One-Ear

"Wait, Young Master Ji. It's me."

A familiar voice reached Ji Qing's ears.

At the same time, a figure stepped out from some shadowy corner.

"It's you... the one from Listening Wind Tower..."

Ji Qing truly could not remember the man's name.

Back then, he had never asked for it.

But the man had only "one ear," which had left a deep impression on Ji Qing.

After all, that missing ear had been "cut" off by Ji Qing himself.

"Young Master Ji, this humble one has come at Shopkeeper Yu's command to invite you to Listening Wind Tower."

"Shopkeeper Yu?"

"He is the person in charge of Listening Wind Tower in Anyang City. Within Listening Wind Tower, we all call him Shopkeeper. You should have met him—the woman who provided you with information..."

Ji Qing remembered.

The woman in that underground secret chamber who sold all manner of intelligence.

Ji Qing looked the "acquaintance" before him up and down.

Back at Mule Horse Town, Ji Qing had spared the man's life, but he had also obtained the Lightness Skill Grass on Wings.

"I cut off one of your ears. You don't hate me?"

Ji Qing asked.

"What are you saying, Young Master Ji? I was careless in my dealings and let you discover me. When Jianghu martial artists cross blades, swords and sabers have no eyes; injuries are unavoidable. Besides, I have ridden on your coattails. I have some reputation in the Jianghu now."

"Oh? What reputation?"

"People of the Jianghu call this humble one 'One-Ear,' saying I am Listening Wind Tower's sharpest intelligence gatherer. Heh, truthfully, I became famous in a single battle by tracking your whereabouts. This humble one is deeply grateful to you."

Ji Qing understood.

This "One-Ear" had made a name for himself through him, the great Demon Lord ranked eighth on the Villain Ranking.

Within Listening Wind Tower, the man had most likely been put to good use as well.

So what did losing an ear amount to?

It was not worth mentioning at all!

"This time, Shopkeeper Yu specially 'invited' this humble one to Anyang City because he wishes to build a bridge of communication between Listening Wind Tower and Young Master Ji. After all, Shopkeeper Yu is the one asking something of you. Why not go and hear what he has to say?"

One-Ear was already fairly familiar with Ji Qing.

Moreover, One-Ear understood Ji Qing's temperament quite well.

For Shopkeeper Yu to specially bring One-Ear to Listening Wind Tower in Anyang City, he had paid no small price.

"Lead the way."

"Certainly. Please follow me, Young Master."

With One-Ear leading the way, Ji Qing soon returned to Listening Wind Tower.

It was still that hidden underground secret chamber.

This time, One-Ear did not leave. Instead, he remained in the chamber.

Ji Qing saw Shopkeeper Yu, still veiled.

"Young Master has arrived. Please, sit."

Ji Qing sat opposite Shopkeeper Yu, while One-Ear stood at Shopkeeper Yu's side.

"Shopkeeper Yu, you specially brought One-Ear to Anyang City and made such a grand fuss. What exactly is this about?"

Ji Qing asked.

Shopkeeper Yu smiled. "Indeed, it is a very important matter, which is why we had no choice but to trouble Young Master to make another trip to Listening Wind Tower. It concerns certain special demands from one of our important clients. Listening Wind Tower considered it for a long time, and it seems that only Young Master can satisfy this distinguished guest's request."

"What request?"

"That guest had an experience similar to yours. Their entire family was slaughtered, and the skin on the corpses' faces was peeled away..."

Boom.

Ji Qing's mind thundered.

Even greater stormy waves rose in his heart.

The Skin-Peeling Demon!

It had to be the Skin-Peeling Demon!

He had in fact been searching for the Skin-Peeling Demon's trail lately, but he had found no clues.

He had originally planned to use Listening Wind Tower's intelligence network to track down the Skin-Peeling Demon. Who would have thought the opportunity would come knocking on his door?

However, Listening Wind Tower was the one asking something of Ji Qing now, so he suppressed the excitement in his heart and kept his face expressionless.

"Can you explain why Listening Wind Tower, an organization that sells intelligence, is taking on work resembling 'hired employment'?"

Ji Qing asked.

