Explanation

"Jingcheng, how is it? Is there any news of Xuan'er?"

Outside the main gate of Emerald Cloud Valley, a middle-aged couple peered anxiously into the compound. When they saw Hong Jingcheng walking out, they hurried forward to meet him.

This couple was Zhou Xuan's parents, Zhou Tong and Hong Yuzhen.

Meeting the couple's gaze, Hong Jingcheng shook his head and said, "I have searched the entire Emerald Cloud Valley, but I have found no trace of my cousin."

Hong Yuzhen's face turned deathly pale. She collapsed to the ground and wailed, "Xuan'er must have met with foul play! He has been kind to others since he was a child; who could have been so cruel to him?"

"Oh, Xuan'er, you died such a miserable death!"

"Aunt."

Hong Jingcheng hurriedly stepped forward to help Hong Yuzhen up, comforting her, "Aunt, please don't panic. For now, my cousin is only missing; whether he has met with misfortune is still unknown."

"Jingcheng is right, Yuzhen, get up now."

Zhou Tong also urged her.

Hong Yuzhen shook her head, sobbing, "Xuan'er wouldn't just disappear for no reason. Someone must have harmed him. Jingcheng, you must find the killer and avenge him!"

Hong Jingcheng's expression turned solemn as he vowed, "Aunt, rest assured. If my cousin truly fell into the hands of villains, I will never let this go!"

Since his birth, Hong Yuzhen—who had not yet married at the time—had practically raised him herself.

Because of this, he had always taken great care of Zhou Xuan.

Now that Zhou Xuan was missing, the despair on Hong Yuzhen's face filled Hong Jingcheng with immense guilt.

"Jingcheng, come here. Your uncle has a few questions for you."

Zhou Tong gave Hong Jingcheng a look, and the two walked quickly to the side.

"Jingcheng, let me ask you: during this time, has Xuan'er been at odds with anyone?"

Zhou Tong couldn't help but ask.

Hong Jingcheng pondered for a moment, then shook his head, "As the guardian of Emerald Cloud Valley, I have never heard of him having any friction with anyone."

Zhou Tong continued, "If he hasn't had any grievances with anyone, how could Xuan'er disappear for no reason?"

"Or could it be that Xuan'er earned a sum of silver recently, which aroused someone's greed?"

Hearing Zhou Tong's words, Hong Jingcheng's heart stirred.

That's right, why didn't I think of that?

It didn't necessarily have to be that Zhou Xuan had offended someone, leading to his disappearance.

Could it be that his subordinates conspired to harm Zhou Xuan to steal the wealth in his possession?

Seventy taels of silver might be a small sum to him, but for the guardians below, it was undoubtedly a significant fortune.

It was even highly likely that it wasn't a lone perpetrator, but several people acting in collusion.

Yuan Wenxuan, Sun Jing, Ji Shixian, and Guo Jinchuan all have the cultivation of the third level of Boiling Blood. Any one of them has the opportunity to harm my cousin. As for the other fellows at the second level of Boiling Blood, they could also have teamed up to deal with him...

Hong Jingcheng pondered in his heart.

Just as Shen Mu had said, suspicion was enough; having evidence was not important.

However, because Shen Mu had only arrived at Emerald Cloud Valley a month ago and his displayed cultivation was still at the first level of Boiling Blood, he was conveniently excluded by Hong Jingcheng.

Shen Mu naturally did not know that because he had not revealed his true cultivation, he had inadvertently shifted Hong Jingcheng's focus away from him.

"Uncle, you take Aunt back first. Regarding the matter of my cousin's disappearance, I will investigate it to the end and give you an answer."

Hong Jingcheng said in a deep voice.

Upon hearing this, Zhou Tong frowned, "Should we report Xuan'er's disappearance to the yamen and have them arrange for constables to investigate?"

Hong Jingcheng felt a jolt of alarm at these words.

If the yamen were to get involved in the investigation, the matter of them capturing the Origin Cicada would very likely be spilled by the guardians below.

How would he continue to skim off the top in the future?

He hurriedly said, "Uncle, are you confused? This is a private matter for the Firewood Gang. If we report it to the officials, wouldn't everyone in Cloud Dragon County know about it? What would the outside world think of the Firewood Gang?"

