Chapter 22: All Things Come to an Empty End
Feng Xuan Yang’s words lifted everyone’s spirits, but as the words reached his lips, he seemed hesitant to make any further speculative statements. At this point, he refrained from saying more, leaving everyone truly intrigued.
At this moment, Tao Huai spoke, “Is what Sect Leader Feng mentioned related to the Corpse Gu from ‘Gudong’ in Miao Territory?”
“Corpse Gu?” someone exclaimed in astonishment. Some were familiar with what Corpse Gu was, and they all took in a sharp breath.
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Tao Huai smiled faintly and continued, “There’s something you don’t know. While Corpse Gu was initially designed to control corpses, I didn’t say it couldn’t be used on living people. In fact, controlling the living is even more sinister than controlling the dead. This is because Corpse Gu needs to leave its original host and transfer to a new body.
The poison carried from the original host will spread to the new body, causing the person to die from the poison over time, even if not directly manipulated. Corpse Gu’s gu worms are extremely invasive—they can enter through any opening, even by consuming simple water. The warmth of the intestines will quickly hatch the gu eggs, and it won’t take long for the gu to take effect.” Tao Huai finished speaking, approached Xiang Zong’s body, and examined it closely, saying, “Judging by the dark aura on Lord Xiang’s face, it seems the gu hasn’t been in his body for long, likely from last night.”
“If that’s the case, then it’s highly likely that last night, the culprit poisoned the well water in the mansion. Those who drank water last night, including Lord Xiang, would have been affected by the gu, causing them to lose their senses and be controlled to commit murder,” Long Qinghan interjected. He glanced at Feng Xuan Yang and continued, “Young Master Tao’s explanation makes sense. Blood Shadow and his wife only descended the mountain after noon yesterday. If the gu had been applied before that time, they wouldn’t have escaped its effects. However, they’re both unharmed now. Therefore, the time of gu application might have been from noon until the end of the day, and following Tao Huai’s deduction, it’s likely that it happened after nightfall.”
“That does seem reasonable. So, who is the perpetrator, and who is this ‘demon’ that Leader Feng mentioned…”
However, Feng Xuan Yang merely snorted and didn’t respond. Long Qinghan knew Feng Xuan Yang’s temperament and didn’t push him further. He calmly said, “I believe the term ‘demon’ refers to someone else. Let’s recall that when Old Fu was dying, he pointed at me and used the word ‘demon.’ I’m certain that ‘demon’ has no connection to my identity or name. Perhaps he was trying to convey something to me in his last words, implying something. As for who this ‘demon’ is, I speculate it might be either the person mentioned by the senior who just left or potentially an enemy of Lord Xiang.”
The crowd fell silent for a moment, reflecting on the scene before Old Fu’s death. They nodded in agreement. Long Qinghan couldn’t help but exhale in relief. He was truly glad that he had stepped forward and shielded Feng Xuan Yang. Otherwise, proving his innocence would have been much more challenging.
“But Lord Xiang is known for his kindness and generosity. How could he have earned the enmity of others?”
Long Qinghan furrowed his brows, deep in thought. Indeed, Lord Xiang was well-regarded, and his position in the martial world was respectable. But how could he have attracted enemies?
“Qinghan, do you remember the two missing bodies from that day?”
A flash of insight suddenly crossed Long Qinghan’s mind. He looked at Feng Xuan Yang with astonishment, “Are you suggesting…”
Feng Xuan Yang nodded, “The Corpse Gu is indeed formidable. To affect several people with the gu overnight implies that the gu involved isn’t something an ordinary gu host can produce. Those we killed back then were closely connected to the Five Gu Children, and they were adept at using poison. The poison on these corpses is even more ruthless and dominant. Therefore, I suspect that the person who took the bodies away extracted the Corpse Gu and then poisoned the water in the mansion.”
Long Qinghan furrowed his brows, realizing that Feng Xuan Yang’s explanation held merit. He nodded in agreement and proceeded to explain the matter involving Gu Wu to those present.
The crowd murmured in sympathy, and someone asked, “But why would this implicate Lord Xiang?”
