The wedding was livestreamed by the sister, revealing his identity as a Taoist priest.

The paper had several screenshots of trending topics printed on it.

Nine Taoist priests presented betrothal gifts, a Taiyi Star Paper worth 50 million, and two sacred Taoist artifacts appeared in the world.

At the very bottom, a name was circled in red.

Chen Shidu.

Qi Zhen stared at those three words, his eyes becoming even more bloodshot.

"who is he?"

The third brother withdrew his hand and sat down opposite the desk, uninvited.

"A member of the Taoist school."

"The Zhengyi sect's thunder magic can be used to kill people from thousands of miles away."

Qi Zhen tapped his fingers twice on the table.

"evidence?"

"Mr. Qi."

The third brother tilted his head.

"The Taoist priest Zhao beside your son is my junior brother."

Qi Zhen's pupils suddenly contracted.

Master Zhao was a feng shui consultant that Qiliancheng hired three years ago, and he has been following him closely ever since.

Qi Zhen knew this person somewhat and knew that he had some underhanded methods.

But the old man in the gray robe immediately clarified the relationship.

"Your junior brother died along with my son."

Qi Zhen stared at him.

"right."

The third brother's expression remained unchanged.

"Therefore, I have come here not only to avenge Mr. Qi, but also to save my junior brother's life."

Qi Zhen did not respond.

He leaned back in his chair, his fingers gently stroking the shattered watch.

"Why would a Taoist priest kill my son?"

"Because your son offended the Shen family."

The third brother's lips curled slightly.

"To be more precise, I offended the fiancé of the Shen family's daughter."

The study was quiet for a few seconds.

Qi Zhen was neither angry nor did he press for answers.

He just stared at the third brother, his gaze deep and heavy, like an undercurrent surging beneath a stagnant pool.

"You came to me not just to deliver a message."

"Mr. Qi is indeed a wise man."

The third brother held up one finger.

"This humble Taoist can provide magical support to help Mr. Qi test this person's strength."

"cost?"

"Those two betrothal gifts."

The third brother made no attempt to hide it.

"If I can obtain the Seven Star Lamp and the Xuan Tian Demon-Subduing Stele, I will only take one."

Qi Zhen raised his eyelids slightly.

A betrothal gift worth billions is something this Taoist priest is asking for right away; he has quite the appetite.

But this also shows that the other party is not a scammer who will just shoot and run.

Cooperation can only be based on shared interests.

"These are what you gave me."

Qi Zhen picked up the piece of paper on the table and folded it twice in his hand.

"What if it's fake?"

"Mr. Qi, please feel free to investigate."

The third brother stood up and tucked his hands into his sleeves.

"The night your son had the accident, all the surveillance cameras within a two-kilometer radius of the ring road went blank. This is something that ordinary people cannot do."

He took two steps back and bowed slightly.

"I am currently residing in Qing Teng City. Mr. Qi can contact me at any time after you have investigated the matter."

After saying that, the old man in the gray robe turned around, pushed open the door, and left.

Qi Zhen was the only one left in the study.

He looked down at the piece of paper in his hand.

Silent for a long time.

"Someone come here."

The butler pushed open the door.

"Investigate two things."

Qi Zhen's voice calmed down, which was even more chilling than when he was angry.

"First, all the surveillance footage from that night on the ring road was obtained through our own people, not through the police."

"Secondly, when did that Taoist priest Zhao who's with Liancheng appear? What's his background? Who has he been in contact with?"

The steward accepted the order and left.

Qi Zhen sat alone behind his desk.

He gripped the shattered Patek Philippe in his hand even tighter.

He doesn't trust anyone.

But his son did die.

The Shen family! Chen Shidu!

Qi Zhen closed his eyes.

Not urgent.

Let's find out the truth first.

……

A thousand miles away, at Tianyin Pavilion.

The Qin Cultivation Sect, one of the three sacred sites of Taoism, is located deep in the mountains of southern Xinjiang.

The pavilions are built against the mountain, layer upon layer, hidden among the white mist and green bamboo.

On the stone steps in front of the mountain gate.

Elder Qingxu Zhenren of the Purple Mansion was currently leaning on his knees, panting heavily.

He had been standing at the bottom of these stone steps for a quarter of an hour.

Going up is not an option, and leaving is not an option either.

"How about... we go back and tell the Celestial Master that we really can't get this zither, and we can offer a different betrothal gift?"

Qingxu muttered to himself and took half a step back.

No.

It was personally decided by the Celestial Master.

He pulled his foot back.

"Then let's go in. At worst, we'll get beaten out. I've cultivated for a hundred years, and I've been beaten before..."

Before he could finish speaking, he shivered.

"that……"

A head peeked out from behind a stone pillar on the left side of the mountain gate.

A young gatekeeper disciple of Tianyin Pavilion had been observing this white-bearded old man for a long time.

