Ink panel: Hunting the sun and surveying the sky from the bow.

Chapter 333: Estrangement, Each One’s Choice
The young men from various noble families in the camp were as dazzling as stars.

Their appearance was like a huge rock falling into the lake, causing waves.

A thin layer of frost inevitably shrouded the hearts of the people in Yongzhou, and a tense and complicated look appeared on their faces.

Everyone present knew clearly that these talents would be the protagonists in the upcoming pacification meeting, and they would just be supporting roles.

Once the quelling meeting begins, these noble families will probably attack them without hesitation.

If they want to survive, they need to step over the corpses of these young men from noble families.

But how is it possible?
Everyone surrounding the son of aristocratic family is a strong person.

Most of them are martial artists who travel around the world and want to rise to the top overnight, while others are protectors of their families.

The aura contained in each person is like a moving mountain, which makes it difficult for people to match them.

With their level of skills, it would be nothing but a pipe dream to think they could defeat these guards.

The atmosphere in the camp suddenly became much more depressing.

"Miss, what should we do?" Ada, the young man behind Shao Hongling, asked seriously.

Shao Hongling glanced at Shen Qing and said meaningfully, "With Lord Shen's help, we will definitely be fine."

Shen Qing noticed Shao Hongling's little thoughts and was testing his attitude.

Seeing Shao Hongling's frankness, he said calmly: "After the pacification meeting starts, follow me closely."

In Shen Qing's eyes, although the guards around these young men from aristocratic families have some high cultivation levels, most of them are at the innate realm, which is lower than his.

There are a few powerful people in the Lingxu realm, and he is confident that he can protect himself.

It wouldn't be a problem for him to bring one or two people.

Shao Hongling felt relieved when he saw Shen Qing's attitude. He said excitedly, "Thank you very much, sir. We are willing to serve you and follow you till death."

A Da and Xiao Man behind him couldn't help but show some joy.

A large number of people gathered together in the camp, and Shao Hongling's behavior was also seen by several other martial artists who had just joined Yongzhou.

They couldn't help but regret that they hadn't thought of this and were a step behind.

Seeing the arrival of the children of noble families, they were worried about their own safety and also wanted to seek protection from the strong.

A martial artist found out about Shen Qing's past and came to Shen Qing.

"I, Zhang San, have heard of your name, and I have come here today to seek refuge. I am willing to follow you in this meeting to quell the rebellion, and to go through fire and water together with you, without hesitation!"

"We are the same, and we are willing to serve you at your service!"

Shen Qing looked at some martial artists in front of him and frowned slightly.

He had not expected such an outcome.

He remained silent, noncommittal, and made no promises.

One martial artist was thick-skinned enough to assume that Shen Qing had agreed, and simply stood behind him, and the others followed suit.

In just a moment, five or six more people appeared around him.

Suddenly, there was a commotion among the people in Yongzhou, and someone shouted, "Look, it's the young master of the Xue family walking towards us."

As soon as these words were spoken, County Magistrate Dou Wenxi, County Supervisor Yan Xushou and other Yongzhou people looked up and saw Xue Bai coming slowly with two guards. Their faces suddenly changed.

Some timid people even showed fear on their faces, their hearts beat like drums, and their faces turned extremely pale.

Xue Bai walked up to Yongzhou and stood still. He looked at these hundreds of people, and other martial artists who kept gathering around him, and felt dissatisfied.

These people are all martial artists with certain abilities. If they work together, it would take a lot of effort for them to deal with them, which would affect the Xue family's gains in the Pacification Meeting.

Xue Bai concentrated his gaze on the people in Yongzhou.

His sharp eyes recognized Shen Qing who was standing not far away.

When he attended the meeting to quell the rebellion, he was not arrogant or contemptuous. Instead, he made a lot of thorough preparations.

There was no way he would miss out on this influential figure in Yongzhou.

In his eyes, Shen Qing, the chief of the two departments, was even the biggest threat among everyone in Yongzhou.

Looking at his rise along the way, the speed was extremely fast, simply monstrous.

I don't know what kind of cards he will have when he comes to the quelling rebellion this time. It is not a good idea to keep him in Yongzhou.

However, he had already thought of a brilliant idea for these people. He raised the corners of his mouth, revealing a slight smile, and continued to move forward.

Wherever he passed, people automatically stepped aside to make way.

Xue Bai walked up to Shen Qing, stopped, and said condescendingly: "You are the chief of the two divisions of the Weiwu Division, Shen Qing, right?"

Shen Qing said calmly: "Yes."

