Chapter 40 Yuan Qichen Is With Me

Chapter 40 Yuan Qichen and I Were Together

Sect Leader Zhao entered the mourning hall, the focus of all eyes. Yuan Xiao seized the opportunity, slipping through the crowd like a fish to reach Yuan Qichen’s side.

Before he could utter “Dad,” Yu Xinchen clapped a hand over his mouth. “Thank you for your concern, Junior Brother. With the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord presiding, nothing will go amiss. Let’s just calmly await the outcome.”

Despite her words, a knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach.

Yuan Xiao mumbled, pointing at his mouth, then waved his hand, indicating he wouldn’t speak carelessly. Finally able to breathe, he patted his chest reassuringly. “Sister Chen, don’t be nervous. Whoever the culprit is, we’ll settle scores—an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

“The young man speaks wisely. If there truly is something suspicious about our uncle’s death, the Yu family will pursue it to the very end,” Yu Xinze declared, casting a resolute gaze at Yu Xinchen. “Cousin, no matter what, I am on your side.”

His self-assured words grated on Yu Rui, who couldn’t help but sneer, “The matter isn’t even clear yet, and you’re already so eager to speak for the entire Yu family? Isn’t that a bit premature?”

Old Master Yu had originally favored Yu Xinze to inherit the family headship. Coupled with Yu Rui’s reckless and openly disruptive behavior, his expression toward Yu Rui naturally soured. He shot him an annoyed glare.

Yu Rui remained unfazed, continuing his provocation. “Let’s see if certain people can remain so calm once the results are revealed.”

“Mom, I’m hungry.”

A small child beside Mrs. Xia tugged pitifully at her sleeve, whispering his hunger in a timid, hesitant voice.

Yuan Qichen’s attention was drawn to the child. The corners of his lips quirked beneath his mask, and a flicker of demonic light passed through his eyes. “Mrs. Xia, your child is hungry. Aren’t you going to take him to eat something?”

A sudden chill ran down Mrs. Xia’s spine, as if she were being watched. She forced a strained smile. “He’s just a bit greedy. It’s nothing serious.”

“No matter how grave the matter, it’s no reason to let a child go hungry,” Yuan Qichen said, crouching down. He produced a piece of pastry as if by magic and beckoned to Yu Xinlan. “Come, Uncle has something tasty for you.”

The child was usually quite timid and would never take something from a stranger without his mother’s permission.

But today, for some reason, as soon as he saw the guard offer the treat, he let go of his mother’s hand and ran forward. By the time Mrs. Xia reacted, he was already out of her grasp.

Yuan Qichen handed over the pastry, patted the boy’s head, and cast a playful glance at Mrs. Xia before skillfully scooping the child into his arms.

“Eat slowly. Uncle has more.”

An invisible pressure settled upon Mrs. Xia, freezing her in place.

This man was warning her.

If she took another step, the price might very well be her son’s life.

Just who was he…?

Mrs. Xia felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, shivering uncontrollably. She stood rooted to the spot, a stiff smile plastered on her face.

“Lan’er, mind your manners. Come back to Mom now.”

Her hands, hidden in her sleeves, began to tremble uncontrollably.

“No, no! Lan’er’s hungry! I want the yummy pastry!”

The child’s innocent voice was full of childish glee, and no one else noticed anything amiss.

Only Mrs. Xia, as his mother, knew that those were not words her son would normally say.

Frantic but powerless, she turned her pleading gaze toward Yu Xinze.

Mrs. Xia shouldn’t have sought his help, but with her husband long dead and the family head also mysteriously deceased, Yu Xinze—despite their delicate relationship—seemed to be the only reliable person left in the entire Yu family.

Just then, Sect Leader Zhao and the others emerged from the mourning hall.

All eyes turned toward them, and no one noticed Mrs. Xia’s distress.

It had been a long time since Sect Leader Zhao had experienced such widespread attention, but the autopsy results left him no time for such thoughts.

“What is the result?”

Everyone was eager to learn the true cause of Yu Guan’s death. Seeing even the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord with a deeply furrowed brow only heightened their suspicions.

Could it be that Yu Guan’s death indeed held a hidden secret?

Sect Leader Zhao’s face was solemn. “Everyone, I swear by the Heavenly Dao that every word I speak from this moment onward is the absolute truth. Fellow Daoists Zhou and Zheng, as well as the Jade Mountain Immortal Lord, can bear witness.”

He paused briefly, then began not with Yu Guan’s death, but with an old incident.