Shopkeeper Yu lowered his head and pondered for a while. Then he raised his head, sighed, and gave a bitter smile. "To be frank with you, Young Master, the reason is simple. That client simply offered far too much..."

"How much?"

"Ten thousand taels of silver."

"..."

Ji Qing fell silent.

All right, he had been hasty.

Who could withstand such an outrageously generous "distinguished guest"?

No wonder Listening Wind Tower had taken up a "side job" and specially brought One-Ear to speak with him.

"What benefits can Listening Wind Tower offer me? If you can conceal my information..."

"No. Young Master Ji, Listening Wind Tower lives by selling intelligence. That is our bottom line! We cannot conceal your information... However, if Young Master is willing to help Listening Wind Tower with this matter, while we cannot hide your intelligence, we can 'delay' it."

"For example, we would only provide information from three days ago. That would effectively buy Young Master three days' time. What do you think?"

Ji Qing carefully considered it in his mind.

A three-day delay?

Then he would have three days of "buffer" time, and no one would be able to track his whereabouts in "real time" through Listening Wind Tower.

That was indeed a solid benefit.

It could not have been easy to make Listening Wind Tower offer such a "concession."

"I also need an internal cultivation method, preferably a superior Second-Rate internal cultivation method."

"Listening Wind Tower cannot provide Young Master with a superior Second-Rate internal cultivation method, but that distinguished guest may be able to. If Young Master is willing to wait, we will give you an answer in three days."

"Fine. I'll wait."

Ji Qing rose, preparing to leave.

"Oh, and to show our sincerity, Listening Wind Tower is willing to give Young Master a piece of intelligence for free. Green Province's foremost constable, Du Chen, the Wind Chasing Blade, has already set out personally to hunt down Ji Qing, the fugitive from Liang City!"

Ji Qing's body paused slightly upon hearing this.

"Thank you."

With that, Ji Qing left Listening Wind Tower.

Whoosh.

One-Ear chased after him.

"Du Chen is a Second-Rate Martial Artist, renowned throughout the realm. Young Master, you must be careful!"

One-Ear's figure swiftly vanished from sight as well.

Three days later, Ji Qing returned to Listening Wind Tower.

Shopkeeper Yu did not exchange pleasantries and said directly, "The distinguished guest is very satisfied with Young Master's 'experience,' but the guest does not possess a Second-Rate internal cultivation method, only a superior Third-Rate one! Moreover, whether or not Young Master can resolve the distinguished guest's problem, as long as Young Master agrees to go, the guest will offer you a superior Third-Rate internal cultivation method."

Ji Qing frowned.

Experience?

He knew Listening Wind Tower must have revealed his information to that mysterious distinguished guest.

Only because they had shared the same experience had that distinguished guest agreed to let him go.

But the other party did not have a Second-Rate internal cultivation method either?

In the Jianghu, a profound internal cultivation method was difficult to obtain.

Ji Qing thought it over and ultimately nodded in agreement.

"I can know the other party's information now, right?"

"The Lei Family Fortress's eldest daughter, Lei Yu!"

"Where exactly?"

"It isn't far away—Lei Family Fortress lies outside Anyuan City. And Miss Lei... well, how should I put this? Once you see her, you will never forget her. If Young Master goes to Lei Family Fortress, you should recognize Miss Lei at first glance."

Ji Qing asked nothing further.

He rose and left Listening Wind Tower, heading straight for Lei Family Fortress outside the city.

Several hours later, Ji Qing stopped.

He had arrived at Lei Family Fortress.

Lei Family Fortress was exceptionally quiet at the moment. It was already a rather remote place, and almost no one came here.

After taking only a few steps, Ji Qing saw a woman ahead with her back to him, standing outside Lei Family Fortress and gazing into the distance.

"Eighth on the Villain Ranking, Ji Qing, the scholar of Liang City?"

The woman slowly turned around. Perhaps because her body was too heavy, even the ground trembled faintly.

This woman was tall and burly, her face covered in thick flesh. Her thighs were thicker than Ji Qing's waist, and she stood a full head taller than him.

From afar, she looked like a mountain of flesh.

"Miss Lei..."

Ji Qing fell silent.

No wonder Shopkeeper Yu had said Miss Lei was impossible to forget after one glance.

With looks like these, it would be difficult even to try to forget her.