Chapter 48: Going Away After This

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Over, Hiding the Scapegoat’s Name

City Lord Duanmu quickly went forward to help him up. “Young friend, you’re exaggerating. As fellow disciples of the Holy Sect, we should support each other. Oh right, my son, Duanmu Mingyan, is also in an outer sect, the Ghostly Willow Peak. After you return to your sect, if you have time, feel free to interact with my son.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, City Lord Duanmu raised the topic again and urged Pei Ling to return to the sect. He said, “It’s not that I don’t want to keep you here for long heart-to-heart talks, but this is for Little Friend. After all, Little Friend and the others went out on a mission, but now only Little Friend has returned safely. According to common sense, how could people not suspect that Little Friend has harmed his group of friends?”

“City Lord, I…” Pei Ling was about to argue when he was interrupted by City Lord Duanmu who said amiably, “Of course I know that you are not that kind of person! But gossip is a fearful thing! At that time, if too many people suspect you, won’t the Disciplinary Hall step up investigation and waste your time for no reason, thus delaying your cultivation?

So you have to report this matter quickly. Then the Disciplinary Hall will investigate immediately. I can vouch for you and clear your name! Otherwise, someone may get suspicious and attack you at some point. Won’t that be a hidden danger?”

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At this point, how could Pei Ling dare to say that he wanted to stay?

If he found an excuse again, what if this old fellow became suspicious and contacted Li Siguang and his family, and then finished him off?

“What the City Lord said is very true!” Pei Ling nodded heavily and expressed his gratitude. Then he said, “Then I’ll pack my luggage and leave immediately!”

City Lord Duanmu smiled. “T’ll send you to the Cloud Platform.”

Cloud Platform?

Pei Ling immediately understood that it was the high platform that he had come from. He quickly said, “No need, City Lord. The Corpse Cloud is too expensive. I can’t afford it. I’d better walk back!”

“Little Friend, you really know how to joke. Walk back? How long will you have to walk for?” City Lord Duanmu could not help but laugh. Then he said, “Besides, Little Friend, don’t worry. The Corpse Cloud is for journeying back and forth. Previously, when you came, the cloud aura only temporarily sank into the cloud platform. Now, just summon it for your return trip.”

What the f*ck, doesn’t that mean I won’t even have the chance to sneak out of the city?! he thought.

Pei Ling’s expression changed indeterminately, but he had no choice but to smile and thank him again.

‘As he walked out of the City Lord’s Residence, he suddenly thought of something and said to City Lord Duanmy, “City Lord, I heard that my maidservant was punished because of me?”

City Lord Duanmu understood what he meant and immediately said, “I’m not aware of this matter. However, since you intend to forgive her, I’ll get someone to release her and give her some rewards.”

“Thank you, City Lord.” Pei Ling heaved a sigh of relief. That mortal maidservant had suffered an undeserved calamity because of him.

This outcome could be considered fulfilling his promise to his younger sister.

Just like that, City Lord Duanmu personally sent Pei Ling to the edge of the cloud platform and summoned the Corpse Cloud that would bring him back to the sect. After that, he sent two mission demon beasts and Pei Ling up and waved goodbye

“City Lord, this kid is only at the fourth-stage Qi Refinement realm. Why give him face like this?” When the Corpse Cloud rose to the sky, Pei Ling could no longer hear the commotion below. The steward stepped forward and said, “It’s a fact that the Man-Faced Spider was chasing after them. Why didn’t we let him die too? Wouldn’t that be clean?”

City Lord Duanmu glanced at him and said calmly, “And then? Chen Huan and the others were quite well-known in the Outer Sects Shady Sophora Peak. They brought a newbie to Spiraling Mountain City. Everyone knew what they were doing. In the end, if they and even the newbie himself were gone, but the Soul Summoning Banner fell into my hands, what would the outer sect think when the news spreads?

They will definitely think that I killed and robbed them for Mingyan’s sake! Foundation Establishment cultivators killing Qi Refinement cultivators is considered bullying the weak. The fine is high enough to make those crazy dogs in the Disciplinary Hall pursue the matter relentlessly! If [hide the Soul Summoning Banner or sell it, I might be able to conceal the matter. However, wouldn’t that delay Mingyan? After all, his path is most compatible with the Soul Summoning Banner.

