Chapter 68: Terrifying Huangyan

Huang Yan's voice was extremely loud, and his eyes blazed with intense anger. It seemed to him that the shopkeeper's words were not a humiliation to Xu Qing, but to himself.

After all, three of the items on the counter were gifts he had given to Xu Qing.

Facing Huang Yan's fury, the shopkeeper's expression grew even gloomier. He raised his right hand and snatched the bone that Huang Yan had thrown at him.

Holding the bone, he gave Huang Yan a cold look.

He thought to himself, 'You've spent eight years in the Water Guiding Division, chasing a senior sister who might just be a country bumpkin. You've given her countless gifts, made it known to everyone, and become a laughingstock. Now that you're digging your own grave, don't blame me.'

He then spoke unhurriedly.

"You're right," he said. "These are stolen goods. It seems you're also an accomplice in the Vajra Sect theft. Someone, report this to the Felony Investigation Department! The prime culprit in the Vajra Sect theft has walked right into our trap!"

As he spoke, the shop assistant theatrically pulled out a sound-transmitting jade slip. After glancing at the shopkeeper, he understood the unspoken instruction and slowly began transmitting a message, reporting the case.

At this moment, the disciples from various peaks inside the shop also watched the scene, their eyes gleaming.

Disciples who could join the Seven Blood Eyes and survive in this environment generally possessed sharp minds. Such a simple ploy was naturally clear to them, and they all understood that the crux of the matter was not the Vajra Sect theft, but rather that someone from the Sixth Peak wanted to cause trouble for Xu Qing and Huang Yan.

Whether the trouble was for both or just one of them, the onlookers found it hard to judge, though they felt it was most likely Xu Qing, who had presented the items.

But no one spoke up; instead, they watched from the sidelines. Zhang San did the same.

Xu Qing paid no attention to the expressions of others. He was quite surprised by Huang Yan's reaction; although their relationship was decent, it wasn't deep, and this response left Xu Qing a little confused.

At the same time, the shopkeeper's claim of reporting to the Felony Investigation Department, and the assistant's pretense, made Xu Qing even more puzzled. It seemed this trap was not meant to be fatal, as he had initially thought.

Because if they truly wanted to kill him, they could have simply attacked him then. There was no need to involve the Felony Investigation Department and complicate matters. For powerful figures, killing disciples below the mountain wouldn't require such a grand show; it was illogical.

This matter seemed more like an opportunity to admonish him and force him to provide an explanation to the Vajra Sect.

Furthermore, before entering the shop, he had scanned the surroundings and detected no overly powerful fluctuations. It was still the same now, suggesting no powerful experts were present.

As Xu Qing pondered, Huang Yan glared furiously as the shopkeeper's words about reporting to the Felony Investigation Department spread.

"The Felony Investigation Department? Xu Qing is from the Felony Investigation Department!"

"Oh? Knowing the law and breaking it – that's an aggravated offense!" The shopkeeper looked at Huang Yan, frowned, and slowly spoke.

Huang Yan was so enraged he laughed. Just as he was about to step forward, Xu Qing, feeling even more puzzled by the situation, raised a hand to stop him and said softly.

"Huang Yan, this matter has nothing to do with you. You should leave first."

Then, his expression calm, he looked at the shopkeeper's neck and spoke slowly.

"These are spoils of war I obtained from a wanted criminal. There's no need for your slanders. If you have something to say, just say it directly."

The shopkeeper immediately became wary. Xu Qing's reaction made him realize that this person was indeed not simple. In truth, after the higher-ups arranged this matter, they could have directly approached Xu Qing and demanded he hand over the items. However, the disciples aware of the situation, including himself, wanted to use this opportunity to profit, hence the slander.

But now, the other party had clearly seen through his ploy. In fact, he had some understanding of Xu Qing and knew that someone who could rise in the Felony Investigation Department was naturally not a simple person.

As a shopkeeper, he had protectors behind him and was not part of the "gu-raising" competition. Generally, no disciples below the mountain dared to harm people like him.

However, the chill on his neck made him decide to change his mind. He didn't want excessive conflict with Xu Qing, and feeling that he had delivered enough of a warning, he was just about to speak to ease the tension and state the conditions his superiors had given to resolve the matter.

But just then, Huang Yan, whom Xu Qing had held back, let out an angry roar.

"Xu Qing, you don't need to take the blame for me! This matter has nothing to do with you. This is clearly aimed at me, Huang Yan! I know now, it must be that dispatcher, Zhao Zhongheng. He holds a grudge against me, knows I often come here, and so he colluded with this shop to frame me!"

