Chapter 194: Battle with the True Zombie

Slumped on the ground, Lin Duanyun was visibly agitated, roaring, "Why? Why did you do this? What grudge do you hold against me to harm me like this?"

Bai Qiliao chuckled lightly. "It was merely an opportune moment."

Lin Duanyun pointed at Bai Qiliao, clenching his jaw, his eyes blazing with fury.

At that moment, Zhuo Qingfeng spoke. "Old Master Bai, the true 'Zombie' was never He Changqing, was it? It was you all along."

"Years ago, you and He Changqing were sworn brothers, and he trusted you implicitly, which is why he entrusted his orphaned child to your care. Later, when He Changqing created the Zombie Art, he didn't monopolize it but shared it with you. Both of you practiced it back then."

"Although both of you later practiced the Zombie Art and needed to consume blood to suppress the cold poison, the one who truly succumbed to evil thoughts, became addicted to blood, and massacred villages and clans was not He Changqing. It was you, Bai Qiliao. He Changqing only consumed blood as necessary to keep the cold poison in check."

Bai Qiliao remained silent, listening intently.

"He Changqing always covered for you," Zhuo Qingfeng continued. "But perhaps he had a change of heart and no longer tolerated your massacres, leading to a conflict between you two. Or perhaps He Changqing always had the upper hand, fueling your growing jealousy. It's also possible both scenarios occurred, leading you to take drastic measures: secretly betraying He Changqing and enlisting the Mobei martial arts masters to help you corner and eliminate him. Old Master Bai, am I correct?"

Bai Qiliao chuckled softly. "Correct."

"If I'm not mistaken," Zhuo Qingfeng went on, "that day when you arrived at Huajian Mountain and found the Huajian Sect massacred, the true culprit wasn't He Changqing; it was you, Bai Qiliao. Those bronze-armored zombies assisting He Changqing weren't his subordinates. They were carrying out your orders to definitively establish He Changqing's guilt, leaving him utterly defenseless."

"Even with your conflicts, He Changqing continued to trust you. You exploited that trust, luring him away under your name. Then, you arranged for the bronze-armored zombies to wipe out the entire Huajian Sect. By the time He Changqing sensed something was wrong and rushed back, he found the Huajian Sect strewn with corpses."

"Because he had only taught the Zombie Art to you, he immediately realized you were the killer. And at that precise moment, you conveniently arrived with numerous Mobei martial arts dignitaries. He Changqing knew any defense was futile, or perhaps he was utterly disheartened, beyond caring to explain right from wrong. His only desire was to kill you for revenge."

"To the other martial arts dignitaries, this scene appeared as He Changqing going berserk, further solidifying their conviction that he was 'the Zombie.' And indeed, He Changqing had practiced the Zombie Art, leaving him with no way to defend himself. He was then cornered and killed by the assembled martial arts masters."

Bai Qiliao nodded slightly. "Does Master Zhuo feel sympathy for He Changqing?"

Zhuo Qingfeng shook his head. "Not quite. He Changqing also practiced the Zombie Art—that evil technique. Even without becoming addicted, one needs to regularly consume blood to resist the cold poison. Therefore, anyone who practices this malevolent art deserves death. He Changqing doesn't warrant sympathy. The one I truly feel a degree of pity for is Lin Duanyun."

As he spoke, Zhuo Qingfeng looked at Lin Duanyun and sighed. "For most people, possessing exceptional cultivation talent is a tremendous blessing. But for Lin Duanyun, his outstanding abilities ironically became the source of his tragedy."

"I surmise that even before you killed He Changqing, Old Master Bai, you already had a plan. Perhaps Lin Duanyun was already on your radar back then."

Bai Qiliao nodded. "It's true, I was the one addicted to blood initially. However, I gained control of it when I advanced to the Silver-Armored Zombie stage. But I knew that advancing to Gold-Armored Zombie would inevitably lead to another series of massacres, leaving traces that could expose me and jeopardize everything."

"Initially, I indeed only intended to use Ke Wenhsui as a cover. However, his talent was mediocre, insufficient for my needs. So, I meticulously chose Lin Duanyun instead."

Zhuo Qingfeng nodded. "That clarifies everything. Our Six Doors investigation indicates that the earliest confirmed blood-draining incidents date back ten years. Presumably, they occurred before that too, but you, Old Master Bai, were able to control your bloodlust and didn't cause widespread harm, which is why we couldn't find definitive records."

"The records start from ten years ago, suggesting that's when you began your breakthrough to Gold-Armored Zombie. At that point, you activated two pawns: Ke Wenhsui, openly, and Lin Duanyun, covertly. You exposed Ke Wenhsui early on, then used Master Jingkong as your tool to expose Lin Duanyun at the crucial moment, thereby completely separating the Zombie Art from yourself."

"You also possess the Adamant Iron Shirt technique, which perfectly explains your invulnerability. Combined with your refined Zombie Art, capable of restoring meridians and normalizing blood circulation, and with Ke Wenhsui and Lin Duanyun as your decoys, you devised a flawless escape plan."

"Moreover, Lin Duanyun's formidable talent, once his Zombie Art was exposed, would render the entire Mobei martial arts world helpless and plunge it into fear. At that opportune moment, you must have had a contingency: someone would 'accidentally' discover and rescue you."

