Chapter 312: Madam Wan

Chapter 312: Madam Wan

In the Wusheng Hall, the assassin's voice echoed incessantly.

However, as Su Mo looked around, he noticed that only Li Zhongming genuinely wanted to stop the assassin from speaking. Everyone else, despite their apparent indignation, did not take any action.

Su Mo subtly rubbed the corner of his mouth, careful not to let his smile show too much.

He then turned to Li Zhongming:

"Hall Master Li, what do you think about what this person has said?"

"Me?"

Li Zhongming was taken aback: "He is obviously spouting nonsense."

"Hmm."

Su Mo nodded, then glanced at the people present:

"Today's events have escalated to this point, and I am determined to uncover the truth behind the scenes.

"So, I must ask for your understanding.

"If possible, I would like to invite Madam Wan to come out and speak with us."

Everyone stayed silent.

The entire hall was unnervingly quiet.

Seeing this, Su Mo smiled:

"What's wrong with everyone? Is there something you can't say?"

"This..."

Li Zhongming hesitated: "Madam is, after all, a virtuous woman, and it's not appropriate for her to appear in public like this..."

"I think it might not be completely inappropriate."

This time, it was Lai Wenxiu who spoke up. He glanced at Li Zhongming before saying:

"Although Madam is a virtuous woman, she is still the wife of our Wusheng Hall's hall master.

"Today's events are crucial, and neither the hall master nor any of us can avoid being involved. Why should Madam have any reason to hide and not appear?

"Moreover... if this matter is indeed as it seems, Madam might also be hard to excuse from responsibility."

"What?"

Li Zhongming was momentarily shocked.

He naturally knew who Lai Wenxiu was.

Lai Wenxiu and Xing Lan were both under Madam Wan's authority.

Why would he say such a thing now?

Even if others didn't care about Madam Wan's reputation, Lai Wenxiu should be protecting his master...

Just as he was feeling perplexed, he heard someone else speak:

"Indeed, at this point, if the lady doesn't show herself, it will be hard to convince everyone."

This time, Deng Fengbai was the one who spoke.

After Deng Fengbai spoke, Rong Zhantang immediately agreed.

Seeing that three Hall Masters had agreed, Lin Tao, Duan Qinghen, and Ling Feimiao also quickly expressed their agreement.

In the blink of an eye, more than half of those present agreed that the lady should appear.

Though Li Zhongming didn't grasp what was happening, the situation had escalated to a point where he vaguely sensed that events were slipping out of his control.

Now, there was clearly an unseen force at play, influencing events.

He wanted to act, but he had no idea where this force was coming from...

After a brief silence, seeing everyone's agreement, he could only nod:

"In that case, someone... go to the inner courtyard and fetch the lady."

Someone promptly acknowledged and left.

Li Zhongming sat back down, feeling even more bewildered.

His eyes scanned the faces of everyone in the hall, and when they finally landed on Li Xuechun, he couldn't help but sigh softly.

"What’s ours, we take; what’s not ours, we can’t get even if we beg."

Li Xuechun's words echoed in his ears again, making him feel quite complex.

Just as Li Zhongming dispatched someone to fetch the lady, a group of people rushed to the hall.

Leading them was none other than the Kirin Swordsman, now recognized by all as Hall Master Xing Lan.

His face was stern as he entered the hall, his gaze sweeping over everyone before finally settling on Bei Zhangzhi.

"Northern Hall Lord, do you know your crime!?"

Seeing him return, everyone knew the matter was settled, and his words made the meaning crystal clear.

At once, all eyes turned to Bei Zhangzhi.

Among them, Lin Tao, Duan Qinghen, Ling Feimiao, Qin Yuren, and Wen Zhongtai were even more shocked.

But Bei Zhangzhi was even more shocked than they were.

Yet, his expression shifted from disbelief to rage:

"You... what do you mean by that?"

"What do I mean?"

The Kirin Swordsman sighed deeply:

"Bei Zhangzhi, oh Bei Zhangzhi, what a Northern Hall Lord you’ve turned out to be.

"Everyone claims you’re loyal, but who could have guessed that someone who seems so loyal is actually a deceitful scoundrel!"

