This makes sense, Tie Miaoqing nodded in agreement. Something this big was bound to spread throughout the ancient tomb wasteland area.
Yu Qing had nothing more to say either. He also thought Sun Ping was right. They could only wait for news.
He let out a sigh of relief. As long as this side was willing to give time to clarify the truth, once they learned of the death of the Qixia old demon and realised there was no reward to claim, naturally they would not make things difficult.
At the same time he felt very annoyed, realising he had jumped into the pit he himself had dug.
If he had known earlier that the truth behind it was this, he could have just said straight away that Qixia had been killed. There was no need to play all those mysterious tricks. Now even if he regretted it, he did not dare explain how he knew the two words “safety and well-being”. He had no choice but to grit his teeth and help them search for that damned fire cricket.
Since things were temporarily peaceful, Yu Qing picked up the metal scroll tube that held the painting. He called over Xu Fei and Chong’er, asking them to help look for the half of the painting that Tie Miaoqing had thrown away. He had no idea where the wind had blown it.
The painting had to be recovered. As long as he could leave this place, he had to do his utmost to complete the examination task that A Shihuang had entrusted to him.
Tie Miaoqing did not stop them. She even said to Sun Ping, “It was my carelessness that caused it to be lost. Please help look for it.” At the same time she gave Sun Ping a look, telling him to keep watch.
Sun Ping understood and went along.
The group followed the direction the wind had blown the painting, searching back and forth along the mountainside.
Taking advantage of the moment when the others had spread out a bit, Yu Qing, stepping unevenly through the deep forest, quickly moved close to Xu Fei. He glanced at Sun Ping a few zhang away and asked in a low voice, “Did you tell them about me shooting and killing that demon cultivator with an arrow?” He meant the matter of killing Heiyun Xiao.
Xu Fei replied softly, “No.”
Yu Qing raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t confess? You have such strong bones?”
This question sounded rather insulting. Xu Fei spoke a little anxiously, “What would I confess? They did not ask at all. After confirming we were examination candidates, they just brought me back.”
Yu Qing asked, “You didn’t say how you got the spirit rice?”
Xu Fei sighed. “No, I already told you, they did not ask much at all. Stop scaring yourself.”
Yu Qing thought about it and realised it was true. When Xu Fei and Chong’er were taken away for questioning, the spirit rice on him had not yet been exposed. Still, he warned, “Brother Xu, this matter cannot be mentioned. If anyone asks later how the spirit rice was obtained, just say you got it by solving a word riddle. Understand?”
Xu Fei said, “Come on, do you need to tell me that? Would I dare leak anything about deceiving the prefect? As long as you can firmly keep your mouth shut, I will thank heaven and earth.”
Yu Qing added another warning, “The matter of killing the demon cultivator cannot be said either. Who knows whether they have any connection with those demon cultivators? Do not create extra trouble.” In truth, he himself was afraid of provoking revenge from the demon cultivators. It had been very clear at the time that those demon cultivators moved in groups. The one he killed might have companions.
Xu Fei gave an affirming sound to show he understood. But he was still curious and tugged Yu Qing’s sleeve. “Brother Shihuang, can you really divine and calculate?” He had been deeply impressed by the scene of Yu Qing wielding a sword and drawing talismans.
Yu Qing snorted. This matter had to be explained. If word spread, it would be bad for ‘A Shihuang’ when he took the examination again in future. He countered with a question, “You actually believe that?”
Xu Fei became even more puzzled and surprised. “Then how did you know she had a husband, and that her husband was in trouble?” At the time, this iron-mouthed prediction had truly stunned him. He still remembered clearly the reactions of Tie Miaoqing and the others. Those people had obviously been shocked too.
Yu Qing instead looked at him with curiosity and asked, “How old do you think she is?”
“Uh…” Xu Fei weighed the meaning behind the question. He glanced at Sun Ping who kept looking over occasionally, then said quietly, “She looks young, but I feel she must be at least thirty.”
Yu Qing kept his eyes searching for the painting while saying, “Not completely blind. You just read too many books and became foolish. Brother Xu, the prettier the flower, the easier it is to be picked. With her appearance, it is hard for her to remain unmarried for long. At her age, if you say she is still on the branch unpicked, that she remains a famous flower without an owner, do you believe it?”
Xu Fei admitted this point and felt somewhat surprised. “I did not expect Brother Shihuang to understand women so well at such a young age!”
Yu Qing chuckled. It was all taught by little martial uncle. Of course he would not reveal the real reason.
But Xu Fei still did not understand. “What does that have to do with her husband being in trouble?”
Yu Qing looked at him like he was looking at an idiot, wondering what exactly was inside this man’s head and how he had passed the provincial examination.
He only wanted to tell him that if he had not reacted quickly back then, all three of them would already be dead. The four thousand taels you are going to give later is not unfair at all.
He was already thinking that the four thousand taels could not be refused later!
Xu Fei read the idiot look in his eyes, gave an awkward smile, but still did not grasp the cause-and-effect relationship.
Since he could not figure it out, Yu Qing did not want to explain too much. Saying too much and too clearly might not be a good thing. As long as he made him understand that ‘A Shihuang’ could not really divine and calculate, the goal was achieved.
“It’s in the tree.”
Suddenly Chong’er’s shout came. Both of them, along with Sun Ping nearby, looked over at the sound. They saw Chong’er pointing up at a tree to show them. The three quickly hurried over and looked up. Sure enough, they saw the half painting drooping among the branches.
