novelraw Chapter 56 – Master's Decree
Chapter 56 – Master's Decree
Among all his abilities, Luo Xiu excelled the most in speed.
Except for Martial Masters above the Innate level, Luo Xiu was confident that in terms of speed, he was not inferior to any Martial Artist in the Qi Sea Realm.
Therefore, the last young Martial Artist tracking him ultimately couldn't escape from this dark, deserted alley.
With his body pressed against the cold wall, the young Martial Artist's back was soaked with cold sweat, his eyes filled with terror. A black Battle Sword, its sharp tip, was less than half an inch from his forehead.
"Your two companions have already been killed by me. If you want to live, answer my questions!" Luo Xiu's voice was cold and devoid of any emotion.
The young Martial Artist nodded frantically, too scared to speak, fearing that if he reacted even a beat too slow, this ruthless guy would kill him.
"What is your name? Who instructed you to follow me? How are my family members now? Who is the mastermind behind this?..."
Luo Xiu asked the questions he needed answers to, one after another.
"I am an Outer Sect Disciple of the Free Spirit Sect, named Huo Lin. The two who are dead were my senior brothers, disciples of Outer Sect Steward Shen Gaojian..."
Huo Lin dared not hesitate, revealing everything he knew.
"I've told you everything I know, please don't kill me..." Huo Lin pleaded continuously.
Luo Xiu sheathed the Shadow Sword, expressionless, "I said I wouldn't kill you, and I won't."
As soon as he finished speaking, just as Huo Lin breathed a sigh of relief, Luo Xiu suddenly struck a palm at his dantian, crippling his cultivation.
Huo Lin's eyes widened, and then he blacked out, falling unconscious.
Having killed two and crippled one, Luo Xiu's eyes showed no trace of pity. Since these people wanted to deal with him, they had to bear the corresponding consequences and costs.
"Outer Sect Steward Shen Gaojian?"
Luo Xiu frowned. According to the information he got from Huo Lin, Shen Gaojian didn't seem to have a good relationship with Zhang Lüliang, so it shouldn't be Zhang Lüliang who commissioned him to deal with Luo Xiu.
Moreover, Luo Xiu learned that his parents and sister had been detained in the Martial Hall, and the original Master of Qingyun Martial Hall had been removed, with Shen Gaojian temporarily taking over as Hall Master.
Undoubtedly, this was a conspiracy against Luo Xiu. Not only were his parents and sister implicated, but even the Master of Qingyun Hall was involved.
"That Shen Gaojian is an Outer Sect Steward, at least a powerhouse above the seventh level of Innate. With my strength, trying to rescue people from the Martial Hall is like a lamb entering a tiger's den."
Luo Xiu forced himself to calm down to prevent making impulsive moves that could lead to irreparable consequences.
He was sure that the entire Qingyun City was probably filled with spies. Although the enemy might not know he arrived in Qingyun City via the teleportation formation, the disappearance of Huo Lin and the others would likely lead them to deduce his presence in the city.
Luo Xiu knew that even if he killed Huo Lin and destroyed the evidence, he didn't have much time left.
Taking out the straw hat he used during his training at Yaqi Mountain from his storage ring, Luo Xiu did not head to Qingyun Martial Hall but returned to the Hunter Guild in the city.
The Hunter Guild, Formation Master Guild, Forging Master Guild, and Alchemist Guild held a transcendent status not only in Yunlong Prefecture but throughout the entire Tianwu Kingdom.
Although the Free Spirit Sect seemed to have a status above the guilds, it was only because there was no real conflict of interest between them.
In the Free Spirit Outer Sect, Luo Xiu had heard that the branches of the four major guilds were spread across the world. In every sizable city in the Tianwu Kingdom and even in other countries outside Tianwu, the four guilds had influence.
In Yunlong Prefecture Capital, even the Sect Master of Free Spirit Sect had to treat the presidents of the four guilds with respect.
