[Wushuang] Chapter 157
You’re taking me for a chicken?

How many times does Feng-er want to use excuses to get onto the horse carriage?

Three days ago, he complained that the sunlight stung his eyes; the day before yesterday, he complained that he’d got sunburn; yesterday…

If time could turn back, Cui Buqu thought, he would never have given up those three Bingzhi Pellets.

“You don’t look too well. Are your old diseases acting up?” Feng Xiao asked in both surprise and concern, “Let me pass you some qi.”

“Thank you. I’ll pass. Your bureau’s Third Commander is still lying on his back at the carriage in the back. Why don’t you take a look at him.” Cui Buqu expressionlessly said.

Feng Xiao welcomingly said: “Ming Yue’s martial arts aren’t bad. If he regulated his qi to heal himself, he might even overcome his limit in the martial arts. There is no need for my assistance. Cui-Lang, what sort of relationship are we in now? Don’t you be shy.”

Cui-Lang?

What relationship are they in now? Why wouldn’t he know?

Also, how does one write the words ‘shy’?

Cui Buqu looked up at the sky speechlessly.

It was a pity that one cannot see the sky inside a carriage. He could only look at its roof.

Not waiting for someone to speak, Feng Xiao eagerly pulled Cui Buqu’s wrist to himself and semi-forced some qi into it.

Cui Buqu struggled but didn’t pull away.

The warmth of streams of qi flowed from his fingertips into his meridians, serving even better than a brazier. The continuous fill of qi through his veins certainly did ease his old diseases down a lot. During such a situation in the past, once the weather grew cold, he would have to go through two to three days of enduring a headache, but ever since his episode in Guangqian County, it had never acted up since. Frankly, all of these were owed to Feng-er’s qi.

Even if—

“Hmph…”

As qi flowed inside his body like endless worms and snakes unsystematically, everywhere it reached left behind warmth like a hot spring boiling within an ice-cold shell of a body. It made one’s hairs stand on their end. Regardless of how determined Cui Buqu was, he had no control over his hairs as they stood. A soft breath came out from the corner of his lips.

He bit the tip of his tongue, working hard to suppress it and refusing to utter any sound.

“If you’re feeling uncomfortable, then say it out, don’t keep it in.” He breathed against the other’s ear with an understanding tone.

Cui Buqu couldn’t help rolling his eyes.

He knew that Feng-er did it on purpose.

Because last time, Cui Buqu made Qin Miaoyu take Feng Xiao’s form to drag the Jiejian Bureau down while Feng Xiao was in seclusion…

In the end, the Jiejian Bureau hadn’t taken the blame. They had even got quite a blissful end to this. Since they have gotten involved and made an achievement, the Jiejian Bureau was part of the contribution. However, this fellow Feng-er kept this to heart and now he’s trying to get everything he’d been owed back.

But there was nothing he could say because the other is indeed nursing his health.

As he thought until this place. Cui Buqu couldn’t help sighing.

During the battle at the tavern, he shouldn’t have given in to a moment of softness and stand in Xiao Lu’s way. Perhaps these two could have even perished along with each other and his day today would be quiet.

Feng Xiao didn’t push his luck. He obediently transferred qi into him and gently convinced him to take a rest, then swept the curtains apart to leave the carriage with a suspicious blush over his cheeks.

Cui Buqu heard Pei Jingzhe asking outside: “My Lord, why is your face beet red?”

Maybe he’s just holding his breath on purpose. Cui Buqu thought in his heart.

Feng Xiao sighed and said: “It’s all the fault of your Lord for being peerlessly beautiful without equal.”

Cui Buqu: “…”

This sort of talk—saying something but not revealing the full story of it—really prodded at someone’s imagination.

Pei Jingzhe indeed took the bait as he stammered: “Commander Cui doesn’t look the part?”

Cui Buqu heard Feng Xiao say in detest: “This person declines to speak his heart. All that talk of not wanting it yet his body has always been honest.”

…Those who understood knew he was speaking of transferring qi, but those who didn’t took him for implying something else.

