Nine Dragons Saint Ancestor
Chapter 165 Set Trap

Chapter 165: 165 Set Trap

"Hmm?"

Originally, Yun Xiao was extremely angry about the absence of people in the courtyard, but when he saw Guan Hu’s extremely strange reaction, a faint unease suddenly rose in his heart, and he immediately wanted to let go of his right hand that was gripping Guan Hu’s nape.

"Guan Hu, Guan Hu!"

Just at this moment, from outside the courtyard, a shout that was not unfamiliar to Yun Xiao suddenly sounded, causing his mind to stir and suddenly form some subtle speculations.

"Guan Hu, Guan Hu..."

The footsteps of the comer were hurried, and as the voice approached from afar, the person entered the courtyard and abruptly came to a stop, seemingly having witnessed an unbelievably shocking scene.

"Yun Xiao? Why are you... Ah, Guan Hu!"

A cry of shock was emitted, and by this time, Yun Xiao had confirmed his suspicions because the person who came in the darkness of night, uttering sounds of disbelief, was none other than the Third Prince of the Empire, Xuan Zhi.

At this moment, Xuan Zhi’s face was full of horror, his gaze fixed intently on the convulsing Guan Hu, or more precisely, on Yun Xiao’s hand that was clutching Guan Hu’s nape.

"Uh... this has nothing to do with me!"

Seeing the unusual look in Xuan Zhi’s eyes, Yun Xiao immediately let go of his hand, and the words he uttered made the unease in his heart grow even stronger.

The events of this night were utterly strange, especially at the moment with Guan Hu’s behavior, and the coincidental arrival of Xuan Zhi; even if Yun Xiao were beaten to death, he wouldn’t believe there wasn’t something fishy going on.

Even though Yun Xiao let go of his hand, Guan Hu’s violent spasms did not stop. Seeing him struggling to turn his body, and looking at Xuan Zhi’s face with a weird expression, his eyes finally revealed an indescribable emotion.

"Your Highness, you... you... greetings..."

Guan Hu’s eyes suddenly began to bleed, and before he could finish his words, he collapsed to the ground in the courtyard, motionless.

Yun Xiao, with a grim face, watched clearly; Guan Hu lying on the ground had no trace of breath left, but from his seven orifices, bright red blood continued to flow out.

However, Yun Xiao, having been a Meridian Refining Master of Holy Rank in his previous life, naturally had extraordinary insights. He subtly noticed that the blood emerging from Guan Hu’s orifices seemed unusually red, definitely not a color normal blood should have.

"Guan Hu, what happened to you?"

Just as Yun Xiao was puzzled, Xuan Zhi’s expression drastically changed. He stepped forward, bending over to check Guan Hu’s breathing, and his face instantly turned to anger, yet Yun Xiao did not see the fleeting relief in his behavior.

"Yun Xiao, you have a vicious mind, to harbor resentment and come to this hospital to kill Guan Hu!"

The stooped Xuan Zhi suddenly stood up, pointing at Yun Xiao and loudly accusing him. Hearing the accusation from the Third Prince, with Yun Xiao’s shrewdness, it was immediately clear that he had been set up by this person.

It was obvious that previously, Guan Hu had indeed been instructed by Xuan Zhi to come looking for him, but perhaps even Guan Hu himself had not anticipated that this plan required his life as the price.

Xuan Zhi must have also known that even Guan Tong, a Cultivator who had nearly stepped into the Meridian Rushing Realm, had been defeated by Yun Xiao’s hands during the day. All of them probably had no way to deal with Yun Xiao anymore.

Therefore, with Xuan Zhi’s vicious scheming, he directly used Guan Hu as bait to lure Yun Xiao here, having previously administered an extremely toxic drug to Guan Hu, one that even he was unaware of, calculated to take effect right then, catching Yun Xiao red-handed.

In the entire Outer and Inner Sect of the Jade Pot Sect, except for Jade Pot Cave and Arena Hall, other places prohibited fellow disciples from fighting to the death. If the "fact" that Yun Xiao killed Guan Hu in this courtyard were proven, he would surely be severely punished according to the sect rules, and might even be directly expelled.

Poor Guan Hu, only in the moment of his death upon seeing Xuan Zhi’s unusual expression did he realize, not only was Yun Xiao calculated against, but he himself had also been played by this Third Prince of the Empire.

The two words Guan Hu hadn’t finished were exactly "vicious," what Xuan Zhi had said about Yun Xiao. Regrettably, his spirit was now scattered, and he would never again be capable of doing anything to Xuan Zhi.

In fact, in Xuan Zhi’s heart, the moment Guan Hu lost to Yun Xiao in Jade Pot Cave, this chess piece he had placed in Jade Pot Sect three years ago had already lost its usefulness.

Moreover, with Guan Tong also killed by Yun Xiao in Arena Hall, Xuan Zhi felt even more that the Guan brothers were useless. With his temperament and status, scheming against two useless subordinates hardly imposed any psychological burden on him.

Besides, pinning a big hat of slaughtering fellow disciples on Yun Xiao could be deemed as the last affair these two useless brothers did for His Royal Highness, the Third Prince of the Empire, in Xuan Zhi’s view.

