Chapter 362: An Unexpected Discovery of the Token’s Location

Chapter 362: Chapter 362: An Unexpected Discovery of the Token’s Location

As the illegitimate son of the First Young Master, Yi Qing’s residence couldn’t compare to that of Li Dang, the legitimate eldest son.

Not only did it have half the number of rooms, but the number of servants and Maids was a mere thirty percent of what Li Dang had.

Still, it was small but complete.

In Yi Qing’s study, Li Dang sat at the desk while Yi Qing stood before him.

Though they were blood brothers, their statuses were worlds apart.

"You’ve met that Dai Yelin, I presume? Are you satisfied with her?"

Li Dang asked.

Yi Qing said nothing, clearly dissatisfied. While Dai Yelin was fairly attractive, he was, after all, a son of the First Young Master. Even as an illegitimate son, he still had high standards.

"I have a few young maidens in my courtyard, purchased from Central Domain merchants. After this is all over, you can go pick two as your compensation," Li Dang said.

Yi Qing’s eyes lit up at his words, and a look of delight spread across his face. "Really? I can pick whichever ones I want?"

"When have I ever gone back on my word?"

"In that case, I’ll leave it all to you, Brother."

"Good. Then do you know why I want you to marry Dai Yelin in such a hurry?" Li Dang asked with a smile.

Yi Qing smiled as well. "Of course. That Guard named Huo Er offended you, and you want a chance to punish him. I know what to do."

"You know what to do? Then tell me, what exactly do you plan to do?"

"On the wedding day, Huo Er will be at the ceremony. I’ll humiliate Dai Yelin in front of everyone, forcing Huo Er to attack me."

"And what if he manages to control himself and doesn’t attack?"

"Then on our wedding night, I’ll... use some tricks on her, and then make sure word gets back to Huo Er. She’s just the daughter of a Martial Artist. So what if I kill her? The worst that can happen is I give Fanquisi a bit more compensation. You think he’d dare to rise up against his superiors?" Yi Qing said.

"Fourth Brother, you’ve grown up." Li Dang stood up and patted Yi Qing’s shoulder with a smile.

With that simple pat, an arc of blood shot from Yi Qing’s neck, spraying all over Li Dang’s head and face.

Li Dang froze, completely stunned.

It wasn’t until Yi Qing collapsed to the floor with a heavy thud that Li Dang finally snapped out of it.

’Yi Qing is dead?’

’Why did he suddenly die?’

Li Dang screamed, "Ah—!"

Staring at Yi Qing, who was collapsed on the floor with blood gushing from his neck and foaming at his mouth, Li Dang’s mind descended into utter chaos.

’What in the world is happening?’

’Yi Qing was just excitedly talking and waving his arms around. Why did he suddenly collapse as if someone had slit his throat?’

"Who?! Who is it?! Show yourself!" Li Dang shouted, spinning around and warily scanning the room.

A moment later, a squad of Guards burst in.

They all froze, stunned by the scene before them.

The situation was clear: Li Dang had killed Yi Qing.

After all, there was no one else in the room.

The commotion quickly alerted the First Young Master. When he arrived and saw the situation, he questioned the Guards.

The Guards all stammered, unable to give a clear answer.

"Father, it wasn’t me! I didn’t do it! I just came to discuss the wedding in three days with Fourth Brother..." Li Dang, realizing he was being misunderstood, explained in a panic.

But the Guards hadn’t seen a third person enter the room. When they burst in, they only saw Li Dang standing over Yi Qing, who was lying in a pool of blood.

To claim he wasn’t the killer was simply impossible to explain!

Even if a Saint had been the one to kill Yi Qing, it was impossible for the Guards stationed outside to have been completely oblivious, right?

Besides, why would a Saint assassinate Yi Qing of all people?

Plus, Li Dang was covered in blood. It was obvious they had been standing face-to-face, very close to each other, when Yi Qing died.

