TM CH23

Chapter 23 A Corner of Clothing (1)

Rong Qi stood up, his eyes burning with an intense excitement that he couldn’t hide.

There was someone else on the island!

Who could it be?

Where were they now?

He hurriedly searched around, trying to find more evidence nearby, but the result left him deeply disappointed.

There were no more clues.

For a moment, many thoughts flashed through his mind.

Who could it be?

Was it someone who had also been shipwrecked with them?

…Or someone who had come to rescue him?

Rong Qi knew deep down that the latter hope was slim.

No sign of ships had appeared on the sea. Even if he had coincidentally missed them, rescuers landing on the island couldn’t have been so silent. After all, the island wasn’t that large, and their shelter wasn’t far from the shore. If anyone searched, they would have been easily noticed.

The only wooden rack in front of him stood alone, suggesting that the other person was likely also alone.

Whether it was a crew member, a disciple of Lihuo Palace, Fang Lian, or someone else from another unlucky ship, it was impossible to tell.

The initial excitement gradually settled, and Rong Qi calmed down.

There was a third person on the island, but their situation remained unclear. It was unknown whether they were a friend or foe. He had to find out who this person was first.

“Rong Qi, come here.”

Gu Yunxing’s voice called from nearby, pulling him out of his chaotic thoughts. Right, he should discuss this with Gu Yunxing.

Rong Qi shook his head, pushing his doubts aside, and hurried toward Gu Yunxing’s location.

“Any findings?”

Gu Yunxing pointed upward. “There are signs of a struggle.”

Rong Qi looked up and saw a broken tree branch, along with some scattered blood and flesh.

Gu Yunxing: “It was caused by a palm strike.”

Rong Qi saw it too and told him about his earlier discovery. He ended by saying, “It seems we’re not the only unlucky ones on this island. I just don’t know who that person is.”

After Rong Qi finished speaking, Gu Yunxing extended his other hand, opening his palm to reveal a torn piece of clothing.

It was a corner of clothing stained with blood and mud, its original color no longer discernible.

Rong Qi’s face changed drastically. He rushed forward, grabbing Gu Yunxing’s wrist, his eyes fixed on the piece of cloth. He would never fail to recognize the distinct embroidery of Lihuo Palace disciples!

“Where did you find this?!”

Gu Yunxing hesitated before responding.

“That’s the flame pattern of my Lihuo Palace,” Rong Qi said.

Gu Yunxing sighed. “I know.”

Seeing Gu Yunxing’s silence, Rong Qi assumed he was holding back for some reason. Frowning, he said, “No matter what, leaving this island will be difficult with just the two of us. Gu Yunxing, although we have old grudges, things are different now. Before we leave, any past grievances are meaningless. So you don’t need to worry that this venerable one would leave you behind once I find my companion.”

Gu Yunxing looked at him with a complicated expression. “Right Protector Rong… Do you really think your subordinate, along with you, can defeat this humble Gu?”

Rong Qi was stunned for a moment before his expression darkened.

It seemed like it was indeed the case!

Gu Yunxing: “I found this on a tree. If I’m not mistaken, your subordinate is most likely beyond saving.”

Beyond saving.

Gu Yunxing’s words were very diplomatic.

Although the trees on the island weren’t very dense, they were tall. Walking beneath them didn’t seem unusual, but when the two of them used their lightness skills to climb to the top, a faint smell of blood wafted into their noses.

There were large, dark stains on the trunk.

Rong Qi examined them and found that the blood had already dried. Several branches were broken, as if a fierce beast had fought here, leaving a scene of bloody chaos.

The corner of clothing was caught on one of the tree’s topmost branches.

Rong Qi’s heart sank.

All the signs pointed to a duel having taken place here. Considering the large patch of trampled grass from earlier, he could almost confirm that the owner of the cloth had run into serious trouble.

They searched the area for a long while but found nothing more.

Rong Qi glanced at the sky and suggested they head back. Before leaving, he took the piece of clothing with him.

By the time they returned to their shelter, it was already dusk, and neither of them was in a good mood.

“Although I didn’t bring many people on this journey, those I did bring are all carefully selected experts.” Rong Qi traced the flame pattern on the fabric with his thumb, recalling the scene in the forest. “It couldn’t have been a wild beast.”

No matter how fierce a beast might be, it relied on sharp fangs and claws, which could never match the skills of martial arts experts.

That left only one possibility. It had to be a person.

Gu Yunxing started a fire but didn’t immediately dismiss Rong Qi’s theory. “The Fang family’s martial arts are simple and exquisite, their methods calm. The aftermath of a fight wouldn’t be this unsightly.”

On that ship, there were crew members and Lihuo Palace disciples. The only martial artist who could clash with a Lihuo Palace disciple was Fang Lian.

Rong Qi had fought against Fang Lian before, and he knew that Gu Yunxing wasn’t speaking nonsense. He had tampered with Fang Lian on the ship. With Fang Lian’s restricted abilities, he could never have been a match for an elite from Lihuo Palace. Even if by some stroke of luck he had won, it was impossible for the scene to have been this brutal… But—

“Simple and exquisite? More like flowery fists and embroidered legs.”

Gu Yunxing didn’t respond.

“I still don’t know how Fang Lian became the leader of the Wulin Alliance.” Rong Qi put the cloth away, casually picking up a stick from the ground. He poked at the fire while deliberately mocking, “Since Fang Yuanqing’s death, the Fang family has only gone downhill.”

Gu Yunxing’s expression darkened slightly. “Right Protector Rong, mind your words.”

Rong Qi’s gaze flickered as he remembered the connection between the person before him and Fang Lian. He couldn’t help but sneer inwardly. So what if his skills were inferior? Could he not speak the truth?

However, since Fang Lian’s fate was uncertain because of him, Rong Qi didn’t want to provoke Gu Yunxing at this moment. So, he chose to remain silent.

Gu Yunxing: “Have you never wondered why Fang Yuanqing, who possessed the Tianyuan Manual, never passed it on to his children?”

The stick cracked and sparked as it hit the fire.

Rong Qi glanced at him. “You really know how to seize every opportunity to lecture. Your preaching skills are getting better and better.” His tone was colder than before. “Too bad, I can’t stand advice, so all of Sect Master Gu’s efforts are wasted.”

Gu Yunxing fell silent.

Rong Qi: “You don’t have to worry. Compared to the Tianyuan Manual, right now, I’d rather see a ship.”

Gu Yunxing: “…That’s true.”

Rong Qi tossed the stick into the fire, and it quickly ignited, turning to ash. By now, the sun had set, the wind had picked up, and the temperature had dropped.

“It’s really getting colder,” he muttered, irritably adjusting his collar. His gaze flicked toward Gu Yunxing, who was still sitting calmly on the stone. “When we first went out to sea, it was early autumn… Don’t tell me this cursed place hasn’t even hit winter yet?”

Gu Yunxing, his expression unchanged, said, “If there’s no ship, it seems the Right Protector Rong and this humble Gu will be sticking together to get through the winter.”

Rong Qi replied bluntly, “As if we aren’t already.”