Chapter 204 Suspicion
He knew that if his conjecture was true, then whatever happening here was related to Heavenly Demon Sect. Nothing good came out of those lunatics. It was better to be cautious whenever they are involved.
Likewise, if his conjecture was true and this murderer was somehow connected with these bizarre events, then apprehending him was of utmost priority. Who knew what kind of information would come out of him?
The moment such a thought appeared in Envoy Ming's mind, he decisively started traveling in the direction he had found traces in. Envoy Ming felt a sense of exhilaration and urgency as he chased after the murderer with all his speed. He knew this was his chance to do a meritorious deed to the sect and earn the favor of an influential Junior Brother.
Such an opportunity would not come by often. Compared to these treasures, he needed to grab hold of this opportunity more. This would probably become a life-altering decision for him. There was no time to waste now.
Soon, Envoy Ming vanished from the location and ran in the direction of Duncan…
*****
Meanwhile, Duncan was unaware that someone was already suspecting him regarding the strange events that happened in Greenwood Forest. If he had known, Duncan wouldn't know how to react.
Listening to his instincts, Duncan had already escaped from the Greenwood Forest with haste. He didn't even dare to stop and linger in the surrounding regions after escaping the forest. Duncan felt that the larger the distance between him and the events that are happening here, he would be safer.
Unfortunately, he had already become a suspect.
As Duncan dashed out of the inner forest, he came across several cultivators who were in the Qi Gathering State and Spirit Sea realm standing outside without daring to go into the inner regions.
When they saw Duncan's cultivation, they were surprised that he had trespassed into the inner regions. Initially, they all wanted to stop him and enquire about the news. However, Duncan wasn't in the mood to indulge their curiosity.
He didn't pay attention to their hailing and kept moving out of the forest. Those cultivators who had seen him were only left to stare at his disappearing form with frowns of displeasure on their faces.
They wouldn't have dared to show displeasure in the face of cultivators who had higher cultivation than them. However, these were all cultivators who thought themselves to be proud sons of heaven and future prodigies who had tagged along with the experts to widen their horizons.
Seeing someone who was in their level disregard them, made them a little sullen. If Duncan was any slower, they would have demanded an explanation out of him. Unfortunately, or fortunately for them, Duncan didn't stop to exchange pleasantries with them.
They could only snort and mumble their displeasure seeing Duncan's disappearing form. Even then, no one dared to block or attack Duncan. They knew whoever it was, that person wasn't someone they could trifle with.
"Hmmph, how arrogant! If not for my seniors telling me not to create any trouble, I would have not let such an arrogant person off," one of the cultivators sneered unhappily.
"Exactly, if not for that reason, I wouldn't have let him pass either. No one has disrespected me like this so far," another cultivator said a little angrily.
Like this, several murmurs were left in the wake of Duncan's departure in the outer region of the Greenwood Forest. Duncan didn't know about this, nor did he care about these posers. He felt staying in this region was trouble.
So, even after leaving the forest completely, Duncan didn't stop. He picked a random direction and started heading away from this region of trouble.
Ten minutes after Duncan left the Greenwood Forest, Envoy Ming came out of the inner region hot on his tail. He was determined to catch Duncan and find out why he was present in the Greenwood Forest.
As he exited the inner regions, he too came across those juniors from various factions that were waiting in the outer regions for news. Seeing them looking at him, he stopped and looked at them as well.
"Senior, is there any news on what kind of treasure is present inside?" one of the Spirit Sea realm cultivators asked Envoy Ming respectfully.
Envoy Ming frowned. Even he didn't know what the actual treasure was. He wasn't qualified enough to enter the region near the treasure. Even Golden Hall realm cultivators were not allowed near that region. How could he know about the identity of the treasure? This was like poking his sour spot.
"Hmmph," Envoy Ming snorted. "Do not interfere in matters that have no concern with you. Let me ask you, did you see any cultivator who exited the inner region in a hurry recently?"
The cultivator who asked the question trembled hearing Envoy Ming's initial response. However, Envoy Ming's question was like a saving grace for him. He perked up hearing the question.
"Reporting to senior, one person did exit the region in a hurry ten minutes ago. He didn't even stop to address us. As he didn't even stop to identify himself, we don't know which sect he belongs to."
