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A long sword pierced Xin Youhen's chest, protruding more than half a foot from his back.

Blood dripped from the sword tip, soaking into the earth.

Looking at the disbelief on Xin Youhen's face, Chu Qing felt a little helpless. Xin Youhen had already become "Xin Youjian"—what else was impossible?

He pulled the sword from Xin Youhen's chest. With a muffled grunt, it slid back into its sheath.

"The moment you let me strike first... you were already a dead man."

Xin Youhen pressed a hand to his chest and looked at Chu Qing.

"I see... If I... if I'd been at full strength, if I hadn't been injured... you... you wouldn't have been a match for me...

"Damn it... damn it all!

"If... if the secret inheritance of Ten Thousand Night Valley were still intact..."

He reached out to grab something, but it was hard to tell whether he meant to seize Chu Qing or the secret inheritance of Ten Thousand Night Valley he'd just mentioned.

Before his arm could stretch out, he toppled to the ground with a thud, dead.

[Commission Completed!]

[Successfully killed Xin Youhen. Obtained one Random Martial Arts Treasure Chest.]

Chu Qing read the prompt and let out a quiet breath. Then he turned and looked at Wu Qianhuan.

The killing intent in his eyes startled her, and she instinctively took a step back.

Her expression was full of uncertainty, too.

Was he really Chu Qing?

If so, where had all that killing intent come from?

And what was this sword technique?

Wu Qianhuan was certain that if she'd been in Xin Youhen's place, she would have died even faster from that single strike.

What kind of sword technique was it?

Simple, pure, and incomparably fast.

And then there was his strategy, his scheming...

Chu Qing had never been particularly clever.

If the Chu Family had to have a prodigy, it would be Chu Tian, not Chu Qing.

If this really was Chu Qing... what had he gone through during those seven missing years to become like this?

He didn't want to show his real face. Was there some reason he couldn't?

Wu Qianhuan gazed at the man before her, then drew a deep breath.

"I'll prepare a Silver Note for a thousand taels. It won't bear the seal of the City Lord's Mansion of Heavenly Dance City.

"You can redeem it at any of the Myriad Treasures Money Houses across the land.

"But you have to tell me how I can find you."

Chu Qing smiled faintly. The killing intent in his eyes had completely vanished.

"At midnight tonight, I'll await your arrival at Du Hua Pavilion in the eastern part of the city, Eldest Young Lady."

"It's a deal."

Wu Qianhuan gazed at Chu Qing for a moment, then turned to leave.

But Chu Qing suddenly called out.

"Wait."

"Is there something else?"

Wu Qianhuan stopped.

After a brief pause, Chu Qing said, "Since Miss Wu is one of my clients, I'll give you a piece of news for free.

"On the way here to Heavenly Dance City, I came across a Heavenly Dance Guard whose legs had been cut off.

"He still had a breath left in him then, and told me something."

Wu Qianhuan's breathing quickened.

"You saw him? What did he say?"

"He said... 'Tell Green Leaf Sword hilt Tian Tian Tian.'"

Wu Qianhuan: "?"

It was as if she'd learned the art of changing faces. Her expression raced through surprise, anticipation, and finally, Are you messing with me?

At last, she asked, "What does that mean?"

"...That's a question you should be asking yourself."

Chu Qing rolled his eyes.

"Those were the dying man's exact words. I repeated every one of them to you. Figuring out what they mean has nothing to do with me."

"Fine. Thank you."

Wu Qianhuan reined in her emotions. After a moment's thought, she asked, "What should I call you?"

What should she call him?

Chu Qing fidgeted a little, then shamelessly said, "Just call me... Night Emperor."

As soon as he said it, he got goosebumps.

When he'd chosen the name, it hadn't seemed strange. But saying it out loud now made it sound unbearably chuunibyou.

There was nothing he could do. He'd tried to think of a less embarrassing name, but he simply had no talent for naming things.

Wu Qianhuan's expression shifted slightly.

"So you're the Night Emperor... Were you the one who killed the Iron Horse Seven Bandits?"

Chu Qing nodded and smiled.

"Oh, right. Before they died, they said they had an inside man in Heavenly Dance City."

Wu Qianhuan didn't seem surprised.

"Do you know who it is?"

"I do."

Chu Qing nodded without hesitation.

Wu Qianhuan was taken aback again. He really knew? How did he know so much?

She hurriedly asked, "Who?"

"Miss Wu, the first piece of news was free. If I give you this next one for free, people might start wondering whether you and I are carrying on some kind of secret exchange."

Chu Qing smiled.

"Or does the Eldest Young Lady of Heavenly Dance City enjoy getting something for nothing?"

Wu Qianhuan raised an eyebrow.

"You... do you have money for brains?

"How much?"

Chu Qing held up five fingers.

"Fine. I'll pay you tonight. Now tell me!"

Wu Qianhuan was wealthy and didn't care about the price.

Chu Qing nodded in satisfaction.

"As expected of Miss Wu. You're decisive.

"The one colluding with the Iron Horse Seven Bandits in Heavenly Dance City is Liu Shijie, deputy hall master of Luoyu Hall."

Wu Qianhuan's expression didn't change, though a thoughtful look flickered in her eyes.

Chu Qing was a little surprised.

"You'd already guessed?"

"Luoyu Hall's origins seem clean, but there are plenty of suspicious things about it... When I was at the Chu Family today, I was also testing Tang Xi..."

She paused, then shook her head gently.

"That has nothing to do with you. This information is important to me. Thank you. I'll take my leave."

"Please."

Chu Qing cupped his hands. Wu Qianhuan gave him one last look, then turned and hurried toward Heavenly Dance City.

Only after Wu Qianhuan had disappeared from sight did Chu Qing look at Xin Youhen's corpse.

He searched it briefly, then shook his head in disappointment.

Xin Youhen had come intending to kill, and Chu Yunfei was still at the Chu Family. It was hard to say whether Xin Youhen would have made it back alive. So aside from a few loose coins, he had nothing else on him.

There wasn't even a Silver Note to use as kindling... Chu Qing could only find some dry grass nearby and use the Fire Starter to light it, coaxing the flames to life.

He watched the blazing fire and the thick smoke billowing upward.

Chu Qing looked toward Heavenly Dance City in the distance.

He let out a quiet breath.

"Ten Thousand Night Valley, Heavenly Dance City, Luoyu Hall, Sin Mirror Platform... There's quite a show playing out in Heavenly Dance City.

"From what Wu Qianhuan said just now, Chu Yunfei's banquet this time isn't so simple, either.

"Ten Thousand Night Valley dared to make a move against Wu Qianhuan. Things may seem calm on the surface, but behind the scenes, they've already become irreconcilable.

"Could Ten Thousand Night Valley be the one who hired someone to kill Chu Yunfei?

"If that's really the case, things are going to get troublesome..."

He sorted through what he'd learned, then suddenly looked toward a patch of grass nearby, his expression turning slightly surprised.

"Gone?

"Never mind him. There's one more thing I need to settle."