Afterlife Department

Chapter 589 – Culprit

"Boss. Look here." Lu Xiu spoke and handed to Luo Zhilai the Zhuo family's genealogical record and that burnt letter.

"'Zhao Wei'?" Luo Zhilai muttered.

"Has the boss heard of him?" Huo Ling asked.

Luo Zhilai tried to recall, but in the end, he shook his head. "No." he answered with a frown. He wants to know who killed his father, as well as their own people and the people in that unfortunate village. But, all of their investigations lead to a dead-end.

There were no witnesses, nor can they find any evidence. Thus, they ended their relationship with the martial alliance since they know that they can't clear their name. Also, the martial alliance has their own intentions. For example, the former sect leader wanted to wash his hands off of the mess the Luojian Valley Sect fell to. And Jin Chong, he wanted to rise to fame. Thus, the Luojian Valley fell to the bottom, never to recover their past splendor again.

"How about that person who took out that artifact that Jin Chong said?" Yi Bing asked.

Huo Ling nodded in agreement. "Maybe he was the one who plotted against your sect in the past, the mastermind." He spoke. "If not, then, he may know the mastermind and the other people involved." He said.

They all nodded in agreement.

"No." Luo Zhilai frowned. "I won't ask for Jin Chong's help!" he said.

They all fell silent. Lu Xiu, Jiang Ci and Rong Huai looked at each other and know how stubborn and prideful their young master is. Thus, they can only helplessly sigh.

"We will go investigate." Rong Huai finally spoke.

Luo Zhilai nodded. "As for the Martial Conference in three days…" he said.

"What is your plan?" Qian San asked.

"I plan to beat those people up, especially Jin Chong." Luo Zhilai answered.

They all grimaced. The Ruojian Valley Sect hasn't found any evidence the past years, thus Luo Zhilai can only force his way to make the martial alliance admit that his father didn't fall into qi deviation. They all know it, most especially Jin Chong. This may be shameless, and suicidal since Luo Zhilai might not beat all of those people. But, what has left on Luo Zhilai but nothing? Thus, he decided to do what he wanted to do.

Truly a person of the Ruojian Valley Sect, the sect of crazy people. It has to be said that it was due to Luo Zhilai that the remaining disciples of the Luojian Valley Sect turned into madmen.

"But, now that you gave me a piece of evidence." Luo Zhilai looked at Huo Ling.

Huo Ling nodded, indicating that he understood what Luo Zhilai wanted them to do. "We will do our best to remove the spell casted on the artifact." He said. After all, they had to release Zhuo Xia's and the other four's souls. Or else, they won't be able to leave this world.

Luo Zhilai sighed in relief, and his expression eased. "Thank you." He sincerely said.

Huo Ling smiled. "We are on the same boat, boss Luo." He told him.

"It is not that the situation is this bad." Yi Bing spoke.

Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai started. "That's right!" Shi Yi exclaimed. "Didn't the Liulin Sect save us from the Swallow Tailed Assassins?" he asked.

Luo Zhilai's face twisted when he heard that sect again.

"Boss Luo. Don't worry. They will be acting as witnesses for us, not for you." Qian San told Luo Zhilai.

Although Luo Zhilai still feel uncomfortable, Huo Ling's group has already given him too much face and is even helping him greatly. Thus, he concede. "I understand." He said.

"If you are reluctant to use the Liulin Sect, there is one more method left." Yi Bing spoke. Then, he took out a dagger and a crest.

Their eyes widened in shock. "The Swallow Tailed Assassins' signature dagger and their crest!" Jiang Ci exclaimed.

Yi Bing nodded. "This is the proof that we have been attacked by those assassins." He spoke. "Even if they would turn the tables against us, don't we still have another person to vouch for us that Qian San, Wu Ling, Shi Yi and Qi Bai aren't people of jianghu and are just ordinary people?" he asked and looked at Luo Zhilai.

Luo Zhilai's eyes widened. Just at this moment, the door of the room opened. "Hello – " someone called.

