Chapter 1249: Fearful of Punishment, Fleeing in Secret

No matter how despicable or shameless the other party was, he was, after all, His Imperial Majesty, the Emperor of the Qingyuan Conferred Empire. It was acceptable to teach him a lesson, and even to make him wish for death but be unable to die. However, killing him directly went against the rules.

“This is serious…” Elder Xu was filled with horror.

Although they greatly desired revenge, killing an emperor would inevitably lead to a thorough investigation by the Master Teacher Pavilion, and no one would escape. Even if someone was guilty, a decision could only be made after a trial by the Master Teacher Pavilion. Killing him like this was tantamount to challenging a Conferred Empire.

“I’ll take full responsibility for my actions! I killed him, and I’ll bear full responsibility!” Liu Yang clenched his fists and gritted his teeth.

“How will you take responsibility?” Sun Qiang said, “You don’t represent yourself; you represent Young Master!”

“I…” Liu Yang fell silent.

Indeed, no matter how he took responsibility, it would involve his teacher. There was nothing he could do about it. From the moment he became a disciple, his fate had become inextricably linked with his teacher’s, and could no longer be separated.

“What do we do then?” Liu Yang’s face flushed. After all, he was only a teenager. While he was fine with cultivation and hard work, he was already flustered by such a major incident.

“I don’t know what to do either!” Sun Qiang shook his head.

If Master were here, it would be great. With his status and strength, resolving this matter should be effortless. Young Master being here would also work; he was intelligent and resourceful, with many methods. Perhaps he could also resolve this crisis. But he… truly couldn’t think of a good solution.

An emperor of a nation, killed just like that—the commotion was truly immense.

“Let’s return to the Combat Master Hall first. We’ll figure out how to contact Young Master after that!” After thinking for a long time and still not knowing what to do, Sun Qiang could only say.

“It can only be this way…” Elder Xu and the others knew that their benefactor’s Young Master was a 7-star master teacher who had successfully cleared the hall challenge, possessing extraordinary abilities. Now, only by finding him could they figure out a solution.

The group quickly headed towards the Combat Master Hall.

As they left, in a corner of the imperial palace, a figure struggled several times, trying to stand up, but ultimately failed.

“Now… a major disaster has occurred. The Master Teacher Pavilion must be informed immediately!” After recuperating for three hours, feeling the effects of the poison weaken, he finally stood up and quickly left the imperial palace.

By then, it was already broad daylight outside. When he arrived at the Master Teacher Pavilion, he had already changed clothes… He was actually a 7-star master teacher!

Master Wu, following Zhang Xuan’s instructions, had previously sent someone to trail Chu Tianxing and investigate if anything was amiss… and this was the very person sent! He had quietly hidden, originally intending to find evidence against His Majesty the Emperor, but he never dreamed he would witness Liu Yang and the others assassinating the emperor. Moreover, he had also been poisoned and lacked the strength to intervene.

“Elder An, you’re here. Master Song arrived early this morning and is currently furious…” Seeing him enter, a master teacher hastily came forward to greet him.

“Master Song?” Elder An frowned.

“He’s a quasi 8-star master teacher from the Qianchong Empire branch. When Master Zhang challenged the hall last time, Hall Master Gou reported it to headquarters, and the person sent arrived today…” the master teacher explained.

“Quasi 8-star?” Elder An’s pupils contracted.

Between 7-star and 8-star master teachers, there were two designations: Half-step 8-star and Quasi 8-star! A cultivator who reached the true Ethereal Spirit realm was qualified to be called a Half-step 8-star, while only upon reaching the peak of the Ethereal Spirit realm could one be called a Quasi 8-star! Master Song being a master teacher of this level indicated his cultivation had already reached the peak of the Ethereal Spirit realm, and was not far from Saint 6-dan.

Saint 6-dan, the Domain Realm, was where one condensed their own domain. Within this domain, they wielded absolute power and were practically invincible!

“Yes!” The master teacher nodded.

“He’s arrived at just the right time. I was just about to report this matter. He can decide how to handle it specifically…” Elder An nodded. An emperor of a nation had been killed, which was beyond his control. He could only report it truthfully, and the decision would rest with the other party.

Following closely behind the master teacher, it wasn’t long before they reached the main hall of the Master Teacher Pavilion. Even before entering, a displeased voice could be heard.

“Hall Master Gou was killed, Deputy Hall Master Tian was killed, and so many 7-star master teachers died! Yet, you haven’t sought the culprits. Instead, you’re acting as if nothing happened. Have you forgotten your duties as master teachers, or have you become complacent? This is simply an unhealthy atmosphere! I think your Qingyuan branch needs a thorough rectification! Where is Wu Rufeng? Didn’t Hall Master Gou say he was to temporarily assume the position of Hall Master? Where is he?”

Entering the room, they saw an old man standing in the center of the hall, loudly reprimanding the elders. This was likely the legendary Master Song. All the elders lowered their heads, not daring to utter a sound.

The person represented headquarters and was also a quasi 8-star master teacher himself. Who would dare to refute him while he was in a rage? It was no wonder he was angry. A Master Teacher Pavilion that had stood for tens of thousands of years had its Hall Master and Deputy Hall Master killed, and so many 7-star master teachers had died. Furthermore, a twenty-year-old youth had successfully cleared its hall challenge. It had completely lost the Master Teacher Pavilion’s prestige.

“Deputy Hall Master Wu is in seclusion…” an elder replied.

