NOVEL NEXT Chapter 96: Investigate!
Just as Su Ruoxue muttered to herself, dozens of figures sped up the mountain with extreme speed. The one leading the group was a stalwart middle-aged man who wore blue battle armor. He looked around to find the Ice Beast slain while Su Ruoxue and Jiang Yi were still alive. His eyes had this flash of astonishment.
His expression immediately turned gloomy and shouted, “What happened here?! What is such a formidable demonic beast doing here? Go and investigate who neglected their duty! Take that person down once you find him. If he dares to resist, kill him!”
The mocking expression on Su Ruoxue’s face disappeared and got replaced by her regular icy cold expression. She suddenly spoke out, “Captain Gu, you better save the people here first. Principal Qi already knows of this matter and will be here soon. If more people die here, the blame on your team will be worse.”
“Yes, yes! This is my neglect of discipline—it is definitely my responsibility!” Gu Shanhe had this look of approval as he gestured. “What are you idling around for? Hurry up and go save everyone!”
The members of the patrol team scattered to look for any casualties that required treatment. What made Su Ruoxue felt better was that Qian Fu had yet to die even though he was completely frozen. But over ten cadets were certainly dead during the initial attack of the Ice Beast.
“Mentor Su, shall I send you back first?”
Gu Shanhe asked Su Ruoxue with concerned while pretending to help her up. At the same time, he looked at a patrol member and gave a signal. That patrol member headed straight for Jiang Yi, seemingly to help Jiang Yi recuperate.
“Don’t bother about me. My injuries aren’t serious. Let me wait for Principal Qi to arrive here first.”
Su Ruoxue then indifferent said while looking at the nearby Jiang Yi. “Don’t bother with this cadet, too. His injuries aren’t severe. Go rescue the rest of the people.”
Su Ruoxue didn’t dare to leave now as she was afraid that this group of people would use despicable methods to kill Jiang Yi. Before Principal Qi would get there, she could not trust anyone.
“Alright then.”
Gu Shanhe embarrassingly withdrew his hands and looked towards the Ice Beast while asking with curiosity, “Mentor Su, who was the one who killed this Ice Beast?”
“Who else?”
Su Ruoxue let out a cold laugh and said, “Of course, it was me. But I hope Captain Gu will not spread out this information.”
“Naturally!”
Gu Shanhe let out a hollow laugh and felt relieved. Su Ruoxue’s strength might not be strong, but her status was exceptional. It was normal for her to have some schemes.
Su Ruoxue lowered her head and didn’t continue to speak; her face had this flash of redness. It was obvious that she didn’t want to claim the merit, but she wanted to help Jiang Yi conceal the truth instead. If this group of people knew that it was Jiang Yi who had slain the beast and that he comprehended the martial dao intent, she was afraid they would take the risk and forcefully eliminate her and Jiang Yi. After all, Jiang Yi’s potential was too overwhelming and would definitely become a scourge for them in the future.
“Swish!”
Soon enough, a group of individuals rushed to the area in a frenzy. The one in front was surprisingly Principal Qi. She might have a whole head of silver hair and was using crutches, but her maneuvers were as vigorous and nimble as a fox. She soon arrived and looked around with chilling eyes before shouting, “Gu Shanhe! You bunch of imbeciles! What are you doing? After you settle everything here, go beg for forgiveness from Principal Zhuge by yourself.”
After finishing her statement, she ignored Gu Shanhe and his men. She cast her sights on Su Ruoxue, revealing an affectionate expression and asking with concern, “Ruoxue, are you ok? Someone, bring Ruoxue back to recuperate.”
One of the female mentors quickly came over to help Su Ruoxue up. Principal Qi continued to reprimand Gu Shanhe and prepared to bring Su Ruoxue back. But Su Ruoxue suddenly spoke, “Principal, bring Jiang Yi back, too. Had it not been for him stalling for time, I would not be able to slay the beast. He has many merits this time.”
Principal Qi looked at Su Ruoxue pensively and nodded. She then instructed a male mentor to bring Jiang Yi back to the college.
“Bang!”
After Principal Qi left, Gu Shanhe punched onto a nearby tree and broke it with his smash. His eyes flickered for a few times before he shouted at his men, “After all of you settle things in here, I will go look for His Highness and the Principal.”