"I have heard of your great name for a long time." Xue Bai sneered and said, "Speaking of what you did in Yongzhou, even I, who am far away in Kyoto, have heard about it. If I am not mistaken, did my third brother die in your hands?"

Shen Qing's heart skipped a beat.

Has the other party found out?
No, impossible.

I took action only after I had a breakthrough in the Great Void Technique, using the skill [Invisibility and Tracelessness]. The whole process was very careful, leaving no traces behind.

Even in Yongzhou, no results were found.

It is even more impossible to do so in the capital city which is thousands of miles away.

This young master of the Xue family is cheating me!

Shen Qing quickly came to a conclusion in his mind, and he flatly denied it, "I have absolutely nothing to do with your brother's affairs! Young Master, you don't have any evidence, so please don't accuse me of anything?"

"I'm slandering you?" Xue Bai said with a smile, "Do you think I would come to you if I wasn't completely sure?"

Shen Qing snorted coldly and said, "If I say no, then it means no. If you only rely on your mouth, then whatever you say is true."

"You are so sharp-tongued."

Shen Qing didn't know Xue Bai's purpose, but at this moment he was even more certain that Xue Bai didn't have complete confidence.

Now the pacification meeting has not yet begun, and there is a powerful person from the Kongyou realm in charge of the camp, so no one dares to act recklessly.

If Xue Bai really wanted to confirm that he was the one who killed Xue Yan, he should have talked about it after the Quelling Rebellion Meeting started.

Only then could they take advantage of the opportunity to kill him.

Pointing this out now would only alert the enemy and force him to make more preparations.

In fact, just as Shen Qing thought, Xue Bai had no idea at all who killed Xue Yan.

Xue Bai didn't want to know either.

In his opinion, all the people in Yongzhou had to die, and it didn't matter who killed them. He pointed it out now for other purposes.

Xue Bai straightened his back, puffed out his chest, turned his head, looked at County Magistrate Dou Wenxi, County Supervisor Yan Xushou and others, took a deep breath and said, "I believe you all know why you are here today. Today I can show you a way out, how about it?"

Dou Wenxi, Yan Xushou and the others' eyes lit up and said, "I wonder what kind of life path Master Xue is talking about?"

"I have now found out that the real murderer who killed my third brother is Shen Qing. If you are willing to take the initiative to distance yourself from him today, after the meeting to quell the rebellion begins, I will only kill Shen Qing. As for you, I will let you go and spare your lives."

After saying this, Xue Bai's eyes slowly swept across everyone's face. Seeing each of their wonderful expressions, he couldn't help feeling a little proud.

"The meeting to quell the rebellion is about to begin. You don't have much time left. Think carefully about whether your life is more important or your so-called loyalty. When the time comes, give me your answer after the meeting to quell the rebellion begins."

After Xue Bai said this, he turned around and left.

County Magistrate Dou Wenxi and County Supervisor Yan Xushou exchanged glances, and like everyone else, they couldn't help but feel a little shaken.

In their opinion, their relationship with Shen Qing had not reached the point of sharing life and death.

Even if there is danger in the future, Shen Qing may not try his best to help them.

Wouldn't it be better if it could give you a way out?
Shen Qing, who was standing by, witnessed all this, and the word "estrangement" immediately popped up in his mind.

It turns out that the purpose is here.

The young master of the Xue family saw that so many people had gathered in Yongzhou and acted deliberately to instigate others.

On the one hand, it made the people of Yongzhou reconsider their views. On the other hand, it also made the martial artists and officials from other counties who had just joined Yongzhou know about the grudge between Yongzhou and the Xue family, causing them to re-evaluate the pros and cons.

Just a few words were enough to save them a lot of trouble.

Good means.

Zhang San and others who had just joined Shen Qing looked at each other.

They had never imagined that Shen Qing had such a past with the famous Xue family, and they secretly groaned in their hearts.

This is not a support at all, it is clearly a disaster.

Such a great disaster was brought upon himself.

Master Zhang San remembered that Shen Qing had not agreed to his request for help just now. He quickly said, "My cultivation is low, and the master has not said anything when I asked him to join me just now. I guess he doesn't think highly of a small person like me. In that case, I won't force him. Goodbye!"

Zhang San clasped his hands together, bowed, and walked away from Shen Qing with a disappointed look on his face.

After he took the lead, the other martial artists seemed to have grasped the key points and soon followed suit and left one after another.

In the blink of an eye, there was no one behind Shen Qing again. The change was so fast that it was astonishing.

A Da and Xiao Man looked at each other.

Xiao Man stepped forward and couldn't help but tug at Shao Hongling's sleeve, lowering his voice and saying, "Miss..."