"Xing Lan, stop spreading lies about me!!!"

Bei Zhangzhi immediately stood up: "If you have concrete evidence, then show it! Speaking in such a sarcastic tone is completely unacceptable!"

"Alright."

Xing Lan quickly pulled out an object and held it up high.

Everyone looked up and saw that he was holding a long, rectangular box.

It looked quite ordinary on the outside, but when the Kirin Swordsman opened the lid of the box, a scroll of a secret manual was revealed to everyone.

On it were seven large characters: Great Transformation Transcendence Sutra!

"How audacious!"

"Could it really be him?"

"Where was this found?"

"What a deceitful Bei Zhangzhi, he has fooled us all!!"

At the sight of this, everyone in the room immediately started talking.

Even Wan Yilan, who had stayed silent even when the assassin accused Madam Wan and Ren Xiongfei of an affair, couldn't help but look at Bei Zhangzhi.

In a flash, Bei Zhangzhi became the target of everyone's blame.

His face turned completely pale, and suddenly he slapped the armrest of his chair:

"Xing Lan, you've set me up!!!"

With those words, he leapt up, charging straight at the Kirin Swordsman.

"Bei Zhangzhi, how dare you!"

"Now that the truth is revealed, are you trying to kill the witness?"

Angry shouts erupted throughout the hall.

The Hall Masters all sprang into action, attacking Bei Zhangzhi.

Some, like Duan Qinghen and Lin Tao, tried to intervene and separate the fighters, while others, like Deng Fengbai and Lai Wenxiu, immediately went for the kill.

Li Zhongming, seeing this, barely had time to shout:

"Stop this fight..."

But the attacks were already upon Bei Zhangzhi.

Even as the Hall Masters surrounded and attacked him, Bei Zhangzhi remained fearless.

First, he used a technique to increase his weight, dropping from mid-air, and with a single arm raised, he effortlessly flung Lin Tao, who had charged at him first, away with a gust of wind.

Lin Tao, still airborne, was in disbelief.

This usually quiet Second Hall Master actually had such incredible martial skills!?

But this was only the start. Duan Qinghen and Ling Feimiao both lunged forward, positioning themselves between Bei Zhangzhi and the Kirin Swordsman, trying to stop Bei Zhangzhi from causing a public scandal.

Watching Lin Tao crumble in an instant, everyone's hearts clenched. When they looked up again, Bei Zhangzhi had already struck out with both palms.

Two resounding cracks!

The two, better prepared than Lin Tao, were still sent reeling by this palm strike.

They skidded back several feet.

Just as he had sent these two flying, a sinister gust swept in from behind.

The Tenth Hall Master Deng Fengbai, the Eleventh Hall Master Lai Wenxiu, and the Twelfth Hall Master Rong Zhantang arrived in unison.

These three fought far more ruthlessly than Lin Tao and the others.

Their inner energy surged, and a fierce wind howled as deadly strikes came in rapid succession.

At this moment, Bei Zhangzhi had just repelled Lin Tao, Duan Qinghen, and Ling Feimiao. Even if he could pivot now, it was too late to counter the deadly strikes of the three Hall Masters in succession.

Seeing this, Bei Zhangzhi let out a hearty laugh and took a deep breath.

Energy surged through his body, and as he raised and lowered his hands, three sharp cracks rang out in quick succession.

His strikes were impossibly fast!

Like a flash of divine light, as if cleaving through shadows!

The three Hall Masters never expected such a move. Before they could even understand what had happened, they were hurled back by this palm strike.

Mid-air, they each coughed up blood.

They stared at Bei Zhangzhi in disbelief.

What kind of technique is this!?

This is the Divine Light Splitting Hand!!

While others might not know this move, how could Su Mo and the others not recognize it?

They saw Bei Zhangzhi display his divine might, driving back six Hall Masters with a single move, and then he lunged forward with another palm strike aimed directly at the Kirin Swordsman.

Su Mo's eyes had narrowed at some point, and his fingertips secretly held an iron pellet. Just as this palm strike was approaching, he flicked his finger.

Whoosh!!

