Chapter 78 Heaven's Branch, Earth's Cover
Demon Lord Hong Lie demanded that Ying Jie must provide an explanation and find the real murderer.
As for whether this "real murderer" is genuine or not, it might no longer be significant in Demon Lord Hong Lie's mind.
— It seemed Demon Lord Hong Lie was convinced that Ying Jie was the culprit.
"Since you've already benefited, does it really matter if you take the blame? Why go to such lengths to find the real killer?"
"Do you even need to risk a little punishment from Shi Wu Demon Venerable to find the real murderer? Is it worth it?"
Some people might think this way.
Such thoughts are very naive and shallow.
Because, with a bit of reasoning, one would understand...
It's very worth it.
First, benefiting and finding the real culprit are not mutually exclusive; it's not a choice between one or the other.
— Ying Jun is already dead, and it's a decided fact that he has become the sole heir of Shi Wu's lineage.
Whether he finds the real killer or not, this remains the case.
So why should he take the blame for the real murderer?
Does it feel good to be wrongfully blamed by one's father, taking the fall for someone else?
Is there any advantage to bearing the reputation of killing one's brother?
Secondly, based on his current judgment, Qing Ge is the most likely culprit.
And Qing Ge has a clear conflict of interest with their Demon Lord Hong Lie's mansion:
They are not willing to give up that precious Blood Divine Sand Vein to Qing Ge.
In Ying Jie's eyes, the Blood Divine Sand Vein is practically his possession, so why give it to an outsider?
Demon Lord Hong Lie is unwilling, and so is he.
Furthermore, Qing Ge's potential and strength are highly outstanding, with hopes of becoming the Domain Lord of the Sen Luo King Realm.
But Qing Ge's future wife Ying Mingyue has always been at odds with them, and Qing Ge has already rejected their previous "cooperation" proposal.
Frankly, they could even regard Qing Ge as a hypothetical enemy.
In such a situation, if he can confirm that Qing Ge is the murderer of Ying Jun, firstly, he can clear his name, and secondly, he can get rid of a potential enemy and gain great benefits.
A two-for-one deal, why not take it?
Lastly, he is unhappy.
Qing Ge pointed the finger at him first; how could he remain indifferent?
"Although Qing Ge says I am the murderer, I'm not. But I can understand his behavior, so I don't blame him?"
He's not a Bodhisattva, not that noble and virtuous.
Let alone he's not the murderer, even if he were, Qing Ge dared to point the finger at him, his first reaction would still be to resent Qing Ge, to find ways to frame him, to drag him down!
With these thoughts, Ying Jie's resolve was strengthened.
"If my guess is wrong, then it's only your bad luck. Who told you to run your mouth and say what you shouldn't." He mumbled to himself.
He's not a good person; even if he misunderstood Qing Ge, he wouldn't feel any guilt.
Meanwhile, as Ying Jie was deep in thought, Ye Ying's eyes, all white, started to seep with crimson blood.
Soon, his ears, nose, mouth, and every pore on his body began to ooze blood.
Eventually, under Yu Luo's terrified gaze, Ye Ying's body collapsed to the ground like a lump of meat, twitching occasionally, extremely horrifying.
Ying Jie was unfazed by this scene.
The effect of the Soul-devouring Worm was just like this.
Ye Ying's mind and soul were completely devoured, leading to an inevitable death.
Seeing Ye Ying's horrible state, Yu Luo trembled all over.
"Don't be afraid." Ying Jie reached out, gently stroking Yu Luo's face.
"I will spare your life so that you can tell your lord the consequences of provoking Ying Jie."
Ying Jie's triumphant, sinister laughter echoed in the silent room.
......
Mingyue Manor.
The hall was brightly lit, furnished luxuriously and grandly.
Ying Mingyue, dressed in a long gown, looked radiant, her voice somewhat soft as she looked at the visiting Lu Qingshan, "Why are you here?"
"Is something the matter?"
She unconsciously rose from the main seat and walked towards Lu Qingshan.
Lu Qingshan frowned slightly, troubled, "My men brought from the Sen Luo King Realm were taken by Ying Jie without permission."
After leaving the Chiguo Banquet, he immediately came to Mingyue Manor.
In this situation, the best solution was to have Ying Mingyue ask Shi Wu Demon Venerable to intervene.
Only, by now, enough time had actually passed for Ying Jie to complete what he wanted.
"Ah?" Ying Mingyue exclaimed softly, quickly suppressing her disappointment that Lu Qingshan had come for a real problem, then turned her attention to what Lu Qingshan had said.
"Ying Jie took your men?"
"Didn't Father tell them not to trouble you anymore?" Ying Mingyue gritted her teeth, angrily.
Lu Qingshan shook his head, helplessly, "Ying Jie took them on the grounds that they had offended him."
It's an obvious ploy.
Everyone understood what Ying Jie was up to, but nominally, there was nothing to be done.
Because Ying Jie was using his position to pressure others.
Even Lu Qingshan felt helpless about this.
The strength and potential he demonstrated made many people view him in a new light, thinking highly of him.
But in terms of status, compared to Ying Jie, a pureblood of Shi Wu's lineage with Eighth Grade cultivation, he did not measure up.
Despite Shi Wu Demon Venerable appearing to side with him, issuing various warnings to Demon Lord Hong Lie...
The truth was, in Shi Wu Demon Venerable's heart, Demon Lord Hong Lie and Ying Jie always came first.
It's like the difference between an adopted child and a biological child.