Vindicated After a Wrongful Death - Chapter 34

Everyone was terrified by the sudden appearance of the massive dragon. Some of the more faint-hearted among them retreated desperately, refusing to meet the evil dragon’s gaze head-on.

Xiang Zhongjing had already been prepared to summon Qiongnian’er, knowing that even without using spiritual power, the members of the Qu Yi Sect were no match for him. However, he never imagined that Gu Congxu, who had been hiding and playing dead just moments ago, would suddenly appear to defend him.

In Xiang Zhongjing’s world since childhood, the only thing that could protect him was a blade, and he only ever trusted his own sword.

Gu Congxu had come out to help him once before, but at that time, Xiang Zhongjing didn’t trust anyone; he assumed Gu Congxu only helped him because he wanted something in return.

Yet now, at a moment when he was being condemned by everyone and facing mortal danger, Gu Congxu had appeared in his true form without being threatened. He had unhesitatingly drawn a circle of safety around him, and Xiang Zhongjing suddenly felt that the world’s opinion of him wasn’t that important after all.

Within his sea of consciousness, a lamp that had been extinguished by his indifference toward the world suddenly flickered back to life.

Xiang Zhongjing might appear easygoing, but he actually possessed a hidden streak of dominance, which could be glimpsed in his habit of drawing circles with his hands. He had never expected, however, to be treated like a prized possession, sheltered within a protective circle by someone else.

The Netherfire suddenly dispersed. Xiang Zhongjing’s legs went weak, and he stumbled into a sitting position on Gu Congxu’s massive draconic body. He stared blankly at Gu Congxu, who stood before him confronting the crowd, and his cheeks suddenly began to burn.

He lowered his eyes slightly, the Netherfire on his earrings dancing in sync with his emotions. The aura he had used to battle the crowd just moments ago was nowhere to be found. Looking at his own swinging toes, the tips of his ears turned a deep crimson.

Gu Congxu didn’t notice he was being bashful; he was too busy glaring with dark, brooding pupils at the small-time crooks before him.

“Evil Dragon!” Qu Xing shouted sharply at Su Cansheng. “Even the evil dragon has come out to protect Xiang Zhongjing, and you still claim the contract was a misjudgment?!”

Su Cansheng remained utterly indifferent, repeating the same words: “It was my misjudgment.”

Qu Xing: “…”

Gu Congxu was thoroughly fed up with the affected posturing of the human cultivators. He said coldly, “If any of you still want to verify that contract mark, come and try it.”

With a flick of the dragon’s tail, a massive longevity stone placed in front of the reception hall was shattered instantly.

Amidst the flying stone shards, Gu Congxu’s gaze was colder than a sword’s edge. “I am right here.”

The visiting guests watched in open-mouthed shock. They never expected that a simple birthday banquet would turn into such a thrilling event.

The fact that Sword Venerable Xiang was still alive was enough to make their jaws drop, but now a massive dragon, which had been vanished from the Three Realms and the Nine States for a thousand years, had actually appeared.

The cultivators all had their own private agendas; they wouldn’t be fooled into acting as pawns by a few words from the Qu Yi Sect. Seeing that the evil dragon had no intention of harming them, they all boldly watched the drama unfold from the best seats in the house.

After all, one of the protagonists was a Sword Venerable whose name had circulated through the Three Realms for sixty years, and the other was the legendary evil dragon that guarded the Three Poisons Secret Realm. Either one of them provided enough gossip to last a lifetime in the Nine States.

The crowd stayed quiet, silently enjoying the show. Some were even surreptitiously sending messages via spiritual tools, telling their friends to hurry over and see the Sword Venerable and the True Dragon, ahhh!

Qu Xing grit his teeth. He knew Su Cansheng wouldn’t lie about such things. Since the mark wasn’t a life-and-death pact, then it definitely wasn’t. Even if they tested it, it would only lead to their own humiliation.

Song Youqiu almost snapped his brush in half, his fingers trembling with excitement.

The evil dragon erupts in rage for the Sword Venerable! It allows the lowly ants to test its contract mark while declaring, “I am right here”!

