Vindicated After a Wrongful Death - Chapter 20

Ever since the snow wolf signed the contract with Xiang Zhongjing, it had been curled up sleeping inside the contract mark. This was the first time it had been summoned out.

Its massive frame occupied nearly half of the competition stage the moment it appeared, the sheer weight of its landing sending several deep cracks spiderwebbing through the stone platform.

If Xiang Zhongjing had released it any earlier, it likely would have crushed a crowd of people into mincemeat the second it materialized.

The spectators in the stands and the cultivators tucked away in the Sumeru Elegant Pavilions all stared in astonishment at the snow wolf that had appeared out of thin air.

Snow wolves were a rare breed of spirit beast, and more often than not, they were merely mundane beasts unable to cultivate. The most famous one belonged to First Venerable Su Cansheng. Where did this one come from?

The crowd buzzed with uncertainty, craning their necks to get a better look at the center of the stage.

“A snow wolf? Since when did the Nine States have another snow wolf this large?”

“Doesn’t only First Venerable Su own a snow wolf? I saw it in a secret realm a few days ago, it was magnificent.”

“Wait, doesn’t First Venerable Su’s wolf have a patch of bald scar tissue on its paw? That wolf… hiss!”

Someone with sharp eyes noticed something and gasped, pointing at the wolf’s paw: “That one has a scar too!”

The observation hit the crowd like a stone tossed into a still pond. Everyone’s gaze shifted toward the wolf’s paw.

“Is it really First Venerable Su’s wolf?!”

“Could the person wearing the veil be First Venerable Su?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. The First Venerable is right over there, are you blind?”

Su Cansheng was indeed still outside the competition stage, yet this man in red had summoned the snow wolf, and the proud beast was behaving with utter submissiveness, as if he were its true master.

The crowd began to realize they had stumbled upon something scandalous, and their expressions shifted between shock and suspicion.

Was the First Venerable using his authority to help someone cheat?

Or had his snow wolf recognized a new master?

Regardless of the reason, for the First Venerable of the Three Realms, such a revelation was devastating to his reputation.

In an instant, the entire audience grew manic. Even the remaining competitors on the stage looked at each other, paralyzed with indecision.

In the highest Sumeru Elegant Pavilion, the cultivators sharing the room with Su Cansheng also sensed that something was wrong. Their gazes drifted surreptitiously toward the First Venerable.

Su Cansheng’s face was deathly pale. It was unclear if his old injuries hadn’t healed or if it was pure humiliation. He clenched his fists tightly, his eyes fixed coldly on the massive wolf below and the familiar red figure standing beside it.

Knowing exactly who that person was, Su Cansheng closed his eyes tightly, swallowing the metallic tang of blood rising in his throat.

Ever since he realized the life-and-death contract with the snow wolf had been shattered, Su Cansheng had a vague suspicion of what Xiang Zhongjing intended to do. But he had held onto a shred of wishful thinking, hoping that Xiang Zhongjing wouldn’t be so ruthless as to leave him no dignity at all.

And now, Xiang Zhongjing hadn’t just done it, he had torn off Su Cansheng’s face and trampled it into the dirt.

Su Cansheng clutched his chest, nearly stumbling.

That was right. He had always known that Xiang Zhongjing was a man of decisive slaughter and ruthless means. When dealing with friends, he would tuck away his sharp edges completely, but when dealing with enemies, he never showed a hint of mercy.

With pale lips, Su Cansheng let out a tragic laugh, almost masochistically forcing himself to keep looking at the person on the stage.

Xiang Zhongjing was quite satisfied with the reaction of the crowd. He reached out to pat the silly wolf’s head, then tilted his head slightly toward Su Cansheng at the highest point. He curled his lips, lifting a corner of his veil to reveal a haughty, icy smile.

He knew Su Cansheng could see him.

Su Cansheng felt as if he had been struck. He staggered half a step back.

A cultivator nearby hurried forward to steady him. “First Venerable?”

Su Cansheng’s face was as white as paper. He brushed the man’s hand away and turned to leave without a word.

His retreating figure looked more pathetic than it ever had before.

The person who had tried to help him exchanged glances with the other cultivators, both seeing the shock in each other’s eyes.

The esteemed First Venerable of the Three Realms, at the pinnacle of cultivation, had actually had his life-contracted spirit beast snatched away by someone?

For the proud Su Cansheng, this was the ultimate humiliation.

A white-clad cultivator in the room had long been annoyed by Su Cansheng. Seeing him in such a wretched state, he remarked snidely, “It seems the First Venerable isn’t all that impressive if his spirit beast can be stolen so easily.”

