The Hundred Streams Market, with its low threshold for entry, and the bustling Three Families Market were places that thrived with daily commotion. However, today, when Yu Ci stepped into the market, he was met only with desolation.
The Hundred Streams Market was closed; clearly, no one there had the heart for business today. The occasional cultivators he did see were internal members of the Three Families Market, each one wearing a grave expression, hurrying about with an air of tension so thick it seemed ready to explode.
Guided by Steward Wen, Yu Ci made his way directly to the scene of the incident—the Meditation Room. This place was at the heart of the market and typically off-limits to outsiders. Yet, Yu Ci was no stranger here; just yesterday, he had used a Divine Chart to investigate the area.
Stepping into the room, Yu Ci saw that the scene had been well-preserved, untouched since the incident, and indistinguishable from any other day, except for the Elder Spirit Witch slumped over on the meditation cushion.
Comparing with his memories from the previous day, the position of the Elder Spirit Witch seemed unchanged, which cast doubt in Yu Ci's mind about the timing of the event. When he inquired with Steward Wen, the steward had no explanation, only that after Boss fifth He left yesterday, Master Zhang Ye had been resting in the Meditation Room until today, when the servants, following routine, brought snacks and tea. After knocking with no response, they discovered the elder had passed away inside.
Listening, Yu Ci observed the scene. From his angle, he could see the rigid face of the old man, wearing an indescribable expression, eerily calm as if completely numb to the arrival of death, which grew more sinister the longer he looked.
Yu Ci sighed. The old man's words from yesterday, though only a few, had helped mediate between him and Jin Chang. It was a favor not insignificant, and now, overnight, this was the outcome.
He crouched down, moving closer, and asked, "Where is the fatal injury?"
"In the heart."
At the scene, Steward Wen seemed distracted, his spirit adrift. With the incident happening here, the stewards could hardly absolve themselves of blame. Their fates were suddenly precarious, and no matter what, it was difficult for him to muster any spirit.
Yu Ci nodded slightly, not probing further. After all, he had come to summon spirits, not to investigate a case.
He habitually activated his Illuminating Soul Dharma Eye, scanning the four walls. There were no lingering Remnant Souls to be found, which was within his expectations. In the end, such matters often boiled down to doing one's humanly best and leaving the rest to fate. Presumably, Steward Wen had no real anticipation that Yu Ci would successfully call back the Elder Spirit Witch's soul; finding any clue at all would be considered fortunate.
Just as he was about to commence, a chill prickled at his back. Yu Ci furrowed his brow and turned, only to be faced with a somewhat familiar figure.
Was this... Su Tong?
Su Tong, wearing the same lake-green robe as before, entered from the outside, fixing him with a disgruntled stare.
The situation bordered on the absurd. By its very nature, the Three Families Market was among the forces least inclined to show deference to the Great Hammer Hall within Yin Cave City. Yet, when trouble arose in the market, Su Tong, a prominent figure of the Great Hammer Hall, had hurried over posthaste. What could possibly be the reason for this?
At that moment, another person emerged from behind Su Tong, dressed somewhat similarly to Steward Wen. Upon seeing Yu Ci, he too paused in surprise, then turned to Steward Wen and asked,
"Old Wen, who is this?"
Steward Wen did not respond directly. He cast a sidelong glance at Su Tong, his expression cooling, and said in a grave tone, "Resident Hall Master, what brings you here?"
After the discovery of the Elder Spirit Witch's sudden death, Steward Wen had ordered the closure of the Hundred Streams Market and sealed off the venue. While news was hard to contain, at least it demonstrated a clear stance. But what was Su Tong's appearance here all about?
Master Zhang, who stood apart in status, tragically passed away within the confines of the market. Upon hearing the news, the Resident Hall Master hastened to the scene, eager to lend his support. Skilled in the arts of the soul, the Resident Hall Master's expertise was most apt for such a situation.
The speaker was also a steward of the Three Families Market, surnamed Li. On ordinary days, he and Steward Wen managed their respective areas of responsibility, neither able to outdo the other. His involvement in this matter clearly hinted at ulterior motives.
Steward Wen was already overwhelmed with the situation at hand, with no energy left for petty squabbles. Gritting his teeth, he pulled Steward Li aside and said, "Master Zhang's case involves the Underworld Secret Mansion. With so many interested parties, how can we afford to be careless? Not to mention, are you unaware of the incident with Hong Yuan?"
He was referring to the well-known blunder of Hong Yuan from the Great Hammer Hall, who mistakenly identified Yu Ci as the Ethereal Rhinoceros Hermit—a source of much amusement in Yin Cave City.
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Li, feeling his authority challenged, retorted with annoyance, "Can you find someone more adept in the Art of Soul and Mind within the city? Besides, Su Tong may not be trustworthy, but at least he is a known quantity. And what about the person you brought in?"
His words carried weight, and even Steward Wen had to concede that Su Tong's abilities were recognized throughout the city. He had chosen Soul Chaser, also known as Yu Ci, partly because of the latter's conflict with Su Tong and partly out of caution.
Their argument was overheard within the room. There was naturally no love lost between Yu Ci and Su Tong, especially after the unresolved grievances stemming from the Ghost Hand Zhou affair.
Yu Ci remained composed. He was curious to see how the Three Families Market would manage the situation. This was not merely a case of "professionals at odds"; the act of soul summoning was not a task where more hands meant better results. Even if the Old Spirit Witch's Remnant Soul was still present, having both parties perform the ritual together would likely increase the chances of the soul being torn asunder.
