Go On, Ask Already

In those few words, Third Master's future was settled.

Third Master's old face darkened further. How was this any different from treating him like raw meat to be traded?

But he truly had no choice.

Zhou Muzhi stood to gain now, and the people who would die belonged to Young Master Qian. Sending him over to pry Hua Kai's mouth open was giving him a choice.

If he refused, he would die right now.

Faced with dying later or dying now, Third Master picked up a knife without expression.

As an old street rogue who had been around for years, he had not held his ground by being a soft persimmon anyone could squeeze. He could be ruthless when he needed to be.

But he also knew where things stood. He had seen clearly from inside the room earlier: this Lao Xu had probably already opened the Blood Gate.

And this Young Master Zhou, who had crippled Hua Kai in a single exchange, was no simple figure either.

With strength like theirs, falling in behind them was not such a bad prospect. At least he would have real backing from now on.

When Third Master approached Hua Kai with the knife, Hua Kai's eyes shook violently. Still in too much pain to speak, he wanted to say something, but his ability to speak had yet to return. His lips trembled without producing a word.

"Don't blame me. You can keep your secrets for now, but when Young Master Zhou asks you in a moment, I hope you won't take them to the grave."

Third Master crouched down, his eyes sweeping over Hua Kai's body like someone looking for a place to bring down the knife when slaughtering a chicken. He, too, was looking for somewhere easy to cut.

Finally, he took Hua Kai's left hand and lifted one index finger.

"Ugh... I... Aaargh!!!"

The knife came down, splashing blood across Third Master's face. Holding the other man's severed index finger, he said slowly, "You've still got nine. We're in no hurry. We can take our time."

Whether from pain or desperation, Hua Kai began to speak in a trembling voice, tears streaming down his face.

"Are... are you sick in the head?! Did... did I ever say I wouldn't talk?! Huh?!"

He roared the last word, his chest heaving violently.

Third Master froze at that, then silently dropped the knife. He stood and addressed Zhou Muzhi, who had been standing beside them all along. "Master Zhou, please ask your questions."

He could still keep a straight face in a situation like this. Watching how effortlessly Third Master maintained his composure, Zhou Muzhi inwardly approved.

After all, clever people were easy to keep in hand. That was also why he had not killed him.

Looking at Hua Kai, who lay like a dead dog, Zhou Muzhi asked, "What happened afterward to the girl you took away from Liu Street that day?"

Panting, Hua Kai narrowed his eyes at Zhou Muzhi. At that moment, he actually laughed.

"What's that woman to you, for you to care so much?"

Zhou Muzhi remained expressionless and glanced at Third Master. Third Master understood instantly, picked up the knife, and went over to cut off another finger.

After a scream rang out.

"Eight."

Third Master dropped the knife and reminded the trembling Hua Kai.

"You can continue," Zhou Muzhi said expressionlessly.

Hua Kai was truly afraid now. If he had really been a tough man, he would never have become Qian Zhen's dog, living without a shred of dignity.

"The young master ordered Ma Jin and me to seize her. Along the way, that woman used her charms to escape. After we caught her, we broke her legs on the spot, then sent her to the Covered Rain Gambling House. Afterward, the young master told us to keep a close watch on everyone connected to this!"

Hua Kai finished in a single breath, then began panting heavily again.

"Did you know everyone connected to these people has died?" Zhou Muzhi remarked.

"I know. I also know I might be among those connected to them."

"Oh," Zhou Muzhi said. He had not expected the man to have thought so far ahead.

"One last question."

"Wait," Hua Kai interrupted, then continued, "Promise me one thing, and I'll cooperate with everything. I'll even cooperate if you kill me."

Zhou Muzhi fell silent for a moment, then looked at him. "You're in no position to bargain."

Hua Kai knew that the moment he had attacked Zhou Muzhi, his death had become certain. Now, he undoubtedly wanted to leave something behind.

Having accepted it, he actually gave a snorting laugh.

