Chapter 31: Evidence Part 2

After burning it, Xun Changqing stepped out of the room and ran into her Second Martial Uncle, Mu Chen. The usually spirited and beaming Second Young Master of Lingyun looked disheveled as he walked in. His steps seemed leisurely, but he moved at a snail’s pace, like an ant hauling a load.

Changqing stepped forward to bow. “Second Martial Uncle, do you need something? Master is packing in the study. We’ll leave this afternoon.”

Mu Chen’s eyelid twitched. He placed a hand on her shoulder. “Xun Changqing, did you come to see me that night?”

No one knew yet about the Sect Leader’s Study being burned. With Wang Pingjun half-dead and unable to handle sect affairs, Xu Ke had to step in personally and handed the investigation to him. But that night, he had been dead drunk with no memory. By the time he woke, the fire was out, leaving only ruins.

Moreover, that night, the surrounding disciples had been dismissed by Wang Pingjun—no one was around. Even if it was heavenly fire, there was no starting point for the investigation.

Xun Changqing knew about the Sect Leader’s Study incident but pretended ignorance. Blinking innocently with a smile, her eyes full of confusion, she countered, “Second Martial Uncle, which night are you talking about?”

Seeing her play dumb, Mu Chen tapped her forehead. “Don’t feign ignorance. I’m asking about the night the Sect Leader’s Study burned. Zhou Man said you came to see me.”

Zhou Man again. Though Xun Changqing disliked it inwardly, she smiled. “Junior Sister Zhou must have seen wrong. That night, Master told me to stay in my room and not go out. Don’t believe me? Ask Master. She said the mountain hasn’t been peaceful lately.”

The mountain did feel strangely off lately, so this explanation seemed plausible. Mu Chen knew Xun Changqing was always obedient and believed her. He walked a few steps, then turned back, unable to resist asking, “Little Changqing, do you know why your master fought with your Eldest Martial Uncle?”

Mu Chen didn’t even know—Wang Pingjun had schemed against him too. That venomous snake was too ruthless, even plotting against his fellow disciple. Now, as a mere disciple of the Sect Leader, it was bad enough; if he became Sect Leader, the entire Lingyun Sect would suffer.

Xun Changqing tilted her head and mumbled, “Uh, they fought. Master was very angry… so they fought.”

It was as good as saying nothing. Mu Chen’s face darkened further. He raised his hand to tap her forehead again, but Xun Changqing hugged her head and retreated, aggrieved. “I don’t know. Master didn’t say anything, Eldest Martial Uncle didn’t say anything. How could I dare butt in and ask? Martial Uncle, why didn’t we see you that day?”

Mu Chen knew Wei Lingci’s temperament—when angry, she spoke little. Wang Pingjun’s silence suggested he was caught off guard by Wei Lingci’s sudden attack. Seeing the girl growing impatient, but with only her present, he suppressed his irritation and asked, “How many moves did it take for your master to defeat Eldest Martial Uncle?”

He was probing Wei Lingci’s skills. Xun Changqing wasn’t foolish; she saw Wei Lingci’s loyalties weren’t fully with Lingyun. Since Wei Lingci hid it so hard, she wouldn’t expose it. Besides, she didn’t know Wang Pingjun’s skills well—making things up would arouse suspicion.

She had to keep playing dumb. Pretending to think carefully, she finally said after a moment, “That day, I came out halfway after hearing the noise. I don’t know how many moves had passed.”

One question, three unknowns. Mu Chen suspected the girl was toying with him, doubts multiplying. Almost no one mentioned the incident. Given Master’s protectiveness toward Eldest Senior Brother, he wouldn’t let it slide. So, Wang Pingjun must have done something unforgivable to Wei Lingci.

Yet Xu Ke hadn’t punished Wang Pingjun, so was the harmony between him and his disciple just for show?

Xun Changqing’s lips were sealed tight; she knew nothing. Mu Chen let her go and turned to enter the study to find Wei Lingci.

Wei Lingci’s study held many ancient books from home, some she had scavenged from markets in Shangrao. To her, they were all useful treasures. Since she had decided to leave, she would take them—leaving them would only turn them to ash.

Mu Chen walked in slowly, looking at Wei Lingci’s slender, emaciated back by the bookshelf. A pang of sourness hit his heart. In their youth, he and Wei Lingci had played together often; Eldest Senior Brother was always busy following Master, learning sect management, rarely joining their fun.

But now, the three siblings were at each other’s throats—a development he hadn’t foreseen. He didn’t know how to broach it. He vaguely guessed at that night’s events but found it hard to speak. After enduring for a long time, he chose to sidestep it.

Stepping forward, he smiled as usual. “Aci, when you leave this time, when will you return?”

Wei Lingci turned to look at him, pausing her busywork. Straight to the point: “That night, Wang Pingjun drugged the fish soup and knocked me out, but someone discovered it. I was saved, but he wasn’t content and chased me to Purple Ying Pavilion. You know the rest.”

Her personality was always decisive, never beating around the bush. In comparison, Mu Chen seemed hesitant. “After you leave, you’ll really never come back?”

Wei Lingci smiled faintly, hinting obliquely: “With this matter, Master no longer trusts me. What’s the point of staying? Senior Brother, Master is no longer the Master he once was.”

In her past life, Wang Pingjun colluded with the court, running an assassin business and plundering. At that time, Xu Ke was merely traveling in seclusion, not ignoring worldly affairs—and his inaction clearly approved of Wang Pingjun’s deeds.

Seeing her so calm, Mu Chen’s emotions were swayed, and he smiled in relief. “That’s for the best too. Changqing is royalty after all, and Lingyun is a den of trouble now. Better to leave early.”

“Senior Brother, you came today about the Sect Leader’s Study fire, right? I think you should ask Wang Pingjun—he’s the one who dismissed the guards.”

The deep red bookshelf reflected off Wei Lingci’s fair skin, making it even more snow-white and cold. Her eyes were sincere, not deceptive.

The fire was blamed on no guards; by discovery, it was too late. And the guards were gone because Wang Pingjun had them removed.

Mu Chen’s gaze calmed, anxiety turning to sorrow. He had considered this, but as the Sect Leader’s chief disciple, pinning it on Wang Pingjun without ironclad proof—Xu Ke wouldn’t believe it.

As if reading his worry, Wei Lingci turned to a hidden compartment in the bookshelf, retrieving a ledger and several letters, handing them to Mu Chen. “These are things I’ve collected over the years. I hope they’re useful to you.”

Mu Chen was shocked. Wei Lingci had prepared long ago. He dared not take them—doing so would shatter their fellowship forever…