The sharp whistle of air being sliced immediately rang out.

Bei Zhangzhi suddenly turned his head, but how could he dodge in time?

The only thing he could do was to retract his stance and stand still, pressing his palms downward abruptly.

Silently, the iron pellet halted mid-air.

Seeing this, Su Mo not only showed no trace of anger, but the gleam in his eyes grew brighter.

This is the Yi Xuan Celestial Aura!

It originates from the Yixuan Divine Art...

And the Yixuan Divine Art is a secret divine art of Li Siyun's clan, with the Divine Light Splitting Hand being one of its techniques.

These two martial arts techniques possess extraordinary abilities.

And Bei Zhangzhi clearly has remarkable mastery in them, to the extent that he could momentarily halt Su Mo's Flicking Finger technique.

However, he still lacked the power to completely block it.

It was as if the iron pellet had encountered an invisible barrier of air, struggling to advance through mid-air.

With every inch the pellet advanced, Bei Zhangzhi's face grew redder.

He exerted all his power to block the pellet, but in the end, he suddenly coughed up a mouthful of blood.

In the next moment, the pellet seemed to pierce through something, and with a whoosh, it surged forward again, carried by a gust of wind.

The only thing Bei Zhangzhi could do was to raise his hand in a desperate attempt to block it.

In a flash of blood, the pellet pierced through his palm and embedded itself in his chest.

Thud!!!

Another mouthful of blood sprayed out, and Bei Zhangzhi was sent flying backward.

As his body hit the ground, he quickly slapped the ground, flipped to his feet, and dashed out the door.

Just as Bei Zhangzhi fled out of the Wusheng Hall's main hall, someone from behind the Kirin Swordsman also took off in pursuit.

By this time, Deng Fengbai and the others had finally come to their senses, got up from the ground and were about to rush out in pursuit.

But as they reached the hall's entrance, they found someone already blocking their path.

Looking up, they saw Su Mo standing there, hands clasped behind his back:

"Where do you think you're going?"

"Chief Escort Su..."

Deng Fengbai hesitated for a moment before speaking: "Bei Zhangzhi harbors ill intentions and has stolen the Great Transformation Transcendence Sutra. This matter is of grave importance. Please step aside, Chief Escort Su, and allow us to pursue this traitor."

"Hmm?"

Su Mo glanced at the people before him and spoke indifferently after a pause:

"He won't get far."

A brief silence followed as Su Mo continued, "My Flicking Finger technique has shattered his protective divine skill, and under the backlash of internal energy, he is already severely injured.

"This is Wusheng Hall's territory; how could we not capture a heavily injured traitor?

"Moreover... hasn't Hall Master Xing already sent his men to pursue?

"Why are you in such a hurry now?

"Today's events are still uncertain, and Wusheng Hall has yet to give me an explanation... In my opinion, it would be best for you all to stay in this hall a little longer."

"This..."

Deng Fengbai and the others exchanged glances and finally agreed.

They truly did not dare to provoke the Eastern Wasteland's Number One. Seeing this, Su Mo also glanced back at the direction Bei Zhangzhi had fled.

The person who chased after the Kirin Swordsman was Ling Hongxia.

Even if Bei Zhangzhi weren’t severely injured, it wouldn’t be easy for him to gain any advantage against Ling Hongxia.

His reliance on the Divine Light Splitting Hand and the Yixuan Divine Art is insufficient to pose a threat to Ling Hongxia.

Better Ling Hongxia captures him than Wusheng Hall killing him outright.

After a quick glance, he walked towards his original seat, glancing at Yang Yizhi as he went.

Yang Yizhi’s eyes, though, showed a hint of confusion.

Su Mo gave a slight nod.

He understood Yang Yizhi’s thoughts.

It was already certain that the traitor from Li Siyun’s clan was hiding in Wusheng Hall.

But… it couldn’t possibly be Bei Zhangzhi.

As the saying goes, an expert’s move reveals their skill.

Had he not acted, his skill would remain unclear.

Now that he has, both Su Mo and Yang Yizhi could easily gauge his depth.

His skills fall short.

