Chapter 908: Between Father and Son
The Azure-Clad Guest said, "But I think that alone wouldn't be enough to convince you that Chen Changsheng was the murderer."
Bie Yanghong replied, "Indeed, the aura of the Frost Dragon cannot be forged, so until just now, I still believed this matter was the work of His Holiness the Pope."
The Azure-Clad Guest asked, "Then how did you confirm that your son was killed by me, or rather, come to suspect me?"
Hearing this, the cliff terrace erupted in commotion.
Some had vaguely guessed that this might be a conspiracy aimed at the Pope, but hearing the Azure-Clad Guest admit it himself was still deeply shocking.
"The reason I grew suspicious was that on the way up the mountain, someone showed me some things."
Bie Yanghong waved his hand, and several sheets of paper drifted out from his sleeve, quietly floating in the air around him, rustling as the mountain wind stirred them.
Those sheets were plain white paper, with drawings made in charcoal.
The lines in those drawings were not complicated, but the details were extremely rich.
In the first drawing, there was an alley, an old locust tree, and a young man.
The young man's face was drawn so vividly that his brows seemed ready to take flight, as if he were alive.
Looking at the young man in the drawing, a pang of pain flickered across Bie Yanghong's face.
The alley and the old locust tree were a corner of Hanqiu City, and that young man was his son, Bie Tianxin.
In the second drawing, there was a carriage. When the artist set down his brush, a gust of wind must have happened to lift a corner of the curtain.
What should have been a fleeting glimpse was, under the artist's charcoal, transformed into a still and unchanging record.
Inside the carriage window sat a beautiful and proud young woman, and an Azure-Clad Guest wearing a copper mask.
It was the very Azure-Clad Guest on the cliff terrace today.
The remaining drawings each depicted different scenes—such as the river waterfall breaking through the ice outside Hanqiu City, or a young man and woman walking side by side.
Every single drawing was an incredibly accurate record, clearly showing what Bie Tianxin had done and whom he had met during those days.
After Bie Tianxin died, these records became clues.
The Azure-Clad Guest stared at those drawings for a long time, then suddenly asked, "Do you believe these drawings?"
Bie Yanghong said, "I believe the person who drew them, but even so, I was still only half-convinced. Your appearance today and your attack were the real evidence."
"Thinking back now, my attack today was indeed unwise. But if you hadn't grown suspicious, you wouldn't have been able to decide so quickly. I still would have had a chance to kill Chen Changsheng and leave. So in the end, I was defeated by this person who made the drawings."
The Azure-Clad Guest frowned at the drawings and said, "I thought I had everything calculated, that this scheme was unbreakable. How could I have imagined that my every move was seen by this person? I wonder who could have watched me in secret for so long without my noticing."
Bie Yanghong said, "Qiushan Jun."
The Azure-Clad Guest was momentarily stunned, caught off guard.
Hearing this name, the crowd on the cliff terrace stirred restlessly.
Qiushan Jun was, of course, a famous figure, but he had been missing for five years, and many had nearly forgotten his existence.
No one expected that when he reappeared, he would have already accomplished such a great deed.
Bai Cai was shocked by this news and turned to Gou Hanshi, asking, "Senior Brother? What's going on?"
Gou Hanshi shook his head, indicating he didn't know.
...
...
By the mountain stream at the foot of Saintess Peak, the aroma of roasted fish drifted farther and farther. The rustling sounds in the forest grew closer and closer. Some bold wild beasts had even poked their heads out.
Qiushan Jun tore off a strip of fish and tossed it over, then turned back and said, "Father, stopping me here is useless."
The Qiushan Clan Head took the roasted fish from his hand, took two bites, and said smugly, "Don't try to fool me."
Qiushan Jun said helplessly, "Really, you're too late. I've already met with Mr. Bie."
The Qiushan Clan Head opened his mouth, not knowing what to say.
If it had been someone else, they might have thought that Bie Yanghong wouldn't believe him just because of a few words. But he was Qiushan Jun's father and knew his son had an excellent reputation. Most importantly, his son was always meticulous in his actions. Besides words, there must have been other methods.
The Qiushan Clan Head asked uneasily, "How confident are you?"
Qiushan Jun said, "After all, there's no direct evidence, and since it involves the death of his son, I think Bie Yanghong will believe me at most thirty percent."
The Qiushan Clan Head relaxed slightly and said, "That's good. I hope nothing unexpected happens."
Qiushan Jun said, "If the Azure-Clad Guest can't resist making a move today, that thirty percent will become ninety percent."
The Qiushan Clan Head's expression turned serious, and he said, "If I were him, I wouldn't have come to Saintess Peak at all today, let alone make a move."
Qiushan Jun said, "The Azure-Clad Guest's cultivation is unfathomable, and he acts ruthlessly. But when it comes to strategy and forbearance, he is far inferior to you, Father. Besides, this is Saintess Peak after all. Chen Changsheng must have some tricks up his sleeve, and Wang Po might also be here. He might very well make a move."
Although the words praised him, the Qiushan Clan Head's mood still sank.
According to Qiushan Jun's reasoning, if the Azure-Clad Guest made a move, Bie Yanghong would inevitably grow suspicious, and then Chen Changsheng might actually survive.
The Qiushan Clan Head gave him a resentful look and said, "If it's come to this, then we'll have to think of other ways."
Qiushan Jun asked in confusion, "What else are you going to do?"
The Qiushan Clan Head forced himself to perk up and said, "If things really turn out as you say, then after this matter is settled, of course I'll have to spread word of your achievements."
Qiushan Jun said helplessly, "I just sat by the stream with you today and roasted a few fish. What achievement is that?"
The Qiushan Clan Head said seriously, "Have you thought about it? If the Western Continent's conspiracy had succeeded, His Holiness the Pope would have died unjustly. More importantly, if Bie Yanghong and his wife had killed the Pope, it would have thrown the world into chaos. The demons would inevitably invade, and humanity would be in turmoil. Now, all of that won't happen, all because of you."
Qiushan Jun said, "That logic sounds a bit strange."
The more the Qiushan Clan Head spoke, the more excited he became, and he said loudly, "Where is it strange? Son, it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call you the savior of humanity!"
Qiushan Jun said helplessly, "Father, that's too exaggerated."
The Qiushan Clan Head said, "What do you know? Can you be sure that my earlier deduction would never have come true?"
Qiushan Jun suddenly fell silent.
The fish in the stream silently fled into the distance.
The wild beasts in the forest had also disappeared somewhere.
After a long time, Qiushan Jun spoke.
He looked into his father's eyes and asked seriously, "Father, since you also know that those deductions could be true, then why did you do this?"
This conspiracy was aimed at the State Church and Chen Changsheng.
The ones carrying out this conspiracy were the Azure-Clad Guest and Mu Jiushi from the Western Continent.
But everyone knew that the Imperial Court must have known about this beforehand; it was just unclear how deeply they were involved.
Qiushan Jun was especially certain that his father was definitely in the know.
Hearing the question, the Qiushan Clan Head also fell silent for a long time.
In the end, he still did not answer Qiushan Jun's question.
He stood up, patted Qiushan Jun on the head, and left the streamside.