The rain poured down like a waterfall.
The blood and scattered corpses in the Qingding Training Ground were washed away, and large raindrops pounded on the eaves, creating a dense patter of sound.
This sudden downpour of rain brought everyone to their senses, even amidst the shock and horror, as they sought shelter from the pouring rain.
Even the prominent figures couldn't escape looking towards the raised platform.
There, a young man in a green robe, as elegant as jade, held an oiled paper umbrella. The rain slid down the edge of the umbrella like flowing streams, adding a touch of ethereal vagueness to his slender figure in the misty rain.
With his long hair tied up in a neat bun using a wooden hairpin, he walked down the platform with composure and ease, unaffected by the gloomy downpour.
"Hmm, it was wise of Su-ge to have me bring two umbrellas when we left..." Huang Qianjun also held an umbrella, feeling a sense of admiration.
As they watched Su Yi approaching step by step, the prominent figures couldn't help but feel a sense of tension.
"What is he doing? Is he planning to kill again?"
"Hard to say..."
"Should we retreat?"
"We haven't seen how Qin Feng died. Who dares to leave?"
...People whispered quietly, their expressions filled with vigilance and nervousness.
In their eyes, Su Yi at this moment was undoubtedly an extremely terrifying figure, beyond imagination.
"Are you sure you won't seek revenge?" Su Yi stopped and looked at the group of people ten yards away.
They were the elders of seven disciples from the Qinghe Sword Academy, such as Qian Yunjiu and Huo Long.
Faced with Su Yi's inquiry, all of these prominent figures remained silent, lowering their heads, afraid to meet Su Yi's gaze.
"Revenge can come later, but when that time comes, the families and friends behind you will undoubtedly suffer." Su Yi's casual words made the hearts of those prominent figures sink.
Suddenly, they remembered Su Yi's words to Qin Wenyuan earlier, "Your father and son's death will serve as a warning to others!"
"Master Zhang."
As Su Yi was about to leave, his gaze suddenly caught sight of Zhang Yuanxing, and a smile tugged at the corner of his lips. "The wind blows favorably, carrying me to the azure sky. Master Zhang, would you like to take this opportunity to give me a ride?"
Zhang Yuanxing shivered all over, a chill running down his spine. He quickly responded, "Lord Su, please don't misunderstand. It was just a joke of mine, not to be taken seriously. If I have offended you in any way, I apologize."
He bowed deeply, trembling slightly.
He was truly afraid of facing retaliation from Su Yi due to their previous conflict at the Xinghuang Cottage in Guangling City.
"If it's an apology, show some sincerity. Why don't you kneel down before Lord Su, you unfilial son?" Suddenly, Zhang Zhiyan's angry voice resounded.
He was also panicking, unaware of when his son had offended Su Yi. But he didn't have time to inquire about it. The most urgent matter was to apologize quickly!
"Well..." Zhang Yuanxing hesitated. Kneel down? If he did, how would he continue living?
Bang!
In the next moment, Zhang Zhiyan slapped him, forcefully pinning him to the ground. Both knees landed on the wet ground, and Zhang Zhiyan held his head down, preventing him from lifting it.
An indescribable sense of humiliation surged within Zhang Yuanxing.
Zhang Zhiyan then apologetically bowed to Su Yi, saying, "Lord Su, my Zhang family never intended to provoke any conflict with you, neither now nor in the past. It's a father's failure to teach his son. I kindly ask for your magnanimity and forgiveness towards my worthless and unruly son."
With that, he performed a respectful bow.
Witnessing this scene, other prominent figures nearby couldn't help but be moved.
Even the esteemed head of the Zhang family had to lower his head voluntarily!
At this moment, Zhang Yuanxing stood dumbfounded, experiencing a sense of bewilderment, panic, and grief that he had never felt before.
In his heart, his father was like a towering mountain.
He had never imagined that, at this very moment, this mountain would bow down like this.
Su Yi paid no further attention to the father and son. He waved his hand towards Huang Qianjun, who was not far away, and was about to leave.
Suddenly, the sound of hurried horse hooves resounded outside the training ground.
Shortly after, Zhou Zhili, Qing Qin, Mu Zhongting, Zhang Duo, and others, clad in raincoats, rushed in.
When they saw the remnants of the bloody battles on the training ground and the bodies of Qin Wenyuan and his son lying on the ground, how could they not understand what had happened?
"Lord Su, are you alright?" Zhou Zhili couldn't care about anything else and approached Su Yi with concern evident on his face.
Su Yi smiled inscrutably. "Do you think I'm fine?"
Zhou Zhili's expression froze for a moment, but then he visibly relaxed and said, "It's good that you're fine. I set off immediately upon hearing the news, but it seems I was still one step too late. Fortunately, you're unharmed. Otherwise, I would have to cleanse the Prefectural Governor's Mansion with blood!"
His words were filled with an imposing aura.
Many people present were taken aback. Who is this guy, and why is he speaking so arrogantly?
At that moment, figures such as Yuan Wutong and Zhang Zhiyan, prominent individuals in Yunhe County, clearly recognized Zhou Zhili and all saluted him.
"Greetings, Sixth Prince!"
"Greetings, Sixth Prince!"
"Greetings, Sixth Prince!"
The respectful address rendered the atmosphere silent, and everyone froze, unable to hide their astonishment.
In the entire Da Zhou Empire, being referred to as the "Sixth Prince" naturally belonged to only one person—the sixth son of the current Emperor of Da Zhou!
The esteemed status of that identity needed no further explanation.