The Hunter Guild prohibited fighting and killing, so Luo Xiu came here, knowing that as long as he didn't step out, no one would dare to make a move against him in the guild hall.
...
Qingyun Martial Hall.
One of the Outer Sect Stewards, Shen Gaojian, was burly with broad palms and had a centipede-like scar on his left cheek.
Sitting in the Master of the Martial Hall's seat, he looked grimly at the two corpses and the unconscious Huo Lin whose cultivation had been crippled.
"Hall Master, these three were found in a small alley in the city. That Luo Xiu should have returned to Qingyun City."
A middle-aged man in an embroidered robe suddenly spoke, and this person was the current Patriarch of the Zhang Clan, Zhang Shaohai.
"He probably used the Hunter Guild's teleportation formation to get here." Shen Gaojian nodded, looking at Zhang Shaohai, "Take a team of Azure Guards to the vicinity of the Hunter Guild. If you spot Luo Xiu, kill him without mercy!"
"Yes!" Zhang Shaohai replied and went to make arrangements.
Shen Gaojian took a sip of tea and continued, "Bring some people to drag these three bodies out and bury them."
Several Azure Guards entered from outside, noticing that one of them was not a corpse but merely unconscious.
However, these Azure Guards dared not ask questions, carefully following Shen Gaojian's instructions.
A smile appeared on Shen Gaojian's lips. He enjoyed the feeling of others fearing him. This time, with the hand order from above, he came to Qingyun City, and even the Master of Qingyun Hall, who had a higher cultivation than him, had to obediently hand over the power of the Martial Hall.
...
Hunter Guild.
Wearing a straw hat, Luo Xiu approached the counter.
The one responsible for reception at the counter was still Jiang Shanshan, known as the most beautiful woman in the Qingyun City Hunter Guild branch.
"Miss, I need to see Elder Zhuang Nantian," Luo Xiu said in a deep voice.
In Qingyun City, he didn't know many people. With the Master of Qingyun Hall stripped of power and whereabouts unknown, the only person he knew was Zhuang Nantian, who was not only an Elder of the Martial Hall but also an Elder in this Hunter Guild branch.
Jiang Shanshan was slightly taken aback, then smiled, "Sir, may I ask what your relationship with Elder Zhuang is, so I can inform him?"
"I am a junior of Elder Zhuang. Just tell him Luo Xiu requests an audience."
"Alright, please wait a moment," Jiang Shanshan said with a smile.
Wait... Luo Xiu? That name sounded familiar.
Jiang Shanshan looked at the man wearing the straw hat with some suspicion, unable to recall at the moment.
"Miss, is there a problem?" Luo Xiu asked. With the straw hat on, Jiang Shanshan naturally couldn't recognize him.
"Ah... I'm sorry, my mistake."
Jiang Shanshan snapped back to reality, quickly called someone to take over reception duties, and went to report to Elder Zhuang.
"A team of Azure Guards has arrived outside. I wonder what they're doing at the Hunter Guild."
"I heard something happened at Qingyun Martial Hall recently. Who knows what's going on."
"The Hunter Guild prohibits fighting. Even a team of Azure Guards wouldn't dare cause trouble here, let alone the Master of the Martial Hall."
"Heh, don't underestimate our little Hunter Guild branch here. The president is said to be a Martial Grandmaster-level powerhouse!"
Hearing the discussions of several hunters, Luo Xiu's expression under the straw hat became serious. Clearly, Shen Gaojian already knew he was in Qingyun City.
However, the fact that the Hunter Guild had a Martial Grandmaster was quite a surprise to Luo Xiu, also highlighting the formidable strength of the Hunter Guild.
Moments later, Jiang Shanshan returned, "Elder Zhuang asked me to bring you over. Please follow me."
Luo Xiu nodded, then followed Jiang Shanshan to a room in the Hunter Guild.
Entering the room, Luo Xiu saw two people inside. One was Zhuang Nantian, and the other, to Luo Xiu's surprise, was the Master of Qingyun Hall!
