Chapter 86: Chapter 79: Trouble, It Happened [Five Updates for Subscription]

Shock, disappointment, and disbelief were the expressions and emotions that Zhou Daoyi felt at that moment.

Listening to Zhou Chun’s words, he had never imagined that Zhou Chun’s suspect would turn out to be Zhou Zhengkang, a Foundation Establishment Seed who had been the focus of the clan’s nurturing!

This revelation left him extremely shocked and in disbelief.

He was very reluctant to believe that Zhou Chun’s suspicions could be true.

But as he carefully pondered Zhou Chun’s words, he found that the conclusion, drawn from a combination of facts and conjectures, seemed very reasonable and could not be completely denied.

For a moment, he stood there in a daze, unable to speak for a long time.

Observing his reaction, Zhou Chun knew it would be difficult for him to accept that his suspicions were true. He was even more worried that Zhou Daoyi would make a decision detrimental to himself.

Therefore, after a brief hesitation, Zhou Chun suggested again, “Actually, if you, Clan Leader, want to verify the truth of my suspicions without harming Seventh Brother’s trust in the clan, it’s quite simple. You just need to ask whether the Supreme Elder has recently bestowed any Honey Flower Tea upon him.”

“If the Supreme Elder has given a large amount of Honey Flower Tea to Seventh Brother, then it’s normal for him to be drinking Honey Flower Tea alone in his study, which would mean I have been overthinking.”

Zhou Chun’s suggestion was actually quite risky.

Because if the Supreme Elder, Zhou Mingde, whether truthfully or not, admitted to doing this and protected Zhou Zhengkang, then Zhou Chun’s suspicions would be unfounded.

Yet, Zhou Chun still chose to do so.

The reason was simple; he absolutely could not allow Zhou Daoyi to get the wrong impression that he was acting out of jealousy towards Zhou Zhengkang.

Besides, based on Zhou Zhengkang’s previous behavior, Zhou Chun was already eighty to ninety percent sure that the latter was a traitor.

Even if the Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde protected him this time and helped him escape danger, by increasing surveillance in the future, there was no fear of failing to catch him colluding with outsiders.

Up to this point, even Zhou Chun himself had not considered the possibility that Zhou Zhengkang could be the murderer of Zhou Jiahui.

After hearing Zhou Chun’s suggestion, Zhou Daoyi came back to his senses and nodded repeatedly, saying, “Zhengchun, your suggestion is excellent, I will go and verify this matter with the Supreme Elder.”

Having said this, his expression turned solemn, and he instructed Zhou Chun seriously, “Besides myself, do not mention what you said today to anyone else, not even the other Elders and the Supreme Elder, understand?”

“Yes, I understand!”

Zhou Chun felt a chill in his heart and immediately responded with due formality.

He understood that Zhou Daoyi was protecting him.

Thereupon, Zhou Chun was sent back to wait for news on Baozhi Peak.

After sending Zhou Chun away, Zhou Daoyi was left alone in Central Peace Hall, deep in thought for several hours, before he was able to completely calm and adjust his mindset.

Then he went to visit the abode of the Supreme Elder Zhou Mingde at the peak of Pagoda Peak.

“Clan Leader, what brings you to my place today? Has something happened in the clan?”

Inside the abode, Zhou Mingde, looking at Zhou Daoyi, who did not usually visit without important matters, asked about the purpose of his visit directly.

As a Supreme Elder dedicated to reclusive cultivation, seldom involving himself in clan affairs, he was only consulted by Zhou Daoyi and others when they faced issues they could not resolve or decisions they could not easily make.

Therefore, he understood that Zhou Daoyi’s visit without prior notice must be due to some pressing matter.

In response to his question, Zhou Daoyi first nodded and then shook his head, saying, “There is indeed a small matter in the clan, but it’s not something that you need to worry about, uncle. I came to see you today to ask for some Honey Flower Tea for entertaining guests!”

“You’re asking for Honey Flower Tea to entertain guests?”

Zhou Mingde was slightly startled, then he scrutinized Zhou Daoyi carefully.

He shook his head and said, “I don’t have much left of the Honey Flower Tea. Back when we first arrived at Jingguo Country, we spent most of what I had on gifts and hosting guests. Now I have less than two bottles left in my possession!”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Daoyi’s brow furrowed.

“Not even you have any left?”

Then, he nodded and said, “In that case, I will have to think of another way to get some from other clan members. I remember that Zhengkang also received some Honey Flower Tea from the clan before, and he’s young; he should still have some left.”

To his surprise, upon hearing this, Zhou Mingde immediately shook his head and said, “Don’t get your hopes up about Zhengkang. He begged me for half a bottle after he tasted it here two years ago. I didn’t have that much to give him, and in the end, I only gave him two pills to satisfy his craving.”

However, the moment he said that, he saw Zhou Daoyi’s expression drastically change.

His face filled with anger as he exclaimed, “Then it really is him!!”

This sudden outburst also caused Zhou Mingde’s expression to change dramatically, and he looked at Zhou Daoyi with a grave face, urgently asking, “What do you mean ‘it really is him’? What exactly are you hiding?”

Upon hearing this, Zhou Daoyi took a deep breath and said with a heavy tone, “Uncle, please see the truth. It’s not that I deliberately concealed it just now, but I really couldn’t dare to let you know about it before everything was certain!”

“Now that everything has become clear, I can only tell you the whole truth!”

Then he began with Zhou Jiahui’s disappearance, how the Zhou Family searched in vain, how they investigated for a traitor, and how Zhou Chun deduced that Zhou Zhengkang was the most likely suspect based on the clue of the “Honey Flower Tea.”