Rumors

The room fell into dead silence for a moment.

Wu Qianhuan perked up her ears, thinking of the demonic arts practiced by Tang Yinfeng and Tang Xi.

If those two had another identity, that was certainly enough to pique her curiosity.

Where had these people gathered so many demonic cultivation techniques, and what exactly were they trying to accomplish?

But after staring at Wu Ganqi for a long while, Tang Yinfeng let out a sigh.

"Forget it, forget it. I know I can't fool you. How could I make up some title to keep you on tenterhooks in such a short time?

"Now that the victor takes all, I have nothing to say.

"Kill me or hack me to pieces, as you please."

"We've known each other for three years. I always thought of you as a close friend, but it seems I was mistaken."

Wu Ganqi waved a hand.

"Guards, take him away. See that he's properly looked after for now. I'll decide what to do with him later."

"Yes, sir."

At once, Heavenly Dance Guards came over and dragged Tang Yinfeng away.

Wu Ganqi gazed at the doorway, lost in thought for a moment, then turned to Wu Qianhuan.

"When do you think we should kill him?"

"After we've gotten everything we can out of him."

Wu Qianhuan replied without a moment's thought.

"There may be thieves who steal for a thousand days, but there are no guards who can stay on watch for a thousand days.

"What happened in Uncle Chu's courtyard today was the work of Sin Mirror Platform, commissioned by Ten Thousand Night Valley.

"The longer we let this drag on, the worse it'll be for us.

"So, Father, I think we should play along and lure them into the trap."

Wu Ganqi looked at his only beloved daughter. A hint of tenderness showed on his rugged face.

"You're right... Mm, was the man who came to Luoyu Hall with you tonight the Night Emperor?"

"...Yes."

Wu Qianhuan opened her mouth, intending to say that the man might have been Chu Qing as well as the Night Emperor.

But the matter wasn't certain yet, so she couldn't bring it up outright.

"When did the martial world produce such a figure, with a title so brazen?

"But thanks to his help this time, taking Luoyu Hall was much easier than it might have been otherwise.

"Here's what we'll do. Prepare a generous gift for him later."

Wu Qianhuan nodded in agreement.

Wu Ganqi glanced at her and noticed something was off in her expression. He was about to ask when a Heavenly Dance Guard came to report:

"Eldest Young Master Chu is here."

Wu Ganqi's expression did not change. He said, "Let him in."

A moment later, Chu Tian, dressed in white, stepped into the secret chamber.

He clasped his hands in greeting, first acknowledging Wu Qianhuan, then paying his respects to Wu Ganqi.

"Big Brother Chu, what brings you here? Did something happen at the Chu Family tonight?"

Wu Qianhuan remembered seeing several Chu Family disciples while she had been with Chu Qing earlier.

She'd worried something might have happened to the Chu Family, which was why she'd hurried home.

After she reported what had happened, Wu Ganqi had taken her straight to Luoyu Hall.

Now that she'd seen Chu Tian, she naturally had to ask.

Chu Tian nodded and replied with a faint smile, "My father is dead."

Wu Qianhuan felt as if she'd been struck by lightning.

Before she could recover from the shocking news, Wu Ganqi nodded and said, "I know."

Wu Qianhuan's eyes widened. Uncle Chu was dead! What kind of reaction was that?

Why was he still smiling?

When had the world become so warped that she no longer recognized it?

The news of Chu Yunfei's "death" was not widely announced.

Yet the atmosphere throughout Heavenly Dance City grew exceedingly strange.

The next day, Chu Qing left the inn, intending to find a blacksmith first. But he saw Heavenly Dance Guards rushing about, searching everywhere.

They looked as if they couldn't wait to turn the whole city upside down.

What was more, all four gates—to the east, west, south, and north—were shut that day. The Heavenly Dance Guards tightened security, and no one was allowed to leave, though people could still enter.

Naturally, the common folk were all on edge, with no idea what had happened.

But there were still a few "well-connected" people at the inn, whispering about things no one else knew.

"I heard Chu Yunfei was assassinated last night."

"We don't know exactly who did it... but they must have powerful backing."

"I wonder who Chu Yunfei offended to end up like this."

"Shh, keep your voice down. The City Lord's Mansion is keeping the news under wraps. No private discussion allowed."

"Master Chu was a good man... How could this happen? Is this news even true?"

"How could it be false? Didn't you see them take down the banquet tables? They were supposed to keep the feast going for three days... It's only been one, and it's already over."

"But if it's true, why keep it under wraps?"

"I heard Ten Thousand Night Valley has been looking for a fight with Heavenly Dance City. They feared Master Chu because of his formidable martial arts. If they find out he's dead, who knows what they'll do?"

"What? They're going to fight again? Th-then what are we supposed to do?"

As the news spread, the people of Heavenly Dance City grew increasingly uneasy.

And rumors about what had happened grew more and more numerous.

Would Ten Thousand Night Valley attack Heavenly Dance City or not? What would happen to the people of the city if they did?

Some also talked about "Chu Qing," who had been gone for seven years. The moment he returned, he'd put on a show of a wicked son murdering his father, giving rise to all kinds of speculation.

Rumors rose and fell, but under the City Lord's Mansion's heavy-handed suppression, they gradually faded away.

Yet among all the rumors, no one mentioned Luoyu Hall.

The rain that fell last night had covered up many things.

Even those who had seen or heard something kept their mouths shut and their ears covered.

On the surface, Luoyu Hall remained just as it had always been.

Everything was calm and peaceful...

Chu Qing wasn't distracted by the rumors. He went about his own business.

He found a blacksmith and ordered a sword.

Then, using the measurements of the Sleeve Arrow, he ordered ten of them.

Unfortunately, he wasn't skilled in poisons...

He figured that if he came across a suitable poison later, he'd find a way to coat the Sleeve Arrows with it.

The sword would take a few days to forge, so Chu Qing wasn't in a hurry. Carrying a box containing Tang Xi's head, he ambled off to a certain place.

The Land God Temple.

Chu Qing had often come here as a child, back when the temple was still bustling with worshippers.

But a new Land God Temple had been built a few years ago, and this one had gradually fallen into disuse.

Er Gou had temporarily taken shelter in the temple.

But when Chu Qing arrived, he found that someone else was waiting there besides Er Gou.

Wu Qianhuan.

She was crouched on the roof of the Land God Temple, alertly watching all directions. Anyone who didn't know better would have thought she was some petty thief.

Chu Qing smacked his lips. He reined in his aura, then quietly approached.

He stopped about a zhang away and looked at the young woman, whose shapely backside was slightly raised...

An ordinary man might have felt the urge to give it a slap.

But not Chu Qing... Faced with this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, he honestly felt an overwhelming urge to kick her instead.

That was probably the childhood-friend memories at work, right?