Starting as pearl divers, they have endless jobs.

Chapter 156 Investigation, Covert Tracking, Taking Medicine
At the city gate, the checks remained very strict.

The disciples of Tianjian Manor and the soldiers of Qingzhou Prefecture carefully questioned everyone who left the city.

When it was Chen Ye's turn, a disciple from Tianjian Villa stopped him.

"Name, origin, cultivation level?"

"Chen Ye, a rogue cultivator from Yu Huo County, at the Unobstructed Realm," Chen Ye replied calmly.

The disciple glanced at the roster in his hand, then looked Chen Ye up and down. Seeing that he was just an ordinary boy carrying a seemingly ordinary knife, he didn't ask any further questions.

"Let's go." He waved his hand, signaling them to proceed.

Chen Ye cupped his hands in greeting and walked out of the city gate without any trouble.

Looking back at the tall and majestic city wall, Chen Ye felt no lingering attachment whatsoever.

This place earned him his first pot of gold, but it also brought him considerable trouble.

He took a deep breath, checked his direction, and then strode into the flow of people on the official road.

However, less than half an hour after Chen Ye left Qingzhou Prefecture.

In the western part of the city, the atmosphere in the sealed-off mansion suddenly became tense.

The person who took over the case from Xiao Zhanbai was another elite disciple of the Enforcement Hall, named Zhao Qian.

This person has always been at odds with Xiao Zhanbai, and the two have been fighting openly and covertly for many years.

Therefore, Zhao Qian was extremely proud of being able to snatch this case from Xiao Zhanbai.

In the past two days, in order to solve the case as quickly as possible, he has used even more ruthless methods than Xiao Zhanbai.

Throughout the entire Qingzhou Prefecture, anyone even remotely connected to evil cultivators or demonic practices was arrested by him, and the interrogation rooms were filled with agonizing screams every day.

Just now, his men actually hit the jackpot and captured an outer disciple of White Bone Mountain.

The guy was discovered in a casino. He had lost all his money and got into a fight with someone, which resulted in him revealing the aura of his White Bone Mountain martial arts. He was captured on the spot by the patrolling disciples.

At this moment, the lights in the interrogation room flickered.

The unfortunate disciple of White Bone Mountain was chained to a rack with two thick iron chains, covered in blood and barely breathing.

Zhao Qian sat in a grand chair, slowly wiping the long sword in his hand, a cruel smile on his face.

"Tell me, what exactly is Li Gu's purpose in coming to Qingzhou City?"

"I...I don't know...I really don't know..." The disciple's voice was weak and filled with fear.

"Don't know?" Zhao Qian sneered. "Looks like you're pretty tough."

He winked at the executioner beside him.

The disciple understood, picked up a red-hot branding iron, and pressed it down on the chest of the White Bone Mountain disciple.

"what--!"

A piercing scream echoed throughout the entire dungeon.

Xiao Zhanbai, who had been standing silently in the corner, frowned deeply upon seeing this scene.

Although she was also dismissed from her post, she was still unwilling to accept it, so she stayed to see what tricks Zhao Qian could find out.

She disliked Zhao Qian's methods of torture and forced confessions; in her opinion, they were low-level and useless.

Truly tough people aren't afraid of these physical pains.

However, to her surprise, after enduring several more rounds of torture, this disciple of White Bone Mountain actually spoke up.

"I'll talk... I'll talk! Stop hitting me, I'll tell you everything!" he shouted in despair.

Zhao Qian stopped what he was doing, glanced triumphantly at Xiao Zhanbai in the corner, his eyes full of provocation.

"Elder Li Gu came to Qingzhou City not only to participate in the trade fair, but also for another purpose... to kill someone!" the disciple said, panting heavily.

"Kill whom?" Zhao Qian's eyes lit up.

“Kill…kill a kid from Yuhuo County, call him…call him…”

The disciple seemed to be trying hard to remember.

Everyone in the interrogation room held their breath.

Finally, the disciple seemed to remember something and shouted out the name with all his might.

"Chen Ye!"

Upon hearing this name, everyone present, including Zhao Qian, looked completely bewildered.

Only Xiao Zhanbai, who was standing in the corner, was suddenly startled, and a terrifying light shot out from his phoenix eyes.

Is...is it him?
Xiao Zhanbai remembered the young man he had seen at the inn yesterday.

That seemingly ordinary boy, whose cultivation was only at the Unobstructed Realm, remained calm and composed, leaving no room for error, when questioned by himself and his sister.

