One of my fairy-like friends

With Huang Junyi by his side, Ming Yan could conduct his investigation with peace of mind.

He and Huang Junyi arrived at the city, while Feng Shiyi remained in the carriage.

Since arriving at the Holy Mountain, Feng Shiyi has often been in a deep sleep, sometimes for ten or twenty days at a time, so Ming Yan naturally had no reason to wake her up.

Mingyan originally planned to sneak in quietly, but Huang Junyi told him that she was not good at hiding and that with a cultivator at the third level of the Xuanji Realm here, she would be easily discovered, let alone help Mingyan hide as well. So she had no choice but to visit openly.

The Ning family was quite surprised when they learned that Huang Junyi and Ming Yan were coming to visit. They wanted to hold a banquet to welcome the two, but Huang Junyi declined and kept everything low-key.

The Ning family naturally did not object. After the patriarch expressed his welcome, he sent a young woman named Ning Yourong to entertain the two.

"Senior and fellow Daoist, you've come at an inopportune time. Fei Xuan returned once before. I wonder if you two are here to see Fei Xuan, or...?" Ning You Rong is beautiful and has a great figure. Her cultivation level is only at the initial stage of Qi Sea. It's really a waste of her cultivation level to be in such an unknown place. If she had the blessing of the Emperor Scripture, she might be able to become a saintess of a holy land.

“Feixuan shouldn’t be here, right? We were just passing by and stopped by to pay our respects at Feixuan’s parents’ graves,” Mingyan said with a smile.

"You two are so kind. Speaking of which, senior, haven't I seen you before? I feel like I've seen your face before." Ning Yourong looked at Huang Junyi and asked with some curiosity.

"It was I who took Ning Feixuan away from the Ning family back then." Huang Junyi smiled dignifiedly and gently, and introduced Mingyan to her, "Mingyan, this is Feixuan's cousin. If it weren't for her protection, Feixuan would probably be in grave danger."

Upon hearing this, Mingyan's heart stirred, and he memorized Ning Yourong's appearance and name. His face remained impassive as he smiled and said, "Hello, my name is Mingyan, and I am Feixuan's friend."

"Hello." Ning Yourong smiled reservedly. "Let me take you both to the backyard."

Mingyan nodded, followed Ning Yourong, and sent a telepathic message to Huang Junyi, asking, "If Ning Yourong, who is at the initial stage of Qi Sea, had been sent to some holy land or aristocratic family from the beginning, she would probably be even more terrifying now, right?"

“The Ning family ancestors had some fortuitous encounters and received guidance from the Great Emperor. Although the scriptures they cultivated could not compare to the Emperor’s scriptures, they were still very powerful. However, if they had been sent to a holy family, their achievements would have been even greater than they are now,” Huang Junyi said. “Back then, it was she who protected Fei Xuan and advocated for Ning Zetian’s expulsion.”

"Sister, could you tell me more about what you knew back then?" Mingyan asked.

So Huang Junyi told Mingyan everything she knew.

This includes the relationship between the three geniuses of the Ning family back then, Ning Feixuan, Ning Zetian and Ning Yourong, some internal disputes within the Ning family, and the situation of Ning Feixuan's parents.

After listening, Mingyan pondered for a moment and said, "If we only consider the result, it seems that Ning Yourong is the ultimate beneficiary."

"What, you doubt her?" Huang Junyi was somewhat surprised to hear this.

“I just think it’s possible, but the probability is quite low. After all, if I were her, Fei Yan would be dead long ago,” Ming Yan said.

"Maybe it's just that we haven't had the chance?" Huang Junyi said with a smile.

Mingyan had assumed Huang Junyi would tell him that Ning Yourong couldn't be the murderer, since she seemed to have always believed Ning Zetian was the culprit. He never expected Huang Junyi to say something like this...

To be honest, ever since he started to have doubts about this matter, the fairy sister has been very supportive of him, as if she trusts him unconditionally. She truly considers him one of her own...

Thinking of this, Mingyan felt a warmth in his heart.

However, what the fairy sister said seems to make sense. If Ning Yourong is the murderer, then maybe she just didn't have the chance?

Overall, the possibility of it being her is relatively low.

The two followed Ning Yourong to the backyard, where there were many fallen leaves on the ground, indicating that it hadn't been cleaned for some time.

