Killed?
The three martial brothers were stunned, looking at each other, and finally all stared at the wolf corpse, examining it, pondering it.
There were some things the three knew. If the man in black with the “halberd” tattoo on his chest had not lied, then the long-standing demon attacks had never existed at all. The so-called attacks were themselves a smokescreen orchestrated by Rift Valley Villa.
Judging from certain signs, the man in black should have concealed many things, but what he said was most likely true. Then what was this wolf corpse before them supposed to mean?
The Three Flowers, the Thief Mandarin Ducks, and the shepherd, these six also appeared very silent, all quietly staring at the wolf corpse.
Wu Heyun, who had announced the news with a face full of joy, gradually fell silent. Because of everyone’s reaction, he could not help but turn back to look at the wolf corpse, wondering if there was something wrong with it.
Yu Qing suddenly spoke up, “Third Master, will the demon attacks no longer occur in the future?”
Facing this question, Wu Heyun’s reaction was very cautious. He pondered and said, “This kind of back-and-forth killing has continued for many years. Naturally it would be best if it could end like this.”
Ning Chaoyi, who carried or had his qin on his back wherever he went, suddenly interjected, “Third Master, is there anything else?”
“Uh…” Wu Heyun pondered, his gaze sizing up everyone’s reactions. He actually hoped the group of guests would take their leave, yet there was no reason to drive guests away. He could only smile and say, “No, nothing else. I just wanted to inform everyone of this matter, so that no further misunderstandings would occur.”
Ning Chaoyi stood up, “Since the true culprit has been executed and my personal suspicion has been cleared, then I will trouble the Third Master to have my wine prepared today. I will leave early tomorrow morning.”
Wu Heyun’s brows opened in a smile and he said, “It is not easy to come here. Mr. Ning, why rush back? You might as well stay a few more days.”
Ning Chaoyi stroked his small beard with a faint smile, “I have already been away from home for quite a long time. I do not know how well my servants are looking after my flock. If there is nothing else, I should return. Third Master, as I said before, for fine wine and good brew, charge whatever it costs. I do not like owing favours.”
Wu Heyun immediately showed a bitter smile, “Sir, you need not remind me repeatedly. It will be done as you say.”
Ning Chaoyi turned and left. Among the Three Flowers, Shen Qingcheng, who wore a light green skirt, also stood up and quickly followed. Very naturally she reached out and linked her arm with Ning Chaoyi’s, and they walked off together. They looked quite well matched.
Wu Heyun cupped his hands but did not see them off. He knew very well that Shen Qingcheng had spent last night in Ning Chaoyi’s room.
“Take me with you?”
“I have no money to keep you.”
“If you have ability, money is not important. Take me with you.”
“If you wish to follow, then follow. I will not initiate, I will not refuse, I will not take responsibility. You will not gain any advantage by following me.”
This was the gradually fading conversation between Ning Chaoyi and Shen Qingcheng. It left Yu Qing and the others dumbfounded, and they listened in a daze.
Nan Zhu could not help but click his tongue in envy, “Mr. Ning has such a free and easy martial heroism.”
Mu Aotie glanced at him. Yesterday that Shen Qingcheng had also knocked on their door. He rather suspected that if he had not been present making the room inconvenient, who knows what this Fatty Old Seven would have done. Now he could hear a rather regretful tone in Old Seven’s words.
At this moment, Lou Yushu among the Three Flowers suddenly stared at Yu Qing again and called out, “Little Beard.”
Everyone turned at the sound. Yu Qing was naturally among them. Seeing her staring at him, he could not help but look left and right. Finally he discovered she was indeed staring at him. Subconsciously he pointed at himself and asked back, “Me?”
Lou Yushu giggled and said, “Apart from you and Mr. Ning, is there anyone else here who keeps a little beard?”
Yu Qing subconsciously looked around and discovered it was true. Either they had long beards, or they had no beard at all. Only this form of address felt somewhat awkward.
Lou Yushu added, “The true culprit has been found. Last night I misunderstood you. When you have time later, come to my room. I have a gift for you, as an apology.”
Her hand, which had been posing coquettishly, smoothly slid across the half exposed white flesh of her chest. It was charming and seductive.
Yu Qing stared blankly for a moment, unable to help staring a few more times.
Qiao Qie’er’s expression changed. She stepped forward, her elbow accidentally bumping Yu Qing. Then she coldly stared at Lou Yushu and said in a deep voice, “No need. You should keep the gift for someone else.”
Yu Qing glanced at Qiao Qie’er with a guilty conscience, embarrassed. He quickly turned his head aside as if he had not seen anything. In fact he himself did not know why he had stared like that.
Apart from Zhu Wanzhen of the Thief Mandarin Ducks who immediately turned his head away, the other men present also subconsciously stared at Lou Yushu’s movements.
Facing Qiao Qie’er’s hostile gaze, Lou Yushu covered her mouth and giggled. She turned back to Wu Heyun and said coquettishly, “Third Master, then we will not disturb you further. We will also leave tomorrow morning.” Having spoken, she twisted her waist and walked off. Her daughter Lu Xingyun followed.
“Since we are already here, why not look around today, and leave tomorrow?”
Nie Pinlan of the Thief Mandarin Ducks asked her husband’s opinion.
Zhu Wanzhen: “Alright.”
Once the two had settled their opinion they left the scene. They did not say another word, nor did they apologise to Yu Qing. Nie Pinlan merely nodded to Wu Heyun.
Looking at Yu Qing and the others again, Wu Heyun failed to get them to give a departure time. The few of them greeted him and left.
“Still not leaving. It seems these people really do have a problem.” Wu Heyun muttered to himself. He turned back and said softly to Wu An, “Keep a close watch on these ones, especially this one surnamed Lin.”
