Chapter 282: Dead or Alive?

Translator:

Atlas Studios

Editor:

Atlas Studios

“To dig or not?”

Jiang Yi hesitated. The digging of the grave was a blasphemous act towards the dead, and it was his mother who was buried within. Ling Yi dared to say that if there weren’t any remains in the grave; if wrong, he would die as an apology. This caused Jiang Yi to hesitate.

Jiang Yunhai’s eyes flickered. Ling Yi’s strength was already half-step into the Vajra Realm, and Vajra Realm martial experts possess divine senses, allowing them to scout without any physical actions. If Ling Yi was telling the truth, then it meant that the remains were truly missing.

Would Ling Yi lie?

Jiang Yi was resolved as he yelled out, “Dig!”

He didn’t ask anyone else to help him. He first kowtowed a few times towards the grave before he personally dug using his hands. Jiang Yunhai was inspecting carefully at the side, and when he saw the mechanism that he arranged was still around, he was even more surprised.

Jiang Yi didn’t use any essence force and just relied on both of his hands to dig. His physical strength was considerable and could even split apart boulders; hence, digging soil was rather easy. He had been very careful as he dug little by little.

After more than one hour, the grave was finally dug open, which revealed a pitch-black coffin that was made of ebony. This coffin was obviously very high grade, which didn’t have any hint of rotting after more than a decade.

“Mother, if your remains are inside, then please forgive this child’s rude behavior! Up!”

Jiang Yi muttered to himself before he revolved essence force to grab the coffin with one hand, forcefully lifting it. He then slowly placed it on the ground before turning to look at Jiang Yunhai. There was this flash of resolve in his eyes as one of his hands held onto the coffin while the other hand turned over the coffin cover.

“Swis.h.!.+ Swis.h.!.+ Swis.h.!.+”

Countless eyes looked over as the Consecrators of the Azure Dragon Empire were alarmed. Everyone looked over at this moment and was astonished when they looked down.

The coffin… was indeed empty!

It was completely empty with nothing at all.

So empty that when the moment the coffin was opened, there wasn’t even a scent of the corpse’s stench as though this coffin was empty from the beginning.

“This, this, how is this possible… Madam, where are Madam’s remains?”

Jiang Yunhai was shocked and couldn’t believe his own eyes. He kept on looking in the coffin and mumbling to himself as though he saw a ghost in broad daylight.

“Where did the remains go?”

All the possibilities flashed in Jiang Yi’s mind. He first thought of Jiang Bieli, which he quickly denied. Jiang Bieli didn’t even know of his existence or that his wife was dead. How could he come and s.h.i.+ft the remains?

Grave robber?

Jiang Yi then immediately thought of grave robbers, but why would a grave robber steal remains? To even restore it back to the original state? Most grave robbers would panic and just casually cover it back up, right?

Enemies seizing the corpse?

This was totally impossible. Had it been her mother’s enemies, they would immediately turn this grave into dust. Why would they even bother to steal the corpse and restore it back to the original state? Even Jiang Yunhai couldn’t see any difference?

Then, there was only one possibility!

Jiang Yi’s body shook lightly as he looked at Jiang Yunhai and swallowed his saliva. He looked towards Ling Yi and the others gestured with a wave. They all quickly understood and retreated far away.

Jiang Yi scanned the surroundings, making sure no one was around before he looked at Jiang Yunhai and spoke with a trembling voice, “Grandfather, did you personally witness… my mother dying?”

Jiang Yunhai’s gray long brows lifted as he looked at Jiang Yi with confusion and replied, “Young Lord, what do you mean? Madam has already pa.s.sed away. I personally witness it and personally buried her myself.”

“Grandfather, don’t misunderstand me; I am not doubting you!”

Jiang Yi quickly shook his hands and spoke softly, “My meaning is… could my mother be feigning her death?”

“Feigning her death?”

Jiang Yunhai was even more muddle-headed now as he shook his head and said, “During that period of time, Madam’s body was in poor health. When Jiang Bieli severely injured her—who was pregnant at that time, she was afraid it might affect the fetus and was concerned about you. She didn’t use any form of recuperation medicine and slowly recovered. After giving birth to you, her injuries became incurable and had been coughing blood as her body was extremely frail.

