The crumbling Cheng Shanping propped himself against the cave wall but could not hold on. He slid slowly down the wall and twisted his head with effort to look over. A bloodstained sword blade had pierced straight through his chest.
His gaze swept across the few people present and finally locked onto Yu Qing. His eyes were full of unwillingness and hatred. He sat down on the ground, clinging to his last breaths. Blood began to drip from the corner of his mouth.
Tie Miaoqing and the other two also slowly turned their heads to look at Yu Qing. They saw that Yu Qings hands were already empty. The sword sheath hanging at his waist was empty too. The sword that had been drawing patterns on the ground had disappeared from his hand.
Even without seeing it, the three could tell from sound alone who had made the move. They simply could not believe it and wanted to confirm with their own eyes.
Even after seeing it with their own eyes, the three still found it hard to believe that this scholar heading to the capital for the imperial examination would suddenly kill someone, and right in front of them.
Yu Qing did not meet their gazes. He slowly clasped his hands in front of his abdomen with an expressionless face, as if it had nothing to do with him.
The reason he had not said at the start that Cheng Shanping was a traitor was because he could not be sure they would believe him. After all, he was an outsider.
He also could not be sure that they would be able to restrain Cheng Shanping even if he spoke out. If those people did not restrain Cheng Shanping first, it would be secondary whether Cheng Shanping admitted the accusation. Once his accusation angered Cheng Shanping, he was no match for him.
The huge difference in strength between him and Cheng Shanping, and the unequal positions they were in, was the most critical point.
He wanted to use these peoples hands to restrain Cheng Shanping. He wanted to use these peoples hands to make Cheng Shanping lose the ability to resist. Otherwise, how could he take revenge and vent his hatred?
What are you doing? Tie Miaoqing burst out with a hoarse shout at him. She had never dreamed that this person would break his word.
Sun Ping and his wife had already darted forward in quick steps to Cheng Shanpings side and supported the man.
After all, they had known each other for many years. They subconsciously wanted to save him but discovered it was a fatal strike. The sword had pierced his heart and there was no saving him. Pulling the sword out would cause immediate death. He was already rolling his eyes, his body trembling slightly, and his breathing weakening rapidly.
Sun Ping, who was squatting on the ground, looked up and shook his head at Tie Miaoqing.
Tie Miaoqing lost control of her emotions on the spot, almost hysterical. Ah Shiheng, you said you would spare his life. Why have you gone back on your word?
Yu Qing glanced at her briefly but ignored her. Instead he turned to look at Sun Ping. Shopkeeper Sun, I had no grudge against him. The first time we met he tried to kill me. It was only because I was lucky that I escaped. Afterwards he refused to let it go and tried several times to put me to death, though he did not succeed easily. If I had not noticed this time, and if we had fallen into the hands of Jian Yuan Zhai, do you think he would not resent me? Do you think he would let me off easily?
Things have come to this point. I helped you ruin Jian Yuan Zhais plan. To Jian Yuan Zhai, he has also been exposed. Whether he still has any use, I do not know. If we let him go, he might not resent you. But why dont you guess whether he will resent me? If Jian Yuan Zhai kills his mother, the hatred will be enormous. I do not want to spend days and months guarding against such an enemy.
Even if we let him go and escape now, with him around, if he helps Jian Yuan Zhai intercept us, are you sure you can return smoothly to You Jiao Bu? He knows you too well! You may not care, but I still want to live and go to the capital for the examination. Shopkeeper Sun, he has always wanted to kill me but failed. Instead he fell into my hands. Shopkeeper Sun, please give me a reason not to kill him!
Sun Ping immediately frowned tightly and sank into silent thought.
Tie Miaoqing, so angry she almost wanted to act, shouted out the reason. You said you would give him a way to live!
Yu Qing said, What I said was that the proprietress was willing to give him a way to live. I never said that I myself would give him a way to live!
Seeing her old partner of many years die in her arms with her own eyes, and hearing the murderer quibbling strongly, Zhu Shangbiao’s eyes turned red. In a flash he rushed towards Yu Qing.
Sun Ping was startled and followed closely, grabbing her husband with one hand.
But Zhu Shangbiao had already seized the front of Yu Qings clothes with one hand and roared, You little thief, do you believe I will kill you?
Sun Ping added another hand, grasped his straining wrist, and scolded, Let go!
She did not know that the third fire cricket had already been caught. She was still relatively calm.
But the red-eyed Zhu Shangbiao refused to let go. He held on tightly, panting, and for once did not listen to his wife.
Yu Qing said calmly, If Cheng Shanping had not met with the people from Jian Yuan Zhai, I would believe you dare to kill me. But he has already met them. Do you guess whether Cheng Shanping will tell Jian Yuan Zhai that there are three people from Si Nan Mansion escorting here? If I die at your hands, Jian Yuan Zhai would probably be overjoyed. They would make you do whatever they want. If they ask you to hand over the fire crickets, you would have to obediently hand them over. You would not dare refuse!
After discovering that Cheng Shanping was a traitor and confirming his collusion with other shops, he had found a way to put himself in an undefeatable position.
In a sense, the fact that Ah Shiheng dared to let him come and take the risk of the substitute examination was not without reason. He understood him.
You… Zhu Shangbiao was furious beyond measure.
Sun Ping used her inner force to pry open his palm and pulled him away. Go to the side!
Tie Miaoqing stared at Yu Qing and said hatefully, You knew from the start that he was a traitor. You never wanted to restrain him to verify anything. You wanted to use my hand to restrain him so it would be convenient for you to act. From the beginning you planned to use my hand to kill him! At this moment she finally understood Yu Qings intention.
