Chapter 1311: Quite a Temper, Young Sir!

Inside Fufang Garden, Yucang's face was dark as well.

After Dugu Jing finished recounting what had happened, he stood awkwardly to one side. He knew perfectly well he had botched the job.

Sure enough, Yucang erupted. "Useless! I gave you that many men, Heavenly Mechanism Aura-Breaking Arrows, and Heavenly Sword Talismans, yet you still couldn't stop one Ximen Qingkong. What are you good for?"

Dugu Jing hurriedly explained, "Master, Ximen Qingkong truly is exceptionally strong. Not one of the experts we brought could withstand a single strike from him. And he had a whole stack of Heavenly Sword Talismans in his possession. That was genuinely difficult to deal with. But both of them had already been hit by the Heavenly Mechanism Aura-Breaking Arrows. I thought they would collapse on the road sooner or later. Who could have known they would dare run back into the city and throw themselves into the net? Still less did I expect the Ghost Doctor's disciple to step in and obstruct us."

"The Ghost Doctor's disciple?" Yucang was furious. "So what if the Ghost Doctor himself came? A pack of ghosts forever skulking and hiding. If he dares interfere in this, I'll erase him from the cultivation world!"

Dugu Jing said, "This disciple isn't afraid of him either. It's just that I had some misgivings about the matter. Without Master's authorization, I didn't think it appropriate to act rashly."

Yucang swept him with a cold glance. "You failed to get the job done and got Hao Yuntu's son killed in the process. How am I supposed to explain that to him?"

Dugu Jing hastily said, "Hao Cheng truly was killed by Xuan Wei's own hand. That is absolutely true!"

"Don't forget that the whole thing began because of us," Yucang said coldly.

Dugu Jing had no answer.

Just then, Yucang's second disciple, Guo Xingshan, arrived. He was the one who had once stayed at Maolu Villa with Zhuang Hong and her son. As soon as he entered, he cupped his hands and reported, "Master, we've searched the estate thoroughly. We found nothing."

Yucang's voice sank. "Neither the Shang Ring nor the roster?"

Guo Xingshan said, "We searched carefully. Every single object Xuan Wei brought with her was taken apart piece by piece and checked. There really was nothing."

"If she didn't bring them, then she hid them somewhere." Yucang drew a deep breath, then abruptly strode forward. "Come. We're going to demand the people. I want to see just how many heads that Ghost Doctor's disciple has grown."

...

In the imperial study, Hao Yuntu sat silently behind his desk.

Bu Xun knelt below with his head bowed, having come to ask punishment on his own initiative for the failure.

Three men entered from outside the hall, and no one dared stop them: Yuwen Yan, Sect Leader of Tianhuo Sect; Bei Xuan, Sect Leader of Xuanbing Sect; and San Qianli, Sect Leader of Daqiu Sect.

Seeing Bu Xun kneeling there, the three immediately guessed what the matter was. They had already heard the news.

None of them spoke on Bu Xun's behalf. They knew the Emperor would make his own decision. Besides, what had happened had been an accident; the blame could not all be laid on Bu Xun, who certainly had not wanted such an outcome. They doubted the Emperor would truly make things difficult for him.

At the sight of the three sect leaders, Hao Yuntu rose and came around the desk to greet them.

"We've heard. Your Majesty, please accept our condolences," Yuwen Yan said with a sigh.

Hao Yuntu's face was taut. "Speaking of it, We truly did wrong this son of Ours. Yucang's account is that Xuan Wei personally killed Old Seventeen. We also hear that after Xuan Wei and Ximen Qingkong were poisoned, they fled to the Ghost Doctor's disciple and were taken in by him."

As for exactly how Hao Cheng had died, when they investigated afterward, they discovered there was not a single eyewitness left on their side. Those who inspected the scene did, however, find signs that witnesses had been silenced.

The three sect leaders exchanged glances. San Qianli asked, "Your Majesty wants to demand the two of them from the Ghost Doctor's disciple?"

"After all, he was Our son. The manner of his death is presently only Xiaoyue Pavilion's version of events. No matter what, We should bring Xuan Wei here and establish the cause of death, shouldn't We? Otherwise, We have no way to answer to his mother. What do the three Sect Leaders think?"