After Song Youqiu finished writing, he looked at Xiang Zhongjing sitting on the giant dragon. He tilted his head for a long time before tentatively putting brush to paper.

Is the Sword Venerable… shy? Bashful? Embarrassed? Coy?

Regardless, Xiang Zhongjing looked quite happy.

As Song Youqiu wrote the final character, he suddenly gasped, as if he had discovered some incredible secret.

Song Youqiu immediately stopped watching the drama. He pulled out a fresh sheet of paper and began drafting an article titled What Exactly Happened During That Sixty-Year Cycle Between the True Dragon and the Sword Venerable in the Secret Realm?, planning to ask Man Qiuxia to illustrate it next time.

Qu Xing closed his eyes briefly. When he opened them again, the panic and anger in his eyes had vanished, as if they had been erased. He said indifferently, “Even if the life-and-death contract with the evil dragon is false, it is still a fact that you slaughtered the disciples of the Three Sects.”

Gu Congxu let out a cold laugh. To Xiang Zhongjing, such a clumsy excuse was nothing but an invitation for humiliation. He waited quietly for Xiang Zhongjing to show his might and verbally dismantle this old fossil.

But he waited and waited, yet Xiang Zhongjing didn’t react at all.

There was a dead silence. Everyone held their breath and waited, though they didn’t know exactly what they were waiting for.

Regardless, they waited.

Gu Congxu looked back with a dark expression to see what Xiang Zhongjing was doing, only to find him sitting on his back with his legs dangling, his toes swinging back and forth, and his entire ear visible beneath the veil turned deep red.

Gu Congxu: “…”

Gu Congxu sent a telepathic message in disbelief: “What are you doing? Say something!”

Only then did Xiang Zhongjing snap out of his daze. He cleared his throat loudly and looked at Qu Xing. “My apologies, what were you saying just now?”

Qu Xing: “…”

Everyone else: “…”

Yun Yanli and Man Qiuxia had already retreated to a stone bench under a tree behind them. Hearing this, they almost burst out laughing.

Song Youqiu was writing furiously nearby.

Man Qiuxia leaned over and saw Song Youqiu writing: The Soul-Settling Coffin trembles.

Man Qiuxia: “…”

It seemed that no matter what Xiang Zhongjing said now, Qu Xing felt it was a deliberate insult. He glared at Xiang Zhongjing, his expression looking as if he wanted nothing more than to kill him.

Xiang Zhongjing felt no fear, only amusement.

He didn’t even have to think to know what Qu Xing would say once the “contract with the evil dragon” accusation failed. He leaned back, crossing his legs elegantly, and said faintly, “You say I slaughtered the disciples of the Three Sects? Where is the evidence? If you provide evidence, I will submit to my execution immediately.”

Qu Xing said, “You were the only one left alive. Is that not evidence enough?”

“Oh.” Xiang Zhongjing tilted his head and said nonchalantly, “So, the empty words of an old Sect Master count as evidence now?”

Qu Xing seemed to have expected this retort. He said coldly, “If you want tangible evidence, I actually have a way.”

Xiang Zhongjing’s eyes lit up, and he feigned great interest.

Qu Xing sneered inwardly, thinking he had taken the bait.

However, Xiang Zhongjing changed the subject with a beaming smile. “I don’t trust your way.”

Qu Xing: “…”

Qu Xing had been played until his face turned blue and white. His expression grew even more distorted as he looked at Xiang Zhongjing.

Xiang Zhongjing smiled at him, thinking: Yet another dull person being manipulated.

A cultivator nearby who was on good terms with the Qu Yi Sect frowned and said, “Sword Venerable, can you prove your own innocence then?”

Xiang Zhongjing laughed. “I can’t. Regardless of what I say, none of you will believe me. Even if I let the evil dragon speak, you’ll just think the two of us are acting in concert, like husband and wife.”

Everyone: “…”

Gu Congxu: “…”

Gu Congxu’s tail suddenly stiffened. He almost couldn’t control himself from returning to the sea of consciousness to turn everything upside down.

