It was a resounding victory.
Everyone from the Black Sha Cult was wiped out.
Afterward, the group searched the bandits' lair beneath Qingyang Manor and found many human remains.
The remains were piled up like mountains. There was no telling how many people had died at the hands of the Black Sha Cult.
The truth was far more than what appeared on the surface.
Besides those, they also found many Black Sha Cult records, letters, manuals, and the like.
Among them was an [Azure Corpse Record] that caught Fang Shuwen's attention.
He flipped through it and could be fairly certain that it was the martial art practiced by the two green-faced, red-eyed men he had encountered at the Sun Family.
But the method of cultivating this martial art was exceptionally brutal. From childhood, practitioners had to roll around in medicinal liquid and then scour themselves in iron sand.
They ground their unbroken skin to shreds, let it heal, and then broke it apart again.
They repeated this over and over until they grew a layer of green skin. Only then could they be said to have achieved a modest level of mastery, corresponding to the level those two had previously attained.
According to the manual, if this martial art was cultivated to the realm of great mastery, being impervious to blades and spears was commonplace. Practitioners could even swallow gold and eat iron, and nothing could wear them down. Their bodies were the most terrifying weapons, and a swipe of their nails could easily split gold and sever jade.
However, the copy of the manual kept by the Black Sha Cult only contained instructions for cultivating up to the "green skin" stage.
The book did not say how to cultivate beyond that.
Besides these things, there were the gold, silver, and jewels the Black Sha Cult had amassed over the years.
Although the Great Xuan Bank was not large, it had accumulated considerable wealth.
Now that this place had been wiped out and there was no one left to run the Great Xuan Bank, it would naturally have to close its doors for good.
But the ordinary people who had deposited silver in the bank were the ones who suffered.
The gold, silver, and jewels could be used to compensate them.
As for how to go about it, Fang Shuwen did not need to concern himself. Fang Mingxuan would contact the city lord's manor, inform them about the Black Sha Cult, and see to the other matters one by one.
For the time being, matters here had finally come to a close.
The group brought the victimized young women back to Guangning City. After asking about their origins, they would make arrangements for each of them.
Not all of these young women were from Guangning City. Most had been abducted from elsewhere, while some had been bought from human traffickers.
The Black Sha Cult's [Black Sha Demonic Art] offended the heavens, but there was one thing... its requirements for blood had kept these young women from being violated, though they had endured much torment.
If they returned home and rested and recuperated properly, they would be all right.
Only the tongues of others were to be feared...
But there was nothing anyone could do about that.
The next day, Zhou Qingmei bade Fang Shuwen farewell.
She was returning to the Pearl Pavilion with Zhang Fang.
She had to return to her sect and explain what had happened this time, and she also had to find out where Zhou Feixiong was.
She invited Fang Shuwen to visit the Pearl Pavilion, but he declined.
For one thing, the matter of the Black Sha Cult was over, so she no longer needed his protection.
For another, he had to return to Julu City first.
He had left in too much of a hurry and had not told his senior brother or the martial arts hall. He needed to go back and let them know he was safe.
When the time came to part, it was Fang Lingxin who was most reluctant to say goodbye.
She held Zhou Qingmei's hand and talked for a long time. Together with Fang Mingxuan, she saw her off for a full ten li before reluctantly waving goodbye beside the ten-li pavilion.
On the main road, the sound of hoofbeats drew closer from afar.
A man and a woman were spurring their horses onward, galloping at full speed.
It was not until the sun neared its zenith that they stopped by the roadside.
After tying the horses to a tree, Zhou Qingmei took some rations from her bundle, turned, and tossed them to Zhang Fang.
Zhang Fang took a bite.
"These rations are really dry. Junior Sister Zhou, what exactly is Brother Fang's background?
"Someone with martial arts like his is no ordinary person. How much do you know about him?"
"Not much."
Zhou Qingmei said:
"He's just the guard my father found for me. At most, you could say he's a guard with pretty good aptitude and comprehension."
"Have you taken a fancy to him?"
Zhang Fang said with a smile:
"Don't be embarrassed. It's just the two of us here. If you have taken a fancy to him, I can ask Master to act as your matchmaker when we get back.
"A fine young man like him could be my junior brother-in-law."
"We're not like that. Just eat your food. Can't even eating keep your mouth shut?"
"And you still say you're not?"
Zhang Fang said with a grin:
"I saw the reluctant looks you two gave each other when you parted.
"Could he have secretly followed you here?"
As he spoke, he stood up and looked around:
"Let me see, where is he?
"Brother Fang, Brother Fang!
"Come out, I can already see you!!"
"Oh, honestly!"
Zhou Qingmei felt a headache coming on.
"Senior Brother Zhang, can you be quiet for a while? He's already gone back to Julu City!
"How could he possibly be here?"
"He's already gone back?"
Zhang Fang's voice suddenly grew somewhat low, and the playful look vanished from his face. He said softly:
"If he's gone back, then there's no one to protect you.
"Junior Sister... that night, did you really notice nothing at all?"
"Huh? Notice what?"
As Zhou Qingmei answered, her head was lowered and her gaze was slightly vacant.
"So you really don't know..."
Zhang Fang sighed, his right hand moving to his sword hilt.
"What a pity. I was actually quite taken with you. After all, girls as pretty as you aren't easy to find.
"But since the young cult leader wants you dead... you have no choice but to die!!"
Hum!!
His longsword shot from its sheath like a spirit serpent flicking its tongue. In a thousandth of an instant, it had reached Zhou Qingmei's throat.
Clang!!!
A ringing hum sounded!
Zhou Qingmei had also drawn her broken sword, holding it in her hand to block the lethal strike.
Even so, she could not help sliding back half a zhang. Her sword hand trembled faintly, and threads of pain came from the web between her thumb and forefinger. When she looked up, her eyes were full of disbelief.
"Senior Brother Zhang... you want to kill me!?"
"Junior Sister Zhou, you can't blame me for this."
Zhang Fang pointed his sword at the ground.
"It's not that I want to kill you, but you... couldn't you have just gone home and visited your family? Why did you have to meddle?
"What did Fang Lingxin have to do with you?
"Being captured was her fate. Why did you save her?
"The young cult leader is a very cautious man... Although you didn't recognize him, he didn't dare gamble an uncertain future on your eyesight.
"So he could only order your death, along with everyone in your Zhou Family!"
Zhou Qingmei's face turned ashen.
"Zhang Fang... you really are one of the Black Sha Cult!?
"Who exactly is the young cult leader!?"
"Now that things have come to this, what's the point of asking?"
Zhang Fang said calmly:
"Without Fang Shuwen to protect you, you're about to die.
"Junior Sister Zhou, you're no match for me. Why not make it quick and take your own life?"
Zhou Qingmei slowly let out a breath and suddenly smiled.
"So be it. You're right, I really am no match for you.
"But I can't reconcile myself to going to my death without knowing what happened...
"For the sake of the years we spent growing up together, will you let me die knowing the truth?"