The matter involved the Ghost Doctor, which meant it involved the cultivation world. If anything happened, Qi's three great sects might still have to step forward, so Hao Yuntu asked their opinion.

San Qianli said, "Given the present situation, even if we establish that Xiaoyue Pavilion killed him, what then? And even if Xuan Wei did it, Your Majesty already agreed to hand Xuan Wei over to Yucang. With the situation as it now stands, it would be difficult to go back on that."

A chill entered Hao Yuntu's tone. "Are the three Sect Leaders asking Us to pretend nothing happened?"

Yuwen Yan pressed one hand downward. "Absolutely not. Your Majesty, please don't misunderstand. It's like this: the three of us just heard that Yucang has already taken men personally to demand the people from the Ghost Doctor's disciple. Since Yucang has gone himself, Your Majesty need not intervene again."

Hao Yuntu was puzzled. "Sect Leader Yuwen means...?"

"That Ghost Doctor is an uncanny fellow, his whereabouts uncertain. In earlier years, he truly did do things capable of intimidating people, and no one has ever been able to gauge his depth. So there is no need for Your Majesty to demand the people personally. If the other side refuses and you insist on taking them by force, some unnecessary trouble may result. And whatever else may be said, Wuxin did save many of Your Majesty's sons. It would look rather ugly if you turned against him now. To outsiders, it might even make Your Majesty appear heartless and ungrateful."

San Qianli nodded. "If Yucang wants the people, let Yucang demand them. Let him be the one who offends others. Right now, Yucang is a fish that has seen the bait; he has no choice but to bite. There is nothing wrong with letting him test the Ghost Doctor's depth. If the Ghost Doctor truly has the ability to contend with Xiaoyue Pavilion, why should we rush to the front? All the less reason for us to provoke him lightly. Your Majesty, we might as well watch quietly and see what happens."

Bei Xuan gave a sound of agreement. "Once Yucang gets the people, the matter will no longer concern the Ghost Doctor. Afterward, we can demand them from Yucang and investigate the truth. Here in the Qi capital, with pressure from all three of our sects and the excuse of investigating an imperial prince's death, it will be difficult for Yucang not to hand them over."

Hao Yuntu said, "We're only afraid Yucang will kill them to silence them."

Bei Xuan replied, "If he kills them to silence them, is there any need to investigate? We will know how that account should be settled. Daring to kill an imperial prince recklessly in the vicinity of this capital is also a slap in our faces. We will not stand by and do nothing. He will have to give us an explanation."

That was precisely why the three had come together: to stop Hao Yuntu from acting rashly.

...

At the entrance to the courtyard in the alley, Yucang and his party arrived. Someone gestured for men to vault the wall, but Yucang raised a hand and stopped them.

He looked back. "Confirm they're still inside?"

"They are," Dugu Jing replied. "Our people have been watching the whole time."

Yucang lifted his chin slightly. Dugu Jing understood and immediately mounted the steps to knock.

After a long round of knocking, the door opened. Guo Man poked her head out, saw Dugu Jing, and said at once, "Sir is not receiving guests today." She moved to close the door.

Dugu Jing thrust out a hand and blocked it, then looked back at his master, silently asking what he wanted done in the face of such an attitude.

Guo Man grew angry. "What are you doing?"

Yucang said mildly, "Since you're refusing the courtesy being offered, we'll have no choice but to enter uninvited."

Several men immediately rushed forward to clear the way and shoved the door open outright, forcing Guo Man to retreat step by cautious step.

Others flashed directly over the wall into the courtyard.

Surrounded by his men, Yucang entered at an unhurried pace. Once inside, he looked left and right as though strolling through a garden and gave a small nod of appreciation. "Small as a sparrow, yet complete in every part. Quite an elegant little retreat amid the bustle."

His followers spread out and stood guard. Yucang stopped in the center of the courtyard and smiled at Guo Man. "Where is Mr. Wuxin? Please trouble him to come out and see me."

Guo Man had never crossed swords with an enormous power like Xiaoyue Pavilion, much less seen anyone dare force their way into this place. She was somewhat frightened despite herself, but still gathered her courage. "I told you already. Sir is not receiving guests today."