Jiang Shanshan completed her task and left, still pondering why Luo Xiu seemed familiar.
After a while, she suddenly remembered... Was it him? The young guy she once said she would pursue?
In the room.
Luo Xiu removed his straw hat and saluted, "Greetings, Master of the Hall, Elder Zhuang."
The Master of Qingyun Hall looked at Luo Xiu, his expression serious, "You, young man, are in big trouble!"
"Three days ago, Shen Gaojian came to Qingyun City with a hand order from the Outer Sect Leader, directly taking the power of the Martial Hall from me, then ordered the arrest of your parents and sister..."
"A hand order from Lu Feichen, the Outer Sect Leader?" Upon hearing this, Luo Xiu's mind went blank.
"I find it strange. With Lu Feichen's influence, he could have dealt with you in the Free Spirit Outer Sect. Why go to such lengths?" The Master of Qingyun Hall said, frowning.
Luo Xiu remained silent, his mind blank.
He had always suspected Zhang Lüliang was behind it, but never imagined it would be Lu Feichen!
Recalling how Lu Feichen gave him a storage ring and told him to stay away from Lu Mengyao, which he refused without hesitation.
The next day, he received his sister Luo Xiu'er's jade phoenix hairpin.
Seeing Luo Xiu silent, the Master of Qingyun Hall and Elder Zhuang exchanged glances, seeing confusion in each other's eyes.
Clearly, there were hidden truths they were unaware of.
Analyzing the cause and effect, Luo Xiu could basically confirm that since Shen Gaojian held Lu Feichen's hand order, the person targeting him was undoubtedly Lu Feichen!
But what puzzled Luo Xiu was why Lu Feichen would do this. Was it just to stop him from pursuing Lu Mengyao?
As for why Lu Feichen didn't act in the Free Spirit Outer Sect, it was likely to keep Lu Mengyao from knowing!
Appearing as a righteous gentleman, Luo Xiu didn't expect the Sect Master to be such a sinister person!
The urgent task was to rescue his parents!
Luo Xiu looked up at the Master of Qingyun Hall and Elder Zhuang, "I implore you two seniors to save my family."
Hearing this, the Master of Qingyun Hall looked troubled and sighed, "Luo Xiu, you are a genius from our Qingyun Martial Hall, and I wish to help you, but as a member of the Free Spirit Sect, helping you would leave me with no place in Yunlong Prefecture."
"If I were alone, it wouldn't matter, but I have a wife and children living in Yunlong Prefecture Capital. I hope you understand."
Luo Xiu wasn't surprised by the Master of Qingyun Hall's response. After all, they were not related, and his troubles had already caused the Master to lose his power.
In fact, the Master of Qingyun Hall not capturing him for credit was already a favor.
Realizing this belatedly, Luo Xiu broke out in a cold sweat. If the Master of Qingyun Hall had wanted to capture him for credit, with his powerful half-step Spirit Refinement cultivation, coming here would have been walking into a trap!
Thinking of this, Luo Xiu bowed deeply to the Master of Qingyun Hall.
The Master of Qingyun Hall sighed and said no more.
Elder Zhuang spoke, "Though I'm not a member of the Free Spirit Sect, merely a nominal Elder of Qingyun Martial Hall, my strength isn't enough to help you."
Elder Zhuang shook his head, "However, while the Master and I can't help you, there is someone who can."
"Who?" Luo Xiu asked.
"The strong ones from the Hunter Guild!" Elder Zhuang said, "The Hunter Guild has many strong individuals. As a hunter like you, you're not a true member of the Hunter Guild, but if you can offer enough compensation, you can hire a strong one from the Hunter Guild to help."
"For instance, in your current situation, hiring a Martial Grandmaster could rescue your family, but you must provide the corresponding compensation."
Elder Zhuang knew that the solution he proposed was almost impossible for Luo Xiu.
After all, he was just a Martial Artist in the Qi Sea Realm. How could he offer a reward enticing enough for a Martial Grandmaster?