Bearing Ginseng, Seeking Vengeance

The buzzing murmur of discussion rose all around, like a swarm of flies drawn by bloodstains, buzzing in chaotic annoyance.

"Who would have thought? That old dog Xiao Hu actually went this far. Why put himself through this?"

"Could it be... that what he said wasn't false?"

Xiao Hu's desperate all-or-nothing strike had still fallen short before a Three-Tribulation Immortal like Ling Baiquan. He had failed to grievously wound Ling Baiquan, but he had nevertheless managed to affect him.

Especially with what he had done today—it was no different from proving his resolve with death, using his own life to prove both his and his daughter's innocence.

Hearing the voices around him, Ling Baiquan pulled his attention away from the wound on his neck. His expression shifted slightly, then grew even more resentful.

He raised his head toward Hall Master Ling on the platform and cried out in grief and indignation, "Master! That old dog meant to block my path, to prevent me from entering an immortal sect! I beg Master to uphold justice for me!"

After shouting this, Ling Baiquan urgently added, "The Spring Examination must be approaching. Someone is surely trying to harm me, disturb my resolve, and ruin our hall's reputation."

Hall Master Ling heard him out with a blank expression. He merely swept his sleeve and commanded, "All idle persons, withdraw."

The instant his voice sounded, the murmurs and whispers all around came to an abrupt halt. The disciples, stewards, and servants throughout the hall all answered, "Yes."

Like flowing water, the crowd rushed out of the martial arts grounds. Yet once outside, the clamor was deafening, and things grew even livelier.

Only Hall Master Ling on the raised platform, Ling Baiquan in the grounds, and Xiao Hu's shattered corpse remained.

Now that only master and