Yet Li Dang couldn’t name the attacker. If it wasn’t him, then who could it have been?

"Take Li Dang away. Ashina, you will guard him personally. No one here is to breathe a word of this to anyone else. You are also forbidden from discussing it amongst yourselves. Otherwise, you will be dealt with according to the clan’s laws."

Though the First Young Master was furious, he remained composed.

After giving a series of commands, he left the scene and headed for the main residence. An incident of this magnitude had to be reported to the Clan Leader.

The one who killed Yi Qing was, of course, Chu Fan.

He had used Invisibility to come here with the express purpose of killing Yi Qing, a decision based on three considerations.

First, he was moved by Dai Yelin’s feelings for Huo Er. Second, with Yi Qing dead, he wanted to see how Li Dang would proceed with his little scheme.

Most importantly, if Dai Yelin really were to marry Yi Qing, he, as her senior martial brother, would have to be there. At that point, it would be all too easy to expose the fact that he wasn’t the real Huo Er.

After all, he knew very little about Huo Er’s life. Other disciples of Fanquisi would certainly be at the wedding, and Chu Fan didn’t know any of them.

Therefore, he had to ensure this wedding never happened.

He just hadn’t expected to find Li Dang here as well.

Furthermore, while the two brothers’ plan was mediocre, their hearts were far too vicious. Dai Yelin was innocent, yet they planned to torture her just to get to Huo Er.

Chu Fan felt no guilt whatsoever in striking down such animals.

He hadn’t killed Li Dang for two reasons. First, killing the Clan Leader’s legitimate eldest grandson would likely trigger a major chain reaction. Second, what could possibly make Li Dang suffer more than being framed for murder?

This time, even if Li Dang didn’t die, he would be skinned alive. How would he have any opportunity to plot against Chu Fan then?

So, at the exact moment Li Dang stood up to pat Yi Qing’s shoulder, he drew his Sword and slit Yi Qing’s throat.

This one slash, as simple as it looked, was anything but.

To avoid detection by Li Dang, he had even used the Sword of Time. Drawing the Sword, striking, sheathing it, and storing it back in the Juntian Mirror’s space—the entire sequence was completed in a flash.

After killing Yi Qing, he left immediately. His objective was accomplished; there was no reason to linger.

There were still about twenty days left, and he had yet to discover where Yilode had hidden the Profound Iron Order.

However, what Chu Fan never expected was that killing Yi Qing and ruining Li Dang’s plan tonight would yield an unexpected reward.

After the assassination, he turned Invisible and returned to the main residence.

He had originally gone just to conduct his usual search and to try and listen in on Yilode’s thoughts, hoping the man might think about the Profound Iron Order.

Before long, the First Young Master rushed to the main residence to report Yi Qing’s death to Yilode.

The First Young Master made no excuses for Li Dang, simply recounting the events to Yilode based on what he had seen and what the Guards had described.

Yilode was, of course, enraged upon hearing the news.

’Strife between brothers was one thing, but what kind of grudge could possibly drive a man to murder his own brother?’

"Look at how you’ve raised your children! I don’t want to interfere in this matter. Your own son committed the crime, and he killed your other son. You figure out how to handle it. Just report the outcome to me when you’re done. Now get out!"

Yilode’s tone was filled with disappointment in his son.

After the First Young Master left, Yilode slumped down into his seat, completely dejected.

"If only Li Haiqin had been born a man," Yilode sighed.

And then, Chu Fan heard Yilode’s inner thoughts.

’These are truly troubled times. I don’t know when those people from the Southern Domain will come to snatch our Lindi Clan’s Profound Iron Order. Placing the Profound Iron Order inside the Phoenix Crown that Li Haiqin will wear for her wedding can be considered killing two birds with one stone. I’ll just retrieve it in a few years after a successor for Clan Leader has been chosen. I doubt anyone would ever think that something so important wouldn’t be in our Moon City!’