Chapter 422: The Visitor Is Not Friendly

Xu Qing paused, looking down at the command token in his hand, a thoughtful expression in his eyes. The order had arrived very suddenly, without any stated reason. He found the voice somewhat familiar; after careful recollection, he remembered it belonged to Deacon Sima, who hailed from the Taisi Immortal Sect.

Xu Qing's gaze deepened. He thought of Zhang Siyun and, by extension, the Yao family, which immediately raised his guard. "What could Deacon Sima want with me?" he wondered.

As Xu Qing pondered, his command token vibrated again. This time, it was a voice transmission from Kong Xianglong. "Xu Qing, you received the order too, didn't you?"

"I did." Xu Qing seemed to understand, an answer vaguely forming in his mind.

"Then it's confirmed. Xiao He and Xiao Chen also received it. Ah, it's likely a follow-up to our earlier elimination of the Holy Wave Clan members."

Upon learning that Xu Qing had also received the order, Kong Xianglong quickly ended the transmission; he was already on his way to the Sword-Wielding Palace. Xu Qing deliberated for a moment before leaving the Tribunal.

It was dusk, and the sunset glow painted the sky like rouge, casting its remaining light upon the land, as if to stain the ground crimson. Xu Qing looked up, then leaped into the air, flying towards the Sword-Wielding Palace.

The position of deacon held significant power within the Sword-Wielding Palace, with each deacon responsible for different matters. Deacon Sima's responsibilities primarily related to law enforcement, including the internal discipline of the sword-wielders. Therefore, neither Kong Xianglong nor Xu Qing could ignore his command.

Not long after, as Xu Qing pondered how to respond, he arrived at the Sword-Wielding Palace. As soon as he arrived, he spotted Kong Xianglong and Ye Ling. "We'll deny everything!" Kong Xianglong immediately transmitted upon seeing Xu Qing fly closer.

Xu Qing nodded. Soon after, Shanhezi and Wang Chen also arrived, both looking sullen and displeased. Upon reaching Xu Qing and Kong Xianglong, Shanhezi immediately started to curse. "Brother Kong, Xu Qing, what is the Sword-Wielding Palace trying to do? Are we in the wrong?"

"Xiao He!" Kong Xianglong glared.

Shanhezi snorted, saying no more.

"Whether things are as we suspect is still unknown. Let's go, we shouldn't keep Deacon Sima waiting." Kong Xianglong spoke slowly, leading the way forward.

Xu Qing considered this, then turned to the inwardly fuming Shanhezi and Wang Chen's ethereal clone. He spoke softly, "It might be better if more people see this."

Shanhezi and Wang Chen immediately understood, each taking out a jade slip. Ye Ling did the same. Kong Xianglong didn't stop them, but his large strides changed into smaller steps.

Thus, the group entered the gates of the Sword-Wielding Palace. After walking for the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, they finally arrived at the Discipline Palace, where Deacon Sima resided.

Dozens of people stood solemnly outside the Discipline Palace. Each of them had a chilling expression, their cultivation impressive. They wore not the standard robes of the Sword-Wielding Palace, but yellow robes with a 'Dao' character embroidered on the cuffs. Upon seeing Xu Qing and his group, these dozens of individuals cast their gazes over.

Kong Xianglong raised an eyebrow, but held back from speaking. He stood outside the Discipline Hall, cupping his fists towards the main hall. "Your humble subordinate, Kong Xianglong, has arrived at Deacon Sima's command."

"They are cultivators from the Yao family," Wang Chen's ethereal clone quietly informed Xu Qing. Then, like Kong Xianglong, he cupped his fists and spoke. Xu Qing, Shanhezi, and Ye Ling also paid their respects.

As they spoke, a cold snort echoed from within the Discipline Hall, and then three figures emerged from the hall. The central figure was none other than Deacon Sima, Zhang Siyun's grand-master. To his left stood an elder, dressed in the same robes as the Yao family cultivators. His spiritual essence fluctuations were remarkably evident, and his eyes seemed to contain lightning. He was expressionless as he swept his gaze over Xu Qing and the others.