Cui Buqu’s expression numbed when he felt Pei Jingzhe inhale a cool breath from the outside, his heart like calm water.

After a while, in the eyes of other people, Cui Buqu and himself would appear to share a profound relationship with Feng Xiao. Feng-er would then use this misunderstanding to continue pitting and deceiving.

That oleander fairy is certainly such a begrudging person. He should have gotten used to it.

Err once and you will never hear the end of it.

Cui Buqu looked at the spot where he was held just now as if there was still warmth on it, his thoughts in primal chaos.

Why did his body act on its own during that time, unhesitantly giving out those three Bingzhi Pellets?

A normal afternoon slipped past. It was as if Feng Xiao knew that he wasn’t in a pleasant mood, so he hadn’t come to provoke him.

The horse carriage stopped under a small station a few dozen li away from Luoyang.

They didn’t intend to stay the night in the station. After a short rest, they would embark on their journey once more, striving to enter Luoyang before the sky darkens.

Cui Buqu has long sat until his back ached. Just as he was prepared to get down his carriage and stretch his bones, someone caught his shoulder.

Feng Xiao: “There is a weasel at the front. Don’t you come out.”

Cui Buqu: “…”

He also could see the yellow-robed woman sitting peacefully in the tavern.

Cui Buqu looked at Feng Xiao: “Are you taking me for a chicken1?”

Feng Xiao raised his brow: “Of course not, you are—”

They glared at each other.

Feng Xiao changed his statement: “You are the Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau, Cui-Lang, have you forgotten? Come, let us go take a rest, I will let Pei Jingzhe bring you somecome tea.”

Cui Buqu struggled free for a moment, but his hands didn’t move and he gave up.

“How can we not greet someone we know upon meeting them?” He sighed, “In fact, she’s not here for me.”

Feng Xiao: “How would you know?”

Cui Buqu: “Let us have a wager.”

Feng Xiao felt interested: “And the bet?”

Cui Buqu slowly swallowed: “If I win, you will not open your mouth until we reach the capital.”

All he desired was to admire this face in peace and not listen to its owner rambling by his ear.

Feng Xiao: “But what if I win?”

Cui Buqu: “Speak.”

Feng Xiao: “When you return to the capital, state it to the Empress that you wish to put off the engagement with Yuwen Xuanzhu.”

Cui Buqu raised a brow: “There is no engagement between us.”

Feng Xiao smiled vaguely: “I refuse to believe that you have heard nothing of it. During the time we left the capital, the Empress’ desire of marrying the both of you have spread throughout the capital, going so far to even prepare the marriage contract. I fear she just wants to turn a staged show into reality.”

Cui Buqu furrowed his thin brows, giving him a half-smile and a look which spoke columns: “Second Commander Feng seems to be overly concerned with my state of marriage, isn’t he?”

Feng Xiao leaned down near to him and whispered: “During the night when the battle at the tavern took place, you have already taken an advantage of me as big as the sky. Even Ming Yue and Qin Miaoyu had seen it with their own eyes. After that, when I was nursing you back to health you felt me up again. Although you look too shabby, unlike myself, how would it look like for the dignified Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau to run away after taking advantage of someone else?”

Cui Buqu consulted him earnestly: “How could you say something so endlessly shameless and deceiving?”

Feng Xiao: “I learned it from you.”

Cui Buqu gave a cold laugh and patted his face: “A word from the gentleman could not be taken back; the deal is agreed upon. Second Commander, please.”

Feng Xiao followed after and leaned his head to the side, brushing his lips against Cui Buqu’s palm. From the looks of it, it certainly does look like Cui Buqu is making use of the opportunity to feel him up.

Just as Pei Jingzhe turned around, he saw everything and couldn’t help giving out a light “Ah…”. The more he looked at it the more Feng Xiao’s words seemed to take form.

Cui Buqu: …This person really is peerlessly shameless with no equal.

Although Bing Xuan’s back is turned towards them, she seemed to have eyes on her back. When they were walking over, she had just turned her head. She got to her feet and bowed, a smile on her face. Although it wasn’t strikingly beautiful, it made one feel breezy.

