Saving the White Moonlight Chapter 70

When they returned to Fenghua Immortal Sect’s station in Tianyu City, the elders, Yun Changyue, and Chu Ningyan had not yet come back.
“Host, what are you going to do?”
Gu Chen had told Host and Eldest Senior Sister to “continue investigating,” but now the mystery of the former sect master’s death had already been fully solved. What were they supposed to investigate?
Were they supposed to go to the hidden realm entrance that no longer had a hidden realm and pretend to search for clues?
Yan Zhuguang said, “As long as one wants to act, there will always be something to do.”
Seeing that the small courtyard was empty, Yun Mixue said to Yan Zhuguang, “Since they are not here, we might as well act according to our own thoughts.”
“I am somewhat concerned about the destruction of the Qiao family branch. Zhuguang, are you willing to go with me to take a look at the Qiao branch?”
Yan Zhuguang naturally nodded. “All right. I will listen to Eldest Senior Sister.”
She happened to be interested in Su Qian’er’s matter too. Also, why Qiao Zhenbang had sent Su Qian’er into Fenghua Immortal Sect was indeed a question. If they went to the Qiao family, they might find some clues.
The two only passed through the courtyard without even entering their own rooms before turning and leaving.
At their level, rest was no longer a necessity of life. Going a few days without rest had little effect on them.
The Qiao branch family’s location was a distance from both Tianyu City and Danye City, neither too far nor too close. Yan Zhuguang had never gone to the Qiao family, but back when she saved the original Su Qian’er, it had been on the road from the Qiao branch family to Danye City, so she knew the general direction.
Earlier, Yan Zhuguang had said she would carry Yun Mixue on her flying sword. Now, with Yun Mixue’s indulgence, she fulfilled that promise.
The two did not ride on the same cloud. Instead, they stood on Yan Zhuguang’s ordinary flying sword. Yan Zhuguang carried Yun Mixue toward the Qiao branch family’s direction.
Yan Zhuguang was now at late Foundation Establishment, so her speed was naturally not slow. Before long, the two flew from Tianyu City to what seemed to be the Qiao branch family’s location.
The reason it was only “seemed” was because this place had already become an unusually flat stretch of empty ground, as if someone had sliced it level with one sword. The empty ground was bare. There was nothing there. Not even a blade of grass remained.
Looking at such a scene, it was hard to imagine that this place had once been a fairly prosperous cultivation family. It made one’s heart sigh.
“Lianji Immortal?”
Yun Mixue and Yan Zhuguang leaped down from the flying sword. As soon as they landed, a voice rang out. The two turned and saw a young man walking over with light steps.
Yan Zhuguang did not know this person. From the way he acted, he seemed to know Eldest Senior Sister.
Yan Zhuguang’s gaze swept over the newcomer, curious about his identity.
This person looked to be only in his early twenties. Of course, cultivators all had ways to preserve their looks. No matter how young he looked, he might be several hundred years old inside.
He was rather handsome, with a tall, straight figure. He wore many spiritual objects and treasure tools, so he was likely a noble son from a cultivation family. At his waist was a long jade-green flute with a tassel of the same color. As he walked, it swayed back and forth.
After seeing Eldest Senior Sister, this person’s face seemed about to split from smiling. He did not even notice Yan Zhuguang beside Yun Mixue. His eyes held only Yun Mixue’s shadow.
Yan Zhuguang frowned. Just as that person was about to walk up to Yun Mixue and speak, she stepped sideways and blocked the space between him and Yun Mixue.
She lifted her snow-white chin, and her red lips opened and closed lightly. Without any politeness, she asked, “Who are you? What are you trying to do by approaching my Eldest Senior Sister?”
That person had been excitedly trying to speak with Yun Mixue, but Yan Zhuguang suddenly interrupted him. Only then did he notice the pretty little girl standing beside Yun Mixue whom he had ignored.
