After ending the transmission with Qian Wudang, Lu Ye furrowed his brows. Judging by the current situation, there's no escaping the task of overseeing Jinglan Lake Pass. Just as Qian Wudang said, who made him happen to be at the right place at the right time and show extraordinary strength? In this, there must also be the strong recommendation of Veteran Wan, otherwise, it would be impossible for such a large mountain pass to let someone at Divine Sea Level 2 oversee it alone, but a personal recommendation from a guerrilla brigadier general at Divine Sea Level 8 does carry some weight. For Lu Ye, this wasn't really something too hard to accept, depending on how he thinks about it. Even if he returned to Haotian City, he would have to continue refining the Explosive Fire Spirit Stones and the As-Close-As-Siblings Array Disc. Staying here, he would do the same refinement, and besides, this place is far from the emperor, with no one to restrain him; he could even have more time for himself. Considering all this, staying at Jinglan Lake Pass seemed somewhat better than returning to Haotian City. Of course, how long he can stay here depends on how the provincial guard moves their personnel. If suitable personnel is brought over, he might soon extricate himself; if not, he would have to stay here indefinitely. Not much of a problem, the only thing that made Lu Ye somewhat cautious was the suspicion Qian Wudang hinted at regarding Liew Yuemei's death. Qian Wudang might have just mentioned it offhandedly or perhaps really had such a suspicion; but in the end, Liew Yuemei was indeed killed by him! If not for the sudden outbreak of the Insect Plague, he would have been able to swiftly leave after killing Liew Yuemei, and no one could have linked him to her death. But the outbreak of the Insect Plague left him no choice but to deal with Jinglan Lake Pass, forced to assist as best he could. In fact, if he hadn't come to the rescue at the crucial moment, the place might really have been breached by the Insect Race, leading to a large number of casualties among the soldiers. Qian Wudang holds a high position, able to receive intelligence that many cannot access, hence the suspicion. But this matter lacks direct evidence, is a mess that's hard to settle clearly. Furthermore, even if Liew Yuemei truly died by Lu Ye's hands, what can Qian Wudang do about it? Yet, such a suspicion is a seed, and if Qian Wudang can have it, it means others might as well. For instance, the high-ranking members of the Tianyuan Sect, or those strong individuals close to Liew Yuemei! This is something that cannot be ignored. After all, as long as Lu Ye does not admit it, no one can do anything to him. A Divine Sea Level 2 killing a Divine Sea Level 7 is after all a bit far-fetched, so suspicion can remain just that—suspicion. Little did he know, right at that moment, an old woman was soaring aggressively towards Jinglan Lake Pass from the direction of Sky Gate Checkpoint. The old woman was precisely Yu Huajin, an elder of the Tianyuan Sect and Liew Yuemei's mother-in-law. Though old in age and slightly hunched, she was truly at Divine Sea Level 9. A few years ago, she was not as aged looking; it's just that a tremendous setback in recent years left her physically and mentally exhausted, wounding her vital energy. That setback came from the severing of her family's only bloodline. To speak of it, her fate throughout life was extremely tragic. Shortly after her marriage, her husband died—not by murder but because of a failed attempt to break through the Divine Sea, which damaged his psyche, causing his spirit force to go erratic, ultimately resulting in self-explosion. She was widowed at a young age, but fortunately, she carried a child in her womb, whom she painstakingly raised to adulthood, achieving some level of success. She had hoped her son could make a name for himself across the Nine Provinces, boosting the clan's prestige, only for him to be slain by that cursed Feng Wujiang during a confrontation for not obeying orders! When the news reached her, Yu Huajin nearly went mad, but she was aware of the gap in strength between herself and Feng Wujiang, as well as the Righteous Blood Sect's flourishing supremacy at the time, so she could only bury her bitterness and hatred deep within her heart. With her son gone, her hope rested on her grandson… Her grandson's aptitude was decent, worth nurturing with great effort; to avoid any accidents during his growth, she especially placed him under the care of the Jinglan Lake Pass at Sky Gate Checkpoint, for the pass's chief was his biological mother, to better oversee his well-being. Heaven was not so kind, for her poor grandson was murdered a few years ago! Although the killer soon faced retribution, his life couldn't be brought back. The Tan family's bloodline was thus severed, leaving only her and her daughter-in-law, two bereaved women of different surnames, to support it. It was this setback that severely wounded Yu Huajin's vital energy, subjecting her to a severe illness. After recovering, though she retained her Divine Sea Level 9 cultivation, it was evident to anyone with a keen eye that her blood Qi was declining. In a real fight, she might find it difficult to exert her full prowess of a Divine Sea Level 9. Such occurrences are typically only found in those Divine Sea Realm cultivators who have lived for many years, as age and approaching life's end weaken their foundation, leaving cultivation intact but hard to wield. It should not have occurred with Yu Huajin, for by age, she had not yet reached the point of decline. Since her grandson's death, there had been little contact between Yu Huajin and her daughter-in-law, as every interaction tore open a wound in their