Everyone in the Xiao Mansion was in an uproar.
Shuidong Liu looked up into the night sky to see a tall building collapsing, engulfed in roaring flames.
He immediately sped in that direction.
By the time he arrived, many people were already fighting the fire.
Xiao Yue’Er flew through the air, and with a wave of her hand, she drew water from a nearby stream, sending it arcing through the night sky to douse the flames.
“Damn you, thief!
To dare burn down my Xiao Mansion’s Cultivation Technique Pavilion—you deserve a thousand deaths!”
Hearing the enraged shouts, Shuidong Liu finally understood what this place was.
He had come to the Xiao Mansion specifically to find some cultivation techniques to practice.
‘Such a coincidence?’
‘Who did this?’
‘Who could have done this?’
Amidst the crowd’s angry curses, Xiao Liang and the others arrived.
He watched as Xiao Yue’Er unleashed the surging power of her Magic Realm, lifting the rubble to search for the cultivation techniques within.
“The vast majority have been destroyed!”
“Second Miss, this…
most of the cultivation techniques were recorded on paper, but the ones engraved on metal and stone…
they’re missing!”
“They were after the powerful cultivation techniques engraved on metal and stone!”
Xiao Yue’Er’s eyes turned frosty.
“Did no one see how they got in or out?”
“No, Miss, we didn’t!”
The guards of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion were no ordinary men.
Even the elite Wind, Rain, Thunder, and Lightning squads weren’t qualified for the post.
Shuidong Liu observed everything.
Although the Cultivation Technique Pavilion had only one entrance, it was guarded by eight men stationed outside.
In pairs, they watched over the four cardinal directions.
Inside the Pavilion itself, every floor was guarded.
But now, somehow, they knew nothing!
“Miss, Zonghe is dead!
We must find whoever did this and avenge him!
Avenge him!” Xiao Xi was over sixty and looked his age, but right now, his eyes were filled with killing intent.
Xiao Yue’Er’s gaze fell upon the body of Zonghe.
Her eyes filled with a deep, familial affection, but a storm of killing intent raged in her heart.
Besides him, two other guards of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion were also dead.
Not a single wound on their bodies!
“Give Zonghe and the other two a lavish burial!” Xiao Yue’Er landed and walked to Zonghe’s side.
“Wait,” Shuidong Liu interrupted.
“Master Shui, you…”
“It’s not right.”
The people around them immediately frowned.
Xiao Xi, in particular, spoke up, “Young Master, perhaps you don’t know what Zonghe and his men did for the Xiao Mansion.”
“Zonghe may not have shared our family name, but when the Second Miss was just a babe in swaddling clothes, she was ambushed.
Zonghe chased the attackers alone.
He suffered seventeen stab wounds and lost three fingers on his right hand, but he brought the Second Miss back!”
“For the next three days, he hid with the Second Miss, evading their pursuers.
With no food, he fed her with his own blood to keep her alive!”
In short, if not for Zonghe, Xiao Yue’Er would have died long ago!
“Master Shui, Elder Zong saved my life.
When I was young, I loved coming to the Cultivation Technique Pavilion, and he always looked after me!”
“Master Shui, Elder Zong…”
Shuidong Liu said, “That is precisely why he cannot be buried so hastily!”
One of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion guards asked, “What exactly do you mean, Young Master?”
“None of you saw the culprit come or go?
You didn’t even see a shadow?”
“That’s right…
wait a minute!” one of them answered, a sudden sense of unease washing over him.
“What are you trying to say?”
Xiao Xi added angrily, “Are you suspecting us, Young Master?”
“Our families have guarded the Cultivation Technique Pavilion for generations!
Your suspicion is completely baseless, Young Master!”
“Exactly!
If we’re pointing fingers…
I suspect you!
Things are always peaceful here.
The day you arrive, the Cultivation Technique Pavilion is destroyed and three men are dead!”
As soon as he said this, all eyes turned to Shuidong Liu.
Who was Shuidong Liu?
A man whom the Second Miss had met only once before giving him a token of her affection.
The son of a disgraced official, a Sin Slave from the mines.
By any comparison, the guards of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion were more trustworthy.
Their status, the trials they had endured—it was all proof of their loyalty, and the very reason they were qualified to guard the Pavilion.
“Silence!” Xiao Yue’Er glared at them, her eyes flashing with anger.
She would not allow anyone to slander Shuidong Liu!
“Second Miss, he…”
“Second Miss, it’s best we get to the bottom of this.
After all, Master Shui was the only stranger to enter the grounds today!”
But the guards were resolute.
They had been so loyal; how could they possibly allow themselves to be branded as traitors?
