CHAPTER 381: THE SECT’S INVESTIGATION 1

The Y&X Wine shop was as crowded as ever.

However, the air was filled with a palpable anticipation that was different from usual.

Noticing this, Shen Xu sighed and looked around.

’Did something happen?’ He wondered, but he didn’t have to guess for long because Luo Jianfeng appeared before them.

"You are out." The old man said.

"Did something happen? Why do you look so tired?" Shen Xu asked, looking at the swordsman with curious eyes.

’Did something happen?’ Luo Jianfeng thought and almost drew his sword to slash the two.

However, he calmed himself and took a deep breath.

After that, he sealed the space and looked at the two with solemn eyes.

"What’s your relationship with the Xuanyuan triplets?" He asked, and Shen Xu raised an eyebrow in surprise.

"Haven’t we already moved on from this topic?" He asked, but Luo Jianfeng shook his head.

"The sect has been investigating the triplets’ disappearance." Luo Jianfeng said and quickly continued.

"It’s been confirmed that they never left the mountain, and during the period they disappeared, you were the only ones who entered and exited the ninety-seventh mountain."

"This doesn’t prove anything." Shen Xu said and shrugged with a careless attitude.

"It doesn’t, but the sect wants to question you. You can’t escape this matter." Luo Jianfeng said, and the two exchanged a glance.

While in retreat, Shen Xu refined the truth elixir and both tested its efficacy.

As expected, Zhen Yuan was not affected.

On the other hand, Shen Xu felt a stream of power flow from his bracelet and counteract the effect of the truth elixir.

After this experiment, both were assured to undergo the sect’s interrogation.

However, they couldn’t appear too eager for fear of arousing suspicion.

"Has the sect considered that the triplets may have found a way to escape? After all, their mother is a peak-stage tribulation transcending realm cultivator." Zhen Yuan suggested, and Shen Xu forcibly suppressed his amusement.

"The sect has considered this, but no traces of Feng Xue have been found near or within the sect, let alone the ninety-seventh mountain." Luo Jianfeng said, but Shen Xu and Zhen Yuan pretended not to be satisfied with this answer.

"Ayuan and I have just joined the sect and can’t leave for the time being. Where do you suppose we hid the triplets?" Shen Xu asked.

However, Luo Jianfeng didn’t answer.

Instead, he asked a question of his own.

"Don’t you have a portable cave outback?" He asked.

"The sect suspects we hid the triplets in our portable cave?" Shen Xu asked in an amused voice.

"Your cave is heavily protected, and we have been unable to properly investigate." Luo Jianfeng said, and Shen Xu nodded.

"In that case, Ayuan and I will do our best to clear your doubts."

"You are willing to let us investigate your cave?" Luo Jianfeng asked in a surprised voice.

After all, a cultivator’s portable cave was a sacred domain.

Although the sect was determined to investigate the couple, Luo Jianfeng thought it would take some persuasion and threats to force the couple to surrender their portable cave.

However, he underestimated Zhen Yuan and Shen Xu.

As early as when they left the ninety-seventh mountain, they expected that suspicion would eventually fall on them.

Because of this, they intentionally staged their portable cave.

Even if the sect dug the floors and walls, they wouldn’t find anything suspicious.

Thinking of this, Shen Xu smiled with narrowed eyes.

"Will the sect give up if we refuse to give access?" He asked, and Luo Jianfeng sighed before shaking his head.

In fact, the sect was ready to move on Shen Xu and Zhen Yuan.

However, the two were strangely confident, which caused the elders to hesitate. They even convinced themselves that Shen Xu and Zhen Yuan had a mysterious and powerful background.

After all, they had investigated the two but found nothing.

Considering that, the sect chose to act cautiously instead of inviting trouble recklessly.

"The triplets are the young masters of our Tianxuan sect. We can’t afford to ignore them." Luo Jianfeng said, and Shen Xu sneered.

"Is that so?" He asked, his eyes filled with mockery.

Seeing this, Zhen Yuan rubbed the back of his lover’s hand to soothe his emotions.

[We have everything under control.] He transmitted, and the double took a deep breath to slowly suppress his irritation.

’Ayuan is right. We have everything under control.’ He thought.

"We can open our portable cave at any time." He said, and Luo Jianfeng nodded.

A moment later, he unsealed the space, gestured, and a dozen or so people walked towards them.

The dozen people wore the uniforms of the disciplinary hall.

"This is Elder Lan of the disciplinary hall. She will be in charge of checking your cave." Luo Jianfeng introduced, and Elder Lan nodded with an unsmiling expression.

Elder Lan was a peak-stage Mahayana realm female cultivator.

She appeared to be in her early thirties, but her expressionless face and deep eyes carried a depth of wisdom.

"Elder Lan, follow us, please." Shen Xu said and led the way to the back room before exiting the shop.

After reaching the cave’s door, he waved his hand and the formations closed, allowing the disciplinary hall cultivators to begin scanning the inside.

"We will need to go inside." Elder Lan said, and Shen Xu nodded.

"Feel free." He said and opened the door.

The portable cave had five storeys.

On the first floor was a sitting room, a kitchen, a cellar, a pantry, and three storage rooms.

At a glance, the place was ordinary and contained nothing of note except the exquisite furniture.

The second floor had training rooms while the third had practice rooms, including an alchemy room, a brewing room, and others.

As for the fourth, it had ten bedrooms while the top floor was a private area for Shen Xu and Zhen Yuan.

Overall, the cave was filled with exquisite furniture refined with precious materials, but the investigators found nothing suspicious.

"They are not here." Someone muttered with a gloomy expression.

After investigating every other angle, everyone was convinced that Shen Xu and Zhen Yuan were hiding the triplets.

For that reason, they suddenly appeared and requested to check the cave before the two had a chance to hide evidence.

However, they checked every nook and cranny but didn’t find anything.

They found no secret rooms, no concealing formations, and not a trace of the triplets’ aura.

"Junior Shen and junior Zhen still have to come with us to the disciplinary hall for questioning." Elder Lan stated, and the two didn’t refuse.