This person was too much!

He was out here defending him, yet the man was surreptitiously flirting!

Song Youqiu’s brush was practically flying as he wrote down a few heavy words: Husband and wife acting in concert, ahhh!

The face of the cultivator who had spoken turned green. Straining to remain composed, he said, “Then I shall speak a word of justice. If you have no way to prove your innocence, you should try Sect Master Qu’s method. After all, besides that, you have no way to clear your name.”

Xiang Zhongjing was amused by this “word of justice.” He casually traced circles on the dragon scales with his finger, his eyes curving as he spoke. “Why should I prove my innocence to you? Who do you think you are?”

The faces of the cultivator and Qu Xing stiffened.

The tip of Gu Congxu’s tail was about to go as rigid as a pillar.

The sensation of Xiang Zhongjing’s finger tracing circles on his scales was extremely light, yet for some reason, Gu Congxu could feel it perfectly. He could even count exactly how many circles Xiang Zhongjing had drawn. Half of his body felt almost numb.

The giant dragon was still trying to maintain Xiang Zhongjing’s prestige, suppressing the urge to scold him and forcing himself to endure the tingling sensation reaching the tip of his tail.

The cultivator said coldly, “The Sword Venerable became famous as a youth; naturally, he is haughty. But if you cannot prove your innocence today, it only makes people think you have a guilty conscience.”

Xiang Zhongjing twirled a lock of hair on his shoulder. Hearing this clumsy provocation, he laughed even more joyfully.

“Fine.” He propped up his chin and said lazily, “Then let the old Sect Master tell me about this method that can prove my innocence.”

Qu Xing performed a hand seal with an expressionless face. Soon, the peacock, which had regained its freedom after Gu Congxu withdrew his pressure, flew over slowly. Upon landing, it transformed into a youth in colorful robes.

The peacock was like a controlled puppet, its face wooden as it said respectfully, “Sect Master.”

Qu Xing said, “This is the guardian spirit beast of my Qu Yi Sect. Its spiritual technique can peer into the memories of one’s sea of consciousness. If you have a clear conscience regarding the events of that year, the peacock will know as soon as it investigates.”

Xiang Zhongjing looked at him in astonishment, as if he hadn’t expected the man to be so foolish.

He had been controlled by the peacock back then, forced to become a blade for the Qu Yi Sect. Now, sixty years later, Qu Xing actually dared to try and use the peacock to control him again, even describing the “soul-capture” as a simple spiritual technique.

There was nothing technically wrong with what Qu Xing said. Those unfamiliar with the peacock’s abilities found it very reasonable and were nodding in agreement.

After all, having one’s memories viewed by a spiritual technique wouldn’t damage one’s spiritual power much.

Xiang Zhongjing looked at Qu Xing, knowing the man had completely discarded his dignity and now only wanted him dead. The peacock could forcibly use soul-capture when a person was off-guard. If it got too close, there was an eighty percent chance he would accidentally fall into its trap.

Xiang Zhongjing lowered his head, trying his best not to look at the peacock’s eyes, which were full of enchantment.

Qu Xing said intentionally, “Are you feeling guilty?”

Xiang Zhongjing ignored the provocation, saying nonchalantly with his eyes downcast, “Sect Master Qu, you certainly find the peacock’s soul-capture quite convenient to use.”

Qu Xing said, “What soul-capture? I have no idea what you are talking about.”

The peacock was the guardian beast of the Qu Yi Sect; naturally, they wouldn’t let others know about its soul-capture ability. Thus, when “soul-capture” was mentioned, most of the cultivators looked bewildered, except for a few older ones whose pupils flickered at the word.

“Soul-capture?” A white-haired man suddenly frowned and spoke. “Wasn’t that a forbidden technique used only by the criminals in the Three Poisons Secret Realm?”

Xiang Zhongjing snapped his eyes up.

Even Gu Congxu was stunned.

Just as Xiang Zhongjing was about to ask further, the monk, who had been sitting quietly with his eyes downcast, suddenly released a wave of incredibly pure spiritual power. It rippled through the void like a translucent wave.

