Taking the Blame

Under the old tree behind the mountain, Wang Sen arrived as promised.

Seeing Ning Ye, Wang Sen asked directly, "The incident at Green Wood Hall, was that your doing?"

Ning Ye did not deny it. "Why are you so certain?"

"Ancestor Qingmu's Spirit Race Ancient Bed is still in Xuanyu Pavilion," Wang Sen stated flatly.

Ning Ye shrugged. "It is still there now."

The bed was too large; although Ning Ye had obtained the Sumeru House, he ultimately hadn't had time to steal it.

Wang Sen shook his head. "Your target wasn't the Spirit Race Ancient Bed. What exactly did you go there for?"

"You don't need to know that."

"Then why did you ask to see me? Don't say I didn't warn you—you pulled off such a major stunt in broad daylight that the entire sect is on high alert. Meeting now is far too risky."

Ning Ye got straight to the point. "I've run into trouble."

"What kind of trouble?"

"Luo Qiuzhen is not dead."

What?

Wang Sen froze.

Wang Sen despised that troublesome fellow Luo Qiuzhen, especially since he knew he was also a target of his suspicion.

Even though the framing incident regarding the poisoning case had forced Luo Qiuzhen to drop his suspicions, Wang Sen knew better; Luo Qiuzhen had actually been watching him all along, looking for any slip-up. It was only because he was now a disciple of the sect that Luo Qiuzhen wouldn't move against him easily.

Wang Sen could understand why Ning Ye wanted to kill Luo Qiuzhen, but he hadn't realized just how much trouble Luo Qiuzhen's survival posed for Ning Ye.

However, Ning Ye knew, so he said bluntly, "I came to tell you that I've done too much and left behind too many clues. Luo Qiuzhen will find his way to me sooner or later. There is only one way to solve this problem."

"What way?" Wang Sen asked instinctively, but as he looked at that hazy, dark silhouette, a sense of unease rose within him. "You..."

Sure enough, Ning Ye had already spoken: "You take the fall."

Under the ancient tree.

Wang Sen looked at Ning Ye in disbelief.

He was so angry at Ning Ye's words that he laughed. "What did you say? You want me to take the fall for you? Who do you think you are?"

Ning Ye replied, "If I am caught, you will be exposed as well."

Wang Sen was instantly rendered speechless.

Damn it!

Having one's initiative seized by someone else was truly infuriating.

Ning Ye said, "I am an enemy of the Black and White Divine Palace, a sworn foe. If I stay here, I can accomplish far more than you can. If you protect me, you are doing the Wood Puppet Sect a great service. Even if the Wood Puppet Sect finds out, they will support you for doing so."

Wang Sen laughed in fury. "And what about me? Am I just supposed to die?"

"You won't die. Your identity will simply be exposed, but before that happens, you will have already left Nine Palaces Mountain and escaped."

"The Black and White Divine Palace will hunt me down."

"I can mask the Tianji for you, but during your escape, you must actively reveal your tracks to prove that you weren't killed and framed by someone else."

He could actually mask the Tianji?

Wang Sen was shocked.

But he had no heart left to probe further. Wang Sen raged, "I've worked so hard here for so long, and now it's all ruined because of you! And you actually expect me to help you?"

"Don't forget that the only reason you have a future in the Black and White Divine Palace is because I saved you. Besides, the only thing being ruined is your future in the Black and White Divine Palace, not the Wood Puppet Sect," Ning Ye said. "You are still the only person who can contact me; through me, you can still accomplish many things. For instance, with this, even if your identity is exposed, you will have performed a meritorious service for the Wood Puppet Sect."

As Ning Ye spoke, he tossed an item over. It was a list of spies at the Hualun Realm level.

A list of spies at this level was far more valuable than one at the Cang Xiang Realm.

As long as he brought this back, even if Wang Sen's identity were exposed, he could explain that he had to take the risk to obtain this list, and the Wood Puppet Sect would deem it worth it.

Looking at the list in his hand, Wang Sen suddenly felt that if he really went back like this, it might actually be a good thing.

Returning with such a merit, he would at least no longer have to worry about the risks of being discovered.

It was just that when he thought about the various benefits of having resources from both sides while in the Black and White Divine Palace, he felt unwilling. "Even if I'm willing to take the blame, the Black and White Divine Palace might not believe it."

"They will believe it. The Wood Puppet Sect is also skilled in mechanical arts; many of my methods are things you are all capable of. Of course, to make them believe it, I've added some more evidence for them."

"What?" Wang Sen was shocked.

"In another hour, Luo Qiuzhen will be attacked again. The attacker will be a Ground Rat Puppet, which is exactly what the Wood Puppet Sect excels at. However, considering Luo Qiuzhen isn't stupid enough to be ambushed twice, this attempt will likely fail. Oh, right, that puppet also left some things in your room, such as some personal belongings of Li Baidao and Xuan Mulang."

"Damn you!" Wang Sen was frantic.

This was forcing him into a corner where he had no choice but to agree.

"You don't have much time left. Unless you were stupid enough to leave something in your room that you absolutely must go back to retrieve, you should leave now," Ning Ye said as he retreated into the shadows. "If you want to continue our cooperation in the future, help me well. Don't sell me out, and admit that everything was your doing... for the Wood Puppet Sect, that's a merit, isn't it?"

Wang Sen was completely convinced.

He had sold him out, yet he was still expected to help count the money.

What kind of world was this?

But thinking about it, these burdens were achievements for a spy from the Wood Puppet Sect, and Ning Ye had him pegged—he knew he couldn't refuse to take the fall.

Watching Ning Ye's shadow disappear, Wang Sen said coldly, "Kid, you're ruthless. Remember your promise; I will come back for you!"

Knowing it would be too late if he didn't run now, Wang Sen gritted his teeth and charged down the mountain.

Qiuzhen Hall.

Luo Qiuzhen was looking through files under the lamplight.

He read very carefully, not letting a single detail slip by.

He paid special attention to every person who had appeared in these cases.

A name jumped into his field of vision.

Ning Ye?

Luo Qiuzhen was somewhat surprised to discover that this kid named Ning Ye had appeared successively at Huaiyin Mountain, Ancient Spring Town, and the Green Wood Hall.

Especially in Ancient Spring Town, only Yue Xiuxiu and Ning Ye had gone there for that case involving the mechanism murder.

Of course, Luo Qiuzhen could not conclude it was Ning Ye based on this alone.

The murder in Ancient Spring Town used the Earth-Element Mechanism Art, while the mechanism used to ambush him was Corpse Rot Poison, a typical Wood Puppet Sect technique; only the stone slab beneath Li Baidao's corpse involved the Earth-Element Mechanism Art.

Although both involved earth-element mechanisms, the mechanism at Li Baidao's location was clearly more sophisticated, and the techniques were slightly different, so it could not be determined to be the same person.

Yet even so, this Ning Ye remained highly suspicious.

Thinking this, Luo Qiuzhen drew a red circle around Ning Ye's name, marking him as a primary suspect.

Then he continued reading, searching for new targets of suspicion.

Just then, the lamp in the room flickered slightly.

Luo Qiuzhen's expression changed slightly, and he slammed his hand onto the desk. Clap! A light barrier instantly enveloped his entire body.

The next moment, a black shadow lunged from the ground, flying toward Luo Qiuzhen.

Just as it was about to strike, a palm emerged from the void, accompanied by a muffled, angry shout: "Vile creature!"

Boom!

The Ground Rat Puppet exploded instantly, dissipating into countless fragments.

Alarms blared!

The Black and White Divine Palace would not sleep tonight!