Chapter Ten

Xu Ziyang was the head senior disciple of the Qingyang Heavenly Sect. All of the sect's internal affairs were handled by him in assistance to the Sect Master. The events at the front hall had been spreading throughout the sect like wildfire, so of course Xu Ziyang knew about it.

What's more, he had never kept his investigation and collection of evidence a secret from Xu Ziyang, and the evidence submitted to the Sect Master had been reviewed by Xu Ziyang in person as well.

Xu Ziyang's well-shaped thin lips curved up faintly. The smile on his face deepened, but not a hint of warmth reached his eyes: "I'm just worried about you, of course — after all, he is your fiancé."

Xu Ziyang did know the full story. It was just that in a few days' time, the sect was holding a test, and two months ago, two outer-gate disciples had successfully drawn qi into their bodies. They needed to go through this test to decide under whom they would study. Lian Ci placed great importance on these two disciples who were soon to enter the inner gate, and had entrusted the matter entirely to Xu Ziyang to handle.

And so Xu Ziyang had been secluded and busy with preparations for the test in recent days, unable to witness firsthand what had happened at the front hall.

"He is not my fiancé." Cen Yan turned his head to look at Xu Ziyang, his peerlessly elegant face showing not the slightest trace of jest.

Xu Ziyang's lips paused, his expression shifting to one of surprise: "What happened?"

"I have reached an understanding with him. When the Guardian Formation opens half a year from now, the marriage contract will be dissolved." Cen Yan answered honestly.

Xu Ziyang treated him well, and there was no reason to hide anything. Besides, Xu Ziyang would find out sooner or later.

Xu Ziyang knew the marriage contract had not been Cen Yan's willing choice — but hadn't Chu Rong always clung stubbornly to the contract and refused to let go?

A trace of puzzlement flickered through Xu Ziyang's mind, but what he felt more was a carefully concealed delight. His tone remained unhurried and even, seemingly no different from usual: "He's a mortal, of low and vile character — he was never worthy of you. You should have dissolved the contract with him long ago..."

Before he could finish the sentence, a faint trace of blood suddenly drifted into both their nostrils.

Xu Ziyang's expression shifted slightly. Following the scent, he looked over to see a man in the outer gate's coarse linen clothing staggering toward Misty Pine Residence, head cracked open and face drenched in blood, a fistful of cotton wadding clutched in his hand, the wadding saturated with fresh blood and smeared entirely red.

Cen Yan's elegant face darkened at once. He stepped quickly forward and asked coldly: "Who did this?"

The warm smile on Xu Ziyang's face disappeared too, his dense dark sword-like brows furrowing slightly.

There was no turning back now. Yun Zhi clenched the cotton wadding tight, gathered his courage, and recounted what had just happened in the outer gate, one word at a time.

Cen Yan's expression turned colder and colder by degrees, killing intent spreading like climbing vines, swiftly drowning the air around him.

"Outrageous! Take me to them!" Cen Yan shouted furiously, gripping the sword in his hand, and made straight for the outer gate.

Xu Ziyang followed behind Cen Yan, his face grave.

Yun Zhi's eyes widened in shock, filled with disbelief. Cen Shixiong was really going to deal with this?

Yun Zhi swayed to his feet, hurrying to follow behind Cen Yan and Xu Ziyang. All the way there, his expression remained dazed.

Chu Rong had been right.

Wasn't Chu Rong supposed to be a bad person? Why had he helped him? Then didn't that mean the medicine Chu Rong had given him was real medicine too?

Yun Zhi raised his hand, pressing his palm over the medicine bottle tucked inside his collar through the fabric, and a warmth kindled suddenly in his chest.

The three of them moved quickly. Without noticing the tall, slender figure that slowly emerged from within Misty Pine Residence.

Chu Rong had anticipated that Yun Zhi would come to Cen Yan to settle things, but hadn't expected to also see the man walking alongside Cen Yan. If he guessed correctly, that man was one of the main protagonist gongs, and also one of the people who would later be involved in the original owner's death.

The head senior disciple of the Qingyang Heavenly Sect — Xu Ziyang.

Xu Ziyang's cultivation talent was no match for Cen Yan's, but by the standards of the entire cultivation world, he could still be called an exceptional talent.

Xu Ziyang appeared on the surface to be a gentleman — composed and measured, socially adept, well respected within the sect. But beneath that surface he smiled while harboring a blade. In the original text, he was the first person to harbor murderous intent toward the original owner.

Chu Rong stood beneath the corridor eave, his gaze lowered, concealing the emotions in his eyes.