Chapter 1151: House Arrest

It was simply unbelievable. At least for the moment, Zhou Tianyu found it difficult to accept. He carefully examined the body again from head to toe with his cultivation.

There was no mistake. There could be no mistake.

Niu Youdao really was dead!

This joke had gone far too far. Zhou Tianyu's Adam's apple bobbed several times before he abruptly looked around and roared, "Did any of you see clearly? Who did it?"

Everyone shook their heads. "We couldn't see. They were all masked assassins. Not one of them revealed his true face."

Zhou Tianyu's expression turned dark and savage. "Mobilize every large flying mount with us immediately. Pursue them at any cost. If they're dead, I want the bodies. If they're alive, I want the men!"

"Yes!" Everyone accepted the order and rapidly dispersed to carry it out.

"Deacon, should we first send someone to the rendezvous point? The brothers coming by other routes may arrive there and find none of us..."

The Demon Fox Bureau man had barely finished reminding him when Zhou Tianyu wheeled around and shouted, "At a time like this, you still can't tell what matters most?"

As far as he was concerned, this affair had become enormous.

Who was Niu Youdao? An inspector personally appointed by the Sacred Venerables. And now, at a time like this, he had died in the Desolate Marsh Deadlands. If they could not catch the killers, the Demon Fox Bureau would have no way to explain itself afterward. Who did not know Niu Youdao had a grudge against the Demon Fox Bureau?

Zhou Tianyu himself did not regard having Niu Youdao around as a good thing. He too would have preferred Niu Youdao dead. But if they wanted him dead, it could not happen like this. They would have needed to prepare first and only then act. They could not let the trouble land on their own heads.

Of all the places those masked assassins could have chosen to kill Niu Youdao, they had come to the Desolate Marsh Deadlands. It looked exactly like an attempt to pin the crime on the Demon Fox Bureau.

Among the Demon Fox Bureau personnel taking part in the sweep, men from all Nine Sacred Lands had witnessed Niu Youdao being attacked. There was no way to conceal the matter. So many people had seen it, and the Bureau had made no preparations beforehand. They could not simply shift the blame elsewhere afterward.

The facts were plain for all to see: someone inside the Sacred Realm had openly defied the will of the Nine Saints and murdered an inspector!

Masked assassins had appeared here. That meant anyone could be suspect. Who could guarantee the killers were not from the Demon Fox Bureau? And because this had happened in the Desolate Marsh Deadlands, the Demon Fox Bureau would naturally face the greatest suspicion.

Zhou Tianyu could already imagine the consequences. If they failed to catch the killers and clear themselves, the people here would be detained the moment they returned and harshly interrogated. Some might not even keep their lives.

How could he not be anxious?

Anxiety was one thing, but the situation still had to be handled. After venting his anger, he said heavily, "Send two men to the rendezvous point first. Once the others arrive, restrain them immediately. No one is to run around!"

"Also, every Demon Fox Bureau unit taking part in the sweep must establish exactly where they were at the time Niu Youdao was attacked. Their accounts must be clear, and they must have witnesses."

He turned and pointed toward the scene. "Search carefully. See whether you can find any evidence connected to the assassins. Not a single clue is to be overlooked!"

"Yes!" Everyone accepted the order and went to carry it out, their faces solemn. One by one, they were beginning to realize how serious the matter had become.

The Nine Saints had already made it clear that no one else had the authority to decide whether inspectors lived or died. Yet someone had still dared strike with lethal force. What kind of offense was that?

Everyone went about his assigned task.

Niu Youdao's mud-covered body had been placed atop a grassy mound in the marsh. Zhou Tianyu walked over and slowly crouched beside it. Examining the corpse, he found a bloody crater blasted into the back, plainly the result of an attack of tremendous power.

Combined with the accounts of the witnesses, the injury made the cause of death obvious. Niu Youdao should have been killed by the power of a Heavenly Sword Talisman.

Zhou Tianyu pried the sword from the corpse's tightly clenched fingers. Holding two fingers together, he wiped the mud from the blade, examined it, then handed it to the man beside him. "Keep this secure for examination."

