Chapter 495: Dugu Qiu
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
When Zhuge Qingyun was killed, Jiang Yi had suspicions regarding one point: that the mastermind behind the incident was the Martial Arts Hall. Shui Youlan had mentioned that the Black Wasp incidents were incited by Saint Lady Ji.
When Demon Empress left, Jiang Yi did ask her if the Martial Arts Hall had any relations.h.i.+p with the underground world. However, Demon Empress’ answer was exceptionally certain; she said that the Martial Arts Hall was very honorable and would absolutely never have any relations.h.i.+p with such filthy things. So Jiang Yi was confused again; he was unsure of so many things!
At this moment, after seeing this woman in the yellow dress, Jiang Yi’s suspicions had all flown away. He was a hundred percent sure about the incident regarding the Black Wasps, Zhuge Qingyun’s murder, as well as the recent attack on the Great Xia Kingdom by the five factions and the decisive battle in Stellarsky City.
Everything had a mastermind controlling behind the scenes, and the mastermind was the Martial Arts Hall!
Ji Tingyu.
Jiang Yi’s face became more and more complex as he gazed at the girl who had once moved his heart, who had once given him a boon. In the end, she had chosen Jiang Yiliu; and they became enemies.
This girl took over the Pearl Gathering Pavilion at thirteen and used only two years to make the Pearl Gathering Pavilion into the best merchant a.s.sociation in Skyplume City. This was a girl who looked down on guys from Skyplume City; she was proud and arrogant and had demon-like wisdom. The young masters of Skyplume City, including those attending Mt. Spirit Beast College, have been played or used by her. This was a girl who, from a young age, had been determined to become an Empress.
Inside the Tomb of the Heaven Monarch—in Ten-Thousand Dragons Valley, she schemed and almost caused Jiang Yi to have a tragic end. Fortunately, he managed to enter the real Tomb of the Heaven Monarch and obtained the Fire Spirit Pearl, successfully getting out of there alive.
On the way back to Mt. Spirit Beast College, Ji Tingyu disappeared. Jiang Yi felt regretful then. Since he didn’t kill her in Ten-Thousand Dragons Valley, he wouldn’t seek revenge after. At that time, he had also believed that Ji Tingyu was making a mountain out of a molehill.
Now he understood that when Ji Tingyu ran away, it wasn’t because she was afraid that he would kill her. Rather, she had no more reason to stay on Mt. Spirit Beast; she would never become Empress if she stayed at the college.
She was an ambitious girl and was not willing to be pressured by Jiang Yi. She joined the Martial Arts Hall and relied on her resourcefulness to be promoted quickly, becoming the Saint Lady of the Martial Arts Hall.
Just now, Jiang Yi heard very clearly when the Martial Arts Branch Hall Master in Stellarsky City was giving his greetings. He first greeted the Chief Hall Master and the second was Saint Lady Ji. What did this mean? It meant that Ji Tingyu’s position was above the two elders; she was the Martial Arts Hall’s number two.
A young girl—alone without obstruction, relying on her brains to climb up—had used only two years to completely accomplish what many people could not do in their entire lives.
No matter friend or foe—at this moment, Jiang Yi respected Ji Tingyu.
“Keke, Jiang Yi, this old man is Dugu Qiu. Even though it’s our first meeting, I’ve heard about you a long time ago. How about a chat?”
A warm voice sounded, dragging Jiang Yi out of his musings. His gaze then landed on the middle-aged person within the group. The Chief Hall Master of the Martial Arts Hall.
He was a very refined and graceful middle-aged man. He had a nice beard and looked similar to Dugu Yan. He wasn’t tall but rather well-proportioned.
Jiang Yi instantly scanned his aura and was inwardly surprised. The Chief Hall Master of the Martial Arts Hall had actually reached the peak-stage of Vajra Realm. Before, there were rumors that he was ranked third or fourth on the whole continent, but it looked like that was a joke. Dugu Qiu’s strength wasn’t any less than the Ling Clan’s Patriarch.
Buzz!
Jiang Yi’s body instantly-s.h.i.+fted to the plaza. He waved a hand and shouted, “Everyone, retreat and a.s.semble in the west!”
Jiang Rentu, Zhan Yiming, and the others repeatedly shouted and started to control the army’s retreat. Their alliance army had gathered in the east as well. A lot of people were anxiously looking at Dugu Qiu, feeling restless. They knew that their fate in the hands of these four individuals from the Martial Arts Hall.
