The Outcast Male Sub-Lead Stole the Female Lead’s Role - Chapter 11

Chapter 11

Jiang Xu was startled and was just about to ask what the Spirit-Gathering Stone was when the noise outside grew even louder. Wen Hexue set down his brush and rose to head out the door; Jiang Xu hurriedly followed close behind.

Disciples were running to and fro, most of them wearing expressions of urgent anxiety. Jiang Xu followed Wen Hexue all the way to the tall tower where he had stopped once before.

A crowd of disciples had already gathered in front of the building. The Eldest Senior Brother, Shi Jingyu, stood at the very front, currently calming the crowd. Upon seeing them, he quickly called out, “Master!”

The disciples immediately parted to create a path. Wen Hexue walked through the crowd, and Jiang Xu followed in his wake, weaving through as well.

“Reporting to Master, the disciples patrolling the tower just discovered that the Spirit-Gathering Stone is missing.” Shi Jingyu paused slightly when he saw Jiang Xu arriving alongside Wen Hexue, but then nodded, saying, “Junior Brother Jiang.”

Jiang Xu also cupped his hands. “Eldest Senior Brother.”

“Has the Sect Leader been notified?”

Jiang Xu looked up at Wen Hexue and found that he still maintained a faint, indifferent expression. He thought to himself that his Master was truly unshakeable, remaining so calm even at a time like this.

Shi Jingyu nodded. “Disciples have already been sent to inform him. I have also just ordered the mountain gates to be sealed and for the disciples to search within Lingyun Mountain.”

Wen Hexue gave a slight nod. “Accompany me inside the pavilion to take a look.”

“Yes!”

Seeing the two of them about to enter, Jiang Xu hurriedly followed. “I’m going too!”

He knew about this Spirit-Gathering Stone. In the original work, it was the protective treasure of Lingyun Mountain, resembling a piece of jade. Obtaining it would greatly benefit one’s spiritual power level; if supplemented with the corresponding cultivation techniques, one could make massive breakthroughs in their cultivation. Many had coveted this stone for a long time, and for a hundred years, greedy individuals from various realms had tried to steal it, though all had ultimately failed.

Given the current situation—the stone being stolen silently—it seemed more likely that the thief was someone from within the mountain.

The three of them entered the Chenxi Pavilion and conducted a careful inspection. Watching Wen Hexue and Shi Jingyu meticulously examine the mechanisms and formations, Jiang Xu couldn’t help but be amazed. Although the building looked unique from the outside, he hadn’t expected so many layers of barriers within.

As he wandered around, Wen Hexue used his spiritual power to open a pre-arranged sword formation. Jiang Xu quickly stepped back half a pace, then heard him say, “The sword formation was not triggered.”

The implication was that the person who stole the spirit stone had not triggered a single formation in Chenxi Pavilion.

“But this sword formation was jointly established by the Sect Leader, Master, and the other Peak Lords. Once the spirit stone is touched, it must trigger the formation. How could it be…”

Jiang Xu looked at the two of them and suddenly spoke up, “Aside from the formations, there should be other mechanical traps here, right?”

Shi Jingyu nodded with a heavy expression. “Junior Brother has a point. Master, I will go examine the installed mechanisms.”

Wen Hexue nodded and walked toward the barrier where the spirit stone was kept. Though his expression didn’t change, his brow furrowed slightly. “There are no signs of the barrier being damaged.”

Jiang Xu stepped forward in shock. “How is that possible?” He turned to look at Wen Hexue. “Master, didn’t Senior Brother just say that the barriers and formations here were set by all of you? How could the spirit stone be taken from inside without any damage at all?”

As a reader who had read the book, he didn’t know there was anyone so formidable in the story.

However, Jiang Xu soon reconciled with it. After all, this plot point had never happened in the original book. This story wasn’t just deviating; it felt like an entirely different book, as if someone were pushing the plot in another direction.

Wen Hexue checked the surroundings once more but found no clues. He lowered his gaze and said, “There is always someone better.”