He stopped, looking somewhat embarrassed. From a distance, he asked Yun Mixue, “Lianji Immortal, this young lady is…”
Yun Mixue gently patted Yan Zhuguang’s shoulder to soothe her. She stepped forward slightly and stood shoulder to shoulder with Yan Zhuguang, then said to the young man, “This is my junior sister. By age, she is the youngest in the sect.”
After Gu Chen became sect master, the inner disciples recruited afterward were still inner disciples, but they were disciples of the next generation. Toward Gu Chen, Yun Mixue, and the others, they could no longer call them senior brother or senior sister, but had to call them martial uncle or martial aunt.
Yan Zhuguang and the group from that recruitment gathering had been specially accepted before Gu Chen hosted his first official recruitment gathering as sect master, so they counted as the last batch of disciples in Gu Chen’s generation.
As for Su Qian’er, she was a special case.
She was the former sect master’s daughter and of the same generation as Gu Chen. If she were counted as a next-generation disciple, the seniority would become a mess. So she was specially arranged among the previous generation of inner disciples, though this had not been announced to outsiders. Only Yan Zhuguang and Yun Mixue called her junior sister.
If counting by entry order, Su Qian’er was the latest to enter. If counting by age, Yan Zhuguang was the youngest.
After hearing this, the man bowed to Yan Zhuguang. “I am Qiao Shengjiao. Greetings, Little Junior Sister.”
Yan Zhuguang’s mouth twitched. “Who is your little junior sister? I do not know you. Do not try to claim random relationships.”
Qiao Shengjiao smiled and did not mind the thorn in Yan Zhuguang’s words. His gaze turned back to Yun Mixue.
Yan Zhuguang tilted her head. “Eldest Senior Sister, is he from the Qiao main family?”
His surname was Qiao, he was here on the Qiao branch family’s territory, and he knew Eldest Senior Sister. Considering Eldest Senior Sister’s social circle, aside from the Qiao main family, it probably could not be anyone else.
Yun Mixue nodded. “That is right. He is Qiao Shengjiao, the second son of the Qiao main family’s current head.”
Hearing Yun Mixue introduce him, Qiao Shengjiao nodded to Yan Zhuguang. Yan Zhuguang did not pay him much attention and only gave a faint “Oh.”
For someone from the Qiao main family to come here at this point, his purpose was obvious.
Aside from being sent to investigate the destruction of the branch family, there was no other explanation.
Although the main family and branch family might not be especially close, now that the branch family had been flattened, the Qiao main family’s reputation would not look good either.
Whether to give the Qiao branch family an explanation or to show the cultivation world their stance, the Qiao main family had to find the culprit who destroyed the branch family. It was the same as Fenghua Immortal Sect investigating the former sect master’s fall.
However, investigation was investigation. This person clearly had intentions toward Eldest Senior Sister. How could Yan Zhuguang possibly give him a good face?
She casually pointed in a direction. “Eldest Senior Sister, something seems wrong over there. Let us go look.”
Yun Mixue was not very familiar with Qiao Shengjiao. Since Yan Zhuguang suggested it, she naturally placed Yan Zhuguang first and quickly agreed. “All right.”
Then, before she had time to say goodbye to Qiao Shengjiao, Yan Zhuguang had already pulled her away.
But just because they left did not mean Qiao Shengjiao would not follow. He walked a step behind them. “Lianji Immortal, have you also come here to investigate the massacre?”
Yun Mixue answered lightly, “Yes. After hearing of the Qiao family’s massacre, the whole immortal sect was very shocked. The culprit acted so boldly that the sect is also paying great attention. Lianji came here to take a look and learn some details, so I can report back later.”
When Qiao Shengjiao spoke of the massacre, he did not seem as focused only on Yun Mixue as before. His face showed anger and regret. “The killer acted cleanly and decisively, leaving almost no trace. I have been here for a day or two, yet aside from a trace of demonic energy that could not be hidden no matter what, I have not found a single clue.”
Yan Zhuguang poked half her head out from behind Yun Mixue and asked Qiao Shengjiao, “Since demonic energy remains, can you still not tell who did it?”
