Outlaw Zhang San (Part 2)

Old Jack led the group from Spirit Hall to the outside of Li Qing's little house.

Having long noticed the commotion outside, Tang San and the other two came out to greet the visitors.

"Grandpa Jack, who are these people?"

"This is Soul Sage Brand from Spirit Hall. The ones behind him are the attendant soldiers under Lord Brand's command."

A Soul Sage? Brand?

Tang San already knew that Nuoding City's Spirit Hall had no Soul Sage stationed there.

And Old Jack had gone to Nuoding City's Spirit Hall, so there were only two possibilities.

Either he had happened to pass by, or he had come specifically for the man in black!

If it was for the man in black...

Tang San studied Brand.

At a glance, this guy didn't look like...

A bad person!

Just as Tang San was making all sorts of guesses in his mind, Brand spoke.

"Is the injured youth inside this house?"

Brand pointed at the house behind Tang San and asked softly. There was not the slightest hint of malice in his words; instead, they carried the warmth of sunshine on Sanya's beaches in summer, warm enough to make one sweat.

Tang San stepped aside and made way.

"Yes, Your Excellency Soul Sage."

"Good."

Brand turned and gave orders to his attendant soldiers.

"You will wait outside. Remember, keep quiet!"

When speaking to Old Jack and Tang San, Brand's voice had been very polite. But when issuing orders, he was stern and unquestionable!

"Let's go."

Brand strode into Li Qing's little house.

On the wooden bed, Li Qing was still immersed in that wonderful unconscious world. Or rather...

A dream world?

"Ah... Don't come any closer..."

Li Qing suddenly woke up.

Damn, that was terrifying.

He had actually dreamed that he had returned to Earth and was still in that restaurant. Only this time, the customer wanted to drink his blood!

And that person had been the man in black from last night!

Li Qing had been scared awake on the spot.

"Hmm???" Li Qing looked curiously at Brand.

"Xiao San, who's this punk-looking big brother? He's pretty fashion!"

Tang San hurriedly waved his hands. "No, this is Soul Sage Brand from Spirit Hall."

Brand? Was he someone who played with fire? Li Qing wondered inwardly.

"May I ask what brings Your Excellency Soul Sage Brand here?" Li Qing asked.

"Actually, I am a law enforcer specifically assigned by Spirit Hall, responsible for Zhang San's case."

Li Qing's expression became complicated, and he could not help blurting out, "Zhang San?"

Brand slapped his forehead.

"I forgot to tell you. Zhang San was the man in black who attacked you last night.

A few days ago, an elder of Spirit Hall sent me out to capture and kill him. Yet I never expected that he would be dealt with by a little Soul Master like you."

"No, no, no. I didn't deal with Zhang San. He self-destructed."

The moment Brand finished speaking, Li Qing hurriedly explained. This matter absolutely could not be pinned on him.

First, what if that guy had other accomplices? If they heard that a little Soul Master had killed their brother, wouldn't they come looking for trouble with him?

Second, he had exposed so many trump cards that day. He definitely could not tell anyone about them.

And besides, who would believe that a Soul Master had killed a Soul Elder? If he told people, they would probably think he was an idiot.

Brand pinched his smooth, bare chin, deep in thought.

"Can you give me a detailed account of what happened last night? I need to make a record and report it to the elders."

"Of course, but let me drink some water first. My mouth is a little dry."

After saying that, Li Qing opened his big, doe-like eyes and looked at Tang San expectantly.

Li Qing had no choice. Both his shoulders had been pierced through and wrapped up tightly; he could not move at all.

Tang San understood what Li Qing meant. Silently, he picked up the cup from the table, poured him some water, and fed it to him.

"Gulp, gulp, gulp.

Burp~"

"Thanks, Xiao San!"

Brand knowingly found himself a chair and sat down, quietly waiting for Li Qing's performance.

"Ahem, ahem, ahem~"

Li Qing cleared his throat.

"Welcome to Li Qing Tells Stories."

"It all began last night."

"Last night, the moon was dark and the wind was high. Ling Ren and I had been exhausted after a full day of travel, so we went to bed early.

But suddenly!

Just as we were sleeping deeply, there was a disturbance on the roof, and Ling Ren and I woke up at once."

As Li Qing spoke, his eyes remained fixed on the two listeners before him. His tone rose and fell dramatically, brimming with passion!

"At first, we thought some little bird had landed up there, so we shouted loudly, hoping to scare it away.

But who would have thought!

Roof tiles fell to the ground, and their crisp shattering sound proved that whatever was on the roof was definitely not a bird!

Ling Ren and I immediately rushed outside. We didn't even put on our shoes.

Once outside, we saw..."

One second of silence, two seconds, three seconds... ten seconds.

"What did you see?"

Brand finally broke the prolonged silence.

When Brand spoke, Li Qing knew that his storytelling skills seemed to be pretty good!

"We saw a huge bat with a green face and fangs, hanging upside down from the thick tree across from the house.

It kept letting out terrifying cries. That sound, tsk tsk tsk.

It was like the howls of countless evil ghosts from the depths of hell—chilling and shrill.

Ling Ren and I immediately broke out in goosebumps.

And then...

That was the full account of what happened."

Li Qing spoke with such gusto that he stretched a very short story out for a full half hour!

Both Brand and Tang San were left dumbfounded.

But whenever the reason for the man in black's self-destruction came up, Li Qing would let out a deep sigh.

"Alas, my strength was too weak. The man in black smacked me into the dirt with one wing, and my head spun so badly that I had no idea what happened.

When I looked up again, the blast wave from the explosion sent me flying.

And after that, I saw you, Lord Brand."

Brand nodded. "All right, I understand."

Li Qing secretly rejoiced. It seemed that the story he had just told—based on the events of last night and artistically embellished by a famous chef from Earth—had successfully fooled him.

"Lord Brand, you must seek justice for me! That man in black sucked so much of my blood for no reason.

My injuries are so serious~

It hurts so much~"

Brand was suddenly startled. Hadn't this guy been perfectly fine just now? Why was he suddenly crying?!

"All right, all right." Brand waved his hand and stared at Li Qing, an odd smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.

Li Qing looked into Brand's eyes.

Could it be...

He had his eye on my pure, young body?

Sitting on the bed, Li Qing unconsciously scooted backward.

"I have already prepared some medicinal herbs for treating your injuries, as well as some Gold Soul Coins as compensation."

Li Qing let out a long breath. Good, good. Brand had no designs on his body. Otherwise... he...

Would drag Tang San and Ling Ren in with him...