Connections Between the Clues

"Ha, stingy. I bet you just didn't build it."

Ning Rongrong Taunt.

Tang San wasn't fooled by this naive attempt to provoke him. He shrugged and asked Zhou Qing, "What's our next goal?"

Initially, they came to Falling Star City to hunt down Soul Ancestor suspected to be named Hu Fangyuan, who was also an accomplice of Hu Lingling and the group of Soul Master who raided the City Lord's Mansion at night.

Immediately after arriving in Falling Star City, they learned by chance that Dales had been the previous city lord of Falling Star City, which was related to the disappearances of people that had occurred over the past six years. They then deduced that Dales was suspected of having connections with the Fallen Ones, and that the Fallen Ones might be the Soul Ancestor they were hunting.

In addition, the couple from the countryside that Dales killed six years ago may have been Zhou Qing's biological parents.

Now, while drawing a map of the roads in Falling Star City, they noticed and confirmed the presence of the Soul Tool Core Formation, discovering that it might be related to another matter.

Although based on Zhou Qing's previous assumptions, these things can be connected, including the super-large Soul Tool Core Formation currently discovered in Falling Star City... Tang San even believes that Dales can be directly arrested and subjected to severe torture to extract a confession.

However, Zhou Qing believes that rigor is necessary, and conclusions should not be drawn hastily simply because a few assumptions have been added.

Torture to extract confessions?

Isn't there always the possibility of being forced to confess?

Furthermore, they don't currently possess the power to sweep everything aside...

So Zhou Qing asked Ning Rongrong, "Did you mention the map of Falling Star City's buildings and roads to your father and Sword Douluo last night?"

"Of course not!"

Ning Rongrong was somewhat dissatisfied, "This is different from Tang San's Wind Leaf Dart. I want to accomplish this important task with you all!"

However!

Zhou Qing now hopes that Ning Rongrong will tell Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo about this matter, so that they can investigate the "Soul Tool Core Formation" while he and the others focus on investigating Soul Ancestor, Hu Fangyuan, Dales.

However, since Ning Rongrong didn't mention it, Zhou Qing didn't plan to bring it up either. After all, the more he met with Ning Fengzhi and Sword Douluo, the more tired he became, and the greater the possibility that Xiao Wu's Hundred-Thousand-Year Soul Beast identity would be exposed.

Therefore, Zhou Qing simply smiled slightly and said, "I was just checking to see if you had forgotten our agreement. It seems you've done a good job."

"Of course! I'm a man of my word!"

Ning Rongrong raised her chin, quite pleased with herself.

Then, Zhou Qing took out the map of Falling Star City's buildings and roads that he had drawn, and pointed to the City Lord's Mansion's Mansion in the center, saying, "The core of this Soul Tool Core Formation is right here! So the mastermind behind it might also be hiding here! In addition, Tang San, you previously discovered a study behind the City Lord's Mansion that seems to have a secret room... You Hui, have any of the previous City Lords rebuilt the City Lord's Mansion?"

Without hesitation, You Hui said, "I heard that ever since the city lord two hundred years ago made a modification under the guidance of a Soul Master of the ' Soul Ancestor ' level, the subsequent city lords have not made any large-scale changes to the layout of the houses. At most, they have made some decorations to the interior and exterior according to their own preferences."

"Soul Ancestor?" Xiao Wu was taken aback.

"Yes, it was the Soul Ancestor, but I don't know their exact name. I only heard my parents mention it. It seems that the Soul Ancestor and their descendants have been assisting the city lord for the past two hundred years... Although there's no clear evidence that those assisting the city lord are descendants of that Soul Ancestor, my parents seem to have accidentally learned that those people all had the same Martial Soul. Later, my parents apparently encountered the Fallen Ones and something happened to them..."

At this point, You Hui looked up abruptly and saw Zhou Qing, Tang San, Romantina, Xiao Wu, and Ning Rongrong all frowning. She said weakly, "Um, I think I suddenly realized that my parents' deaths might be related to what you're investigating."

A little connection?

No!

It's very relevant!

What You Hui said concerns her parents, so it can't be false. Even if she misremembered some details, its credibility is definitely over 80%!

This is enough for Zhou Qing to draw his conclusion.

The only thing that needs to be determined at present is whether the Soul Ancestor they are hunting down is the same family that has inherited the Martial Soul that has assisted the city lords of all generations, or the same person who is the sole heir of that lineage.

If so, then everything is simple.

But the atmosphere at the scene was silent.

There's an 80% chance that You Hui's parents died at the hands of the Soul Ancestor, who was suspected to be being hunted by Zhou Qing and his group, because they knew too much...

If Zhou Qing were to continue his grand pronouncements at this point, it would be a sign of extremely low emotional intelligence. Besides, he couldn't very well say that his own parents had also died in Falling Star City, could he?

Jokes about hell are unacceptable!

Fortunately, Xiao Wu realized what was happening and, feeling the pain herself, stepped forward and hugged You Hui, comforting her, "Don't be sad, You Hui. If it really is that Soul Ancestor, then come with us to take revenge on him."

"Thanks."

You Hui was very touched, but then she said something that shocked everyone, "But, could you let me go first? It's a little uncomfortable."

Xiao Wu's expression changed at a speed visible to the naked eye:

(")"→()→(へ╬)

Zhou Qing opened his mouth, glanced discreetly at Romantina who had walked to You Hui's side, pulled her out of Xiao Wu Wu's arms, and pressed her against her own broad chest, saying things like "Isn't she much softer now?" He sighed Youyou, "Looks like I was overthinking it... No wonder she can be friends with Romantina, her emotional intelligence and personality are truly extraordinary!"

However, after thinking about it carefully, Zhou Qing understood. After all, she was an introverted homebody who often stammered when talking to them. She probably only opened up a bit when communicating with the servants at home and with Romantina.

"Okay, stop hugging me, You Hui is suffocating."

Seeing You Hui's head shaking vigorously at that bouncy spot, and her hands flailing about helplessly, Xiao Wu suppressed her anger and mocked.

Romantina immediately let go and shook Youhui vigorously, whose face was flushed and You Hui looked as if she had been holding her breath for a while, making her head spin around. "Are you alright, You Hui!"

"N-nothing... it's nothing." You Hui patted her face, which was red from either holding her breath or blushing, trying to force herself to come back to her senses.

Zhou Qing, not wanting the three girls to continue their commotion, interjected, "You Hui, you are Baron, right?"

"Yes, what's wrong?"

You Hui didn't understand why Zhou Qing suddenly asked that question.

"Shouldn't you be able to visit Dales at the City Lord's Mansion?"

Since You Hui also wants to find out the truth, she can visit Dales as Baron and stall Dales for a while, allowing them to investigate the study Tang San found in the City Lord's Mansion's mansion...