Qing Ya, watching from behind the window, slightly frowned, because one of his men had not yet come out. With the return of the one fat and one sturdy man, it was clear they had made the other man he sent to check the situation too afraid to enter. He hesitated at the side downstairs.
And someone had already run up behind him, reporting from his rear, “Brother Qing, the child is already in hand, but Kui Zi says, the old dog who went in earlier is dead, killed by someone.”
Qing Ya suddenly turned his head, “Killed by someone? Did you see the murderer?”
The man said, “Did not see. Kui Zi says, he suspects the murderer is the child, because there is quite a bit of splattered blood on the child.”
“Such a small child could kill Old Dog?”
“Kui Zi says that child is quite fierce, not afraid of adults at all. When ruthless, his eyes are full of wildness. He is capable of killing. Old Dog may have been careless. Also, no other people were seen in the house. If he could attack Old Dog but did not attack him, it is somewhat unreasonable.”
Qing Ya said, “Now there is no point in investigating the murderer. We will know when we go back and ask the child. Notify everyone to evacuate immediately.”
The man hurriedly said, “Old Dog’s corpse is still in the house.”
Qing Ya said, “They have already returned. Now running to collect the corpse, do you want to start a big fight and make it known to everyone?”
The man said, “If they recognise Old Dog, they will definitely trace it to us.”
Qing Ya said, “That is Old Dog’s personal matter, nothing to do with us. This time it cannot implicate us. A small matter actually got stirred up like this, and he even lost his own life. He died stupidly. If he does not take the blame, who will?”
He would not tell his subordinates about someone backing them up behind this matter. That was not something subordinates should know. After speaking, he turned and left. At the same time, he grabbed a handful of peanuts from his trouser pocket, peeling and eating them as he walked, throwing peanut shells wherever he went, his wooden clogs clacking non-stop.
Mu Aotie, entering the room upstairs, saw Da Bang climbing on the wall in stick insect form. Seeing this thing that was inseparable from Little Black left alone, plus the bloodstains on Da Bang’s body, he immediately realised something had happened to Little Black.
Nan Zhu, entering the hall downstairs, saw the corpse on the ground and was greatly shocked. Stepping forward to look, he found it was not Hu Youli, nor Little Black. Especially some wounds on the corpse, clearly caused by smashing.
After carefully observing the hall, he immediately opened Hu Youli’s private room.
What met his eyes was a room full of women’s items, not to mention. What he wanted to check was whether anyone was there, under the bed, in the cabinet, carefully and cautiously looking.
Mu Aotie came downstairs, glanced into this room, then also went to examine the corpse.
After Nan Zhu came out of Hu Youli’s room, he asked, “No one downstairs, what about upstairs?”
Mu Aotie stood up, “No one. There are no traces of fighting upstairs.”
Nan Zhu looked around, “The corpse is still here. Either the operation failed and Hu Youli escaped with Little Black, or the accomplice did not have time to move the corpse away.”
Mu Aotie said, “The possibility of Little Black escaping is not great.”
Nan Zhu asked, “Why?”
Mu Aotie said, “Da Bang is upstairs. The deceased probably did not know Da Bang was a living creature and accidentally fell victim to Da Bang’s hands. The traces on the deceased’s body, combined with the bloodstains on Da Bang, suggest he was smashed around by someone wielding Da Bang. This method of using Da Bang, apart from Little Black, should be no one else. He was probably smashed to death by Little Black.”
Nan Zhu understood his meaning. Da Bang was still here, which meant Little Black had been captured by someone. Otherwise, Da Bang would definitely have run away with Little Black.
Suddenly, both of them alertly turned their heads, looking toward the balcony.
A figure flashed up. It was none other than Hu Youli. Anxiety was visible on her face.
Seeing it was her, Nan Zhu immediately asked, “Where is Little Black?”
Hu Youli tensed upon hearing this. She also saw the corpse on the ground. Her heart tightened even more. She bit her lip hard, shaking her head repeatedly.
Nan Zhu could not help but shout, “What are you shaking your head for? I am asking you a question!”
A look of grief and indignation flashed in Hu Youli’s eyes, “I do not know. I was deceived by Aunt Yao. After you left, Aunt Yao came, saying she saw you were beaten and injured. In my anxiety, I left Little Black behind and went with her. Later, she could never clearly say where the destination was. I realised something was wrong and asked her what was going on. She refused to say, so I hurriedly ran back. I really did not expect Aunt Yao would deceive me.”
The two senior and junior brothers exchanged a glance. They both understood. If this fox woman was not lying, then the perpetrator’s target was Little Black. Why would they want to deal with a child?
Nan Zhu said to Hu Youli, “We will go look for him. You wait here for Old Fifteen.”
Hu Youli nodded repeatedly, nervously asking, “Will Little Black be alright?”
“Do not know.” Nan Zhu dropped these words and immediately led Mu Aotie away.
After the two flew downstairs, they saw people on both sides of the street still pointing and gesturing at this place. Clearly they had seen something. The two immediately walked over to consult and ask. Sure enough, from the mouths of nearby people, they learned of the situation of Little Black escaping from the house and then being captured.
After learning the direction Little Black was taken, Nan Zhu held back Mu Aotie who was about to give chase, reminding him, “It is too late to chase now. First go find that Aunt Yao.”