The Yixuan Divine Art naturally grants miraculous abilities, and years of practice would make the traitor’s internal energy far surpass Bei Zhangzhi’s.

Though Bei Zhangzhi performed impressively in battle, in truth, his strength barely surpasses the Hall Masters present.

The immediate collapse was thanks to the brilliance of the Divine Light Splitting Hand and Yixuan Divine Art.

If the traitor from Li Siyun’s clan were this unskilled, even with the Yu clan blocking the Three Extremes Sect’s pursuit, he’d never have escaped.

Though not the traitor, he must be his successor.

Otherwise, he couldn’t have mastered these two martial arts.

Thinking of this, Su Mo suddenly looked at Li Zhongming:

“Hall Master Li, the Northern Hall Lord’s martial arts are strong, but he hasn’t used the Great Transformation Transcendence Sutra, has he?”

“Hmm…” Li Zhongming nodded, then gave a bitter smile.

“Honestly, the Northern Hall Lord’s skills today are completely new to me…”

At this point, Li Zhongming felt like a fraud as the First Hall Master.

Today’s events in the hall have left him utterly confused.

First, an assassin accused Wan Yutang. Then rumors spread of Madam Wan and Ren Xiongfei’s affair. In the blink of an eye, Bei Zhangzhi went from being a respected Second Hall Master to a traitor of Wusheng Hall.

He couldn’t shake the feeling that Wusheng Hall might soon fall apart.

While he was still thinking about this, he saw that the person who had gone to fetch Madam Wan had returned.

But he had returned alone.

When he reached the main hall and saw the mess inside, he hesitated to speak.

Li Zhongming, already upset, grew more agitated.

But he was, after all, no ordinary man. He took a deep breath and spoke calmly:

"Speak."

The man nodded, glanced around, and said:

"Madam invites all the hall masters and Chief Escort Su... to the back mountain to talk."

"What?"

Li Zhongming's face twitched slightly, and he immediately asked, "What did Madam say?"

"She said... some things are better talked about at the back mountain."

Hearing this, everyone looked at Su Mo.

Su Mo smiled:

"That makes sense. We've come this far, and the main person hasn't even shown up, which is a bit odd.

"Now it's time to bring out the hall master.

"But I wonder if an outsider like me can enter your hall's forbidden back mountain?"

As he spoke, he casually glanced at Li Xuechun.

Seeing this, Li Xuechun instinctively ducked his head...

Su Mo's words left everyone at a loss.

Outsiders aren't supposed to go to the back mountain.

But today, not letting Su Mo go would mean crossing Chief Escort Su.

Though Su Mo was polite... any defiance would test Eastern Wasteland's Number One's patience.

Without another word, the hall masters led Su Mo and the others to the back mountain.

They went deep into Wusheng Hall's inner courtyard and reached the back mountain.

It was a hollow, surrounded by mountains on three sides and Wusheng Hall on the other.

As a forbidden area, it was always eerily quiet.

When Su Mo and the others arrived, they saw a woman standing alone before they could even look into the forbidden area.

She looked toward the forbidden area, her eyes full of emotion.

Everything eventually turned into a long, wistful sigh.

She turned around, revealing her true face.

"Greetings, Madam."

The Hall Masters immediately bowed together.

This person was indeed Madam Wan!

Su Mo had never seen Madam Wan before; last night, he only heard her voice.

But that alone was enough to determine that the Madam Wan before him today was completely different from the one last night.

Today's Madam Wan wore only light makeup, her face calm and composed. Though her charm remained, the signs of age were faintly visible.

Her attire was simple, and a slight bow revealed her graceful bearing.

"Greetings, Chief Escort Su."

Her voice lacked the coquettishness from the previous night; it was soft yet dignified.

"Greetings, Madam Wan."

Su Mo was at a loss for words. After returning the bow, he looked around and said with a smile:

"The forbidden area of Wusheng Hall is quite beautiful. I wonder if Madam has called us here to discuss something?"

Upon hearing this, Madam Wan's expression changed several times before she suddenly dropped to her knees with a thud.

Her face was full of sorrow:

"Chief Escort Su, I... I beg you to save me!"