“Seclusion? With such a major incident occurring, how dare the head of a branch go into seclusion? Does he even have the mood for it?” Hearing this, Master Song was so enraged he nearly exploded. The entire branch was almost annihilated, yet he could still go into seclusion… What a genius!

“Find him and bring him to me… And also, bring me that Zhang Xuan who successfully cleared the hall challenge, bring him along!” Master Song swung his arm.

“Bring… Master Zhang for what?”

“Everything that’s happened recently in your branch is related to him. I want to see with my own eyes what kind of divine being he is who can throw a Master Teacher Pavilion and a Conferred Empire into such utter chaos!” Master Song snorted. As a master teacher, adhering to the spirit of seeking truth from facts, he had already conducted a thorough investigation before coming here.

The cause of the incident was that Prince Zhongqing of Qingyuan Empire had arrested a butler named Sun Qiang. Then the conflict escalated, eventually leading to the hall challenge. He had only been in Qingyuan City for a little over ten days, yet he had caused such a massive stir. He truly wanted to see what kind of divine being this Zhang Xuan was, and what abilities he possessed.

“Yes…” An elder responded and walked out.

Elder An stepped forward.

“Master Song, I am Elder An Rufa… I have something to report to you!”

“I’ve heard of you; you’re considered an old-timer among the elders of Qingyuan Empire. What is it? Speak freely!” Master Song nodded.

“It’s like this… Last night, Chu Tianxing, the Emperor of Qingyuan Empire, imprisoned Liu Yang, Master Zhang Xuan’s student. Then… in the middle of the night, Butler Sun Qiang, along with some remnants of the Poison Hall, poisoned all the imperial guards, rescued the person… and also… killed Chu Tianxing!” Elder An recounted in detail what he had witnessed with his own eyes.

“Killed Chu Tianxing? Chu Tianxing is dead?” His pupils contracted, and Master Song froze on the spot.

“Yes!” Elder An nodded.

“Who killed him?” Master Song hastily looked over.

“It was… Master Zhang’s student, Liu Yang, who… killed him with a single punch!” Elder An stated.

“This… Killing the emperor of a Conferred Empire is practically showing no regard for the Master Teacher Pavilion! Outrageous, outrageous!” Master Song’s face turned ashen.

The Master Teacher Pavilion oversees and protects the peace of a region. Although Master Zhang possessed unparalleled talent, the moment he arrived, he caused such turmoil throughout the entire empire. Even the emperor was killed by his student. How could the Master Teacher Pavilion explain this to the empire’s populace? It’s simply… an unforgivable crime!

“Bring me Zhang Xuan and that student of his immediately!” Gritting his teeth, Master Song clenched his fists. With such a major incident occurring, it must be handled quickly. Otherwise, if a civil uprising occurred, let alone him, even the Master Teacher Pavilion headquarters wouldn’t be able to control the situation.

“Yes…” Several elders accepted the order and turned to leave.

Before long, a plump man followed them in.

“Greetings, Master Song. I am Sun Qiang, Master Zhang Xuan’s butler!” The plump man cupped his fists.

“You are Sun Qiang?” Master Song narrowed his eyes and looked over. To be honest, the source of all these events, rather than being attributed to Master Zhang, was more accurately this fellow’s doing!

“Yes, our Young Master is not currently in Qingyuan City…” Sun Qiang quickly replied.

“Not here?” Master Song’s expression grew even uglier.

“Young Master and Master Wu went out together to apprehend the murderer who killed Hall Master Gou! To prevent the culprit from hearing the news and escaping beforehand, they deliberately said Master Wu was in seclusion!” Sun Qiang explained. He knew Young Master was not actually in seclusion. Since the other party was from headquarters, he naturally had to tell the truth.

“Apprehending the culprit?” Master Song’s expression finally softened a little. He then asked, “What about that Liu Yang?”

Master Zhang wasn’t here, so where was Liu Yang, the murderer who killed the Qingyuan Emperor? Why wasn’t he with them?

“He…” Sun Qiang’s face showed embarrassment, “He also left Qingyuan City and is nowhere to be found!”

“Left, nowhere to be found? What do you mean?” His aura pressed down, and everyone nearby felt their bodies tremble. Master Song stared intently at the plump man before him, as if he wanted to tear him apart.

“Reporting to Master Song, after accidentally killing His Majesty Chu Tianxing, Liu Yang felt guilty and quietly departed. I don’t know where he went…” Sun Qiang quickly explained. He was telling the truth. After returning from the imperial city to the Combat Master Hall residence, he had consoled Liu Yang for a bit, then eagerly tried to contact Young Master. However, after trying for a long time, he couldn’t reach him. When he returned again, he found that the young master had already vanished. Only a letter remained.

“Quietly departed? I think he’s fleeing in fear of punishment!” Master Song narrowed his eyes, turned, and commanded with killing intent, “Immediately search the entire city for me, and apprehend this escaped murderer… dead or alive!”

“Yes!” A group of master teachers departed.

“As a mere butler, you disregarded regulations, and even led people to break into the imperial palace, poisoning the guards… Your crime is equally unforgivable! Guards, take this Sun Qiang away first, and when Liu Yang is caught, you will both be tried together!” Master Song rebuked.

Hearing his words, another master teacher stepped forward.

“Take me away? And arrest Young Master?” He hadn’t expected Master Song to make such a decision. Sun Qiang raised an eyebrow and looked over with some displeasure, “How dare you? Do you know who our Master is?”