Under the glow of the lanterns outside the courtyards on either side, Qu Zhongheng of the Qigu People hopped on his single leg up to Ding Songyan and asked in surprise:
"What are you doing here?"
He also knew Xu Chang'an, but looked down on him for being a thief and could not be bothered to greet him.
"I moved here." Ding Songyan pointed at the house that had yet to have a "Ding Residence" plaque hung above its entrance.
Qu Zhongheng blurted out in astonishment:
"Where did you get the money?"
"My master gave it to me as a reward," Ding Songyan answered "truthfully."
With the Accumulated Evil Path having investigated the Zhen Estate affair, he no longer mentioned to outsiders that he had been rewarded for his part in it.
"Right, you're Sect Master Tao of the Xiaoming Sect's personal disciple." Realization dawned on Qu Zhongheng's reasonably handsome face.
The horizontal Yin Eye between his brows remained tightly closed.
Before Ding Songyan could say anything else, Qu Zhongheng, dressed in coarse, short garments with a leather belt around his waist, lamented:
"How could a girl as pure and lovely as little sister Qingyan be a demoness?"
Exactly, exactly! Xu Chang'an could not help nodding in agreement.
It's been so long. How have you still not accepted it? Amused, Ding Songyan said:
"You can't judge a person by their appearance."
Take me, for instance.
"Ah." Qu Zhongheng sighed mournfully.
Suddenly, his gaze swept over the Cold Shadow Sword in Ding Songyan's left hand, and his eyes froze:
"That sword... what's that sword doing in your hands?"
"Why shouldn't it be in my hands? I'm the sect master's personal disciple." Ding Songyan smiled, taking no offense. He had long known that Qu Sanlang wore every joy and grievance on his