"I'm afraid that is not for him to decide." Yucang smiled faintly, then abruptly raised his voice with spiritual power. "Mr. Wuxin, Yucang, Pavilion Master of Xiaoyue Pavilion, has come to pay a visit. Please come out and see me."

His voice shook the courtyard. Guo Man's heart jumped. The Pavilion Master of Xiaoyue Pavilion had actually come in person!

To her, the Pavilion Master of Xiaoyue Pavilion was an incomparably important figure in the cultivation world. A belated fear rose in her. Fortunately, he had not simply attacked.

Wuxin did not appear. He was busy saving a life; how could he possibly stop now? Yan Baoru, however, did show herself.

A figure flashed down. Yan Baoru swept her gaze over the men positioned around the courtyard and sneered. "Yucang, who are you trying to frighten with such a grand display?"

"If one is here to reason, there is naturally nothing to fear," Yucang said. "I heard long ago that you were doing menial work here. Today I've finally seen it for myself. Why put yourself through this? If you came to my Xiaoyue Pavilion, I certainly wouldn't treat you poorly."

Yan Baoru said, "A pack of people who spent all their time sneaking around in the dark crawls into daylight and suddenly thinks they're no longer ghosts?"

She ranked several places above Yucang on the Golden Core Ranking. With her pride, she was hardly going to yield to him easily.

"I'm not here to trade insults with you, nor do I want a major clash. Don't make things unpleasant for yourself either. Ask Mr. Wuxin to come out."

"You can tell me the same thing."

"If you can make the decision, that makes things easier. You should know why I've come. Hand over Xuan Wei and Ximen Qingkong, and we'll leave immediately. We won't make things difficult for any of you."

Yan Baoru said, "You're the first person who has ever dared force his way in here and demand people, Yucang. You went and made yourself a National Preceptor, and sure enough, you're different now. This is not Qin, nor is it Xiaoyue Pavilion. This place has its own rules. Whatever grudges you have outside, settle them yourselves afterward. Now get out immediately!"

Yucang's expression chilled. "Yan Baoru, I'm still showing you courtesy. Don't refuse the offered wine only to drink the forfeit!"

The moment he said it, archers around the courtyard drew their Heavenly Mechanism Aura-Breaking Bows and aimed them inward. Dugu Jing and Guo Xingshan, flanking Yucang, directly produced Heavenly Sword Talismans.

Yan Baoru's face darkened. She swept her eyes around, then fixed them on Yucang. "Yucang, you'd better think this through. Do you truly want to force the Ghost Doctor out of seclusion?"

"I don't want a grudge with him, nor do I want to use my power to bully his disciple. But someone here killed people from Xiaoyue Pavilion. If his disciple insists on interfering and sheltering them, then he is the one choosing to oppose Xiaoyue Pavilion. If someone tramples on Xiaoyue Pavilion's head, I don't care whether he's the Ghost Doctor or some divine physician. If he's tired of living, he is welcome to try me!"

Yucang glanced to either side. "If he won't come out when invited, then search."

Men from his party immediately scattered to search the residence.

The place was tiny. How could it withstand so many people searching it? Afraid something might happen to Wuxin, Yan Baoru flashed away toward the treatment room.

Seeing where she went, Yucang strode quickly after her.

A crowd followed. No one paid Guo Man any attention, and no one made things difficult for her.

Guo Man looked left and right, then quietly slipped the bracelet from her wrist...

Inside the treatment room, Yan Baoru flashed in, first scooped up the unconscious Ximen Qingkong from the outer room, and quickly withdrew into the inner chamber.

Inside, sweat beaded Wuxin's forehead. He was at the most critical point in treating Xuan Wei.

Yan Baoru hurried in. "Sir, the Pavilion Master of Xiaoyue Pavilion has forced his way inside."

Wuxin was at a crucial moment, his hands busy and his mind with no room for anything else. He gave only one reply: "Tell them to get out!"

"Get out? Quite a temper, young sir!"

Yucang's voice came from outside. The curtain lifted, and he had already brought his men straight into the room.

[End of Chapter 1311]