NOVPUB"Remember, conceal your tracks, and don’t let anyone notice your presence," Lin Qian said as he gestured for the group of Swift Soldiers in front of him to move out.
"After all this is done, head to the secret valley behind the Wanxiang Sect and check on Gao Yuefei’s situation."
"Yes!" The Swift Soldiers nodded, their figures transforming into shadows as they leapt off the cliff’s edge by the forest.
Lin Qian walked to the edge of the cliff, his long hair whipping wildly in the fierce wind. He watched as the Swift Soldiers leapt down the cliff and eventually vanished from sight.
The image formed by the condensation of Thunder Soul Power also dispersed, eventually turning into specks of golden light that drifted and scattered in mid-air.
Finally, Lin Qian turned and left, heading towards his own residence. He believed in the strength of his Empire’s soldiers and anticipated good news by tomorrow.
The next day, early morning.
Lin Qian, who had just finished his cultivation, was rising from his bed when the room’s door was abruptly forced open.
"Junior Brother, how on earth did you manage it?" Gao Benli, who rushed into the room, asked Lin Qian with astonishment.
Lin Qian glanced at Gao Benli, unfazed, "What?"
"What? Qian Long and his group were all discovered dead in their house. Killed in exactly the same manner, stabbed through the heart from behind and their throats slit."
"On their bodies, there were only these two wounds, and there were even no signs of struggle in the house."
"This indicates that the person who acted specializes in assassination and is more powerful than them. Otherwise, during the cultivation state, senses are heightened and anyone of equal or lower realm would have been detected."
"At this point, Gao Benli looked at Lin Qian strangely, "You, kid, are becoming harder and harder to see through."
Lin Qian shrugged his shoulders and asked Gao Benli, "Now that the people assigned to you have all been wiped out, it’s about time to release Ding Zhirong and the others, isn’t it?"
"You don’t need to tell me that. Those guys died too cleanly; they couldn’t send back even a bit of information. This really makes things easier for me," Gao Benli said, spreading his arms joyously.
"Your troubles seem to be over, but what exactly is going on with your grandfather?" Lin Qian asked, frowning in confusion.
Gao Benli was equally puzzled in response to Lin Qian’s question, "I’m not clear. Since coming back this time, Grandfather has rarely met with me. It has been so long, and we’ve barely met four times."
"So few times, theoretically, as his prized grandson, shouldn’t you be living with him?" Hearing Gao Benli’s response, Lin Qian was genuinely surprised.
Like Lei Qian’s grandfather, Lei Heng, who adored his grandson immensely, he required him to live with him after his cultivation sessions.
After all, Lei Qian was his only grandson. Being able to live together and see his precious grandson every day was the most basic sentiment for Lei Heng as a grandfather.
Similarly, Gao Benli’s circumstances were much like Lei Qian’s; both were orphans raised by their grandfathers.
Now, Gao Yuefei not living with his grandson and meeting him only four times in such a long period was definitely suspicious.
"Something’s not right, isn’t it? I find it strange too," Gao Benli said, rubbing his chin and pondering, "Grandfather has always resided in the place of retreat yet keeps the Sect’s power in his own hands. Every time I requested to see him, I left disappointed."
"The only four times I met him: the first was when I had returned. As for the other three, it was when I was letting those guys have their way, and some elders of the Sect complained to Grandfather, creating a big fuss. He had no choice but to see me and asked me to control their behavior as much as possible."
"But to me, it seemed like Grandfather was just saying that. It appeared he wasn’t really concerned about it, just dealing with the elders perfunctorily. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have met me only those three times."
Clearly, Gao Benli was also puzzled and confused about the situation at hand.
"Looking at it this way, it feels as if your grandfather was avoiding you, fearing that you might discover something," Lin Qian said as he walked toward the front courtyard, speaking to Gao Benli. "You’re his own grandson, what could he possibly not tell you?"
Following Lin Qian to the courtyard, Gao Benli agreed with his junior brother’s words, "Indeed, it’s really incomprehensible."
As Lin Qian and Gao Benli chatted and walked, they reached the front courtyard before they knew it.
At that moment, from outside the front courtyard gate, several footsteps and puzzled remarks could be heard.
"How strange, why would Gao Benli let us go after those guys died?"
"Who knows? But it serves those domineering jerks right to die. Who knows how many of our sect brothers they’ve harmed."
As the voices of conversation drew closer, several figures also entered the front courtyard.
The person walking at the forefront, upon entering the courtyard, shouted, "Boss, I’ve brought everyone back for you!"
"Mm, no need to shout, I see them," Lin Qian responded, looking at Lei Qian in front of him.
The person in the very front of the courtyard was naturally Lei Qian, and the four people following him were Ding Zhirong, Zhao Haiming, Li Letian, and Wang Lanxin.
"Wow, it’s lively here!" At that moment, Ye Lin also arrived in the courtyard, carrying Bai Ren on her back.
Bedridden, Ye Lin decided to carry Bai Ren to the front courtyard to enjoy some sunshine, and upon hearing the conversation, she quickened her pace to join them.
The next moment, the courtyard fell into a deep silence, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
"Gao Benli!" Except for Lin Qian and Gao Benli, the other seven people all exclaimed in unison.
"Ha ha ha, everyone seems so surprised to see me, I am flattered," Gao Benli laughed and waved at them, "Let me reintroduce myself, Gao Benli, this fellow’s senior brother."
With those words, Gao Benli playfully punched Lin Qian in the chest.
Everyone stared at Gao Benli in astonishment, then turned their heads to look at Lin Qian, as if seeking confirmation of the truth.
Lin Qian, seeing everyone looking at him, nodded slightly, "Yes, he indeed is my senior brother."
"Which is why he only detained you," Lin Qian turned to Ding Zhirong and the others. "Otherwise, disposing of you would have been simpler."
After a while, through conversation and Lin Qian’s explanation, everyone gradually understood the situation.
"I truly am sorry for all the pain you’ve endured," Gao Benli finally said apologetically to Bai Ren, bowing deeply.
Seeing Gao Benli humble himself in this way, Bai Ren’s remaining resentment dissolved, "Senior Brother Gao, after all, you had prepared healing pills for me earlier. I understand you."
With all grievances resolved, everyone gathered and talked warmly, especially curious about Gao Benli.
"Oh no!" Suddenly, Lin Qian’s expression changed drastically, and he looked at Gao Benli beside him, "Senior brother, your grandfather is already dead!"
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Please take a leave, the transition conflicts were too abrupt, I can only repay everyone later.
