Mao Qingzhu's voice was gentle and captivating, but the protectiveness in her words left Duan Ling momentarily stunned.

Brother Ye?

Could this Steward Chen actually have such a beautiful sister?

Curiosity is a human instinct, especially when it involves a beautiful woman.

However, since Mao Qingzhu had suppressed two of the late-stage Qi Cultivation black-clad men, the remaining ones fled in succession.

Duan Ling didn't have the luxury to pay attention to the suddenly appearing female cultivator. Holding his magic sword, he continued to pursue the remaining black-clad men.

These men were only at the middle period of Qi Cultivation. Although they were well-trained and might possibly hold their ground against Duan Ling if they formed a formation in opposition,

once Mao Qingzhu from the Foundation Establishment Stage appeared, they were scared out of their wits and fled for their lives, with no intention of resisting.

Soon enough, Duan Ling picked them off one by one, leaving only two captives alive.

"Steward Chen, these two have been captured alive. How should we deal with them?"

Duan Ling held his sword, the tip still dripping with blood.

The two captives had been crippled in their dantians and stripped of their limbs, their faces ashen, trembling like leaves.

Chen Ye, observing Duan Ling's swift and decisive methods, nodded in satisfaction.

Having a powerful subordinate by his side certainly made things easier and saved him from personally capturing assassins.

However, the scene was excessively gruesome.

He wasn't sure if Sister Qingzhu, who had been secluded for so long, could accept this...

Chen Ye glanced at Mao Qingzhu, only to see this gentle woman frowning slightly, seemingly dissatisfied.

"Sister Qingzhu, perhaps you should step aside for a while?" Chen Ye suggested softly.

Mao Qingzhu shook her head, her eyes holding concern:

"Brother Ye, this place reeks of blood and foul air. You should avoid looking too much, lest it taints your mind. Leave the rest to me and Junior Brother Duan. Let's return to the valley first.

Contrary to Chen Ye's expectations, it was Mao Qingzhu who was secretly worried about Chen Ye.

In her view, Brother Ye had been dealing all day with the vibrant spirit plants and trees, tending to flowers and plants, rarely seeing such scenes of swords flashing and blood flying.

Watching his overly calm side profile, her heart filled with pity.

"Although he appears composed now, inside... he's probably a turbulent sea, isn't he?"

Chen Ye twitched the corner of his mouth.

The stereotype of the spirit plant cultivator in the cultivation realm was much too severe.

Did everyone think he was merely an honest person who played with flowers, grass, and entertained little girls?

Back in the day, he had amazed everyone on the magic battle platform of the Lingyin Sect!

"Rest assured, Sister Qingzhu, have you forgotten that I came up from being a Loose Cultivator? I've long grown accustomed to it along the way."

Chen Ye didn't explain further but instead stepped forward and squatted in front of the two captives, who were already scared out of their wits.

"Who sent you?" he asked them coldly.

The two of them clenched their teeth, refusing to divulge a word, even in the face of death.

"Steward Chen, let me handle this! Back when I was serving in Yunxi District, I often dealt with such cunning tribulation cultivators."

Duan Ling clasped his hands together, and with Chen Ye's permission, he grabbed the two by the neck and dragged them into the peach grove nearby.

A moment later, shrill screams echoed from within the grove.

However, taking note of Mao Qingzhu's earlier frown, Duan Ling set up a sound barrier formation after the initial screams, continuing the interrogation.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn,

he emerged from the grove, enveloped in the scent of blood.

"Steward Chen," Duan Ling reported to Chen Ye, with a cupped fist salute, "they have confessed. It's... the Wei Family."

When he uttered those two words, his face was filled with disbelief.

Though he was aware of the conflict between Wei Cheng and Chen Ye, he never imagined that a significant cultivation clan like the Lingyin Sect would dare to make such a move against Linsong's authority!

They even went to great expense to hire three late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Duan Ling wiped his hands and added, "Steward Chen, I recognize these two. They're the infamous Loose Cultivators in the Peach Mountain District, known as the Black Wind Brothers. They were notorious for committing acts of murder and robbery and fled to Qi Kingdom after becoming wanted. Who knew they would secretly return to the Peach Mountain District and be employed by the Wei Family?"

"I see... It seems that the Black Wind Brothers were drawn by the recent turmoil in the Three Thousand Great Mountains, engaging in murderous and plundering activities."

Chen Ye nodded, deep in thought,

"Go examine that Seventh-Layer Qi Cultivator. Despite the low cultivation, he led the group, perhaps he belongs to the Wei family."

Hearing this, Duan Ling stepped forward and carefully examined the leader's corpse. He tore off the face mask, revealing a thoroughly unremarkable face, and shook his head.

"Steward Chen," he said gravely as he returned, "this person... is completely unfamiliar. During my tenure guarding Yunxi District, I got to know most of the noteworthy Loose Cultivators in the two nearby districts, even if not all. But this person... I've never seen before. And there's nothing in his storage bag to identify him either."

Indeed.

Who would want to bring items that could reveal their identity when committing an assassination?

Chen Ye speculated that this person was probably a death warrior belonging to the Wei Family, meant to carry out unspeakable tasks.

Thus, even if they failed, there would be no evidence pointing to the Wei Family.

As for the tribulation cultivator's dying confession... it was essentially useless.

Seeing Chen Ye silent, Duan Ling also understood what weighed on Chen Ye's heart and expressed regretfully:

"Sadly, we lack the magical treasures to preserve the remaining souls. Otherwise, by taking these souls to the sect for confrontation, even if the Wei Family didn't perish, they'd suffer greatly!"

Preserving souls requires magical treasures posed with spirituality capable of keeping the souls intact.

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