Immediately, one heard the Chief of the Daoist Academy introduce the man, "This gentleman comes from the Heroic Pass in the northwest, he is the deputy to the Military Commander at the border. He has come to our Qingdu Daoist Academy to investigate certain matters. We hope all lay disciples will try their best to cooperate."
The deputy to the Military Commander at the border?
The many lay disciples inside the hall were suddenly startled as they stared at the man.
Since Qingdu was already adjacent to the Heroic Pass in the northwest, quite a few people present knew that any commander of tenths of thousands in the fifteen hundred thousand-strong border army was a true Martial Cultivator!
And the deputy to the Military Commander was selected from among those commanders.
Martial Artists of Jianghu, even if their Martial Arts are exceptional, their Refining Power reaches the micro level, and they achieve Perfect Unity, are still just ordinary Martial Artists after all, incomparable to true Cultivation experts.
Whereas Martial Cultivators are the legends of Martial Arts who have entered the Dao through martial practice!
Only with a body as tough as dark steel and the strength to lift a myriad of burdens could one compete with Cultivation experts.
Only such figures were qualified to command the armies and hold the position of a commander of tenths of thousands.
Even the Prefectural Governor of Qingdu, upon encountering such individuals, would have to be extremely polite. Scanning the entire Qingdu, one could not find a Martial Cultivator strong enough to enter the Dao through Martial Arts.
Meanwhile, Lin Yue watched this distinguished figure silently among the crowd, his face, like everyone else's, showing the right amount of surprised expression, while his heart quietly pondered.
Another Martial Cultivator from the border army?
The last dead Martial Cultivator seemed to have come from the border army too…
"Gentlemen."
The deputy, with an indifferent expression facing everyone's gaze, began to speak, "My surname is Chu. This time I have come to Qingdu Daoist Academy by order of the Commander to investigate the traces of a certain person."
While speaking, he took out a scroll from inside his robe.
With a light flick, he immediately unfolded a portrait.
Everyone carefully looked at it.
The painting depicted a rather emaciated young man, clad in lavish brocade robes, holding a folding fan in his hand, standing awkwardly and nervously, with a lifelike demeanor and beautifully detailed facial features, including a scar on the forehead.
"This man is named 'Xia Lie.' Over two months ago, he had been to Qingdu to spend some time. On the first of June, this person was at the Academy asking about a Cultivation Method for nurturing vitality, and at the time he was accompanied by a Martial Cultivator Guard."
After Deputy Chu finished speaking slowly, his eyes swept over the crowd, asking, "Presumably, you should have some recollection, right?"
Upon hearing these words, the numerous lay disciples present silently nodded.
It had been only two months since that incident.
Even if there were many who were not present at the time, they had heard about the matter during casual conversations afterward. How could they possibly forget?
On the first of June—
The young noble master in the portrait strutted into the Academy arrogantly; as soon as he spoke, he was asking to borrow all the Academy's Cultivation Methods for nurturing vitality, his commanding manner as if giving orders.
The Chief, of course, could not agree at the time and immediately ordered the Martial Artists who guarded the Academy to expel the man.
But the noble young master's guard, with just a shift in stance and within a blink, had downed the three approaching Martial Artists before most onlookers could even perceive what had happened.
Although the Martial Artists who guarded the Academy were not top-notch in Jianghu, they were first-rate fighters; yet they were taken down in an instant.
The bystanders guessed at the moment that the guard following the noble young master must be a strong Martial Cultivator who entered the Dao through Martial Arts!
Such an important figure, capable of commanding tenths of thousands, willing to play the role of a mere Guard?
Hence, everyone understood that the noble young master must have significant backing!
Therefore, the Chief had no choice but to take out the Academy's coveted Cultivation Methods for nurturing vitality, allowing that noble young master to borrow them, and was even requested to give personal guidance.
After a few more days, the noble young master seemed to have learned enough and left, not returning to the Academy.
Now it seems, could he have disappeared?
Thinking this, the people present felt even more alarmed.
A noble young master with a Martial Cultivator as a Guard, mysteriously missing for so long – could he have fallen victim to foul play?