“During those days, I always saw her carrying you while crying from midnight to daybreak. She had never smiled after leaving Jiang Yi City, and she even struggled to get off her bed before she pa.s.sed on. How could she be feigning her death? Furthermore, why did she feign her death? She loved you so much; how would she be willing to leave you behind?”

“Huh…”

Jiang Yi couldn’t understand either. He a.s.sumed Yi Piaopiao had feigned her death because of the… Soul-Devouring s.h.i.+fting Art. She could have feigned her death and waited for Jiang Yunhai to bury her before she s.h.i.+fted out. How could she, who had such strength, possibly fell ill? After hearing Jiang Yunhai’s side of the story, he was hesitant again.

Is my mother dead or alive? If she is dead, then where is her body? If not, why did she feign her death? Where could she be?

Jiang Yi’s mind was filled with suspicion as there was no way to investigate this matter. Where was he going to find any clues after over a decade? Jiang Yunhai was considered the tyrant when he was living in Skyplume City. He was extremely clear about the events that went on around here. Since he wasn’t alerted at all in the past, it was impossible to investigate now.

Jiang Yi and Jiang Yunhai couldn’t figure out an answer as they put back the coffin and restored the grave back to its original state. The two of them contemplated beside the grave and thought of various possibilities. After an entire day, the sky had grown dark; but they still couldn’t think of logical explanations.

“Zhuge Qingyun! Shui Youlan!”

Finally, Jiang Yi’s eyes lit up as he spoke softly, “Grandfather, we can only seek advice from Zhuge Qingyun and Shui Youlan on this matter. Let’s see if we can get an answer from them. Let us go to Mt. Spirit Beast College first. Xiaonu should already be awake by now.”

After sitting for another hour, Jiang Yi stood up. Zhuge Qingyun and Shui Youlan seemed familiar with Yi Piaopiao. Rather than sitting here, why not just go and ask them?

“Alright!” Jiang Yunhai nodded before he asked with some doubt, “Young Lord, can this old servant enter the college?”

Jiang Yi smiled and replied, “Don’t worry. I am very different than before. The college will not say anything even if I bring some people in.”

“Sigh…”

Jiang Yunhai suddenly recalled something while his expression darkened as he spoke, “Young Lord, why not just arrange a small city for me to stay in? This old servant is already a cripple and will only implicate you. Just come visit this old servant whenever you are free.”

“What are you saying?”

Jiang Yi’s expression turned stiff as he spoke sternly, “Grandfather, I do not allow you to speak like this again in the future. Wherever I go, Grandfather shall follow. You are my Grandfather and my only Grandfather, understand?”

“En.”

Tears flowed down from Jiang Yunhai’s eyes. He saw Jiang Yi’s expression and didn’t dare to say anything else.

The group departed again, and they continued to travel underground. This time, they were headed straight for Mt. Spirit Beast College. Jiang Yunhai’s body was almost fully recovered, and Jiang Yi’s heart was racing. After traveling for days and nights, they finally arrived at the nearby vicinity of Spirit Beast City six days later.

“Let’s go!”

After surfacing, Jiang Yi kept the Zouwu Beast while Ling Yi carried Jiang Yunhai and sprinted towards the college like a sharp sword.

“Who is it?”

Within the mountain of Mt. Spirit Beast College, it was filled with patrolling guards as usual. When they saw Jiang Yi and his group sprinting over and felt ten overwhelmingly powerful auras, they were frightened stiff and almost released the signal flare for help.

“I am Jiang Yi!”

Jiang Yi yelled as while the Ma.s.sacre Intent flashed and faded from his body as he continued to run towards Mt. Spirit Beast with his group.

“Jiang Yi?”

The members of the patrol team were all flabbergasted. Jiang Yi rode on a formidable spirit beast the last time, but this time, it was even more amazing. He actually led ten Soul Travel Realm experts with him.

Jiang Yi didn’t bother about the astonished eyes as he swiftly rushed up Mt. Spirit Beast. When he arrived at the southern gates of the college, he suddenly stopped and paused. His body shook as tears glistened in his eyes.

On the stairs on top of the college’s south gate, there was this pet.i.te beauty who was tender and frail. She used her hands to support her chin and looked into the distance while her shapely eyebrows knitted together, revealing eyes of concern. If it wasn’t Jiang Xiaonu, who else could it be?

…