“There are too many fallen leaves this season. I cleaned it up when Feixuan came back last time, and I cleaned it up a few more times after she left, but soon there was a pile of fallen leaves again.” Ning Yourong waved her hand, creating a gust of wind that blew the fallen leaves out of the courtyard. Then she led Mingyan and Huang Junyi to the tombstone of Ning Feixuan’s parents.

"Could you give us a little time, Miss Ning?" Mingyan looked at Ning Yourong and said softly.

“No problem, then I’ll wait outside.” Ning Yourong smiled and withdrew, leaving Ming Yan and Huang Junyi alone.

Huang Junyi gently squatted down and stroked the name on the tombstone that belonged to Ning Feixuan's mother. "Feixuan's mother is someone I watched grow up. Her maternal grandmother was on good terms with one of my sisters, so she often came to the Huang family and became quite familiar with her. Their clan was truly plagued by misfortune, which is a pity."

This generation...

Because cultivators have such long lifespans, the generational hierarchy is often quite chaotic. Take the Huang family, for example. There are only two generations: one is the younger generation of Huang Feiyan, and the other is the older generation of her mother. As long as they are not direct relatives, such as Huang Feiyan and Huang Junru, even if it is someone's maternal grandmother of the same generation, they can call her "aunt." Of course, for direct relatives, they can be addressed as they normally would... Otherwise, with so many people in the Huang family, the generational hierarchy would have become completely unrecognizable long ago.

Mingyan bowed gently. These could be his future father-in-law and mother-in-law. Even if he and Ning Feixuan couldn't end up together, they were still the parents of his friends and saviors. How could he not bow when he came to their graves?

Seeing Mingyan's solemn expression, Huang Junyi had a strange look on her face. After Mingyan finished bowing, she half-jokingly said, "Are you bowing to your parents?"

“They are like my second parents. If they hadn’t given birth to Ning Feixuan, Ning Feixuan wouldn’t have been able to save me, and I would have died,” Mingyan said.

No matter how powerful the Human King Body is, without cultivation, it is still just an ant that can be crushed at will by cultivators.

Upon hearing this, Huang Junyi was somewhat amused and exasperated, but she didn't say anything further.

The two did not linger and soon left the backyard. Mingyan then asked Ning Yourong if he could visit the place where Ning Feixuan had once lived.

Ning Yourong then led the two to the small courtyard where Ning Feixuan had once lived. She and her parents used to live here; it was a rather secluded and somewhat remote place.

Ning Feixuan's parents were both crippled halfway through their cultivation for some reason, and were naturally not well-liked in the family, so they lived in a secluded courtyard, where they also died.

Ning Feixuan was originally supposed to be valued and move away from this place, but her parents didn't move because they had developed feelings for the place.

After arriving at the side courtyard, Mingyan told Ning Yourong to go about her own business. Ning Yourong did not continue to follow the two. Mingyan and Huang Junyi went into the side courtyard, and Mingyan began to check the situation.

No one had been to the side courtyard for a long time; the doors weren't even locked. This place was some distance from the main courtyard of the Ning family.

Despite the Ning family's low-key nature, their mansion is actually quite large. It's just that they've used some concealment methods to hide it, so it doesn't look big from the outside. But once you step inside, you'll find a hidden paradise.

Huang Junyi led Mingyan to the place where Ning Feixuan had witnessed the deaths of her parents and where she was hiding. Mingyan stopped and observed carefully.

Killing Ning Feixuan's parents is easy; for cultivators, killing two powerless cripples is no different than stepping on ants. However, killing someone within the Ning family requires great care, because the Ning family is not an ordinary family; it is a family of cultivators with other cultivators in the family. Killing someone could easily alert others.

Therefore, to ensure that nothing went wrong, there should have been a strong person following the murderer to cover for him and erase any traces.

Mingyan arrived at the place where Ning Feixuan was hiding. It was a secret room. Behind the flip door on the wall of the room, there were many array patterns engraved on the flip door. Mingyan recognized these array patterns. They were array patterns that seemed to isolate aura. To put it bluntly, they were specially used to hide people.

There are some ways to see the outside world from the secret chamber, which are achieved through arrays. However, the arrays are not very sophisticated. Even someone with Ming Yan's cultivation level could inscribe them. Naturally, the effect is limited. Shen Que might not be able to detect them, but if it were Taiyi Shenfeng or someone higher, it would be impossible for them not to discover the existence of this flip door and the secret chamber.