Yu Qing leapt up with a bound, grabbed the painting smoothly, landed, and spread it open to check. Fortunately, there was no damage. The paper of this painting felt unusual to the touch. It had the thin smooth feel of silk fabric and did not hold creases. Unless deliberately damaged, it was not ordinary paper that could be easily ruined.
He rolled the painting carefully and put it back into the metal scroll tube, his attitude very cautious.
The truth was that this item could not be lost. It was what A Shihuang used to prove his identity. It concerned A Shihuang’s whole life. When they parted, A Shihuang had repeatedly stressed its importance and repeatedly warned him not to lose it.
Earlier he had not paid attention because his life was in other people’s hands. Saving his own life came first. He was not some pedantic person who would sacrifice his life for A Shihuang’s painting. If he could not protect his own life, naturally he would lose the painting too. Of course he had to save himself first.
With Sun Ping watching, the three did not dare run. After finding the painting, they could only obediently return.
Yu Qing did not know what bad luck he had. In the past, when he left the mountain, he rarely encountered Xuan-level experts. Now he kept running into them.
Near noon, Zhu Shangbiao and Cheng Shanping returned, flying up the mountain all the way.
After both landed, the first thing they did was glance at Yu Qing and the others sitting off to the side on the ground. Their expressions were somewhat strange. Before Sun Ping could ask, Zhu Shangbiao already said in a deep voice, “Boss lady, something happened to Lady Qixia.”
Tie Miaoqing and Sun Ping instinctively looked at each other and already guessed something.
Sure enough, Zhu Shangbiao continued, “We went to the nearby demon clan lair ‘Linyuan Pavilion’. The pavilion master said he received news that the Earth Mother herself took action and killed Lady Qixia!” After speaking he glanced at Yu Qing and the others. His voice was not loud, deliberately avoiding letting them hear the place name.
Since he was being intentional, the three pitiful-looking people sitting in the corner naturally could not hear anything.
But Yu Qing, who was watching his lip movements, still muttered quietly, “Linyuan Pavilion…”
He remembered this place name. He should have seen it on the map. Later he could look for it on the map again, combine it with the nearby rivers, work out his current location, and then find the best direction to escape.
However, the biggest problem at the moment was that he had fallen into these people’s hands. The strength gap was too big. If they refused to let him go, it would be very hard to find a chance to run.
But the news they brought back was enough to put him much more at ease. At least he no longer had to worry that this group would go back on their word out of greed for the huge reward. For now, there was no threat to his life!
Over there, Cheng Shanping frowned and nodded, adding, “It happened just two or three days ago.”
Tie Miaoqing and Sun Ping did not seem very surprised by this.
Was this not a major event? Cheng Shanping and Zhu Shangbiao also noticed something unusual.
Sun Ping quietly explained the truth, saying they already knew here. Only then did the two relax and look towards the three who were obediently staying in the corner.
After a brief discussion, Tie Miaoqing asked the main question, “Did you find the incense?”
Zhu Shangbiao shook his head. “Linyuan Pavilion does not usually use this thing. They had no incense to provide. But they gave us a piece of news. They said today happens to be the day the ‘Mountain Porter’ goes to Linyuan Pavilion. One of the ‘Mountain Porters’ who often deals with them goes there on this day every month. He should arrive in the afternoon. We can ask the ‘Mountain Porter’. Perhaps he has that thing for sale.”
Tie Miaoqing fell silent for a moment, then stepped forward and walked straight to Yu Qing. Looking down at him she asked, “Is the incense absolutely necessary?”
The three sitting on the ground all raised their heads to look at her.
For the sake of safety and steadiness, Yu Qing could not go back on his word. He could only nod.
“Let’s go then.” Tie Miaoqing turned with a wave of her sleeve.
The group set off at once. But before they could descend the mountain they ran into a problem. Yu Qing was fine, but Xu Fei and Chong’er, especially Chong’er, simply could not keep up with the pace in this mountainous forest terrain. They could not leap and glide through the complex landscape like the others. If they really moved at Chong’er and Xu Fei’s speed, the group would not have time for anything else here. The journey time alone would not be enough.
They had to stop before even leaving the mountain. Sun Ping suggested to Yu Qing, “Young Master A, why not leave your two companions in a cave on this mountain? We can leave them enough food and drink so they do not have to toil along with us. After the matter is finished we can come back for them.”
This suggestion instantly made Xu Fei extremely nervous. He looked at Yu Qing with pleading eyes.
But Yu Qing refused almost without thinking. “No. They have no ability to defend against any danger here. A random minor demon would be enough to finish them. Leaving them alone is too dangerous. If we go, we take them together. Otherwise we part amicably. The high road is wide open, each goes his own way.”
Chong’er’s big eyes blinked as he looked at him. He knew Young Master Shihuang was truly a good person and would never abandon them lightly.
Cheng Shanping immediately sneered coldly, “Kid, there is no room for you to bargain here!”
Yu Qing retorted at once, “You had better understand one thing clearly. It was your boss lady who asked me for help, yet you have insulted me again and again. Seeing how poorly you treat me, you will certainly burn the bridge after crossing it later. Since you have no sincerity in cooperating at all, and since it will end in death anyway after the matter, there is no need to continue. If you want to kill or torture, do it now. I am at your mercy!” Now that he knew the name of the nearby demon lair and had learned that the other side already knew about Lady Qixia’s death, his tone had become much firmer.