Artifact Chapter 49: Predicament

Chapter 49: Predicament

Translated by Addis of Exiled Rebels Scanlations

Editor: Karai

 

When the two returned to the main hall, less than half an hour had passed.

Some disciples exclaimed in surprise, “Look! They’re back!”

Everyone immediately looked towards the entrance and saw Jing Mo and Lu Ming coming together. Both of them looked relaxed, except that Jing Mo was covered in blood and Lu Ming’s clothes were slightly disheveled. Other than that, there was nothing unusual.

Shen Shuyan walked over, carefully looked at the two, then breathed a sigh of relief, “Fortunately, you’re not injured, otherwise the Sect Leader would be worried.”

Jing Mo smiled slightly and said, “Thanks to Brother for arriving in time and pulling me out of the illusion, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to come back safely.”

Lu Ming patted his shoulder and asked, “Has the result of the competition been announced?”

Shen Shuyan nodded, then said, “The senior disciples have already compiled the results, I believe the results will be out soon.”

Since entering the Secret Realm, Lu Ming had completely lost interest in the Dominance Value task. There were too many reasons for him to stay here. Although he also wanted to return to the modern world to find out why Lu You conspired with others to kill him, he had thought a lot along the way. People always had to learn to make choices. Compared to that, he would rather stay by Jing Mo’s side, accompany him, watch him get married, have children, and live a happy life.

Regardless of the true reason why Lu You killed him, those things seemed unimportant now. He had been heartbroken and unable to sleep at night because of this, but fortunately, Jing Mo’s existence made him feel like he had grabbed the last straw for survival, and he couldn’t bear to let go. Moreover, the inheritance he left behind after his death was enough to ensure Lu You’s comfortable life. If he wasted all his wealth and ended up impoverished and destitute in his later years, it would be his own fault. He had grown up and it was time to take responsibility for his own life and actions.

With these thoughts in mind, Lu Ming suddenly felt clear and relieved, and the long-standing problem seemed to be resolved. His lips couldn’t help but curl up slightly, his brows relaxed, bringing out a faint and warm smile. Jing Mo turned his head, looking at Lu Ming’s smiling face, unable to help but smile too, “Brother, why are you so happy?”

Lu Ming shook his head and whispered, “Just figured out some things, that’s all.”

Jing Mo was about to ask, but suddenly he was interrupted by Yun Lan’s voice. Yun Lan stood in the center of the main hall, his magnetic voice spreading to every disciple’s ears, “The seven-day period has ended, and the trial competition in the Water Marsh Secret Realm has ended. The person who killed the most giant beasts will receive Kunlai Sect’s unique cultivation method. They can also choose one of the three sects of artifact refining, alchemy, and talisman refining to enter the Mixed Yuan Mirror to select magic treasures.”

Everyone was astonished to hear that the prizes were so generous. They couldn’t help but regret not killing more giant beasts. It was no wonder everyone was so fond of these prizes. Besides Kunlai’s unique cultivation method, there were countless magic treasures stored in the Mixed Yuan Mirror, some of which were even legendary. If they had the chance to enter and choose a satisfactory treasure, it would be a great fortune accumulated over several lifetimes.

Thinking of this, all the disciples present cast their eyes on Lu Ming, their expressions filled with envy. According to the observations in the small mirror, QingciShixiong should have killed the most giant beasts among everyone present.

Yun Lan continued, “The disciple who killed the most giant beasts is He Qingci, but he violated the rules by re-entering the Secret Realm, so his qualification for this competition has been revoked.”

There was an uproar among the crowd. One of the disciples shouted, “Qingci Shixiong only went to save Jing Mo Shixiong yesterday. Why not make an exception this time?”

Yun Lan smiled faintly and said, “Once the rules are broken, they lose their effectiveness. Although Qingci’s return to the Secret Realm was justified, it cannot break the rules.”

Although the disciples felt sorry for Lu Ming, they could do nothing about it. Sect Leader’s words had their reasons, and it was not good to argue too much. Seeing that there were no objections, Yun Lan continued, “Except for He Qingci, the disciple who killed the most giant beasts is Jing Mo.”

Jing Mo was slightly stunned, glanced at Lu Ming beside him, and hesitated to speak, “Shixiong, it’s all because of me that you…”

Lu Ming shook his head with a smile, patted his shoulder, and said indifferently as usual, “It’s okay. I didn’t care much about this trial in the first place. I’m even happier that you got first place.”

Jing Mo nodded, his eyes shining like the brilliant stars in the mirror lake, warm and clear when he looked at Lu Ming. Brother always had such an enchanting charm. Every word, every expression, and even every action of his could touch all of Jing Mo’s reason and emotion. Sometimes, when he thought about it carefully, he felt bitter sweetness, but he was willing to endure it, enjoying it.