There were no traces of the previous events left inside. After Ning Feixuan's parents were buried, the place was thoroughly cleaned, and the murderer would not allow any traces to remain.

The best opportunity to find certain clues has now been missed; it's a pity we didn't investigate this matter thoroughly at the time...

Unfortunately, more than a decade has passed since then. Although more than a decade is not a long time for cultivators, it is enough time for the murderer to cover up all the clues.

If only there were a way to see past scenes, Mingyan pulled out the "#" character from his Qi Sea. It represents the past. Mingyan, Huang Feiyan, his senior sister, and Ning Feixuan have all used it to see past scenes.

However, the difference is that Mingyan sees a past that is not his own, while the others see their own past.

Chapter Ninety-Six: You believe him, but not me?

If you could use the "#" symbol to see scenes from the past...

Mingyan clenched the "#" character.

Previously on the Holy Mountain, the "#" symbol allowed him to penetrate the barrier. Recalling that it represented the "past," he felt that it might have transformed the place into what it was like before the barrier was erected.

Unfortunately, despite his immense power, he had no way to use it proactively.

Whether it's finding "#" for the first time to see the past, or using "#" to pass through barriers, these are abilities passively provided by "#".

Huang Junyi stood not far away, looking at the flip door in the distance, and said, "Actually, the best way for you to suspect Ning Yourong is to capture her and search her soul."

“But if she’s not the murderer, then not only will we be wrongly accusing an innocent person, but we will also cause her irreversible harm.” Ming Yan put away the “#” character. “Besides, so far, Ning Yourong’s behavior has been normal.”

"So what are your plans next?" Huang Junyi turned around and asked, withdrawing her gaze.

“If Ning Feixuan were willing to review all the details, she might gain something, but it would be too torturous for her to recall those events.” Ming Yan sighed inwardly. Regardless of who the ferocious beast was, Ning Feixuan had witnessed her parents being killed. The impact of such a scene would definitely make Ning Feixuan unwilling to recall that experience. So, this is probably why Ning Feixuan has never had any other suspects all these years.

Huang Junyi nodded, "It's also my fault. I didn't investigate this matter carefully back then."

“You can’t blame your sister for this. When your sister came here, the Ning family had already made up their minds. Everyone assumed that Ning Zetian was the murderer, and Ning Feixuan thought so too. That’s why your sister thought there was no need for any further investigation.” Mingyan shook his head. “Maybe I’m just being paranoid. I’m already very touched that my sister is willing to go along with my nonsense.”

Huang Junyi smiled charmingly, "Of course I'm willing to accompany you, I'll do anything for you."

Upon hearing this, Mingyan felt a little awkward and coughed twice to ease the ambiguous atmosphere.

At this moment, Huang Junyi's expression changed slightly as she looked at Ming Yan, "...Fei Xuan seems to have returned."

"Huh?" Mingyan was taken aback. "Didn't Ning Yourong say she had just come back recently?"

"You're asking me? I don't know." Huang Junyi shrugged lightly. "She met with Ning Yourong once, and then came straight here."

Mingyan pinched the bridge of his nose, his face showing some worry. He didn't want Ning Feixuan to know that he was investigating this matter, because Ning Feixuan had already decided in her heart that Ning Zetian was the murderer. If he expressed a different opinion, it might even arouse Ning Feixuan's hostility.

Moreover, Ming Yan has not yet found any evidence to prove that he is right, and he has no confidence whatsoever. Ning Feixuan's arrival has basically cut off the possibility of him continuing his investigation.

"What? Are you afraid of her?" Huang Junyi smiled playfully at Ming Yan's reaction. "It can't be that bad, can it?"

“It’s not that I’m afraid, but with Ning Feixuan here, the investigation can’t really continue.” Ming Yan frowned. If he intended to persist in the investigation, he would definitely anger Ning Feixuan. Ming Yan understood this. After all, she had already identified the murderer and witnessed it with her own eyes. Now, after hearing a few words from her enemy, he was questioning the truth she had long believed. Wasn’t that disloyal?

Mingyan naturally didn't want to upset Ning Feixuan, nor did he want to ruin their current delicate relationship... but if the real truth wasn't found out...

