In the world of cultivation, when you face trouble, you always have your clan to fall back on.
If you don't have a clan, you rely on your sect.
If you don't have a clan or sect and get bully, you try and be the fish that swim up the stream against all odd. Most of the fishes die in the process, the one who survive most likely join a sect or another. People with that kind of talents are not left alone.
Shi Xiang doesn't have a clan to or sect to fall back on. His only pillar of support, his master has left and hasn't returned yet. In another lifetime, perhaps he would be that fish that swim against the stream, however in this life time, without a clan or sect to settle his trouble, he brought the matter to official authority.
"Judging by their clothes and emblem, they belong to the black rose bandit gang. Watch carefully."
The government coroner, lifts the white cloth to reveal the left shoulder of the the fallen men.
"Each and every single one of them has the black rose emblem. This tattoo art is very distinct, there is no mistaking it, the curse-like tattoo engraving belong to the black rose bandit gang. Of course, when we mention the black rose gang, we have to mention their leader." The thin face coroner reveals with a white face.
The black rose gang may have been a small problem in the eyes of many clans and sects. Even to the government who has the clans and sects to fall back on doesn't have anything to fear. Only the most backward part of the continent fear this name. However, after the power struggle, there is a change within the black rose gang itself. A frighteningly powerful woman consolidates her power and built the organization into something to be fear. Not a gang of ruffian and rascal anymore, such organization has gone underground and become a mysterious assassination organization. Their cause is unknown, because despite them being a blink in the eyes of the many clans and sects before, the benefits they reap from terrorizing the backward part of the continent is many time more than what they should be making now as an organization that make very specific assassination attempts on people.
It is said that the black rose gang has been subvert by a more powerful organization, becoming the shadow force of the organization. In the middle of all this is that woman.
The mysterious black rose that is said to be able to fight against other with a higher realm of cultivation. An exceedingly capable woman, overseeing all of the organization's operation. Never caught, the whole world of cultivation could only speculate her identity.
Because she oversees all of her organization's operation, this one was no different. Because no one survive, she did not survive either.
The corpse of that mysterious and dangerous person is currently in the room, smashed beyond recognition. The coroner was extremely nervous even as he said that, looking at the corpse as if the person is going to come back to life at any moment to kill everyone in the room like a forbidden resurrection act.
However, this continent does not have anything like a forbidden resurrection act. Life is a sacred thing in any continent, you only have one.
Except when you have two or three lives with your consciousness intact, but those are edge case.
After the coroner finally finishes explaining the body characteristic and identification in comparison to what is previously known of the deceased, the seriousness of the situation finally dawn upon the people inside the room.
Each every single member was above Dan forming realm, what was considered a considerable achievement to practitioner, enough to become inner disciple of a large sect. With that kind of fighting force, the black rose gang could even be considered equal to a small clan or sect, that is not even counting their leader.
After that debacle, due to unknown reasons a significant portion of their fighting force has perished, including their leader. And the way they have been taken out...
Everyone glances at Shi Xiang meaningfully. However, at that moment, Shi Xiang truly does not belong to anywhere anymore.
He looks at the female corpse. He didn't even identify her as a woman in the heat of situation, it just happens. That's all.
Perhaps in another lifetime if he has gotten to know her, they may have formed a karma bond and know each other better. He does not hate her, however he has to cut any troublesome lingering link before it becomes even more troublesome in the future. Just like young master Hu De of the Hu family, once upon a time, Shi Xiang used to hate him with all of his being. However he has a change of mind, perhaps they too could have some common ground if they come to know each other. But if Hu De comes at Shi Xiang again, he will cut him down just like this woman here.
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And if Hu De was really the mastermind behind this attempt...
After the explanation and the dawning realization, the government officer finally addresses Shi Xiang who has reported the case to the authority.
"Is this a threat?"
And the name of that government officer was-
Hu Wu.
Of course, despite it being a region on the outer edge of the Hu family territory, it was still within the Hu family's influence after all.
Shi Xiang stares at Hu Wu. His family name was originally not Hu, however, the first lady of the Hu family become infatuated with the man's beauty and decide to take him as her husband no matter what. Laughed at as the Hu family's parasite, Hu Wu is still considered Hu De, Shi Xiang's love rival, brother-in-law. However due to an altercation with his wife, Hu Wu is staying here for now until she cools her temper.
All thing consider, Hu Wu was said to be a good governor to the people. However the day that Shi Xiang was forced to crawl out of the Hu manor, Hu Wu was there, but he didn't even say a word to the spectacle. It's clear that despite his reputation, Hu Wu still knows the heaviness of "pride and honor" and will always choose to favor his wife's family in the end.
Shi Xiang looks at Hu Wu. Considering beauty, Shi Xiang is more beautiful than him, just a bit however. Even so, staring at Shi Xiang's face without being intimidated is a hard task. Still, Shi Xiang chooses to stay neutral.
"In this world of cultivation, if you face injustice, you fall back to your sect, if you don't have a sect, you fall back to your family, if you are not part of a sect or a powerful clan, you are like me. I could only report the situation to the government, hoping that the father and mother of the citizens will look after their own and find the true mastermind behind everything."
With a straight face, Shi Xiang told him that.
In this situation, normally, the government guards would have beaten him within an inch of his life, letting him crawl out of the front gate. However, no one present is confident in doing that at this moment.
"It's true..."
A small whisper could be heard in the room. The government guards look at Shi Xiang with a fearful eye. They could not sense his cultivation being any higher than the foundation formation stage, but with all the corpses here, who has done it? If it is really true that Shi Xiang has an ascended master, wouldn't they be throwing their life away trying to bully Shi Xiang?
The sky outside is clear of any cloud.
The people inside fear that lightning would strike at any moment notice in the middle of the day.
"Shi Xiang. I heard that lately you have been selling calligraphy right?"
Suddenly Hu Wu starts speaking with an affable voice.
Shi Xiang looks at him.
"Yes. But business hasn't been good lately."
"If everyone's life is already peaceful, why rock the boat and be the grass in the wind."
"Of course, but even if I want to be the calm grass growing on the ground, these dastardly masterminds do not let me be. I hope the great lord would get to the bottom of this to punish the dastardly villain who smear your family's great name."
Walking away from the situation, Shi Xiang leaves a frustrated Hu Wu in the room. Immediately, Hu Wu breaks out his emergency measure and contact his family's men.
Shi Xiang on the other hand...
He really didn't know before hand that Hu Wu was the government officer!
Now he invites even more troublesome thing to his immediate future!
At that moment, Devil Path Ancestor, Yan Yu, who is currently trekking on a mountain path made out of corpses happens to check up on the Heavenly Dao Discussion. He happens upon the video of Shi Xiang randomly being assaulted in raw daylight by assassins, and the immediate result. Needless to say Yan Yu was extremely amused and stop his trek for a moment.