The young man was naturally Xiao Zheng.
He had been watching, while Titan clashed with Hong Halan. When he saw Hong turn to flee, Xiao Zheng immediately reacted and chased after him.
"Take him with us, let’s go find the Seven Killings Boss,"
Xiao Zheng commanded.
Titan bowed and took the command.
He stepped out, grabbed Hong Halan, and hoisted him up with a strength so great that Hong, even in unconsciousness, let out a painful cry.
Titan felt extreme disgust towards Hong Halan, partly because he fled during their duel, which Titan found contemptible, and partly because he felt that Hong’s escape had caused him great loss of face.
Long Qie patted Titan on the shoulder to comfort him, "It’s hard for anyone to imagine someone acting so tough just as a cover for their escape."
Titan shook his head, "This was my oversight, I underestimated the enemy! If it weren’t for Mr. Xiao being here, Hong Halan might have successfully fled."
Titan was very self-critical.
Xiao Zheng smiled, "A setback is a lesson. Just don’t make the same mistake next time."
Both Long Qie and Titan stiffened up and quickly responded.
Xiao Zheng nodded, "Now that we’ve captured these two, it’s time to clear our names. But just having Hong Halan isn’t enough, we also need the Seven Killings Boss to provide testimony.
We’ll go to Seven Killings now, invite the boss out, and then head together to Huashan Sect and Qinglin Sect to resolve the misunderstandings."
Thereupon, the trio, bringing along the body of Yao Wuji and the unconscious Hong Halan, returned to Seven Killings. The Seven Killings Boss, although very troubled by the request from Xiao Zheng and his companions, dared not to refuse.
The impression Xiao Zheng had left on him was profound, like a killer incarnate. He could only smile bitterly and said, "Alright, I agree to testify for you."
The group promptly left the black market without delay on their journey and headed straight for Qinglin Sect.
After Hua Futen and Qing Linfeng died, both sects were left without leaders. Young Master Hua was useless, incapable of rallying his subordinates, while Mo Shaolin, the matron of Qinglin Sect, was a strong-willed and highly capable woman. Thus, at this stage, she was the one directing the actions of both sects.
No sooner had Xiao Zheng and his party arrived at Qinglin Sect than they were spotted. A Qinglin Sect disciple rushed to inform Mo Shaolin. Shocked to hear that Xiao Zheng and his group were coming, Mo Shaolin couldn’t help but wonder, Could it be that Xiao Zheng and his companions were planning to attack Qinglin Sect?
Instantly, she gathered a large number of experts from both Qinglin Sect and Huashan Sect and proceeded to the foot of the mountain, bristling with murderous intent.
Xiao Zheng alighted from the carriage and, upon witnessing this scene, smiled, "Mrs. Qing, we didn’t come here to fight; we came to thaw the ice of past grievances."
Mo Shaolin said furiously, "Thaw past grievances? You killed my husband, an enmity that cannot be shared under the heavens. Do you think it’s possible for us to dissolve our past grievances?"
As she spoke, her normally well-kept, snow-white, and tender face twisted with emotion, becoming quite ferocious, "Today, none of you will leave!"
"Haha, Mrs. Qing, don’t get agitated."
Xiao Zheng clapped his hands, and Titan, carrying the unconscious Hong Halan, along with Long Qie dragging the corpse of Yao Wuji, came down from the carriage. At the same time, the Seven Killings Boss also got out of the carriage, looking worried and miserable.
"The one who killed your husband wasn’t me, but the Beihai Demon Blade—Yao Wuji."
Xiao Zheng’s voice was calm, "And the Assassin who killed the Sect Leader of Huashan was none other than Hong Halan. I have been framed. Both Hua Futen and Qing Linfeng were my friends; how could I possibly kill them?"
"Yao Wuji? Hong Halan?"
Mo Shaolin’s expression shifted slightly upon hearing these two names.
As someone from the Jianghu, she naturally had heard of the legends about these two individuals. If it were them who had made a move, they indeed could have easily killed Hua Futen and Qing Linfeng.
"Hmph, who knows if what you’re saying is true or false? Are you saying that if you just bring any random person and claim they’re the murderer, then they’re the murderer?"
Mo Shaolin said coldly.
"Madam is correct, which is why I brought evidence." Xiao Zheng turned his head to signal the Seven Killings Boss. Immediately, the Seven Killings Boss took out a smartphone from his bosom and handed it to Mo Shaolin.
"What’s on this smartphone?"
"This man is the boss of Seven Killings from the black market. The mission to kill Hua Futen and Qing Linfeng was posted through Seven Killings."
Xiao Zheng smiled slightly, "After Yao Wuji and Hong Halan successfully killed the two sect leaders, they left evidence recorded on this smartphone. Madam can take a look for herself."
Mo Shaolin turned on the smartphone, and immediately she saw the body of Qing Linfeng filmed by Yao Wuji’s smartphone, dripping with fresh blood, a truly tragic sight. In the picture, Yao Wuji was smiling with a hateful sense of pride.
Another picture was a joint photo of Hong Halan with the body of Hua Futen.
Mo Shaolin, naturally familiar with modern objects, could tell at a glance that these photographs couldn’t be fake but were real.
Rage blazed in Mo Shaolin’s eyes as she glared at the body of Yao Wuji, filled with hatred.
Mo Shaolin’s voice was icy.
Upon hearing this, Long Qie threw his hands forward, tossing Yao Wuji’s body in front of Mo Shaolin.
With fury raging like an inferno, Mo Shaolin drew a sharp sword from the waist of a bystander and swung down fiercely. A flash of cold light, several muffled sounds later, and Yao Wuji’s body had been completely dismembered by Mo Shaolin.
A chill spread throughout the onlookers; nobody dared to even breathe heavily.
"It’s a pity you’re dead!"
Mo Shaolin’s hatred was still strong, teeth clenched.
"We wronged you before, thank you for helping us find the murderer." After dismembering the body, Mo Shaolin’s mood somewhat calmed, and she gave a fist salute to Xiao Zheng.
"However..." Mo Shaolin’s gaze suddenly turned icy cold, landing on the Seven Killings Boss, "I want to know, who exactly is the one who wanted to assassinate my husband?!"
The Seven Killings Boss had a bitter smile on his face, "I don’t know either. When that sponsor posted the mission, they hid their identity, and we don’t inquire about such things."
A murderous intent erupted in Mo Shaolin’s eyes.
This woman’s current state was on the edge of madness. One wrong move could genuinely lead to a killing spree!
The Seven Killings Boss stepped back in fear, as Mo Shaolin’s murderous aura was too intense, and even he, a great owl of Jianghu, couldn’t help but tremble at its core.
Seeing this, Xiao Zheng hurriedly said, "Madam, please calm your anger. You should understand the ways of these assassin intermediary institutions in the black market; they rarely care about the identity of the sponsor.
If that sponsor intends to hide, it is basically impossible to trace them. Pressuring him is futile."