You take my daughter and refuse to take responsibility? A man without honour deserves death from any hand. Wine Sword Immortal, is this what you call upright character?”
Wine Sword Immortal hurriedly explained, “Sect Master, I only met Ye Changsheng once. His character did seem decent at the time…”
Before he could finish, Yunxi’s voice rang out again from the image, “Ye Lang, do you like me more, or do you like Sister Baihua more?”
What? This bastard has another woman?
Yun Shan’s forehead bulged with veins, his eyes turning bloodshot. He wanted nothing more than to tear Ye Qiu into eight pieces.
“Excellent! My daughter gives you her heart, yet you still tangle with other women. Ye Changsheng, you have some nerve!”
“Wine Sword Immortal, you just said his character was fine. Are you blind?”
“How can a man like this be called decent?”
Wine Sword Immortal forced a laugh and tried to explain, “Since ancient times, every capable man has been surrounded by beauties. Sect Master, when you were young, didn’t you also have many admirers and confidantes? They…”
Yun Shan whipped his head round and fixed Wine Sword Immortal with a gaze sharp as a blade.
Instantly, it felt as though a sword hung over his head. Cold sweat broke out across Wine Sword Immortal’s body.
“This subordinate spoke out of turn. Please forgive me, Sect Master.”
Trembling, Wine Sword Immortal continued, “I only met Ye Changsheng once and thought well of him then. As for his true character, I will investigate at once.”
“Sect Master, I shall set off for the Undying Mountain immediately.”
The pressure of a Saint was simply too terrifying. Better to escape while he could. With that, Wine Sword Immortal turned to leave.
“Stop right there!”
Yun Shan’s deep shout rang out. “You remain in the sect to handle affairs. As for Ye Changsheng, hmph, I will tear him apart with my own hands.”
With a furious roar, Yun Shan ripped open a void fissure and stepped through.
