Path of the Sect Leader

Chapter 97: Putting Wang Qing Down Cold

"He's here? How the hell did he get in? Qi Cloud's turning the world upside down hunting him—what's he doing crawling to my door?"

Zhan Yuan just shook his head at the barrage.

Qi Xiu forced calm, breath steadying. "Sound barrier first."

Zhan Yuan flicked out an isolation shield. Qi Xiu beckoned him close, voice a thread.

"Anyone with him?"

"Shen Chang's keeping him company in the side hall. His night watch."

"Good."

Nod slow. With Zhan Yuan's help, he hauled upright—pain lancing back. "He Yu?"

"Down the mountain, usual cave."

Decision locked. Edge sharpened his face. "Fetch Yu Denou. Then stall Wang Qing—tell him I'm rough, need time. Make some excuse, slip down, grab He Yu quiet. Circle back, post outside the hall. No escape."

Years trailing Qi Xiu—Zhan Yuan still missed the play this time. "You planning to...?"

Hand chopped down sharp.

Gasp sucked air. "But he's Wang Juan's blood. Family near wiped. You always talked repaying them..."

"That spineless rat? Deserves worse. How many lives on his tab? Him loose—we catch the fallout next."

"Got it."

No more questions. Yu Denou summoned; Zhan Yuan out to execute.

"Denou, closer..."

Whispered layout tight.

Arrangements set. Leaned on Yu Denou, Qi Xiu shuffled to the side hall. Wang Qing spotted him—dropped knees instant, crawling forward sobbing.

"Sect Leader Qi, save me! For the old ancestor's sake—spare a seed for the Wangs!"

Sigh staged heavy. "If you'd stood firm back then, taken the heat... your family wouldn't be ashes now."

[See Human Nature] swept subtle as he spoke.

"Blind! Bad advice—better a live dog than dead lion. One mistake... regret eats me alive. Without the bloodline worry, I'd end it myself."

Head-banging, chest-thumping wails—earth-shaking grief.

Bullshit.

Cold sneer inside. Kill intent hardened steel.

Gift laid thoughts bare: coward clinging life. Fled fine—without Chu Duo's pull, Qi Xiu'd be buried. This snake slithering for Chu ties post-near-death? Workshop claimed him? Chu Qin orphans be damned.

Visit alone? Leak Black River stop—catastrophe for the sect.

Plague like this? Death too kind.

Pity burned out. Signal flicked to Yu Denou.

Thump.

Date-pit spike palmed long—launched heart-dead. Muffled impact. Wang Qing crumpled limp, eyes bulging disbelief at Qi Xiu. That steady, soft-edged man—ruthless cut? Unthinkable.

Shen Chang, clueless—froze thinking mutiny. Qi Xiu unmoved; heart settled.

"Sect Leader, this..."

"No issue. Trash earned it. Strip his robe—third button from top. Full search."

Compliant. Black bead disguised as button, second-tier artifact, handful talismans handed over.

"Wang head—this lean?"

Yu Denou vetted talismans—high-power second-tier blasts. Should've carried more. Distrust in Shen Chang's thoroughness; own pat-down. Nada. "No storage bag even? Off, Sect Leader."

Gift already spilled the hide. No reveal—talent his alone.

"Got his stash spot."

Bead pinched close, scrutinized. Voice dropped low.

"Later. Pocket these." All Wang's gear swept in. "Shen Chang—fetch Zhan Yuan, He Yu. Denou—Zhang Shishi too."

Out they went.

Hall empty save Qi Xiu, corpse staring. Emotions tangled thick.

"Senior Wang... world's a cruel joke..."

Zhang Shishi arrived—corpse sight, mouth open. Qi Xiu hushed.

"Shishi, Zhan Yuan, Denou, He Yu—take the body to Qi Cloud at the workshop. Spill everything they ask. Go now. Handing over beats them finding."

"Roger!"

Unified bark. Corpse hammocked, spirit boat night haul to workshop.

"Exhausted. Shen Chang—bed."

Voice aged decades sudden. Arm-in-arm slow shuffle back.

Slept solid two days nights—hunger dragged him up. Could've gone longer.

"Sect Leader?"

Word spread; crew clustered.

Mouth stuffed, wave to sit. Swallow labored. "How'd it go?"

Zhang Shishi: "Qi Cloud light questions. No fuss. Next day—lockdown lifted. Most pulled out bar Kan senior warrants. Workshop to Zhen Yang Liu Clan now."

"Huh? Liu clan? Weren't two attackers?"

"That... Liu packed three Foundation Establishment—stronger hand. Kan senior dropped the other's. Three-one? No contest. All theirs."

"No witness on that kill—even Qi Cloud pins it, we don't echo."

Glare pinned Zhang Shishi. Grin sheepish compliance; He Yu, others chuckled. Warrant live? Kan Lin breathing. Win for Chu Qin.

"Closed book. Kan senior? Lips sealed outside.

Other sect?"

Zhan Yuan: "Zhen Lin Sect. Likely grudge Kan senior hard. And..."

"Spillover hate us?" Yu Denou caught.

Nod. "Guard up. Avoid tangles open—but watch shadows."

"Aye!"

Black bead tossed casual, smile crooked. "Finish eating—treasure hunt, all."