Chapter 76: The Truth

“Can’t explain yourself now, can you?” Zhang Cuishan sneered, fixing his gaze on Yun Zhonghe. Deep within his eyes, a murderous intent began to rise.

Ye Kai and Xie Xun’s eyes also fell on Yun Zhonghe, a flicker of worry passing between them.

Could it really be that Yun Zhonghe, coveting the Dragon-Slaying Saber, had struck down Yu Daiyan so ruthlessly?

If that were truly the case, today’s matter was unlikely to end peacefully.

The Wudang Sect would never let this go!

Under their watchful eyes, Yun Zhonghe finally withdrew the Dragon-Slaying Saber from Zhang Cuishan’s neck.

Seeing this, Zhang Cuishan quickly leaped back, putting some distance between them, his face dark and threatening as he stared at Yun Zhonghe.

Yun Zhonghe seemed oblivious. At this moment, he frowned deeply, his mind racing.

He thought of several explanations, only to dismiss each in turn.

He could, of course, choose to tell Zhang Cuishan the truth: that the mastermind who injured Yu Daiyan was Yin Susu, the daughter of Eagle Tianzheng of the Heavenly Eagle Cult, and that she was the one who stole the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

This explanation was the most convincing.

After all, the Heavenly Eagle Cult’s hosting of the Dragon-Slaying Saber tournament had already become the talk of the martial world. As for the saber’s origins, a thorough investigation would surely reveal some clues.

If so, Zhang Cuishan and Yin Susu would have no future together.

Zhang Wuji, the protagonist yet unborn, would never see the light of day.

From every perspective, this course was most advantageous to Yun Zhonghe.

As he settled on this idea and was about to speak, Zhang Cuishan’s voice, thick with hatred, rang in his ears.

“Despicable villain! Today I shall avenge Third Brother Yu and rid the martial world of your evil!”

With a shout, he summoned his inner strength and lunged at Yun Zhonghe.

“Wait!” Ye Kai stepped quickly in front of Yun Zhonghe, blocking Zhang Cuishan’s sword.

His attack intercepted, Zhang Cuishan regarded Ye Kai coldly, a hint of surprise in his eyes. “Ye Kai, are you really going to shield this scoundrel?”

“Hero Zhang, the whole martial world knows about the Dragon-Slaying Saber tournament. If anything, the Heavenly Eagle Cult is more suspicious, wouldn’t you say?” Ye Kai spoke up in Yun Zhonghe’s defense.

“You’re right, the Heavenly Eagle Cult is indeed implicated.” Zhang Cuishan did not deny it; they had been his chief suspects from the start.

But when Yun Zhonghe had described Third Brother Yu’s wounds in such detail, his suspicions shifted.

No one but their master and a few close disciples knew the truth of Third Brother Yu’s injuries.

It was entirely possible that Yun Zhonghe had colluded with the Heavenly Eagle Cult, their goal being the Dragon-Slaying Saber that Third Brother Yu was escorting.

“Even if Yun Zhonghe wasn’t the mastermind, he’s still involved!” Zhang Cuishan insisted, showing no sign of relenting.

“But—” Ye Kai tried to intercede further, but Yun Zhonghe raised a hand to stop him, patting his shoulder.

Yun Zhonghe stepped around Ye Kai and faced Zhang Cuishan directly.

He truly appreciated Ye Kai’s willingness to defend him, but this matter ultimately required his own intervention.

Looking straight at Zhang Cuishan, Yun Zhonghe nodded and admitted, “You’re right. I am indeed connected to what happened to Yu Daiyan!”

This declaration stunned everyone.

Ye Kai’s face was especially anxious. After spending time together, he couldn’t believe Yun Zhonghe would stoop to anything for the Dragon-Slaying Saber.

Zhang Cuishan hadn’t expected Yun Zhonghe to admit it so readily. When he recovered from his shock, his expression twisted with rage. “So it was you after all!”

Yun Zhonghe’s face remained calm. He responded coolly, “If I’d been the one to strike, given my ways, would there have been any survivors? Would I have left such a glaring threat behind?”

His words gave Zhang Cuishan pause.

Judging by Yun Zhonghe’s reputation, under the circumstances, Third Brother Yu would never have survived.

Yun Zhonghe saw the hesitation on Zhang Cuishan’s face and seized the chance. “The reason I know so much about Yu Daiyan’s injuries is that I arranged for him to be brought to Wudang.”

Zhang Cuishan’s eyes widened. His voice cracked with shock. “That mysterious escort was you?!”

“Exactly, it was me,” Yun Zhonghe said, quickly recounting all the details of the delivery to convince Zhang Cuishan.

Ye Kai and Xie Xun stared at Yun Zhonghe in disbelief. Never had they imagined the truth would be so unexpected.

Yun Zhonghe took in every flicker of emotion on their faces and thought to himself, “Thank goodness I thoroughly studied Master Jin’s novels. Otherwise, I really would have been caught off guard!”

The thought faded, and a heavy silence settled over the scene.

No one knew how long it lasted before Zhang Cuishan slowly came back to himself. When he looked at Yun Zhonghe, a trace of doubt lingered in his eyes.

Deep down, he found it hard to believe Yun Zhonghe would do such a thing. Yet Yun Zhonghe’s account matched every detail, leaving Zhang Cuishan with no choice but to accept it.

Yun Zhonghe had transformed from Yu Daiyan’s would-be murderer to his savior.

This abrupt reversal left Zhang Cuishan completely at a loss, his handsome face etched with embarrassment.

Yun Zhonghe didn’t mind, but just because he could let it go didn’t mean others would.

Sure enough, Ye Kai stepped forward to speak for Yun Zhonghe.

“Hero Zhang, is it the Wudang way to slander others before the truth is uncovered?”

Now that he knew Yun Zhonghe was innocent, Ye Kai spoke with newfound confidence.

Zhang Cuishan felt all the more ashamed. Looking at Yun Zhonghe, he opened his mouth several times to speak but couldn’t find the words.

Not wanting to embarrass Zhang Cuishan further, Yun Zhonghe stepped in to ease the tension. “There are reasons for all things. Hero Zhang’s feelings are understandable; there’s no need to dwell on it.”

Seeing that Yun Zhonghe himself bore no grudge, Ye Kai also refrained from pressing the matter.

Zhang Cuishan breathed a sigh of relief. Looking once more at Yun Zhonghe, the last trace of suspicion vanished from his eyes, replaced by gratitude.

“Brother Yun, your magnanimity puts me to shame. I owe you an apology!”

Zhang Cuishan cupped his fists and bowed to Yun Zhonghe.

“Please, there’s no need for that!” Yun Zhonghe knew this was the perfect chance to draw closer to Wudang, so he quickly stepped forward and helped Zhang Cuishan up.

“Might I ask, who was it that so grievously wounded my Third Brother Yu?” Zhang Cuishan pressed.

He had his suspicions, but he still wanted to hear Yun Zhonghe confirm it.

“It was Yin Susu, daughter of Eagle Tianzheng, master of the Heavenly Eagle Cult,” Yun Zhonghe replied.

With the answer revealed, Zhang Cuishan’s rage surged.

He immediately wanted to seek vengeance on Yin Susu, only to realize she had vanished without a trace.

He was filled with regret at having saved the very villain who harmed Third Brother Yu.

And when he recalled the master’s words—that Third Brother Yu would never walk again—the guilt in his heart only deepened.

Standing by, Yun Zhonghe saw how badly Zhang Cuishan blamed himself for Yu Daiyan’s fate.

Without hesitation, he reached into his system space, took out an item, and handed it to Zhang Cuishan.