Chapter 84, Martial Disaster

Translator: StarReader

 

Ah Nu rode the back colt, closely following Su Chen on his horse along the narrow, winding path at the foot of Vaulting Mountains.

 

Her face was pale with fear as she asked nervously, “Young Master Su, isn’t Daoist Qinghe the acting abbot of Han Mountain Daoist Temple and Daoist Han Shan’s head disciple? If we killed him, won’t the Han Mountain Daoist Temple find out and hunt us down across the martial world?”

 

“Only you saw me.” Su Chen replied dismissively. “It will be hard for others to come to the same conclusion.”

 

Killing Daoist Qinghe wasn’t something he bothered about. He stole the immortal book from Han Mountain Daoist Temple years ago, forcing Elder Qinghe to have his arm severed by his master, Daoist Han Shan.

 

The temple was still hunting for the thief three years later, and now, losing one disciple wouldn’t make much difference.

 

“But what about that pirate? They saw us and escaped to Vastest Lake!” Ah Nu worried.

 

“He only knows I’m a Medicine King Group laborer,” Su Chen explained. “And even if he tells others, no one will believe it was us who killed Daoist Qinghe.”

 

Ah Nu looked thoughtful, then replied hesitantly, “Even he might not believe that either.”

 

If she hadn’t seen it with her own eyes, even if others said Su Chen killed Daoist Qinghe, she wouldn’t have believed them either.

 

She only knew that Su Chen was a first-rate expert.

 

But Daoist Qinghe was also a renowned martial figure, a senior of the highest caliber. If he could be killed so easily, how would he have risen to such prominence?

 

Ding Shisan had left early and hadn’t seen how Daoist Qinghe died. If he heard about it, he’d likely be just as shocked, unable to comprehend why.

 

The crucial point in this whole murder case was who had the capability to kill Daoist Qinghe? Ah Nu had witnessed it but still didn’t understand how Su Chen pulled it off.

 

Today, thousands of martial artists were hunting in Vaulting Mountains. They weren’t the only ones who’d passed through that small grove. Without eyewitness testimony, proving who killed Daoist Qinghe required solid evidence.

 

Before figuring out who could kill Daoist Qinghe, all claims would be mere rumors, devoid of credibility.

 

“This pirate wouldn’t believe it himself if he heard about Daoist Qinghe’s death. He’d rely on others telling him, while they’d likely disbelieve his account in return. Besides, he’s a pirate; white martial artists won’t take his word for it.”

 

If he wanted to investigate, he’d first have to interrogate the entire Medicine King Group, which would take at least half a month.

 

“Forget him for now,” Su Chen said calmly. “Tonight is the first-ever Wu Region martial competition. Xikou Town will be lively enough. After tonight, I’ll find a chance to hunt him down and eliminate this threat.”

 

…

 

Just as Su Chen and Ah Nu rode away, after barely ten breaths’ time, six or seven martial experts galloped past on their horses, raising clouds of dust in their haste.

 

Six or seven renowned martial artists, well-known throughout the Wu Region, rode together. Each was a senior expert, seasoned in their cultivation.

 

Leading them was Thunder Leap Ding Dadiao from Dantu County, famous for his strong feet and his mastery of the Thunder Leap technique. His leg skills were extraordinary.

 

Three Fang Odities, brothers from Yuyao, were eccentric but frank, with wide networks among martial artists.

 

Yuyao’s Thunderclap Group Leader, Lei Bo, led a group of several hundred small groups. His influence was substantial.

 

From Qiantang County, the veteran constable and team leader Qin Tian, known as Soaring Bailiff, was one of the county’s top experts, well-connected with martial artists.

 

These seniors and first-rate experts were famous throughout the Wu Region martial world. As they rode towards Xikou Town for the inaugural Wu Region Martial Competition, they galloped through a thicket when they saw blood at its edge. A tall, gaunt, blue-robed Daoist lay beside a tree, bathed in blood.

 

Their faces paled instantly as they reined in their horses.

 

“Daoist Qinghe!” someone exclaimed.

 

Ding Dajiao dismounted and rushed to check the Daoist’s pulse. He was dead. A deep cut across his throat indicated he had been silenced with one swift stroke. Who could have done such a thing?

 

Ding Dadiao stumbled back, astonished. Daoist Qinghe wasn’t just any martial artist; as acting abbot of Han Mountain Daoist Temple, he enjoyed immense respect among Gusu County’s people.

 

In the martial world of the Wu Region, Daoist Qinghe was a figure whose mere cough could shake an entire town, his martial reputation unparalleled amongst these six or seven individuals.

 

This was nothing compared to the most terrifying fact: Daoist Qinghe had a master so powerful it took one’s breath away. This master was not just an mighty expert in Wu Region’s martial world; they were the spiritual leader of Wu Region’s countless disciples. If Daoist Qinghe were to suddenly die in Vaulting Mountains, the entire martial world would tremble.

