The Last Drop of Blood

"Uncle-Master Zhao, did some important treasure go missing?"

Yang Jian had already guessed most of it from Zhao Gongming's expression. He was practically about to blurt out the Dragon Binding Rope's name.

"Uh... How could that be?"

Zhao Gongming glanced at Yang Jian. Admitting the truth would be rather humiliating.

"How did you know?"

Almost at the same time, Lady Yunxiao spoke up too.

Zhao Gongming's face reddened, and he hurriedly tried to cover it up. "Heh heh... How could it be an important treasure? It's just a Dragon Binding Rope!"

Yang Jian ignored Zhao Gongming's little scheme. He glanced from the corner of his eye at the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and the Nine Nether Pure Maiden, then answered Lady Yunxiao respectfully and formally. "Uncle-Master Yunxiao, to be honest, my Sky-Howling Dog has also mysteriously disappeared. After investigating, I narrowed down its location to this area. The dispute between these two fellow Daoists and me just now was over this matter."

"Ah, Yang Jian, so you suspect I stole your lousy dog? What do you think your dog is? I wouldn't want it even if it were given to me for free!" the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden suddenly exploded.

Even the usually mild-tempered Nine Nether Pure Maiden couldn't help reprimanding him. "Yang Jian, don't assume the worst of others. What does your lost dog have to do with us sisters? If you don't explain yourself today, we may have to take this up with True Man Yu Ding."

The Nine Nether Pure Maiden usually kept quiet, but once she got angry, she spoke like a rapid-fire cannon, leaving Yang Jian no chance to get a word in.

After she finished, Yang Jian glanced at her heaving chest, as if confirming there was a little dog inside, then sneered. "You two can deny it all you like, but that won't help. Three Ladies, Uncle-Master Zhao, I have some of the Sky-Howling Dog's blood here. With a secret technique, I can determine whether it's nearby. I ask the four seniors to bear witness. If we find the Sky-Howling Dog, then Uncle-Master Zhao's Dragon Binding Rope should be found along with it!"

"Good! Nephew, perform the secret technique at once!"

Zhao Gongming was well-informed and naturally knew of this kind of secret technique. He also felt Yang Jian had a point, so he nodded and urged him to begin.

The Dragon Binding Rope's disappearance had been extremely strange. Zhao Gongming couldn't locate the treasure itself; he had only just sensed that it was somewhere in Chaoge. Now, he couldn't sense it at all.

That meant his Dragon Binding Rope—and even Lady Yunxiao's Golden Flood Dragon Scissors—had been stolen by someone using mysterious means, then placed inside a spatial treasure that could block their senses.

Such a spatial treasure could stretch tremendously. Making room for a Sky-Howling Dog probably wouldn't be a problem.

Yang Jian sneered and began performing the secret technique.

Di Xin, standing among the crowd, couldn't help feeling a little flustered. Was he about to be caught red-handed?

He wanted to leave, but feared that making a scene would draw attention to his guilt. Besides, he had begun to trust the system somewhat. If he were really in danger, surely it would give him some options.

Since the system hadn't reacted, he should be fine, right?

While he hesitated, Yang Jian had already burned the Sky-Howling Dog's blood with Samadhi True Fire. The blood mist formed a lifelike little white dog before him, wagging its tail and shaking its head as though it were real.

If he hadn't seen with his own eyes that the White Puppy was made of blood mist, Di Xin would surely have thought the Sky-Howling Dog in his system space had already broken free!

"Please look, Uncles-Master. The Sky-Howling Dog's blood has formed a solid image, which means the dog is within ten zhang of us. As for whose possession it's in, that should be obvious."

As the dog's image appeared, Yang Jian narrowed his eyes and looked at the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden and the Nine Nether Pure Maiden.

Zhao Gongming and the Three Ladies of the Auspicious Clouds also turned toward the two women. The Three Ladies moved slowly, forming a semicircle around the two disciples of Goddess Nuwa.

The Nine Heavens Profound Maiden swung the black Mysterious Sky Halberd in her hand and snorted. "If you want to fight, then come at us. But look around—there are plenty of people within ten zhang. You've singled us sisters out for this, so don't blame us for fighting back."

The Nine Nether Pure Maiden also moved her hand without hesitation, and a gleaming sword appeared in it. She looked ready to launch into battle.

Seeing cultivators about to fight, the people nearby feared they might be caught in the crossfire and began backing away.

But Lady Qiongxiao of the Three Ladies stepped forward and shouted, "No one is to leave. Anyone who does will be treated as a thief. Stay where you are. I'll ensure that no innocent person comes to harm."

Di Xin had also wanted to slip away with the crowd amid the confusion, but everyone was ordered to stay. He had no choice but to give up on the idea.

So I'll just stay here, Di Xin thought, feeling a wave of relief.

Fortunately, he hadn't left earlier. If he had, the two beauties in red and white would probably have cleared their names, and he would have lost this ready-made shield.

Zhao Gongming looked over the crowd, then turned to Yang Jian. "Nephew, could you invite these two female Daoists away from here, somewhere with no one else around, and then take another drop of blood to test them? That should settle the matter."

"Why are we the only ones being checked? If we let you do as you please, wouldn't that be a terrible disgrace?"

Before Yang Jian could answer, the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden drew her brows together and flew into a rage.

Zhao Gongming sighed softly. "Fellow Daoists, this matter is serious. Not only has my Dragon Binding Rope gone missing, but little sister Yunxiao's Golden Flood Dragon Scissors have mysteriously vanished as well. Our investigation found that both treasures are in Chaoge. You two can clear your names only by cooperating with Yang Jian. It's the only way."

Only then did the Nine Heavens Profound Maiden learn that the Golden Flood Dragon Scissors had gone missing too. If she revealed her identity and mentioned that Goddess Nuwa's Summoning Banner had suffered the same fate, perhaps everything could be explained.

But Goddess Nuwa felt the incident was too humiliating and didn't want more people to know. She had only instructed her two beloved disciples to investigate quietly and keep the matter secret.

Zhao Gongming and the Three Ladies of the Auspicious Clouds were famous, but they were a generation below Goddess Nuwa. They could afford to be embarrassed, but Goddess Nuwa could not.

Now Zhao Gongming was using the pretext of clearing their names. The Nine Heavens Profound Maiden couldn't help feeling tempted. She knew that refusing to explain would only lead to an even greater misunderstanding.

After briefly exchanging a look with the Nine Nether Pure Maiden, she nodded. "The innocent have nothing to fear, and the guilty will be exposed. We sisters can cooperate with you, but if we're proven innocent, Yang Jian... how will you make amends?"

Zhao Gongming and the Three Ladies of the Auspicious Clouds all looked at Yang Jian. The Nine Heavens Profound Maiden's condition was perfectly reasonable. He couldn't just prove them innocent and then walk away as if nothing had happened.

"Well, Uncles-Master, actually... I don't have any of the Sky-Howling Dog's blood left. I've used up all three drops." Yang Jian's lips twitched as he sighed helplessly.