‘In that case, this Young Master who showed up out of nowhere and had the nerve to suspect them was the perfect scapegoat!’
Xiao Xi bowed low.
“I implore you, Second Miss, to set aside your personal feelings.
The Cultivation Technique Pavilion is one of the pillars of the Xiao Mansion.
To undermine our foundation is a crime punishable by death!”
Xiao Yue’Er’s voice was ice.
“And what do you propose?”
“Seize Master Shui and interrogate him!
The truth will come out then!” Xiao Xi glared at Shuidong Liu with pure resentment.
‘This man just arrived, and he’s already stopping a decorated servant from receiving a lavish burial.’
‘What was this supposed to mean?’
‘Did he think he could do whatever he pleased just because he was the future son-in-law?’
‘If he dared to act this way right after arriving, how would he treat them once he truly became the family’s son-in-law?’
Shuidong Liu said simply, “I was on Canglang Island just now.”
“And who’s to know that?” Xiao Xi sneered.
“I hear you refused any attendants.
The island is deserted.
Who can vouch for you?”
“That’s right, who can prove it!”
Xiao Yue’Er frowned, on the verge of erupting in anger, when a voice cut through the tension…
“I can prove it.” Xiao Xuan approached at a leisurely pace.
“Grand-uncle!” Xiao Yue’Er said in surprise.
The crowd hurriedly bowed in greeting.
Xiao Xi asked, “Old Master, you…
you can prove it?”
“I was on his island.
You tell me if that counts as proof.” Xiao Xuan sighed.
“All this shouting, so late at night…”
“If that’s the case, why didn’t you say so?” Xiao Xi stared at Shuidong Liu.
“Are you telling me what to do?”
“You…”
Shuidong Liu said coolly, “Actually, I’d like to know that myself.
Nothing ever happens here, so why is it that the moment I arrive, disaster strikes?”
Xiao Xi’s face flushed hot, and for a moment, he was at a loss for words.
‘The Second Miss might defend Shuidong Liu, but the Old Master had no reason to lie for him.’
‘Therefore, the Old Master must be telling the truth.’
‘Which meant Shuidong Liu’s question hit the nail right on the head!’
“Master Shui…
are you saying you think they were targeting you?” Xiao Yue’Er was startled.
‘Someone dared to make a move within the mansion’s walls!’
“Don’t forget, Yue’Er, it was you who suggested I come to the Xiao Mansion to cultivate in the Cultivation Technique Pavilion.
I’ve only just arrived, and now the Pavilion is gone!” Shuidong Liu’s sharp gaze swept over every person present.
“That…
that’s no reason to suspect us!
We’re all loyal to the Xiao Mansion!
We passed nineteen trials to become guards of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion!” Xiao Xi said, growing frantic.
‘How did the suspicion suddenly fall on them?’
Xiao Yue’Er’s voice was sharp as steel.
“Lightning Squad, lock down this area!
All guards of the Cultivation Technique Pavilion will undergo the nineteen trials again!”
“I…”
“What’s the matter?
Are you afraid?”
Xiao Xi lifted his chin.
“This subordinate has a clear conscience, so I have nothing to fear.
But I must ask, Second Miss…
what of Zonghe and the others…”
With a slap of her hand, Xiao Yue’Er condensed the surrounding air into water, instantly freezing the three corpses in ice.
“Once the truth is uncovered, I will give them the grand burial they deserve!”
“…Yes!”
“Disperse!”
At Xiao Yue’Er’s command, the crowd dispersed, but the discussions did not cease:
“If it wasn’t the Young Master, then is there really a mole?”
“Nothing happens for years, and then suddenly, right when he shows up…
maybe it really was aimed at the Young Master.
If there’s a spy in the Cultivation Technique Pavilion, does that mean they could have tampered with the techniques?”
“Couldn’t be…
Are the techniques we’re practicing flawed?”
A wave of paranoia swept through the crowd.
“Grand-uncle, I’m sorry to have troubled you so late at night,” Xiao Yue’Er said, supporting Xiao Xuan by the arm as they walked slowly.
“It’s nothing.
*Sigh*…
It’s late.
You two should get some rest.
I can get back on my own.”
“Grand-uncle…”
“Go on, I’m not so old that I can’t walk!”
Xiao Xuan, leaning on his cane, slowly made his way towards Cangming Island.
‘This Grand-uncle,’ Shuidong Liu thought, ‘is probably more than just an acquaintance of Duke Dingguo.’
Xiao Yue’Er said, “Master Shui, don’t worry.
We have backups of everything in the Cultivation Technique Pavilion.
The person behind this isn’t very bright.”
“I’ll take you tomorrow morning.
First, I need to handle the matter concerning Elder Zong and the others…”