Long Qinghan exchanged a subtle glance with Feng Xuan Yang and explained, “Do you all recall how Miss Xiang was harassed by the disciples of the Five Gu children? It was due to Lord Xiang’s generous gift during the wedding banquet, which drew the attention of others and led to the subsequent incident. While we eliminated the Five Gu children and their associates afterward, we can’t rule out the possibility that the relatives and friends of the Five Gu children might attribute blame to Lord Xiang, even to me and Leader Feng. Earlier, I mentioned that the person impersonating Gu Wu came to assassinate us. Now, with the mansion destroyed tonight and Leader Feng almost framed, isn’t it clear that someone is targeting both us and Lord Xiang? In this way, that person not only killed Lord Xiang but also shifted the blame to Leader Feng, achieving two objectives at once.”
Gasps of realization filled the air, and another question arose, “So, the person in the red attire…”
“Undoubtedly, it was the killer deliberately attempting to frame Leader Feng. Think about it, if someone hadn’t alerted us, how would you have discovered the destruction of the mansion? From the very beginning, it was a trap set by the killer. It allowed them to seek revenge and manipulate others to point their fingers at us, putting us in a disadvantageous position. As for the term ‘demon,’ I speculate that it might refer to the killer. While the Five Gu children aren’t practitioners of demonic arts, they aren’t virtuous individuals either. Therefore, it’s not surprising to label the killer associated with them as a ‘demon.’ However, identifying the true identity of the killer might take some time,” Long Qinghan concluded, his brow furrowed in contemplation.
Even though the entire incident was targeted at Feng Xuan Yang, Long Qinghan didn’t distance himself from the situation. He repeatedly referred to their actions with “us,” a simple choice of words that stirred an indescribable sense of gratitude in Feng Xuan Yang’s heart.
The crowd fell silent, finding Long Qinghan’s explanation convincing.
Having realized their earlier misunderstanding of Feng Xuan Yang, the guilt that had been lingering in the hearts of the crowd dissipated. Naturally, they refrained from troubling him further. Tao Huai also spoke a few kind words on Feng Xuan Yang’s behalf, effectively clearing his suspicion. The rain outside gradually ceased, prompting everyone to rush to the well where they indeed found the gu worms in the water.
However, as for the identity of the culprit and the meaning behind the term “demon,” after deliberation, the group came to a standstill. The tragic incident at the destroyed mansion remained a headless case, leaving them feeling disheartened.
The bodies of the mansion’s occupants were gathered together and a pyre was erected using branches, igniting a roaring fire that consumed them.
The group bowed their heads in silent mourning for the deceased. As they watched the once-prosperous mansion go up in flames, all that remained were the young lady and her husband. The scene was truly lamentable.
After a violent rainstorm, the once-thriving mansion was reduced to rubble. The rain had washed away the blood, the fire had consumed the bodies, and the only thing left was the lingering scent of gunpowder. After bidding farewell to the deceased, the group departed the mountain one by one. Tao Huai cast a meaningful glance at Leader Feng and Young Master Long before also taking his leave.
The once-bustling mansion now stood empty, with only Sect Leader Feng, Young Master Long, and three others remaining. Long Qinghan’s mind was restless, so he sent Long Mo away and found himself gazing into the sky in solitude.
After the heavy rain, the air in the mountains was filled with the scent of fresh soil. However, an indelible trace of blood still hung in the air. Long Qinghan furrowed his brow tightly, the pungent and thick smell of blood making him nauseous. He coughed violently a few times before pulling out a silk handkerchief to cover his mouth, retching. Feng Xuan Yang looked at him with concern and began patting his back while using his internal energy to help him regain his composure.
However, at this moment, Long Qinghan wasn’t just physically uncomfortable; his heart was heavy. He unconsciously walked over to the plum tree in front of Xiang’s mansion, leaned against it, closed his eyes, and sighed.
Feng Xuan Yang followed him, standing quietly by his side without saying a word. He knew that Long Qinghan needed a moment of calm.