 

“Daoist Qinghe’s demise… this signals great turmoil in our martial world!” stammered Fang Sanxian, one of the Three Fang Oddities of Yuhang County.

 

“Brother Qian,” he addressed the renowned constable from Qiantang County, “you’re the seasoned investigator here. What do you make of this?”

 

Constable Qian Tian nodded gravely, examining Daoist Qinghe’s body and wounds carefully. “The body hasn’t been moved. The leaves around are undisturbed; there are no signs of dragging. This is indeed the crime scene.

 

“The wound runs three inches long and an inch deep, severing both his trachea and blood vessels,” Qian Tian continued. “A small weapon must have been used; I can’t tell the exact type. He was killed just moments ago, within a time span of half an incense stick.

 

“His eyes are wide open in shock, but there’s no sweat on his forehead or cheeks. There were no signs of struggle before death; he likely died after one or two moves!

 

“The sword is drawn and lies beside him, its tip pointing at his throat. This indicates a face-to-face confrontation, not an ambush. The killer must have caught Daoist Qinghe by surprise with his strength.

 

“We don’t have enough evidence to identify the culprit,” Qian Tian admitted. “But considering Daoist Qinghe’s skill level, only a Grandmaster could have killed him in one or two moves. This is our lead; we follow it to find our assassin.”

 

The weight on Qin Tian’s face grew heavier after his examination of the body. With nearly four decades as a seasoned constable tracking down murder cases, he found this one particularly challenging.

 

The imperial court wouldn’t meddle in martial affairs, especially murders. Such matters were to be resolved within the martial world itself. The clean slice through the throat, instantly killing a first-rate senior expert like Daoist Qinghe, spoke of a Grandmaster’s handiwork. It was elementary.

 

Yet, there were seven prominent Grandmasters in the Wu Region alone. Identifying the culprit wouldn’t be easy. Cases involving Grandmasters were always monumental, and gathering evidence against them wasn’t straightforward.

 

There were other leads, like hoofprints at the edge of the grove. But with thousands of horses within the Wu Region, comparing prints would take forever. And investigating high-ranking martial artist groups’ or Grandmasters’ steeds wasn’t simple either. Those were circumstantial clues, not irrefutable evidence.

 

“Daoist Qinghe was killed by a Grandmaster?” The gathered crowd exchanged startled glances. A chill ran through them all, cold as the winter’s first frost. Tonight, at Xikou Town, the Wu Region martial competition was to commence under the stewardship of Daoist Han Shan and Magistrate Wang—an event of immense influence.

 

“Could it be one of them?” Qin Tian whispered, his gaze sweeping over the crowd. “Who among them could’ve done this? A Grandmaster’s strike leaves no trace…”

 

Silence hung heavy as each person looked around warily, suspicion casting long shadows under the moonlight. The grove seemed quieter now, as if nature itself held its breath, waiting for an answer that might never come.

 

Martial rivalries were one thing, but this… this was a murder most foul. A Grandmaster’s doing would shake the very foundations of the Wu Region’s martial order. And finding proof? That was like searching for a needle in a haystack during a storm.

 

Yet, at this crucial moment, the head disciple of Daoist Han Shan was killed. Was this a bold challenge to Daoist Han Shan’s authority?

 

Which Grandmaster dared to secretly oppose Daoist Han Shan, eliminating his head disciple?

 

“Who in the Wu Region would kill Daoist Qinghe?”

 

“Not likely any of the four group leaders; they are all from the white path, aligned with Han Mountain Daoist Temple. They have no territorial disputes and wouldn’t provoke Daoist Han Shan.”

 

“Is it Mao Ziyuan, the leader of the White Lotus Society? His society and the Daoist temple are of different beliefs, but he rarely leaves Firm Mountain Lake in Lou County and doesn’t meddle in martial affairs. He has no reason to kill Daoist Qinghe.”

 

“Could it be White-faced Scholar Liu Hong, leader of the Whale Gang? He has the power and motive to challenge Daoist Han Shan. The gang is the best in the Wu Region, with thousands of disciples and pirates controlling waterways and the Vastest Lake. Recently, they even plundered official grain ships. They’re a force to be reckoned with; even the governor’s manor and county constables fear them.”

 

Daoist Han Shan, the ultimate martial artist in the Wu Region, was hosting this competition. If the black and white factions clashed, blood would spill, and bodies would litter the ground.

 

The several senior martial artists present couldn’t help but feel a chill down their spines. Tonight’s competition in Xikou Town might bring unforeseen changes. The power dynamics in the Wu Region were shifting. Daoist Qinghe’s death was just the harbinger of greater storms to come.