Before Life and Death, All Are Equal

Wu Qianhuan thought carefully and couldn't help but feel a little impressed.

This Secret Letter Writing Method was indeed ingenious. The only drawback was that it required an accompanying Records of the Strange, which could easily leave a clue.

But this misplacement method compensated for this deficiency...

She immediately nodded:

"Okay, I understand. What next? If I write the secret letter, how should I give it to you?"

"Hmm... let's use the oil and grain store."

Chu Qing said:

"In the back alley of the Chen Ji Oil and Grain Store on North City Street in Heavenly Dance City. After you finish writing the secret letter, find a stone to press it down.

"I will have someone check every night at midnight, and I won't miss your letter."

Wu Qianhuan carefully took note, glanced at Chu Qing again, and then said:

"Alright, I've finished what I needed to do. Goodbye."

"Miss Wu, wait a moment."

Chu Qing suddenly spoke.

Wu Qianhuan stopped and turned to look at him.

Chu Qing smiled:

"Speaking of which, my understanding of Ten Thousand Night Valley is limited. I'll have to trouble Miss Wu to help me out and provide some Intelligence."

"That's easy."

Wu Qianhuan seemed prepared. She directly took out an envelope from her embrace and threw it to Chu Qing:

"This is the information on the various experts of Ten Thousand Night Valley. Just memorize it."

"Good, good, good. I will definitely keep it in mind. When I've marked down the prices later, Miss Wu, don't forget to prepare the silver."

"...You won't be shortchanged."

Wu Qianhuan's face darkened slightly before she leaped away.

Only after Wu Qianhuan completely disappeared from his sight did Chu Qing look thoughtfully at the Xuan You Sword in his hand.

"Starting after the new year, Ten Thousand Night Valley will be active in Heavenly Dance City.

"This sword was obtained before the new year..."

"But it's called the Xuan You Sword, not the Green Leaf Sword. Could there be something mysterious inside the hilt of this sword?"

He examined it carefully. This sword should have come from a master craftsman. The hilt was forged as a single piece, without any trace of being joined.

Chu Qing searched for a while, but found nothing, and chuckled wryly.

"That's right. I told Wu Qianhuan about that information before. She has no reason to overlook this sword, so how could she not have investigated it thoroughly?

"If there was anything, she would have taken it long ago... But, if there really was something hidden in the hilt, what could it be?"

For some reason, he suddenly remembered Xin Youhen's dying words:

"A secret technique lost from Ten Thousand Night Valley?

"But how do you explain 'Tian Tian Tian'?

"It's unlikely there are really three heavens. The man was dying and short of breath, so it's more likely he said one word three times.

"So, what starts with 'Tian'?"

After thinking carefully, he found no relevant information in his mind, so he shook his head gently.

If he couldn't figure something out, he wouldn't think about it for now.

As an assassin, why should he waste his brainpower here?

Matters requiring brainpower should be left to Chu Tian and the others.

Thinking of this, he looked at Er Gou, who was still sitting in front of the earth temple, with a complicated expression.

Er Gou would be close to death if left unattended.

Chu Qing let out a soft breath and flicked his wrist, throwing the wooden box over.

The sudden movement startled Er Gou.

He instinctively looked up and saw a black-clothed man wearing a mask sitting quietly on the roof, watching him.

"It's you?"

Seeing the mask, Er Gou immediately recognized Chu Qing's identity. For a moment, he felt the blood flowing through his body become more vigorous.

"This is Tang Xi's head inside."

Chu Qing said softly.

Er Gou trembled at the words, then took a deep breath and reached out to open the box.

A pale head appeared before his eyes.

Er Gou watched silently, his eyes burning with rage.

Yet, tears also flowed uncontrollably.

At first, it was silent weeping, which eventually turned into wailing.

Only after he finished crying did he kneel before Chu Qing, prostrating himself on the ground:

"Thank you, benefactor... for avenging my wife!!"

"Benefactor?"

Chu Qing's voice sounded particularly cold at this moment:

"You call me benefactor? Have you forgotten the agreement I made with you that day?"

Er Gou shook his head repeatedly:

"Er Gou dares not forget. From today onwards, this life belongs to benefactor."

"If that is the case, there is no debt of gratitude between us. You owe me nothing."

Chu Qing said softly:

"Your life for Tang Xi's life. It's very fair."

Er Gou was stunned:

"My worthless life, how can it be compared to someone like Tang Xi?"

"Human lives have no high or low status..."

Chu Qing's voice suddenly reached Er Gou's ears. Er Gou's heart jolted as he realized Chu Qing, who had been on the rooftop, had already appeared beside him.

He placed a hand on Er Gou's shoulder and spoke in a low voice:

"No matter if you are a peerless hero or an emperor of this world, you will eventually face death.

"Before life and death, everyone is equal.

"Er Gou, remember this, your life is sold to me... From now on, unless I agree, you don't even have the right to die."

Er Gou subconsciously nodded. He felt Chu Qing was right, yet something felt off.

He lowered his head and pondered, unsure of what to say for a moment.

Then he heard Chu Qing ask:

"Do you have any other family members at home?"

"...gone."

Er Gou's expression was dejected:

"I'm the only one left."

Chu Qing nodded, then suddenly grabbed Er Gou's wrist. A purple light flashed from his fingertips, instantly sinking into Er Gou's body.

Er Gou didn't understand what was happening when Chu Qing suddenly flung his hand away.

His body spun uncontrollably as his fingertips rained down, striking acupoints on Er Gou's chest and back.

With each finger strike, a purple light flashed.

After tapping over thirty acupoints in total, Chu Qing flipped his palms and pressed them onto Er Gou's back.

Intense pain surged through Er Gou's body, causing him to cry out involuntarily.

"Hold it in, don't make a sound."

Chu Qing's voice suddenly came from beside his ear.

Although Er Gou didn't know why Chu Qing was suddenly tormenting him, he gritted his teeth and remained silent, remembering their previous agreement.

He was a resilient person by nature, having pushed past many limits under Tang Xi's constant pressure.

Now, despite the searing pain in his body like a knife twisting, and fine sweat beading on his forehead, he endured without a sound.

The time it took for an incense stick to burn passed in an instant. Wisps of white mist began to rise from Chu Qing's head.

Suddenly, he applied a slight force with his palms, and Er Gou stumbled forward uncontrollably.

After staggering a couple of steps, he steadied himself and looked back. He saw Chu Qing slowly lowering his hands, the purple hue in his eyes quietly fading.

His heart tightened inexplicably, filled with confusion, but he didn't know how to ask.

Chu Qing, however, seemed to read his mind and spoke calmly:

"Tang Xi planted a Demonic Seed within you, fueling your hatred, intending to use your heart to cultivate.

"He is dead now, but this Demonic Seed remains.

"Since you have entered my sect, your life and death are mine to decide. How can you die by another's hand?"