The day after the battle with Guo Xu Yang,Mu Jianzong left early in the morning with his followers from Yu Jian Manor.He bid farewell to Ma Su and returned to the manor.Bai Qingmo had also vanished without a trace.No one knew when she had left.
After the fight that night,Ma Su had treated Guo Xu Yang for over two hours.With his superb medical skills,by the next morning,Guo Xu Yang's spirit had been greatly restored.
In the reception hall of Quanqing Taoist Temple,Ma Su sat in the center,with Guo Xu Yang and Huang Yi Rong,the guests,seated below.In addition to Guo and Huang,there was also Cang Ye,the master of Zhuojun Palace.
All the people who had come to attend the succession ceremony of Ma and Xu had left.Now,only the Zhuojun Palace faction remained in the temple.Could it be that Master Cang Ye particularly admired the elegant scenery of"Quanqing Taoist Temple"?Or did she simply enjoy the simple food and drink of this secluded place?
Guo Xu Yang looked at Cang Ye,who was sitting opposite him,and thought,"Zhuojun Palace is filled with female disciples who have done many good deeds in the past,punishing the evil and promoting the good.Moreover,as Abbot Ma mentioned earlier,he and Cang Ye have known each other for many years,and he greatly admires her character.So,what is her intention in still lingering here?"
"Guo Xiaoyang,please tell us in detail the cause of my second brother's death,"Ma Su's gentle voice interrupted Guo Xu Yang's train of thought.
Guo Xu Yang nodded and began to recount the events of that day to everyone present.
Quanqing Taoist Temple was not very far from the Seven Kill Sect.However,these two major factions,one righteous and one evil,had always coexisted peacefully.Guo Xu Yang had once saved Xu Duan,and Ma Su had heard about it from Xu Duan himself.That was why,in the temple's martial arts field,Ma Su had said that he believed Guo Xu Yang had nothing to do with Xu Duan's death.
Five days ago,Guo Xu Yang received a personal letter from Xu Duan,saying that he was trapped in the"Seven Kill Sect"and hoped that Guo Xu Yang would come to his rescue.Guo Xu Yang and Xu Duan had a very close relationship,and upon seeing the letter,he immediately set off.He infiltrated the dangerous territory of the Seven Kill Sect,found an opportunity,and took advantage of the Seven Kill Ghost Kings'inattention to rescue Xu Duan and his grandson,Xu Zhi.
"My second brother had a strong will.If he had been captured,he would never have written to you for help,putting you,Guo Xiaoyang,in danger.It must have been the Ghost King who threatened him with his grandson's life,"Ma Su said solemnly.
Guo Xu Yang nodded and said,"That's right."
"Did Guo Xiaoyang easily rescue Xu Daode and his grandson?I'm afraid it was a trap left by the enemy,"Cang Ye's words were few,but each one hit the nail on the head.
Guo Xu Yang smiled bitterly,"Master Cang Ye is absolutely right.Although I had anticipated that it was a trap,I had to take the risk."As he spoke,Guo Xu Yang's body trembled slightly,"However,knowing it was a trick,I was cautious,but I never expected...they would inject poison into Xiao Zhi's body.He was just a child..."
After hearing this,Huang Yi Rong's eyebrows furrowed deeply as she pondered,"Using a child as a lure to plant toxins into the body,which then spread from the inside out to every inch of the skin.Guo Xu Yang was poisoned the moment he picked up Xiao Zhi.This poison is...'Min Tong Cui'."Huang Yi Rong shuddered,"Fortunately,this poison is extremely difficult to produce.Whether it is the ingredients,the type of poison,the dosage,or the brewing time,everything is very particular.The slightest mistake would ruin everything."She looked at Guo Xu Yang beside her,"Fortunately,his internal energy is strong enough.If it were someone with a weaker foundation,they would probably die on the spot."