"Good!" Envoy Ming crowed happily. "Quick tell me, which direction did he head in?"
"Forgive me senior, as much as I would like to tell you which direction he headed in, unless I know the identity of the person, I can't divulge such secrets," the cultivator replied a little hesitantly.
The cultivator wasn't a fool. In the inner regions, several cultivators were fighting for treasures. Suddenly someone comes out and asks him to tattle on someone who recently left in a hurry. No need to think much. There must be a treasure involved. If he spilled the beans without knowing that person's background, then he will be in trouble later.
"You!"
Envoy Ming was immediately angered. He wanted to blast the fool who was delaying his important work. But, he knew that this wasn't the right place to unleash his anger. Right now, the most important thing was to get the information. If the identity was the only worry, he would gladly reveal it.
"Forgive me, senior," the cultivator replied humbly, but he wasn't deterred by Envoy Ming's anger.
He wasn't worried about Envoy Ming attacking him either. Everyone present in the surroundings was someone who was brought along by other stronger seniors to widen their horizons. If Envoy Ming bullied him with his high cultivation, there would naturally be someone waiting for Envoy Ming in the future to bully him with even higher cultivation.
The rules among the sects were relatively fair. Some unspoken rules can't be broken willy-nilly. Bullying a junior using higher cultivation would both invite scorn and anger from others. So, the cultivator wasn't too worried. If he was alone, he would have capitulated. But, there are witnesses now. So, he knew Envoy Ming will not take out his anger on him. As long as he maintained a respectful attitude, Envoy Ming can do nothing to him.
"Don't worry," Envoy Ming took a calming breath and spoke in a serious tone. "That person is a murderer who my Iron Mountain Sect is searching for. He had earlier barged into the Greenwood Forest after committing a heinous sin in order to avoid pursuit. You don't need to worry about his identity either. He is an evil cultivator from the Heavenly Demon Sect."
Hearing Envoy Ming's words, a buzz arose in the surroundings. Everyone was enraged to learn that the arrogant fellow was an evil cultivator. If they had known, they would have never let him off either.
"Envoy Ming, are you sure? How can this person be the one we are searching for all this time," one of the disciples from the Iron Mountain Sect stepped forward in a hurry and asked seriously.
"I am sure. I have been tracking him. He ran away from me. Now, quickly tell me in which direction did he leave?" Envoy Ming finally lost his patience and shouted at the Iron Mountain Sect disciple angrily.
He might have scruples regarding showing displeasure with juniors from other sects. But, if it was a junior from his own sect, he had no reservations. At most, he will claim to teach a lesson to the junior if this guy didn't reply.
"He went this way," that disciple from the Iron Mountain Sect was quick to reply seeing Envoy Ming's displeasure.
Just then, a disharmonious voice spoke up.
"Hang on, how can someone at Spirit Sea realm escape your pursuit senior? Are you playing us for fools?" the voice asked dissatisfiedly. "Others may be afraid of your Iron Mountain Sect, but we disciples from White Plume Sect are not."
Envoy Ming stared at the junior from the White Plume Sect a little dissatisfiedly. He huffed in irritation and shot him a stinkeye. However, his eyes widened as he realized the question asked by the disciple from the White Plume Sect. He looked around to see no objected to his question either. That meant, that the murderer was still in the Spirit Sea realm.
"Are you sure he is at Spirit Sea realm?" Envoy Ming asked in a rush.
"Yes, senior. I can attest to it as well," this time the disciple from the Iron Mountain Sect proactively reported.
"Senior, what do you mean? Don't you even know the cultivation level of the murderer you pursue?" the one from the White Plume Sect added fire at the perfect time.
"Hmmph," Envoy Ming snorted. "I don't mind enlightening you. Our Iron Mountain Sect has been searching for him for a week now. I received a voice transmission from a junior brother of mine about his whereabouts. Before I rushed there, both my junior brother and another cultivator were killed. Both of them were at the early Violet Palace realm. I followed his tracks here and hence my urgency to enquire about him. I am leaving, you guys carry on."
Envoy Ming left the region in the direction Duncan had disappeared in hastily. He didn't pay much attention to the impact caused by his parting words. He was solely focused on hunting down this murderer.
Meanwhile, his parting words sent a storm through the entire crowd of cultivators left behind…
*****
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