Not long after, Ning Feixuan appeared at the door.

She was dressed in a green robe, with a lotus flower blooming between her brows, delicate and beautiful. She stepped in, her demeanor graceful and pleasant. She looked at Ming Yan and Huang Junyi, and first bowed to Huang Junyi, saying, "This junior greets Second Aunt."

Huang Junyi shook her head and chuckled. Ning Feixuan then looked at Ming Yan, paused for a moment, and then smiled and said, "I guessed you were here."

"How did you guess?" Mingyan asked with a smile, his initial nervousness easing as he heard her gentle tone.

"After you arrived at Yaochi, you visited the ancestral tombs and met An Ran and Shui Ruyan, but you didn't come to see me. It was as if you were deliberately avoiding me. I was a little suspicious. I took the initiative to look for you just now, but found that you had left. Later, I asked my master and found out the general direction you came from, so I was basically able to confirm it." Ning Feixuan had a gentle smile on her face. After she and Ming Yan made an agreement to become true "friends", Ning Feixuan's attitude had changed a lot.

Ning Feixuan used to be aloof and cold, somewhat like Yue Wuxia, but slightly better than Yue Wuxia. However, she still gave people a sense of aloofness that kept people at a distance.

But now, she has taken the initiative to show her approachable side, which makes it easy for people to develop a good impression of her and get closer to her.

"I'm sure Feiyan or your second aunt has already told you about these things, so I won't go into details. I know what you're thinking, and I'm very grateful to you." Ning Feixuan brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and said softly, "But this blood feud must be avenged by me personally."

Ning Feixuan also has her own stubborn side. If she hadn't always wanted to take revenge herself, she could have asked Huang Junyi or her master Ning Mengru to do it, but she didn't. She stubbornly wanted to complete her revenge herself.

Of course, she also had her reasons for doing this. After all, Ning Zetian still had the Jade Balance Holy Land behind him. Whether it was the Phoenix Family or Yaochi who made a move, it would bring some trouble. The Jade Balance Holy Land was, after all, an Emperor-level Holy Land, and Ning Zetian was highly regarded there. If he was defeated and killed in a contest with his peers, even if the Jade Balance Holy Land wanted to hold Yaochi accountable, they would have no way to deal with it and could only lament that they were not as skilled as Yaochi.

However, if someone of Ning Mengru or Huang Junyi's caliber were to deal with a junior, the Jade Balance Holy Land might retaliate by any means necessary. After all, if they were to settle things peacefully, which geniuses would still be willing to join the Jade Balance Holy Land in the future? A holy land that is indifferent even when its own holy son is killed is not worth going to.

Ning Feixuan probably wanted to defeat Ning Zetian one-on-one. On the one hand, this way she could relieve her hatred after killing Ning Zetian. On the other hand, this would also minimize the consequences.

Ming Yan looked at Ning Feixuan, who stood still, her gentle tone carrying a firmness that emanated from her very bones.

He saw his own reflection in her; Ning Feixuan was indeed similar to her in some ways, both being very stubborn people.

Mingyan did not choose to ask about the past, after all, thinking about those things would be a hurt to Ning Feixuan. He sighed inwardly, but it seemed that he could not continue the investigation if he did so.

Ning Feixuan turned her head and looked around. "So many years have passed... but I still remember the scene clearly, and I will never forget it..."

“I was hiding inside at the time…” Ning Feixuan walked to the revolving door, raised her hand, and touched the revolving door, speaking softly.

Mingyan didn't ask, but Ning Feixuan spoke up first, which surprised him. "Those things are all in the past... It must be painful to think about them?"

"Only by trying to engrave these memories can I remind myself not to slack off." Ning Feixuan gently shook her head, her expression calm. "If I can even forget such things, how can I be considered a human being?"

Ning Feixuan's tone was calm, but Mingyan felt that her emotions were a little out of control.

She continued to recount the scene, and Mingyan felt a pang of pity, but in the end he did not try to dissuade her. Instead, he wrote down everything Ning Feixuan said.

The story told by Ning Feixuan is more detailed, and Ming Yan also confirmed that there was indeed a powerful elder following Ning Zetian at the time. Moreover, the elder did not reveal his true appearance, so Ning Feixuan did not know who he was.