The dead man's eyes were still open, as though he had died with grievances unresolved. Zhou Tianyu looked at him and sighed. "Niu Youdao, Niu Youdao. You could be called an outstanding figure of your generation. To die just like this is truly a pity. But then again, why did you have to come here? You could have died anywhere. Why insist on dying right in front of us? If your spirit in Heaven has any sense, you'd better bless us so we catch the killers and avenge you. Otherwise, I'm afraid you've dragged us into disaster. Even in death, you refuse to let our Demon Fox Bureau off. Meeting you has truly been my bad luck!"

With that, he stood, raised his face to the sky, and released another long sigh. "Send word to Wentian City. Report everything and request Misty Pavilion's cooperation in arresting the killers!"

They were unable to catch the assassins immediately. The news that came afterward proved the killers had clearly come prepared and had arranged their escape in advance.

Support had already been waiting for them. Midway through the pursuit, large flying mounts swooped down, picked up the assassins, and rapidly carried them into the sky. By the time the Demon Fox Bureau's own flying mounts arrived, the killers had long since vanished without a trace...

Mud and water bubbled and churned beside a forested mountain. Two figures emerged from beneath the marsh.

They were Hei Yun and Niu Youdao.

Niu Youdao was in miserable condition. His clothes were torn, his hair hung loose, his face was deathly pale, and blood stained his nose and mouth. Both tiger-mouths between thumb and forefinger had split open. His steps staggered, and he could walk only with Hei Yun supporting him. He was clearly badly injured.

There had been no helping it. Twelve massive sword-shaped astral shadows from the Heavenly Sword Talisman had come down in a sudden, frantic barrage. He had not been able to evade them all and had been struck.

Fortunately, he was Niu Youdao. Fortunately, he possessed the ability to redirect and dissolve incoming force. And fortunately, this was not the first time he had been bombarded by a Heavenly Sword Talisman. He knew its weaknesses and already had experience dealing with it. An ordinary person would probably have died for real.

Across the entire cultivation world, there were likely very few people who had been blasted by Heavenly Sword Talismans more times than he had.

Seeing that Niu Youdao could barely walk and still had blood seeping from the corner of his mouth, Hei Yun could not help sighing. "I told you I could handle it myself. Why insist on coming personally and getting yourself hurt like this? Do you really distrust me that much?"

Truthfully, even Hei Yun had been badly shocked watching Niu Youdao endure the Heavenly Sword Talisman's barrage. The result proved that a man capable of surviving a strike from the Old Clan Chief was anything but simple.

Niu Youdao himself had also been somewhat surprised. He had not expected Xuan Yao to use something as valuable as a Heavenly Sword Talisman simply to kill him.

Even if Sha Rulai's intelligence were set aside, the Heavenly Sword Talisman alone was enough for Niu Youdao to conclude that Xuan Yao had definitely been among the assassins.

To make absolutely certain Niu Youdao died, Xuan Yao would have wanted to witness it with his own eyes!

Niu Youdao shook his head miserably. "No. I had to come. They wouldn't believe you. And with your identity, if you stayed in contact with them too long, they'd see through you. They wouldn't follow you."

There was logic in that. Hei Yun shook his head and let the matter drop, continuing to support him.

The disturbance of their arrival alerted the three people hidden in the forest. After secretly peering out and recognizing Niu Youdao, Kunlin Shu, Qin Guan, and Ke Dingjie immediately flashed out to receive them.

"Master Dao, what happened to you?"

"Elder, who injured you?"

The three were shocked by Niu Youdao's wretched condition. They hurriedly questioned him and took over from Hei Yun, supporting Niu Youdao between them.

"I'm fine. I won't die." Niu Youdao weakly waved a hand, signaling that they should stop making such a fuss.

"Who are you?" Qin Guan stared warily at Hei Yun. "Who injured the Elder?"

That was more or less self-inflicted... Hei Yun scratched at the corner of his mouth and lifted his chin toward Niu Youdao, indicating that they should ask the man himself.

Niu Youdao said weakly, "Enough. He's one of us. Stop rambling. I'll explain later. We shouldn't remain here long. Someone may come searching. We leave immediately!" He looked up at Hei Yun. "Please lead the way."

