Verification

Wang Sen's betrayal of the Wood Puppet Sect sent shock waves through the Black and White Divine Palace.

Furious, Xuan Mulang took the glass lamp and stormed into Soul-Severing Cave, where he had a huge row with the Soul-Severing Human Demon. He couldn't beat him, so all he could do was lean on his master's status and berate him.

When the Soul-Severing Human Demon heard that his most trusted disciple had actually been a spy for the Wood Puppet Sect, he was so shocked he could barely function. He endured Xuan Mulang for half a minute, then finally snapped and slapped him flying. He himself spat up a mouthful of blood before heading straight to Yue Xinchans to confess his fault—and, while he was at it, falsely accused Xuan Mulang of throwing the first punch.

The upper ranks were left in complete disarray, and the lower-ranking disciples were even worse off.

Those who had been close to Wang Sen were especially on edge, each fearing for their own skin.

Fu Dongliu was practically bursting with energy. He rounded up everyone who had been in contact with Wang Sen and interrogated them one by one with Corrosion of the Heart and Soul-Searching, making a grand show of himself—as though he had solved the whole case and Luo Qiuzhen had nothing to do with it.

Luo Qiuzhen, for his part, showed no interest in claiming credit.

Luo Qiuzhen wasn't the sort of person who put the common good above all else and sought only the truth. Perhaps he'd once had that kind of mindset, in his younger years, but the passage of time had gradually made him more seasoned. The price of maturity was letting go of illusions.

So he, too, could bow to the facts, and when necessary, choose to frame the innocent.

On the other hand, Luo Qiuzhen was also immensely proud.

His physique was ordinary, his aptitude average, and his potential for cultivation limited. He knew that talent alone would never get him far. Fortunately, he had a good head on his shoulders. If he could make up for his shortcomings with intelligence and render the Immortal Sect some great service that cultivation techniques could never provide, he could become a rare talent and earn a position of great importance.

That was precisely why Luo Qiuzhen had always been looking for opportunities to prove himself.

Appealing Wang Sen's conviction? He wouldn't even consider it.

But that didn't mean he would let Ning Ye off the hook or stop investigating the case.

Whether Ning Ye was the real culprit behind the incident at Xuanyu Pavilion didn't matter. What mattered was his identity. If Luo Qiuzhen could expose who he really was, that would be a great achievement—and one involving the Thousand Mechanism Hall of the Heavenly Mechanism Sect, no less.

So the case didn't need to be overturned for him to earn new credit.

That was why Luo Qiuzhen would investigate, but he would do so in secret.

He didn't want someone else to claim the credit.

Ning Ye had anticipated this. Luo Qiuzhen had even anticipated that Ning Ye would anticipate it. Though they weren't close, they understood each other like old friends who had shared an unbreakable bond for years.

So while the upper ranks were still caught up in the clash between the Soul-Severing Human Demon and Xuan Mulang, and the lower ranks were still turning the events of the past two days into idle gossip over tea, Luo Qiuzhen went to Tianyuan Peak.

Tianyuan Peak was the main peak of Nine Palaces Mountain, and the Black and White Divine Palace's central hall stood there. As it lay at the heart of the mountain, it had been given the name Tianyuan. Ordinary disciples weren't qualified even to set foot on the peak.

Luo Qiuzhen went to the rear mountain of Tianyuan Peak.

The rear mountain was a secluded place. At first glance, it seemed a tranquil, natural paradise, with lush green trees, burbling streams, and beautiful scenery. Yet within it, countless mighty cultivators were practicing. Among them were Heibaizi, the head of the Black and White Divine Palace; the three grand elders; and Hand of the Chess Player, Yue Xinchans.

There were no traps or mechanisms in the mountain, but it was more dangerous than any other peak.

Entering it was like stepping into a place of breathtaking beauty and deadly peril. The slightest misstep could mean being crushed to death by the finger of some mighty cultivator.

Luo Qiuzhen reached the rear mountain and followed a narrow path along its southern slope until he came to a cliff face.

He bowed three times to the rock wall and said, "Luo Qiuzhen of the Inspection Hall requests an audience with you, senior brother."

A face formed on the cliff, wreathed in swirling black smoke. Its features were indistinct, and its voice sounded strange and ethereal. "What is it?"

