Having spoken to this point, Qingya no longer concealed it from him. “Still don’t understand? That person is the one known as the ‘number one talent under heaven’.”
Pang Chengqiu was surprised. “Him? Didn’t they say that Tanhuang’s appearance was handsome and dashing? How could he be such a wretched little bearded man?” However, he then found the answer himself. “Could it be a small beard deliberately grown to conceal his identity?”
Hearing these words, Gu Qingzhao revealed a look of sudden realisation, as if she too had found some answer.
Not long after Pang Chengqiu left, the male servant who had been on duty previously quickly arrived again. Upon entering, he first bowed slightly to the proprietress, then said to Qingya, “Master Qing, that person from before has come again, requesting another audience. Accompanying him are also that burly and that fat companion.”
Qingya could not help but bare his teeth upon hearing this. He actually dared to come again?
After grinning for quite a while, his bellyful of anger condensed into two words. “Bring them.”
The male servant quickly left. In a short while, he brought the three brothers who were wearing cloaks.
Gu Qingzhao waved her hand to signal the male servant to withdraw. This time, she did not serve tea to the guests. She could understand Qingya’s mood at this moment.
With no outsiders present, Qingya did not invite the guests to sit. He directly pressed up to Yu Qing and asked bluntly, “Did you poison the Zhenhai Division’s people?”
Yu Qing replied without changing his expression. “Is Master Qing joking? How could I possibly kill people from the Zhenhai Division? Absolutely not!”
After a series of events and actions tonight, having coped under pressure, he seemed to have undergone a transformation. Of course, the reason he could complete this transformation was inseparable from his previous series of experiences. Ultimately, at this moment, he had torn away the mask, and could thus face Qingya so calmly.
It must be known that for the three brothers, Qingya was absolutely not simple. He was at least more powerful than many sect forces in the cultivation world, stronger than many sect leaders, and even more domineering.
Before tonight, Yu Qing had absolutely been secretly trembling with fear when facing this local snake. But at this moment, he would not.
Even Nan Zhu and Mu Aotie at this time, seeing Yu Qing’s attitude towards Qingya, were highly nervous inside.
Through tonight, through this very moment, Yu Qing had truly emerged as a leader in the hearts of Nan and Mu.
Previously, although Nan and Mu had acknowledged him as sect leader, they still felt that their little martial uncle was more suitable to lead the entire sect.
Qingya said in a deep voice, “As far as I know, the poisoned victim died under the ‘White Silk Gauze’.”
Yu Qing said calmly, “Master Qing misunderstands. What you gave me, I absolutely did not use to kill anyone. I gave it away.”
Qingya pressed, “To whom?”
Yu Qing, “Cannot say.”
Qingya, “When the Zhenhai Division investigates you, let’s see whether you speak or not.”
Yu Qing, “If they truly investigate me, it won’t be too late to speak then.”
Qingya was actually speechless, and stared at him.
Gu Qingzhao looked at this one, then at that one, from the side. Seeing Yu Qing able to calmly meet Qingya’s gaze under his fierce glare, she could not help but click her tongue inwardly. She discovered that this person could become the number one talent under heaven indeed had extraordinary aspects. At this age, to face Qingya without fear was truly rare.
She regarded him even more highly.
Qingya took a deep breath, then asked, “What did you run here for again?”
Yu Qing, “I admire Master Qing, and sincerely wish to befriend you.”
Qingya, “Speak human words. What do you actually want?”
Yu Qing, “I trouble Master Qing to help with a matter. I wish to know the Zhenhai Division’s situation regarding present matters. I trouble Master Qing to help inquire a little.”
Although they had helped Liu Piaopiao deal with that big nose, this absolutely did not mean Liu Piaopiao was completely worry-free. The three brothers could not return with peace of mind. What if the situation changed? Returning blindly, knowing nothing, meant waiting to be captured.
They definitely wanted to pay attention to the situation inside the Zhenhai Division. The focus of their attention was still for survival, to guard against accidents, so they could run if there was any change. But how could they have the ability to pay attention to the Zhenhai Division’s internal situation? At most, they could look twice from outside the Zhenhai Division.
If they lacked ability themselves, they could only ask someone to help. They did not know anyone here with that kind of capability. After thinking it over, only this person here came to mind.
Qingya stared at him silently for a while, then replied, “What benefit do I get?”
Yu Qing, “I said, I wish to befriend Master Qing. In future, if Master Qing has any matters, you can come find me at any time. If there is anything you need my help with, speak freely. As long as it is something I can do, I will certainly do my utmost.”
Qingya turned around and left without a word.
Gu Qingzhao apologised to the group, then also quickly left, chasing after Qingya.
Nan Zhu looked at the cold and empty surroundings, crowded to Yu Qing’s side, and asked in a low voice, “What does he mean?”
Yu Qing, “He didn’t refuse.”
Nan Zhu oh-ed, understood, and also breathed a sigh of relief.
On the stone slab path outside, Gu Qingzhao, having caught up, asked, “Where are you going?”
Qingya, “Where else can I go? Naturally to help him inquire about the news. The Zhenhai Division’s internal situation, I must personally go to understand it well.”
Gu Qingzhao was surprised. “Since when are you so obedient? Appreciating his talent?”