"As one of the nine major powers in Cloud Dragon County, the Firewood Gang values its reputation above all else. If the yamen gets involved, where would the Firewood Gang's face be?"

"Uncle, don't worry. Three days. I will give you an answer within three days."

From the moment Zhou Tong mentioned involving the yamen, Hong Jingcheng realized he had to take action.

Even if he couldn't catch the real culprit, he had to find a scapegoat to appease his aunt's anger. He absolutely could not let this matter continue to escalate.

"Fine, then I will give you three days."

Zhou Tong said heavily, "If you cannot find the real culprit within three days, I will report it to the officials and have the yamen investigate."

Hong Jingcheng gave Zhou Tong a meaningful look, a sense of impatience rising in his heart.

Report to the officials?

I earn thousands of taels of silver a year from the Origin Cicada. If your report leads to this being exposed, how am I supposed to make money in the future?

Even if it were my own cousin blocking my path to wealth, I would still crush him underfoot!

He might not care about the life of his uncle-in-law, but he held Hong Yuzhen, who had raised him since he was a child, in exceptionally high regard.

If Zhou Tong were to also die suddenly for no reason, his aunt would likely lose the very will to live.

Just a moment ago, he had truly entertained the thought that if he couldn't solve the problem, he would simply solve the person who raised it.

However, for the sake of his aunt, Hong Jingcheng forcibly suppressed this impulse.

He was not yet heartless enough to kill this aunt whom he regarded as a mother.

"Uncle, rest assured."

Hong Jingcheng forced a smile and said, "Take my aunt and head back first. Within three days, Jingcheng will certainly give you an explanation."

Zhou Tong glanced at him without saying anything more, simply returning to offer a few words of comfort to Hong Yuzhen before the two of them turned back toward Cloud Dragon County.

"Brother Hong, Zhou Xuan has been missing for so many days; I fear the situation is dire."

Wei Bo, who was responsible for guarding the gate, approached and said with a heavy expression.

He could be considered a trusted aide of Hong Jingcheng; whenever Hong Jingcheng felt the urge to call for outside entertainment, it was Wei Bo who arranged for people to be brought into the city.

One could even say that not even his cousin Zhou Xuan held more of Hong Jingcheng's trust than he did.

"Wei Bo, in these past few months, has Zhou Xuan offended anyone?"

Hong Jingcheng's eyes were murky as he spoke slowly.

"Offended anyone in these past few months?"

Wei Bo pondered carefully for a moment before shaking his head. "I haven't noticed anything of the sort."

"However..."

He immediately hesitated, as if he had remembered something.

Hong Jingcheng pressed, "However what?"

Wei Bo hesitated for a moment before saying, "A year ago, Zhou Xuan did have a dispute with Yuan Wenxuan at Fragrant Shadow Pavilion over Miss Han Yan..."

"Is this true?"

Hong Jingcheng frowned slightly, his voice deep.

"How could this be false?"

Wei Bo gave a bitter smile. "At the time, I, along with Ji Shixian and Sun Jing, were all there. They both know about this matter. If we hadn't been there to hold them back and talk them down, they might have actually started a fight right there in Fragrant Shadow Pavilion."

"Yuan Wenxuan?"

Hong Jingcheng's gaze was profound as he muttered to himself, "If I recall correctly, Yuan Wenxuan successfully advanced to the third level of Boiling Blood over two months ago..."

Seeing the inscrutable look in Hong Jingcheng's eyes, Wei Bo couldn't help but ask, "Brother Hong, do you think Yuan Wenxuan killed Zhou Xuan?"

"I will investigate this matter myself. If it truly was him, I will certainly not spare him."

Hong Jingcheng glanced at Wei Bo and said in a low voice, "Regarding what you and I just discussed, do not tell anyone, understand?"

Wei Bo swore solemnly, "Brother Hong, rest assured! If I leak even half a word, may I be struck by lightning!"

Hong Jingcheng said no more and turned to walk toward the gate.

Watching Hong Jingcheng's receding back, the smile on Wei Bo's face slowly faded.

"Yuan Wenxuan, after you die, I shall take care of your wife and daughter..."