Light Fortress
Chapter 427 - 89: Mountain Dwellers, Valley Dwellers (Long - , Requesting Monthly Votes!)_2

Chapter 427: Chapter 89: Mountain Dwellers, Valley Dwellers (Long Chapter, Requesting Monthly Votes!)_2

When Bai Xiu spoke these words, he showed no concern for discretion, expressing his thoughts directly in front of all the elders present.

Huaiyin is a small city in Jiangbei, a place so obscure that many people have never heard of it... Yet in this little city lies a branch of the Bai Family.

Amidst the strangeness in everyone’s expressions, a sense of bewilderment emerged.

Why did Bai Xiu bring up Jiangbei, and why did he want to go to Huaiyin?

Only one person’s expression was unlike the others.

Upon hearing these words, Second Elder Bai Zesheng realized many things.

His expression complex, he slowly said, "You... found information about Qu Long."

It wasn’t a question, nor a rhetorical one; it was a statement.

And Bai Xiu’s response was just as straightforward.

"Yes."

As the top talent cultivated with the full support of the Bai Family, he had very high clearance. Indeed, Protectors of the Bai Family existed like shadows, nameless and without records, but they had pasts before becoming "shadows."

To investigate these pasts,

One only needed to know... that erased name.

The Second Elder didn’t know how Bai Xiu managed to do it, and he didn’t want to know.

He just felt helpless, as the youth was unexpectedly stubborn about certain things, bordering on obsession.

After all, certain things are better left hidden in the darkness, as the best resolution.

If everything were to be thoroughly investigated, the truth would seem laughable... because the Sacrificial who died for the Bai Family, did not actually bear the Bai surname.

Just as Gao Tian, who would go through life and death for the Li Family, did not bear the Li surname either.

Everyone has their own reasons for giving everything.

These reasons don’t have to be a surname, a given name, or bloodline.

However... after uncovering the truth, the fact that Protector Qu Long died without the chance to be commemorated in the ancestral temple, that matter now had the most authentic answer.

Because Qu Long was, after all, an outsider by blood.

An outsider, of course... had no right to be remembered in the ancestral shrine.

"After you left that day, I immediately checked. The consolation money for Qu Long, as well as the compensation he deserved... it all went to Huaiyin," said the Second Elder softly, "You don’t need to worry about the follow-up to this matter; I will take care of it. If you’re concerned, you can always track the progress through the Wind Eye."

Hearing this, Bai Xiu showed little reaction.

He silently nodded his head.

Then, he found a spot and slowly sat down.

An elder who was attending the meeting, out of necessity, shuffled to the side... He sat stiffly, not just because Bai Xiu was soaked by the rain, dripping water when he stepped into the inner chamber of the ancestral hall,

but also because, after Bai Xiu sat down, he very rudely reached out and pinched the identity plaque in front of him that symbolized honor and status, examining it carefully.

Silence pervaded the ancestral hall.

Water droplets converged and fell from Bai Xiu’s sleeve onto the wooden floor.

"Drip-drop."

"Drip... drop."

Bai Xiu’s gaze was serious as he repeatedly looked at the name on the plaque, though it had only three characters; he examined it dozens, if not hundreds of times.

All persons in the ancestral hall accompanied him in gazing at the plaque.

After a long while,

Bai Xiu suddenly smiled.

He looked at the name on the plaque as if it was a joke.

Recalling the words spoken by that guy standing on the mountain in the heavy fog of Qingzhong... This wooden plaque was indeed a joke.

["The person who wants to kill you has a ’struggle’ in his name, the struggle of ’not struggling’..."]

He articulated every word of the elder’s name softly.

"Bai, not, struggling."

Bai Buzheng could not contain his impatience any longer.

He snatched back the wooden plaque, placing it back in front of him, and sternly admonished, "Bai Xiu... Even though you are the younger generation fully supported by the Bai Family, by barging into the ancestral hall and disrupting the meeting, do you still have any semblance of propriety? The identity plaque is a symbol of status and honor... no matter what, I am a member of the Bai’s Sect Elder Council, and your actions are disrespectful and presumptuous!"

Bai Xiu nodded, showing understanding.

"Sorry..."

He said, "I shouldn’t have laughed, it’s just... you really don’t seem like the person I’m looking for."

Bai Buzheng was taken aback.

Many felt offended... The interruption of the meeting and Bai Xiu’s absurd drama made many elders show signs of anger, ready to lash out at any moment.

However, the Second Elder lifted his hand.

The elders contained their fury, still maintaining silence.

Bai Zesheng gestured with his eyes for Bai Xiu to continue speaking.

"That assassin was very patient, hiding under the ice of Frozen Prairie Lake, waiting for me to pass by... He must have waited at least ten days, constantly holding his breath, concealing his spirit, without even a trace of spiritual power leaking out, all so he could wait for the moment I crossed the ice."

Bai Xiu lowered his eyes.

He reflected on the day of the assassination.

"Not only did he have a complete grasp of my route, but he also knew my abilities... So, the assassination was designed for close-range rather than a long-distance sniper attack. On my trip north, who in the ancestral hall had the authority to mobilize the Wind Eye? And who had access to my records?"

He was investigating!

No... more precisely, Bai Xiu’s demeanor was that of pursuing a criminal!

His every word, every sentence, was like a nail.

Directly pinning Bai Buzheng in the position of the assassin!

Bai Buzheng’s expression turned to anger, and he slammed his hand down on the table, standing up to tower over this pressing junior. His rage seemed to erupt from his chest: "What nonsense are you spouting? Are you insinuating that I am the assassin?"