Chapter 317: Chapter 160: Killing Intent (Part 2)

During this time, Chen Qing had secretly conducted an investigation and discovered that this Steward from the Liu Family had a rather deep connection to the Yue Shan couple, who had disappeared in the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp years ago.

After the Yue Shan couple disappeared, their only daughter, Yue Ling, had entrusted Bai Qingquan to investigate the matter. Bai Qingquan had indeed been working on it tirelessly behind the scenes, seeming to be extremely invested in the case.

On the surface, it seemed like a noble act of loyalty.

But Chen Qing couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.

According to the information he’d gathered, while Bai Qingquan was acquainted with the Yue Shan couple, their relationship was nowhere near close enough to warrant him spending so much energy and continuing the investigation for several years.

Where there’s smoke, there’s fire.

’He’s far too zealous...’

Chen Qing muttered to himself, ’Is there more to the Yue Shan couple’s disappearance? Or is Bai Qingquan himself the problem?’

His gaze turned cold, and he hesitated no longer.

He took a fine wolf-hair brush from its stand and drew a decisive black line through the two words "Bai Qingquan."

Closing the register, he returned it to its original spot and concealed all traces of his actions.

Then, his expression returning to normal, Chen Qing pushed open the courtyard gate and stepped outside.

He planned to stop by the Cyan Wood Institute first before deciding how to approach the overly "zealous" Steward Bai.

Soon, Chen Qing arrived at the Transmission Square of the Cyan Wood Institute.

The afternoon sun filtered through sparse clouds, warming the green flagstones of the square until they were faintly hot.

The square was sparsely populated with only a handful of disciples, a far cry from its usual liveliness.

A few new, entry-level Transmutation Force Disciples were listlessly practicing basic forms. When they saw Chen Qing approaching, they quickly stopped and bowed respectfully.

"Chief Disciple!"

Chen Qing gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping across the Transmission Square.

He scanned the area and was about to leave when Luo Xinyi hurried over, her fine brows knitted with a hint of gravity in her expression.

"Chief Disciple!"

She drew near and lowered her voice. "There’s something I need to report to you."

Chen Qing stopped and looked at her. "What is it?"

Luo Xinyi took a deep breath. "It’s about Junior Sister Ji, Ji Yilan. She’s been missing for almost two months. In all that time, she hasn’t returned to the Sect or filed for a leave of absence with any of the Stewards."

’Ji Yilan?’

An image of her immediately surfaced in Chen Qing’s mind.

When he had first joined the Cyan Wood Institute, Ji Yilan was already a senior disciple at the Early Stage of the Embracing Pill Force. She had considerable talent and was a diligent cultivator. She later opened up three of her Main Meridians and was just a step away from reaching the Middle Stage of the Embracing Pill Force.

She held no official position Within the Sect and had a quiet personality. While she didn’t particularly stand out, she was definitely not the type to disappear without a reason.

Chen Qing asked, "Have you asked the disciples she was close with? Do we know where she went last? Or which Sect missions she accepted?"

"I’ve asked them all."

Luo Xinyi shook her head, her voice laced with confusion and a trace of anxiety. "The disciples she was close to all said they don’t know anything. She was last seen about two months ago, saying she was going to take care of something. No one has seen her since. I also checked with the Task Hall; she hasn’t taken on any long-term missions that would require her to leave the Sect."

An Embracing Pill Force disciple had vanished without a trace for two months.

"I’m afraid..."

Luo Xinyi trailed off, leaving the rest unsaid, but her meaning was clear.

She was likely in grave danger, if not already dead.

This was especially concerning since sightings of the Demon Sect had become increasingly frequent in recent months.

Chen Qing remained silent, pondering the situation.

’The life or death of an Embracing Pill Force disciple is no small matter within the Sect. While it might not be enough to alarm the higher-ups, it definitely falls under my jurisdiction as Chief Disciple.’

’I have to find her, dead or alive. I must get to the bottom of how and why she died, to give an answer to the Sect and any family she might have.’

’If I can’t find anything in the end, it will just have to become another unsolved case in the records.’

"Let’s not jump to conclusions just yet."

Chen Qing said after a moment of contemplation, "Continue your investigation. Broaden the scope of your inquiries. Check the places she frequented, and ask her friends and family outside the Sect. See if she displayed any unusual behavior before she disappeared, or if she was in contact with anyone suspicious."

"Yes, Senior Brother." Luo Xinyi nodded seriously.

Chen Qing paused, his gaze sweeping over the slightly unsettled new disciples in the distance. His tone grew heavier as he gave his orders. "The Demon Sect has been active recently, and the situation is growing tense. Pass on my orders to all disciples of the institute: unless absolutely necessary, minimize any long journeys alone. If you must leave the Sect, travel in groups. Be extra cautious, and if you encounter anything suspicious, report it immediately. No delays!"

Sensing the gravity in his tone, Luo Xinyi’s expression turned solemn. She cupped her fist. "Yes! I understand. I’ll see to it that the message is relayed at once."

After bowing one more time, she turned and hurried away, her figure quickly vanishing at the edge of the Transmission Square.

Chen Qing, for his part, walked out of the Cyan Wood Institute, his expression unreadable.

.... 𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

「Prefecture City, Liu Family Residence.」

After leaving through the back gate of the Liu Family residence, Bai Qingquan proceeded with extreme caution, sticking to secluded alleys. He wound his way through them for nearly half an hour, and only after confirming he wasn’t being followed did he slip into an unremarkable courtyard deep within a narrow lane.

The courtyard was silent, save for the RUSTLE of wind through an old tree’s leaves.

Bai Qingquan crossed the front courtyard with familiar ease and pushed open the half-closed door to the main hall.

The light in the hall was dim. A middle-aged man in a brocade robe, his face etched with a sinister look, sat in an ornate armchair, methodically wiping blood from his palm with a white cloth.

Seeing Bai Qingquan enter, the man looked up and cracked a grin. "Brother Bai, you’re here."

"Brother Zhang, how did it go?" Bai Qingquan hurried forward, his voice a low, urgent whisper.