In the heart of the dense forest, in a clearing approximately fifty ters in radius, seven or eight warriors dressed in blue and white were seen attacking a purple-clothed swordsman.
"Shen Qianlang, you killed the Young Villa Owner of our Hani Villa! A life for a life; it's an unalterable principle! Surrender and return with us for trial!" a young female Disciple in white, her dress embroidered with plum blossoms, shouted sternly at the purple-clothed swordsman.
"How many tis must I tell you? I did not kill your Young Villa Owner." The purple-clothed swordsman sighed, the picture of helplessness. "Soone else killed your Young Villa Owner. I was rely visiting him. Who knew he had already been murdered? You can investigate this thoroughly. There's no way this can be pinned on ."
"Apart from you, no other outsiders have been to our villa recently. If not you, then who else could it be?" The female Disciple's beautiful face seed frosted over. She was relentless, utterly convinced that Shen Qianlang was the murderer.
"That's bandit logic!" Shen Qianlang was exasperated. "Couldn't it have been soone from your own Hani Villa? You can't just pin the bla on soone so casually."
"If it wasn't you, why did you run?" The female Disciple clearly disbelieved Shen Qianlang, a cold smile touching her lips. "You're obviously guilty and trying to escape. How could we let a murderer like you slip away?"
Shen Qianlang was speechless. At this point, he couldn't be bothered to say more. He realized that reasoning with these people was useless; they had already decided he was the murderer. No matter how much he denied it, they would only see it as a sly defense.
"Senior Sister Miaoyin, why waste words on him? Let's capture him first! If he dares resist, we'll cut off his leg and see how he runs then!" another young woman in identical attire stepped forward, glaring at Shen Qianlang with hostility.
"Junior Sister Xueyan is right! If he dares to run again, we'll chop off his legs so he can never run again!" declared a young man with a hair crown, his bearing sowhat righteous, yet his tone was vicious.
The color drained slightly from Shen Qianlang's face upon hearing this. These people didn't seem to be joking. If he truly tried to escape again and was caught, they would undoubtedly chop off his leg.
Although Hani Villa's influence was no match for the Tang Sect, they were considered a top-notch major Sect within Yi Zhou, far superior to Qingcheng Palace. The won, Miaoyin and Xuan Yu, undoubtedly possessed cultivation at the Sky Apex Realm Third Layer and Sky Apex Realm Second Layer, respectively. Shen Qianlang, on the other hand, only possessed cultivation at the Sky Apex Realm First Layer. Moreover, their Swordsmanship surpassed his. Had it not been for his slightly superior Light Skill, he would have already been captured by them.
"Threatening to cut off people's legs at will. Such conduct is hardly befitting of Righteous Sects."
Just as Shen Qianlang was caught in a dilemma, a voice suddenly ca from behind him. With a rustle of wind, a figure appeared silently by his side.
"Who are you?" Miaoyin's pretty face was alert as she eyed the suddenly appeared young swordsman. She then asked coldly, "Are you his accomplice?"
"I wouldn't call myself Brother Shen's accomplice, but I am indeed his friend." The newcor was Ling Chen. He looked at the mbers of Hani Villa and spoke with a faint smile.
"Oh?" Shen Qianlang looked at Ling Chen with surprise. He couldn't rember when he had befriended soone like Ling Chen. But then again, he had many friends, so it was normal to forget one or two.
"May I ask your na, friend?" Shen Qianlang clasped his fist in salute to Ling Chen.
"Ling Chen." Ling Chen returned the salute.
"So it's Young Hero Ling Chen." Shen Qianlang's eyes glead with an unusual light as he looked at Ling Chen. "I, Shen, have always prided myself on my wide circle of friends, yet in my ti of need, no one stepped forward to help. Only Young Hero Ling Chen has acted righteously. I am truly fortunate to have made your acquaintance."
Listening to this, Ling Chen found it rather amusing. This fellow was quite interesting. However, he probably didn't realize that Ling Chen had never actually t him before.
"Hey, I advise you not to ddle in other people's business." The woman nad Miaoyin sized up Ling Chen and said with a hint of warning, "This Shen Qianlang is suspected of killing our Young Villa Owner. If Your Excellency is wise, you'll stay out of this murky business and avoid getting burned."
"Killed their Young Villa Owner?" Ling Chen was taken aback. He furrowed his brows and turned to Shen Qianlang. "What's going on?"
If what Miaoyin said was true, Ling Chen would have to reconsider whether to help Shen Qianlang, and indeed, question the man's character.
"How could that be? I have no grievances or grudges against the Young Villa Owner of Hani Villa. Why would I kill him?" Shen Qianlang's expression beca extrely grave. "I didn't kill him. This matter has nothing to do with ."
Ling Chen paused in thought for a mont, but then a soft, pleasant female voice drifted over. "I believe Senior Brother Shen didn't kill him. He's not that kind of person."
Three figures erged from the woods; they were Luo Xian'er and Ling Yin. The one who had just spoken was Luo Xian'er.
"Junior Sister Luo! What are you doing here?" Upon seeing Luo Xian'er, Shen Qianlang's face lit up with surprise and joy. But in an instant, the joy vanished, replaced by a sense of unease.
Luo Xian'er had always been in the Sect and hardly ever left, seldom even coming out of her boudoir. How could she suddenly descend the mountain and co all this way to Mount Taiyue?
"Qingcheng Palace... is gone. I'm the only one left from the entire Sect..." Having finally t her Senior Brother, Luo Xian'er recalled the destruction of Qingcheng Palace and couldn't help but burst into tears.
"What?" Hearing the news, Shen Qianlang froze, utter disbelief etched on his face.
"Impossible... How could the Sect be destroyed? Who did it?" Shen Qianlang clenched his fists, fury almost erupting from his eyes.
"It was the Tang Sect." Hatred glinted in Luo Xian'er's beautiful eyes. "The Tang Sect wanted the Sword Immortal Poetry Fragnt from my father. When he refused, they destroyed the entire Qingcheng Palace, leaving no one alive."
"Damn it! Those beasts!" Shen Qianlang gritted his teeth in fury, his nails digging so deep into his palms that blood began to seep out.
Ling Chen, standing to the side, watched this scene in silence. Of course, he could understand their feelings. The enmity from the annihilation of one's sect was an irreconcilable hatred. He himself had experienced a similar situation, once bearing a blood feud no less profound than theirs.
However, this was Jianghu—a world of the strong where strength was paramount. Every day, vendettas were settled, grievances festered, and countless people t violent ends. With sufficient strength, one could exact revenge and slay their foes. But without it, one would be hunted down and utterly annihilated by their enemies, vanishing completely from Jianghu.
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