A slow smile curved Lin Chengji’s lips. "If you want to live, that’s not impossible. Tell me where the Black Cicada is. Also, if you were ’forced’ to bring people into the mountains without permission, and my fourth branch puts in a good word for you, you might just get to live."
Hearing this, Zhao Zixuan froze for a moment before realization suddenly dawned on him. He finally understood their objective.
’How could I be so stupid? Forget me, the fourth branch wouldn’t even give my entire Zhao Family a second glance. They schemed against us and sent people to intercept us for one reason: their real target is the Third Branch. Or, to be more precise, Master Yuan.’
’The fourth branch wants me to frame Master Yuan.’
"Impossible. If I frame Master Yuan, the Third Branch won’t let me get away with it."
Zhao Zixuan shook his head, but Lin Chengji already had his measure. He understood the real meaning behind Zhao Zixuan’s words.
’It wasn’t a refusal to cooperate, just fear that he wouldn’t survive.’
’For a coward so desperate to live, any sliver of hope was something he would never give up.’
"Since you’re not willing, you can go join your companions."
Lin Chengji drew his blade. He raised the long weapon slowly, his face etched with killing intent as he stared right at Zhao Zixuan.
Beads of sweat instantly broke out on Zhao Zixuan’s forehead. His opponent was a Fourth-Time Skin Smoothing Martial Artist. He wouldn’t have been a match even when uninjured, let alone now.
’This single strike would very likely take my life.’
’Even if... he’s just trying to scare me and won’t actually kill me, a serious injury would mean the end of my Martial Arts journey. I killed my companions to survive, not to become a cripple!’
"I’ll cooperate with you!"
One breath, two breaths, three breaths...
Just as Lin Chengji’s blade was about to turn for the strike, Zhao Zixuan finally broke and spoke. He panted heavily, gasping for air.
Seeing Zhao Zixuan finally yield, Lin Chengji smirked. There was no surprise in his eyes. He had already seen through Zhao Zixuan’s cowardly nature; to save his own skin, Zhao Zixuan would do anything, from framing Lin Mingyuan to betraying the entire Zhao Family.
Lin Chengji was in high spirits. Brother Chuan had sent several teams into the mountains, but he was the one who had run into Zhao Zixuan’s group. He would be rewarded by Brother Chuan for that, and now he also had an unexpected chance to acquire the Black Cicada.
Zhao Zixuan had apparently resigned himself to his fate. He didn’t resist, simply leading the way. The group passed through a dense forest and arrived in a valley.
The valley was not large, surrounded by mountains on three sides with only a single narrow entrance. Inside, the woods were lush and a stream babbled peacefully. Sunlight filtered through the canopy, casting a dappled golden pattern on the ground.
Zhao Zixuan pointed to a tree in the valley and lowered his voice. "The men who came into the mountains with me this time smeared that tree with Clear Wind Dew, the Black Cicada’s favorite. They estimated that the Black Cicada is certain to appear within an hour."
’An hour.’
Lin Chengji nodded. When he had first spotted Zhao Zixuan’s group, he had already sent one of his subordinates to report back to Brother Chuan. Waiting an hour wouldn’t interfere with Brother Chuan’s plans.
"Everyone, fall back."
The Black Cicada was extremely skittish. Lin Chengji motioned for his men to retreat. But Zhao Zixuan’s pace suddenly slowed. He turned slightly, a fawning smile spreading across his face.
"Young Master Chengji, my second uncle keeps a ledger of every time I bring people into the mountains. I know where it’s hidden. If we can retrieve that ledger and plant it in Lin Mingyuan’s residence, he won’t be able to talk his way out of it. Otherwise, I’m afraid my testimony alone might not be enough to bring Lin Mingyuan down."
"You’re quick to betray, aren’t you?"
Lin Chengji gave Zhao Zixuan a long look. Zhao Zixuan smiled sheepishly, but his eyes held a mix of obsequiousness and viciousness. "Young Master Chengji, I’ve already come this far; there’s no turning back for me. I am my father’s only son. I can write to my family—as long as the fourth branch promises to protect my life, I’m sure my dad can persuade my second uncle to help me frame Lin Mingyuan."
"I don’t need you to teach me what to do. Just be prepared to play your part as a witness."
Lin Chengji couldn’t care less about Zhao Zixuan’s supposed allegiance. Brother Chuan didn’t need Zhao Tieshan to testify; simply pinning the crime of dereliction of duty on Lin Mingyuan for his poor supervision was enough.
Zhao Zixuan’s false testimony would lead to a harsher punishment for Lin Mingyuan from the clan, but there was a ceiling to it. Getting the entire Zhao Family involved wouldn’t raise that ceiling by much.
’By my calculations, in a few more hours, Brother Chuan will arrive at Eagle’s Beak Gorge with the elders from the clan’s Law Enforcement Hall. As long as I show up with Zhao Zixuan and those corpses, Lin Mingyuan will have no way to defend himself.’
"Yes, yes. I’ll do as Young Master Chengji says."
Zhao Zixuan lowered his head, not daring to say more. No one knew what he was truly thinking at that moment.
Time passed, bit by bit.
Suddenly, an extremely faint humming sound drifted from the depths of the valley. It sounded like a plucked zither string, or perhaps the lingering echo of a distant chime.
Immediately after, a pitch-black shadow flew from deep within the valley toward the tree that had been smeared with Clear Wind Dew.
Only when the shadow landed on the tree did everyone get a clear look. It was a cicada.
Its body was pitch-black but held the luster of black jade. It was twice the size of an ordinary cicada and was now frantically drinking the Clear Wind Dew on the tree.
The Black Cicada had appeared!
Lin Chengji’s eyes lit up. He exploded off his feet, his body lunging forward like a cheetah.
However, as fast as he was, a flash of sword light was faster.

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