His meaning was very clear. He wanted Shao Hongling to leave with him and not to cause trouble for himself.

Shao Hongling was unmoved by this and said, "We should share the good times and not share the bad times. Where in the world can such a good thing happen so cheaply? Do you think these people can hide for a while or forever? It's just a matter of time."

"Since we are all going to die, why bother? I, Shao Hongling, always keep my word. I will follow you till death, and I am not kidding. If you want to leave, go ahead."

"I feel bad for getting you into trouble, and I have no right to ask you to do anything. It would be good if you could live a little longer."

Ah Da and Xiao Man were anxious and said quickly, "The eldest lady saved our lives, how can we live in disgrace with this bald guy? Wherever the eldest lady is, we will be there."

When Shen Qing heard the conversation between Shao Hongling and his master and servant, he couldn't help but look at Shao Hongling with admiration.

He thought Shao Hongling was the same as everyone else, but he didn't expect him to have such a temper.

But that's right.

If it weren't for her strong character, she wouldn't have fallen to this point.

Compared to Shao Hongling's determination, Dou Wenxi, Yan Xushou and others on the side were obviously a little shaken.

Dou Wenxi coughed lightly and said in a calculating tone, "Shen Qing is a man who hates evil and hates evil. He is very serious. If we hand him over easily, we may get into trouble. Besides, our small group is just starting out. If we rashly draw a line with him, I am afraid that we will appear to be too unrighteous."

"Then according to Lord Dou, what should we do?" Yan Xushou stepped forward and asked in a low voice.

Dou Wenxi said: "Before the meeting to quell the rebellion begins, we should first stabilize Shen Qing and the martial artists from other cities and negotiate between them. After the meeting begins, we will play the good guy first and then secretly find someone to play the bad guy. We have no choice but to "follow the will of the crowd" and draw a line with him. This can stabilize the martial artists and avoid becoming enemies with the Xue family."

"That's great. This matter is really like what you said, don't rush it. It's a good idea."

"Then let's go, I'll go find Shen Qing and comfort him."

Yan Xushou nodded, and walked to Shen Qing with Dou Wenxi with the results of the discussion.

"Master Shen."

Shen Qing raised his eyelids and said, "Are you two adults here to draw a line between you and me?"

"How is that possible?" Dou Wenxi clasped his hands together and said, "Although we don't have much courage, we are definitely not the kind of heartless people."

Yan Xushou followed closely and said, "Xue Bai's words are just his intention to destroy our trust. How can the two of us who have been with Lord Shen be easily shaken by rumors from the outside world? We must stand together with Lord Shen through thick and thin and overcome difficulties together."

Shen Qing's eyes moved back and forth between the two people's faces.

When they were dealing with the Yongzhou demons, both of them acted as if it had nothing to do with them. He didn't believe that they would change their nature after joining the Jingluan Society.

"You...really won't draw a line with me as Young Master Xue said?" Shen Qing said with a half-smile, "After all, if it's as he said, the Xue family is willing to give you a way out."

"Who knows whether what the Xue family said is true or not." Dou Wenxi stepped forward and gently placed his hands on Shen Qing's shoulders: "We won't be fooled by them, so just rest assured."

Shen Qing glanced at Dou Wenxi's hand on his shoulder, and said with a playful smile: "My two lords are so noble. This time, the rebellion will be extremely dangerous. No matter what happens, I, Shen Qing, will definitely do my best."

"Okay." Dou Wenxi said, "Master Shen, please be busy. I will go and comfort the other comrades."

"As you please, my Lord."

Seeing Dou Wenxi and Yan Xushou leave, the smile on Shen Qing's face gradually faded. He didn't believe what they said at all and just treated it as bullshit.

Time passed day by day, and in the blink of an eye, another seven days had passed.

The number of martial artists coming from all directions gradually decreased.

At this time, everyone was given a simple map with different marching routes engraved on it, heading straight for Danzhou and even those cities that had been captured by the Huangtian Sect.

According to the soldier who distributed the map, the people in the camp can choose different routes to march and fight all the way until only a hundred people are left.

At that time, the merit stones in the hands of the hundred people who are still alive will emit a light that reaches the sky, attracting the support of people in the court.

boom!
The mighty man sitting in the center of the camp leaped into the air, and a dazzling light came from the sky.

Everyone's heart skipped a beat, they knew that the quelling meeting was about to begin.

The sense of oppression in the camp was extremely heavy.

In the end, only a hundred people were left out of tens of thousands of martial artists, and no one knew whether they could survive.

(End of this chapter)