Chapter 889: The Third Sword Bearer?
The person who had just spoken was named Wang Jie, the sixth son of the current clan leader of the Zhenyu Ancient Clan. He was also the one with the highest talent, not yet a hundred years old, yet his cultivation had already reached the Fifth-Step Half-Saint.
Logically, as the clan leader's most outstanding son, the position of young clan leader should have been his.
However, the position of young clan leader had fallen to Shi Ren.
It was precisely for this reason that Wang Jie constantly targeted Shi Ren, undermining his authority, hoping to seize the position of young clan leader.
Clearly, this was a perfect opportunity. By using the clan's anger to attack Shi Ren, even if he couldn't immediately take the young clan leader's position, it would make it much easier for him to seize it in the future.
Shi Ren glanced at Wang Jie, then fixed his gaze on Xiang Zhengfeng, his frown deepening.
Compared to Xiang Zhengfeng's words, Shi Ren was more inclined to trust Zhang Ruochen's character. After all, he and Zhang Ruochen had faced life-and-death situations together more than once.
Moreover, in the Underworld, he had personally witnessed Zhang Ruochen kill the Sixth Prince of the Undying Blood Clan and several Half-Saints.
It could be said that Zhang Ruochen had a deep conflict with the Undying Blood Clan. How could they possibly be cooperating?
Shi Ren's eyes locked onto Xiang Zhengfeng as he said, "Everything you just said is your one-sided account. It's hard for me to believe."
"Young clan leader, are you doubting me?"
Xiang Zhengfeng showed a hint of anger, appearing displeased with Shi Ren.
Shi Ren remained extremely calm, his expression unchanged, and asked, "May I ask, Young Master Xiang, since Zhang Ruochen led three Half-Saints of the Undying Blood Clan to assassinate you, where is he now?"
Before Xiang Zhengfeng could answer, Wang Jie laughed first, saying coldly, "That goes without saying. With Zhang Ruochen's First-Step Half-Saint cultivation, how could he possibly be a match for Brother Xiang? Even if he joined forces with three Half-Saints of the Undying Blood Clan, could they withstand a single blow from Brother Xiang?"
Wang Jie wanted to become the young clan leader, so he had to gain the support of the Six Sword Bearers.
At this moment, he was actively showing goodwill to Xiang Zhengfeng, trying to pull him into his camp in preparation for the future.
Xiang Zhengfeng glanced at Wang Jie and nodded slightly before continuing, "Zhang Ruochen and the three Half-Saints of the Undying Blood Clan were indeed well-prepared and had made meticulous arrangements. However, they still underestimated the strength of a Sword Bearer."
"After I defeated them, I intended to take them alive and interrogate them to uncover the list of other infiltrators."
"However, knowing they couldn't escape, they chose to self-destruct their Qi Seas. Fortunately, I sensed it in time and fled immediately. Otherwise... I might have died in the Bei Wang Mountains as well."
After hearing Xiang Zhengfeng's words, the members of the Zhenyu Ancient Clan became even more enraged.
Standing in the crowd, Li Min bit her lip tightly. Finally, gathering her courage, she said, "Impossible. Zhang Ruochen couldn't have colluded with the Undying Blood Clan. He's been with me all this time and had no chance to contact them."
To Li Min, Zhang Ruochen and Xiang Zhengfeng had left her with the impressions of a perverted madman and a dashing, righteous White-Clothed Sword Saint, respectively.
Yet, for some reason, between Zhang Ruochen and Xiang Zhengfeng, Li Min was more inclined to believe Zhang Ruochen, feeling a sense of resistance toward Xiang Zhengfeng's words.
Zhang Ruochen had always acted with integrity, daring to do and take responsibility, even attacking the Ministry of War camp alone. How could he possibly collude with the Undying Blood Clan?
No matter what, it was impossible.
Xiang Zhengfeng glanced at Li Min and said without mercy, "How would Zhang Ruochen let you know what he plans to do? In his eyes, you probably don't even count as an ant."
Li Min was about to retort when Li Ku Half-Saint stopped her.
Li Ku Half-Saint's gaze was stern, glaring at her to silence her. To dare contradict a Sword Bearer—this girl's audacity was growing too bold.
At the location of the Bei Wang Mountains, amidst the black dust, a tall and upright figure slowly emerged, accompanied by the sound of footsteps.
The footsteps caused many people's hearts to skip a beat.
Was someone still alive?
The tall figure waved his sleeve, dispersing the dust to both sides, revealing an extremely handsome face.
It was Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen raised his head, fixed his gaze on Xiang Zhengfeng, and said something that left many baffled: "I wasn't sure it was you before, but now I can confirm it."
How could this be?
Earlier, Xiang Zhengfeng had used his spiritual power to scan the ruins of the Bei Wang Mountains and found no trace of life.
That was why he had so brazenly pinned everything on Zhang Ruochen.
Who would have thought Zhang Ruochen was still alive?
The power of Wu Yun Half-Saint's self-destruction was indeed terrifying, far beyond what Zhang Ruochen could withstand.
However, Zhang Ruochen possessed the Cosmic Divine Wood Map, so he had directly retreated into the Scroll World to escape the calamity.
Zhang Ruochen could have left the Scroll World earlier, but he had also intended to test Xiang Zhengfeng, so he stayed in the shadows as an observer for the time being.
