73: Want to kill Zhang Yucheng

On the way back to the martial arts hall, Chen Linsheng's brows were tightly furrowed, and various clues in his mind were like scattered puzzle pieces, clashing wildly and attempting to piece themselves together.

The Envoy of the White Lotus Sect in the mountains, Zhang Yuchen who disappeared and strangely returned, the potential collusion of his father Zhang Zhifeng, the bizarre deaths of Zhang Yang and the army veterans, that special sweet fishy fragrance and the evil technique of consuming blood and Qi... these fragments swirled in his mind, and eventually, all arrows faintly pointed to a single focus—Zhang Yuchen!

That pale, bloodless face, that heavy, abnormally stale scent of blood in the carriage... a Martial Artist of the Flesh Refining Realm, even if he had been hiding and injured for many days, his wounds should heal extremely fast under the vigor of his blood and Qi. There should never be such a sluggish scent of blood that seemed to have seeped into his very bones.

Unless... that blood wasn't all his, or, his own state was extremely abnormal and he needed to constantly replenish or even "store" something!

Thinking of this, a chill ran up Chen Linsheng's spine, and his pace couldn't help but quicken a bit.

Returning to the Quiet Room in the backyard of the Yangwei Martial Arts Hall, Zhao Zheng, Chen Chuan, as well as Shi Poyue, Di Moyu, Liu Ruyan, and Zhao Linger were still there, discussing the situation with a solemn atmosphere.

Chen Linsheng took a deep breath and no longer hesitated. He stepped forward, cupped his hands to Zhao Zheng and Chen Chuan, and spoke with a steady yet indisputably powerful voice: "Master, Senior Martial Uncle, regarding the White Lotus Sect and the matter of Senior Brother Zhang Yang, I have some findings that might be connected."

Everyone's gaze instantly focused on him.

"Speak," Zhao Zheng said in a deep voice.

Chen Linsheng then started from a few days ago when he went up the mountain in Disguise and encountered the three parties sealing the mountain to fight for the earth core fire lotus, describing in detail how he saw Zhang Yuchen confronting the Hundred Herbs Hall and the Hunter Gang in the valley.

"At that time, my strength was low, so I didn't dare to stay long. I took the opportunity to collect some earth vein cold spring water and intended to leave."

Chen Linsheng omitted the details of stealing the three stalks of Spirit Medicine and the muscle tempering bath formula, as this concerned his greatest secret.

"But on my way out, I discovered a cave on a cliff obscured by vines."

He described the artificial traces inside the cave, looking like the nest of some creature, and vaguely mentioned feeling that the place was unusual, possibly related to the abruptly appearing Envoy of the White Lotus Sect.

"After that, I went into seclusion to Breakthrough. After coming out, on my way to the martial arts hall, I happened to encounter the found Zhang Yuchen returning to his manor in a carriage." Speaking to this point, Chen Linsheng's tone grew heavier and his gaze sharp, "At the moment the carriage passed before me, I smelled an extremely thick scent of blood that wasn't fresh, but instead carried a cold and sluggish feeling! It was definitely not the scent a Martial Artist who had just been rescued after hiding for many days should have!"

He laid out all his suspicions: "Zhang Yuchen's disappearance coincides with the appearance of the Envoy of the White Lotus Sect. Upon his return, he carries an extremely abnormal scent of blood, and now strange murders targeting those with vigorous blood and Qi are happening one after another in the county seat... I suspect that Zhang Yuchen's return was no stroke of luck; he is likely deeply involved with the White Lotus Cult Heretics, and perhaps even he himself has developed a problem!"

This narrative was logically clear, connecting seemingly unrelated events and pointing to a chilling possibility.

The Quiet Room fell into a silence so profound that one could hear a pin drop.

Suddenly, Senior Martial Uncle Chen Chuan slammed his hand onto the side table. With a "crack," a fissure was smashed into the hard pearwood surface!

A brilliant light burst from his eyes as he realized, "Soul Transfer Great Art! So it's the Soul Transfer Great Art!"

Everyone was drawn by his actions and words, looking over one after another.

Chen Chuan's expression was grave as he scanned the crowd, explaining in a deep voice: "This Soul Transfer Great Art is an extremely bizarre and evil secret technique of the White Lotus Sect! It is said to be able to subtly modify another's will and memory, even suppressing and replacing the original personality, as if moving a person's Soul and stuffing in another consciousness! But this method is dangerous and causes great harm to the subject, easily leaving behind severe aftereffects. It is said to require a large amount of pure blood and Qi, and even life essence, to maintain stability and compensate for the depletion of the Divine Soul and Physical Body!"

His gaze was as sharp as a blade, seemingly piercing through the walls and pointing straight toward the General Headquarters of the Black Mountain Gang. "Zhang Yuchen suddenly disappeared and then strangely returned. If his temperament and Heart-Nature have changed greatly, combined with this thick scent of blood and the blood cases in the county seat... the timing, motive, and methods all match! I'm afraid he was captured by a White Lotus Cult Heretic and had this Soul Transfer Great Art performed on him. Now that he's back, it's to participate in the Martial Examination to facilitate the White Lotus Sect's infiltration of the imperial court! And those whose blood and Qi were drained are the 'Nourishment' used to maintain his bizarre state!"