These thoughts flashed through Yun Xiao’s mind instantly. He ignored Xuan Zhi’s "angry" words, glanced around to make sure no one else was around, and made a decision.

"I apologize, Your Highness Xuan Zhi, Guan Hu was not killed by me. Please excuse me!"

Yun Xiao said with a grim face, knowing that the longer he stayed, the more dangerous it would become. Now, only Xuan Zhi had seen him, and as long as no one caught him red-handed, there was still room for maneuver.

Moreover, Yun Xiao also believed that Xuan Zhi, being in the Meridian Gathering Realm Late Stage and the Third Prince, was simply not capable of stopping him. Once he left this courtyard, it would no longer be up to Xuan Zhi alone.

Yet, as quick as Yun Xiao reacted, he still underestimated Xuan Zhi’s shamelessness. The gap between them was no secret, so how could Xuan Zhi not have a backup plan?

"Hmm?"

Thus, when Yun Xiao turned to walk towards the courtyard gate intending to swiftly leave this place of right and wrong, he saw a green figure already standing at the entrance of the courtyard.

The figure under the dark night seemed somewhat blurred, but from the faintly emanating aura, Yun Xiao sensed something familiar and thought of a possibility, which made his face even more somber.

"Hehe, Yun Xiao, you think you can just kill someone and leave so grandly? You’re too delusional!"

As Yun Xiao observed the vague figure at the entrance, Xuan Zhi behind him coldly scoffed and spoke. At this moment, Yun Xiao no longer doubted that this person blocking his way had conspired with Xuan Zhi.

Once Xuan Zhi finished speaking, the figure that was originally outside the courtyard finally took a step forward, entering the courtyard, and it was then under the dim starlight that Yun Xiao saw a vaguely familiar and sinister face.

"Bi Luo!"

It turns out this person was none other than Bi Luo, the Second Senior Brother from the Poison Vein whom Yun Xiao had briefly met when he first entered the Jade Pot Sect, on the third floor of the Jade Pot Cave!

Seeing this handsome face with slightly bluish lips, Yun Xiao’s heart sank. He knew his relationship with this Second Senior Brother of the Poison Vein wasn’t good. His appearance here could only mean he had reached some kind of agreement with Xuan Zhi.

Remembering the day at the third floor of the Jade Pot Cave, Yun Xiao wanted to collect the Stone Heart Marrow, but Bi Luo wanted to intervene. Due to Elder Li Shan’s order, Bi Luo didn’t dare to forcefully snatch it, but he had always held a grudge.

In Bi Luo’s view, a new Outer Sect disciple who refuses to hand over the Stone Heart Marrow after hearing his status, was a sheer insult to him.

Bi Luo’s family also had some connections with the Xuanyue Imperial Family, so after sensing the minimal use of the Guan brothers, Xuan Zhi directly approached this outstanding Inner Sect Disciple, and the two swiftly conspired this plot against Yun Xiao.

If relying solely on Xuan Zhi, his relation with the Guan brothers was hardly a secret, having merely his testimony to accuse Yun Xiao of murder would hardly be credible.

But now it was different. Bi Luo was a genuine Inner Sect Disciple, his status even more reputable than Yin Huan. With this Inner Sect Disciple as a witness, Yun Xiao, even with a hundred mouths, would probably find it hard to clear himself.

Moreover, Yun Xiao was alone at this point. Facing Xuan Zhi alone didn’t faze him, but this Second Senior Brother of the Inner Sect Poison Vein was absolutely not like any opponent he had encountered before.

In Yun Xiao’s sensing, this guy named Bi Luo was definitely much stronger than Yin Huan. If a fight broke out now, he probably wouldn’t last even a moment.

"Yun Xiao, did you expect that we would meet again so soon? Are you regretting what happened on the third floor of the Jade Pot Cave now?"

Staring at the grim-faced, shabbily dressed youth, a subtle murderous intent flashed through Bi Luo’s eyes, his words containing a trace of mockery.

Bi Luo’s implication was clear; on that day at the third floor of Jade Pot Cave, Yun Xiao’s failure to show due deference planted today’s troubles.

In Bi Luo’s view, if Yun Xiao had been sensible back then and willingly handed over the Stone Heart Marrow, perhaps he might have spared him. Now, whatever said is too late.

After witnessing the duel between Yun Xiao and Guan Hu during the day, Bi Luo, with his discernment, clearly knew this kid had somehow refined the Stone Heart Marrow, his most coveted item, which was now unreachable.

Thus, in such a meticulously calculated and indefensible situation, Bi Luo had already sentenced Yun Xiao to death in his heart.

"Senior Brother Bi Luo, you can eat your food anyhow, but words must not be recklessly spoken!"

At this juncture, Yun Xiao finally steadied his mind and, changing his tone, pointing at Guan Hu’s body on the ground, said: "Look at the way Guan Hu died; it is clear that he was killed by a severe poison. I’m just a Low Level Mortal Rank Meridian Master, I can’t deploy such potent poison!"