Chen Qing’s expression turned solemn. "A criminal committed a crime in broad daylight, right under the Wutai Sect’s nose," he said gravely. "I will do my utmost to investigate, find the murderer, and show no mercy!"

Seeing this, Elder Tang cleared his throat. "Remember, the main point is to demonstrate our sect’s stance," he said. "That Ye Zhenshan most likely provoked someone he shouldn’t have or got caught up in a private feud. Your investigation should be for show. As for the results... just do your best. The Foreign Affairs Hall understands. It’s not uncommon for the patriarch of a small family to die unexpectedly, and it’s perfectly normal if the true culprit is never found. They won’t be too hard on you."

Chen Qing cupped his fist. "Yes, I understand."

"Mm,"

Elder Tang was satisfied with their attitudes. "There’s no time to lose. Li Wang, depart immediately. Chen Qing, you should get started as well."

"Yes!" The two of them bowed in salute.

Li Wang gave Chen Qing a slight nod, then turned and left in a flurry. Clearly, the matter with Lin Yang was extremely urgent.

Chen Qing also took his leave.

He stepped out of the Law Enforcement Hall and stood alone under the corridor. The afternoon sun was a bit glaring.

’This is the perfect opportunity to see if there are any loose ends with the Ye Family that weren’t taken care of.’

Over the next few days, Chen Qing diligently carried out his investigation into the Ye Family case.

First, as a matter of routine, he went to the remains of the Moon Embracing Painting Boat, which had been burned down to a charred skeleton, to ensure no details had been missed.

Afterward, Chen Qing also paid a visit to the Ye Family.

The Ye Mansion, which had once been orderly, if not luxurious, was now shrouded in an atmosphere of uneasy decay.

With Ye Zhenshan’s death, the Ye Family had instantly lost its backbone and greatest protector.

The few direct-line sons and nephews—the eldest of whom was just a young man with Transmutation Force Cultivation—were in no mood to cooperate with any investigation from the Wutai Sect.

All their energy was focused on intense infighting and panic.

After all, the Ye Family had been in the Prefecture City for decades and had offended quite a few factions during that time.

With Ye Zhenshan presiding over them before, no one dared to make a move. Now that this Mid-stage Embracing Pill Power expert was dead, the Ye Family was undoubtedly a juicy piece of meat in the eyes of others.

’If they didn’t do their best to get a piece of the pie now, when would they!?’

Third Madam Ye, who held the real power, pleaded tearfully with Chen Qing to step in and protect the Ye Family’s assets from being carved up by the surrounding families who were watching like vultures.

Chen Qing, of course, refused this "unreasonable" request.

Seeing the dire situation, Third Madam Ye grit her teeth and, steeling herself, offered up twenty thousand taels of silver, begging Chen Qing, this prominent disciple of the Wutai Sect, to just look out for them a little.

Chen Qing weighed the silver notes in his hand, mused for a moment, and finally relented. "As for the matter of the Ye Family’s murderer, my Wutai Sect will naturally investigate it to the end and ensure the Ye Family is not disturbed by them. As for the other families..."

He paused, his tone turning cold. "If they act according to the rules of the Prefecture City and conduct their ’business’ reasonably and legally, then I, Chen Qing, have no right to question it, nor the power to interfere."

Hearing this, Third Madam Ye felt a great weight finally lift from her heart.

As long as the culprit who killed the Patriarch didn’t return to wipe them out, the Ye Family would have a chance to breathe. As for the external encroachment, as heartbreaking as it was, they could only accept it.

In the end, Chen Qing returned to the Wutai Sect with the silver notes in his pocket to report on his mission.

The matter of the Ye Family was thus concluded.

For the next several days, it was very peaceful within the Wutai Sect.

The Cyan Wood Institute, however, was injected with a long-absent vitality due to a joyous occasion.

A disciple named Zhou Tong, after several years of arduous cultivation, had finally succeeded in opening his first Main Meridian and stepped over the threshold into the Embracing Pill Force realm!

Although a newly advanced Embracing Pill Force disciple was no major event in the other four institutes, in the talent-starved Cyan Wood Institute, it was undoubtedly a cause for celebration.

Zhou Tong was so excited he could barely contain himself. He spent several hundred taels of silver that he had saved up for a long time to host a banquet in the institute’s courtyard, inviting all his fellow disciples.

Toasts were exchanged throughout the lively and festive banquet.

The newly advanced Zhou Tong, beaming with joy, accepted the congratulations of his martial brothers.

But many of the other Transmutation Force Disciples, amidst the festivities, had an unconcealable tension and anxiety deep in their eyes.

This was because the day of Master Li’s assessment would soon be upon them again.

This meant that many more disciples would be ’asked to leave’.

Just one day after the banquet, a travel-worn Li Wang returned to Dingbo Lake.

The first thing he did was find Chen Qing.

"Junior Brother Chen, the matter in Lin Yang has been resolved."

Li Wang picked up the tea Chen Qing had poured for him and downed it in one gulp, a trace of exhaustion on his face.

"Oh? What was the situation?" Chen Qing asked.

"I got to the bottom of it."

Li Wang set down his teacup, his tone turning grave. "It was, in fact, a disciple from our Li Fire Institute. He was robbed and killed during a mission several years ago. The leader of the culprits was a desperado who somehow got his hands on the disciple’s personal notes. Scrawled inside were some cultivation routes and insights for the first level of the Crimson Sun Heart-Burning Technique. The scoundrel’s talent wasn’t half-bad; he actually managed to forcefully cultivate it to a certain level just by copying what he read. His True Qi carried the distinct traces of Li Fire, which is what gave him away."

A fierce glint flashed in his eyes. "The Prefecture City’s Chief of Police helped us set up an ambush. The scoundrel still tried to put up a final struggle, but I cut him down with my own hands. The partial cultivation technique has been recovered and destroyed. I suppose you could say justice has been served for our unjustly killed junior brother."

Chen Qing nodded. "You’ve worked hard, Senior Brother. Recovering the partial technique and preventing future trouble is a great accomplishment."

Li Wang changed the subject, pulling out the latest issue of *Jianghu Anecdotes*. "Compared to this business with Lin Yang, the one getting more attention right now is Xiao Bieli."

"He’s made another move?" Chen Qing took the paper and glanced over it.

"It’s more than just ’another move’!"

Li Wang lowered his voice, his tone filled with disbelief. "While we were dealing with the Lin Yang affair, Xiao Bieli went to Qixia Manor and challenged Feng Shuhao—the one they call ’Burning Flame’ of the ’Five Heroes’!"