“I heard there are many branches in the demonic path. Each branch acts differently and cultivates different methods. Even if you cannot find the exact person, can you not even tell which force they came from?”
Qiao Shengjiao shook his head. “There are signs that the demonic energy was deliberately hidden. Although we of the righteous path understand a little about the branches of demonic cultivators, it is not much. Demonic cultivators’ methods are strange. With a little concealment, we cannot make sense of it.”
Yan Zhuguang withdrew her gaze and neither agreed nor disagreed.
Qiao Shengjiao then said to Yun Mixue, “Lianji Immortal, if there is anything you wish to know, you may ask me. If I know it, I will not hide a single thing.”
Yun Mixue said, “This matter concerns the Qiao family. Lianji is only an outsider, so it would not be proper to ask too much. It is also not convenient for the two of us to disturb you here. We will only take a look.”
Qiao Shengjiao said, “There is nothing secret or not secret about a massacre. If Immortal wishes to know, naturally there is nothing you cannot know.”
“Besides, I have spent quite some time here and still found no clues. I would like to borrow Immortal’s strength and gather more thoughts. Perhaps we can find the hidden culprit faster.”
Yan Zhuguang was speechless after hearing this. Was this person a fool?
“Senior Sister and I are people of Fenghua Immortal Sect. If we rashly interfere in the Qiao family’s matter, there may be suspicion of overstepping. It is not suitable in reason or feeling. Second Young Master Qiao, please do not mention this again.”
But Qiao Shengjiao said, “The granddaughter of the Qiao branch family head has now entered your noble sect and become an inner disciple. Counting it that way, both our sides have ties to this branch family. It is not impossible to investigate together.”
Yan Zhuguang’s eyes flickered.
How long had it been since they sent Su Qian’er to the sect? It was one thing for this person to know she had been sent to Fenghua Immortal Sect, but he even knew she had entered the inner sect?
Was the Qiao family’s information this quick?
Could it be that this person was not as blinded by beauty as he seemed, but was hiding deep thoughts?
Yan Zhuguang showed confusion. “The branch family head’s granddaughter became an inner disciple of the immortal sect?”
Qiao Shengjiao said, “Little Junior Sister, do not try to fool me. You and Immortal sent Su Qian’er back to your noble sect together. Do not tell me you did not know.”
“Who is trying to fool you? You are such a strange person, insisting on coming over and acting close,” Yan Zhuguang said. “There is no little junior sister for you here.”
“How did you know Su Qian’er became an inner disciple of the immortal sect?”
Qiao Shengjiao said as if it were only natural, “Qiao Zhenbang told me that Su Qian’er has a water heavenly spiritual root. With talent like hers, how could she not enter the inner sect? Is your sect’s inner sect threshold so high that even a heavenly spiritual root cannot enter?”
Yan Zhuguang did not believe him. His certain tone just now had not sounded like a simple guess.
The suspicion in Yan Zhuguang’s heart did not fade, but on the surface, she said, “Then count it as you guessing right.”
She turned to Yun Mixue. “Eldest Senior Sister, let us walk faster and ignore him.”
Yun Mixue saw that Yan Zhuguang’s eyes seemed full of countless thoughts and did not know what she had thought of this time. She said helplessly, “You girl. I truly cannot do anything with you.”
She apologized to Qiao Shengjiao. “My junior sister is rude. Second Young Master Qiao, please forgive her.”
Qiao Shengjiao shook his head. “Little Junior Sister is very cute. Of course I will not blame her.”
Yan Zhuguang felt powerless before this person’s shamelessness. People truly could not be judged by appearance. But he was a member of the Qiao family, and they were currently on Qiao family land. She could not exactly chase away the “host,” could she?
Forget it. Once they left this place, this person could not keep following them.
Yan Zhuguang gathered her thoughts and began examining the remains of the Qiao family.
“Huh.”
Yan Zhuguang’s gaze fixed on one spot.