Zhou Zhili waved his hand, signaling the prominent figures not to be overly courteous.
With a touch of self-reproach on his face, he sighed, "Lord Su has shown me great kindness, yet I have never truly been able to be of great assistance. I am truly ashamed."
His words left figures like Zhang Zhiyan and others dumbfounded.
It was at this moment that they all suddenly realized that Su Yi, in addition to his terrifying cultivation, commanded immense respect even from the Sixth Prince. He was owed a great debt!
This revelation was truly astonishing, and their gaze toward Su Yi changed even more.
"I pay my respects to Lord Su," Mu Zhongting stepped forward, cupping his hands in a salute.
Su Yi nodded and suddenly said to Zhou Zhili, "If you want to help, you can clean up the aftermath."
With that, he held the oil-paper umbrella and walked away into the distance.
With everything resolved, he had no desire to linger any longer.
Huang Qianjun hurriedly followed behind.
Seeing that Yuan Luoxi was also about to chase after them, Yuan Wutong grabbed her shoulder and grumbled, "Did your soul get hooked?"
Yuan Luoxi rolled her eyes and remained silent.
As Su Yi's figure gradually disappeared into the heavy rain, on the verge of being obscured, Zhou Zhili spoke up in a loud voice, "Lord Su, rest assured, I promise not to disappoint you in today's matter!"
"I told you not to have any illusions about achieving double gains. Do you understand now?" Qing Qin whispered softly.
Her bright and sharp gaze remained fixed on the direction Su Yi was leaving, feeling somewhat frustrated and melancholic.
That guy didn't even spare her a glance earlier!
Was he intending to completely distance himself from her?
Thinking of this, a hint of helplessness appeared on her lips.
Of course, in his eyes, she was just a role that could only serve as his maid. Since she had refused back then, he naturally couldn't be bothered...
Zhou Zhili's eyes were resolute as he said, "Master Uncle, after this incident, I have come to realize even more that ten Qin Wenyuans combined cannot compare to Lord Su alone!"
Qing Qin remained silent.
Her gaze swept over the corpses and blood on the training ground, and the image of Su Yi, untouched and untainted by a single speck of dust, caused a trace of astonishment to well up in her heart.
"May I ask, Sixth Prince, how should today's matter be resolved?" Zhang Zhiyan asked softly.
"Leave it to Lord Mu to handle. I have only one request: the news of what happened here today must not be leaked," Zhou Zhili said, scanning the prominent figures present. "If the news leaks, I will hold you accountable!"
The hearts of the crowd trembled.
The events that occurred on the training ground today were extremely serious. Perhaps they could keep it hidden from the majority of Yunhe County, but it would definitely be impossible to conceal it from those major powers!
Of course, Zhou Zhili was also aware of this, but despite being aware, there were things that still needed to be done.
"Just helping to clean up after him, so what? If I help him enough times, he won't disregard this bond of friendship, right?" Zhou Zhili muttered to himself.
...
The rain gradually subsided, transforming from a pouring torrent into a fine and misty drizzle.
The misty rain shrouded the densely packed houses of Yunhe County, adding a touch of poetic and picturesque atmosphere.
Inside the carriage, Su Yi gazed at the Imperial Mystery Sword placed in front of him.
The previous use of the Imperial Decree allowed him to harness a trace of the rain's power from the clouds, but it also made the cloud patterns on the Imperial Decree's talisman appear somewhat dim.
"I can probably use it nine more times," Su Yi made a judgment.
The Imperial Decree was different from ordinary inscribed talismans. It was forged using his own refined blood, integrating it into the spirit of the sword during its formation.
Once it was depleted, it meant that it could not be repaired.
However, Su Yi didn't mind.
In his eyes, the Imperial Decree was an external force in the world, and his own strength was the most important!
They arrived back at Hululu Lane.
Seeing Su Yi and Huang Qianjun return safely, Cheng Wuyong and the Feng siblings, who had been waiting in the humble abode, couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief and greeted them with smiles.
Su Yi exchanged a few casual words and then returned to his own room.
It was as if the matter of going to Qingding Training Ground to resolve the hidden danger just now was not worth mentioning at all.
Huang Qianjun was intercepted by Cheng Wuyong, who inquired in detail about the events of their mission.
Inside the room, Su Yi stood by the desk in front of the window, gazing at the flowers and trees outside that were immersed in the misty rain. He felt a sense of tranquility and emptiness, which inexplicably gave rise to a trace of melancholy.
To him, reincarnation and cultivation meant a new identity and a new journey. Yet, from beginning to end, he couldn't find any sense of belonging on this path of reincarnation.
It was as if he was a wanderer in a foreign land, a passing guest.
"I am a traveler in this world," Su Yi murmured in his heart.
Faintly, the sound of Huang Qianjun passionately discussing the mission could be heard from the courtyard outside the window, mixed with the surprised and questioning voices of Cheng Wuyong and the Feng siblings.
Su Yi smiled, withdrawing his thoughts.
He spread a white paper on the desk and picked up a brush dipped in ink, swiftly creating strokes.
"I am a wanderer in this mortal realm, embracing a lifetime of swordplay amidst mist and rain."
The characters flowed like running clouds, their strength penetrating the paper, exuding a sense of boldness and freedom.
Outside the window, the wind blew diagonally, and the rain fell gently, shrouded in a misty haze.
Meanwhile, Su Yi had already turned around and left the room, asking with a smile, "Feng Junior Brother, bring out the hot wine you prepared!"