bookandnovel Chapter 14655 Muddy the Waters
Chapter 14655 Muddy the Waters
Chapter 14655 Muddy the Waters
The forces behind them.
These four words, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, instantly stirred up ripples in Luo Qiu's heart.
Yes, this young man is not a rootless duckweed.
Those figures hidden in the mist remain unseen to this day, and even Wang Jing of the Holy Temple is wary of them.
If the Sword Star Holy Hall were to truly engage in a life-or-death struggle with the entity behind this kid, in the end, it would only benefit the Broken Realm Mountain forces who were watching from the sidelines!
Ling Xiao suddenly turned around, looking at the withered leaves fluttering down outside the courtyard, his voice carrying a hint of both sigh and mockery:
"The deaths of several powerful figures from the Sword Star Holy Hall were a momentous event. But now, with so many things in turmoil and the whole city in turmoil, few people are asking why they died or who killed them."
He turned his head to the side, his gaze sweeping over Luo Qiu's tense face, leaving a meaningful smile, before turning and leaving on his own, his steps calm and composed, without the slightest fear.
Luo Qiu stood alone in the courtyard, his thumb pressed firmly on the hilt of his sword, the veins on the back of his hand bulging, his knuckles white. Until the figure in the green robe completely disappeared at the end of the alley, the hilt of his sword remained firmly in his grasp.
The disciples perished, and the demonic sword disappeared.
The current situation is far more complex than simply the gain or loss of a single sword.
Once the sword is drawn, it's a fight to the death, with no room for maneuver. And upon closer examination, what that young man said just now wasn't entirely without merit.
Of course, if this kid has no powerful backing, he could just kill him with one sword. What does it matter if he is right or wrong?
The problem is that Ling Xiao's background is unfathomable. If his backer is nearby, and I rashly make a move, I might end up losing more than I gain, and bring disaster upon the Sword Star Holy Hall!
……
Three days later, at Breaking Boundary Mountain.
Instead of concealing his tracks, Ling Xiao swaggered into the most bustling Zhenyan Pavilion in Pojie Mountain.
Dressed in a simple blue robe, with a cup of tea steaming in the air, he sat by the second-floor window, leisurely looking down at the bustling crowd below, where martial artists from all walks of life moved about, a scene of utter openness and composure.
The more open and honest you are, the less likely you are to arouse suspicion.
This is the simplest principle, and also the most effective sleight of hand.
The water in the tea stove had just boiled, and a wisp of white steam rose silently. At the table opposite, a person had already sat down without anyone noticing. Dressed in gray clothes and cloth shoes, with a cold and stern face, it was Qin Mu, the one whose physical body had been shattered by Wang Jing's palm strike that day.
What's alarming is that his cultivation, which had been crippled by Wang Jing, has recovered to seven or eight tenths of its former state. His aura is steady, his eyes are sharp, and he shows no signs of the disarray he suffered that day.
"Young friend, you have quite the courage." Qin Mu picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of hot tea, his tone carrying a hint of approval as well as scrutiny.
Ling Xiao poured the teapot and filled his teacup with fluid movements, his smile gentle: "Senior is too kind. I have come here to tell you something. The people from the Sword Star Holy Hall found me the other day."
"Oh?" Qin Mu raised his eyes, his eyebrows slightly arched. "What is it?"
“They believe that the Demon Lord’s Black Heaven Sword is still with me.” Ling Xiao put down the teapot and shook his head helplessly.
Qin Mu picked up his teacup, gently blew away the tea foam floating on the surface, and looked at him with a half-smile in his eyes: "Then, in your opinion, young friend, is this sword actually on you?"
"Senior, do you think," Ling Xiao also picked up his teacup, his fingertips tracing the warm rim of the cup, his tone calm, "that such a spiritual treasure would truly choose someone with such shallow cultivation as me as its master?"
The pavilion fell silent for a moment, with only the bubbling of boiling water in the tea stove and the rising steam blurring the features of the two people.
Qin Mu slowly put down his teacup, his gaze deep and serious: "That's true. If that demonic sword truly recognized you as its master, you should have used its power to break through the boundary and leave long ago. Why stay in this desolate realm, maneuvering among various forces?"
“But the Sword Star Sanctuary is determined to believe that I am involved.” Ling Xiao gave a bitter smile, a hint of confusion flashing in his eyes. “I really don’t know whether they truly suspect me or… have other plans.”
A glint of light flashed in Qin Mu's eyes, and his tone was meaningful: "You mean... to shift the blame?"
Ling Xiao shook his head, his tone hesitant: "The Sword Star Holy Hall is, after all, a prestigious and righteous sect with a history of ten thousand years. It can't be that..."
"Young friend, you are still quite naive," Qin Mu interrupted him, his voice tinged with a sense of world-weariness.
"On the path of cultivation, there has never been a clear distinction between good and evil. Even prestigious sects, when they really want to scheme, may use methods that are three times more ruthless than those of evil and heretical sects!"
The wind blowing through the window, carrying the chill of late autumn, rushed into the room, making the windowpanes creak softly.
Qin Mu suddenly changed the subject, his gaze sharp as he looked at Ling Xiao: "Now that the Sword Star Holy Hall has become suspicious, what are your plans for the future, young friend?"
"What else can I do?" Ling Xiao sighed softly, his tone tinged with desolation. "I'll just wander the world, making my home wherever I am."
"The Four Seas?" Qin Mu laughed upon hearing this, his laughter carrying a hint of mockery. "Right now, in this Realm of Annihilation, there are only two places that can accommodate you. And one of them is this Broken Realm Mountain."
Ling Xiao suddenly looked up, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Senior means..."
“Let’s stay at Broken Boundary Mountain.” Qin Mu stood up, dusting himself off. “At least here, the swords of the Sword Star Sanctuary can’t reach us.”
"Thank you for your protection, senior." Ling Xiao also stood up and solemnly bowed to Qin Mu.
"No need." Qin Mu waved his hand, and with a flicker, he transformed into a streak of light, disappearing into the void, leaving only an echoing voice, "I'm off!"
In an instant, Qin Mu's figure arrived at a secluded place deep within the Broken Boundary Mountain.
He bowed respectfully to the tall, upright figure with his back to him, saying, "Mountain Lord, this Ling Xiao is not honest. His words seem unintentional, but in fact, every sentence he utters is intended to sow discord between us and the Sword Star Holy Hall."
The figure stood with his hands behind his back, his voice indifferent, revealing neither joy nor anger: "That thing, is it on him?"
“I can’t be sure!” Qin Mu shook his head, his tone grave. “That’s the most troublesome part. Although I suspect he’s trying to sow discord, I can’t rule out the possibility that he’s telling the truth.”
The figure remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: "Then continue to observe. I'll keep an eye on Wang Jing. As for the Sword Star Sanctuary, that's up to you."
"Your subordinate obeys!" Qin Mu bowed and replied, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.
……
Three days later, deep in the clouds of Broken Boundary Mountain.
Qin Mu led Ling Xiao to a secluded bamboo forest. Deep within the forest, a bamboo hut stood by a stream, its waters babbling. On a blue stone by the stream sat a fisherman wearing a straw raincoat and a bamboo hat.
Hearing the sound, the fisherman didn't turn his head, but simply raised his hand and waved it gently. Seeing this, Qin Mu quickly bowed and retreated silently, disappearing into the depths of the bamboo forest in an instant.