"Afterward, in front of the Mobei martial arts community, you would 'cleanse your sect' by killing Lin Duanyun, demonstrating that your Adamant Iron Shirt was no inferior to the Zombie Art. You would even sustain minor injuries before the assembled martial artists, allowing them to inspect your meridians and blood. From then on, you would not only be perfectly clear of any association with the Zombie Art, but your reputation would surpass He Changqing's, and you would even achieve the esteemed title of Grandmaster."

Bai Qiliao smiled faintly. "Master Zhuo, you are correct. It's just a pity that this otherwise perfect plan encountered a small flaw."

Zhuo Qingfeng said, "You didn't anticipate Lin Duanyun's swift defeat, did you? Nor did you expect Brother Gu to uncover the underlying truth?"

Bai Qiliao replied, "Lin Duanyun's defeat was within my expectations. After all, a Half-step Golden Body is not a true Golden Body form, and it was an incomplete version of the Zombie Art. Furthermore, Great Hero Gu is a renowned Inner Cultivation Grandmaster. Lin Duanyun's loss was only natural. I merely didn't anticipate Great Hero Gu detecting the underlying truth."

Zhuo Qingfeng cupped his hands. "Given the circumstances, Old Master Bai, what will you do now?"

Bai Qiliao sighed. "Silencing everyone is no longer an option. With Great Hero Gu present, I can't eliminate everyone here before you reach the mountain. Therefore, I must leave now. The martial arts world of Qian Kingdom likely has no place for me anymore; I'll have to seek refuge in a foreign land."

Zhuo Qingfeng smiled faintly. "Old Master Bai, do you truly believe you can leave today?"

Bai Qiliao stated, "Master Zhuo, do not invite disaster upon yourself. I have no desire to establish a life-and-death feud with the Qian Kingdom's court. But if you insist on seeking death, I won't hesitate to unleash a massacre here before I depart."

"I know you rely on Great Hero Gu Mo. I won't deny that his martial arts are unfathomable, but if I am determined to leave, no one can stop me. As for Great Hero Gu, he is merely the tenth strongest in Qian Kingdom, not the tenth strongest in the world. I'm leaving Qian Kingdom now, so there's no utility in vying for the title of Qian Kingdom's tenth. Otherwise, I would have used Great Hero Gu's defeat to solidify my renown throughout the Qian Kingdom's martial world today."

Bai Qiliao's words instantly cast a pall of dread and fear over everyone present.

No one doubted Bai Qiliao's power.

Thirty years prior, He Changqing was a Grandmaster on the Heavenly Ranking, and Bai Qiliao was only slightly his inferior. Now, after decades of hidden cultivation, he had not only mastered the Zombie Art to the Golden Body stage but had also refined it.

They could scarcely imagine the extent of Bai Qiliao's current strength.

Gu Mo was undeniably strong, but as Bai Qiliao had stated, no matter his might, he was publicly recognized as Qian Kingdom's tenth strongest, not the world's tenth. Bai Qiliao, however, was an unknown terror, a product of years of hidden schemes.

Instantly, a somber mood settled over everyone in the cave.

Gu Chutong, in fact, was deeply indignant, finding Bai Qiliao's words arrogant and presumptuous. She yearned to retort but worried about putting Gu Mo in a difficult position, forcing him into this confrontation.

Upon reflection, she realized it was entirely unnecessary.

While Bai Qiliao was indeed arrogant, he was clearly an absolute master. Since there was no life-or-death vendetta between him and her brother, taking such a risk felt pointless.

Thus, she chose to remain silent.

Meanwhile, Zhuo Qingfeng frowned, hesitated, then motioned for a few of his constables to step aside.

He knew Bai Qiliao was undeniably a master, and his sole reliance was Gu Mo. However, given the current circumstances, Bai Qiliao was too unfathomable to gauge, and a forced confrontation would place Gu Mo in grave danger.

Therefore, he opted to concede.

As an Inspector for the Six Doors, facing a demon who had harmed countless lives, he chose to retreat. After today, he would become a laughingstock.

Seeing Zhuo Qingfeng yield, Bai Qiliao smiled faintly and swaggered towards the cave entrance.

However, just then,

Gu Mo, who had remained silent throughout, suddenly spoke, "Bai Qiliao."

Bai Qiliao paused, looked at Gu Mo, and with a hint of amusement in his smile, asked, "Does Great Hero Gu have something to say?"

Gu Mo slowly stated, "I wonder if you've heard the saying, 'No wanted criminal I've pursued has ever escaped my grasp.' What makes you believe you'll be the exception?"

Bai Qiliao chuckled softly. "It seems, Great Hero Gu, that you are determined to forfeit your title as one of Qian Kingdom's Top Ten Grandmasters today."

Gu Mo said in a low voice, "Are you truly that confident? Do you think you've got me completely figured out?"

Bai Qiliao declared, "Thirty years ago, He Changqing was a Grandmaster, and I was not far behind him. Now, I have cultivated this ancient divine art to perfection. Great Hero Gu, at best, you are only marginally stronger than He Changqing was thirty years ago, but I am ten, even a hundred times stronger than he was!"