To Deacon Sima's right was another individual. The moment they saw this person, Xu Qing and the others' pupils contracted. This individual was not human. He was from the Holy Wave Clan. It was the same middle-aged Holy Wave Clan Black-Clad Guard who had roared in anger after Xu Qing and his group's massacre that day, ultimately not crossing the boundary. This person clearly held a certain status within the Holy Wave Clan; his cultivation was also at the Spiritual Repository realm, and as his aura spread, four hidden repositories subtly appeared, indicating an extremely powerful presence. He stood to Deacon Sima's right, coldly scrutinizing Xu Qing and the others.

Seeing a Holy Wave Clan member in the Sword-Wielding Palace struck Xu Qing as a joke, profoundly ironic. At the same time, he noticed that Kong Xianglong and the others were also breathing heavily.

Just then, Deacon Sima spoke faintly to the Yao family elder on his left, as if delivering a statement. "Steward Sun, everyone is here. You may begin your questioning."

The Yao family elder nodded upon hearing this. He first cupped his fists in a bow to Deacon Sima, then turned his cold gaze to Xu Qing and the others, his face incredibly grim. His voice was laced with menace as he spoke sternly, "How dare you! You brutally massacred the envoys and their attendants from the Holy Wave Clan, who were visiting our Feng Hai Prefecture, without discerning right from wrong or any reason! Such an act that destroys diplomatic relations between our two races is punishable by death!"

Xu Qing frowned slightly. There was something problematic about the elder's statement. The emphasis wasn't on the killing itself, but on doing so "without discerning right from wrong" and "without any reason." This method of reprimand gave Xu Qing the feeling that the other party wanted them to state their reasons.

However, based on Xu Qing's secret training and understanding within the Sword-Wielding Palace, he knew very well that the matter of assisting hidden agents could not be openly discussed. The existence of hidden agents between the two races was an unspoken understanding, present on both sides. But if it were stated openly, it would be different; they could be seized upon and used as leverage. Furthermore, their answers might allow the other party to uncover some clues.

Xu Qing was thoughtful, and Shanhezi and the others quickly grasped this principle as well. No one was foolish; no one spoke. Kong Xianglong even feigned ignorance.

"Massacred Holy Wave Clan envoys and attendants? Impossible. We've been cultivating this whole time; we can all vouch for each other."

The Yao family elder snorted, seemingly disinclined to argue with "that child" Kong Xianglong. His expression became respectful as he cupped his fists towards the Holy Wave Clan cultivator. "Daoist Chen, what do you think?"

The middle-aged Holy Wave Clan Black-Clad Guard glanced at Xu Qing and the others, then suddenly smiled. He turned to Deacon Sima beside him and spoke. "Deacon Sima, the actual reason for this incident is that while my Holy Wave Clan envoy was en route here, they discovered a hidden agent of unknown origin within the delegation. This individual stole important items belonging to my clan. Thus, the envoy ordered a pursuit to capture them. However, not only was the hidden agent not found, but the delegation's attendants were brutally slaughtered in an ambush set by your Sword-Wielding Palace."

"Could it be that the hidden agent who stole our clan's important items was dispatched by your Sword-Wielding Palace? Was this a deliberate theft orchestrated by you? Our two races have been friendly for generations. Is such an act the intention of your Sword-Wielding Palace, or Feng Hai Prefecture, or perhaps even sanctioned by your human race?"

As he spoke, the Holy Wave Clan's middle-aged Black-Clad Guard's eyes gleamed sharply. He raised his right hand and waved it, causing a jade slip to appear, which then projected a shimmering image. The image showed Xu Qing and the others killing the Half-step Nascent Soul cultivator and their subsequent escape, clearly including the three sentences Kong Xianglong spoke at the end.

Kong Xianglong and the others' eyes flashed with a cold light. Xu Qing remained expressionless, but his gaze was equally icy.

Deacon Sima's expression had not changed throughout. After a glance at the jade slip's image, he shook his head. "My Sword-Wielding Palace never issued such an order, nor do we have any hidden agents."

