Chapter 23: Yan Zhen Tricks the Ghosts
Han Feng, the kind soul who had generously gifted him his Extreme Flame… oh wait, that was wrong. He was the scheming villain who had colluded with the Second and Third Shopkeepers, plotting against Ji Ya.
Although he was just a new instructor at the Hundred Mile City Mystic Academy, he had the backing of the Sacred Ground Academy.
If Yan Zhen had chopped off his hand and stolen his Extreme Flame, he would face retaliation from Han Feng and his allies when he went to the Sacred Ground Academy for further studies. Along with Instructor Yu Xuan’s pursuer, they would form his early external pressure, forcing him to train diligently.
But Han Feng still had a role to play at the Sacred Ground Academy. Why was he suddenly dead?
He glanced at Ji Ya, finding her equally surprised.
“What are you talking about?”
Ji Ya was annoyed. She had planned to spend another day with Yan Zhen before returning to her duties, handling the Chamber’s affairs. Time was precious. She didn’t have time for this nonsense.
“Barging into Elegant Courtyard, breaking down the door… Do you think I have no temper, old men?”
Aunt Mu was already standing before the two Shopkeepers, her Ninth Star Mystic King aura radiating outwards, her gaze fixed on them. Any hostile action would be met with her full force.
Jin Tong and Yu Nu also drew their swords, flanking Ji Ya. They were only Mystic Masters, but their combined Mystic Power resonated, their strength amplifying.
The atmosphere grew tense.
“What? Do you want to kill us too, Head Shopkeeper? Then come!” The Second Shopkeeper’s pointy face was cold, his anger evident. “I’d like to see how far you’re willing to go, you lawless tyrant!”
The Third Shopkeeper, his chubby face red with fury, his flabby cheeks trembling, also shouted, “Instructor Han Feng is from the Sacred Ground Academy! You… You killed him! Are you trying to make the Gold and Jade Chamber of Commerce an enemy of the Sacred Ground Academy? You… You’re a traitor!”
This doesn’t seem like an act… Yan Zhen was suspicious. “Are you saying Han Feng is really dead? How did he die? He didn’t die of heartbreak from losing his hand, did he? It’s not like he lost a wing. What’s the big deal?”
“Shut up!” The Second Shopkeeper roared. “It’s you, you heartless little brat! You poisoned your sword, chopped off his hand, and then took his life! You’re a murderer!”
— What the hell?! How dare you slander me!
If he wasn’t weaker than the Second Shopkeeper, he would have slapped him silly.
— I’m a dedicated actor! I would never sabotage the plot! You’re questioning my professionalism!
“You said… poison?” Ji Ya caught the key word. “Was Han Feng poisoned?”
“Don’t play dumb!” The Third Shopkeeper shouted. “You must have ordered that boy to do it! You’re trying to prevent us from using Han Feng to connect with the Sacred Ground Academy! You’re despicable and ruthless, Ji Ya!”
He was actually poisoned?
Yan Zhen and Ji Ya exchanged glances, then both turned to Yi Xian’er, finding her calmly eating, completely unaffected by the commotion, as if they were invisible.
— No… No way… She’s only a Mystic Adept! Her poison only works on those below the Mystic Scholar realm, and it’s usually not lethal, unless… unless she infused it with Yin energy, creating a deadly Yin poison!
Recalling her “Queen of a Thousand Yins” aura from last night, he felt a cold sweat break out. He asked hesitantly, “Did the poison… contain Yin energy?”
The Second Shopkeeper’s eyes narrowed. “How did you know the poison contained Yin energy? Hmph, admitting your guilt, are we?”
It’s actually true!
He felt a headache coming on, glaring at Yi Xian’er. Why did you have to kill him? Was that really necessary?
Ji Ya also gave her a speechless look. Poisoning Han Feng to death, although satisfying, was clearly not the right time.
Seeing their silence, the Third Shopkeeper declared, “Murder must be repaid with life! Surrender yourselves now and come with us to the Hundred Mile City Mystic Academy to answer for your crimes! You too, Ji Ya! If you can’t obtain the Academy’s forgiveness, you must resign as Head Shopkeeper and sever all ties with the Gold and Jade Chamber of Commerce, to avoid implicating us!”
Ji Ya frowned, about to argue, but Yan Zhen spoke first.
His expression was mocking, his gaze filled with disdain, as if he were looking at two idiots.
“I can’t believe you two, holding such high positions, yet your knowledge is so pathetic. You can’t even get something this simple right.”
His words enraged the two Shopkeepers. If not for Aunt Mu restraining them, they would have attacked him.
“You dare insult our knowledge?! You arrogant little brat!”
“Trying to make excuses, are we?”
He shrugged. “The duel yesterday should have been recorded. Just check the footage. I used my Extreme Flame to form a sword. How could I possibly poison it? The Gold and Silver Fire is pure Yang energy. You don’t think poison can be applied to a sword made of flames, do you? Your stupidity is astounding.”
“Sharp-tongued brat!” The Second Shopkeeper glared at him. “Who knows what insidious methods you used?”
The Third Shopkeeper also questioned him. “If you didn’t poison him, how did you know the poison contained Yin energy?”
“I guessed.” He said casually. “The Extreme Flame he tamed was the Phosphorus Fire, right? The Phosphorus Fire, also known as the weakest ghost fire, possesses a rare Yin attribute. It often carries traces of poison, miasma, and Yin energy.”
“What are you trying to say?”
“You’re not suggesting that Instructor Han Feng was poisoned by his own Phosphorus Fire, are you? Are you trying to trick us?!”
*Yes, I’m tricking you two bloodsucking capitalists!*
“I told you, your knowledge is pathetic.” He said calmly. “His Phosphorus Fire resided in his palm. When I severed his hand, he lost his connection to the flame. The residual fire within his body, uncontrolled, gradually poisoned him to death.”
“Impossible!”
“You think we’ll believe that?!”
“Believe what you want.” He chuckled. “Use your brains! A poison capable of killing a Mystic Master instantly would have to be at least a Tier 4 poison. If I possessed such a poison, do you think I would be talking to you like this? I would have killed you both already!”
The two Shopkeepers were speechless, their confidence wavering.
Yi Xian’er looked at him, her expression strange. He’s good at making things up.
He continued. “If you want to blame someone for Han Feng’s death, blame yourselves. If you hadn’t instigated this duel, I wouldn’t have been forced to sever his hand, and he wouldn’t have lost control of his Phosphorus Fire, ultimately dying from his own Extreme Flame… Oh, I get it! You’re afraid the Mystic Academy will blame you for his death, so you’re trying to shift the blame to me and Sister Ji Ya, right? Tsk tsk, how insidious. The world is truly going downhill.”
His words left them speechless, their faces alternating between pale and red. Ji Ya, amused, countered, “Is that true, gentlemen? What Little Brother Yan Zhen said?”
They felt a chill run down their spines.
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