Death… and me

Despite Cheng Zi Ang still feeling uneasy and frustrated with what had just happened, he calmed down slightly.

Chu Yang sneered as he said, "Lu Xiao Cheng might not have been his real name. This kind of soldier would choose to kill themselves once they have been caught and their identity revealed. Surely they would not leave their name as a clue for you to start an investigation! Moreover, it might lead us to a group of powerful enemies. We have to be cautious with regards to this matter."

"What the minister has said is right." Cheng Zi Ang said gravely, frightened with everything going on.

He was beginning to respect and admire this young minister, Chu Yang.

Deputy Pavilion Lord, Chen Yu Tong also agreed with what Chu Yang had mentioned and began to reflect and was deep in thought.

"We need to investigate everything that we have now, we can base it on appearance, cultivation or special characteristics of his body. From there, hopefully, we will be able to uncover his true identity. We cannot trust anything that he has said!"

"Although we might have reservations about Liu Xiao Cheng being his name, if someone would know, it will be the Ranger, Ping Wu Ying from Clear Spring prefecture. This person must be captured."

"When Liu Xiao Cheng first joined the Bu Tian Pavilion, we investigated him thoroughly through Ping Wu Ying. Moreover, it was Ping Wu Ying who verified Liu Xiao Cheng's identity. Therefore, there is no doubt that he is involved in this conspiracy. Even though he might not be the mastermind, he is definitely an enemy. We cannot afford to spare Ping Wu Ying and his family.

"Yes." Chen Yu Tong said, "I will arrange for it immediately. I shall bring Ping Wu Ying in for questioning."

"There is no need to. Just kill him with swiftly and be done with it. Questioning him will not provide us with any answers." Chu Yang said firmly, "Someone like Ping Wu Ying would not be privy to any of the secrets held between two countries. It is likely that they would have severed ties with him by the time he is in our custody. Unfortunately, we don't have such an advantage."

"We should at least try; perhaps we will be able to catch a big fish." Cheng Zi Ang insisted. He was trying to make up for the grave mistake that he made. And Ping Wu Ying was one of the opportunities to redeem himself, he continued to insist on it."

"I'll leave it up to you." Chu Yang said casually, "There is another connection, the Sun Clan. This spy said that he came from them. Moreover, evidence supports that fact that he might have had the support of the Sun Clan. Thus I am inclined to say that Sun Clan had a part to play in all of this."

Chu Yang glanced over everyone slowly as he said lightly, "Kill everyone from the Thriving South Sun's Clan."

The crowd felt afraid and slightly anxious as Chu Yang looked at each one of them, sending a cold chill down each of their spines. As Chu Yang uttered those words, there was an intense killing intent which suddenly radiated from him, making everyone tremble in fear.

"I will have to bother Official Cheng with this." Chu Yang looked in Cheng Zi Ang's direction and slightly nodded as he said politely.

Even though Chu Yang's voice was polite, this was an order. This was Chu Yang's first action after his investigation. If he wanted to have total control of Bu Tian Pavilion, Cheng Zi Ang's attitude was crucial.

Cheng Zi Ang was conflicted and his countenance changed a few times as though decided what to do, before he eventually responded saying, "Yes, I shall carry it out"

Chu Yang smiled with satisfaction and said, "With regards to the invasion routes discovered by this spy, we shall no longer use them."

"Would it be possible to use these routes against our enemies and at least salvage some bits of our dignity?" Chen Yu Tong mused and asked.

"No. We have no way of knowing if there are any spies still remaining. Even if there was just one left, the information of today's purge will no doubt be leaked. Moreover, our enemies might use these routes to plan ambushes for us. Doing so would be asking for trouble." Chu Yang's gaze changed. It seemed that even though Chen Yu Tong was somewhat intelligent, only he was still too inexperienced.

"Yes, the Minister is right." The sweat on Chen Yu Tong's forehead made it shine as it reflected light off it. He certainly had not considered that possibility.

Chu Yang picked up the second file, his eyes then swept over them before he slowly asked, "Who is Meng You De?"

Below him, a bearded man who sat in the third row suddenly turned pale almost as though he had seen a ghost.

Everyone around him immediately turned around and looked at him, their eyes judging him.

Chu Yang's eyes were fixated on Meng You De. He then quietly asked, "Meng You De, do you want to kill yourself now or wait till after I expose you?"

The beard on Meng You De's face trembled, and he suddenly snapped, "Don't think that just because you rode on the prince's carriage and received praise from him that you are truly the Minister. My whole life, I have never done anything that I am ashamed of. Bu Tian Pavilion has had dozens of missions; all them successful ones, where we came back alive, included me. I am completely dedicated and have constantly placed my life on the line for Iron Cloud. Yet you still dare to call me a spy?"

Upon hearing what he said, everyone began to reconsider their opinions and started to thinking conscientiously. It was true that in all the assassination missions, only Meng You De's squadron was able to successfully complete theirs; while the other six squadrons were all annihilated. Moreover, Cheng Zi Ang and Chen Yu Tong also had a celebration in honor of Meng You De and promoted him from squadron leader to captain.

How could he be a spy?

Cheng Zi Ang frowned and looked at Chu Yang. Meng You De was a good fighter that he had wanted to promote. If he was really a spy then Cheng Zi Ang would have lost more than just his dignity.

Chu Yang looked at Meng You De calmly, "In those assassination attempts, four of the other squadrons went southeast and continually failed. However, only your squadron who also went southeast managed to succeed. Moreover, your strategy was based from the information of Liu Xiao Cheng whom we now know is a spy! Furthermore, your mission was carried out in the territory of Thriving South's Sun clan. Yet somehow not only did you manage to succeed, but you also returned unharmed? So let me ask you, what happened to the others? Why did your squadron come back alive time and time again?"

"The other four squadrons' cultivation levels were not lower than yours; they actually had more manpower and their targets were also weaker than yours. However, they all failed while you returned victorious. Perhaps Liu Xiao Cheng only knew the plans of the four other squadrons but not yours? How could this be possible? Both you and him were on the second squadron and the plans were completely in your hands. So in other word, Liu Xiao Cheng definitely knew your plans."

Before being able to verify the true identity of that person, Chu Yang could only refer to him as "Liu Xiao Cheng."

Chu Yang gave Meng You De a cold look, "Is your luck really that good?"

Cheng Zi Ang sighed, his face pale. From the perspective that Chu Yang had presented, Meng You De certainly seemed suspicious.

"Is my superior skill insufficient?" Meng You De looked full of anguish, but behind that facade was a flash of panic.

"No." Chu Yang slowly shook his head and stated with certainty, "You are a spy."

"If you are accusing me of being a spy, then show me your evidence." Meng You De roared.

"We might be part of Iron Cloud's royal court, but this is not the justice department." Chu Yang said coolly, "If I suspect that you are a spy, it is more than enough for me to kill you. What evidence would I need? People, grab him."

The moment the order was given, two men immediately jumped up and headed toward Meng You De. One of them was Cheng Zi Ang.

Cheng Zi Ang was really furious; he did not expect that when Chu Yang gave the order so many subordinates would actually obey his orders and move. This was essentially the official approval and acknowledgment of Chu Yang's authority. This symbolized Chu Yang's authority over Bu Tian Pavilion.

Cheng Zi Ang's face was as red as a bull. He was about to erupt in anger.

If Meng You De was a spy, then the spies essentially all viewed him as an idiot. Moreover, there was more than one spy in his organization and he even helped promote one of them. He was, in essence, one of their conspirators.

What sort of nonsense was this?