Nan Xi was thinking seriously about a question.
How should he open the scene upon entering the Sword Repository?
Should he follow his previous plan and go in with some small talk?
“What a coincidence, everyone is here. Have you eaten? If not, why don’t we head to the cafeteria together?”
Or should he transform into a cold-faced executioner and walk in with a murderous aura?
“I heard someone stole a Spirit Sword from the Sword Repository. I, Nan Xi, will bring them to justice today!”
Neither seemed like a good choice.
Nan Xi paced back and forth in the snow. His long boots crunched over the frozen drifts, leaving footprints that were neither too deep nor too shallow.
If it were only the Elders of Tianquan Peak, Nan Xi would have found a way to handle it.
But now, the person inside was an Elder from Tianshu Peak—a Special Envoy representing the Sect Master on an inspection tour.
If he didn’t handle this carefully…
“There is no need to be so formal, Peak Master Nan Xi.”
A calm voice suddenly drifted out from the Sword Repository.
Nan Xi’s brow furrowed. He lifted his gaze to stare at the towering gates of the Sword Repository—that voice had come so naturally, as if she had sensed his presence long ago.
His fists slowly tightened before he tucked his hands behind his back and stepped into the Sword Repository.
It really was quite a grand display.
Nan Xi scanned the room. Not only were all the Elders of Tianquan Peak present, but several unfamiliar Elders were also lined up behind the crowd, wordlessly forming a perimeter.
However, the most eye-catching person was undoubtedly the old woman sitting in the center of everyone.
From her appearance, she seemed to be around the same age as Granny Ji, roughly sixty or seventy years old.
However, their temperaments were worlds apart. Every movement she made exuded kindness and approachability.
In particular, her gentle, benevolent eyes made it feel as though an elder was looking warmly at a member of the younger generation when she turned toward Nan Xi.
Nan Xi pursed his lips, not letting his guard down in the slightest.
The reason was simple. In this room, she was the only one sitting—not Elder Ashan, not Elder Luoyi. Only she had the status to sit in the center of all the Elders.
As Nan Xi watched in silence, the old woman smiled slightly and spoke to him.
“I presume you are the new Peak Master of Tianquan Peak, Lord Nan Xi. Seeing you today, you truly are a remarkable young talent.”
“And you are…”
“For our first meeting, I am Cigu, from Tianshu Peak.”
As she spoke, the old woman rose from her seat and bowed toward Nan Xi.
Nan Xi’s eyes narrowed. He cupped his hands and returned the gesture to this Elder named Cigu.
“This junior, Nan Xi, greets Elder Cigu.”
“There is no need for such formality. I am merely an ordinary Elder,” the old woman said with a slight bow.
She gestured toward another chair beside her. “Peak Master Nan Xi, please, take a seat.”
“You as well.”
Nan Xi lifted his robe and sat down next to Elder Cigu, but his mind did not relax at all.
‘An ordinary Elder? Who would actually believe that?’
The faint sense of pressure radiating from her was second only to Lord Tiansi among all the Elders Nan Xi had met in the Tianhe Sect.
This Elder Cigu was definitely not as simple as she appeared on the surface.
“Since Peak Master Nan Xi has arrived, we can officially begin today’s interrogation.”
Elder Cigu smiled calmly. Her gaze swept over the crowd before landing back on Nan Xi.
It was a terrifying gaze.
On the surface, it was as calm as a lake, with a hint of kindness in her eyes. But beneath that tranquil surface lay a depth as unfathomable as an abyss.
“I assume Peak Master Nan Xi already knows. I was originally sent by the Sect Master to check on everyone, but I did not expect to encounter such a malicious incident as the theft of a Spirit Sword. I hope Peak Master Nan Xi will surely find the true culprit.”
“Naturally.”
Nan Xi’s palm slapped against the armrest. The sound wasn’t loud, but it reached the ears of every Elder present with crystal clarity.
Although his cultivation was inferior to Elder Cigu’s, his aura of natural authority was not much weaker than hers.
“If I find out who the culprit is, I will certainly punish them without mercy.”
