"Lady Yue?"
Qian Renxue stared at the newcomer in shock.
The doors of the reception hall swung open, and a dignified, elegant woman walked in, noble and beautiful. Who else could it have been but Tang Yuehua?
She had meant to leave quietly!
But the atmosphere inside the reception hall had grown tense, and Salas's furious shouts were so loud that even Tang Yuehua could hear them.
As though moved by some unseen force, Tang Yuehua pushed the doors open and entered.
Her calm gaze swept over everyone present, but when she saw that Qian Renxue was there too, her heart suddenly jolted, and she felt some regret.
But she had already taken this step.
There was absolutely no turning back now.
"Lady Yue?"
Salas naturally recognized Tang Yuehua as well. His eyes narrowed at once, a lecherous gleam flashing through his hawklike gaze.
Greedy and lustful, he had long harbored filthy thoughts about this woman of mysterious origins, wanting to pin her beneath him and torment her.
But Tang Yuehua was far too well known in the empire's upper circles.
Only that had forced him to curb his wicked desires.
Even so, she still could not escape Salas's blatant scrutiny whenever they met.
"Why did you come here? Go back."
Ning Xuan abruptly rose to his feet and spoke.
He could see what Tang Yuehua had in mind and what she intended to do, so he could only play along.
Tang Yuehua also drew a deep breath.
Deliberately avoiding Qian Renxue's gaze, she stared intently into Salas's eyes and repeated,
"Bishop Salas, the Young Sect Master was with me all last night. May I ask what advice you have for us?"
Salas had nothing to say.
Yet profound venom flashed in his eyes.
Of course he understood that Tang Yuehua was backing Ning Xuan, even staking her own chastity on it. But did that not prove that last night's events were absolutely true?
Salas turned back to Ning Xuan with a sneer.
"You certainly have impressive methods, Young Sect Master. You even persuaded Lady Yue to personally back you up. Even I must express my admiration."
"In that case."
"Might I ask whether you dare let me see your chest, Young Sect Master?"
Ning Xuan fell silent again.
He was considering just how much Salas knew.
Meanwhile, Tang Yuehua's palms grew sweaty as she became exceedingly nervous.
She had not expected Salas to know even this.
Only one night had passed since Ning Xuan had sustained the wound on his chest, and it probably had not even been treated. There was no way he could conceal it.
[The system detected Tang Yuehua's nervousness. Emotional Value +300]
"Young Sect Master, is your guilty conscience troubling you?"
Salas pressed him aggressively.
This time, even Chen Xin could not help looking at Ning Xuan with some concern.
Once Salas truly found out,
the matter would inevitably involve Spirit City. If the Pope personally inquired into it then, the consequences would be truly difficult to predict.
"Since Bishop Salas wants to look, what harm is there in letting you?"
Ning Xuan finally spoke, his tone somewhat icy.
"But I wonder what Bishop Salas intends to do if he has wrongly accused me?"
Salas met his gaze.
"Then I shall visit the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect another day to apologize in person."
He was certain Ning Xuan would not dare show him!
His subordinates had reported that Ning Xuan's clothes were stained with blood, and that he had been clutching his chest as Chen Xin helped him inside.
"Good!"
Ning Xuan slapped the table.
"Then I shall await Bishop Salas at the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect."
With that,
Ning Xuan exerted a little strength and tore open his shirt, exposing the firm chest beneath his neck.
His skin was excellent. Through long-term exercise, the muscles of his chest and abdomen were firm, their streamlined contours looking very healthy.
Yet everywhere they could see,
there was not a single scar on Ning Xuan's body, let alone a serious wound or bruise.
This left Salas utterly astonished.
His gaze darkened as he stared fixedly at Ning Xuan's body.
[The system detected Tang Yuehua's shock. Emotional Value +300]
Ning Xuan looked toward Tang Yuehua and gave her a smile.
The corners of Tang Yuehua's mouth twitched.
She had seen it herself last night. Although Ning Xuan's injuries were not particularly severe, there was absolutely no way they could have healed overnight.
[The system detected Qian Renxue's embarrassment. Emotional Value +200]
Another notification rang out.
Ning Xuan froze, unable to stop himself from looking toward Qian Renxue.
He saw that His Highness the Crown Prince, so skilled at disguise, now had a flickering gaze that swept hesitantly over his body.
"Bishop Salas, did you get a good look?"
Ning Xuan put his clothes back on and questioned him coldly.
Salas's expression was ugly.
He had never expected this, yet he stubbornly insisted,
"You must have sought out a healing-type Soul Master."
"Since Bishop Salas has already decided in his heart that I am the murderer, why bother with this unnecessary step?"
Ning Xuan retorted with a sneer.
"Bishop Salas is welcome to report this to his superiors. Though our Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect is inferior to Spirit Hall, we are certainly not so easily pushed around."
"If His Holiness the Pope comes in person,"
"I can certainly bring up today's events and discuss them properly with her."
His [Mirror Image] Soul Bone Skill had already recorded everything that had happened today. Even if Bibi Dong came in person, he would be able to slap Salas hard in the face.
"Good, good, good."
Salas kept laughing in anger.
"Then how do you explain the people from my temple seeing you being helped back last night, Young Sect Master?"
"Surely you won't claim you tripped while walking in the dead of night?"
"That is my private business. There is no need to explain."
Ning Xuan continued to retort.
"An honorary elder of Spirit Hall was murdered. This is a serious matter, and no detail can be overlooked. Please clear up our doubts, Young Sect Master."
Salas's words were harsh, his expression stern.
"Enough, Salas."
Chen Xin abruptly rose from his place in the corner.
"We are under no obligation to clear up your doubts. If you want answers, investigate for yourself."
"Heh."
Salas said,
"Your Eminence Chen Xin, what if I told you that I am investigating right now?"
He leisurely took out another writ.
"I, Salas, Platinum Bishop of Spirit Hall, require the Young Sect Master to cooperate with the investigation."
It was a Platinum Writ.
Even within Spirit Hall, only four people possessed one: the four Platinum Bishops, including Salas.
Their standing within Spirit Hall
was almost second only to the Pope's.
As the sacred land of Soul Masters, Spirit Hall commanded the continent's Soul Masters. Even the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect was nominally subordinate to Spirit Hall.
[Sword Douluo Chen Xin and Ning Fengzhi were both honorary elders of Spirit Hall.]
Once the Platinum Writ appeared,
everyone, including Sword Douluo Chen Xin, fell silent.
"Young Sect Master, give me an explanation. Once everything is clear, I can leave immediately."
Salas put the writ away again, a sinister look on his face.
How could he explain it?
The esteemed Young Sect Master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect
had returned from outside in the dead of night, supported by Sword Douluo Chen Xin.
"Bishop Salas."
Just as the atmosphere in the hall grew tense again, Tang Yuehua pondered briefly before speaking once more.
"Didn't I already say"
"that the Young Sect Master was with me last night?"
"What do you think could happen between a man and a woman alone together?"
"The Young Sect Master only needed help coming back because he was outmatched, leaving him leaning on the wall to walk."