"Human skin?"

Su Mo and Yang Xiaoyun were both startled upon hearing this.

"A person is just dead, leaving only a skin?"

"Where are the blood and flesh?"

Su Mo asked.

Yang Yizhi shook his head:

"I don’t know...

"On that day, the Cheng Family was completely peaceful, and no one knew that their Family Head had died.

"I inspected the Cheng Family but found no trace.

"Helpless, I had to leave first.

"The next day, news of the Cheng Family Master’s death was released.

"However, his manner of death was not disclosed.

"After the burial and entombment of the coffin, I specifically dug it up to check.

"I discovered the Cheng Family had stuffed straw and cotton within his skin, barely supporting a human shape.

"But as for the blood and flesh, they’re ultimately missing."

Su Mo found it strange for a moment.

The blood and flesh were hollowed out, leaving only human skin.

If forced to speculate, all he could think of was Night Lord’s Wuzhou divine Demon Record, techniques like Shadow Puppetry Human Skin.

But if it were truly this trick, the human skin wouldn’t remain, let alone allow the Cheng Family to bury it.

Yang Xiaoyun then looked at Yang Yizhi:

"So, this clue is also broken?"

"That’s right."

Yang Yizhi nodded:

"However, acting this time was indeed risky. I dared not continue acting, lest it truly attracted them.

"Before yesterday, I merely had a feeling in my heart.

"But after I saw the Jade Qilin and heard what you said about that matter, only then could I confirm...

"The Jinglong Association is indeed pervasive throughout Xizhou!

"From when I used the Jinghong Fenguang hand to when that Cheng Family Master found us, it was just a few days.

"This was also because I was in disguise, so they couldn’t find the Yulong Escort Agency.

"They could only search the places where I had been.

"Otherwise, the movements would have been swifter."

Su Mo let out a gentle sigh:

"Pervasive, yet precisely unknown where they reside.

"The Jinglong Association has operated in Xizhou for years, truly extraordinary.

"Moreover, Father, although you didn’t expose the Yulong Escort Agency at that time, you clearly aroused their suspicions.

"Otherwise, there would be no reason for the Tenth Shock to make the trip."

Yang Yizhi nodded.

Yang Xiaoyun quickly asked:

"Then what does this matter have to do with the Xing Family?"

"The Cheng Family Master’s death was strange, and at that point I wondered why he would die?

"If it were to leave a trace, it would have led me to take the bait and ambush him?

"Why, then, must they specifically claim his life?"

Yang Yizhi said in a deep voice:

"The person capable of killing the Cheng Family Master, finding more manpower to kill me wouldn’t be difficult.

"I’ve thought it over and over, feeling something strange about the Cheng Family Master’s death.

"Especially his manner of death.

"Therefore, I began to investigate who else in the Jianghu had died in a similar manner — left only as a human skin."

Such a thing is truly difficult to investigate.

After all, when people die mysteriously, families often don’t speak directly.

Although everyone traveling the Jianghu doesn’t believe in ghosts and gods,

It’s hard to guard against the sharp tongues of the uninformed.

They might say you were harmed by evil spirits, or that you did too many wrongs and received retribution...

As the saying goes, slander can carry gold away, accumulated slander can grind bones, so naturally, it’s better to avoid more trouble than to deal with infamy.

But it seems that effort is not in vain.

Under Yang Yizhi’s dedication to inquiry, he still uncovered something from Xizhou’s past.

Ten years ago, in Xizhou’s Wanglong Mountain, there was a Ming Family.

Back then, the Ming Family was quite powerful, almost reaching the top ranks of the Nine Peaks.

But just when the Ming Family was at its peak, its Master, Ming Xiaowu, suddenly died tragically.

That day, Ming Xiaowu was at the plaza, gathering his Ming Family disciples to give instructions, but unexpectedly, when the disciples arrived, he could never appear again.

The Ming Family found him in his room.

But more precisely, they only found his human skin.

His blood and flesh had vanished completely.

Unlike the Cheng Family, who kept it hidden, the Ming Family was flourishing at the time, and Ming Xiaowu could have led them to ascend to a lasting pinnacle.

As a result of this incident, each member of the Ming Family held a grudge.

They were determined to avenge Ming Xiaowu at any cost.

However, regardless of their efforts, they found not a trace of the culprit.

At this point, Ming Xiaowu’s eldest son, clad in mourning, traveling far, went seeking someone with the human skin.

"He sought... Xing Ru Hai!"

Yang Yizhi said this while looking up at Su Mo.

Su Mo suddenly realized, bringing everything full circle.

And Yang Yizhi hadn’t finished:

"Back then, Xing Ru Hai wasn’t as reclusive as he is now.

"At that time, he too was ambitious.

"When Ming Xiaowu’s eldest son arrived, he wept bitterly by the coffin.

"Because the Ming Family Master and he were in a sworn brotherhood!

"They both rose from obscurity, and after seizing opportunities, each founded the Ming Family and Xing Family.

"However, back then, the sworn brotherhood did not only consist of them..."

"Also the Cheng Family Master?"

Yang Xiaoyun instinctively asked.

Yang Yizhi nodded:

"The three of them formed a sworn brotherhood, each achieving success.

"If we have to say, the Cheng Family Master was the least successful among them.

"The Ming Family dominated Wanglong Mountain, while the Xing Family ruled as tyrants in Baisui City.

"The Cheng Family, however, could only stand as equals with the other two families in Four Direction City, which says it all."