"We've been trying," El Mun said to the man dressed in a neat robe edged by a thin line of blue crystals. "It's just a lot more difficult than we thought. We've tried several times but the Union doesn't let us carpet search the entire slums. As we are talking we've only gained access to the west. And even then we can't do much."
"I'm having none of it El," Ulvi said. "How many more months should I wait, while my son's killer runs around free. All the other cities are laughing at us."
"I know you are in pain," El Mun sighed. "It's just that there is a far larger conspiracy at play here. Think. We had two fights between Qi-Gathering babies yet none of our guards was able to detect it. Do you still think it's so simple after all these countless explanations?"
"I'd appreciate it if your mouth didn't dare yap around like that in front of me," Ulvi slammed his fist onto the table."Your father might have much more influence than me, kid, but that doesn't warrant the disrespect. "
"Alright! I apologize," El Mun fell back into his seat. The chair creaked from all the stress. "The point is we are trying our best City Lord and the circumstances alone aren't helping. "
"Just get the job done in the next two months," Ulvi said, standing up. "I want to get past this. I can't help knowing that the person who took my son's life is running on like a loose chicken. "
Ulvi slammed the door behind him, leaving El Mun to twirl around his chair. Things were getting more complicated by the day. He still didn't understand how Ast could be the culprit behind all this. The kid was far from the killer. He'd seen the kid before. The little thing loved hanging out with his sister and well the personality he showed was far from someone that could accomplish what the killer of Krustal did. There was no questioning evidence though. Everything was linked perfectly to the kid and it was surreal.
At least his sister was happy in the Tranquil River Sect.
He wanted to get to the bottom of this.
He picked up the coat hanging on the edge of his chair and wore it, before shuffling out the room.
"Something smells fishy."
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"Ast, are you done yet?" Layla shouted from the first floor. Her voice barely made it into his ears from there.
He lacked the last of his dregs and wrapped himself inside a large woollen cloak before heading downstairs.
More than a week had passed since he regained consciousness. Talk of the Patrol finally getting the permission to sweep the slums made it to them. Thanks to that they had no choice but to leave the place and seek shelter elsewhere. He was pretty lucky that the news came just after he fully healed so making the journey wouldn't be difficult.
The overall plan was simple. Instead of them rushing him back to the city his parents controlled, they'd rather have him shave his head and join an Enlightened monastery. As long as he repented his sins, he'd be given the chance to enter seclusion there until everything blew over or they found the culprit.
"Don't take too much stuff, we don't want to seem suspicious," Layla added.
"I know, I've only got the small bag," Ast rolled his eyes. "Wait isn't the physician taking a walk with us."
"Nope!"
"Great! Let's get going."
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"Don't you love it when a plan comes together Jian?" an old man said, stroking his beard as he looked down at Myriad city from the roof of his humble abode levitating on a single wisp of cloud.
"I don't know?" A confused voice came from inside the hut.
"You don't know how to appreciate a perfect plan, Jian. You are too brawny," the old man smiled, his yellow teeth outshined the sun. "A few nudges here and there and the idiots below do everything as planned."
"I don't get it," Qiao Jian kicked aside the huts dangling door. Surprisingly the door was still intact. One would expect its weak frame to shatter after experiencing the force behind the man's kick. "All you do is smile, drink wine and ramble on about how perfect your plan is. Aren't you nearly dead yet? How many more days can you do that?"
"Shut it," the Oldman croaked, cracking his spine for some extra comfort. "You youngins no longer appreciate what experience means. Anyways I need you to deliver this to the boy if interested. What do they call him? Ast...was it."
The man dug into his tattered robes. His entire hand disappeared the moment it found his inner pocket. He rummaged through it, tongue hanging out. Finally, he found what he wanted. A fragile piece of papyrus with a few words etched on it.
"Old man, you want to give him this?" Jian was utterly confused.
He understood the reason why he had to set the plan in motion and all. But this was the next level. If there was an example of what it meant to fatten the sheep then this must have been truly it.
"Are you seriously going to give him this revised path? The 14 Severance to Immortality, " Jian asked. "This is too much even for you old man. "
"Don't question my logic," the old man's expression froze. "I need the kid to follow that once he reaches an acceptable level then..."
"As long as you get to live I don't mind," Jain gently wrapped the piece of papyrus in a thick layer of condensed qi before throwing it into one of his pockets.
"Don't let him see you," the old man said. "He needs to think that this is his chance."
Jian nodded. He then waved a hand. The space around him collapsed on itself, swallowing him. The world's vital essence kicked into high gear and started repairing the crack.
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