Qingya, “I appreciate his fart talent. For him to come and open this mouth, the matter is obvious. The previous poisoning did not thoroughly resolve the hidden worries. The mole inside the Zhenhai Division still has a risk of exposure. If exposed, it will implicate him. He is afraid. The problem is that he ran here again. If he is caught, can I run away?”
Gu Qingzhao finally understood why he was helping. “What if something really happens?”
Qingya, “What else can be done? Either help him escape, or kill him to silence him!”
Gu Qingzhao was curious, “Who exactly is the mole inside the Zhenhai Division colluding with them?”
Qingya, “Do you think he would say?”
Gu Qingzhao shook her head slightly.
Early morning, sunlight spilled onto Haishi, extinguishing Haishi’s colourful lights. Cooking smoke from all directions rose straight into the blue sky. One could not tell whether this bustling place was falling into slumber or awakening.
But everything had returned to normal. The checkpoints set up everywhere last night were suddenly all removed. The seaside ferry transport scene had also resumed.
This meant that when the case occurred inside the Zhenhai Division, all personnel not present at the scene had already been recalled. All suspicious personnel had already been controlled. Naturally, there was no longer any need to continue setting up checkpoints to pursue and capture.
A sudden sound from the balcony startled Hu Youli, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation. She glanced at Xiao Hei still sleeping soundly beside her, slowly stood up, and became vigilant.
Creak, the door suddenly opened, revealing three figures shrouded in black cloaks on the balcony.
Hu Youli was slightly startled, and immediately recognised the three. She could tell from their builds.
After the three entered one by one, they greeted her, indicating they had returned.
Hu Youli then packed up the bedding on the floor and went downstairs again. She could not help but secretly mutter and wonder. They had said they would go out for a while. She had thought they would be gone for a long time. She did not expect them to return so quickly.
The three returned brothers then took turns on duty, observing the window of the observation nest on Liu Piaopiao’s side.
According to the news provided by Qingya, the Zhenhai Division had not yet discovered who the mole was. They were still screening. They said they would inform them promptly if there was news, and told them to return first. Otherwise, always staying at Jinghong Palace, what was that about? When there was nothing going on, it would also make people suspicious of their relationship.
They had essentially been driven out of Jinghong Palace by Qingya.
The three brothers thus stayed cooped up in the room for a full two days.
Two days later, they finally saw a potted plant appear in the window of the target location.
Only then did the three truly set their minds at ease.
To avoid arousing connected suspicion, the three brothers continued to stay holed up in the room. After waiting another two days, Yu Qing and Nan Zhu finally left under Hu Youli’s strange gaze.
The two knew what Hu Youli meant. The promised calligraphy piece, the five-day deadline was almost up.
The two brothers began to wander the streets everywhere, checking everywhere whether the missing person notices they had posted were still there. They discovered they were still there. Although they had already endured wind and rain, they were still legible.
At a bustling intersection with people coming and going, Yu Qing stood before a notice and fell silent. Had that “Lady Li” not seen the notice? Or was she simply not in Haishi at all? Otherwise, if she had seen the notice, there was no reason not to go find him.
He believed that as long as that Lady Li saw her long-lost brother searching for her, she would certainly go to him to confirm.
He raised his hand, looking at the swimming fish ring on his finger. He basically always wore this ring on his hand. As long as that Lady Li saw the ring on his hand, she should understand.
In the current situation, this was already the most public searching method. He could not possibly go around shouting the truth everywhere.
Perhaps the current time was still short. That Lady Li might not have seen it yet. He could only comfort himself this way.
In fact, the time since coming to Haishi was indeed not long. He could not possibly stop waiting and leave just because there had been no response these few days.
He had some strong intuition. Perhaps it was a feeling of certain clues intersecting in his mind. If that Lady Li was truly still alive, she should still be in Haishi.
They walked everywhere, looked everywhere, until night fell when the two returned to their lodging.
As soon as they returned, closed the door, Nan Zhu deliberately coughed twice, then deliberately shouted, “Old Nine, that A Shiheng’s thing has finally arrived.”
Mu Aotie, who was sitting cross-legged in meditation, opened his eyes.
Downstairs, the sound of footsteps suddenly running upstairs came. It was Hu Youli with eyes full of expectation.
Xiao Hei closely followed, running up from downstairs, still carrying his big stick. He had been playing with Hu Youli. When she suddenly threw him down and ran, he naturally followed.
Hu Youli bit her lip and came before Nan Zhu. She fidgeted for a moment before asking, “Has the thing you mentioned arrived?”
Nan Zhu put both hands behind his back, swaying his head and tailing there in a very feminine manner. “You guess.”
Seeing the other party’s demeanour, Hu Youli knew it had probably really arrived. Otherwise, he would not be so smug. She could not help but stamp her foot. “You swore an oath.”
“Heh heh.” Nan Zhu let out a treacherous laugh, then asked in return, “Does that promise of free board and lodging for however long we stay still count?”
Hu Youli’s face was somewhat flushed with excitement, but she replied without thinking, “As long as the thing is real, it certainly counts. I will make you a feast today!”
“Haha.” Nan Zhu released his hands, shook his sleeves, thrust one hand into the other sleeve, and pulled out a sheet of paper. He immediately spread it open before her eyes. “Please inspect the goods! Absolutely real, cannot be more real. You cannot find anything this real anywhere in the world.”