“Lord Cui, Commander Feng, how long has it been, and how are you faring?”

Feng Xiao snorted in his heart. She called him Commander Feng, yet called Cui Buqu “Lord Cui”. The difference was quite obvious, don’t think he wouldn’t be able to tell.

Bing Xuan is the most outstanding disciple of the Hehuan Sect of her generation. Theoretically, she and Feng Xiao came from the origin of Demonic Sects. It was a pity that the Demonic Sects never practisced old sentiments, instead, when they met, it seemed to be a battle between the same species.

Feng Xiao’s attitude aside, Cui Buqu behaved very politely. “Maiden Bing Xuan, you’ve become more elegant since we last met.”

“Really?” Bing Xuan touched her face, lighting up in joy.

Feng Xiao quietly said: You would believe deceiving words that were said casually? How silly.

“Couldn’t believe that Maiden Bing Xuan’s networks would be so efficient, that she could even tell that we are passing through here, and even on purpose—” Cui Buqu looked at the teacup on the table that has been sipped dry as if it was an indication of something, “—waited for so long. Mayhaps for something important?”

Bing Xuan pursed her lips into a smile: “You’ve mistaken. A few days ago the Shaolin of Songshan’s Sword-Sparring competition just ended. I attended on behalf of my Master and conveniently passed by Luoyang. I heard Lord Cui has annihilated half the forces of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai. Even the grandmaster martial artist of Tiantai Sect, Yu Xiu had been defeated by both of you. This incident has travelled throughout the Jianghu. Congratulations, Lord Cui for your victory, granting the mortal world days of peace.”

Feng Xiao: …This is the first time I’ve heard of someone from the Demonic Sect use the phrase ‘days of peace’. Didn’t this woman think that her words are very contradicting? It was obviously I who killed Yu Xiu, so why is she congratulating Cui Buqu? Isn’t this done on purpose?

Bing Xuan also realized that she had neglected Second Commander Feng who was standing by the side proud and aloof. She immediately said: “This humble woman sees that Commander Feng’s gaze has brightened. He must have most certainly achieved a new stage in the world of martial arts, most certain to be congratulated.”

Feng Xiao twitched the corner of his lips. “The Hehuan Sect hasn’t delivered an outstanding figure since Yuan Xiuxiu, it’s time you people try your best.”

Bing Xuan has been able to guess his origins from his martial arts during their prior meetings, and once she returned to find matching backgrounds, it wasn’t difficult for her to know Feng Xiao’s identity. The Demonic Sects do not discuss seniority. For them, the strong takes the lead in terms of respect. Bing Xuan knew that even ten of her would not win a fight against Feng Xiao, hence she didn’t look sullen at his words. She even agreed with a nod: “Thank you for Commander Feng’s advice. Bing Xuan will try her best.”

She then smiled at Cui Buqu: “People meet by fate, not by chance. Since we are fated, let me inform both of you of something.”

Cui Buqu: “Please tell.”

The few of them sat separately. Pei Jingzhe had gone to order some dishes and tea.

That place was spacious. Ming Yue, Qin Miaoyu, and the others even sat right next to them. It was convenient for discussion.

Bing Xuan said: “Speaking of the Shaolin of Songshan’s Sword-Sparring competition, although it’s not as grand as a real Sword-Sparring competition, and not as crowded as the events held by the Liuli Palace of Fangzhangzhou, it didn’t lack promising talents of the Jianghu nor grandmasters that lay hidden. Of one of them, I have never heard of his name or origins, yet this person had won countless victories with the display of his talents. His martial art techniques and moves were unique. Not only did he move strangely, but he also had a strong foundation of inner strength. In my opinion—”

She had always been calm and sturdy, systematic and methodical. At this moment, she hesitated, even casting Feng Xiao a glance before saying: “I fear if the ten best under the heavens were gathered, he would be one of the first three.”

Feng Xiao indeed raised his eyebrow: “Do you take the first ten under the Heavens for Chinese cabbages, able to pick one up with a scoop of your hand?”

