Shi Yunxu was only ten steps away from the disciples of the same sect, his eyes on what the sword was doing to the creature. He had his back to them, but heard all the things that was said about the WuYangChen sect leader, not that some of it weren't true. Chuckling in amusement by what was spoken about Chen Yueming, the young master of ShenJiangShi sect not knowing of Chen Yueming's plot against his disciples had his guard relaxed. It was the cries coming from from the ShenJiangShi sect that made Shi Yunxu turn around to see what it was, his lips held a smile of thinly concealed insolence.
"Young master Shi! A....A-Heng is dead!"
Shi Jian-heng was the cultivator who had his head taken off, the remaining disciples with terrified look on their faces, eyes darting around to find out where the attack must have come from, but none could put it together that the sneak attack was closer than they could have imagined.
Without any change in his countenance, Shi Yunxu walked to where the dead disciple was, bending to pick up the severed head that now had dried up blood, to take a closer look at the cold pale lifeless skin. On first glance, nothing could be seen, but eyes that had gained the "sense" ability, seeing beyond the ordinary, can see what may appear invisible to others not at that level. Stuck into the bone that came from a part of the neck was a piece of fine thin string dyed to the color of red.
"Heya! The malignant spirits must have struck our poor A-Heng down. What do you say Sect leader Chen?"
"Why are you asking me as though I know what took place?"
"We do not understand why Young master Shi is wasting time on finding out what Sect leader Chen thinks, how can someone like him who couldn't look after the people from his sect know what could have killed A-Heng?"
"Are you all saying that Sect leader Chen did not know how A-Heng died?"
The eleven disciples terrified looks had become one of confusion, they kept looking at Shi Yunxu not knowing where he was going with the interrogation, by then Wingzixin had finished hacking the creature to death, carving out the shiny blue core within the Nian's chest to present to it's master. The sword flew to where Shi Yunxu was with the core surrounded by the aura from the tip of the blade. The young master of ShenJiangShi sect took out a sealing pouch of yellow, pulling its string open to absorb the blue core of the Nian.
"Wingzixin! Bring me the head of Chen Yueming!"
"Young master Shi please do not act rashly. Are you sure that it was the doing of Sect leader Chen?"
"Do not say another word A-Hao!"
The unmistakable tone of warning made Shi Lang-hao not to pursue the discussion any further. Chen Yueming stood from where he was on the ground to face the sword that was coming at him at an extremely fast speed, pulling out the sword on his side to defend himself from the merciless attack of Shi Yunxu's sword.
He didn't know when the young master of ShenJiangShi sect moved to stand behind him, grabbing the arm that held the sword facing Wingzixin. Chen Yueming fought to break from the iron hold of Shi Yuxue, which made him open to the attack of Wingzixin. The sword suddenly changed direction of its attack as though under an unspoken command, turning to the left arm of Chen Yueming, who strained to keep his hand lowered to fend off the sword from take off his left arm. At the last second, the sword of Shi Yunxu shifted back to its original intent, aiming straight for Chen Yueming's head.
Afraid that his head would be cut off, the WuYangChen sect leader released the string under his sleeves, to cut the hand of Shi Yunxu, who sensing the intention of Chen Yueming waited for him to reveal where he hid the weapon he used in killing a disciple of his sect.
During the scuffle, the sword Wingzixin pierced the shoulder of Chen Yueming which was what Shi Yunxu had planned from the start, while holding up a hand with the string that was used to assassinate Shi Jian-heng, now made visible to the eyes of the other disciples with the aura of Shi Yunxu.