“The entire Five Immortals Gate, slaughtered?”

Jiang Wang was stunned by this revelation. He had anticipated that Fan Qingqing’s plight was likely tied to the retribution sought by Gu Huixin’s lineage, but never imagined such a tragic end!

In a way, this matter was deeply connected to him. Had he and Chong Xuan Sheng not embarked on that particular gambit, while the Five Immortals Gate would likely still have fallen into Granny Bi Zhu’s grasp, it wouldn’t have resulted in such a complete annihilation!

However, Jiang Wang immediately sensed something amiss. Gu Huixin’s lineage, regardless of their methods, belonged to the Diao Hai Lou.

The Diao Hai Lou was a grand sect of the world, possessing its own structure and principles. While it certainly didn’t lack in decisive action, the act of slaughtering an entire sect would typically be executed with transparency. They would ascertain the responsibility, declare the crimes, and then unleash a torrent of thunderous punishment!

As long as the Diao Hai Lou truly intended to integrate the near-sea archipelago and establish their order over this territory, they shouldn’t resort to such an indiscriminate massacre without justification!

Furthermore, what crime had the Five Immortals Gate committed? Fan Qingqing and the others calling out Granny Bi Zhu on Tianya Tai was entirely within their rights. No rule forbade people from exposing wickedness. Not even Wei Xun had condemned them!

Jiang Wang had formed his own judgment internally, but outwardly he showed no sign of it, merely asking, “Who was the one who did it?”

“Who else could it be!” Fan Qingqing’s voice dripped with hatred. The middle-aged woman was now overcome with emotion, her eyes blazing with animosity directed squarely at the Diao Hai Lou.

Then, her voice softened with sorrow, “Young Master Jiang, you and Young Master Chong Xuan promised to protect my Five Immortals Gate, but now… The world knows your promise is worth a thousand gold, your word inviolable. You won’t abandon me, will you?”

“Indeed, I will see to it,” Jiang Wang affirmed. “A Sheng advised you all to step forward and reveal the truth precisely because he was confident you would face no danger. Arbitrarily exterminating an entire sect is the act of a demonic fiend! What does the Diao Hai Lou intend? Do they still uphold the great justice of the Zhen Hai Alliance? Can they silence the myriad voices of the world?”

Jiang Wang feigned indignation. “Tell me, specifically, who was responsible, who slaughtered your entire Five Immortals Gate? I must seek justice for you all! While the Diao Hai Lou may be unassailable, the instigator must be brought forth to bear responsibility!”

Given his reputation, which had shaken the various islands, these words now carried immense weight.

“I…” Fan Qingqing covered her face with her hand, tears streaming down. “I no longer seek justice. I cannot provoke the Diao Hai Lou. I only beg you, Young Master Jiang, lend a hand and take me back to Qi Country. This life, I will never return to this heartbreaking place!”

Jiang Wang’s expression hardened. “Could it be the Diao Hai Lou is still openly hunting you?”

Fan Qingqing replied mournfully, “Not openly, of course, but in the shadows… Young Master Jiang, I truly have no means to escape on my own. Your prestigious deeds on Tianya Tai have spread throughout the islands, and I know your relationship with Young Master Chong Xuan, so I deliberately waited outside Wu Dong Island, shamelessly coming to beg for your aid…”

Naturally, being by Jiang Wang’s side was the safest place to be at this time. After the battle of Tianya Tai, the conflict between Jiang Wang and the Diao Hai Lou was irreparable. Any lingering friendship he had with figures like Yang Liu was now completely severed.

Yet, precisely because of this, the Diao Hai Lou was less likely to take any action against him, so as not to give Qi Country any pretext. And who dared to deny that the gaze of Great Qi’s military god might now be fixed upon Jiang Wang?

After all, he, Jiang Qingyang, was the runner-up of the first Sea Merit List, and on Tianya Tai, with his individual strength, he had silenced all the Inner Mansion cultivators of the Diao Hai Lou. He had truly upheld Qi Country’s prestige! How could Qi Country not value him?

This was also why Jiang Wang was currently lingering in the near-sea archipelago, slowly settling his debts, rather than immediately returning to Qi Country. He had no need to panic.

But was Fan Qingqing’s seeking refuge truly due to being pursued by the Diao Hai Lou?