Leave this Pei Ling alive. All his team members have died, and he’s the only one who returns alive. He even completed the Purple-eyed Mink mission that was originally impossible to complete… When the time comes, as long as we give him some guidance—no, even without doing anything—there will be people who suspect that Chen Huan and the others have been subdued by him.

They would think that not only did this kid, Pei Ling, tun around and scheme against Chen Huan and the others, he even used the Soul Summoning Banner to bribe me to turn a blind eye! We’ve reaped such a big benefit while making Pei Ling the scapegoat… So what if we give him a few spirit stones and two demon beasts?”

The steward listened solemnly and quickly said, “City Lord, you have foresight. And I thought I was being clever!”

“Now we just have to wait.” City Lord Duanmu stroked his short beard and said, “When this kid returns and informs the Disciplinary Hall… At that time, we can deliver the Soul Summoning Banner to Mingyan rightfully.”

He raised his eyebrows slightly. “Although this Pei Ling is young, he has some tricks up his sleeve. Go back and find out more about him. It won’t hurt to let Mingyan have more interactions with him if possible.”

“This kid is really lucky to have caught the eye of the City Lord!” The steward nodded. “I’ll get someone to investigate later.”

At this moment, Pei Ling, who was on the Corpse Cloud, did not know that he had already been designated as a companion to the young master of Spiraling Mountain City. He was worried. What if the family members of Li Siguang and the other two see me when I return to the sect this time? No, there was no ‘what if’. Those three people had backing. It was all very well that he had escaped quickly previously, but now that he was going back, it would be strange if they did not come looking for him!

Fortunately, I specially destroyed the evidence before I left. The outer sect is so big. Perhaps they’re still looking for someone….? Pei Ling consoled himself. In that case, I might be able to bluff my way through

Meanwhile, at the Deep Sea Sect’s outer sect, Shady Sophora Peak.

In the residence of the outer sect elder, Li Ping, a middle-aged woman in a gorgeous dress knelt in front of him with tears streaming down her face. She begged bitterly, “Old Master! Siguang was your biological grandson! Our son had already died, and he only had this heir. You can’t ignore this. You have to avenge him!!”

‘The woman burst into tears. “How old was Siguang? He was actually killed! You’re an elder of this Shady Sophora Peak. That little bastard named Pei Ling, how dare he… How dare he?! Not only is he crazy, he doesn’t even have any respect for Old Master… Boohoo…” Li Ping frowned slightly as he looked at his beloved concubine, who had only reached the second-stage Qi Refinement realm despite having expended a lot of resources. “Are you sure it’s that Pei Ling?”

“rm sure!” The woman wiped her face indiscriminately, not even caring that her makeup had been ruined. She choked as she said, “That little bastard suddenly entered the sect. The disciple in charge of arranging accommodation failed to extort him and deliberately arranged for him to stay in Siguang’s house. In the end, the next day, the General Affairs Hall sent a message. They said that one night, Siguang and the other two’s Life Soul Candles were extinguished. The location was at their residence at Shady Sophora Peak! After that, the steward sent someone to investigate, saying… saying that the three children were all… burned to ashes!!”

At the thought that her grandson had fallen to such a state at such a young age, her heart ached and she almost could not continue. However, seeing that Li Ping’s expression did not change and that he was still listening carefully, she could only hold in her grief and continue, “That little bastard had just entered the sect and did not know any of the Holy Sect’s tricks. Some of the tricks he did were ordinary. The Disciplinary Hall speculated that it was that the little bastard cultivated an extremely powerful saber technique and an escape technique that was extraordinarily fast. However, after a conflict, he pretended to be weak and deliberately escaped to a secluded mountain forest.

‘When the three children lowered their guard, he suddenly came back! First, he killed our Siguang in a sneak attack, then he killed the children of the Miao and Zhou families The little bastard was simply heartless!!!

What right did he have to get into a conflict? Couldn’t he talk nicely? How dared he scheme so deliberately to kill three fellow disciples who were about the same age!? Theard that he’s only 18 years old. If he’s already so vicious, what will happen in the future?

When Li Ping heard this, he suddenly asked, “Where is the disciple who arranged for him to stay in Siguang’s house?”