"Cut it out." The gray-haired man seemed quite amiable as he refuted him. "Though my men did not see you kill those six bandits, judging from the wounds on their throats alone, I could easily tell that you killed them with the little sword in your clothes."
Hearing this, Zhang Xiaohua involuntarily felt inside his clothes. Fortunately, the little sword and money pouch were still there, as were all four small Qi Stones.
Looking embarrassed at having been exposed, Zhang Xiaohua said, "So you all knew already. Hehe."
"Speak! What exactly was your reason? Those were seven human lives! A mere youth like you was actually so ruthless and vicious. Did they have a feud with you over your father's murder?"
"A feud over my father's murder?" Zhang Xiaohua's eyes rolled again as he said sorrowfully, "My lord, you are absolutely right. I do have a feud with several bandits over my father's murder. I came today to avenge him."
He immediately began making up a convoluted, mournful tale. But just as his story was getting underway, the gray-haired man waved a hand. "Stop spouting nonsense. I have no wish to hear your rubbish. With your skills, how could you possibly have formed a feud with bandits? I do not care whether those bandits live or die. I will ask you only one question: where did the cauldron in the Secret Chamber go?"
"The cauldron?" Zhang Xiaohua was completely baffled. Perplexed, he said, "My lord, please see clearly—I never saw any cauldron at all. And to tell the truth, I never even knew there was a Secret Chamber there. I had intended to assassinate the stronghold chief, but he was always together with your people, so I had no chance. Thus, I thought of hiding somewhere in the rear hall