"I'm in no position, sure. But you think you are? Who do you think you are, daring to offend Qian Zhen? That bastard's a madman. Promise me, and I'll tell you things I know that you don't. They're important. You won't be disappointed."

Perhaps he had lost too much blood. Even this Body Condensation martial artist was close to his limit, beginning to show the last flare of life before death. His speech grew increasingly fluent.

Zhou Muzhi clicked his tongue. He had to admit that the man's words tempted him.

He really did need to learn a thing or two about Qian Zhen. After all, he was the final boss; the more Zhou Muzhi knew, the easier he would be to fight.

As though afraid Zhou Muzhi would refuse, Hua Kai began adding weight to his offer.

"Don't think you can pry anything out of Ma Jin. Qian Zhen saved him. He'd kill himself before letting you learn a single thing."

"Go ahead."

Zhou Muzhi nodded, giving his agreement. But if the man's demand was too outrageous, he could not blame Zhou Muzhi for what followed.

"Good. After I die, take my mother away immediately. Get her out of here, as far away as possible!"

Hua Kai seemed to remember something. His expression softened briefly, and finally he sighed.

"She doesn't know anything. She's just an old woman close to death. She won't pose any threat to you."

"All right." An old woman posed no threat to him.

"Good! Once I die, with Qian Zhen's temperament, my family will never survive. This is all I ask.

"Now I'll tell you. There's a secret chamber beneath that gambling house. No one is allowed inside, but I know it's full of women."

Hua Kai coughed, spraying blood from his mouth. He rested a moment before continuing.

"I'm just a dog under him, not even a guard. As the future head of the Qian Family, the guards at his side must be Blood Gate experts, no fewer than three!"

That counted as a relatively important piece of information.

"Also, he loves collecting beautiful women. All that dirty work falls to me. The women taken away have never appeared again. With so many people disappearing without any trouble, someone in the authorities must be suppressing it. If you're going to deal with him, you must watch out for the county office."

At that moment, if someone said Hua Kai was on Zhou Muzhi's side, people would have believed it.

This Qian Zhen really was harsh in his treatment of others.

"Ma Jin has the gambling house key. Qian Zhen entrusted him with more important matters. One recent matter concerns your Zhou Family. He wants to move against the people on your side..."

Hua Kai's voice gradually faded. His mouth was still moving as his eyes slowly closed, until finally he fell silent forever.

Whoosh-

The wind gradually swept in. The flames swelled and shrank, making the shadows they cast flicker between light and darkness.

At that moment, no one spoke.

Because.

Zhou Muzhi was silent.

"Lao Xu."

Lao Xu looked over at the sound of his name and heard Zhou Muzhi say something.

"This Ma Jin is getting a little annoying. Go kill him, and bring back the key while you're at it."

Lao Xu grunted in assent, sheathed his long saber, and disappeared from the courtyard.

Things had not blown up yet, so it would be easy to catch Ma Jin now. Once Qian Zhen's people reacted, it would become difficult.

Third Master had watched everything from beginning to end. As someone involved, he certainly could not escape.

"Third Master."

Zhou Muzhi's words made Third Master's liver tremble. This old street rogue, who had weathered half a lifetime of storms, was close to tears.

"You're the master, you're the master. Just call me Third. Whatever you need, just say the word."

Zhou Muzhi smiled. The man really was a character.

"Go have someone arrange for this fellow's last wish to be carried out. Keep running things properly here in Suming County. Once I get the gambling house, I'll put it in your hands."

Zhou Muzhi dared say such things, but Third Master did not dare hear them.

Under what circumstances would the gambling house become his? Only if the Qian Family was gone.

A feeling of wind and rain gathering before a storm settled over him.

"Understood. I'll arrange it right away."

Now he could only rely on Zhou Muzhi. This had happened on his turf. Without someone covering his tracks, exposure would mean death as well. His only way to survive was to carry out the tasks he had been given.

As for fleeing somewhere else?

What a joke. Third Master only knew this patch of land. Somewhere else, he would be nothing but a useless old man, not worth a damn. He might even be butchered the very next day.