Wu An nodded with a sound, “These people have unclear origins from the start, and to this day refuse to reveal their true backgrounds.”
…
Back in their room, Qiao Qie’er closed the door and only then bit her lip slightly, following behind Yu Qing to say, “Is that Lou Yushu very good looking?”
“Uh…” Yu Qing turned around speechless. The two faced each other. He acted as if nothing had happened and said, “At such an old age, what could be good looking about her?”
Qiao Qie’er also acted as if nothing had happened, “She still looks quite young. She can have so many men like her, so she must still be good looking. Even I myself think she is better looking than me.”
Yu Qing inexplicably became alert. He reached out and pinched her nose, shaking it, “Is there something wrong with your eyes? A hundred year old hag pretending to be young there, it is disgusting to look at. How can she compare to you in any way? Speaking purely of looks, she is not even fit to tie your shoes.”
Qiao Qie’er laughed out with a pfft, and pushed his hand away, “What nonsense are you talking? Speaking ill of someone behind their back, be careful someone hears.”
Yu Qing turned around with an indifferent look, rolling his eyes. He did not say anything aloud, but muttered in his heart, clearly you were the one speaking ill of her first…
A group of guests, indeed since they had come, might as well look around. An entire day passed like this.
On the balcony at night, Yu Qing and Qiao Qie’er were snuggled together watching the moon, hugging and cuddling, whispering sweet nothings, living a comfortable little life.
Yu Qing was not anxious. After talking with the man in black, he knew in his heart that the target object could not be taken at any time. The most important thing now was to slowly gather information first. When they truly acted, they would have to wait until the sleeper had drunk the heart’s blood. Otherwise it was almost impossible to obtain the item.
However, just at this moment, before the lights in the village had even gone out, a sudden rumbling sound of fighting came from within the mountain.
The man and woman leaning back against each other were suddenly startled. They swiftly flashed inside, grabbed their weapons, and the moment the door opened they flashed out.
In the corridor outside, Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie had also been startled out, along with other guests.
Yu Qing’s thoughts flashed like lightning in his mind. His gaze rapidly fixed the personnel scene in his memory.
Wu An, who lived at the corner of the corridor, had also been startled out. Before he could react, Ning Chaoyi and the others had already swooshed and flashed away, heading towards the place where the fighting sound came from.
“Stop!”
Wu An shouted loudly, yet no one paid him any attention. A group of people had already swarmed off like a nest of bees.
He immediately flashed and flew over, flashing past Yu Qing’s group of four. Seeing all four were present, he did not bother with them, and took people to swiftly chase after those others.
Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie looked at Yu Qing.
Yu Qing said in a deep voice, “You two go as well.”
The two martial brothers immediately flashed away at high speed, leaving the remaining villa guard caught between a rock and a hard place, forced to follow as well.
Qiao Qie’er however stayed by Yu Qing’s side and did not move, seeming to want to know what he was going to do. Yu Qing did not force her to leave either. He swiftly flashed and landed in front of a guest room door.
Looking front and back in the corridor, he actually pushed open the door and flashed into Lou Yushu’s room.
Qiao Qie’er was surprised, and also flashed over and entered the room. Once inside, she saw Yu Qing kneeling on one knee beside the couch, bending down to look under it.
Yu Qing stood up and rapidly opened chests and cabinets to look inside, and even ran out to the balcony to look. Then he quickly withdrew from Lou Yushu’s room.
The Qiao Qie’er who followed out stared at him blankly and asked, “What is it?”
Yu Qing said in a deep voice, “That woman is not in the room.” Having spoken, he flashed away and also rushed to the scene.
Qiao Qie’er had a confused expression. She then also chased after him. In short, she was somewhat confused by Yu Qing. Everyone had gone out, everyone had run to the scene, so naturally she would not be in her room. What was so strange about that?
There was no fear of not finding the place. Heading in the direction where people were running would not be wrong.
The scene of the incident was similar to last time. The culprit seemed to have run into a dead end because they were unfamiliar with the terrain. There were a few more corpses on the ground. The scene was already in chaotic uproar. First Master Wu Dao, Second Master Wu Xieshan, and Third Master Wu Heyun had all urgently arrived.
A group of guests had also been isolated to the side. The scene was under strict search.
Yu Qing, who arrived late, fixed his gaze on Lou Yushu among the group of guests.
Seemingly sensing someone staring at her, Lou Yushu turned back to look, slightly startled. Then she threw him a flirtatious glance.
Yu Qing moved over and asked Nan and Mu, “What is the situation?”
Nan Zhu: “Not clear yet. Anyway, several people are dead.”
Yu Qing: “Did you not see the culprit?”
Nan Zhu: “No. Anyway, by the time we arrived, the fighting sounds had already stopped. The passages have been sealed off. Let’s see if they can find out anything this time.”
Yu Qing deliberately tilted his head to signal, calling Nan Zhu aside. The two stood somewhat further away. Only then did he whisper in Nan Zhu’s ear, “When you arrived, had the villa personnel already reached the scene?”
Nan Zhu: “Naturally. Their people are everywhere, close by, so of course they arrived quickly.”
Yu Qing: “After the shepherd and his people arrived, did they ignore everything and force their way in to help capture the culprit?”
Nan Zhu was startled, looking at him, seeming to ask, how did you know? Then he nodded and said softly, “Yes, afraid the culprit would escape, wanting to lend a hand. They ignored the villa personnel’s shouts to stop, and forced their way over. But they were quickly ordered to step back by the three Masters who arrived. Is there some problem?”
Yu Qing whispered in his ear, “Damn it, those three groups have all fooled us. Nine times out of ten they really are all in it together.”