Zhong Ruodu's exquisite poison-making skills made her worry about Guo Xu Yang,"The'Seven Kill Sect'was destroyed by him,and only Zhong Ruodu escaped.This woman,known as the'Thousand-faced Poison Hand,'is proficient in disguise and poison-making.If she comes to take revenge on him in the future,he may not be able to guard against it."
Seeing Guo Xu Yang's sorrow over Xu Zhi's death,Ma Su felt compassion and quickly changed the subject,"Guo Xiaoyang,do you know why the Seven Ghosts kidnapped my second brother?I don't understand,as we have no grudges with the Seven Kill Sect."
Guo Xu Yang sighed,"The Seven Ghosts told me at the time that it was to lure me out and take the'Longying Sword,'which is why they kidnapped Xu Daode.But during my battle and retreat with Xu Daode,he took the opportunity to tell me that the reason he was targeted by the Seven Ghosts was probably because he accidentally discovered a big secret of theirs."
"What big secret?"Cang Ye leaned forward,seemingly very interested in this secret.
Guo Xu Yang glanced at her,"Xu Daode said:'The Seven Kill Sect'and the'Seven Kill Ghost Kings'are actually under someone's control."
Upon hearing this,even Ma Su,who was indifferent to the world,was moved.
Ma Su,as a"neighbor"of the Seven Kill Sect,had heard quite a bit about their actions in recent years.They were notorious for their burning,killing,and looting,and were considered the scourge of the martial world.However,the Seven Ghosts were highly skilled in martial arts and had ruthless means,which made many people in the martial world fear them and hesitate to confront the Seven Kill Sect.Yet,such a notorious major faction in the martial world was actually under someone else's control.Who could this person be?
"Under someone's control..."Cang Ye murmured to herself,"A faction like the'Seven Kill Sect'would be under someone's control?"She paused for a moment,"However,with the current chaotic world and various warlords and heroes acting independently,it wouldn't be strange if they were affiliated with someone.Why would they need to be so secretive?"
Guo Xu Yang shook his head,"I don't know either.But according to Xu Daode,it seems that the Seven Ghosts don't allow any outsiders to know that there is such a person above them."
Cang Ye sneered,"I'm afraid the Seven Ghosts are using a'killing two birds with one stone'strategy.They can silence Xu Daode and lure you to their lair to seize the sword."Considering the feelings of Ma Su and Guo Xu Yang,Cang Ye spoke more implicitly about Xu Duan's death.
"How did you fall off the cliff?"Huang Yi Rong,who had been silent all along,finally spoke.
Guo Xu Yang turned his head to look at her,his eyes revealing a hint of pain,as if he was reluctant to recall that scene."At that time,Zhong Ruodu threw Xiao Zhi towards the bottom of the mountain.I lunged out to push him back into Xu Daode's arms,and so..."
Huang Yi Rong bit her red lips and nodded,thinking that Zhong Ruodu must have been injured by him at that time.
Ma Su waved his dust whisk and sighed with his eyes closed,"A friend is gone,and I shall never play the zither again in this life.Second brother,rest in peace."
Guo Xu Yang and Xu Duan had almost wiped out the entire"Seven Kill Sect,"so there was no need to think about"revenge."Moreover,Ma Su and Xu Duan were devoted to cultivating the way,and they naturally viewed life and death more lightly than ordinary people.Ma Su's implication was that he did not intend to pursue the matter further.As for the"mysterious person"that Xu Duan had discovered,it probably had little to do with his"Quanqing Taoist Temple."
"Guo Xiaoyang,I have already understood the course of events.Thank you for telling me.You are injured,so you should go back and rest first,"Ma Su said.
Guo Xu Yang nodded and clasped his fists,"Abbot Ma,the dead are gone,and the living must carry on.Don't be too sad.If there is nothing else,I will take my leave first."
"Guo Xiaoyang,wait a moment!"Cang Ye stood up and stopped Guo Xu Yang and Huang Yi Rong,who were about to leave.