Chapter 1410: Retribution Is Inevitable

The robin was highly vigilant, tilting its wings to dodge the thrown object. However, just as it was about to ascend, the Fu Sheng Blade looped back and approached it again from behind.

With a soft whoosh, a small spray of blood erupted in mid-air.

"That's taken care of." Getting rid of this lookout would allow them to act more freely.

He Lingchuan and the two others continued their journey, soon reaching the edge of the cliff.

Turning back several times, the Weng brothers saw raging flames below, a magnificent sight. Weng Xing looked regretful: "I also placed four or five explosive pellets in the small peach orchard in the northern part of the estate, and under the stone urns of Liuxiang Residence. I never got a chance to detonate them. What a waste!"

His explosives were extremely powerful and difficult to produce.

He Lingchuan glanced at him. This guy was actually an explosives enthusiast.

At the cliff edge, the Weng brothers took out ropes and asked He Lingchuan, "Benefactor, should we use these?"

Descending the cliff by rope was not difficult, but it would take more time.

The ropes they had brought this time seemed far too short.

"No need." He Lingchuan took out two sets of thin film wings made by Songyang Prefecture, instructing them to attach them under their arms. "We'll fly down."

He Lingchuan had used Fu Shanyue's wing suit during his havoc in the Heavenly Palace, later entrusting it to Songyang Prefecture for continuous improvement. It was now the fifth version, with smoother gliding and more flexible turns, and more stable performance in short gusts of wind, preventing it from becoming like a kite with a broken string.

The Weng brothers found it very novel and had an inherent liking for this new equipment.

Time was precious, so He Lingchuan briefly explained how to use them, then personally demonstrated—

First, free-fall from the cliff, then spread the wing suit and glide with the wind.

It sounded simple, but this skill required multiple practices. For the Weng brothers, this was purely a last-minute effort. Whether they would master it or fail completely could only be determined by their flight results.

Despite the danger, the Weng brothers also understood this method was the most time-saving. Escaping Xiaotao Mountain Villa was their top priority, so both took a deep breath and jumped off the cliff together!

By the time Qi Yunsheng received the news and rushed over, the entire main hall had been burned to a skeletal structure. The raging fire was still present, but no longer as fierce as before.

Xue Zongwu's headless body lay in front of the main hall; no one dared to retrieve it.

Qi Yunsheng had already processed the news of his beloved disciple and son-in-law's death on the way. He then rushed to Xue Zongwu's body, knelt down, and looked at it for a moment:

"Where are his personal weapons? Those purple-gold gourd hammers!"

A Qi family guard who had witnessed Xue Zongwu's murder replied, "It seems, it seems they were taken by the culprit!"

Qi Yunsheng's eyes narrowed. "Are you certain?"

"Uh..." The guard stammered. The battle between Xue Zongwu and the Great Emperor Jiuyou had been lightning-fast. He had been too far away to see clearly. Everyone was too shocked by General Xue's beheading, and the backdrop was a fiercely burning hall. There were countless captivating sights; who would pay attention to the whereabouts of a pair of weapons?

Another guard quickly added, "The Great... the culprit searched General Xue's body for something!"

"Searched?" Qi Yunsheng immediately bent down. "Torches!"

Two guards quickly brought their torches closer.

By the torchlight, Qi Yunsheng simply took out all of Xue Zongwu's personal belongings and laid them on the ground.

The storage pouch on his waist, several broken protective artifacts, the necklace around his neck...

Several items were missing. Most importantly—

"'Smooth Sailing' is gone," he said. He turned his head and instructed, "Bring me the red box from my room."

A close servant acknowledged and quickly ran off.

Qi Yunsheng then walked forward with a grim expression. "Everyone follow me!"

Like the black-armored man, he too strode towards the surging flames. The tongues of fire tried to engulf him, but Qi Yunsheng took out a green jade gourd, plucked a soapberry branch from somewhere, dipped it in a bit of water from the gourd, and sprinkled it forward—

With a "hiss," a large cloud of white steam emerged, and the tongues of fire recoiled.

Qi Yunsheng continued sprinkling water as he walked. Along his path, the sea of fire continuously receded, quickly revealing a path emitting wisps of black smoke.

Only then did the others behind him quickly follow.

By the time Qi Yunsheng walked past the ruins of the shattered main hall, the fire was mostly extinguished.

Just past the main hall, two incompetent disciples had just run down the mountain path, meeting their master.

They wore expressions of shame.

Even knowing the outcome, Qi Yunsheng still asked, "You didn't catch anyone?"

Both mumbled in affirmation.

Earlier, they had climbed over the side rock, crossed the burning hall, and continued pursuing the three black-clad figures.

But the three had already disappeared from the back cliff.

Regardless of whether they had jumped or flown, they were nowhere to be found.

Qi Yunsheng let out a heavy sigh, unable to hide the fury on his face.

Assassinating a great general of the current dynasty and burning down Xiaotao Mountain Villa—what force was so brazen!

And choosing precisely today, when Xiaotao Mountain Villa was full of distinguished guests.

Bao Xin whispered, "Master, on the mountain, there's still... still..."

"Why are you stammering?" Qi Yunsheng said angrily. "Speak clearly!"

The two disciples exchanged glances before Bao Xin said, "Please come and see, it's just ahead in the mountain hollow."

Qi Yunsheng strode forward. Just as he turned the mountain corner, a pole stood ahead with a human head impaled on it, its eyes wide open, hair disheveled in the night wind.

Though its face was covered in blood, Qi Yunsheng immediately recognized it: it was Xue Zongwu!

