After Forgetting Two Exes - Chapter 27

“Cai Bin and Senior Sister Yuan were truly dating?”

On the way, Ji Xun Yue inquired about some details regarding Yuan Wan Yi. Upon receiving an affirmative answer, she fell into deep thought.

Yu Zai Ye remarked, “But I never saw the two interact, nor did I ever hear Brother Cai mention Senior Sister Yuan.”

Zeng Hong, the third among them, had remained silent until now. He let out a cold sneer. “Wan Yi was one of the most anticipated disciples of the Fenglan Sect. How could she let Cai Bin ruin her reputation?”

Hearing this, Ji Xun Yue carefully observed the expressions of Yuan Wan Yi’s three immortal partners.

Zhao Xu and Yuan Wan Yi were from the same batch, while the other two were from the following year.

Although the three had made a massive scene this morning, by now—aside from Li Qing Song, who was so devastated he had lapsed into a state of incoherent mumbling—the other two had lost the fury they displayed at first sight. They didn’t seem particularly grief-stricken.

Just as Zeng Hong said, Yuan Wan Yi was highly favored by the sect and held a high status. Attaching oneself to her wasn’t necessarily for love; it could very well be for profit.

These three were the ones Yuan Wan Yi was willing to acknowledge publicly; there was no telling how many others like Cai Bin there were.

Upon arriving at the Fenglan Sect, Zhao Xu had Zeng Hong support Li Qing Song back to rest. He then led Xuan Huai and the other two toward Zhuoqin Ferry, the residence of Yuan Wan Yi’s master, Immortal Shi Yan.

The area of Fengxing Isle, where the Fenglan Sect was located, was dozens of times larger than Cangxing Isle. All territories of the Six Great Immortal Sects were vast.

Only disciples who had ascended to immortality were permitted to have independent residences. Ji Xun Yue had visited the Fenglan Sect several times while seeking medicine for her mother; three thousand years later, the number of buildings here had increased significantly.

Zhuoqin Ferry consisted of twelve immortal palaces, nestled between mountains and water. Over a hundred people had already gathered at the entrance.

News of Yuan Wan Yi’s death spread with incredible speed. Not even an hour after her body was discovered, the entire sect knew something had happened at Zhuoqin Ferry. Anyone with a modicum of status had come to investigate. Due to Rong Chen’s presence inside, they stood outside the ferry, whispering.

As Zhao Xu led the outsiders in, their gazes turned toward them, landing collectively on Yu Zai Ye, the former disciple of the Fenglan Sect.

Yu Zai Ye’s expression remained unchanged, ignoring their scrutiny.

In front of Fengyi Palace, where Yuan Wan Yi resided, Rong Chen stood with his hands behind his back, discussing something with other sect members. His brow was clouded with gloom.

Immortal Shi Yan stood to the side, her eyes downcast and silent, repeatedly dabbing at her tears with a silk handkerchief.

Feng Yan was also present. He was the first to see Zhao Xu approaching with the three. He narrowed his eyes, his gaze passing over Xuan Huai to land on Yu Zai Ye with a look of displeasure.

However, he understood Yu Zai Ye’s character and knew his former disciple could not be the murderer. Calling him here was merely for further confirmation.

“Sect Leader, it wasn’t him,” Feng Yan whispered to Rong Chen, keeping his head low.

Rong Chen did not respond. He ignored Zhao Xu’s bow and stared coldly at the uninvited guests.

Ji Xun Yue was still hesitating over whether to bow when Rong Chen spoke with an unfriendly tone, “Does Immortal Xuan Huai fear I might act against Yu Zai Ye?”

Xuan Huai’s expression was indifferent. “Your sect’s disciples came for him before dawn, and Li Qing Song nearly took a life. Naturally, I could not rest easy.”

Zhao Xu was startled and immediately knelt to explain, “Sect Leader, Junior Brother Li mistakenly thought Zai Ye had harmed Wan Yi. He acted on impulse, and I failed to stop him. I ask the Sect Leader for punishment!”

“Fool! You can’t even handle a simple task!” Rong Chen shot him a side glance, then turned to Xuan Huai. “How does Immortal Xuan Huai wish to punish them? I certainly won’t stop you.”

