NOVEL NEXT Chapter 328: Liusheng Dong Incident
"Professor Luo, I have long admired your reputation. Seeing is believing, as I've often heard Xiang Tianxing speak of your exploits. I myself have also fought under your command during a beast tide resistance, and you are someone that all martial artists should respect."
Xi Wenxuan's expression was one of utmost seriousness, and his eyes were filled with respect.
That battle was one in which nearly all martial artists would take part. He was in charge of the defense line in Jingzhou, and although he had never met Elder Luo face-to-face, he had fought according to Elder Luo's commands.
"Hello." Elder Luo extended his hand to shake his briefly, nodding in acknowledgment, and said, "Beifei has mentioned the matter of the marriage arrangement to me, but I still need to confirm it."
"Yes, it's a long story," Xi Wenxuan glanced at Xiang Beifei and said, "I presume Professor Luo already knows the ins and outs of the whole matter. If there are any parts you still find unclear, I can explain them to you."
"Since you are acquainted with Xiang Tianxing, you should understand what this student means to me. I ask you, was it with you that he went to the Northern District of the Essential Domain last time?" Elder Luo asked bluntly.
Xi Wenxuan was taken aback; he hadn't expected Elder Luo to inquire about this matter so directly.
He glanced at Xiang Beifei, clearly hesitant.
Elder Luo said, "Beifei knows his limits. If you are aware of the last freshman competition, you should understand the capabilities of this child. He needs to find the answer to his father's disappearance, and I, as their teacher, also need to understand the details of this matter. And you happened to be the person who was acting with him. He is missing, and you have returned. If you wish to discuss marriage, I cannot trust you."
Elder Luo's words were succinct and to the point. He did not have that many qualms, and his speech was as direct as a bulldozer, very decisive.
Xiang Beifei stood calmly beside Elder Luo.
Having a powerful backer was indeed beneficial; when speaking, one's confidence was all the greater.
Xi Wenxuan did not immediately rebut. In facing someone like Professor Luo, he could not overpower with his own momentum; the great figure before him was someone he could not afford to provoke.
"You are right," Xi Wenxuan spoke, "It's correct that you don't trust me, I bear a great responsibility for this matter."
After a long pause, he shook his head and said, "But I cannot disclose it, you were the leader of the martial artists against the beast tide, you should understand that the tasks of the pioneers are almost always kept confidential by those above."
"Then just tell what you can," after a moment of contemplation, Elder Luo lifted his head to look at Xi Wenxuan, "For example, how did you come across the organization Unrestrained?"
Xi Wenxuan's complexion changed: "Why would you say such a thing, Professor Luo?"
"You have your secrets, I have my methods. I have been investigating the matter of Xiang Tianxing, and eventually, signs and traces lead to conclusions. He entrusted you to find the organization Unrestrained, didn't he? And the reason? That shouldn't be a secret of your pioneer missions," Elder Luo asked.
Xi Wenxuan's gaze oscillated, seemingly recalling how Elder Luo could have investigated this matter—it was meant to be highly confidential. But considering that Elder Luo had been Xiang Tianxing's mentor, and knowing his disciple well, it seemed plausible that he could uncover this matter.
"He asked me to investigate a person," Xi Wenxuan said.
"Investigate whom?"
"Qin Hongyi."
Xiang Beifei, who had been listening quietly by the side,
had anticipated this, yet still felt surprised.
Because this person was also the one he had been persistently investigating.
"Why investigate him?" Elder Luo inquired.
Xi Wenxuan glanced at Xiang Beifei again.
Elder Luo was clear in his stance: "He needs to know. I have already discussed it with Beifei, without the strength of the God Refining phase, he will not go to find his father."
"I hope you will not act rashly," said Xi Wenxuan to Xiang Beifei.
"I understand the limits," Xiang Beifei said.
Xi Wenxuan pondered for a moment as if recalling how to explain the matter, then said, "I don't know the specifics, but Xiang Tianxing mentioned that Qin Hongyi is very suspicious. He should be someone who's already dead, and shouldn't be alive. The way he survived is quite bizarre, which is why Xiang Tianxing asked me to thoroughly investigate it."
"How bizarre?" Elder Luo asked.
"Qin Hongyi used to be a pioneer too, but he sacrificed his life in the battle you led, Professor Luo. You might not know this, but he was one of the five hundred thirty-six martial artists killed by Liusheng Dong!"
Xi Wenxuan said with a solemn expression.
Elder Luo was taken aback!
Xiang Beifei was also quite surprised!
Liusheng Dong was, of course, no stranger to Xiang Beifei.
Because he was the very SSR that Elder Luo had executed in front of all the UR Awakeners!
The whole story had been relayed to Xiang Beifei by Ye Changfeng as well.
SSR Awakener Liusheng Dong was a prodigy within the alliance, reaching the orifice transforming phase at the mere age of twenty-five!
Keep in mind that Mu Yiqing, another SSR, turned twenty-eight this year and has only reached the latter stages of God Refining.
In terms of cultivation speed, Liusheng Dong was second to none among all SSR Awakeners. There had rarely been SSRs throughout history who could achieve this level, and he was even close to matching the UR Awakeners!
He was undoubtedly a talent that the alliance focused on cultivating!
As such, Liusheng Dong held himself in high regard within the alliance and did not take other lower-ranked Awakeners seriously.
When the beast horde erupted back then, SSR-ranked Liusheng Dong was assigned under SR-ranked Elder Luo to lead a thousand martial artists in defending Liangzhou Hukou Pass, the defensive front line.
This caused great dissatisfaction with Liusheng Dong!
He was a powerful SSR Awakener, whom everyone in the alliance even treated as a UR, and yet he had to follow the orders of an SR-ranked individual?
The beast tide in that area wasn't too severe. The martial artists just needed to stand on the city wall and face those desolate beasts from above, which was enough to defend the place. However, Liusheng Dong spotted a rare blue marten that was in the God Refining phase amidst the massive horde of desolate beasts!
The exact reason was not clear, perhaps it had to do with a system task, but it was evident that Liusheng Dong wanted to capture this blue marten. Ignoring Elder Luo's orders, he led the three hundred martial artists under his command over the city wall, charging into the dense beast tide.
He used his subordinates as bait to attract the attention of the desolate beasts. All the beasts rushed towards those martial artists, while he, alone, aimed at taking down the blue marten.
The result was that they underestimated the power of the beast horde. More than three hundred martial artists perished at the claws of the beasts, and shortly after, the defensive line was breached by the tide, causing another two hundred-plus martial artists to make the ultimate sacrifice to halt the onslaught of beasts.
And Liusheng Dong, seeing that the tide could not be held back, abandoned his subordinates and fled back alone!
That battle resulted in the loss of nearly fifty square kilometers of land, with five hundred thirty-six martial artists sacrificed.
Qin Hongyi was clearly one of those who had been sacrificed.
"Qin Hongyi's heart was brutally torn out by a God Refining phase desolate beast! Half his head crushed, his body torn into pieces; he died a tragic death. That was what several surviving martial artists witnessed! They said Qin Hongyi had initially refused Liusheng Dong's order, not wanting to lead his subordinates out, but Liusheng Dong forced them, threatening to have his men executed by military law if they disobeyed. Forced to go, he ended up surrounded by beasts, fighting desperately to cover his troops' retreat, only to be torn to shreds by the desolate beasts."
Xi Wenxuan's expression grew heavy as he involuntarily clenched his fists tightly.
Such a tragedy should never have happened!
Yet the alliance wanted to pardon a man who had committed such crimes simply because he was an SSR!