“Jiang Yi, it’s too noisy here. How about we head inside Martial Arts Hall?”
Dugu Qiu had a faint smile which was bathed in the spring breeze. He nodded towards Jiang Yi before bringing Ji Tingyu inside Martial Arts Hall.
Ling Xue and General Long furrowed their eyebrows, feeling baffled. When Dugu Qiu arrived, he was very amiable. Was he here for peace talks instead of killing Jiang Yi?
Swis.h.!.+
Grandma Silver Flower and the Yazi Beast had flown down, anxiously looking at Jiang Yi. If Jiang Yi gave the command, these two wouldn’t have the slightest apprehension towards razing the Martial Arts Hall to the ground.
Jiang Yi waved his hand and immediately walked towards Martial Arts Hall. At the door, he noticed Grandma Silver Flower was preparing to follow him inside. His face was heavy as he said, “You two wait outside. Without my command, no one is allowed to flail about.”
“Uh…”
Grandma Silver Flower, Old General Lu, and the others were astonished. Jiang Yi’s character was always obstinate, but now he was especially obedient? Was he actually prepared to have a peace talk with the Martial Arts Hall?
Jiang Yi had to be obedient because he got some news from Ji Tingyu’s eyes: Jiang Xiaonu and the others were indeed captured, and they were captured by the Martial Arts Hall!
The Ling Clan’s Patriarch had once lost Jiang Xiaonu and had searched for her for a very long time without finding their whereabouts. The five factions had all been decimated by Jiang Yi so if they had Jiang Xiaonu, they would have long released her. So the only explanation was that Jiang Xiaonu was in the hands of the Martial Arts Hall. Only the Martial Arts Hall had the capability to make Jiang Xiaonu and the others disappear completely.
Since the Martial Arts Hall wanted to talk, then they could first talk and then decide again if the talks fell through.
Jiang Yi walked into the Martial Arts Hall. Stellarsky City’s branch was bigger; there was a large hall upon entry. The inside of Martial Arts Hall was completely empty, and a gorgeous lady was waiting respectfully. When Jiang Yi walked in, she said, full of smiles, “Regent, this way please.”
Jiang Yi followed the lady to a corridor and quickly entered a beautiful side chamber.
The chamber was huge. The two elders and Ji Tingyu sat on the left while Dugu Qiu sat at the center. There was a lion chair on the right, which was evidently for Jiang Yi to sit.
“Hahaha, no wonder you’re this continent’s no.1 prodigy of ten thousand years. This kind of courage is really admirable. Jiang Yi, please sit!” When he saw Jiang Yi enter, Dugu Qiu stood up in welcome while Ji Tingyu and the rest also stood up.
Jiang Yi smiled slightly and then walked over to the lion chair to sit down. Dugu Qiu waved his hand and allowed the rest of them to take a seat. Only then did he sit down and smiled, “Hall Master Yu, serve tea to Regent Jiang.”
The beautiful woman personally took the teacup from a servant and sent it over to Jiang Yi. Only then did she bow and cup her hands before withdrawing. Jiang Yi wasn’t in the mood to drink tea and was also afraid it might be poisoned.
So after a moment, he cast his gaze towards Dugu Qiu and asked, “Before the Demon Empress left, she once told me that the Martial Arts Hall was honorable and would never do filthy things. I also heard that the Chief Hall Master was a brave hero with no equal. Today, I realized that… those were all a joke!”
Swis.h.!.+ Swis.h.!.+ Swis.h.!.+
Elder Lu and Elder Zeng’s faces changed, abruptly becoming angry. Their imposing aura presence exploded as both of them stood up and were about to flip out. Dugu Qiu’s face, on the contrary, remained unchanged. He waved his hand to indicate for the two elders to sit down as he turned his head to look at Jiang Yi. “Jiang Yi, why do you say such things?”
Jiang Yi had a grave expression while his entire body was trembling in anger as the corner of his mouth lifted up slightly. He mocked, “All of you have planned to kill me multiple times, and I didn’t have a complaint. If you can murder Princ.i.p.al Zhuge, and that’s your capability. It didn’t matter if you conspired openly or covertly—if you can kill me, I can accept it. However, when you kidnap my lover, my servant girl, my grandfather, and my brothers… and then try to use them to coerce me? This really made me—Jiang Yi—look down on you from the bottom of my heart! Vengeance shouldn’t include family members. Don’t tell me that Chief Hall Master Dugu Qiu doesn’t understand this logic?”