Yu Qing said calmly, Rather protect a traitor, even if it may bring fatal danger, and continue down the wrong path! If I had known earlier that the proprietress was so unable to distinguish right from wrong, and instead of remembering my merits would investigate my faults, I could have said nothing at all. I could have joined the stronger Jian Yuan Zhai. What does it have to do with me whether you can bring back the fire crickets?
I could even secretly break the window paper and collude with Cheng Shanping to trap you together. Jian Yuan Zhai would get the fire crickets, and Cheng Shanping could continue as a traitor by your side to carry out his schemes. How good that would be. I would not have to be caught in the middle like this! The words carried a strong tone of mockery.
Sun Ping raised her hand to stop him from speaking further. She then advised the emotionally agitated Tie Miaoqing, Miss, Old Cheng brought this on himself. Things have come to this. It is better to mourn briefly and think about the living. Miss, the master is still waiting for us to save his life.
The implication was that finding the third fire cricket still depended on Yu Qing. For now they needed to find a way to escape.
Yu Qing did not say that he had already collected all the fire crickets. He let Tie Miaoqing decide for herself. If she really could not get over this hurdle for a while and truly attracted the people from Jian Yuan Zhai, he would not care about these peoples lives or deaths, nor could he manage it. He would only look after himself and run first.
Miss, Old Cheng has already admitted it. The people from Jian Yuan Zhai are lying in ambush outside. Escaping now is the priority…
After Sun Ping muttered and advised for a good while, Tie Miaoqings emotions gradually calmed down. The situation was stronger than the people. It was indeed urgent. She could only suppress her emotions and ask, You said earlier that you have a way to escape. Is it true?
A way to escape? Sun Ping immediately stared at Yu Qing. This was what she was most anxious about right now.
Yu Qing said, There is naturally a way, but your attitude is very frightening. I am afraid now that you will burn the bridge after crossing the river.
Sun Ping sighed, Ah Shiheng, you are a sensible person. You have also made it very clear. Jian Yuan Zhai knows your identity. We will not touch you.
Yu Qing had been waiting for exactly these words. Without another word he walked to Cheng Shanpings corpse, bent down and grasped the hilt of the sword stuck in the body. He recalled the scene of this person stepping on his face to the ground with one foot, and the moment when his neck was nearly strangled. The corner of his mouth curved into a cold smile. In his heart he sent a message: Did you think that because I am from Linglong Pavilion I am easy to bully?
He pulled the sword from the corpse, returned the heavy sword to its sheath, then half squatted beside the corpse. He reached into Cheng Shanpings clothes and fumbled around, found his own items such as the demon revealing dew and rainbow silk, and stuffed them all back into his own chest.
Even not sparing the dead, Zhu Shangbiao was provoked by his actions and became furious. But before he could speak he was stopped again by Sun Ping with one hand. Sun Ping sighed and shook her head at him. Things had already come to this. It was not good to argue with that fellow any further.
With the items in hand, the banknotes seemed to have increased quite a bit too. Yu Qing did not count them in public. Anyway the feel was very solid. He quickly stuffed them into his chest. After standing up he said to the three who were staring at him, Let me make it clear first. What I took back are my own things, the things he robbed from me earlier.
If it were not for the fact that his greatest possessions in this life were in Cheng Shanpings hands, the situation might not have developed this way.
At the beginning when he discovered Cheng Shanping was a traitor, he could not figure out what force was behind Cheng Shanping at all, nor did he dare to offend him lightly. His first thought was to secretly expose him to Tie Miaoqing and the others, then find an excuse to send Cheng Shanping away without making a sound. Once the group shook off Cheng Shanping they would immediately run.
But thinking that most of his possessions were still in Cheng Shanpings hands, plus the old grudges from before, he really could not swallow this breath of anger without seeking justice. That was why it turned out this way.
Sun Ping ignored the scene in front of her and tried to speak as calmly as possible, Do you really have a way to escape?
Having taken back his valuables, Yu Qing felt much more comfortable inside. He glanced at the silent Tie Miaoqing and said, If you are willing to listen to me, then I have a way. If not, then there is no way.
Sun Ping sighed, Things have already come to this. Just tell us quickly.
Yu Qing tilted his head to indicate her and Zhu Shangbiao. You husband and wife go outside the cave, pretend that nothing has happened, and cut down a nearby tree and bring it in.
Sun Ping was puzzled. Cut a tree again? What does that mean? Do we still need to catch fire crickets here?
You will naturally understand later. After saying this Yu Qing fell silent. The people who should be anxious were not anxious. What did he have to be anxious about?
He muttered in his heart, No matter how good looking she is, she is not mine. Why should I care about your expression?
Sun Ping was immediately made anxious by him and was about to ask again when Tie Miaoqing finally spoke. Do as he says. The third fire cricket has already been caught and is temporarily placed inside the tunnel.
Caught? Sun Ping and her husband said in unison. Both were stunned at the same time. Their gazes moved from Tie Miaoqings face to Yu Qings face, filled with both joy and surprise.
They no longer asked more questions. Sun Ping waved to call her husband and the two of them rushed out of the cave together…
Steward, look.
Wu Kuang, hidden behind the thorny bushes, suddenly pointed at the husband and wife who had come out of the cave and reminded him.
Cui You pressed down the hand he was pointing with. He had also seen it. He stared and observed, and found that they were cutting a tree.
With the cultivation of Sun Ping and her husband, cutting down a tree was naturally no problem. After trimming and breaking it into several sections, they directly carried it into the mountain cave.
Wu Kuang was puzzled. Steward, why are they cutting a tree again?
Cui You knew it was for catching fire crickets. He breathed a sigh of relief. It seems they are still busy inside. Tell everyone to continue lying low. We must not alert the enemy!