"The Clear Lake Sect!" they all exclaimed.

Hu Tisong who just entered was startled and he looked at them in surprise. "You… you all… what are you calling our sect about?" he asked as he looked at them, looking puzzled.

Everyone turned and they all grinned. Hu Tisong felt all the hairs of his body stood at their ends.

"Speaking of the devil and he comes." Luo Zhilai sneered. He still hasn't forgotten the last time he and Hu Tisong saw each other.

Hu Tisong also recalled and the smile on his face disappeared. "Zhilai." He called.

Everyone's expressions instantly changed when they heard how Hu Tisong addressed Luo Zhilai. First-name basis?! They thought and looked at the two men in shock.

"I have something to tell you." Hu Tisong told Luo Zhilai before he left the room.

Luo Zhilai's expression cooled.

"Boss Luo." Huo Ling called.

Luo Zhilai understood what Huo Ling meant. He wants him to pull Hu Tisong to their ship. "En." He nodded before he left.

Silence fell as soon as the door closed. Then, a few minutes later and they all roared in shock. "The young master… the young master… what exactly is his relationship with that person?" Jiang Ci asked and frowned. "Anyone from the martial alliance isn't a good person!" he said.

Rong Huai nodded in agreement. "This is my fault. I shouldn't have let the young master befriend that Hu Tisong." He frowned.

Lu Xiu's brows are knotted.

"What's the situation?" Wu Ling asked. "Is it this bad?" he asked them.

Lu Xiu turned to him. "You see… after all of us woke up, the young master told the martial alliance that the former sect leader didn't fall into qi deviation and was killed instead." He spoke. "To make them believe, the young master even told them about their family's heirloom, the one you call an artifact. That it was stolen from their family. But, nobody believed him, since they haven't seen this artifact." He explained. "But, as soon as that was spoken, everyone could see that they wanted to find this artifact. Not to help our sect clear our name, but for their own use." He frowned.

"So, your young master risked his all but it was for nothing." Qi Bai said.

Lu Xiu nodded. "It even made them greedier." He said.

"This martial alliance is very disgusting." Wu Ling sneered in disgust.

"That's why we hate them so much." Jiang Ci said. 

"So, now that the sword has appeared, everyone is clamoring for it and it made Jin Chong feel threatened. For whoever will obtain that sword would be the strongest?" Shi Yi said.

"En." Rong Huai nodded. "But, obviously, they wouldn't clear our name. In fact, they would tell us that we are lying." He said.

Everyone's faces turned green in disgust and red in anger.

Huo Ling remained calm, though, since he has already this kind of situations before from the drama he watched, and novels he read. "But, it has already been many years… why did that sword appear just now?" he asked and looked at them.

Upon hearing the question, they all froze. "That's right… why did it appear only now?" they asked as they looked at each other.

Clearly, the sword was stolen by the culprit before. It even caused the Zhuo family to be massacred. Then, why did it appear if the culprit wanted it hidden? Or –

Their eyes narrowed as they looked at each other. "… the culprit is from the martial alliance, or might have entered the martial alliance, and saw that now is the opportunity for him to rise!" they said.

A chill ran down their spines when they thought of this. Killing the Luojian Valley Sect… plotting for more than a decade… not only this person is very scheming, but also very patient! This person is very terrifying!

"But… what opportunity did he see?" Huo Ling asked.

They looked at each other and understood what he meant. If they know what things did that person gave the opportunity, then they might be able to narrow down this person's identity!

…

"What do you want? Say it quickly. I still have many things to do." Luo Zhilai spoke as he coldly looked at Hu Tisong. He didn't dare close the door because last time, Hu Tisong suddenly pounced on him and kissed him.

Yes.. Hu Tisong became panicked of Luo Zhilai's suicidal tendency and, after hearing Luo Zhilai's plan, he accidentally confessed his feelings. Not only did he confess, but he threw caution to the wind and kissed him!