Jiang Xu pondered with a frown. Since this plot had never occurred before, he didn’t understand the story and didn’t know how to solve it, which made him anxious. Suddenly, a person came to mind. He looked abruptly at Wen Hexue and asked, “Master, are these barriers and formations equally effective against members of our own sect?”

“Yes,” he replied, looking down slightly at Jiang Xu. “Have you discovered something?”

Jiang Xu nodded, then shook his head. Just as he was about to voice his suspicion, Shi Jingyu walked over with an anxious look. “Master, there are signs that a mechanism was triggered!”

Wen Hexue pondered for a moment and said, “Be specific.”

Shi Jingyu continued, “The hidden crossbows show signs of having fired, but no bolt marks were left behind.”

At that moment, a flurry of footsteps came from outside. The white-browed Sect Leader arrived with the other Peak Lords, accompanied by the Little Junior Sister, Fu Bihan. Seeing Wen Hexue, Sect Leader Fu rushed forward urgently. “How is it?”

“Only the hidden crossbows left a trace. The sword formation and barriers show no signs of being touched.”

“This… how is this possible?”

Shi Jingyu stepped forward with cupped hands. “Master, it is indeed so.”

Sect Leader Fu’s long brows knitted together. “If an outsider came to steal the spirit stone, how could there be no commotion at all!” He looked at Shi Jingyu and asked anxiously, “Have disciples been dispatched to search?”

Shi Jingyu nodded. “Rest assured, Master, I have already ordered the mountain gates sealed and for a thorough search to be conducted.”

Sect Leader Fu finally breathed a sigh of relief. “The Spirit-Gathering Stone is a vital asset of our sect. Now that it has been stolen by someone with ill intentions, I fear it won’t be easy to recover.”

Wen Hexue glanced at him and said calmly, “The mountain gates were sealed in time, and there have been no unusual movements. The thief should still be on the mountain. Sect Leader, do not worry.”

Sect Leader Fu nodded repeatedly, then looked at the other Peak Lords. “Everyone will have a hard night. We must find the spirit stone.”

“The Sect Leader overstates it. The theft of the spirit stone is a responsibility we all share. We will certainly do our utmost to find the thief and recover the stone.”

Jiang Xu watched from the side. This was the first time he had seen all six Peak Lords appear together. After seeing them all follow the Sect Leader out in a hurry, he noticed Wen Hexue was still in the same spot. He looked up in confusion. “Is Master not leaving yet?”

Wen Hexue glanced at him and smoothed his sleeves. “I saw you staring at the six Peak Lords in a daze just now.” Having said that, he headed out the door.

Jiang Xu’s face instantly turned red. What did that mean? Was he waiting for him so they could leave together?

Was this really the Master who didn’t like being close to people?

“Fine, fine,” he hurried after him. “Perhaps he just thinks I look familiar and has a good impression of me.”

The theft of the Spirit-Gathering Stone was naturally a massive event for Lingyun Mountain. Ever since it was discovered the previous night, disciples had been patrolling in shifts, and security around Chenxi Pavilion had been increased—after all, it contained more than just the spirit stone. However, by noon the next day, no clues had been found.

Jiang Xu kept thinking about Chu Weiling, whom he saw the previous night, and that missing piece of his hem. He felt that Chu Weiling’s appearance was too coincidental, and he happened to be near that tall tower. Furthermore, the formations in Chenxi Pavilion hadn’t been triggered; an outsider couldn’t have taken the stone so easily without a sound. From this perspective, the thief was more likely to be a disciple of the sect.

Thinking this way, Chu Weiling was definitely a suspect.

He sat at his table, chin in hand, fiddling with an empty cup while thinking about the original plot, hoping to find a lead.

Although Chu Weiling wasn’t good to the original owner of the body, he had never done anything to harm Lingyun Mountain. Perhaps last night was just a coincidence?

“And he seemed totally unbothered. If he had stolen the spirit stone, how could he be so calm?” Jiang Xu poured a cup of tea, the rim touching his lower lip. “But why was a piece of his clothing missing? Senior Brother also said the mechanisms moved; is it possible he was hit by a bolt and had a piece of his hem taken off?”