Mu Aotie thought so too. The two immediately went straight to Aunt Yao’s shop.
Yao’s Shop was just a small grocery store. The boss was Aunt Yao. There was only one young assistant in the shop, Aunt Yao’s son.
At this time, Aunt Yao had also returned to the shop, not long ago. Turning her head, she saw the two senior and junior brothers arriving together outside the shop. She became somewhat nervous, but also forced herself to remain calm, acting as if nothing was wrong.
Not only pretending nothing was wrong, she also proactively said with a smile, “Oh, two big brothers have come.”
Nan Zhu did not beat around the bush with her, directly asking, “Where was the person taken?”
Aunt Yao chuckled, “Fat brother, what are you saying? How do I not understand?”
Nan Zhu asked again, “Who captured the person?”
Aunt Yao fiddled with the abacus on the counter, “Fat brother, I greet customers with a smiling face. If you keep saying such senseless words, I will not keep you company.”
Nan Zhu’s eyebrows raised. His hands hugged his big belly. He sneered coldly, “Aunt Yao, mind your own business properly. Do not get involved in things you should not. If you truly anger me, even if you do not think for yourself, you should think for your son.” Saying this, he cast a cold sidelong glance at her son.
After experiencing so many things since leaving the mountain, some mannerisms had unconsciously developed. At least compared to the figures he had experienced, Aunt Yao and her son really counted for nothing in his eyes. Thus when saying these words, he clearly had an air of authority.
As a result, Aunt Yao’s son was young and impetuous. Hearing these words, he was not pleased. He immediately walked over and mocked, “A few things that cannot even afford an inn dare come to our shop to act wild. See clearly what place this is. This is the Sea Market, not a place for you to act wild.”
Nan Zhu coldly snorted, “Young man, if you do not understand things, do not talk nonsense. If you must speak, it is best to grow some brains before opening your mouth. Looking at your appearance, you seem to know who made the move. Since you know what kind of figures are opposing us, you should have some brains to measure why we are qualified to be their opponents. Do you truly think we are easy to provoke just because we do not stay at an inn? If you are truly tired of living, I will grant your wish!”
At these words, the young man seemed to instantly understand things. A look of inexplicable panic flashed in his eyes.
Nan Zhu understood. Sure enough, it was not ordinary people who made the move.
Aunt Yao’s face also instantly changed, becoming ugly. She could no longer remain calm. Her attitude quickly softened. She begged in a low voice, “Two gentlemen, I beg you. They threatened me with my son. Now you threaten my son too. What am I to do? Who did it, I truly dare not say. Even if you kill us, we cannot say. Once we speak, there will be no place for us mother and son to stand in the Sea Market. We mother and son will certainly die a miserable death. Considering we still have to help you find your younger sister, please let us go!”
Nan Zhu’s face was cold. His gaze, carrying a slight air of menace, turned back and forth between the mother and son’s faces for a while. Finally, he turned his head and gave Mu Aotie one word, “Go!”
He turned and left just like that, not pressing the mother and son to the end. It was also true that apart from saying some intimidating words, they could not really force them. Could they openly make a move in the Sea Market?
Watching the two leave, Aunt Yao held her chest, muttering to herself with lingering fear, “What kind of people has Youli brought in, to make those people go to such lengths to deal with them.”
Her son hmphed twice, “Too much bullying!”
He still seemed somewhat unconvinced.
After Nan and Mu left the shop, they did not rest. They immediately went straight in the direction Little Black was captured, asking passersby along the way if they had seen where people went.
In the end, they did not find Little Black, but instead ran into Yu Qing wrapped in a black cloak.
The two did not recognise him at first, almost brushing past him. It was Yu Qing who actively grabbed Nan Zhu’s arm, “What are you two mysteriously asking around about?”
Only then did the two discover it was him. Nan Zhu immediately said in a low voice, “Something happened. Little Black was captured by someone.”
Yu Qing was stunned for a moment, then asked in return, “Little Black? Why capture him? Has the person behind the iron-masked man made another move?”
The street was full of people coming and going. Clearly it was not a place to discuss these matters. Nan Zhu looked around, quickly pulling him into a nearby alley.
Once they reached somewhere somewhat secluded, Nan Zhu immediately quickly and quietly recounted the course of events.
Yu Qing listened with furrowed brows, suspiciously muttering to himself, “Taking advantage of my departure, then luring you away, then capturing Little Black. What exactly do they want to do?”
Nan Zhu said, “Could it really be the person behind the iron-masked man making another move?”
Yu Qing answered a different question, “The people on Liu Piaopiao’s side have been watching our residence. Little Black being captured, they definitely saw it. Did they not give chase or intercept?”
Nan Zhu said, “No. At least when we asked, the bystanders saw no third party intervening in the process.”
Yu Qing said, “Then it is not the iron-masked man’s side. The person behind the iron-masked man is very cautious. The possibility of openly kidnapping in broad daylight is not great. And facing an open kidnapping, Liu Piaopiao and the others not making a move must have a reason. In the Sea Market, apart from superiors, there is probably no one else who can keep them from moving. The person behind the iron-masked man should not dare to do it like this. Damn it, we just refused the banquet earlier, and immediately this happens. Could it be that idiot Wang Wentian who did it?”