"What?!" Hearing this, Fourth Martial Sister Zhao Linger's pretty face turned cold with anger, and she suddenly stood up. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go to the Black Mountain Gang right now and capture that practitioner of evil ways!"

"Nonsense!" Master Zhao Zheng barked in a low voice, stopping the impulsive Zhao Linger. He frowned and shook his head. "Linger, things aren't as simple as you think. Zhang Yuchen holds the status of a Martial Student and is a reserve martial officer on the imperial court's records, protected by the law. Without ironclad evidence, we have no right to arrest him based solely on speculation and a sense of smell, nor will the Black Mountain Gang allow us to touch their Young Lord. Acting rashly will not only alert the enemy but also invite Legal Trouble and give others a handle against us."

Zhao Linger grew anxious. "Then... then should we tell his father Zhang Zhifeng the news that he might be controlled by the White Lotus Sect? Let him place righteousness above family?"

At this moment, Senior Brother Shi Poyue, who had been silent, let out a cold laugh and spoke:

"Fourth Junior Sister, you're thinking too highly of things. On the surface, Zhang Yuchen has long since cut ties with the Black Mountain Gang to study and Cultivate independently, but who doesn't know he's still Zhang Zhifeng's son? If Zhang Yuchen really is controlled by the White Lotus Sect, would Zhang Zhifeng be completely unaware? I doubt it!"

He paused, his tone carrying a hint of icy mockery:

"Haven't you noticed? The victim, Junior Brother Zhang Yang, and the veterans Squad Leader Wu mentioned are all children of the Poor Faction or old soldiers in the army with no background. The waves caused by their disappearances or deaths are far smaller than those of children from noble families or officials. If Zhang Zhifeng is also involved, or even one of the masterminds behind the scenes, then everything makes sense—they are selecting targets that won't attract too much attention to provide 'Nourishment' for Zhang Yuchen!"

Senior Brother's words were like ice water poured over their heads, making everyone present except Chen Chuan feel a chill.

If the leader of the Black Mountain Gang was also involved, or even a co-conspirator, then the waters of Qinghe County were far too deep!

Senior Martial Uncle Chen Chuan took a deep breath, suppressing his surging killing intent, and regained the calmness of a Constabulary Commandant:

"Poyue's analysis is not without merit. But as Junior Brother Zhao said, handling a case requires evidence. Everything we have now is still speculation. I will immediately arrange for manpower to closely monitor the movements of Zhang Yuchen and the Black Mountain Gang, while also starting with the victims' interpersonal relationships and recent movements to find any possible intersections with Zhang Yuchen or the Black Mountain Gang. Before we have ironclad proof, we must not act rashly."

"Yes, Senior Martial Uncle (Senior Brother)."

Everyone responded in unison, understanding that this was the most stable approach for now.

However, Chen Linsheng stood to the side with a cold expression, as if he hadn't heard Senior Martial Uncle's final arrangements or the others' responses.

His thoughts had already drifted far away.

Senior Brother's phrase "the targets are all Disciples of the Poor Faction" exploded in his ears like an alarm bell.

Indeed, Zhang Yang had good talent, but his family was poor; while his death was a pity, it wouldn't cause a massive stir. The same went for those veterans. The other side was picking on the weak.

Then... what about Wan'er? What about Aunt Zhang, Da Niu, and the others?

A chill of lingering fear welled up in his heart.

He had brought Su Wan from the mountain village to the city, thinking they had escaped the potential dangers of the wilderness, but he hadn't expected the monsters in the city to be even more impossible to guard against!

Su Wan had also started practicing martial arts now, and her blood and Qi were becoming more vigorous by the day. Although she was far from being a Martial Artist of the Flesh Refining Realm, if she were targeted by that evil thing in need of "Nourishment"... he didn't dare think further.

An unprecedented sense of crisis and violent emotion sprouted and spread in his heart.

Rules? Evidence? Laws?

In the face of the threat his loved ones might face, these things seemed so pale and powerless!

He practiced martial arts diligently and constantly improved his strength for what? Wasn't it to be able to control his own destiny and protect those he wanted to protect?

Was he supposed to wait until a tragedy happened to himself before talking about evidence and following procedures?

No!

He would never allow it!

Chen Linsheng's eyes gradually became deep and cold, like two bottomless pools of icy water, and all his emotions were compressed into the purest killing intent.

Zhang Yuchen... whether you are truly controlled or have fallen voluntarily, whether the one standing behind you is an Envoy of the White Lotus Sect or your father Zhang Zhifeng.

Since you have already become a clear and massive threat, and might stretch your claws toward the people I care about... then you must die!

To hell with your Martial Student status, to hell with being the Young Lord of the Black Mountain Gang, and to hell with whatever conspiracy lies behind you!

As long as you threaten me, you will surely die!

A clear and cold-blooded plan quickly took shape in his mind—infiltrate the Black Mountain Gang at night, find an opportunity, and personally beat Zhang Yuchen to death! To eliminate the source of trouble forever!