Bing Xuan laughed bitterly: “I am not willing to overestimate him, but the truth lies before my eyes. Speaking of which, this must be a joke to the both of you. After Yuan Xiuxiu and Sang Jingxing, The people in the Hehuan Sect lived in destitution. My Sect orders me to travel across the lands, tasked with the duty of searching for promising talents to strengthen our Sect. However, this person’s origins I have never heard of before. It was unknown since when a top-tier martial artist such as him had come to the Central Plains. The saying goes that Lord Cui is familiar with all the Sects in the Jianghu, hence I came here to consult you.”

Cui Buqu: “What is the name of this person?”

Bing Xuan: “Surname Tuan, binomial name Qinghe.”

[1] Wordplay from the phrase “The Weasel pays the chicken a new year’s visit” referring to how a weasel pays the chicken a new year visit but its real intentions are to eat the chicken.

Translator’s Note:
Feng Xiao: Im the most beautiful man that ever existed ququ couldn’t look at anyone but me.
Bing Xuan: *appears*
Also Feng Xiao: nooooo oo oo bing xuan begone!!!

[Wushuang] Chapter 158
Feng Xiao: “???”

“I have never heard of this person.”

Cui Buqu searched through his mind and could quickly be certain that he had never heard of Tuan Qinghe.

He had seen before the copy of the Wuling Manuscript that Fan Yun had taken back from Fangzhangzhou. With his photographic ability, if that person’s name truly wasn’t in the manuscript while possessing such surprisingly top-notch martial arts, then there would only be two possibilities left.

“Either he had never shown himself in the Jianghu, for if the Liuli Palace wanted to record his name and origin, along with his level of martial arts, they could not make it up themselves.”

Or, just like Feng Xiao, even if his martial arts have already reached an unfathomable extent, he had never participated in any Sword-Sparring Competitions, nor did he fought with any top-tier martial artists in the Jianghu. The Liuli Palace could only take reference from people who have fought with him. If Feng Xiao’s opponents did not roam the Jianghu either, then neither would he appear in the ranking.

However, in the battle at the tavern, he had defeated ten top-martial artists in a single breath. Even the Jinhuan Group’s Young Master, Deng Lou was among them. One could rest assured that not long later, a place would be reserved for him in the Wulin.

Naturally, Second Commander Feng may not covet such rankings. He cared not whether he had them.

“There is another possibility.” Cui Buqu continued.

Feng Xiao had just parted his lips, but Bing Xuan spoke faster.

Bing Xuan: “He used an alias.”

Feng Xiao: “???”

Isn’t this woman just snatching his lines on purpose?

Cui Buqu nodded.

Bing Xuan laughed upon realizing Cui Buqu and her synchronized. “Lord Cui and I thought the same. However, I observed this person to be unfamiliar with both the rules of the Jianghu and the customs of the Hans. It’s possible that his name was not an alias, and that his martial arts originated from the Western Regions as Hulugu did.”

Cui Buqu: “From what I know, during that year, among all Hulugu’s disciples, the most famed ones were only Kun Xie, Duan Wenyang and Qin Shuanghan, three of them. As for the others, I would not know of them due to their lack of participation in the Western Regions nor the Central Plains.”

He didn’t say everything.

In reality, Cui Buqu had received news that the Göktürks had knelt to the Great Sui; the Seventh Prince Kuhezhen had brought horses from Göktürk to answer to the Emperor’s summon to court.

Not long after Göktürk’s prince stepped into the Central Plains, a top-tier martial artist that resembled Hulugu’s teachings appeared on the Jianghu. Would there exist so many coincidences in this world?

One feared that both of these incidents were linked.

The Göktürks Prince’s entrance into the capital had already spread to Luoyang. It’s uncertain whether Bing Xuan truly was oblivious to the connection between the two of them, or she was just faking obliviousness, for she only nodded upon listening and said nothing more. She sighed instead: “It seemed like this person’s identity is a mystery. One wouldn’t be able to find anything within a short amount of time. If Lord Cui could obtain some information and if convenience permits it, could he send people to inform the Hehuan Sect of it?”

