Skinny Monkey's Scheme

Skinny Monkey's Scheme

Thank you to reader Shangshan Ruoshui for the tip!

At this time, the group from Haoyue Academy finally returned to their academy.

Some were injured, some maimed, and they immediately alarmed the entire academy.

Yet one person was missing—Skinny Monkey.

At that moment, he stood at the entrance of Ling Zhong's home, tears streaming down his face as grief overwhelmed him.

He shouted, "Master, something terrible has happened! Young Master, he... he... sob sob!"

"I..."

Early that morning, a guard who had been stretching lazily was nearly scared out of his wits by the shout.

However, they recognized Skinny Monkey. He was Ling Qiqi, a member of the Ling Family's collateral branch and the lackey who had always followed their young master.

Seeing him like this, it seemed that Ling Zhong had truly suffered a major mishap.

They inwardly cursed their bad luck. To encounter something like this so early in the morning... If they went to report it and the patriarch flew into a rage, they might be implicated as well.

Still, no matter how unwilling they were, they did not dare delay!

Otherwise, their fate would be even worse.

At that moment, the Ling Family patriarch had just climbed off his concubine, feeling exceptionally pleased.

He pushed open the door and stepped out, just about to enjoy the crisp morning air.

Then someone came rushing over in a panic.

Half his good mood vanished at once. His brows furrowed as he shouted, "What are you doing? Why are you panicking?!"

If the newcomer had not been the chief steward he valued, he would have kicked him already.

"Patriarch, something terrible has happened! Ling Qiqi has returned, and he said... he said...!"

At this point, the chief steward cautiously glanced at the patriarch and did not dare continue.

After all, the patriarch had only one son, Ling Zhong. If something had really happened to him, the entire family would probably be turned upside down.

The Ling Family patriarch's face darkened. The chief steward had always been steady and reliable; otherwise, he would never have earned his favor. But now...

A bad feeling rose in his heart.

He hurriedly asked, "What else did he say?"

The chief steward swallowed. "He said Young Master was in trouble. And according to the guards, one of Ling Qiqi's hands was wrapped in bandages stained with blood. It hung limply at his side, as though it had been crippled."

"This matter is too important. I should have verified it first, but I feared delaying things, so I came to report it immediately. At the same time, I ordered someone to bring him here. He should arrive shortly."

"What?!"

The Ling Family patriarch's expression changed drastically, and panic rose in his heart.

If it had merely been a minor matter, Ling Zhong would have returned himself. He would not have sent Ling Qiqi back!

Very soon, Ling Qiqi was brought over by the guards.

The instant Ling Qiqi saw the Ling Family patriarch, he seemed possessed by an actor's spirit and burst into tears. "Patriarch, you must seek justice for Young Master! Sob sob sob! Young Master has suffered so terribly!"

The Ling Family patriarch grew even more anxious, while anger surged within him. In Liuyun City, who dared to hurt his son?

They were courting death!

But getting the facts straight was most important now. Suppressing his fury, he snapped at Ling Qiqi, "Stop crying! Tell me exactly what happened. Where is Ling Zhong now? How badly is he hurt?"

Ling Qiqi said, "Young Master is seriously injured. If the instructor had not sent him back to the academy in time, you might never have seen him again. Sob sob sob!"

"Phew!"

The Ling Family patriarch let out a breath. As long as he was alive, it was fine!

Still, he remained deeply worried and immediately said, "Let's go to the academy!"

"Patriarch! Although Young Master is badly injured, with the academy's instructors there, he will be fine. What matters is that we cannot let the people who injured Young Master escape!"

"Young Master and I were attacked in Ping Town. A night has already passed, but if we send people after them immediately, we may still catch them. If we miss this chance, we may lose them forever. My injuries are nothing, but Young Master's injuries cannot be suffered for nothing."

Hearing this, the Ling Family patriarch glanced at Ling Qiqi. "You are quite loyal."

After saying that, he fell silent, clearly considering something.

Ling Qiqi lowered his head, his eyes flickering. As expected, someone capable of becoming the head of a family cannot be as easily fooled as his idiot son.

After a moment, the Ling Family patriarch asked, "How many people were there, and what were their identities?"

Ling Qiqi replied, "Patriarch, there were only two of them. One was merely a seven- or eight-year-old child. The other was stronger than the instructor, but was still only a Soul King! Their clothing was also quite ordinary, so they likely do not belong to any major power."

Nine parts of what he said were true. Even if the patriarch went to the academy and questioned the other students, he would receive roughly the same answer.

The only thing he concealed was that the opposing Soul King was actually a young woman of seventeen or eighteen. She was also the leader of the Five Poisons in the royal city, and the princess of the Star Luo Empire.

"A Soul King?"

A trace of disdain appeared on the Ling Family patriarch's face. Such strength was not worth his attention.

What he feared most was that they had someone powerful backing them, but Ling Qiqi's words dispelled that concern.

Soul masters from influential forces generally dressed quite well.

Only commoners without any backing wore ordinary clothes.

Unfortunately, he could never have imagined that Ling Qiqi, whom he saw as lowly yet loyal, was deceiving him.

And he intended to lead the entire Ling Family to its doom.

"Chief Steward, handle this personally. Listen carefully: bring them back alive. I will flay them alive before my son."

After speaking, he strode away. At that moment, the person he cared about most was still his severely injured son, Ling Zhong.

The chief steward respectfully bowed toward the departing patriarch. "Yes, Patriarch!"

Then he said to Ling Qiqi, "Come with me for another trip. I still need you to identify them!"

"This humble one will not refuse! For Young Master's sake, I will watch Chief Steward capture and bring them back!"

The chief steward looked approving and praised him, "Not bad. As a member of the Ling Family, you should put the Ling Family first. Don't worry, the patriarch rewards merit. Once we bring them back, you will certainly be rewarded."

Ling Qiqi obediently said, "Then I will have to rely on Chief Steward's guidance."

The chief steward nodded, extremely satisfied with Ling Qiqi's attitude. Yet he did not notice the faint upward curl of Ling Qiqi's lips.

Afterward, Ling Qiqi followed the chief steward toward Ping Town.

After leaving Ling Manor, he turned back to glance at it, and something eerie flashed through his eyes.

Heh. No matter how calculating or capable you are as patriarch, this time you will be destroyed by a trivial nobody like me.

I truly want to see what expression you will wear when the entire Ling Family turns to ashes before your eyes.

Will you be as calm and indifferent as you were eleven years ago, when your son played my younger sister to death?

You probably never even remembered me, crying before my sister's corpse.

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