Hearing Jiang Chendong's words, Ling Tianhe and Lu Wencang's expressions grew even grimmer.
If that was really the case,
their opponent might have been warning them.
"Make arrangements for Song Yuan's family first. Tomorrow, I'll go see Su Chen and sound him out."
Ling Tianhe ordered.
The next morning.
A fine drizzle still fell from the sky, shrouding Qingcheng City like a veil of smoke.
But news that Song Yuan, one of the Eighteen Stewards of Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower, had been killed in his own courtyard quickly spread as well.
In the city stood a tower-shaped building.
The tower had nine stories and could be called the tallest building in Qingcheng City.
To own the tallest building showed that its standing in Qingcheng City was certainly no ordinary one.
It belonged to Gathering of Sages Hall, ranked second among Qingcheng City's five great powers.
At that moment, an old man in a yellow robe stood high in the tower, gazing out at the fine drizzle.
A man in a blue robe stood beside him.
"Zhenyuan, it's rare for such a drizzle to fall here in Qingcheng City. It's quite a sight!"
As the old man in yellow spoke, he took a deep breath,
as if savoring the dampness brought by the misty rain.
The old man in yellow was Ximen Muye, the head of Gathering of Sages Hall. The man beside him was one of the hall's five hall masters, Thunderous Primordial Hand Qin Zhenyuan.
He was also the old man's eldest disciple.
"It is rare. Our frontier lands are dry to begin with, and weather like this hardly ever comes!"
"But, Master, though the drizzle is pleasant, Qingcheng City is now caught in turbulent undercurrents. I've received word that Song Yuan, a steward of Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower, was killed by an expert who cultivates a Cold Attribute Cultivation Method."
"I thought that with Su Mengbai dead, Gathering of Sages Hall could seize Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower and surpass Lei Hall of the Lei Family in one fell swoop."
"But now it seems we still can't make a move!"
Qin Zhenyuan said bitterly.
"Never let impatience cloud your judgment. Opportunities come to those who wait."
"What do you make of the news about the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform spreading through the black market?"
Ximen Muye asked.
"Before, I thought the news was probably false. But now that word of Song Yuan's murder has spread, I feel Su Mengbai's death may really have something to do with the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform."
Qin Zhenyuan replied.
"Then help me figure out who in Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower might know about the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform."
As he spoke,
Ximen Muye turned and entered the room.
Inside,
a beautiful woman with a graceful figure was carefully brewing tea.
The fragrance of tea filled the room.
When Ximen Muye entered, the woman brought a freshly brewed cup to him.
"Zhenyuan, I just managed to get a little of this fine tea from Jiangnan—Golden Wind Jade Dew Tea! You can't find it here in Qingcheng City!"
"Bring Zhenyuan a cup too!"
Ximen Muye said.
"Master, I'm not interested in tea. If there were wine, I'd be more than happy to have some!"
"As for your question about who might know the whereabouts of the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform, I think Su Chen may know."
Qin Zhenyuan said.
"Tell me why you think he knows, rather than Su Mengbai's wife."
Ximen Muye sat in a sandalwood chair and looked at Qin Zhenyuan.
"First, Su Chen returned to Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower right after Su Mengbai died. The timing was suspicious. If he'd only just received the news, he shouldn't have reached Qingcheng City yet!"
"So Su Chen must have come back ahead of time. Perhaps Su Mengbai had sent him back."
"Su Chen doesn't have much talent. At Mountain River Sect, he was just an ordinary disciple. The Fifth-grade Lotus Platform may have been something Su Mengbai prepared for him."
"Second, I've been keeping an eye on Su Chen these past few days. Judging by how he's acted, he hasn't shown the slightest unease or anxiety!"
"That makes no sense at all. If he had the strength, that would be one thing—but he doesn't. If he can still remain so calm, it means he must have something on him that makes him think no one will dare touch him!"
Qin Zhenyuan said earnestly.
"Your reasoning makes sense, but you've overlooked one thing."
"If Su Chen has no strength, then even if he has a trump card, it won't matter. In this world, strength rules."
"Whoever could kill Su Mengbai could easily take Su Chen too, couldn't they?"
Ximen Muye said softly.
Hearing this, Qin Zhenyuan's brows furrowed.
He had overlooked the most important piece of information.
In his eyes, Su Chen was like an ant. In other people's eyes, he would be the same.
An ant could be crushed with a flick of the fingers.
Yet no one had laid a hand on this ant.
That made no sense at all.
"Master, are you saying someone is setting a trap?"
A flash of insight crossed Qin Zhenyuan's mind.
"Probably. For now, just investigate. Don't get involved, or you might bring the fire down on Gathering of Sages Hall!"
Ximen Muye instructed.
"Understood, Master!"
Qin Zhenyuan replied.
"Go on. Keep an eye on Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower, and don't let a single detail slip by!"
"Once we find an opening, we still need to seize Golden Wind Fine Rain Tower!"
Ximen Muye said.
"Then I'll take my leave, Master."
Qin Zhenyuan bowed and left the room.
"Who exactly is behind all this? But the news about the Fifth-grade Lotus Platform should be true!"
"If it weren't, it wouldn't have drawn experts here. But why did he kill Song Yuan?"
"Was it a warning to the others, or an attempt to intimidate them?"
Ximen Muye took a sip of tea and murmured.
Meanwhile,
Su Chen had just gotten up when Steward Fu was already waiting outside his room.
Seeing Su Chen emerge from the side room, Steward Fu stepped forward and said, "Young Master, Steward Song Yuan was murdered. Deputy Tower Master Ling and the others are waiting for you in the main hall!"
"What? Steward Song was murdered!"
Su Chen asked, pretending to be shocked.
"Yes. We examined Steward Song's body last night. He was killed by an expert who cultivates a Cold Attribute Cultivation Method. The attacker struck with such force that Steward Song's heart was frozen solid."
Steward Fu relayed what he had learned to Su Chen.
"His heart was frozen solid! That kind of strength?"
Su Chen's heart jumped, and he asked with a changed expression.
"Yes. The attacker was incredibly strong. I doubt even Deputy Tower Master Ling could match him."
"Young Master, let's go see Deputy Tower Master Ling first. He knows more about this than I do!"
Steward Fu said.
Not long afterward,
Su Chen arrived outside the main hall.
Ling Tianhe was inside, along with the other seventeen stewards. After hearing that Song Yuan had been killed, they had all followed Ling Tianhe to Su Mansion.
They were talking among themselves, worry in every word.
When Su Chen stepped into the hall,
the group fell silent and bowed slightly to him.
"Greetings, Tower Master!"
"Spare me the formalities. I've already heard about Song Yuan. This matter is no small thing. Deputy Tower Master Ling, Steward Song had always followed you. I'm leaving the investigation entirely in your hands. I expect you to find some leads within three days!"
Su Chen struck first, putting Ling Tianhe on the spot.
Ling Tianhe had promoted Song Yuan to steward, and Song Yuan could be considered one of his people.
Now that Song Yuan was dead, it was only natural for Ling Tianhe to investigate.
Ling Tianhe had no way to refuse.
Hearing Su Chen's words,
Ling Tianhe was stunned. He hadn't even spoken, yet Su Chen had already ordered him to investigate and given him three days.
"Rest assured, Tower Master. I'll get to the bottom of it as soon as possible."
Ling Tianhe could only accept.
But his heart sank. Su Chen's behavior today made him wary.
And it stirred a suspicion in him.
Before you continue