Hei Yun gestured for the three to take good care of Niu Youdao, then turned and led the way.

Kunlin Shu hoisted Niu Youdao onto his back. Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie guarded them on either side as they rapidly followed Hei Yun away.

Sometimes they raced across the ground. At other times they dove beneath the marsh and traveled under the mud. Taking turns carrying Niu Youdao, the three finally reached an underground palace buried deep beneath the wetlands.

What they had seen along the way had already filled them with uncertainty. After entering the underground palace and seeing groups of Demon Foxes playing and tussling before their own eyes, they were even more alarmed.

Had they broken straight into the Demon Foxes' lair?

If Niu Youdao had not kept waving to reassure them that nothing was wrong, they would certainly have begun suspecting Hei Yun's intentions.

Several Fox Clan Elders came out to receive them. Surrounded by the group, Niu Youdao was settled inside a quiet chamber in the underground palace.

Hei Yun indicated that Niu Youdao should hurry and sit cross-legged to treat his injuries, but Niu Youdao waved him off again. There was no rush. Pointing to Hei Yun, he told Kunlin Shu and the others, "This is Hei Yun, Clan Chief of the Demon Foxes!"

"What?" Even though the three had already sensed something was wrong, they could not avoid being shocked.

"There's no need to be surprised," Niu Youdao said. "I've been allied with them all along. They're our own people. You can relax. I'm safe here, and so are you. They won't harm you."

"My energy is failing, so I won't waste words with you now. Whatever you want to know can wait until my injuries have stabilized. For the moment, I only want to ask one thing. Do you trust me?"

The three exchanged looks. At a time like this, there was not much else they could say.

One after another, they answered, "We trust you."

Yet the doubt and uncertainty in their eyes could not be concealed.

"Good." Niu Youdao said weakly. "For everyone's sake, I need to keep the three of you under house arrest for a while. You won't be allowed to leave or show yourselves outside. Can you accept that?"

House arrest?

The three looked at one another. It was hardly an easy question to answer.

Niu Youdao turned to Hei Yun. "Clan Chief, seal their cultivation. Do it."

Hei Yun waved a hand. Several Elders immediately stepped forward to carry out the order.

Kunlin Shu and the other two instinctively moved back-to-back and assumed defensive stances. How could they casually allow people they barely knew, Demon Foxes no less, to seal their cultivation?

"What are you doing?" Niu Youdao demanded. "Do my words no longer count? Do you need me to do it personally?"

"Elder..." Qin Guan looked troubled.

"What are you dithering about? You first." Niu Youdao pointed at him. "Clan Chief, do it yourself."

Hei Yun immediately walked up to Qin Guan and gave him a grin. "Brother, sorry about this."

His hand suddenly flashed. Several fingers struck Qin Guan in rapid succession, laying restrictions throughout his body.

Qin Guan instinctively wanted to resist, but under Niu Youdao's stare he ultimately did not dare. In an instant, his spiritual power was sealed.

Niu Youdao called the next name. "Ke Dingjie. Step forward yourself."

Ke Dingjie looked utterly miserable, but in the end he gritted his teeth and walked over to Hei Yun on his own.

Hei Yun showed no mercy and quickly sealed him as well.

"Kunlin Shu." Niu Youdao weakly called the final name.

Kunlin Shu stared at him, both fists clenched, but he did not move. He simply allowed Hei Yun to approach and place the restrictions on his body.

Hei Yun's treatment of him, however, seemed rather excessive. The force of his fingers sent Kunlin Shu staggering backward.

"Pfft!"

Kunlin Shu coughed up a mouthful of blood. He had plainly been injured.

"Brother Kun!" Qin Guan and Ke Dingjie cried in alarm and hurried forward to support him.

Ke Dingjie looked at Niu Youdao and demanded anxiously, "Elder, what does this mean?"

Niu Youdao's eyes abruptly narrowed. He stared at Hei Yun and slowly said, "I just guaranteed to them that your people would not harm them. Clan Chief turns around and slaps me in the face immediately. Do you think that because the goods are already in hand, and because I am badly injured, there is nothing I can do about it?"

[End of Chapter 1151]