“There is no need for punishment. Instead, I would like to ask Sect Leader Rong for a favor: allow me to examine Yuan Wan Yi’s wounds,” Xuan Huai said calmly. “Since you suspect Yu Zai Ye, as his master, I ought to understand the situation. I have no intention of meddling in the Fenglan Sect’s affairs; I simply do not wish for further trouble down the road.”

Standing behind and to the side of Xuan Huai, Ji Xun Yue watched his profile. She, too, wanted to investigate the cause of death, but here her words carried no weight. She could only watch and wait.

“What wounds?” Feng Yan instinctively tried to cover it up, then glared at Zhao Xu. “You boy, you can’t keep a single word to yourself!”

Zhao Xu trembled, bowing his head even lower.

Xuan Huai said, “Immortal Feng Yan, rest assured. What is seen today, the members of the Yunxing Sect will not reveal a word of it to the outside.”

Feng Yan scoffed. “You certainly care for this newly initiated disciple. But Wan Yi is a young woman; how can we just let you examine her at will?”

At this moment, Rong Chen noticed Ji Xun Yue, remembering her as the disciple who had caused a sensation yesterday. Thinking that she had only been in the Immortal Realm for a month and couldn’t possibly discern anything, he pointed at her. “Let her go.”

The suggestion caught Ji Xun Yue by surprise, yet it played right into her hands.

Xuan Huai, however, said unhurriedly, “But what could she see? Does Sect Leader Rong intend to gloss this over?”

A cold snort escaped Rong Chen’s throat. With a wave of his hand, he summoned a dagger made entirely of black crystal. “This object can identify the severity of an injury. She only needs to know that these wounds were not caused by Yu Zai Ye.”

With that, the dagger flew toward Ji Xun Yue. She opened her hands and caught it steadily.

Ji Xun Yue exchanged looks with Xuan Huai and Yu Zai Ye. Xuan Huai’s expression was calm as usual, while Yu Zai Ye gave her a small, expectant nod.

She swept a quick glance over the Fenglan Sect members and, under everyone’s gaze, walked toward Fengyi Palace.

An incense burner sat in the central hall. The incense had long since burned out, but the fragrance had not fully dissipated, masking a faint scent of blood.

Ji Xun Yue looked around and walked toward the inner bedroom.

On the bedroom floor was a patch of dried blood and several streaks of blood dragging toward the bed. Yuan Wan Yi lay flat on the bed, her face gray and her eyes tightly shut. Her beautiful features were now devoid of life.

She had actually died in her own bedroom. Who could have sneaked into her palace and killed her so silently?

Ji Xun Yue stepped forward and leaned over the bedside to observe.

Yuan Wan Yi had over a dozen long wounds on her body, deep enough to see bone. The blood that had flowed out covered the original patterns on her clothes, staining them into dark, blooming flowers. It was as if all the blood in her body had been drained; from her neck and hands, one could see the skin clinging shriveled to the bone.

The wounds were very similar to those Yu Zai Ye had described, perhaps the same kind as Cai Bin’s.

Regardless of what Yuan Wan Yi had done in life, the two of them had no personal grudge. After a moment of silent mourning, Ji Xun Yue reached out to unfasten the buttons of her collar.

Carefully peeling the clothes away from the wounds, a massive piercing injury at Yuan Wan Yi’s heart came into shocking view.

Her brows furrowed. Ji Xun Yue raised her hand, condensing spiritual power at her fingertips to probe into the wound.

As expected, Yuan Wan Yi’s Immortal Bone had been stolen, and her cultivation was completely gone.

The array for stealing an Immortal Bone was called the Five Devouring Array. The victim had to be conscious when entering the array. Even at her worst, Yuan Wan Yi was in the Eighth Realm. Yet there were no signs of a struggle in the room. Why would she allow herself to be manipulated?

The perpetrator would surely have seen a massive surge in cultivation. Rong Chen must have investigated the entire sect and found nothing out of the ordinary, which was why he was desperate enough to suspect even Yu Zai Ye.

Ji Xun Yue tidied Yuan Wan Yi’s clothes and looked around the room. She noticed one of the wardrobe doors against the wall was slightly ajar.

She had already stayed in the room for a long time, but her intuition told her to check there.

After a moment’s hesitation, she walked over.

Opening the wardrobe, she saw folded dresses, but one section in the middle was not folded neatly.