‘Yeah, right.’
Nan Xi was just saying what people wanted to hear. How could he possibly punish himself?
However, looking at the current atmosphere, voluntarily confessing that he had taken a Spirit Sword from the third floor of the Sword Repository did not seem like a good idea.
On the other side, seeing Nan Xi’s stance, Elder Cigu smiled faintly.
“I am relieved to hear those words from Peak Master Nan Xi. I happen to have a witness here. Why don’t we hear what he has to say?”
A witness?
Nan Xi was stunned. There was actually a witness?
Before he could react, a Disciple of Tianquan Peak stumbled inside.
Upon seeing Nan Xi and Elder Cigu, he fell to his knees with a thud, looking as if he were about to cry out for justice.
Wait…
Nan Xi sized the Disciple up.
Wasn’t this the Disciple he had knocked out last night when he broke into the Sword Repository?
Look, the swelling on the spot where Nan Xi had flicked him with Spiritual Power hadn’t even gone down yet!
On the other side, seeing Nan Xi fall silent, Elder Cigu introduced the boy.
“Peak Master Nan Xi, this is the Disciple who was on duty at the Sword Repository last night. He was also the first to discover the theft and reported the matter to the main hall of Tianquan Peak.”
After she finished, her gaze turned back to the Disciple. She said kindly, “Child, tell us what you saw last night.”
Nan Xi’s arm immediately stiffened. He froze in place, but before he could say anything, the Disciple glanced at him and began his narrative.
“Reporting to Lord Nan Xi and Elder Cigu. According to the schedule, I was on duty last night. During my shift, no one entered or left the Sword Repository for the entire night…”
“The entire night? Are you that certain?” Elder Cigu questioned him.
“Cer… Certain,” the Disciple said, his heart tightening as he trembled.
‘Sure you are, you blockhead.’
Nan Xi rolled his eyes internally. He had walked right past this guy in broad daylight—well, torchlight.
The guy must have fallen asleep last night and was lying about no one being there to cover his tracks.
“Think carefully. Did anyone really enter or leave?” Nan Xi cleared his throat as if reminding him.
“Uh… there really wasn’t anyone.” The Disciple scratched his head.
“It’s just that, late in the night, I felt a bit blurry-eyed. It felt as if a figure flashed past me, but after a thorough search, I didn’t find anyone in the repository.”
“But… but when I inspected the Sword Repository again at dawn, I discovered the Spirit Sword was missing. That’s when I rushed to report it.”
“That is everything I know.”
…
It seemed like no one would suspect Nan Xi at all.
Nan Xi leaned slightly against the armrest, propping his cheek on one hand. He looked calm and collected on the outside, but he was secretly amused.
Tianquan Peak truly was a ragtag bunch; even the Disciples on duty were this incompetent.
“That really is mysterious,” Nan Xi remarked, stroking his chin.
“Does Peak Master Nan Xi think so too?” Elder Cigu sighed, her eyes filled with helplessness.
“Indeed,” Nan Xi said regretfully. His tone carried a hint of ‘investigating this is going to be a real hassle.’
“It would be for the best if the culprit turned themselves in.”
“I hope so as well,” Elder Cigu agreed.
Perfect!
Everything was heading in the direction Nan Xi wanted.
It would be best to dismiss everyone for the day, and then Nan Xi could find an opportunity to speak with Elder Cigu in private. The matter would blow over…
However, right then, a faint smile quirked at the corner of Elder Cigu’s mouth. She looked up at Nan Xi.
“However, before that, I would like to invite the Disciple who has been lingering outside the Sword Repository gates to come in… and ask what her thoughts are.”
There was another Disciple?
Nan Xi was stunned for a moment. He followed Elder Cigu’s gaze.
Outside the towering archway of the Sword Repository, a small head was peeking around the edge of the door, secretly watching them.
Perhaps realizing she had been spotted, she suddenly ducked back behind the door… but even so, the constant puffs of white mist from her breath gave her away.
Nan Xi recognized that child.
Her name was…
“Xia Xia?”