Chapter 72: Searching for Clues

Tang Wei was now thoroughly indoctrinated by Zixuan, convinced that with the strength the two of them possessed, no one would truly dare harm Yaya. Although the Tianshan Twin Freaks had recently met with misfortune and Yaya had gone missing, she was still anxious, but no longer as flustered and frightened as before. At this moment, she even had the leisure to watch Long San and his party’s spectacle.

Long San’s group was organizing a search for clues, while everyone else merely waited for the show to unfold. The three great families had scoured the Tianshan Twin Freaks countless times without finding any useful leads, so naturally, they did not expect these newcomers to discover anything.

“Well, since you want to try, we’ll see what you’re really capable of,” everyone thought to themselves.

As the leading group approached, Long Jiu was already methodically searching the corpses with gloved hands. After checking the bodies, he moved to the surrounding grass, traced several circles, and, upon seeing Long San arrive, promptly stood up to report, “Boss, I’ve already found a few useful clues. Would you like to confirm them?”

“Very well, I’ll check as well, and then we can discuss,” Long San replied, taking the gloves from Long Jiu and crouching by the corpses to examine them.

About twenty minutes passed before Long San finally stood up, removed his gloves, and took a digital camera from his bag, snapping several photos from various angles. Only then did he walk over to them.

“How is it? Any clues?” Tang Wei was the first to ask.

Long San glanced at her but did not respond. Instead, he turned to Ouyang Qihua and said, “Young Master Ouyang, could you please have your men clear a space for us? We need to discuss our findings before sharing them.”

“All right, this way,” Ouyang Qihua gestured with his right hand, ready to lead them off.

“You may deal with the corpses as you see fit,” Long San said to the three families before leaving, indicating that their examination was complete.

Zixuan suddenly remembered something and called out, “Wait a moment!”

“Yes, elder? Is there something else?” Long San turned back, his tone polite on the surface, but lacking any true respect.

“Are you finished here? If I move the bodies, will it matter?” Zixuan asked, pointing at the corpses, unconcerned with Long San’s attitude.

“Oh? What do you intend to do?” Long San turned, curiosity piqued.

“All you need to answer is whether I can move the bodies; what I do is none of your concern,” Zixuan replied haughtily.

Long San considered for a moment, then chuckled softly and gestured, “Go ahead.”

Zixuan approached the corpses, sized them up, extended both hands in a gesture, and muttered under his breath. Instantly, countless tiny points of light, each the size of a sesame seed, began to gather around. In the dim gloom of the primeval forest, the lights were especially striking, and the spectators exclaimed in surprise, “Wow! What is he doing?”

Long San, Long Jiu, Xuan Yuan Zhe, Ouyang Qihua, and the others were all intrigued, crowding closer to watch.

Xuan Yuan Zhe, excited, clutched Tang Wei’s hand and asked urgently, “Shiyi, what is Brother Chen doing?”

Truthfully, Tang Wei herself had no idea what Zixuan was doing. But suddenly, inspiration struck—she remembered reading in one of the jade slips in the study about a secret technique that collected the soul consciousness of the dead, scattered nearby after death. By gathering it, one could briefly awaken the dead—though without heartbeat or pulse, only consciousness.

Could Zixuan be using that technique now? When did he learn it? Tang Wei was unsure, but since Xuan Yuan Zhe had asked, she couldn’t claim complete ignorance; that would undermine her status as a cultivator in the fasting stage. She quickly replied, “It seems to be the Soul Gathering Technique.”

“What’s the Soul Gathering Technique? What’s it for?” Xuan Yuan Zhe, ever the curious child, peppered her with questions. Thankfully Yun Qian was not present, or else the two of them would have pestered her to death. In truth, Tang Wei wasn’t very familiar with it herself; she had only come across it by chance.

“It’s used to collect the soul consciousness of the dead and briefly revive them. That’s all I know,” Tang Wei had to admit her limited understanding, lest further questions expose her ignorance.

Yet her brief answer made Long San's eyes light up. His clues were vague at best; perhaps this would yield some useful evidence.

By now, the points of light Zixuan summoned had grown ever more brilliant, eventually coalescing into two orbs—one large, one small—that entered the bodies of the Tianshan Twin Freaks. Seeing his effort succeed, Zixuan hurried to the one with the larger orb. Miraculously, the man who had been dead for over a day slowly opened his eyes. Zixuan immediately supported him and pressed, “Quickly, tell me—who took Yaya? Who killed you?”

One of the Tianshan Twin Freaks, still dazed by his sudden awakening, soon recalled being hunted. With Zixuan’s urgent questioning, the memory of his last moments flared forth, his eyes filled with hatred, glaring fiercely at Xuan Yuan Zhe’s group. He even tried to lift his hand to point and curse, but only managed to raise it halfway before his lips moved—and he never woke again.

Zixuan sighed in disappointment. After all that effort, he had achieved nothing. There were so many people where the freak had glared: the Xuan Yuan family, Ouyang family, Chen family, independent cultivators, and even Long San’s party. Who could tell which group was responsible? Even without asking, Zixuan had long suspected that one of these factions was behind it. Their motives remained unclear, but there was no doubt they were ill-intentioned.

Long San now stepped forward to press him, “Elder, did you discover any clues?” This time, Long San’s tone was genuinely earnest.

“Nothing useful, but I am certain this was not the scene of the crime,” Zixuan replied with certainty.

“Why do you say that? There are obvious signs of fighting nearby,” Long San questioned, tilting his head in thought.

“Because the soul consciousness I gathered was incomplete. That means by the time they arrived here, they were already dead—or barely alive,” Zixuan explained. Though the two were not on good terms, and Zixuan didn’t much like Long San, he was willing to discuss matters for Yaya’s sake.

“Are you sure?” Long San stood, his demeanor grave.

“Absolutely. I can say so with complete confidence,” Zixuan replied solemnly.

Hearing this, Long San clasped his hands behind his back and paced back and forth. Less than ten minutes later, apparently having reached a conclusion, he strode up to Ouyang Qihua and said, “I’d like to discuss this with you two elders in private. Young Master Ouyang, could I trouble you to keep watch for us?”

“Of course, this way please,” Ouyang Qihua agreed at once, then turned to an elderly cultivator behind him. “Steward, keep a close eye here. No one is to follow us. If anyone disobeys, beat them first and ask questions later.”

“Yes, sir!” The steward replied respectfully, turning to organize the Ouyang family to secure the area.

Long San led the way over the mountain, followed by Long Jiu. Tang Wei, sensing the gravity of the situation, quietly trailed after them. Zixuan, still attentive to her, took her hand as they descended, as if afraid she might slip.

After about ten minutes, the four reached a small hill. Zixuan stopped, glanced around, and said, “Let’s talk here. We’ve come far enough. I’ve checked—no one’s around to disturb us.”

Long San looked about, uncertain how to begin. After a moment’s silence, he finally spoke, “Do you truly trust the three great families?”

“What do you mean? If you have something to say, say it plainly,” Zixuan replied, unwilling to play games.

“Do you really believe the three great families are as harmonious as they appear? Do you truly think they’re helping you find your friend without ulterior motives?” Long San, seeing Zixuan’s directness, laid his cards on the table.