On the pole there was also a piece of white cloth, fluttering fiercely in the wind, with sixteen bloody characters written on it:

"Guilty of heinous crimes, too numerous to count! Heaven's justice is manifest, retribution is swift and unfailing!"

Aside from the evening breeze, the atmosphere seemed to freeze. Over a hundred people behind Qi Yunsheng fell silent.

This scene was too shocking; General Xue had always been the one to do this to his enemies.

Seeing this head, everyone finally believed that Great General Xue was truly dead, truly beheaded in public by the legendary "Great Emperor Jiuyou"!

Was there truly such a thing as retribution, guided by unseen forces?

He who kills shall also be killed.

Many unconsciously touched the back of their necks and quietly retreated a few steps.

"This is outrageous!" Qi Yunsheng tore off the white cloth and personally took down Xue Zongwu's head.

His mind was in turmoil. The death of a high-ranking border official and King Yao's favored general at Xiaotao Mountain Villa, especially before King Yao's birthday celebration, would undoubtedly cause a huge uproar.

While Xue Zongwu was alive, many things could be covered up. With his death, it was uncertain if anyone in the royal court would start investigating past wrongdoings. Moreover, Xue Zongwu had offended countless powerful figures during his life, and Qi Yunsheng's close ties and shared interests with Xue Zongwu were well-known.

Qi Yunsheng could foresee that endless troubles would come knocking.

He tried to steady himself, then casually summoned someone. "Inform the county government and tell them to launch a full-scale manhunt!"

Would the county government be able to apprehend Xue Zongwu's killer? Qi Yunsheng himself found it unlikely.

But some matters, even if you can't accomplish them, you still have to try.

Even if there's no success, at least the effort must be seen.

Servants ran off to carry out the orders. Qi Yunsheng said to the crowd behind him, "Who among you witnessed General Xue's murder from beginning to end? Tell me everything, completely."

So the personal guards who had escaped the sea of fire stepped forward, along with Bao Xin and Fu Wending, to recount the battle on the rooftop and inside the burning hall.

Qi Yunsheng listened attentively, interrupting several times to ask questions, his mind becoming increasingly clouded with doubts:

The killer of Xue Zongwu possessed formidable combat power and impressive supernatural abilities, along with various incredible methods, even casually collecting Xue Zongwu's white flames.

How ill-tempered that little monster was, Qi Yunsheng knew well.

So, was the culprit truly the "Great Emperor Jiuyou," who had recently gained much notoriety?

Just then, a servant from the villa came to report that something unusual had appeared in the ruins of the main hall.

Qi Yunsheng turned and walked back.

This main hall had been built by him for his own cultivation, but unexpectedly, less than half a year later, it was reduced to ashes.

The fire was extinguished. The originally exquisite, beautiful, and artfully designed hall was now nothing but charred wood and broken tiles, emitting a burnt aroma. The hall's framework had also collapsed, half lying on the ground, half precariously standing.

The pair of imperial bronze beast statues in front of the hall had also been melted by the white flames, their features completely disfigured. Only their tall pedestals remained unscathed.

It was here that something unusual appeared:

On the wide bronze pedestal, a flood dragon's head relief suddenly emerged, ferocious and awe-inspiring, with glaring eyes, as if it would burst forth from the pedestal at any second and soar through the heavens.

Of course, Qi Yunsheng knew what a flood dragon looked like. He instinctively reached out to touch it.

It seemed naturally formed, without any trace of carving, nor did it appear to be conjured by supernatural power.

Just now, the black-clad man and Xue Zongwu were fiercely battling in the burning hall; they had no time to come here and tamper with anything. So, this flood dragon head relief on the bronze pedestal had grown naturally, just as in the legends?

Bao Xin mumbled, "Is it really the Great Emperor Jiuyou who killed Senior Brother Xue?"

Not an imposter?

Thinking this, he felt a lingering fear.

Fu Wending also said, "I heard those two black-clad figures earlier acted carelessly. It seems it was just a ploy to lure the enemy."

Ah, those two acted like fools so convincingly. Xue Zongwu, who had spent his life outsmarting others, was ultimately outsmarted himself.

Qi Yunsheng remained silent. His thoughts delved deeper.

There were countless evil people in the world. Why did the Great Emperor Jiuyou choose Xue Zongwu as his target?

He claimed to kill all evildoers and to enforce justice on behalf of Heaven. But for who to kill and who not to kill, there must be some selection criteria, right?

Although Qi Yunsheng had been retired for many years, his intelligence network remained sharp. He had missed none of the major events that had occurred west of the Yao Kingdom.

So he knew that the past targets of the Great Emperor Jiuyou had distinct characteristics: all were truly evil individuals, but their combat power was not considered formidable—

In Qi Yunsheng's view, he could have accomplished the same.

Why did the Great Emperor Jiuyou this time choose the most difficult target to eliminate, and one from the Yao Kingdom at that?

Was it to respond to recent rumors?

Or was there a deeper purpose?

The appearance of the flood dragon's head on the bronze pedestal, in legends, was almost a confirmed sign of the Great Emperor Jiuyou's presence. So, was the act of killing Xue Zongwu merely "enforcing justice on behalf of Heaven," with no other implications?

Regarding the "Great Emperor Jiuyou" himself, Qi Yunsheng had actually always been interested.

Like other powerful figures, he too had always pondered the Great Emperor Jiuyou's motives.

People act, always for a reason.

Finding this reason would also reveal the Great Emperor Jiuyou's patterns of action.

He looked at the bronze pedestal, his gaze shifting slightly, then suddenly pointed at the flood dragon relief and said to Fu Wending, "Chisel it off!"

Legend had it that after the Great Emperor Jiuyou eliminated evil, this flood dragon head relief would remain for three days. He would dig it out now!