The others looked at each other, not knowing how to respond.

Fortunately, the white-clad cultivator didn’t expect an answer and turned to leave.

At the exit for the competitors, Song Youqiu was handing out papers from the Funerary Pavilion. Bold, flowing calligraphy was written on them.

“Funerary Pavilion: One-stop funeral services. Satisfaction guaranteed. Groups of three get one free Golden Phoebe coffin.”

The white-clad cultivator walked over, took the paper Song Youqiu shoved at him, and raised an eyebrow. “There’s some big news. Want to hear it?”

Song Youqiu was a famous gossip-monger in the Three Realms. Within half a day, he could make any news known to everyone in the Nine States.

Song Youqiu, who was busy promoting the Funerary Pavilion’s new services, said eagerly, “Yes, yes! I love big news the most.”

The white-clad cultivator sneered and gave him a highly embellished account of what had just happened on the stage.

Song Youqiu was gobsmacked. He hadn’t expected Xiang Zhongjing to be so final, leaving Su Cansheng no way out at all.

The white-clad cultivator pulled a stack of spirit stones from his sleeve. “Half a day. Can you do it?”

Song Youqiu snatched them up and said with a grin, “I’ll give you the express service. Give me two hours, and I’ll make sure even the most remote village in the Nine States knows how much face First Venerable Su has lost. I could even spread it to the Cloud State if you want.”

The white-clad cultivator: “…”

That… that won’t be necessary.

Song Youqiu had made a tidy profit. He happily tucked the Funerary Pavilion papers into his sleeve and set off to spread the word.

“Hmm,” Song Youqiu calculated in his head, “I can even go to Sword Venerable Xiang later to claim some credit.”

Not bad, not bad at all.

Back on the stage, once the First Venerable’s ferocious snow wolf appeared, the remaining competitors—no matter how unwilling they were, didn’t dare step forward. One after another, they conceded.

Xiang Zhongjing won without having to fight.

Seeing the session end, Xiang Zhongjing retracted the snow wolf and leisurely went to find Man Qiuxia.

As he climbed the stairs, his foot stepped lightly onto a step, and the noisy, crowded surroundings suddenly vanished. It was as if a tide had swallowed the world, leaving only a stagnant, deep pool behind.

Xiang Zhongjing stood on the surface of the pool. He seemed to have expected this and wasn’t afraid. He looked up slightly and said with a smile, “Is First Venerable Su here for revenge?”

Su Cansheng’s expression was indifferent. “No.”

Xiang Zhongjing tilted his head. “Then you’re here to apologize?”

Su Cansheng froze.

This was Su Cansheng’s miniature world. Unless the master allowed it, one could never leave.

Fortunately, Xiang Zhongjing now knew that Su Cansheng’s previous relentless pursuit hadn’t been an attempt to kill him, but rather a desperate attempt to make amends after learning the truth.

Xiang Zhongjing unhurriedly walked two circles around Su Cansheng, laughing. “The last time you came to the Wujin Building to find me, you clearly had the chance. Why didn’t you tell me then that you already knew the truth about what happened back then?”

Su Cansheng didn’t know how to answer.

“Oh,” Xiang Zhongjing answered for him, “The First Venerable was too ashamed to admit his mistake, right?”

Su Cansheng murmured, “That’s not it.”

He simply couldn’t bear to see Xiang Zhongjing look at him with eyes full of hatred.

But even if he didn’t speak, Xiang Zhongjing still looked at him with loathing and resentment.

Su Cansheng hesitated for a long time before forcing out the words: “I just wanted to… make it up to you.”

“Make it up to me?” Xiang Zhongjing laughed as if he had heard the funniest joke in the world. He wiped a tear of laughter from the corner of his eye and leaned in close to Su Cansheng, whispering softly, “Fine.”

A spark of light finally appeared in Su Cansheng’s eyes, and he looked at him with almost begging eyes.

Xiang Zhongjing lowered his voice and said nonchalantly, “If you want to make it up to me, then give me the Dragon Bone.”

Su Cansheng stiffened.

Seeing this reaction, Xiang Zhongjing knew what the answer was. He reached out and pressed a hand lightly on Su Cansheng’s shoulder, smiling. “See, Su Cansheng, this is just who you are.”

“Since childhood, you were groomed for the position of First Venerable. You play by the rules and follow every convention. In your world, there is no room for a single mistake,” Xiang Zhongjing said slowly. “Just like back then, when you mistakenly thought I killed the disciples of the Three Sects, so you couldn’t tolerate me either.”

