Chapter 1012: Suspicion

Proofreader : Papatonks

[What?]

Shangguan Qingyan looked in shock from Murong Xue and Ouyang Changqing, before settling on a smile, "Big sis, you've been hiding your sweetheart all this time from me while even teasing me about my own. Now we get to celebrate your wedding with rounds of drinks!"

"What's with that nonsense?"

Murong Xue glared at her then looked into Ouyang Changqing's hopeful gaze, "Brother Ouyang, have you forgotten our promise?"

"Of course not."

Ouyang Changqing spoke with pride, "Grasping the heavens, shaking the five lands, standing above everyone, and only below one!"

Murong Xue smirked, "Then, brother Ouyang, which of these four have you achieved?"

"While I have only fulfilled one, the other three are just a matter of time with this head start. While marriage is a way off, we can at least get engaged."

"My, how certain you are. What gives you such confidence?" Murong Xue toyed.

Ouyang Changqing had his head held high, his chest out, as he said, "It's obvious I'll grasp heaven. You know who my father is, the strongest in northern lands, Ouyang Lingtian, wielding the Heaven Sealing Sword! Won't the divine sword be passed down to me?"

"The five lands' divine swords aren't necessarily passed down in one's family, but based on ability." Murong Xue huffed.

Ouyang Changqing gave an understanding nod, his pride unaffected, "You're right, but if we are to leave father out of this, who am I exactly? The winner of the northern lands' great disciple competition. I am now the best disciple in northern lands and later shall take my father's place in becoming the best in northern lands. Sister Xue has to agree."

Murong Xue flicked her head away but still relinquished a nod.

Ouyang Changqing grinned, "As for shocking the lands, it will come with becoming the best in northern lands."

"And as for being under one man?"

Shangguan Qingyan asked eagerly, "With such high goals, to be still beneath someone, who would that be? Is it that old freak Invincible Sword? Though it's kinda obvious since he hasn't been beaten for the last ten thousand years and it's sure to stay like that for another few thousands."

Ouyang Changqing mocked, "Young miss Shangguan, you're totally underestimating me. I am a man destined to cleave the heavens. Once I gain insight into Heaven Sealing Sword's sword art, his invincible status will be a thing of the past, humph..."

"See, that's the type I hate the most, overconfident to the extreme. He's no different from those prancing wastrels everywhere. Saying that you're above Invincible Sword without even meeting him is sheer lunacy."

Murong Xue's face was hard as she made eye contact with Shangguan Qingyan.

Shangguan Qingyan bobbed her head, looking at him eagerly still, "Since even Invincible Sword is beneath you, then who will be the one above?"

"Isn't it obvious?"

Ouyang Lingtian cupped his hands at the sky with a straight face, "Family ties are most important. No matter how godlike I become, I shall remain father's son. Only my father can stand above me. As for standing above everyone, that'll come natural with the defeat of Invincible Sword, ha-ha-ha..."

Ugh!

Shangguan Qingyan's heart sank as she looked at his obnoxious zealotry, feeling Murong Xue's pain, "Now I know what you mean by the four goals being simple. Besides you and your dad, everything is relative."

"Not relative, but destined to happen." Ouyang Changqing spoke heavily.

Murong Xue rolled her eyes, "Then do come again when the relative becomes reality."

"Sister Yan'er, let's go inside and forget about this bore." Murong Xue threw the snow plum flower, taking Shangguan Qingyan's arm and walking inside, "I'd much rather have you tell me more about your man than listen to his obnoxious bragging..."

Shangguan Qingyan shrugged and followed after her, having no choice. Ouyang Changqing cried from behind, "Sister Xue, I will succeed, believe me!"

[Believe your foot!]

Murong Xue cursed in her mind.

"Changqing, I believe you!" A laughter came from nowhere as a familiar figure suddenly grabbed Ouyang Changqing's arm, "Changqing, it's been years since we saw each other and my how much you've grown, already in the 8th layer Soul Harmony Stage. There's no disciple like you in the other three lands. The sky's the limit, I tell you, ha-ha-ha..."

Ouyang Changqing lit up, having his ego stoked, "Brother Murong, it's been a long time. I missed you as well!"

Murong Xue paused and looked at Shangguan Qingyan with a sigh, "I just don't know what brother sees in him to even give his little sister away."

"Xue'er, did you say something?"

"Nothing. Now that brother is here, does that mean you found clues to track them?" Murong Xue still held Shangguan Qingyan as she went to give a slight bow.

The smiling Murong Lie suddenly turned dark, "Don't remind me. Those three are like ghosts, vanishing off the face of the earth. Sea Cloud Sect had been searching for six months now but still came out empty. They must've left that area and all clues are gone, I could only come back."

"Who are they to have escaped the likes of Ardent Sun Sword God? Are they so great?" Shangguan Qingyan asked curiously.

Ouyang Changqing was also confused, "With brother Murong and the mighty forces of Sea Cloud Sect scouring their domain, they should've been found in minutes. How can there be no trace at all? It's baffling. Brother Murong, would you care to tell me more about them? I shall gather all the men of the five sects and check everyone. We'll leave no stone unturned, but we'll definitely find them!"

"No, please don't. It will only unsettle northern lands more. Invincible Sword's team is hidden and causing such chaos will only work against us. They'll use this chance to slip in."

"Yeah, Xue'er is right. There's no need to go through such lengths for just three people. Our true enemy is Baili Yutian after all." Murong Lie gave a hard nod.

Ouyang Changqing pondered and relented.

"Does that mean, brother Murong, that they're not from the central area? Who are they?" Shangguan Qingyan picked up on Murong Lie's meaning.

Murong Xue sighed, "The man is as cunning as a demon, causing thousands of casualties in the central area then vanishing without a trace. Now he appeared in northern lands along with an expert that can fight my brother to a standstill. Just what is he up to? We're yet unsure in his stance regarding the northern lands' conflict, but he is without a doubt a dangerous element."

"Not even brother Murong could catch him? Just who is he?" Shangguan Qingyan cried out and Ouyang Changqing looked at him with shock.

Murong Xue was the one to explain still, "I don't know who he is, just that he left one name in the central area, Gu Yifan."

[What?]

Shangguan Qingyan gaped, almost thinking out loud. But she caught herself in time, though her face sank.

[How can it be him? Why are the Murongs after him? What now?]

As she was thinking of finding out, Ouyang Changqing made it worse with his sigh, "Just from the name I can tell he's bad. I never heard a more ugly name."

"Who in their right mind would use their real name when doing evil anyway?" Murong Xue rolled her eyes at him.

Ouyang Changqing shrugged, "Never mind, since we won't find him soon, not with a fake name and hiding his trail. I'm better off minding my own search. Brother Murong, want to come along?"

"Who are you searching for?" Murong Xue smirked, "Sect Leader Ling actually trusted someone as shallow as you to find someone suspicious? You're only going to scare them away!"

Ouyang Changqing's mood deflated, "Sister Xue, don't underestimate me. Sect Leader Ling personally asked me to make the inquiries. A caravan just arrived at the sect, one belonging to the Qian clan, one of the three great merchant clans in northern lands. Sect Leader found their steward, Qian Fan, to be odd and asked me to look into him."

"Qian Fan?"

Shangguan Qingyan paled, having recalled Zhuo Fan saying Qian Fan was his real name. While unclear if that was true, she believed that was the name he was using now.

[Curses, he even said to keep it a secret! Barely any time passed and he's already under suspicion. Now that Murong brother and sister are after you, what do I do?]

Shangguan Qingyan was consumed by anxiety and worry.

[That damn man always knows how to make me uneasy...]