Chapter Sixteen: Alibi

Yi Tian glanced at Wu Shigong, realizing that the latter had no evidence to prove he was the culprit. Most likely, he hadn’t even managed to capture the real assailant, Tie Man. The reason all suspicion fell upon him must have originated from the manager of Stone Luck Pavilion standing beside Wu Shigong.

His gaze grew steely. That manager was truly a contemptible character. With no proof to incriminate him, even if they caught the one who attacked the third young master of the Wu family, there was no way to link Yi Tian as the mastermind behind it all. Backed by the might of the Yi Tribe, Yi Tian was unafraid of any rash actions against him without solid evidence.

As expected, Deputy Chief Yi Zhen lived up to his expectations, standing firm against the Wu family’s pressure. Naturally, Yi Tian was not about to let Yi Zhen confront the other side head-on. Thus, he stepped forward and addressed Wu Shigong: “When was your son attacked?”

Wu Shigong replied, “Yesterday at dusk, just as the sun was about to set. He was ambushed on Qinggu Street!”

Yi Tian smiled and said, “I’m sorry, but at that time, we were all feasting at the Yunlong Inn. We had no leisure to bother with your son. In fact, I should thank the one beside you—if not for him, I wouldn’t have earned a primeval stone for nothing, which I sold for eight hundred gold coins.”

Qi, the manager of Stone Luck Pavilion, felt a dull ache in his chest at this jab from Yi Tian. At the same time, he sensed things were taking a bad turn.

Sure enough, Yi Zhen turned to Yi Tian and asked, “Is this true?” While he was a bit surprised that Yi Tian had profited a primeval stone, he said nothing about that, instead seeking confirmation about the matter at hand.

“That’s right,” Yi Tian answered. “We were all at the Yunlong Inn, enjoying a feast. The dozen or so signature dishes really lived up to their reputation—the best I’ve ever tasted.”

Yi Shan, Yi Feng, Yi Kai, and the others all confirmed as much, and plenty of tribe members could testify as well.

Upon hearing Yi Tian’s alibi, Wu Shigong’s expression changed at once.

“If you don’t believe us, there are many people at the Yunlong Inn who can vouch for us. You’re welcome to ask them,” Yi Tian said with a smile.

“Since everything is clear, and Yi Tian’s group was indeed at the Yunlong Inn at the time, it proves they weren’t the ones who attacked your son. Now, please step aside!” Deputy Chief Yi Zhen’s voice suddenly hardened.

“You...” Wu Shigong could no longer maintain his imposing demeanor. Was he to leave in disgrace? That would surely make the Wu family the laughingstock of the other factions in Black Dragon City.

“You may leave, but those with suspicion of involvement must stay and assist with the investigation,” Wu Shigong said, his tone turning forceful. This was his territory, and the Wu family wielded considerable power in Black Dragon City. He could not allow the others to leave so easily, not even with an alibi.

For them, suspicion alone was reason enough; evidence mattered little.

“Are you saying the Wu family wants war with the Yi Tribe? You’re welcome to try!” Deputy Chief Yi Zhen drew his bow, a silver arrow instantly trained on Wu Shigong. A powerful murderous aura surged forth, as if a fearsome beast had descended.

With Yi Zhen’s bow aimed at him, Wu Shigong was immediately struck by a chilling sense of impending death. At any moment, that arrow might pierce straight through him.

Extreme danger!

The patriarch of the Wu family was gripped by terror—he was certain the other could kill him with a single arrow. In this moment, he truly understood the might of the Yi Tribe.

He was, after all, a peak eighth-rank warrior. With the Wu family’s formidable combat skills, he could even stand against ordinary ninth-rank fighters. Yet now, in the face of this seventh-rank warrior from the Yi Tribe, he felt utterly outmatched.

The sharpness of the arrowhead inspired dread and fear.

“We withdraw!” Wu Shigong, unwilling as he was, led his guards and warriors away. The Yi Tribe’s party continued on their journey, soon leaving Black Dragon City behind.

As he watched the departing Yi Tribe, Wu Shigong’s face darkened. Their arrogance—threatening his very life—was unforgivable. If he’d had more experts at his side, he would never have let them leave so easily.