The Five Immortals Gate had exposed Granny Bi Zhu, and the one who would hate them most should be Granny Bi Zhu. However, Granny Bi Zhu was now gone.

The motive for the Gu Huixin faction to seek revenge on the Five Immortals Gate certainly remained, but was reaching this extreme truly suitable? Did they truly not need to consider the repercussions?

Moreover, did Gu Huixin, after the death of his most trusted prodigy, still have the presence of mind to commit such an absolute act? Slaughtering the Five Immortals Gate and pursuing their cultivators throughout the world, leaving not a single one alive?

There were too many points of doubt. While Fan Qingqing and Jiang Wang had reached a tacit understanding and cooperated at the time, this didn’t affect Jiang Wang’s judgment of her—she had never been a simple character, nor was she ever entirely honest.

“Elder Fan. I will, of course, attend to your matter,” Jiang Wang’s tone was mild as he said this, but then his words took a sharp turn, becoming agitated. “At the same time, I bear an unavoidable responsibility for the Five Immortals Gate’s fate! You only need to tell me who led the team that did it. You don’t need to worry about the rest; I will handle it!”

“This…” Fan Qingqing was momentarily stunned.

Jiang Wang’s entire overseas journey had been for the sake of his friends. Therefore, she was certain of this young prodigy’s sense of responsibility. This was also why she had come seeking his help.

But… this was too much responsibility! He would not only manage the living but proactively manage the dead, not only manage her but her entire sect?

Jiang Wang’s voice suddenly sank. “How? Who killed your sect master, who killed your fellow disciples, you don’t even know this much?”

Fan Qingqing’s heart chilled. She quickly stammered, “Specifically who, I truly, truly didn’t see clearly!”

Boldly chopping down a Diao Hai Lou prodigy on Tianya Tai—this fame was truly terrifying. It was said that Ji Shaoqing’s master was also present at the time, bound by the rules, able only to watch with wide eyes. Facing a True Person and killing that True Person’s direct disciple, what kind of fierce person was this?

Fan Qingqing was truly somewhat afraid! Had she any other choice, she absolutely would not have taken this gamble.

“If the incident happened too suddenly, not seeing clearly is also quite normal.” Jiang Wang’s attitude was remarkably good. Seeing Fan Qingqing’s panic, he even offered a word of comfort, then continued, “You have been implicated in this matter because of me. I have an unavoidable responsibility. You just stay here in peace. Allow me to write a few letters and have people investigate who exactly did this. Before you leave the near-sea archipelago, I must provide you with an explanation!”

*You don’t need to give me an explanation, ah? Isn’t sending me away first acceptable? No, you killed a Diao Hai Lou prodigy, offended the Diao Hai Lou, and you’re still not rushing back to Qi Country! What do you intend? To court death on the sea?*

Fan Qingqing held a thousand grievances in her heart, but dared not voice a single one. “Lord Jiang, perhaps we can first return to Qi Country and then slowly investigate the details?” She forced a bitter smile. “I’ve already been scared witless; I only wish to hide first…”

She was almost frantic. She had experienced Jiang Wang’s connections. That person and his friends truly had the ability to uncover things, and at that point, she would inevitably be exposed. Then what?

Seeing Fan Qingqing’s appearance, Jiang Wang’s last shred of patience evaporated. This person was far too dishonest!

“Never mind,” Jiang Wang shook his head. “Elder Fan, we have a past connection, and by all rights, I am willing to help you. But you come seeking my aid, asking me to take a risk, yet you show not an iota of sincerity. You hide and obfuscate, cloaking everything in mist! Is this the attitude of someone seeking help? It truly disheartens one! Do you perhaps believe Jiang is young and can be easily fooled?”

He delivered his final ultimatum: “Step off the ship now, and I can pretend I never saw you.”

As soon as Jiang Wang spoke these words, Fan Qingqing knew her plan had failed. But if she had other choices, she wouldn’t have boarded this keel ship in the first place, wouldn’t have knelt and begged a young man. Stepping off the ship now meant certain death.

“I… I…” She began to weep sorrowfully again. “Lord Jiang, I admit, I mentioned the Diao Hai Lou simply to make you feel guilty and thus compel you to help me. I truly… truly do not know who exterminated my Five Immortals Gate!”

(Upon checking the private chat group, I just discovered that today is Jiang Wang’s birthday in the real world, January 28th. Happy Birthday, Jiang Qingyang!!!)