As soon as Huang Yan spoke, the shopkeeper's expression immediately turned strange. He stared deeply at Huang Yan as if he were an oddity. Xu Qing also looked at Huang Yan, his eyes narrowing. He wanted to solve the problem, but Huang Yan seemed intent on making it his own.

At the same time, Huang Yan slammed the counter with a loud bang. Just as he was about to continue roaring, footsteps echoed from outside the shop, and a chilling voice drifted in.

"Who's making such a scene?" As the words were spoken, several figures stepped into the pharmacy.

Xu Qing glanced back, his eyes narrowing.

The figures at the doorway wore gray daoist robes with prominent Felony Investigation Department badges, glinting coldly. The newcomers were disciples of the Felony Investigation Department. The leader was the captain of the Ground Division's Third Team, the merman youth whom Xu Qing had secretly followed for over half a month.

Behind him followed four members of the Third Team. As they entered, the merman youth indifferently glanced at Xu Qing.

"So it's you."

Xu Qing said nothing, but his vigilance had soared to its peak. The Felony Investigation Department's swift arrival, especially with the merman youth with whom he had a fierce conflict, was highly suspicious.

He felt that today's matter was extremely complex, with three hidden threads. The first was the shopkeeper's desire to admonish him, which was clearly just a warning and could be resolved.

The second thread was Huang Yan seemingly intentionally drawing the matter onto himself, his purpose unknown.

The third thread, the merman youth's arrival, was difficult to attribute to coincidence.

Therefore, Xu Qing did not want to act rashly before understanding the full situation.

At the same time, the merman youth who had entered the pharmacy scanned the others around him, a hint of disdain in his eyes.

In reality, joining the Seven Blood Eyes was not his original intention. Although the merman tribe was not large, his status within the tribe was extremely high, which had cultivated an arrogant personality. He especially looked down on humans from the bottom of his heart.

As for today's matter, after the department received the report, it should have originally been handled by the Profound Division. However, because a member of the Profound Division was involved, the Profound Division recused itself, so the case was assigned to the Ground Division. When he learned it concerned Xu Qing, he remembered the snatching of credit and his aversion from that day, so he personally took charge and led the team here.

Having entered, he now pointed at Xu Qing and Huang Yan.

"Since they are prime culprits in the Vajra Sect theft, and the stolen goods are all present, and with someone from my Felony Investigation Department here, take them to the department for detention and interrogation."

Huang Yan, seeing that the Felony Investigation Department still couldn't distinguish right from wrong after arriving, exploded with rage. He rushed between Xu Qing and the merman youth, glaring at the latter and letting out a low roar.

"Are you blind? Are my things stolen goods?"

As he spoke, he took out his storage bag. In front of everyone, he shook it, and immediately, materials poured out, piling up into a small mountain of nearly hundreds of items.

Most of the materials from various exotic beasts were of the same origin as the bones and feathers, clearly taken from a single exotic beast.

The surrounding crowd gasped, their eyes widening. They were all discerning individuals, knowing that the value of these materials was likely several thousand spirit stones. When they noticed Huang Yan actually possessed a storage bag, their eyes all lit up with a strange glint.

"You say my things are stolen goods. Are all these stolen goods? Can the Vajra Sect afford them? This is an entire Wind-Walking Beast, and the most precious skull, I gave to my senior sister! You actually say my things are stolen goods!!"

As soon as the little fatty spoke, the eyes of the surrounding crowd flickered. Xu Qing also looked at the items, instinctively taking a breath.

He knew Huang Yan was wealthy, but he was still a bit stunned by the materials in his storage bag.

The merman youth glanced at the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper had a bit of a headache. He hadn't expected the Felony Investigation Department to arrive so quickly, disrupting his rhythm. His expression was hesitant, but with the arrow on the string, he had to shoot. So he bit the bullet and spoke.

"The Vajra Sect's report mentioned this Wind-Walking Beast!"

Seeing the situation developing in an incredible direction, Xu Qing remained silent, observing calmly.

"The skull is also stolen goods. You gave it to your senior sister, did you? So there's also a female accomplice involved in fencing stolen goods. Why are you waiting? Apprehend them, take them back for thorough interrogation, and bring that female accomplice to justice as well."

Hearing the shopkeeper's words, the merman youth spoke indifferently. The four team members behind him immediately moved towards Xu Qing and Huang Yan; one approached Huang Yan, while three headed directly for Xu Qing.

"You're the culprit! Your whole family are culprits!" Huang Yan leaped up, rolled up his sleeves, and charged forward in anger.

Xu Qing coldly watched the three approaching figures. He hadn't wanted to act rashly before understanding the full situation, but now that the other party was being aggressive, he raised his right hand and unleashed his power.