Xiang Zhongjing looked at him with a frown.

The monk’s eyes remained lowered, making it impossible to see his pupils. His voice was gentle and as soothing as a spring breeze, making it impossible to feel the slightest urge to resist.

“The matter of the criminals is a taboo of the Three Realms. Your Excellency, speak with caution.”

The white-haired cultivator immediately fell silent.

Xiang Zhongjing looked coldly at the monk, who had managed to clear the stray thoughts of everyone around with just one sentence. He sensed that this man was the one pulling the strings behind Su Cansheng, the Three Sects, and the Demon Clan.

At that moment, the peacock suddenly looked up. His quiet pupils seemed to blossom with flowers as he stared straight at Xiang Zhongjing.

Xiang Zhongjing immediately lowered his eyes to avoid the gaze.

In the next instant, Gu Congxu let out a thunderous roar that collapsed the nearby guest rooms.

The giant dragon’s pressure spread out even more thickly than the monk’s just had. However, this time his pressure didn’t affect the other demon cultivators; it was aimed directly at the peacock using the soul-capture. Caught off guard, the peacock’s knees buckled, and he slammed into the ground.

The force was so great that his knees immediately left a trail of blood on the floor.

Forced to kneel by such overwhelming pressure, the peacock remained extremely quiet and submissive. He kept his eyes wide, the soul-capture not yet dissipated, but his beautiful pupils were devoid of expression. A few tears slid slowly down his lashes and splattered onto the ground.

Qu Xing gasped in shock.

The giant dragon looked down at the kneeling peacock. His gaze swept over the chains partially visible beneath the peacock’s sleeves, and his eyes were full of contempt. “Tell me yourself, was that technique you were about to use a soul-capture or not?”

Knowing the peacock was controlled by Qu Xing’s orders, Gu Congxu turned his grim vertical pupils toward Qu Xing, who was about to speak. With overwhelming killing intent, he said coldly, “Shut up!”

Qu Xing’s legs went weak, and his spiritual power was so startled by Gu Congxu’s killing intent that it ceased to flow.

For the first time, he realized that the evil dragon left behind by the criminals of the Three Poisons Secret Realm could easily grind him to ash with just a single dragon bone, even if its soul was sealed.

However, a dragon bone was still no match for an original body. Gu Congxu had reached his limit by acting tough with just one bone, but he understood that if he weren’t here, Xiang Zhongjing would surely lose his mind to the peacock’s soul-capture.

Gu Congxu snorted coldly, thinking: I only agreed to help him deal with the peacock so he would help me find my dragon bones! This is a trade!

The True Dragon had no intention of helping Xiang Zhongjing out of the goodness of his heart.

With that thought, he applied even more pressure to the peacock and said succinctly, “Answer.”

Protected by the True Dragon, Xiang Zhongjing kept his eyes downcast while his finger traced circles on the dragon scales even more joyfully. If not for the veil, everyone likely would have seen the words “He’s protecting me, hehh” written all over his face.

Gu Congxu: “…”

Gu Congxu’s dragon horns almost began to heat up. Finally unable to take it anymore, he maintained his pressure on the peacock and Qu Xing while huffily sending a telepathic message to Xiang Zhongjing.

“Stop touching me! Can’t you be a bit more dignified?!”

Xiang Zhongjing: “…”

Xiang Zhongjing was somewhat bewildered. He was only drawing circles; how was that undignified?

What was this lecherous dragon thinking about every day?

At that moment, the peacock suddenly opened his mouth to answer.

Although Qu Xing was restrained and unable to speak, he still believed he had the upper hand.

The peacock had been controlled by the Qu Yi Sect for so many years that it had long ago lost any will to resist. Bound by the formation for controlling spirit beasts, it was physically unable to say anything that would harm the Qu Yi Sect, or else its meridians would flow in reverse and kill it.

Just as Qu Xing relaxed, waiting for the peacock to deny the accusation, he heard the peacock speak in a hoarse voice.

“Yes.”

Qu Xing froze. Amidst the cries of shock and surprise, he looked toward the peacock in horror.