Mei Qianluo

This answer was far beyond the expectations of both Chu Qing and the man in black.

"Utterly absurd!"

The man in black could not believe it and said coldly:

"Who exactly are you? What purpose did you have in hiding within the Chu Family?

"Did the people of the Chu Family... know that I am now in Heavenly Dance City?

"If you tell me truthfully, I may yet spare your life tonight... otherwise, do not blame me for showing no mercy."

Those words were clearly meant to fool ghosts.

He had hired assassins, dressed in black with his face covered, and even launched a sneak attack just now.

He was plainly here to silence them forever. How could he possibly spare anyone's life?

Junior Sister Wen's cold face showed no change, though her gaze held a trace of confusion.

"I am Wen Rou, fourth disciple under Cui Bunü of Great Easy Sect's Divine Fist of Non-Anger.

"Hiding in the Chu Family? No, that did not happen... I went there with Third Senior Brother.

"After Third Senior Brother mastered his arts, he returned home. Later, he planned to roam the martial world in search of his third brother. He said he could take me home along the way, so Master had me descend the mountain with him.

"Master also told me to listen to Third Senior Brother...

"I do not know whether the Chu Family knows you are in Heavenly Dance City.

"But judging by the way you look, you should not be a good person. Even if they know, I cannot tell you.

"By the way, Uncle, who exactly are you?"

Hearing Wen Rou's words, the man in black's eyes flickered with thought.

This girl somehow seemed... not very bright. Would any normal person answer every question from a black-clad stranger of unknown origins?

Could she... be mad?

A thought stirred in his mind, and he decided to test her.

"Little girl, I was only joking with you just now.

"I am actually a good person."

"...But you just said you wanted to kill me."

"Eh? We have no grievance from distant days, no enmity from today. Why would I kill you?"

The man in black said:

"How about this? You asked who I am just now, and I will tell you. But in the name of fairness, I answer one question from you, and you answer one from me. How does that sound?"

Light immediately sparkled in Wen Rou's eyes.

"Do you want to be friends with me?"

"Friends... yes!"

The man in black hurriedly nodded.

"I want to be friends with you!"

Chu Qing blinked, feeling that something seemed fishy here.

Wen Rou had clearly seemed unfathomably profound earlier. Why did she now look like a foolish little girl?

Or was it because she spoke so little that she had seemed unfathomable? Once she spoke more, her innocent, foolish side was exposed?

The man in black clearly wanted to pry for information, but how much did Wen Rou know?

At this point, should he stop her?

Chu Tian and the others wanted to lay out a chessboard, and the matter involved the conflict between Valley of Ten Thousand Nights and Heavenly Dance City.

The origins of this man in black were unknown, but he was clearly ill-intentioned.

Wen Rou had picked up his fan. He believed that she had learned his identity, and that identity absolutely could not be known by the Chu Family.

That was why he had come tonight to kill and silence them.

Could this man be a hidden operative Valley of Ten Thousand Nights had planted in Heavenly Dance City?

If so, then he truly could not be allowed to leave this courtyard.

This matter concerned not only the safety of the Chu Family and Heavenly Dance City, but also one of his own big jobs.

As he thought this, Wen Rou nodded.

"Alright. Then tell me first, who exactly are you?"

The man in black was delighted when he heard this. He had originally intended to make up a name, assuming the girl would not be able to tell.

But after hesitating for a moment, he did not dare be so careless. He spoke in a deep voice instead:

"My surname is Mei. Mei Qianluo!"

Chu Qing's eyes narrowed slightly. Mei Qianluo... Flying Cloud Sparrow Fan, Withered Leaves Thousand Fall!

This man was Third Boss of the Divine Sand Gang, Mei Qianluo, the 'Flying Cloud Withered Leaves.'

But... why was he in Heavenly Dance City?

And why had he appeared during Heavenly Dance City's lockdown?

The Divine Sand Gang bordered Valley of Ten Thousand Nights and had always been at odds with it, yet at this juncture, he had appeared in Heavenly Dance City.

What was going on?

Yet Wen Rou's eyes widened when she heard it.

"Your name is No Money?

"How pitiful. I do have some loose silver on me. Do you want it?"

"..."

I want your First Master!!

Mei Qianluo's face darkened. His given name was not Mei Qianluo, but the eight words "Flying Cloud Sparrow Fan, Withered Leaves Thousand Fall" were an illustrious banner. People of the martial world simply called him "Qianluo" instead of using his name.

For over twenty years now, no one had ever dared use this to mock him.

Yet today, he had actually been ridiculed like this by a little girl not yet twenty.

He drew a deep breath and forced himself to speak.

"Little girl, do not say anything else. You have finished asking your question, and now it is my turn.

"Let me ask you: is Chu Yunfei truly dead?"

Chu Qing concealed his aura even further. This question was crucial.

He quietly watched Wen Rou, wondering how she would answer.

"I do not know."

Wen Rou's voice remained devoid of warmth.

"Master said that when visiting someone else's home, I must not cause them trouble.

"So every day, the moment I opened my eyes, I wandered outside, only returning at night.

"The Chu Family has been bustling about these past few days, and no one has paid attention to me. I have not even seen Third Senior Brother for several days.

"Eh? Are you saying uncle Chu is dead?"

"..."

Who the hell was questioning whom?

If I knew... why would I go out of my way to ask you?

Just as he was considering what to ask next, Wen Rou spoke.

"No, no. I do not want to know the answer to that question. It does not count. I will ask another one.

"Besides me, how many friends do you have in this city?"

The instant this question left her mouth, Chu Qing's expression suddenly became somewhat strange.

He had thought Wen Rou truly was a silly little fool. But... with her first question, she had drawn out Mei Qianluo's name and thereby learned his origins.

As for the second question... rather than asking about his friends, she was asking how many people from the Divine Sand Gang were hiding within Heavenly Dance City, waiting for their chance to act.

"Hmm?"

Mei Qianluo froze.

"Wait. Your answer just now was that you did not know. By rights, I should get to ask one more question."

"That is not right."

Wen Rou shook her head.

"Not knowing is my answer. I already answered you truthfully.

"That question has passed now. It is your turn to answer mine.

"Or is it that... you never wanted to be friends with me at all, you were merely..."

Her voice suddenly turned even colder.

"Deceiving me here?"

Mei Qianluo's pupils abruptly contracted.

"Bold indeed!!"

After hunting geese all day, he had been pecked blind by a sparrow!

That stinking girl had played dumb and fooled him instead.

In a burst of rage, he raised his hand to strike, only to see Wen Rou's finger force already before him.

His fury surged further. With a casual flick of his hand, there came a rustle as a folding fan opened. When his finger tapped the fan's surface, it was like shattered stone falling into water.

As ripples rose and fell across the fan, Mei Qianluo snapped his wrist, drawing it back before sweeping it out.

Wen Rou arched backward to evade it, then tapped the ground with her toes—Grand Easy Divine Legs!

Yet in her hands, this technique lacked Chu Fan's overwhelming force and weight. Instead, it was light and nimble, carrying a different kind of exquisite transformation.