Xiang Zhengfeng's heart was in turmoil, but his face betrayed nothing. He sneered, "Zhang Ruochen, you didn't self-destruct your Qi Sea. Truly a coward afraid of death. I'll capture you now and interrogate you to find the other Undying Blood Clan infiltrators."
Xiang Zhengfeng formed a sword technique, activating the Zhu Tian Sword to attack Zhang Ruochen.
However, Shi Ren rushed in front of Zhang Ruochen first, blocking the Zhu Tian Sword, and said with clear displeasure, "Young Master Xiang, why are you in such a hurry to act? Trying to silence someone?"
Xiang Zhengfeng naturally couldn't attack Shi Ren, so he had to withdraw the Zhu Tian Sword and said, "Young clan leader, are you doubting my words?"
Shi Ren shook his head and said, "I just want to hear Zhang Ruochen's account of what happened earlier."
So Zhang Ruochen recounted the events, without exaggeration or omission.
Most members of the Zhenyu Ancient Clan already had a bias against Zhang Ruochen and had heard Xiang Zhengfeng's version first. Therefore, aside from Shi Ren's followers, few believed him.
Wang Jie laughed loudly and said, "Two Sword Bearers, each with their own story. Who should we believe?"
A relatively senior Half-Saint said, "Without a doubt, one of the two Sword Bearers must be an Undying Blood Clan infiltrator."
"But on Zhang Ruochen's first day at the Zhenyu Ancient Clan, the entire Bei Wang Mountains were leveled. Wise clan members, you should know who to believe, right?"
Wang Jie's words undoubtedly voiced everyone's thoughts.
"Young Master Xiang is a friend of our Zhenyu Ancient Clan, truly guarding the Ming King Sword Tomb. Zhang Ruochen, get out of the Ming King Sword Tomb."
Someone shouted.
Then, voices calling for Zhang Ruochen's expulsion rose one after another.
"Zhang Ruochen must have colluded with the Undying Blood Clan to harm the Zhenyu Ancient Clan. With such treacherous intentions, how can we let him off easily?"
"That's right. Zhang Ruochen should be executed to honor the clan members who died at the hands of the Undying Blood Clan."
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Wang Jie, genuinely curious whether this person was truly foolish or if he was also an Undying Blood Clan infiltrator.
Since he had already discovered Xiang Zhengfeng's identity, Zhang Ruochen couldn't leave. Otherwise, Shi Ren would be fighting alone.
Whether as a friend or to thwart the Undying Blood Clan's schemes, Zhang Ruochen had to stay.
Zhang Ruochen infused his voice with Saint Qi and declared loudly, "The Sword Bearers of the Skyward Sword Lineage have always guarded the Zhenyu Ancient Clan, with some even giving their lives for it."
"Now, without any evidence, your Zhenyu Ancient Clan is listening to one-sided words and wants to expel or even kill a Sword Bearer of the Skyward Sword. Isn't that a bit ungrateful?"
The contributions of successive Sword Bearers of the Skyward Sword Lineage to the Zhenyu Ancient Clan were recorded in documents and couldn't be erased.
Thus, Zhang Ruochen's words made some members of the Zhenyu Ancient Clan feel ashamed, gradually calming down.
Following that, Shi Ren said, "Right and wrong are still undecided. Even if Zhang Ruochen truly colluded with the Undying Blood Clan, we absolutely cannot let him leave the Ming King Sword Tomb. That would be like releasing a tiger back to the mountains. Therefore, I believe that until the truth is uncovered, Zhang Ruochen should remain in the Ming King Sword Tomb."
Wang Jie chuckled and said, "And if another incident occurs, who will take responsibility?"
"I will personally guard Zhang Ruochen. If something like tonight happens again, I will bear all the responsibility." Shi Ren's gaze was sharp as he locked eyes with Wang Jie.
Wang Jie shook his head and said, "With your cultivation, young clan leader, you probably can't guard Zhang Ruochen. In fact, you might end up being coerced by him into doing something even more harmful to the Zhenyu Ancient Clan."
"You..."
Shi Ren clenched his fists, barely able to suppress his anger.
Just as the two sides were at a stalemate, a ethereal female voice came from afar, saying, "I can guard him."
Wang Jie was somewhat annoyed. In the Zhenyu Ancient Clan, while he was speaking with Shi Ren, how dare someone else interrupt?
So he turned his head and barked, "Who do you think you are to..."
But before he could finish, his face changed drastically, and he shuddered, immediately shutting his mouth.
Not far away, two figures flew over and slowly landed on the ground.
One of them was the current clan leader of the Zhenyu Ancient Clan, Wang Jie's father.
The other was a young woman. Even with Wang Jie's Fifth-Step Half-Saint cultivation, he could only see an extremely graceful silhouette, unable to make out her true features.
Yet, just by standing there casually, she gave Wang Jie an immense pressure, his legs trembling as if he might kneel.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze also fell on the young woman.
Her figure was quite tall, with particularly long, slender, and shapely legs, forming a golden ratio with her entire body—full of beauty and flawless. Even if only a silhouette was visible, her chest and waist created two astonishing curves, breathtakingly beautiful.
However, Zhang Ruochen also noticed a three-inch-long white jade sword hanging from her chest.
"Oh!"
In Zhang Ruochen's hand, the Skyward Sword trembled slightly, as if sensing something.
Able to have the Zhenyu Ancient Clan's clan leader accompany her personally, this woman's identity was clearly extraordinary.
Could she also be a Sword Bearer?