At the time, she thought she was overthinking it. How could a minor cultivator at the Unobstructed Realm be involved in this case?

But now...

Li Gu, an elder of White Bone Mountain, whose soul cultivation is at least at the mid-stage of the Sea Condensation Realm, actually came here specifically to kill him!

This shows that this boy named Chen Ye is definitely not as simple as he appears on the surface!
Could someone who could command the elders of White Bone Mountain to travel thousands of miles to hunt down be just an ordinary rogue cultivator at the Unobstructed Realm?

Furthermore, he had a grudge against Lü Song, a disciple of White Bone Mountain.

Li Gu is an elder of White Bone Mountain.

Li Gu is now dead, killed by a master swordsman.

Chen Ye is someone who uses a knife.

At this moment, all the clues pointed to the same answer!
The murderer is Chen Ye!
This thought struck Xiao Zhanbai like a bolt of lightning.

She was completely stunned, an indescribable sense of shock and absurdity instantly engulfing her.

She actually... was fooled by a kid who had reached the Unobstructed Realm!

Yesterday at the inn, she arrogantly dismissed the other person as a suspect, thinking that the other person was not worth mentioning at all.

Looking back now, I realize that my arrogant attitude probably made me look like a fool in their eyes.

A strong sense of humiliation welled up in Xiao Zhanbai's heart, causing her usually icy and beautiful face to instantly turn bright red.

"Chen Ye? Who is that?"

Zhao Qian frowned, breaking the silence of the interrogation room.

He turned to ask the disciples behind him, only to find that none of them had ever heard of the name.

"An unknown nobody?" Zhao Qian was somewhat disappointed.

He thought he would get some earth-shattering information, but it turned out to be just a name he had never heard of before.

He subconsciously glanced at Xiao Zhanbai in the corner, wanting to see her reaction, but found that Xiao Zhanbai was staring intently at the White Bone Mountain disciple hanging on the rack, her expression changing constantly, her eyes extremely complicated.

"Junior Sister Xiao, do you know this person?" Zhao Qian keenly sensed that something was wrong with Xiao Zhanbai.

Xiao Zhanbai suddenly came to his senses, glanced at Zhao Qian, and a struggle flashed deep in his eyes.

Should I tell him my guess?

If we tell him, then the case will be completely solved, and all the credit will naturally go to Zhao Qian.

She spent two days investigating diligently, only to end up benefiting her longtime nemesis.

Why!
This case should have been hers from the start!
She was the first one to take charge of! And she was the first one to come into contact with Chen Ye!
If it weren't for the elders' favoritism in forcibly removing her from her position as head, Xiao Zhanbai would be the one enjoying this glory now!
Thinking of this, Xiao Zhanbai's unwillingness and competitive spirit instantly overwhelmed everything else.

She couldn't just hand over this tremendous credit to Zhao Qian!
Absolutely not!

She wanted to capture Chen Ye herself and prove to everyone that she, Xiao Zhanbai, was the most outstanding disciple of the younger generation of Tianjian Manor!
"do not know."

Xiao Zhanbai shook his head, his voice returning to its usual coldness, and his face once again covered with a layer of frost.

"I just felt that someone who could be of interest to the elders of White Bone Mountain must be no ordinary person, so I was just a little curious."

Although Zhao Qian found it a bit strange, he didn't think much of it.

In his view, Xiao Zhanbai is now a loser and not worth mentioning at all.

"Hmph, who cares who he is." Zhao Qian snorted coldly, turning his gaze back to the White Bone Mountain disciple. "Where is that Chen Ye now?"

"I...I don't know..." the disciple said weakly, shaking his head.

"waste!"

Zhao Qian kicked the disciple in the stomach, venting his dissatisfaction.

After asking around for ages, all I got was a name. I don't even know where the person is. What's the difference between that and not asking at all?
Qingzhou City is so big, how easy is it to find someone who is deliberately hiding?

"Lock him up and keep a close watch on him!" Zhao Qian waved his hand impatiently, then turned to leave.

He was going to report this significant progress to Elder Jian.

Right after Zhao Qian left, Xiao Zhanbai also made a move.

Without alerting anyone, she quietly left the gloomy dungeon and headed straight for the Yuelai Inn.

If we go now, we can definitely catch him!

Xiao Zhanbai's heart pounded wildly with excitement and nervousness.

She felt like the blood in her body was burning.

This is not just about solving the case, but also about wiping away the shame!
She wanted to teach that brat Chen Ye a lesson for deceiving her, Xiao Zhanbai!