Who in the world would dare to harm such an obviously well-connected noble young master?
Moreover, the Martial Cultivator Guard had vanished without a trace as well?
With this thought, many present felt their hearts sink.
If the grudge was between two powers, getting involved in the turmoil caused by such a significant figure could be troublesome, even if they were to offer help.
"The Military Commander has given an order."
The Vice Commander surnamed Chu seemed to guess what everyone was thinking. With an indifferent gaze sweeping over the crowd, he said, "Anyone who provides useful clues will be rewarded with heavy gold and if someone finds the whereabouts of Young Master Xia Lie, they may become the Military Commander's direct disciple and serve him personally."
As soon as these words were uttered, many secular disciples stared at Vice Commander Chu in shocked silence, disbelief evident in their eyes.
The mere mention of a heavy gold reward for useful information was enough to make many present covetous.
Although most were from wealthy families, such a fortune in gold was not easily earned.
And for the few individuals like the son of the Prefectural Governor, who wouldn't be moved by gold alone, the prospect of becoming a disciple to the Military Commander charged with defending the Heroic Pass in the northwest ignited an envious spark in their eyes—as such warriors were already Martial Cultivators of extreme standing.
To be able to serve as a direct disciple of the Military Commander, who commanded a host of one hundred fifty thousand, even a commoner would be greeted with utmost respect by the likes of the Qingdu Prefectural Governor. Furthermore, it could even bring glory to one's family for a hundred years or more!
It was an opportunity to ascend to the heavens in a single step!
The moment Vice Commander Chu finished speaking, the hall of the Academy was buzzing with commotion.
"Please calm yourselves," ordered Vice Commander Chu, his voice cool.
"Next, I will ask a few questions. Those who have detailed and reliable clues, step forward to speak. If no one has certain knowledge, still come forward if you have any uncertain leads."
Only then did everyone fall silent.
"The first question."
Vice Commander Chu's gaze slowly swept over those present. "The last time Young Master Xia Lie was seen at the Academy was on the fifth day of the sixth month. Did anyone see him outside the Academy that day?"
Everyone looked around at each other but no one responded.
After a long pause, a tall and slender man tentatively stepped forward.
He bowed in greeting before speaking cautiously, "Vice Commander Chu, on the fifth day of the sixth month, I caught a glimpse of Young Master Xia Lie from a distance outside the Academy. Though it was far and I could not see his face clearly, if I were to judge by his attire, it should have been Young Master Xia Lie."
"Oh?" Vice Commander Chu immediately asked, "Where was this?"
"At the street near the Wind Lotus Pavilion," the slender man replied. "However, it was strange that at that time, Young Master Xia Lie was not accompanied by his Martial Cultivator Guard."
"No Guard accompanying him?"
Vice Commander Chu frowned slightly and said coldly, "How is that possible? According to the Military Commander's orders, the Martial Cultivator Guard should have been closely following Young Master Xia Lie. How could they not be there for protection? Are you sure it was Young Master Xia Lie himself?"
Hearing this, the slender man looked startled.
Being scrutinized by a Martial Cultivator who commanded an army, one could imagine how oppressive the feeling was.
He started to panic and stuttered, "This... this, I am not entirely certain, but I have seen Young Master Xia Lie at the Academy a few times before. The clothes and silhouette should... should not be mistaken, I think..."
Vice Commander Chu fell silent for a moment, watching the tall and slender man before slowly speaking, "What were you doing there at the time?"
"This... I was just about to visit the Wind Lotus Pavilion."
The slender man said somewhat nervously, "But on the street outside the pavilion, I saw Young Master Xia Lie coming from that direction from afar and didn't dare to continue."
"Why didn't you dare to go?" Vice Commander Chu's voice was cold.
The slender man hesitated, then said, "Do you want the truth?"
Vice Commander Chu frowned and commanded, "Speak the truth!"
"Yes!"
The slender man quickly explained, "I heard that since Young Master Xia Lie came to Qingdu, he has seemed somewhat erratic and behaved peculiarly, whipping and beating innocent passersby on the street at will. I was afraid, so... so I didn't dare to approach..."