“Wait!”

At that moment, a heavy and powerful shout suddenly came from the entrance of the Secret Realm.

Everyone turned to look at the source of the sound. They saw Yun Che and an unfamiliar disciple standing in front, their expressions somewhat solemn.

Yun Lan asked, “What’s the matter?”

Yun Che respectfully said to Yun Lan, “Shixiong, yesterday I hurried to the Secret Realm to save someone because a disciple tore open the protective talisman. I didn’t expect to find this.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Yun Che took out a spatial bag, silently recited a few spells, and a figure fell out of the bag. Everyone looked closely and then sucked in a breath of cold air. They saw a Kunlai Sect disciple lying on the ground, his eyes wide open, blood flowing from his seven orifices, and a huge blood hole in his chest. At this moment, the blood had dried up, staining his light blue robe red, his face purplish-blue, obviously dead for a long time.

云峦’s expression turned serious, and he asked in a deep voice, “What’s going on?”

Yun Che continued, “Yesterday, when I received the distress signal from the disciples, I immediately went to the Secret Realm to rescue them. Although we followed the paper cranes as a guide, when we arrived, he had already been killed.”

“A person?” Yun Lan frowned. “Are you saying he didn’t die from the claws of a giant beast?”

Yun Che nodded, then pointed to the wounds on the body, “Please take a look, Senior Brother. This person’s seven orifices are bleeding, and he’s spitting out black blood, indicating that his heart and lungs were shattered. The blood hole in his chest is smooth and circular, likely caused by a round-edged artifact. If it was done by a giant beast, there would be claw marks, but there are none. So I think the murderer must be among the five hundred disciples who entered the Secret Realm.”

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted into a commotion. Yun Lan waved his hand to quiet everyone down and asked, “Is there anything left at the scene?”

Yun Che took out a wooden plaque from his pocket and handed it to Yun Lan, his eyes flashing with a hint of surprise, but it quickly disappeared. He said, “Only this item was left at the scene.”

Yun Lan took the wooden plaque and examined it carefully. His expression changed slightly, and he said, “This is a waist plaque for first-tier disciples.”

Yun Che nodded and said, “There are only fifty first-tier disciples in Kunlai Sect who have the right to wear this plaque. Other disciples wouldn’t have access to it. Senior Brother, why not gather these fifty people and check one by one? The one without the waist plaque will be the culprit who killed our fellow disciple!”

Yun Lan pondered for a moment and said, “Very well, let’s do as Yun Che suggested.”

Yun Che got Yun Lan’s approval and immediately addressed the crowd, “All first-tier disciples, gather in front of the main hall.”

Lu Ming had a bad feeling when he saw Yun Che. That day, he overheard Yun Che’s conversation with the mysterious person and hurriedly fled. He had been so careless as to leave his waist plaque in the Secret Realm, and it happened to be picked up by Yun Che, who was chasing after him. Now it seemed that Yun Che had killed the Kunlai disciples, framed him for the murder, and would use this to lure out the person he overheard that day. This way, not only would he be accused of murder, but also the person who eavesdropped on the conversation would be exposed. This was truly a cunning plan, showing Yun Che’s malicious and sinister intentions.

Lu Ming clenched his fists, knowing that if Yun Che succeeded in this plan, he would be unable to explain himself and would be unjustly accused of murder. Moreover, the waist plaque was personally crafted by Master Fu Chen, rare and unique, impossible to replicate. Even if he managed to make a similar one now, Yun Lan, being so astute, would surely see through it. At that time, he would only be confessing his crime.

A bead of sweat formed on Lu Ming’s nose. In this difficult situation, what should he do?

Jing Mo had been standing beside Lu Ming all this time, and he knew Lu Ming quite well. How could he not notice Lu Ming’s unusual expression since earlier? Although Brother disguised it well, he couldn’t escape Jing Mo’s keen intuition. Jing Mo’s heart stirred. Could this matter be related to his brother? Brother had always been indifferent, showing no emotions, but now his expression was somewhat abnormal. It seemed that it should be related to this matter. Although he didn’t know what Brother had experienced in the Secret Realm, he would always stand by Brother’s side no matter what he did. Even if he had to stand against the whole world, it didn’t matter. As long as the only person accompanying Brother was himself, that was the best thing in the world.

Thinking of this, Jing Mo gently held Lu Ming’s somewhat cold hand and whispered to him, “Brother, don’t worry, I have a plan.”

Lu Ming’s expression was slightly stunned as he looked up at Jing Mo. Jing Mo smiled at him, giving him a reassuring look, and continued to transmit his voice to him, “Brother, just wait and see.”

 

 

 

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