The Yao family elder at his side, upon hearing this, uttered chilling words. "If there were no hidden agents, and if they weren't performing a rendezvous mission, then the actions of these individuals were purely private. To brutally kill Holy Wave Clan cultivators, attempting to provoke a war between the two races — these individuals are unforgivable! Guards! Apprehend them and send them to the Holy Wave Clan to console the fallen heroes of our friendly nation!"

As the Yao family elder's words rang out, the dozens of Yao family cultivators on the plaza immediately unleashed their cultivation and advanced towards Xu Qing and the others.

A cold light flashed in Xu Qing's eyes. Kong Xianglong abruptly looked up, a malevolent glint in his gaze. At that instant, long streaks of rainbow light suddenly appeared from behind the plaza, hurtling forward with a whooshing sound. The commotion was immense, tearing through the air and heading straight for the plaza. With a thunderous roar, figures descended in an instant—all of them sword-wielders! They were generations of sword-wielders from the Eight Sect Alliance. For years, most of the Eight Sect Alliance sword-wielders had been assigned to serve in other prefectures, but today, all who remained in the commandery capital had arrived. Earlier, Xu Qing had already sent them a voice transmission while en route.

Now, as they descended, these Eight Sect Alliance sword-wielders exuded a formidable aura, surrounding Xu Qing and his group as guardians. They snarled and sneered at the Yao family members like bullfrogs. "Interesting. Arresting sword-wielders in our own Sword-Wielding Palace?"

"Come on, come on! Take your grandpa along with you to the Holy Wave Clan!"

"To console the heroic spirits of the Holy Wave Clan?"

As they spoke, all these sword-wielders activated their cultivation, their imposing presence surging skyward, permeated with killing intent. The Yao family cultivators halted in their steps.

Steward Sun of the Yao family snorted, about to speak, but just then, a whistling sound erupted from afar again! Another group of sword-wielders created a sharp whistling sound as they rushed forward. There were easily over a hundred of them, each emanating a terrifying aura. They were all from the Primordial Thunder Vein, having rushed over after receiving Wang Chen's notification. As they approached, thunder rumbled, shaking heaven and earth. Chen Tinghao was among them, sneering and growling in mid-air. "Who dares touch my sword-wielders!"

---

"Brother Shen!"

"Mm."

Shen Changqing walked along the road. When he encountered acquaintances, they would greet each other or nod. But no matter who it was, everyone's face was devoid of superfluous expression, as if they were indifferent to everything. Shen Changqing had grown accustomed to this.

Because this was the Demon Suppression Division, an organization responsible for maintaining the stability of the Great Qin Dynasty. Its primary duty was to slay demons and ghouls, though it also had some other secondary roles. It could be said that everyone in the Demon Suppression Division had a lot of blood on their hands. When a person becomes accustomed to life and death, they grow indifferent to many things. When he first arrived in this world, Shen Changqing was somewhat unaccustomed, but gradually, he grew used to it.

The Demon Suppression Division was vast. Those who could remain in the Demon Suppression Division were either exceptionally strong experts or individuals with the potential to become experts. Shen Changqing belonged to the latter.

The Demon Suppression Division was divided into two main professions: Suppressors and Demon Slayers. Anyone entering the Demon Suppression Division began as a Demon Slayer of the lowest rank, then gradually advanced, eventually hoping to become a Suppressor. Shen Changqing's predecessor was a probationary Demon Slayer within the Demon Suppression Division, the lowest rank among them. Possessing the memories of his predecessor, he was very familiar with the environment of the Demon Suppression Division.

It didn't take long for Shen Changqing to stop in front of a pavilion. Unlike the other grim and solemn areas of the Demon Suppression Division, this pavilion stood out like a crane among chickens, presenting a different kind of tranquility within the blood-soaked Demon Suppression Division. At this time, the pavilion's main door was open, with people occasionally entering and exiting.

Shen Changqing hesitated for only a moment before stepping inside. Upon entering the pavilion, the environment abruptly changed. A scent of ink mixed with a faint smell of blood wafted over him, causing his brow to instinctively furrow, though it soon relaxed. The scent of blood on everyone in the Demon Suppression Division was almost impossible to wash clean.