Immediately, each water droplet around them erupted with intense pressure. With a roar, they formed a suppressive force, causing all three team members' faces to change dramatically. Their eyes showed shock, their bodies trembled violently, and they couldn't take a single step.

Although they had participated with the Sixth Team in the night raven's takedown that day, they hadn't personally witnessed Xu Qing in action. They had only heard some accounts, but now experiencing it firsthand, their hearts churned with shock.

"Resisting arrest." The merman youth smiled, revealing a mouthful of sharp teeth. He took a step forward, his speed causing a sonic boom within the shop. In an instant, he appeared before Xu Qing, raising his right hand to grab his neck.

His fingernails were sharp, emitting a cold gleam. If it were anyone else, they would likely find it hard to react at such speed. But just as he approached, a black iron skewer appeared before his palm.

Although his speed was fast, Xu Qing was faster. While wielding the iron skewer, Xu Qing bent his right leg and powerfully kneed the merman youth.

With a powerful clash, the merman youth swiftly retracted his right hand, bent his right leg, meeting knee to knee.

Amidst the sound, Xu Qing's body swayed slightly. The merman youth, however, staggered back five steps, and when he looked up, his eyes gleamed with bloodthirsty excitement.

"Interesting." As he spoke, a rumble came from within his body. A fluctuation of the ninth level of Qi Condensation emanated from him, and behind him, a terrifying merman phantom holding a black trident appeared.

This was not a qi and blood manifestation; it was his innate bloodline talent. As it erupted, he surged forward again, instantly closing in on Xu Qing. He immediately engaged Xu Qing in a roaring battle within the shop.

The two exchanged blows seven or eight times in an instant. Each time, huge thuds and impacts echoed, affecting the shop. Fortunately, the shop had a formation array, which, under its enhancement, prevented it from collapsing.

Yet, this scene still made the surrounding onlookers, who had retreated, show intense light in their eyes.

"They're so strong!"

"That Third Team captain, as a non-human, possesses the merman tribe's innate bloodline power. His combat strength seems comparable to a Great Sect's Qi Condensation Grand Completion disciple. And this Xu Qing... is actually so astonishing as well!"

"Previously, there were rumors that the Profound Division had a non-captain who slayed the night raven's leader. It must be this Xu Qing!"

Hearing the crowd's words, Huang Yan, hiding to the side, blinked. There was a hint of a cryptic smile on his face, but it quickly faded, replaced by a furious expression as he roared.

"Go, Xu Qing! Kill this fish, make him stop slandering us. Kill him, and we'll eat fish meat tonight!"

Amidst the roaring, the merman youth's body retreated again. There was a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth, and the bloodthirsty gleam in his eyes grew even more intense. It seemed that blood excited him more, and he still had a trump card he hadn't used. At this moment, he grinned, raised both hands, and began to form hand seals.

However, he didn't notice that Xu Qing's shadow was beneath his feet.

Xu Qing's expression had been calm from beginning to end. At this moment, he narrowed his eyes, a glint of killing intent flashing through them. Just as he was about to make a move, several powerful auras suddenly spread out from outside, locking onto the area.

"Just watch." As the merman youth grinned sinisterly, those auras fell silent. But just then, an even more terrifying aura appeared outside the pharmacy.

With a thunderous rumble, it instantly crushed and suppressed the auras that had just appeared and locked onto the area.

This scene made the merman youth pause. When he turned to look, his face instantly changed dramatically. Xu Qing also looked up, and upon sensing the aura outside, his eyes sharply contracted.

At the same time, as a figure walked in, a cold female voice drifted in from outside the pharmacy.

"Just now, who here said my things were stolen goods?"

The voice was like a cold wind, instantly freezing everyone inside the shop. Both the merman youth and the Sixth Peak shopkeeper trembled uncontrollably at these words, instinctively looking towards the person walking in through the doorway.

It was a woman, extremely tall and robust. While strong and powerful, her bronze skin exuded an aura of might. Her long hair swayed, lacking any softness, instead possessing a wild essence.

She wore a deep purple daoist robe, dragging a black greatsword that was easily over five feet long in her hand. As she walked, the tip of the sword scraped sparks across the ground, carving open floor tiles and the threshold.

This scene made everyone gasp. No one knew who was the first to bow, but the next moment, everyone lowered their heads, clasped their fists, and spoke respectfully.

"Greetings, Second Highness!"

"Greetings, Second Highness!"

"Greetings, Second Highness!"

The newcomer was precisely the existence like a royal princess from the Seventh Peak, who held the power of life and death over disciples below the mountain. She even had the authority to strip core disciples of their status—the Peak Master's second direct disciple!

"Senior Sister, you're finally here." Huang Yan, from where he had been hiding, excitedly popped out and scurried over...