Su Cansheng closed his eyes. He couldn’t refute a single word.

“I suppose I should thank you for not piercing my Nascent Soul back then, leaving me a breath of life to linger on in that stone coffin.” Xiang Zhongjing kept his hand on Su Cansheng’s shoulder as he circled him. “This might be the biggest mistake you’ve ever made in your life, which is why you’ve fallen to this state now.”

“Am I right?”

Su Cansheng squeezed out a single word through his teeth: “Yes.”

“You know perfectly well that with the snow wolf in my hands, I will undoubtedly take first place in the Great Spirit-Beast Ceremony,” Xiang Zhongjing added. “The Dragon Bone will be mine sooner or later. What’s the difference between giving it to me now and giving it to me after I win?”

To anyone else, there was no difference at all.

But for Su Cansheng, this touched upon his bottom line.

He had guarded his rules for a lifetime. Not even Xiang Zhongjing could make him break his principles.

Xiang Zhongjing knew Su Cansheng’s temperament and had never held any hope. He sneered, leaning into Su Cansheng’s ear to whisper, “Since you can’t make it up to me, what are you still keeping me here for?”

Su Cansheng’s clenched hand suddenly snapped open, and the surrounding pool vanished in an instant, returning them to the noisy competition grounds.

Xiang Zhongjing didn’t give him a second look and turned to walk away.

Su Cansheng called out with difficulty, “Zhongjing.”

Xiang Zhongjing didn’t look back, acting as if he hadn’t heard. At that moment, a beautiful female cultivator in a yellow dress suddenly stood up, her eyes full of admiration as she looked at Xiang Zhongjing. She said timidly, “Fellow Daoist, may I…”

The female cultivator was as beautiful as a flower and looked pitiable, enough to charm the soul out of any man nearby, making them wish they could take Xiang Zhongjing’s place.

Xiang Zhongjing, however, didn’t even give her a chance to speak. He reached out and shoved her hard, sending her stumbling to the ground.

Xiang Zhongjing was expressionless. “Get lost.”

The female cultivator’s tears fell like rain.

The cultivators nearby were instantly enraged, pointing at him and cursing, “What kind of man are you?! Stop right there!”

“Scum!”

The “female cultivator” Jin Chuling, saw that Xiang Zhongjing was being scolded again and stomped his foot in anger, baring his teeth at the cursing cultivators: “Shut up! You’re the scum!”

The cultivators: “…”

Xiang Zhongjing didn’t care about that mess and left without looking back.

Halfway there, Xiang Zhongjing seemed to remember something. “How many segments of your Dragon Bone are missing?”

Gu Congxu felt an ache in his bones just thinking about it. “I don’t remember exactly, but as long as I find one segment, I can transform into human form. I’ll return your left hand then.”

Xiang Zhongjing’s mood finally improved a little.

Thinking about getting his bone back, Gu Congxu couldn’t help but feel a bit smug. “Once I have my bone back, never mind one Su Cansheng, I could flatten ten of him.”

“How impressive,” Xiang Zhongjing praised him, then added seriously, “So, my impressive True Dragon Lord, have you found the Lianli Knot yet?”

Gu Congxu: “…”

Just as Gu Congxu was about to bite his tail in frustration, he suddenly felt a mark in the vast sea of knowledge releasing a tiny bit of spiritual power. He immediately dove into his consciousness and, in an instant, caught the Lianli Knot he had been fruitlessly searching for for days.

The rune looked like a tree branch, and it even seemed to be sprouting slightly.

Gu Congxu’s tail practically curled up with pride. “Look! I found it!”

Xiang Zhongjing knew the Lianli Knot had moved because Jin Chuling was likely pursuing him again, disguised as someone else. He let out a cold laugh. “Then keep it in your mouth for now. When Jin Chuling catches up, I’ll shatter the knot right in front of him.”

Gu Congxu obediently held it.

After a long while, the evil dragon finally realized something.

Wait, why am I being so obedient?!

At that moment, Song Youqiu came running over from not far away, his eyes gleaming with a manic light as he waved a stack of papers.

Xiang Zhongjing had already decided that Jin Chuling was coming, so without a second thought, he grabbed the neck of the approaching Song Youqiu—who was just looking for credit—and slammed him down. Song Youqiu landed heavily on his back on the ground.

Song Youqiu: “???”

Song Youqiu: “…”

***

The author has something to say:

Gu Sangeng: Woof woof woof?!

Song Youqiu: Meow meow meow?!