Immortal of the Nine Realms

Chapter 174: Let’s Get to the Bottom Of It

Master Chen staggered at that sight.

The other students quickly consoled him and said, Dont worry, Master Chen. Imperial Duke Fang might have destroyed your fake hill, but he will soon have to deliver two of them over in due time.

Indeed, indeed!

The other students nodded in agreement.

Only Yu Zhang maintained his silence. It looked as if his energy had been siphoned from him when he saw the fake hill being shattered into pieces. His legs lost their strength, and it was a struggle for him to even remain standing.

That is

The Auspicious King warily walked over. Amidst the dust, he noticed that there was a dark passageway beneath the fake hill. Muffled cries could be heard from time to time; it was hard to tell whether it was from a human or a ghost, but either way, it was blood-curdling.

Xu Ge, Chiliarch Jue, take some men down. Bring some additional clothes along, Fang Chen instructed.

Yes, Imperial Duke Fang!

The two of them nodded. They requested some clothes from the civilians before making their way into the dark passageway. Moments later, furious howls echoed from within.

They were from Xu Ge and Jue Panshi.

The crowd first looked at the dark passageway, followed by Master Chen, and their eyes widened in disbelief. Could Master Chen really be the true culprit behind Zhao Yans case?

Master Chens students sweated profusely. Their hearts were telling them that Master Chen couldnt have been such a person, but their sense of reason was telling them that the truth of this matter was different from what they had imagined.

The crowd anxiously waited for the result.

Some time later, the Valiant Defenders who descended into the dark passageway finally returned. They carried decomposing corpses that were covered with wounds up with them.

One, two, three Soon, eighteen corpses were laid in front of the crowd.

It could be seen from their clothes that they were all womenyoung ones at that. The awful stench from the decomposing corpses wafted in the air. A heavy atmosphere loomed in the air, crushing down on everyones hearts.

Jue Panshi and Xu Ge came up carrying a trembling woman with a frightened face each.

It had been a long time since these two women had seen the sun that they instinctively closed their eyes tightly. They were wrapped in the clothes the Valiant Defenders had brought down with them earlier, but their exposed arms and face were covered in welts and bruises.

Master Chen, what else do you have to say? Fang Chen turned over and asked.

The crowd turned to look at Master Chen. Faced with so many eyes, Master Chen slowly regained his composure and asked, Fang Chen, how did you know about that place?

He had always been proud of how thorough and careful he was. He was confident that no one could have found his hidden dungeon, so he couldnt believe that Fang Chen could lock onto it in a single night.

Master Chen suddenly glanced at the hunched old man.

You dont need to know that, Fang Chen replied.

If not for my ability to astral project, I wouldnt have suspected Master Chen even if I took over this case, let alone found his dungeon. But he doesnt have to know that.

Master Chen, you

The students were appalled. They slowly backed away with looks of disbelief.

The Auspicious King glared at Master Chen with cold eyes. Many emotions flickered across his face before he finally bellowed, You beast!

I merely lost, Master Chen replied with a chuckle. If not for this, I would have still been the South Mountain Schools principal, and you people would still have been fools dancing on my palm.

Master Chen, why did you frame me? Zhao Yan asked.

The crowd looked at Zhao Yan with conflicted eyes, knowing that they had wronged him over the years. He was a young scholar with a bright future ahead of him, but he now looked older than his age and even lost an eye.

Xia Song felt the most guilty of all. He dared not look Zhao Yan in the eye.

You saw something you shouldnt have, Master Chen said. Its only a matter of time before someone of your wits pieced the puzzle together. Thats why you had to die. I didnt expect you to be a powerful martial artist. You even fooled me on that one.

Saw something I shouldnt have? Zhao Yan fell into thought. Seconds later, he asked, Its that girl, isnt it? She had nowhere to go and was begging for alms on the streets. I wanted to spare her some money, but you beat me to it.

Unknowingly, Zhao Yans fingernails were already digging into his flesh, and blood dripped from his hands onto the ground. Yet, he was oblivious to it. Shes dead, isnt she?

Master Chen snorted in disdain.

Zhao Yan turned to Yu Zhang and asked, What about you? What role did you play in this?

Him? Master Chen laughed. He hates you. He hates you for one-upping him in everything since you joined the school. He hates you for winning him in debate. He hates you for getting so close to the Auspicious Kings young master Xia Song

The crowd was baffled. They looked at Yu Zhang in disbelief. This fellow is actually so narrow-minded?

Even Xia Song was bewildered too. Yu Zhang hates Zhao Yan because of me? Just because I was close with Zhao Yan?

Theres nothing easier to control than a person fueled by hatred. It would be inconvenient for me to personally get rid of you, so I left it to him instead. This way, no one would suspect him for the crime, and even if they did, they wouldnt turn their eyes to me, Master Chen said with a chuckle.

Yu Zhang fell limp on the ground.

What made you so sure that he wouldnt betray you? Zhao Yan coldly asked.

The crowd was perplexed too, since Yu Zhang showed no inclination to sell out Master Chen earlier despite having the suspicion on him.

Master Chen laughed. He ignored Zhao Yans question and instead turned to Fang Chen. Imperial Duke Fang has cracked a huge case today. Your prestige in Great Xia will further soar because of this. If I may ask, when do you intend to lop off my head?

Why dont you first tell me who you sent to kill Huang Xin? Is it this deaf, hunchback servant of yours who wields the strength of a pinnacle Ki Explosion martial artist? Fang Chen asked with a smile.

Old Master, run!

The hunchback old man immediately flitted over to Master Chens side. He wanted to grab Master CHen and throw him outside the crowds encirclement, but before he could achieve anything, a saber had already pierced through his forehead.

The saber then whizzed back to Huangfu Jies side.

The crowd was startled. Huangfu Jies means are getting more unfathomable.

You fool, Master Chen glanced at the hunchback old mans corpse and sneered.

It was only now that the crowd realized that the kind and amicable Master Chen was actually a cold-hearted person.

With how things have come to this, Master Chen, theres no reason for you to conceal how you manipulated Yu Zhang anymore, Fang Chen said. Hell be accompanying you down there. Why dont you just let everything out?

Thats true Master Chen murmured.

Yu Zhangs face turned ghastly pale. His knees fell to the ground, and he desperately kowtowed to Master Chen. No, Master Chen! You mustnt say! Dont say a word at all! Ill serve you even when we reach the netherworld! Im begging you, please dont say a word!