"May I ask who you are, senior...?"

Qingxu was startled, quickly straightened his back, straightened his Taoist robe, and cleared his throat.

"Ahem! Qingxu, the head of the Purple Mansion Academy of Taiqing Palace, has come to pay a visit to your esteemed master."

The gatekeeper's eyes lit up.

"An elder from Taiqing Palace!"

He turned and ran.

"Please wait a moment, senior! I'll go report right away!"

The footsteps disappeared into the fog.

Qingxu stood there, his heart pounding.

The Pavilion Master is easy to talk to. Tianyin Pavilion has a deep friendship with Zhengyi Sect, and Pavilion Master Fang Changyin is an easy person to talk to.

What I'm afraid of is...

That little tyrant.

Less than three minutes.

Footsteps echoed through the fog; it wasn't one person, but a group.

Fang Changyin personally came out to greet him.

He looked to be in his early fifties, refined and slender, holding a bamboo fan, with a warm smile on his face.

"Brother Qingxu!"

Fang Changyin clasped his hands in greeting and smiled warmly.

"What brings you here! Please come in, please come in!"

He was followed by seven or eight disciples, some serving tea, others leading the way.

Qingxu returned the greeting while quickly scanning the room.

There was no sign of the woman in red behind Fang Changyin.

There is nothing on the left.

There wasn't one on the right either.

Only a few ordinary disciples passed by in the pavilions and corridors.

She's not here!

Qingxu's heart pounded three times, and a surge of joy rushed from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

That girl isn't here!

His smile instantly blossomed even brighter than Fang Changyin's.

"Master Fang, you're too kind! I was just passing through and realized it had been a long time since I'd last visited, so I came to reminisce!"

"Come in, please! These are freshly picked pre-Qingming buds from this morning; brew me a pot!"

Qingxu walked into the pavilion side by side with Fang Changyin, his steps seemingly detached from his own family.

His back was ramrod straight, and his steps were light and quick.

Cabinet Tea Room.

Fang Changyin personally brewed tea and pushed it in front of Qingxu.

"Brother Dao, what brings you here today?"

Qingxu picked up his teacup, took a sip, and pretended to be relaxed.

"It's nothing serious."

He put down the cup.

"I just wanted to ask, Master Fang, how is your daughter doing lately?"

Fang Changyin smiled and waved his hand.

"My daughter went into seclusion in the back mountain three months ago, saying she wanted to comprehend a new method of playing the zither, and she hasn't come out yet."

Seclusion!

Three months!

Qingxu almost jumped up from his chair.

He took a deep breath, desperately suppressing the upturned corners of his mouth, and gulped down two mouthfuls of tea to cover his expression.

Very good!

Seclusion means not seeing anyone!

If you don't see him, you won't know what he's doing here!

They grabbed the instrument and ran!

By the time that girl came out of seclusion and discovered it, Qingxu had already returned to Taiqing Palace!

With mountains high and roads long, she couldn't possibly fight her way to the Taiqing Palace, could she?

No, she really is capable of doing it.

But that was the Celestial Master's business then, and had nothing to do with Qingxu!

"Sect Master Fang."

Qingxu put down his teacup and straightened his expression.

"I have come here with a request."

"Please speak, fellow Daoist."

"There is an old item in Taiqing Palace, the Nine Heavens Phoenix Melody Zither, which was lent to your esteemed residence for preservation several years ago."

Qingxu carefully considered his words.

"The Celestial Master has an important matter that requires this zither, so he specially sent this old man to fetch it."

Fang Changyin was stunned for a moment.

"The Nine Heavens Phoenix Melody Zither?"

"right."

Qingxu nodded, his speech unconsciously quickening.

"Please trouble the Pavilion Master to bring out the zither; I will take it back today."

Fang Changyin put down his bamboo fan, his face showing reluctance.

Qingxu's heart tightened.

"What's wrong?"

Fang Changyin rubbed his hands together.

"Brother Dao, this zither is indeed from my Tianyin Pavilion."

"but……"

"But what?"

Fang Changyin shook his head with a wry smile.

"My daughter has always carried this zither with her, day and night, and even took it with her when she went into seclusion."

Qingxu's hand, which was holding a teacup, froze in mid-air.

"I'll have someone go in and call for the zither. Please have a seat, fellow Daoist."

Fang Changyin stood up and gave instructions towards the door.

"Go to the secluded cave in the back mountain and tell Qingluan that people from Taiqing Palace have come to retrieve the Nine Heavens Phoenix Song Zither."

Qingxu sat in the chair, motionless.

The water in the teacup rippled slightly, reflecting his gradually stiffening smile.

P.S.: Updates will be on time. The following episodes will be even more exciting. Thank you for your support, my darlings! Please give me a small gift, thank you!