The Traitor
Translator: Cinder Translations
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Song Wen had just taken a few steps when he received a transmission through his spiritual sense from Zhu Yin.
"Friend Ji Yin, there's a small matter I'd like to ask your help with. Please come to the Shepherd Hall for a chat."
Song Wen sighed slightly and turned back into the hall.
"Friend Zhu Yin, may I ask what this matter is?"
Inside the hall, only Zhu Yin and Jing Kai were present. Song Wen got straight to the point and asked.
Zhu Yin replied, "Just now, Jing Kai received news that the soul lamp of the shepherd, Zhu Yan, from Cold Mountain Kingdom suddenly extinguished seven days ago. I need to leave the island to prepare for the bloodthirsty bees, and I don't have the time to deal with this matter. I ask you to go to Cold Mountain Kingdom and accompany Jing Kai to investigate."
Zhu Yan's soul lamp was placed on Shepherd Mountain, which was tens of thousands of miles away from Cold Mountain Kingdom.
Since communication jade slips couldn't be used for long-distance transmissions, it wasn't until Jing Kai returned to Shepherd Mountain that he learned about Zhu Yan's death.
Song Wen frowned slightly. "Friend Zhu Yin, forgive me for speaking frankly. It's just the death of a Qi Refining disciple. With Jing Kai, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, handling the investigation, it should be more than sufficient. There's no need for me to intervene."
Zhu Yin responded, "Shepherd Island has been established for many years, and there has never been an instance of a shepherd suddenly dying for no reason. On Shepherd Island, everyone is a mortal, and the sudden death of a Qi Refining cultivator at the eighth level is somewhat suspicious. Furthermore, with the bloodthirsty bees appearing in Cold Mountain Kingdom, I'm worried that during my absence from the island, some chaos might arise. That's why I ask for your help."
Although Song Wen was reluctant, he could only nod.
"Rest assured, Daoist Zhu Yin, I will do my best."
Zhu Yin glanced outside the hall and then transmitted another message.
"Friend, please be on guard against Ji Qing. His appearance at this timing is far too coincidental. He must have some ulterior motive for coming to Shepherd Island."
Upon hearing this, Song Wen's mood soured even further.
He had no desire to get involved in the entanglements between Ji Qing and Zhu Yin. What was supposed to be a simple task to eliminate demons had now become tangled with internal conflicts within the Wu Ji Island.
"I hope Zhu Yan's death won't lead to any major troubles," Song Wen thought to himself.
As Song Wen and Jing Kai left the hall, they were surprised to find that Ji Qing had not yet left.
"Friends, where are you headed?" Ji Qing asked.
Song Wen was fully aware that this question was deliberate.
Ji Qing, standing just outside the hall, had undoubtedly overheard the entire conversation inside, except for the transmission message, of course.
"I've been entrusted by Friend Zhu Yin to accompany Jing Kai to Cold Mountain Kingdom."
"Cold Mountain Kingdom? I was just planning to go there as well. How about we travel together?" Ji Qing suggested.
"It would be an honor to accompany you, Friend Ji Qing," Song Wen replied.
As they spoke, Song Wen took out a small flying ship.
"Friend Ji Qing, please board."
Ji Qing, not bothering with pleasantries, stepped aboard the ship first.
Song Wen and Jing Kai followed and also boarded the ship.
"Junior Jing Kai, greetings to Senior Ji Qing," Jing Kai said as he bowed.
Ji Qing responded, "Jing Kai! I know you. I have a good relationship with your master, Yu Qi."
Jing Kai immediately looked surprised and flattered. "I didn't expect Senior Ji Qing to recognize me."
Ji Qing continued, "It's been a while since I've seen your master. How is he?"
"Thank you for your concern, Senior. My master is well."
"That's good to hear. How long have you been working on Shepherd Island?"
"I've been a shepherd for three years."
"Then you must be quite familiar with Shepherd Island, right? Are you familiar with the situation in Cold Mountain Kingdom?"
"I am in charge of the area around Cold Mountain Kingdom, so I am very familiar with it."