Su Tong wore a sardonic smile, knowing full well he dared not provoke the Three Families Market. Yet, he couldn't help but revel in schadenfreude, delighting in the internal strife among its members. However, his presence today was genuinely for the sake of the soul-summoning matters concerning Zhang Ye. It's well-known that a Spiritual Witch's prowess is innate, their souls inherently different from ordinary people, and thus, of great referential value to those dedicated to the Art of Soul and Mind Cultivation. Upon hearing of Zhang Ye's sudden demise, he took the initiative to come, coincidentally encountering Steward Li. The two hit it off immediately, their meeting not at all premeditated.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere between Stewards Wen and Li grew increasingly tense, on the verge of erupting into a second round of argument. Abruptly, a figure rushed over in a panic, shouting from a distance, "A direct message from the family head."
This was an order from the big shot behind Three Families Market, directly to their branch. Both Steward Wen and Steward Li were startled, their rising anger momentarily stilled. Steward Wen was the first to take a look at the message, and in the next moment, his portly body stiffened completely, followed by an uncontrollable trembling:
"Boss fifth He's Lifespan Lamp... has it gone out?"
Important figures of the Three Families Market had their Lifespan Lamps lit at the headquarters. Should misfortune befall them, the lamp would extinguish, leaving no room for error.
In other words, Boss fifth He... was dead!
How could this be? When Boss fifth He left yesterday, he was accompanied by ten Golden Elixir cultivators, and he himself was a genuine practitioner of Vacuum Walking Cultivation. Where did this "death" come from?
Steward Wen nearly collapsed on the spot. If the Elder Spirit Witch's death could be explained away, perhaps he would only face a reprimand. But with the news of Boss fifth He's death, everyone in Yin Cave City, related or not, was bound to face a thorough scrutiny. Now, even yearning for a mere reprimand was out of the question. What awaited him was the thunderous wrath from the headquarters, and even if he survived, everything he had in the Three Families Market would be reduced to ashes and smoke!
Steward Li was shocked into a stupefied silence. It took him a long moment before he muttered to himself, "This must be the work of the murderer, it has to be..."
Even a three-year-old could think more clearly than him at that moment, but Steward Wen, on the other hand, glimpsed a ray of divine light amidst the chaos. Indeed, the Elder Spirit Witch was dead, Boss Fifth He was dead; two key figures in the investigation of the Ethereal Rhinoceros Hermit had perished in a single day—what were the chances?
That's right, if luck was on their side, perhaps they could still find some clues here... Huh?
"Resident Hall Master, where are you off to?"
Steward Wen was not one to let any opportunity slip by. Even Su Tong could be of use if he could help uncover the truth. However, Su Tong emerged from the Meditation Room and headed straight out. Steward Wen was taken aback and hastily called out to him.
With a dark expression, Su Tong flicked his sleeve and said, "If you, Steward Wen, do not trust in my abilities, why should I waste my efforts warming your cold shoulder?"
With those words, he did not slow his pace and soon disappeared into the distance.
Stewards Wen and Li stood dumbfounded for a moment before cursing in unison. What "lack of trust"? That was just an excuse! It was clear that upon hearing of Boss Fifth He's death, Su Tong had become fearful and did not dare to wade into troubled waters.
It was no wonder Su Tong felt this way. A murderer capable of killing Boss Fifth He and infiltrating the Three Families Market to commit another murder had to be at least of the Vacuum Walking Realm, or even a Thunderbolt Tribulation Cultivator. The Underworld Secret Mansion was an attraction for all Cultivators of this world!
The more Steward Wen thought about it, the more helpless he felt. Now, he clung to a sliver of hope, a hope that was tied to the person still inside the Meditation Room.
In the Meditation Room, Yu Ci was pondering a question: "Is it a solitary individual?"
He posed the query mentally to the Shadow Ghost, and the response was a definitive no. "Absolutely not. Not only does the timing not align, but how could someone practicing the 'Core-Melting Fiery Prison Technique' resort to such means to kill? It would be more likely if this place were razed to the ground."
"Mm, that's true."
Yu Ci revisited the cause of Elder Spirit Witch's death. He noted that the old man had died due to a severed heart meridian, leading to the collapse of his Blood Qi. The force that had ended his life was delicate, the proverbial last straw that broke the camel's back—not a smidgen more, not a fraction less. Such an effortless killing technique was starkly different from the style of the previous Demon Sect Cultivator.
Who could it be?
Turning his head, he saw the two stewards, Wen and Li, re-enter the room, both looking utterly dispirited. Yu Ci asked, "Will you continue?"
"Yes!"
Steward Wen's chubby face was drained of color, displaying a desperate ashen despair, yet he clung to the matter at hand with an extraordinary determination. It was the noose around his neck, but also the only straw to grasp at for salvation. He had to hold on to it for dear life.
Yu Ci shook his head; Steward Wen was driven by the need to protect his life and property, but wasn't he driven by the same need? If the Shadow Ghost hadn't spoken of the Spiritual Witch's soul's ability to communicate with the heavens and the netherworld, its mysterious nature, and its potential to serve as an example for the 'Refinement Degree' series of Talismans, why would he knowingly step into this whirlpool of danger?
He steadied his mind and waved a hand, casting the Soul Restoring Star Fixing Curse. On the forehead of the old man, a bead of light like a star formed, seemingly burning with a ghastly white flame.
However, in the next moment, this dazzling bead of light suddenly dimmed, its brilliance retracted, and what remained was a flawless Black Pearl. It captivated the gaze, making it nearly impossible to look away.
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I have also posted the following more chapters [All free]: https://www.readgates.com/article/74a39e