She also wanted to show Zhao Qian, Elder Jian, and everyone who looked down on her who the ultimate winner was!

Xiao Zhanbai's figure transformed into a white lightning bolt, swiftly traversing the streets of Qingzhou Prefecture.

Her speed was so great that the strong wind she generated even made the roadside vendors lose their balance.

Soon, the familiar sign of Yuelai Inn came into her view.

Without slowing down at all, she rushed straight into the inn's lobby.

"Shopkeeper, where is the guest named Chen Ye who is staying here?" Xiao Zhanbai's voice trembled slightly due to his urgency.

The innkeeper, who was working on his abacus behind the counter, was startled by the sudden commotion.

He looked up and, recognizing the visitor as a disciple of Heavenly Sword Manor, dared not be negligent and quickly stood up. "Fairy, are you referring to that Young Master Chen?"

"Yes, that's him! Where is he?"

"He...he's already checked out and left," the innkeeper replied cautiously.

"Gone?" Xiao Zhanbai was struck dumb, frozen in place. "When did they leave?"

"Just... just now, less than half an hour ago."

Half an hour!

Xiao Zhanbai's heart sank to the bottom instantly.

It was just a tiny bit more!

A strong sense of regret and anxiety welled up in her heart.

Without saying a word, she turned and rushed out of the inn, but returned a moment later.

Which direction are you going?

The shopkeeper was so startled by her that he instinctively pointed south.

"South...South Gate..."

Before he finished speaking, Xiao Zhanbai's figure had already disappeared around the street corner.

She only has one thought now.

Chase!
Even if we have to chase him to the ends of the earth, we will definitely bring that guy back!
On the official road, carriages and horses were numerous, and people were numerous.

Chen Ye mingled with the crowd leaving the city, walking at a leisurely pace.

The official road was flanked by rolling hills and dense forests, a verdant expanse.

After walking for about an hour, the flow of people on the official road gradually thinned out.

Some cultivators have already begun to use their movement techniques, transforming into streaks of light and disappearing into the horizon.

Chen Ye also prepared to speed things up.

He was about to gather his strength when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

A feeling of unease suddenly welled up inside me.

It felt like being watched by a ferocious beast lurking in the shadows; the hairs on the back of my body stood on end.

Someone is catching up!

Chen Ye's pupils suddenly contracted. Almost without hesitation, he pushed off with his feet, instantly transforming into a blurry afterimage as he left the official road and plunged into the dense forest beside it.

He didn't turn around, nor did he use his divine sense to detect who was chasing him.

Because he knew that at this time, any unnecessary probing was tantamount to courting death.

The only thing to do now is to run!
Run with all your might!

The very next second he rushed into the dense forest, a white figure, moving so fast it was almost invisible to the naked eye, appeared where he had just stood.

It was Xiao Zhanbai, who had been chasing them all the way from Qingzhou Prefecture!

Looking at the swaying trees and the lingering energy fluctuations in the air, a cold smile appeared on Xiao Zhanbai's icy face.

"Trying to run? Do you think you can escape?"

Without the slightest hesitation, she swayed and followed into the dense forest.

In the dense forest, ancient trees reach for the sky, blocking out the sun.

Chen Ye's figure leaped and moved nimbly among the trees like a monkey.

But the cold yet powerful aura behind him was like a persistent, lingering wound, locking onto him tightly, and he couldn't shake it off no matter how he changed direction.

It's that woman named Xiao Zhanbai!

The image of that icy face flashed through Chen Ye's mind.

Chen Ye couldn't think of any other possibility besides her.

But why?
Why would she hunt me down?

Has my identity been exposed?

impossible!
Chen Ye quickly calculated in his mind.

From killing Li Gu himself to meeting the sisters yesterday, he was certain that he had not left any flaws throughout the entire process.

The only possibility is that Tianjian Manor has found some clues he is unaware of through other channels.

For example, on the White Bone Mountain, are there other people who know that Li Gu came to kill them?
Chen Ye's eyes turned cold.

Probably!

It seems I underestimated the power of a major sect like Tianjian Manor.

But thinking about these things now is useless.

The most pressing issue is how to get rid of this troublesome woman behind me.

The opponent's cultivation level is at least at the Sea Condensation Realm!
Moreover, judging from that incomparably sharp sword intent, this woman's strength is probably even greater than that of Tao Yong from the Puppet Sect whom she encountered before.