"Perfect. Then tell me about the situation with the bloodthirsty bees in Cold Mountain Kingdom."
"The bloodthirsty bees are numerous, and their invasions are frequent. Nearly every month, they attack one or two cities in Cold Mountain Kingdom. Each time, at least several hundred thousand mortals die…"
It was unclear whether Jing Kai lacked sufficient caution or was trying to curry favor with Ji Qing, but during their exchange, he revealed almost everything about the situation in Cold Mountain Kingdom and the bloodthirsty bees.
Song Wen stood at the bow of the ship, controlling the flying vessel, quietly listening to their conversation.
Anyone with clear eyes could tell that Ji Qing and Zhu Yin were not on good terms.
Yet, Jing Kai was so eager to please Ji Qing, which made him seem like a traitor, undermining his own side.
However, this matter had nothing to do with Song Wen, and he had no intention of getting involved.
On this trip to Cold Mountain Kingdom, Song Wen planned to be a silent observer, only assisting enough to give Zhu Yin a reasonable explanation.
Once they entered the territory of Cold Mountain Kingdom, Ji Qing took his leave, heading toward the large mountains in the southwest.
Song Wen and Jing Kai, however, proceeded to the Shan Fu City, hovering above the capital.
"Jing Kai, you will investigate Zhu Yan's cause of death alone."
Jing Kai paused for a moment. "Senior, aren't you going to help?"
Song Wen shook his head, looking mysterious.
"We each act in our own way. You will be in the open, while I will remain in the shadows. This might have some unintended effects."
Jing Kai's expression brightened. "Senior, this plan is brilliant."
With that, he stepped off the ship, using his sword to descend toward the palace below.
Song Wen scanned the entire Shan Fu City with his spiritual sense, not detecting any abnormalities. After releasing four shadow gu to patrol the surroundings, he withdrew his spiritual sense, no longer focusing on the city below.
After waiting for about two hours, Jing Kai returned to the ship.
"Did you find any clues?" Song Wen asked.
Jing Kai shook his head. "I visited the palace and the Qingfeng Mountain residence, interrogating people who had come into contact with Zhu Yan, but I didn't find any useful leads. The only thing I learned is that seven days ago, Zhu Yan suddenly left the Qingfeng Mountain residence, and after that, no one knew where he went. Did you notice anything unusual?"
Song Wen shook his head. "After you left the palace, I observed the people inside with my spiritual sense, but I didn't notice anything strange."
Then, Song Wen asked, "Did you use the Soul Search technique?"
Jing Kai looked at Song Wen with a slightly confused expression.
"Senior, are you referring to the Soul Search technique? It is a secret of Wu Ji Island, only taught to core disciples. My cultivation is still low, and I've never learned it. Have you practiced the Soul Search technique?"
Song Wen suddenly realized that he still knew too little about the secrets of the Chaotic Sea.
On Tianyuan Continent, Soul Search was not a rare or exceptional technique, and many cultivators practiced it.
However, in the Chaotic Sea, Soul Search was a closely guarded secret of Wu Ji Island.
Song Wen remained calm and said, "I was once a loose cultivator. After joining Wu Ji Island, I only entered the outer sect. How could I have learned the Soul Search technique? I only heard of its fame and thought, with your status as the disciple of the Demon Lord, you might have practiced it. I wanted to witness the wonders of this technique."
Jing Kai seemed somewhat disappointed. "I thought you had practiced the Soul Search technique. If you had, the investigation would be much easier."
Song Wen coldly replied, "Without the Soul Search technique, we'll have to use some harsher methods. These mortals, do you think they can withstand the methods of us cultivators?"
Jing Kai replied, "I've already tortured everyone who had contact with Zhu Yan. Several dozen didn't survive, but I didn't gain any valuable leads from them."
"Everyone was interrogated? Who hasn't been questioned?" Song Wen asked.
"Cui Zai Shi, the king, is an excellent ruler. If he were to die, I'm afraid Cold Mountain Kingdom would fall into chaos, so I didn't dare to interrogate him."
(End of the Chapter)
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