But how could Long Qinghan find peace? The tragedy of the destroyed mansion reminded him of the massacre that had befallen Heavenly Sword Sect in the past. This incident felt eerily similar to those dark days, happening right before his eyes once again. Seeing so many lives lost right in front of him, even though he was a veteran of the martial world accustomed to bloodshed, he couldn’t easily accept it. His heartbeat felt like it was stopping. In order to clear Feng Xuan Yang’s name, he had to force himself to stay composed, face everyone’s doubts alone, and even resort to deception to support him. After a battle of wits, he was utterly exhausted, both mentally and physically.
Despite successfully exonerating Feng Xuan Yang, the identity of the mansion’s assailant remained unknown. The matter of the “Demon Moon” yielded no results either. The entire situation seemed to have looped back to its starting point, ultimately attributing the tragedy to vendetta.
Long Qinghan rubbed his temples, took a deep breath, but his chest felt tight, a heavy burden he couldn’t release. Unconsciously, he walked over to Feng Xuan Yang and gently rested his head on his shoulder, softly saying, “Let me lean on you.”
Feng Xuan Yang was momentarily surprised, but then he extended his arms and embraced the slender figure, patting his back to comfort him. At a time like this, words couldn’t offer much solace. A strong embrace was the most genuine form of comfort.
Long Qinghan bowed his head silently, remaining quiet for a long while. It was only after regaining his breath that he realized something was amiss. Suddenly, he pushed Feng Xuan Yang away forcefully, holding a silk handkerchief to his nose and fanning with his hand, saying, “It’s so foul. Stay away from me.”
“…” He had leaned in just a moment ago, and now he was repulsed.
Feng Xuan Yang felt annoyed and was about to approach and pull him back, but he saw the wariness in Long Qinghan’s eyes and hesitated. Feng Xuan Yang moved his nose and sniffed, realizing that the bloodstains on his clothes had started to emit an unpleasant smell. Long Qinghan had endured the stench of blood for so long, which was truly commendable.
With a soft sigh, Feng Xuan Yang took off his outer robe and threw it aside before approaching Long Qinghan.
At that moment, Long Qinghan was lost in thought, gazing at the plum tree in a daze. The gentle breeze caused the petals to fall like snowflakes. He lifted his hand, catching the falling blossoms and placing them against his nose, but…
“Achoo, achoo, achoo!” Just like usual, the scent of plum blossoms caused him to sneeze repeatedly.
However, in that moment, a glimmer of insight suddenly flashed through his mind. It was fleeting, too fast to grasp. He had an instinct that if he could capture this insight, he might understand something.
He raised his eyes slightly and glanced at Feng Xuan Yang. It seemed like he had realized something, but he couldn’t believe it fully. He furrowed his brow and shook his head.
Feng Xuan Yang looked at him with confusion, and unable to hold back, he stepped forward with his hands behind his back and brought his handsome face closer, saying playfully, “Qinghan, what are you thinking? Could it be…?” He smirked mischievously, “Are you reminiscing about the kiss just now?”
Long Qinghan stiffened, a deep blush instantly spreading across his face. In the moment of danger, he had kissed Feng Xuan Yang out of impulse, but now, thinking back to that kiss, he felt his face growing hotter. He found himself at a loss for words. He didn’t know how to respond.
Suddenly, he felt annoyed with himself. Why was he so weak? Just a kiss had thrown him off balance. He had even said he would confess first. What was this?
Thinking about confessing first, he cast a sidelong glance at Feng Xuan Yang. He kissed me earlier, but does that mean he has feelings for me? If that’s the case, I should confess sooner to get ahead of him.
With that thought in mind, he met Feng Xuan Yang’s gaze. Their eyes locked, and a softness radiated from Long Qinghan’s gaze. Ripples gradually appeared in his eyes, like gentle waves spreading out.
He moved his lips, opened his mouth a few times, but no sound came out. Finally, he took a deep breath, clenched his fists, closed his eyes, and said, “Xuan Yang, I…”
I’m guilty of taking the lead, and the punishment tools are ready. Choose one from the three options below to give me a light whipping.
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Thank You for the new chapter (๑°꒵°๑)･*♡