“As many of you may recall, I unfortunately witnessed the tragic case of the Tang family fourteen years ago. The victims all died with blood flowing from their seven orifices, their spiritual power completely drained, and traces of demonic energy remained.”

“Why bring up this old matter now, Brother Zhao? Could it be…?”

Many in the crowd began to harbor suspicions.

Sect Leader Zhao nodded gravely. “That’s correct. The cause of Brother Yu’s death is exactly like that of the Tang family members fourteen years ago.”

So the killer must be…

“It’s Yuan Qichen, isn’t it?”

Everyone turned toward the voice, where a young man with gloomy eyes stood at the back of the crowd. He wore the uniform of a Wen Dao Academy disciple from Tianshu Palace, and anyone with a discerning eye could easily guess his identity.

Before Yuan Xiao could angrily protest the other for making baseless accusations, he realized the speaker was none other than Tang Lin, whom he knew all too well.

His indignation instantly faded.

So this was what he meant by “sworn enmity against the demon race.”

Qiu Shanshan had also arrived, likely at Tang Lin’s suggestion. However, they traveled slower and arrived a full day later than Que Zizhen.

Under the current circumstances, he had no room to speak.

Those with influence each had their own motives, but on one point their stance was unified: their apprehension and wariness of Yuan Qichen.

Two victims with identical causes of death, separated by fourteen years, were now gathered here. If this were allowed to continue, who would be next?

“How can such a demon still be allowed to exist? It’s a disgrace to all of us!”

The one who spoke these impassioned words was Ji Jianping, whom they had encountered earlier in the Ye Realm. His statement was met with agreement and support from many.

Yuan Xiao couldn’t stand hearing these people falsely accuse his father. “How can you pinpoint the culprit based solely on traces of demonic energy? Is the Demon Lord the only demon in the demon realm?”

“Who else but Yuan Qichen could silently kill a Great Perfection Stage expert?!” Tang Lin’s eyes reddened with fury as he retorted.

The pain of his family’s annihilation made it impossible for him to remain calm.

Surprisingly, Yu Rui unexpectedly took Yuan Qichen’s side, offering a rare moment of fairness. “What does being at the Great Perfection Stage matter? No matter how high one’s cultivation, it’s easy to guard against honorable opponents but hard to fend off vile schemers. If the attack comes from someone close and trusted…”

As he spoke, he glanced meaningfully at a certain someone, almost pointing directly at Yu Xinze.

Yu Xinze maintained a straight face. “Does Third Uncle have any proof?”

Accused as the murderer, Yuan Qichen acted as if it had nothing to do with him, focused solely on playing with the child beside him.

Affected by his demonic energy, Yu Xinlan showed no fear and giggled cooperatively at him.

This reminded Yuan Qichen of how his own son, Yuan Xiao, looked as a child, and he actually found himself thinking, “Time truly flies.”

It seemed like just a blink of an eye ago that Yuan Xiao was a tiny bundle in swaddling clothes, and now he had grown into a young man.

Not to brag, but the kid’s appearance could be said to combine the best features of both Yuan Qichen and Que Zizhen. In a couple of years, once he matured fully, winning people over would be a piece of cake for him.

Seeing the tension between her elder brother and Third Uncle, Yu Xinchen quickly turned to Que Zizhen for help, hoping to break the stalemate. “Immortal Lord, what do you think?”

Que Zizhen’s expression was rather serious. After a moment of contemplation, he spoke truthfully. “The cause of your father’s death is indeed as Sect Leader Zhao stated.”

Yu Xinchen’s heart sank immediately.

Could it be that Yuan Qichen truly possessed some earth-shrinking technique and traversed distances, traveling between the Yu residence and Tianshu Palace overnight, killing without a trace, then returning to the scene as if nothing happened—even seeking out her, the daughter of the deceased, to offer advice?

That seemed utterly absurd.

Que Zizhen’s words led many to believe that the truth was exactly as Tang Lin had claimed.

In an instant, phrases like “I knew it” and “Just as expected” were heard left and right, as though everyone had foreseen it.

Unexpectedly, Que Zizhen spoke again, very firmly. “But his death has nothing to do with Yuan Qichen.”

Tang Lin’s head snapped up, a look of disbelief written all over his face. “Why would the Immortal Lord say that?”

At that moment, not only did everyone from the various immortal sects present watch intently, but even Yuan Qichen looked at him with keen interest.

Que Zizhen’s expression remained unchanged, as though he were stating something entirely ordinary. “Only because at the time of Patriarch Yu’s murder, Yuan Qichen was with me.”