As patriarch, he held the reins of the Wu family’s development, but he was not its strongest member. That distinction belonged to the Council of Elders, who truly held the family’s power. Each was a ninth-rank warrior, rarely seen except in times of life and death for the clan, or when out on personal quests. Should the patriarch err or overstep, the council would replace him at once.

The Yi Tribe’s caravan left Black Dragon City, making their way to their settlement dozens of miles away. Along the road, no bandits or marauders dared trouble them. The invisible crisis had passed.

Yi Feng, Yi Shan, and a few others still harbored doubts—had Yi Tian really taught the Wu family a lesson? But they had all been together at the feast; there was simply no opportunity.

No matter how hard they puzzled over it, they could not figure it out.

In the end, there was only one explanation: it truly wasn’t Yi Tian’s doing.

Yi Tian offered no explanation.

In fact, Yi Tian had used a single primeval stone to persuade a family guard to teach the Wu family’s third young master a lesson. He had both threatened and enticed the man.

He offered the guard, Tie Man, a primeval stone in exchange for beating up the Wu family’s third young master and his servant. For that guard, a primeval stone was an immense fortune, impossible to refuse—especially since it might enable a breakthrough in cultivation and greater prospects for the future.

Yi Tian wasn’t afraid the guard would renege after receiving the stone. First, he had put up a front, pretending to be the scion of a wealthy and powerful clan, offering the stone in exchange for retribution against the Wu family’s young master and his servant. He made it clear that he knew the guard’s identity, leaving the man no way to escape his reach.

What’s more, if word got out that he carried a primeval stone, disaster would soon follow, and he would not be able to keep it.

In other words, he had minimized the chances of the guard betraying him to the lowest possible level.

The guard was cunning as well. He struck when the Wu family’s third young master was least on guard, made his move in the space of seven or eight breaths, then slipped away, using his knowledge of the area to vanish without a trace—a flawless execution.

The journey passed uneventfully. By afternoon, the caravan of over three hundred returned to the tribe.

The entire settlement was abuzz with activity.

Yi Tian and his companions unloaded the arrows, blue salt, spices, and other goods purchased in Black Dragon City. His mother, Su Yue’e, along with Aunt Hua, Aunt Tian, and others, came to help.

Yi Xiaolong and Yi Xiaoting, the younger siblings, boasted to the other children about the strange sights they’d seen in the city, sharing bags of snacks with them.

Once all the work was done, dusk was approaching. The supplies were distributed, and Yi Tian divided the remaining few hundred gold coins into shares, at least seventy or eighty coins for each person.

“Uncle Kai, I owe everything to the six gold coins you lent me. This primeval stone is yours, as repayment with interest!” Yi Tian handed a primeval stone to Yi Kai.

“What?” Yi Kai could hardly believe it—this rough stone was a genuine primeval stone! As he activated his cultivation technique, a surge of vital energy suffused the air and rushed into his meridians.

Yi Kai thanked Yi Tian with deep gratitude, a look of realization dawning in his eyes. He couldn’t help but suspect that Yi Tian possessed many more primeval stones. Of course, it never occurred to him that all thirty-four stones Yi Tian had purchased were rare and precious primeval stones. Even a handful would have astonished him.

Next, Yi Tian called Yi Feng, Yi Shan, and Yi Li aside. He produced the remaining thirty-one primeval stones and said, “These aren’t just ordinary rough stones, but invaluable primeval stones. Each of you gets six, as payment for the two gold coins you invested. The rest I’ll keep, as I have great need of them.”

“All of these are primeval stones?” Whether Yi Feng, Yi Shan, or Yi Li, they were all stunned, scarcely able to contain their excitement.

When Yi Tian confirmed it, they were overjoyed.

They had no objections to Yi Tian’s distribution; after all, they had only contributed two gold coins and received six primeval stones in return. Even so, they felt a little embarrassed.

If not for the importance of primeval stones in rapidly advancing their cultivation, they might have refused Yi Tian’s gift. At least it was bought with their own money, which offered some consolation.

Yi Tian cautioned them to keep this a secret—even if they told their fathers, they must ensure the news did not spread.

Yi Feng and the others all solemnly promised.