…
As expected by Su Ruoxue, Gu Shanhe knelt in front of a dashing young master who was seated within a lavish loft in the East Courtyard. He spoke with agony, “Your Highness, this matter has failed, and Su Ruoxue seems to have some suspicion. She is on guard against me…”
Wearing a white robe and emitting an extraordinary presence, Jiang Yiliu’s expression didn’t even have a hint of emotion. He leisurely lifted his tea and took a few sips before speaking in a dull manner, “This isn’t your fault. I didn’t expect for Su Ruoxue to put her life on the line to save the cadets. Su Ruoxue had a distinguished status and possessed formidable secret arts. It is normal that she can slay an Ice Beast if she risked her life.”
“Your Highness, what should we do now?” Gu Shanhe was rather distressed.
“Grab a few scapegoats. Do it properly and leave no traces.”
Jiang Yiliu seemed to feel this big throb of a headache and gestured with his hand. “Don’t touch Jiang Yi for now. I do not want Su Ruoxue to thoroughly dislike with me. I must get this woman. Jiang Yi will not be able to stay in the college forever, right? Wasn’t the next Blood Purge about to start? For a gentleman to take his revenge, ten years isn’t considered long.”
Gu Shanhe nodded and replied, “Don’t worry, Your Highness. I will definitely leave no trace of evidence behind. I have already ask someone to kill those patrol team members on the spot!
Jiang Yiliu muttered to himself for a moment before asking, “What is the status of this Jiang Yi? Why does he dare to go against me? It can’t be the case where he doesn’t have any status, right?”
Gu Shanhe’s expression sank as he shook his head. “There isn’t much development. There is an influential force that is disrupting our men, preventing us from investigating Jiang Yi’s status. I suspect that they are… members of the Qian Clan.”
“Investigate!”
Jiang Yiliu’s eyes had this flash of ruthlessness as he yelled, “Summon the clan’s experts and investigate at all costs. If Qian Wanguan dares to impede us, then kill him! I sure like to see if this Qian Wanguan has the guts to go against me?”
…
College’s North Courtyard, Principal Qi’s loft…
Su Ruoxue’s injuries were under control, and she had been arranged to cultivate in a room. Jiang Yi, on the other hand, had been arranged to recuperate in another room. Principal Qi escorted both of them back before hastily going out again and only coming back after an hour.
She entered Su Ruoxue’s room and had this infuriated expression while she groaned. “Ruoxue, I’m afraid that I cannot return you any justice for this matter. Gu Shanhe secretly got the entire patrol team murdered. There is no evidence of them intentionally letting the Ice Beast in. Without any evidence, the Principal will not listen to what I have to say. The final outcome is that Gu Shanhe has been dismissed as the Captain of the patrolling team.”
Su Ruoxue laid on the bed while covered with a thick blanket. Her delicate face was so pale that anyone who saw her would take pity on her. Her long eyelashes shook before she forced a smile and said, “I already knew that the outcome would be as so. In fact, we cannot do anything even if we have the evidence. Principal Zhuge will not let anything happen to Jiang Yiliu. He and the Western Garrison Liege Lord have a friendship that involved their lives.”
“Sigh, this is too impulsive of you this time. How could you risk your life for a bunch of Write-In Cadets? What if something were to happen to you? How will I explain to His Majesty, your father?”
Principal Qi let out a long sigh before continuing, “What’s more, you even used the secret art to slay the Ice Beast. What if this was revealed? People would easily guess your identity, and if the enemy was to know, you would be in grave danger in the future.”
Su Ruoxue let out a faint laugh and didn’t explain. She wanted to reveal the fact that Jiang Yi had realized the Massacre Intent and slain the beast himself. But she decided to help him conceal the truth. Or else, once this news traveled, Jiang Yi would be in more danger. A prodigy who comprehended the martial dao intent—no one knew how much accomplishments he would be able to achieve!
This young man even fearlessly rushed to save her, successfully winning her favorable impression. She subconsciously wanted to shelter and protect him; she wanted to see how far could this bizarre prodigy—who was full of mysteries—go?