"Qi Yun, what exactly happened here?" After arranging for everyone to set up camp and rest on the spot, Duan Tianya also received the casualty report from his disciples. He had some understanding of these young people participating in the trial, and seeing so many elite swordsmen, who were usually held in high hopes, on the list of the dead, naturally, he was utterly perplexed and asked Wu Qiuyun uncertainly.
"It’s all because of that shameless bastard, Qu Fengting. For the Divine Beast Relic, he actually..." Before Wu Qiuyun could answer, a young swordsman standing behind him, who had lost an arm, cursed indignantly.
"Wait." His words were abruptly cut off halfway by Pang Dezong, who was standing next to Duan Tianya. Unlike Duan Tianya, who was straightforward and fully devoted to cultivation, Pang Dezong’s thoughts were much more cautious. As soon as he heard the words "Qu Fengting" and "Divine Beast Relic," he knew this matter was not so simple and immediately interrupted him. Official source is NoveI(F)ire.net
Duan Tianya’s question was interrupted, leaving him looking at Pang Dezong with some surprise.
"Do not discuss what happened in the Exotic Beast Valley with anyone for now. Wait until I fully understand the situation before we discuss further," said Pang Dezong seriously to Mu Hanyan and the others.
"Moreover, although the Exotic Beast Valley seems temporarily stable, no one knows if any further incidents might occur. You over one hundred people should remain here to recuperate. I will send someone to keep watch and guard you. Do not wander around without my orders," Pang Dezong instructed further.
After he finished speaking, Pang Dezong whispered a few words to a disciple, who nodded knowingly then immediately dispersed with his fellow sect members around the perimeter of Mu Hanyan and the others, their hands clutching the handles of their swords, faces alert.
"Finally, we can sleep in peace," a swordsman behind them sighed in relief, glanced at Pang Dezong with gratitude, then crawled into his tent. Soon, thunderous snoring sounds emanated from inside.
The other swordsmen, already exhausted, saw that people around were keeping watch and each returned to their tents to rest.
"Wu Qiuyun, Fang Zheng, Lin Si Hai, come with me," Pang Dezong called out several names, and took Duan Tianya, whose face was still filled with confusion, to a cliff farther away.
Mu Hanyan looked at Pang Dezong thoughtfully, faintly guessing his intentions.
Although the final outcome was much better than expected, the nearly two thousand family members who perished in the Exotic Beast Valley needed some form of reckoning.
If it was simply an issue with the barrier, they might concoct an excuse and provide some compensation to gloss it over, but if it became known that these matters were connected to the Ancient Temple, and that those elite swordsmen died senselessly because of Qu Fengting, not only would the Qu family be culpable, but Zhengying Academy would also have a hard time explaining itself.
After all, the Exotic Beast Valley had been Zhengying Academy’s trial ground for nearly ten thousand years, hiding the Qiongqi Relics and a temple from one of the Ancient Four Divine Beasts, and yet they had been completely unaware. Who could believe this if it were disclosed?
This Pang Dezong likely intends to hide the truth. With Mu Hanyan’s experience, how could he not guess Pang Dezong’s intentions? Yet, he was not worried at all.
"Hmph, so many people died innocently; how easy is it to conceal the truth? It’s not possible to just kill everyone to silence them. They want us to keep a secret, it depends on what benefits you can provide," Mu Hanyan thought to himself.
Because of Zhao Sinin, Lady Mu had no fond feelings for Zhengying Academy, and naturally, she wouldn’t be polite when there was a chance to exploit them.
Besides, concealing the truth was no easy feat. Secrets might be kept temporarily, but could they be kept forever?