hearts, causing unbearable pain. Then just yesterday, she received news of her daughter-in-law's death. Her husband dead, her son dead, her grandson dead, and now even her daughter-in-law had passed, yet this old woman, who ought to have died, still lingered on this earth! Yu Huajin once suspected whether her fate was too unyielding, causing those related to her to be doomed by her presence. The daughter-in-law's death was a mystery to her—she didn't know who killed her, and even if she wanted revenge, she was powerless. However, some news eventually reached her ears. Although she knew it was unlikely, she desperately needed someone to vent her anger on. Thus, she left Sky Gate Checkpoint and rushed towards Jinglan Lake Pass, fearing that if she were late, the person might leave. Evidence? What evidence does an old woman on the verge of death need? Suspicion alone is enough! Note from the editor: Always check * for corrections. First, head to Jinglan Lake Pass to kill Lu Yiye, then go to Dark Moon Forest Pass to kill Li Taibai! Even if her abilities had declined, she was still a Divine Sea Level 9! Someone was blocking her path ahead. Yu Huajin halted her fleeing light, her expression gloomy. The person glanced at Yu Huajin and sighed softly, "As expected!" "Senior Brother Zhao, why are you here?" Yu Huajin asked. The person was an acquaintance from Tianyuan Sect and was currently an elder in Haotian City, making him quite influential. Moreover, their relationship was more than just fellow sect members. When they were young, Senior Brother Zhao had deep feelings for her. After her husband's death, he took care of her for many years, but as they grew older, they naturally drifted apart. That relationship was never meant to see the light of day, though many in the Tianyuan Sect were well aware of it. Zhao Cheng looked at Yu Huajin with a complex gaze, feeling the weight of time's passage. The once beautiful flower of Tianyuan had grown old in such a way, evoking a myriad of emotions. Though he too had aged, appearing slightly decrepit, it was nothing compared to Yu Huajin's plight. He knew in his heart that she had suffered too many blows over the years and had lived a life full of hardships. Yu Huajin suddenly realized something, and her expression turned cold and stern: "Senior Brother, are you here to stop me?" Zhao Cheng sighed, "Junior Sister, you must not touch Lu Yiye!" Upon receiving some news, he immediately understood that Yu Huajin would act rashly, which is why he waited here specifically for her. Now it seemed his concern was justified. If there was anyone in this world who understood Yu Huajin best, it was none other than him. "Why?" Yu Huajin looked at Zhao Cheng, puzzled. "What connection does Senior Brother have with Lu Yiye that warrants protecting him?" Zhao Cheng replied, "I have no connection with that young man, Junior Sister. Do not misunderstand. It's just that his involvement now is too significant; he cannot be touched." "He's a newcomer who recently advanced to the Divine Sea; how could his involvement be so crucial that he cannot be touched?" Zhao Cheng knew that unless he provided an explanation today, it would be impossible to stop Yu Huajin, so he decided to be truthful: "Didn't Sky Gate Checkpoint recently allocate a batch of Explosive Fire Spirit Stones and As-Close-As-Siblings Array Discs over?" Yu Huajin didn't understand why Zhao Cheng suddenly mentioned this, but she patiently responded, "Yes!" "Let's not talk about the Explosive Fire Spirit Stones, but what do you think of the As-Close-As-Siblings Array Disc, Junior Sister?" "It's truly an extraordinary item. With that array disc, it can boost the soldiers' strength by 30%," answered Yu Huajin, suddenly realizing, "Senior Brother, are you saying that these two items are related to Lu Yiye? Surely it can't be that he refined them?" Zhao Cheng silently thought to himself that his Junior Sister was not too dim-witted and nodded, "He indeed refined them. This is classified information known only to the major council members, and Deputy Alliance Leader Pang has issued a gag order, so outsiders haven't heard about it. Given the situation, Junior Sister should understand that there's no way he can be touched." Yu Huajin could hardly believe it. Leaving the Explosive Fire Spirit Stones aside, they've been around for some years but had a supply interruption. However, the As-Close-As-Siblings Array Disc was indeed universally acknowledged as a fine item. When she first saw the array disc, she had wondered which Artifact Crafting Master had made it and had privately inquired but found no definitive information. It turned out to be made by Lu Yiye. Since the words came from Zhao Cheng, Yu Huajin had no doubts, momentarily dazed... A chilling sensation suddenly engulfed her entirely. Yu Huajin, her mind heavily shaken, had no time to react. Zhao Cheng hadn't noticed either until a sudden outburst of spirit force made his face change drastically, and he lunged forward. But in the next moment, he froze, staring fearfully and apprehensively at the space behind Yu Huajin. Yu Huajin's whole body stiffened, not only because of the intense pain but also because her hunched figure straightened a bit. She stared fixedly at the sword tip emerging from her chest, finding it hard to accept that she, a Divine Sea Level 9, had been ambushed without a trace. Her Mental Consciousness flickered, sensing the sinister yet familiar aura behind her. Gritting her teeth, she lashed out, "Nian Yuexian!" After years of dealing with this woman and suffering repeated losses at her hands, Yu Huajin, despite not seeing her face, instantly recognized her aura. Zhao Cheng simultaneously shouted, "Fellow Daoist Nian, please show mercy!"