However, Chen Ye did not panic. Instead, he took a deep breath and circulated his internal energy to its maximum, which increased his speed to another level.

However, he was fast, but Xiao Zhanbai behind him was even faster!
The distance between the two was gradually closing.

Fifty feet...

Thirty zhang...

Ten feet!

Chen Ye could even feel the cold sword intent behind him, which made his back skin tingle.

"Chen Ye! You can't escape! Surrender obediently!"

Xiao Zhanbai's cold voice came from behind, carrying a condescending and judgmental tone.

"Fuck your grandpa!" Chen Ye cursed inwardly.

This bitch, does she really think she's a fish on a chopping board?
Thinking of this, a fierce glint flashed in Chen Ye's eyes. In the instant of a leap, he suddenly turned around, and the Jingzhe Blade in his hand drew a strange arc in the air, slashing fiercely at Xiao Zhanbai who was chasing closely behind him!
The purpose of this strike was not to injure the enemy, but to buy time!

Needle point!

A condensed blade of light, incredibly sharp, pierced towards Xiao Zhanbai's brow at breakneck speed.

"Even a grain of rice can shine?"

A hint of disdain flashed in Xiao Zhanbai's eyes.

She didn't even draw her sword; she simply held up two fair, jade-like fingers and gently touched the blade's edge.

Ding!
There was a crisp sound.

An invisible sword aura burst forth from her fingertips, striking Chen Ye's blade tip with perfect precision.

Then, a tremendous force surged through the blade and into Chen Ye's body.

Chen Ye felt a numbness in his hand, and was so violently shaken by the force that he was sent flying backward.

So strong!

Is this the power of the Sea Condensation Realm?

However, Chen Ye used the force of his backward flight to tumble in the air, then pushed off the tree trunk behind him with both feet, and his body shot into the depths of the dense forest like a cannonball.

"Still trying to run away?" Xiao Zhanbai's anger intensified upon seeing this.

This guy is like a slippery eel, he's absolutely despicable!

But there was no point in saying anything more at this point, so she quickened her pace and chased after him again.

The dense forest is perpetually shrouded in darkness, resulting in an extremely heavy yin energy.

In many places, invisible and intangible ghosts and vengeful spirits have been born.

At that moment, they smelled the scent of living people and emerged one after another, wanting to absorb the yang energy. But in the next instant, they were shattered and scattered by a fierce and domineering sword intent.

Then Chen Ye sped past at an extremely fast speed, leaving behind wisps of disturbed yin energy floating in the air, refusing to fall for a long time.

Just moments later, Xiao Zhanbai caught up, and the ghostly spirits that had just been shattered and scattered were smashed apart again before they could reassemble.

At this moment, it felt as if a fire was burning in Xiao Zhanbai's heart.

She had been chasing Chen Ye for several hours, but she just couldn't catch him, which made her feel extremely humiliated.

After all, he was a cultivator at the Sea Condensation Realm, yet he was completely outmaneuvered by a cultivator at the Unobstructed Realm. If word got out, he would be too ashamed to show his face.

That's why Xiao Zhanbai couldn't give up and gritted his teeth to continue the relentless pursuit.

They chased each other like this, and before they knew it, it was getting dark.

But just after turning past a small hill, Xiao Zhanbai suddenly realized that he had lost all trace of Chen Ye.

"Hmm?" Xiao Zhanbai raised an eyebrow slightly, but did not panic.

She didn't believe Chen Ye could escape, so he was most likely hiding somewhere.

"Come out. Do you really think you can hide?" Xiao Zhanbai said calmly, while scrutinizing every corner around him.

But the desolate forest was deserted, and no one responded.

"To be honest, I really admire you. After all, it's impressive that you were able to kill an elder of White Bone Mountain with your cultivation at the Unobstructed Realm. And this is really nothing. As long as you're willing to come back with me, I'll guarantee your survival." Xiao Zhanbai began to use psychological tactics.

There was still no response, and Xiao Zhanbai became impatient. He suddenly slashed his sword horizontally, cutting down all the vegetation within a radius of several dozen feet.

"If you hide like a coward and are afraid to face anyone, do you think you can improve your swordsmanship like that?"

Meanwhile, behind a small hill in the distance, on an inconspicuous tree, a figure lay motionless, silently lurking in the darkness.

Upon hearing Xiao Zhanbai's shout, Chen Ye's lips curled up slightly, and he quietly took out a pill from his pocket.

Condensing Essence Pill!
Then he opened his mouth and swallowed it.

(End of this chapter)