Chapter 85: Don't Even Need to Leave

The tall gate and strong walls were split open by sword energy, and even the barrier couldn't withstand it. Zhang Xinxiong turned to look, taking in the scene outside with a single glance.

More than a dozen curious inner court disciples were gathered at a distance, forming a circle. Some were squatting on stools, others were cracking sunflower seeds, or munching on red fruits and spitting out the pits.

This group was just there to watch the show, but as ordinary inner court disciples, they weren't even ranked among the Thirty-Three, so it was clear they weren't the type to cause trouble.

He glanced at the woman in the red skirt slowly approaching from the side, pulling his gaze away from her beautiful legs, and stepped forward gently. "Rao YinYin?"

Behind him, Lan Xinzier clenched her fists tightly. This gentle tone was something he would never use with her.

Rao YinYin let out a soft, charming laugh and shook her head slightly, then pulled someone to her side.

A young girl in white tight clothing poked her head out, her height only reaching up to Rao YinYin's chest.

She wrinkled her delicate nose, thrusting her enormous snow-white sword into the ground, its fierce sword intent still lingering.

Zhang Xinxiong's face darkened. "Su QianQian, what do you think you're doing!"

"Killing!"

Behind her, Zhao XiDong staggered back a step and quickly stepped forward to hold her back.

"Oh, my dear auntie, please don't make trouble! I'm still here— at least wait until I've left before you start!"

How am I supposed to handle this?

You can't just run wild because you're Elder Xiao's favorite disciple!

And you're charging in here so aggressively— does Elder Xiao even know?

Zhao XiDong was completely flustered, of course, some things he could only grumble about in his mind; he definitely couldn't say them out loud.

Su QianQian spotted Zhao XiDong and her eyes lit up.

"XiDong brother, block the back door for me and don't let him escape!"

Zhao XiDong's face turned dark. "Nonsense!"

Su QianQian's smile faded, and she suddenly pulled out a black-red token from her robe. "Elder Xiao has ordered it— Zhang Xinxiong has committed a grave crime, and he is to be killed on sight!"

"..."

Clang!

One of the disciples squatting on a chair and eating melon suddenly tumbled off it.

"Whoa, Su QianQian actually stole the token just to kill someone?"

"How do you know she stole it?"

"Wow, brother, are you new? Su QianQian does this kind of thing all the time."

Zhou TianCan scratched his head with the golden broadsword on his back. Had it been exposed so quickly?

He had just been passing by and noticed the commotion, getting drawn in without thinking.

"By the way, what's really going on here? Even though the inner court doesn't ban duels to the death, shouldn't they at least be on the life-and-death arena?"

"You're definitely a newcomer..."

The gossipers picked up their stools again, pulling Zhou TianCan back a bit before whispering, "Weren't you aware of the big incident last night?"

"Big incident?"

Zhou TianCan looked blank. He had slept like a log last night in the new inner court spirit site, so how could he know about any big incident?

That terrifying spirit energy density for cultivation, combined with the ultra-strong soundproofing array— even if the sky fell outside, he probably wouldn't wake up.

"Sigh, you're such a sleepy pig—newbies are always out like lights."

"So, what happened?"

"Rumor has it that last night, the inner court higher-ups set up an ambush at E Hu to capture a masked person, but it failed."

Zhou TianCan was shocked. "Zhang Xinxiong is the masked person?!"

"..."

"Nonsense!"

The gossiper choked on his sunflower seed and swallowed it, rolling his eyes. "They were trying to catch someone when that guy Feng Kong took his lackeys to the outer court to kill people!"

"Feng Kong? An inner court disciple?" Zhou TianCan was confused. "Is he crazy? Even if he killed someone, could he escape the Ling Fa Ge's tracking?"

"It's because those Thirty-Three candidates didn't make the cut and were desperate to pull off a big score before leaving Ling Gong for good..." The gossiper scoffed. "This kind of thing happens every year."

Zhou TianCan pondered this. He knew that before the outer court's Feng Yun Zheng Ba, the new selection for the inner court's Thirty-Three had already concluded.

He had only learned about it after entering the inner court.

"But how does that relate to what's happening now?" Zhou TianCan asked, puzzled.

He looked toward the front, where Su QianQian's token had everyone frozen, even though they all knew it was probably stolen, no one dared to act recklessly.

"Heh, it relates a lot!" The gossiper's eyes burned with the fire of gossip.

"This Feng Kong seems to have been sent by Zhang Xinxiong's side, and the person they assassinated apparently has some hidden connection with Su QianQian."

"And now, she's come knocking!"

Zhou TianCan thought to himself that the inner court was truly chaotic and felt sorry for the victim. "So, is this about revenge?"

"Revenge?" The gossiper shook his head, his eyes full of admiration. "Not quite, because Feng Kong and his lackeys got counter-killed..."

Zhou TianCan was stunned. Inner court disciples killed by outer court people?

"How is that possible!"

"Who killed them?"

"What's his name..." The gossiper thought back, hesitating. "From what Su QianQian called him..."

"Little beast brother?"

The guy next to them cracking seeds sneered, "This guy's gossip skills are weak— it's Xu XiaoShou!"

"Xu XiaoShou..." Zhou TianCan smacked his lips; the name sounded familiar.

"???"

"Xu XiaoShou?" He suddenly widened his eyes. "Which Xu XiaoShou?"

"You just got in, so you should know— the one who won the Feng Yun Zheng Ba championship."

Zhou TianCan tumbled off the stool, his expression dazed.

It was really him?

This guy...

How is that possible!

His heart was in turmoil, filled with shock.

After entering the inner court, he had been treading carefully, afraid of offending some big shot.

But Xu XiaoShou hadn't even made it into the inner court yet and had already taken down two inner court big shots?

This...

He truly deserved the title of champion!

Zhou TianCan got excited. Last time, by following the champion's trail, he had snagged that sheepskin scroll and gained immensely.

Now, it seemed that even after entering the inner court, he had to keep following the champion's footsteps!

There would definitely be more surprises!

He looked toward the standoff up front caused by that token, his eyes full of anticipation.

Take him down!

Zhang Xinxiong, right? For messing with my guidepost, you have to go down!

Everyone's eyes turned to Zhao XiDong; anyone with clear vision knew whether this fight would happen depended entirely on this enforcer.

Zhao XiDong gritted his teeth and finally decided he couldn't let Su QianQian run wild, or he'd probably end up back on the "punishment platform" again.

"Su QianQian, put away your tricks. This matter isn't as simple as you think."

He pointed at He YuXing. "That guy is the real mastermind behind it."

Su QianQian looked suspiciously at He YuXing. Why would he get involved?

A scapegoat?

No, this guy has always been at odds with Zhang Xinxiong, and he has no connection whatsoever to the Wen family. Only the Zhang family might step up for Wen Chong.

"Rao sister?" Her mind was a bit muddled as she looked at the woman in the red skirt.

Rao YinYin affectionately rubbed her head. "It's pretty straightforward, isn't it? There's still another person standing here."

Su QianQian was taken aback and looked toward Lan Xinzier...

Then glanced at Zhang Xinxiong and He YuXing, suddenly realizing.

"So that's it!"

The young girl's face flushed with anger as she pulled the snow-white giant sword from the ground. "All three of you, huh? Then none of you are leaving today!"

Thud!

Zhao XiDong collapsed to the ground.