Chapter 354: Trouble Comes Knocking!

Upon arriving at the third-level region, the gale winds were noticeably weaker.

Most of the human martial artists living in this region existed in the form of tribes.

Riding a small spirit boat, Ye Yuan flew for two days before finally reaching the Tengyun Tribe.

Along the way, Ye Yuan probed discreetly and learned that the Tengyun Tribe was far from the Lan Tribe, completely beyond its reach, which put him at ease.

Young Master Ji, ahead is our Tengyun Tribe,” Li Hong said, pointing into the distance.

Since the Lan Tribe already knew Ye Yuan’s identity, he naturally wouldn’t use his real name while traveling, so he gave Li Hong a false name.

Of course, it wasn’t entirely false, because the name Ji Qing could also be considered Ye Yuan’s real name.

Ye Yuan could see the Tengyun Tribe as well; it was much larger than the Lan Tribe, looking more like a small town within the Boundless Border.

As soon as he entered the tribe, a rather primitive aura rushed toward him. Ye Yuan had to admit that living conditions in the Gale Realm were indeed extremely harsh.

Li Hong and the others led Ye Yuan straight to the chieftain’s residence, but the sight before them made them freeze, a bad feeling rising in their hearts.

At a glance, the residence was draped in white silk, clearly set up for a funeral.

Li Yan’s tears had already begun to fall: “Wuwu… It can’t be the young chieftain…”

Shut up! The young chieftain is destined to enter the Soul Sea Realm and inherit the chieftain’s position—how could he die?” Li Hong gritted his teeth.

In truth, he himself knew that a funeral at this time most likely meant something had happened to the young chieftain, but he refused to admit it.

Just then, seven or eight people walked out of the residence, all dressed in mourning attire.

The leading elder, seeing Li Hong and the others, darkened his face and said to those behind him, “Men, seize these five traitors for me!”

Yes!

The seven or eight behind him immediately acknowledged and stepped forward to arrest Li Hong’s group of five.

Li Hong’s expression changed, and he said indignantly, “Elder Zhushan, the five of us have been loyal to the tribe—when did we become traitors!”

Zhushan sneered, “Loyal? Hmph! I think you have ulterior motives! The young chieftain was critically ill, and he sent you all out separately to find medicinal herbs. The other three groups all returned on time, but only you five delayed your return, causing the young chieftain to pass away! Li Hong, dare you say you are not a traitor?”

What! It really is the young chieftain! Impossible, impossible…” Li Hong murmured.

Confirming the news of the young chieftain’s death from Zhushan, Li Hong was utterly devastated.

Hmph! What impossible! Before you set out, Master Daoyuan repeatedly urged you to bring back the Purple Phantom Blood Ginseng no later than two days ago, yet you delayed by a full two days! The Purple Phantom Blood Ginseng was the most crucial spiritual herb; without it, even Master Daoyuan could not make something out of nothing, and as a result, the young chieftain last night…”

At this point, Zhushan too was weeping with grief, clearly deeply pained by the young chieftain’s death.

If an old man was so heartbroken, the others were even more so; Li Hong and his companions were already in tears.

Ye Yuan watched from the side without interrupting.

At first, Zhushan’s words showed no flaw; even Ye Yuan was fooled.

The life-saving medicine hadn’t arrived, and in his anger, Zhushan wanted to arrest Li Hong’s group—this was only human.

After all, for the Tengyun Tribe, the young chieftain was the future, the hope.

But just as Zhushan was weeping, a young man behind him gave him away.

The others were fine, but that young man could not hide the excitement and elation on his face. He even lowered his head, afraid of being noticed.

However, Ye Yuan caught this scene.

Still, Ye Yuan said nothing more; after all, it was their family affair, and as an outsider, he naturally didn’t want to meddle. But in his heart, he kept a watchful eye.

After all, his goal was still to use the teleportation array.

Li Hong, Li Yan, and the others were so struck by the news that they were already dazed.

We are guilty, truly guilty! It’s all our fault for not bringing back the Purple Phantom Blood Ginseng on time! But… Elder Zhushan, could you let us see the young chieftain one last time?” Li Hong said emotionally.

Zhushan snorted coldly, “Hmph! The young chieftain was the future of our Tengyun Tribe. You committed such a heinous crime against him, and you still have the face to see him? Aren’t you afraid of desecrating him and disturbing his peace even after death?”

Zhushan’s words cut deep; after hearing this, Li Hong no longer had the face to ask for a final meeting with the young chieftain.

Seeing that his words had taken effect, Zhushan said to those behind him, “What are you waiting for? Why haven’t you seized them? Hmm? Wait! Who are these two?”

In fact, Zhushan had already noticed Ye Yuan and the other person, but only now did he turn his矛头 toward Ye Yuan.

He didn’t care much about Ye Yuan, but the fact that Li Hong had brought back a Sea of Qi triple made Zhushan somewhat wary.

Zhushan’s words startled Li Hong, who only then remembered Ye Yuan was still there.

He was already guilt-ridden over causing the young chieftain’s death; if he also implicated his savior, he would never be able to atone for his sins.

Elder Zhushan, the five of us encountered a Red-tailed Scorpion about to advance in the fourth-level gale region and were fortunate to be saved by Young Master Ji. Please do not make things difficult for him,” Li Hong quickly explained.

Unexpectedly, Zhushan’s expression changed, and he said sternly, “You knew the tribe was in a troubled time, yet you dared to bring outsiders! In my view, they are very suspicious! Could it be that you deliberately colluded with outsiders to harm the young chieftain?”

Elder Zhushan, how can you say that? The five of us have been utterly loyal to the young chieftain—the chieftain himself can testify! We truly met Young Master Ji by chance. I beg you to let them leave!” Li Hong said, greatly alarmed.

Hmph! The young chieftain’s illness was already very strange, and the cause has yet to be found. The young chieftain died just last night, and you bring outsiders into the tribe—this is far too suspicious! In my opinion, these two should stay! If it is later proven that they have nothing to do with the young chieftain’s death, they will naturally be released!” Zhushan said.

Ye Yuan frowned. He hadn’t sought trouble, but trouble had come to him.

He said coldly, “Keeping us here depends on whether you have the ability!”

Zhushan sneered, “Heh heh, showing your true colors, aren’t you? If you had nothing to hide, why would you be afraid of our investigation? From the look of it, you intend to resist to the end? Isn’t it just a Sea of Qi triple? Does our Tengyun Tribe lack a few Sea of Qi cultivators?”

Ye Yuan was about to speak, but Li Hong steeled himself and stepped in front of Ye Yuan!