Demon Sword Sect’s Undercover
Chapter 396 - 396 395 Suddenly

396: Chapter 395: Suddenly 396: Chapter 395: Suddenly The scene that unfolded at the Bai family’s trading firm spread throughout the city in an instant.

Soon after, the Bai brothers reported the matter to the Jiedu Mansion.

Under the heavily-guarded presence of more than a dozen Wo Sect cultivators from the Jiedu Mansion, the murderer surrendered without resistance, readily giving themselves up.

The shock of the murder was profound, occurring in broad daylight, with the perpetrator killing five Tongxuan Cultivators in a row, and instead of fleeing, they boldly took up residence in the most luxurious inn of Mirage.

Those with discerning eyes could see that this was a contest between two colossal forces in the Southwest.

The Wu Sect was not personally involved, but rather, it was Loose Cultivators and Guest Elders from various places who took the stage, whereas the Shan Sect made an unabashed and bare-chested appearance.

This conflict was extremely complex, involving struggles for supremacy among major powers and internal family strife over authority and profit, intertwining like a grand play.

The arbitrator was the Jiedu Mansion, representing the stance of the Wo Sect of Linhai.

“Yazi should have fled.

By making such a bold appearance, the Jiedu Mansion can’t help but intervene to save face.

After all, five people were killed right in the city, and it’s been so many years since Mirage has seen such an incident,” Bai Qingqian said, stamping her feet in anxiety outside.

But with the resources of the Bai Family, she didn’t even have the qualifications to enter Jiedu Mansion, let alone offer help.

Old An sighed, “Hasn’t the young lady realized yet?

If he were only considering his own safety, he certainly would have had plenty of time to flee.

Given the relationship between the Wo Sect and Shan Sect, they might have just issued a warrant and brushed the matter aside, not even exerting their influence beyond Linhai.

If he had fled, what would you have done?

Do you think the two young masters would have let you off?

Would the Anhe Daoist Sect and the behemoth behind it quietly bide their time and swallow their pride?

To speak plainly, if he had fled, I would be the first to take my leave.

This old body couldn’t withstand the confrontation of two Daoist Sects tearing it apart.”

Bai Qingqian, concerned and disordered, now understood the gravity of the situation.

Like Hou Niao, this young Sword Cultivator’s decisiveness in killing was secondary to the responsibility he carried, which was beyond what ordinary people could endure.

Old An chuckled, “Actually, there’s no need for you to worry too much.

By making a move, Fang Yazi has effectively passed the buck to the Shan Sect.

What remains is beyond the Bai Family’s control, and fretting is of no use.

As for Fang Yazi’s safety, you needn’t worry either.

The Wo Sect and Shan Sect are allies, and such a gesture was also meant to be seen by all the merchant guilds in the city—it had to be done.

What could the consequences be?

The most severe outcome would be to hand him over to his sect for punishment.

Could the Wo Sect really dare to demand a life for a life?

It’s unlikely they would use even slightly harsh measures; instead, they would have to treat him well with good food and hospitality.

I’ve been mingling in Mirage City for fifty years, and I’m all too aware of how the Jiedu Mansion operates.”

After hearing these words, Bai Qingqian felt somewhat reassured.

While she was clever and talented in business, she fell far short of these older characters in understanding human relations.

She bowed deeply, “I am grateful for Old An’s guidance when I was lost.

I dare not offer thanks now, but once this matter is settled, I shall have you stay with our Bai Family for your retirement, and I’ll arrange some shares for you…”

Old An stroked his beard and smiled, pleased with Bai Qingqian’s sensibility.

In this world, who would help without a cause, without a purpose?

His only difference from the colleagues who were killed was his greater faith in this seventh young mistress and more alignment with the philosophy of the Shan Sect Sword Cultivator.

One must choose a side—either this one or that one; no one could escape it.

After some thought, Bai Qingqian felt that she couldn’t just wait foolishly, “We still need to make some preparations…”

Old An sighed, knowing he couldn’t stop her, “If it’s merely to express a stance, go ahead.

But if you’re expecting a response, that’s rather unlikely.

Offering gifts now, nobody would dare accept them.

Caught between two such large forces, even the Jiedu Mansion itself struggles to maintain balance—what decision-making power do they have?”

Bai Qingqian felt the fog before her eyes was so thick that no matter how hard she looked, she could not penetrate it; she couldn’t find a right path to solve this trouble, as it seemed no approach would be effective.

Refuse to give in firmly?

And end up confronting the vast Wu Sect, was that something the Bai Family could achieve now?

Compromise?

How much should one yield?

Having given in once, what about the next time?

It’s human nature to always want more once given an inch.

She didn’t know.

Perhaps, could Second Master Bai have the answer?

Or maybe, that fellow who hadn’t shown his face for several years?

…Mirage City had been bustling these past few days, especially in front of the Jiedu Mansion.

Every day, large numbers of merchants’ guild practitioners were demonstrating in front of the Jiedu Mansion, expressing their dissatisfaction with the Jiedu Mansion’s sluggish and ambiguous actions.

From a mere few hundred people at the beginning to thousands ten days later; one couldn’t help but marvel at the Daoist Sect’s influence here, having rallied a large number of ignorant cultivators who were in the dark, led by the various large Daoist commercial houses, aiming to pressure the Jiedu Mansion into handling the culprit swiftly and severely.

Nobody cared about the original cause anymore; the focus now was on how a Shan Sect sword cultivator, not even one deputed by the Jiedu Mansion to transit, dared to brazenly commit murder in a flourishing place like Mirage City, killing several people?

If this issue were not resolved, where would the law stand?

Where would justice be?

How could one guarantee a secure business environment in the future?

To solve this sword cultivator matter justly, it had to be done in Mirage City.

All these were pressures from public opinion.

Sometimes, when public opinion forms a trend, even the Jiedu Mansion has to consider its response.

Originally, they hoped to quiet down the situation by dragging it out over time, then find an opportunity to mediate between the parties, but now it seems the Daoist Sect does not agree.

The only relief for the Jiedu Mansion was that neither Shan Sect nor Wu Sect had stepped forward publicly, even though the incident had escalated to this extent.

Not a single official disciple with sufficient influence from either side had appeared, which at the very least indicated a certain attitude.

The situation outside had become increasingly lively, spurred on by those with ulterior motives, involving not just the concerned parties but also many who reveled in the chaos.

These days, Bai Qingqian had been growing increasingly restless, anxious, because her issues had involved a younger brother—how would she explain to Hou Niao if anything truly happened?

But the person she was waiting for had not come, whether it was Second Master Bai, who should have arrived long ago, or the elusive Hou Niao;

Regarding Hou Niao, she did not hold much hope; since someone had seen him appear on Bamboo Island five years ago, no one knew of his whereabouts, not even his fellow sect brothers.

The closer she was to needing help, the more her nearest and dearest became untraceable, which filled her with resentment.

In the five years prior, she had repeatedly entrusted returned sword cultivators to find Hou Niao’s traces, but each time ended in disappointment.

This time would likely be no exception, not knowing what corner of the world he had ventured off to seek adventures.

She was well aware that a person like him was unlikely to fall outside; King Yan wouldn’t accept him, fearing the disruption of the Underworld’s rules.

That day, as she sat alone in the house, full of apprehension, suddenly, an attentive servant ran into the courtyard,

“Miss, an old friend from Anhe has sent word that Old Master Hou has appeared in front of the Jiedu Mansion; it seems he has gone in.

The old friend from Anhe asked me to notify you…”