Amidst his intense conflict, a sudden knock sounded at the door. He called out a weak “Come in,” and the door swung open with a clatter.

Two unfamiliar disciples walked in and, without a word, stepped forward to flank him and haul him out.

“…What are you doing?” Jiang Xu struggled a few times, but his arms were gripped even tighter. Softening his tone, he said, “Good junior brothers, at least tell me where you’re taking me.”

One disciple replied coldly, “Senior Brother will know when we get there.”

“…”

Baffled, Jiang Xu was led all the way to the Qingming Hall. Many disciples were standing below the stone steps, casting strange looks at him. Jiang Xu was watched like this the whole way until he was escorted inside, where he found the Sect Leader and the six Peak Lords sitting with solemn expressions, all looking at him.

Only after entering the room did the two disciples release him. Jiang Xu rubbed his aching arms. Just as he looked up, he heard Sect Leader Fu speak: “Weiling, is he the one you were talking about?”

Weiling? Jiang Xu was startled. Rubbing his arm, he glanced ahead and indeed saw Chu Weiling standing to the side with his hands behind his back. Seeing him look over, Chu Weiling quickly turned his face away and said to Sect Leader Fu, “Master, the one I spoke of is him.”

Jiang Xu looked at him in confusion. What did he say? How is it me?

Upon hearing Chu Weiling’s words, Sect Leader Fu suddenly slammed the armrest of his chair. “You must now give a full account of when and where you were last night!”

Jiang Xu looked at the Sect Leader, who was fuming with his beard bristling, then looked around. The other Peak Lords were also watching him sternly. Chu Weiling’s face was cold, and when he saw Jiang Xu look over, his expression carried a clear sense of loathing.

“…” It seemed that while he was still agonizing over whether to report what he saw that night, someone else had beaten him to the punch and reported him instead. Jiang Xu retracted his gaze and looked up at the white-haired Sect Leader Fu sitting above, intending to explain everything truthfully. “Reporting to the Sect Leader, last night at the hour of Hai, this disciple went to—”

“He was with me last night.” A cold voice came from outside the door. Jiang Xu was stunned, and the words died in his throat. He turned and saw Wen Hexue, dressed in his green robes, walking toward him.

“Master?” he whispered. Wen Hexue walked to his side, glanced at him gently, and then quickly looked away. “Sect Leader, last night Jiang Xu came to seek my guidance and stayed with me at the Moon-Under-Pavilion the entire time.”

Sect Leader Fu’s expression shifted. He looked at Chu Weiling, then his tone softened significantly when he spoke to Wen Hexue. “Why did Jiang Xu go to find you so late?”

This gentle tone made Jiang Xu’s eyes widen. He looked at the white-haired Fu Yuchuan, then at his cold and upright Master, his shock evident on his face.

These two looked like they were generations apart in age—the Sect Leader clearly looked much older than his Master—yet the Sect Leader’s tone toward Wen Hexue was respectful, unlike that of an elder.

Before he could think more, Wen Hexue spoke again. “It seems the Sect Leader does not believe me.”

Sect Leader Fu’s face changed, and he quickly said, “A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding. It’s just that my disciple said he saw Jiang Xu near the Chenxi Pavilion last night acting suspiciously, which is why he was summoned. That disciple of mine has never been one to lie, therefore…”

Wen Hexue’s expression remained unchanged, his tone still calm. “That day he did indeed come to find me. As the Sect Leader knows, to get to the Moon-Under-Pavilion, one naturally has to pass through that area.” Before Sect Leader Fu could say anything, he continued, “If the Sect Leader still does not believe me, I can vouch for him.”

The crowd erupted in a clamor. Chu Weiling turned abruptly to stare at Jiang Xu, his face turning even uglier. After a few seconds of silence, he said, “This disciple naturally believes the Master, but now that the spirit stone is lost, we cannot overlook any opportunity to recover it. If I search Junior Brother Jiang and find no spirit stone, I will personally atone for my sin.”

Having finished, he walked straight toward Jiang Xu.