"Did you hear about yesterday's incident at Green Wood Hall?" Luo Qiuzhen asked.

"Mm. What of it?"

"One of the stolen items was a Thousand Mechanism Hall Fragment."

"Hm?"

The black smoke suddenly surged, billowing violently and revealing the emotions of the person within the mountain.

After a moment, the smoke stilled. The cliff face opened up, revealing a deep, shadowy cave.

"Come in."

Luo Qiuzhen entered the cave.

It was cool inside, with a bone-chilling coldness. Every now and then, the patter of dripping water echoed through it.

Luo Qiuzhen walked on for quite a while before reaching a place that opened up into a vast chamber.

A cultivator sat within, wreathed in black smoke that never dissipated. He was hidden from head to toe beneath a black robe, exuding an air of mystery.

Luo Qiuzhen cupped his hands. "Greetings, senior brother."

"Speak!"

Luo Qiuzhen gave him a brief account of what had happened.

After listening, the man said, "So you suspect that this Ning Ye is one of the three disciples who escaped from the Heavenly Mechanism Sect?"

"Yes. But he's had his face disfigured. If you saw him, senior brother, would you be able to recognize him?"

The man replied, "Qing Lin, Xin Xiaoye, Bai Yu... Hmph. Even if they'd disfigured their faces, I'd still recognize them by their build and features."

"In that case, I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you, senior brother," Luo Qiuzhen said with a smile.

He had assumed the other man would certainly agree to help with something like this.

To his surprise, the man hesitated. After a moment, he said uncertainly, "I can't show myself in public. Take me there, and I'll examine him from the shadows."

Huh?

Luo Qiuzhen was stunned.

He didn't understand what the other man was thinking. "The Heavenly Mechanism Sect has been destroyed. Those three remnants of the sect shouldn't pose any threat to you, senior brother..."

"Silence! My affairs are none of your concern. My willingness to help you at all is already an exception!" the man snapped.

Scolded into silence, Luo Qiuzhen thought, You're doing this for me? You're obviously doing it for yourself.

Why make it sound like I'm the one begging you?

But the man held a high position, and Luo Qiuzhen couldn't afford to offend him lightly. More importantly, since he didn't want to claim the credit, that suited Luo Qiuzhen just fine. He could keep the achievement all to himself.

He nodded. "If that's the case, I'll do as you say, senior brother."

Luo Qiuzhen moved quickly.

The next day, he appeared once more outside Ning Ye's little house.

Seeing Luo Qiuzhen, Ning Ye greeted him with a smile. "Congratulations, steward! Congratulations on solving such a major case!"

"It was Envoy Fu who solved the case. It had nothing to do with me. I wouldn't dare take the credit," Luo Qiuzhen said with a smile.

"Steward, you're too modest. Now that the case has been solved, you've come to see me..."

"Yesterday, I came to bother you and suspected you for no reason. If Wang Sen hadn't been exposed, I might have wronged an innocent man. I feel ashamed when I think about it, so I came to apologize in person. I hope you'll forgive me, junior brother."

Ning Ye said earnestly, "Steward, why say that? You were only doing your duty. It was your responsibility, and you had every reason to act as you did. How could I possibly hold it against you?"

"I'm glad you understand, junior brother."

They stood there chatting for a while, exchanging pleasantries. Ning Ye didn't invite Luo Qiuzhen inside to sit, and Luo Qiuzhen didn't bring up anything else. A short while later, he took his leave.

Once he had left Ning Ye's little house, Luo Qiuzhen asked, "Well?"

The man wreathed in black smoke had appeared behind Luo Qiuzhen. "It isn't him."

What?

Luo Qiuzhen was stunned. "Are you sure you saw clearly?"

"I saw him perfectly clearly," the man in the black smoke replied. "Qing Lin is taller, with a slightly squarer face and a clear, bright voice. Bai Yu is shorter and somewhat thin, with a soft, delicate voice. As for Xin Xiaoye, she's a woman. This man's height and build fall between the other two. He's a man, not a woman, and his voice is hoarse. I also used a secret technique to check. He hadn't used any magic to conceal himself, so he definitely wasn't any of the three."