Ji Xun Yue reached in to feel around and pulled out a small wooden box.

The box had no lock, but it was set with a seal. With her true strength, she could break it directly.

Knowing she should leave quickly, the box held a fatal attraction, making her desperate to get closer to the truth.

Ji Xun Yue glanced toward the door, her hands quickly channeling spiritual power to break the seal. She opened it carefully.

On the top layer of the box lay four pages of yellowed paper. She took them out and scanned them. Coldness gathered between her brows.

It was the activation method for the Five Devouring Array.

Returning her gaze to the box, she saw a circular disk at the bottom—the Array Catalyst, created from the blood of the one who set the array.

Ji Xun Yue reached out to pick up the catalyst. As her fingertip touched the edge of the disk, she felt the victim’s unwilling resentment condense into a cold, heavy, and greasy sensation, as if it were trying to burrow into her finger.

She withdrew her hand in disgust. Judging by the aura, it was Yuan Wan Yi’s possession.

“Ye Jin Yue, what are you dawdling for?”

The voice from the doorway was like a clap of thunder, making Ji Xun Yue’s breath hitch.

It was Feng Yan.

Following the voice was the sound of footsteps entering the palace.

She had been so absorbed in her investigation that she hadn’t noticed at all!

She absolutely could not let Feng Yan see her opening Yuan Wan Yi’s things!

Ji Xun Yue hurriedly stuffed the papers back into the box while calling out, “Almost finished!”

The footsteps had already entered the central hall and were approaching the bedroom.

Ji Xun Yue didn’t have time to re-seal it. She shoved the wooden box back into its original place. Her hand trembled with tension as she closed the wardrobe door. By then, the footsteps had entered the bedroom.

Regret instantly flooded her heart. She could already foresee the coming storm.

As various weak excuses flashed through her mind, she took a deep breath and turned to face the newcomer.

What met her eyes, however, was a face of elegant, transcendental beauty.

“Ma… Master?!”

Ji Xun Yue’s back stiffened. Her eyes met those clear, cold ones. It felt as if her breath had been seized; for a moment, her mind went blank.

It was actually Xuan Huai?

She let out a sigh of relief for reasons she couldn’t explain, yet she remained tense.

She had been facing away from him just now. He likely hadn’t seen the contents of the box, but he must have seen her closing the wardrobe door.

He had seen it. Was this good fortune or bad?

Xuan Huai’s gaze landed on her hand, which was still resting on the wardrobe. His expression was calm, betraying no emotion.

“I…” Ji Xun Yue withdrew her hand, making a frantic excuse. “I saw the wardrobe door wasn’t closed properly and was just helping out.”

What a clumsy excuse. Was this something a low-level disciple should be doing on someone else’s territory?

“Xuan Huai, why did you rush in here?”

Xuan Huai had been standing at the bedroom door. Hearing this, he withdrew his gaze and stepped aside.

Feng Yan walked in, looking displeased.

Xuan Huai scanned the room before finally looking at the bed. He said unhurriedly, “I thought it over and decided it was better to see for myself to be certain.”

“Satisfied now?” Feng Yan snorted, then looked at Ji Xun Yue. “Are you done as well?”

Ji Xun Yue nodded slowly, her mind still on the box she hadn’t re-sealed. She had to find a way to get a chance, but… would there be one?

Xuan Huai said nothing and turned to walk out. Soon, his voice drifted from the central hall.

“When I entered just now, I noticed the incense in this burner contains many calming ingredients. I wonder if it has any connection to the matter?”

“No connection. Yuan Wan Yi always used this kind of incense.” Feng Yan’s attention was drawn away, and he walked toward the incense burner.

“Luqin flowers are very precious. It seems she was indeed highly valued.”

“This is hardly a rarity in the Fenglan Sect.”

Listening to their discussion, Ji Xun Yue’s heart pounded like a drum. She carefully opened the wardrobe, not daring to make a sound.

She re-applied the seal to the wooden box and closed the door, feeling a massive weight lift from her shoulders.

A narrow escape. She exhaled slowly, steeled herself, and walked out.

She couldn’t help but look at Xuan Huai, but she quickly looked away when his gaze swept toward her. Although she acted perfectly composed, her heart was still racing.

This string of coincidences was hard not to find suspicious. It was as if he had deliberately covered for her, willingly becoming her accomplice.