Feng Xiao snickered inwardly. Since the creation of the Sui Dynasty, things have changed. The Hehuan Sect’s spies in the Imperial Court are wearing thin and this woman is using the opportunity to form a friendship with the Zuoyue Bureau in the long-term.

He coughed twice lightly to remind Cui Buqu not to fall for the seductions of this weasel so easily.

Cui Buqu pretended he hadn’t heard it. “Naturally, it’s doable. However, if you find your way to our doorsteps every time. We might not be available. One would want to know if there are any encampments of the Hehuan Sect in the capital that would be convenient for communication?”

Even if they were, it wasn’t public. But if Bing Xuan refused to say it, it didn’t mean that the Zuoyue Bureau could not find it. She was very smart. After hearing these words, before Cui Buqu had to ask again she had already confessed in generosity, spilling it out clean and clear-cut: “There is. But few people live there on usual days. Only when the disciples were sent to the capital for a mission, it would be put into use. It’s the first manor after one turned right at the end of Anyi Ally.”

This meant that the Zuoyue Bureau could investigate the truth of her words at any time possible.

Cui Buqu was very pleased with her willingness to cooperate, even his voice became gentler. “Since Maiden Bing Xuan and I met like old friends and formed a closer friendship each time we met, if you aren’t in a hurry, why don’t I treat you to a meal in the city before we part ways?”

Feng Xiao: “…”

Didn’t they agree not to stop here and pass straight through Luoyang? Once this man surnamed Cui saw that he could gather more information about the Jianghu from this woman, he had just leisurely changed their plans.

As if he could hear the unspoken criticism, Cui Buqu turned his head and feigned understanding: “If Second Commander Feng is in a hurry, he may move ahead first.”

Feng Xiao twitched his lips. Want to shoo him away? Not a chance!

He forced himself to smile: “I also want to hear Maiden Bing Xuan talk about the Sword-Sparring Competition of Gaoshan and how it went. Though I cannot be there physically, my heart is there.”

Bing Xuang said in confusion: “Many thanks to Lord Cui’s good intentions, but there is one more thing. This humble person must report to both of you first. It happened last night before I left Luoyang, the Yangdang Estate encountered a murder. The Lin family of Luoyang, all fifty people, were wiped out within a single night.”

Cui Buqu’s gaze froze.

The Yandang Estate was located in the suburb of Luoyang City. Their Young Master was “Master Seven” of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai. During their last trip to Tiannan Mountain, Lin Wei was the only high-level authority that was caught alive. He was brought back to the Zuoyue Bureau after that and gave away no few amounts of information. However, Lin Wei was just a treasurer of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai in the Northern Region. Strictly speaking, he didn’t propose a threat to Xiao Lu, neither was he nearly as strongly informed as Fan Yun. Seeing that they couldn’t ask much, Cui Buqu let him remain in the Zuoyue Bureau for future purposes.

Hearing this information, the first thought to his mind was: Xiao Lu wanted to eliminate all witnesses.

However, this theory could be invalidated at any time. According to what he knew, Lin Wei might be doing these things in secret without his father’s knowledge. If Xiao Lu wanted to use his family to blackmail Lin Wei from spilling more information, he wouldn’t have killed them all. This would only force Lin Wei to become the enemy’s ally.

If it was not the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, then who could it be?

Feng Xiao and himself exchanged glances and Cui Buqu nodded his head slightly.

Feng Xiao asked Bing Xuan: “Since it’s unrelated to the Hehuan Sect, why did you offer this information on your own accord?”

Bing Xuan said: “The Luoyang authorities sealed up the estate quickly and because the Sword-Sparring Competition had just ended, we were even invited to aid in the investigation. Speaking of which, it was riddled with suspicions. These fifty lives all murdered each other. Husbands and wives, masters and servants; there were even some of them who injured themselves and bled to death. When we arrived, not one soul was alive in the Yandang Estate. In the Jianghu, there aren’t many martial art techniques that could make one lose their consciousness and self-destruct against their own will. However, thankfully, it exists in the Demonic Sect.”

Feng Xiao: “The Demonic Heart-Enchanting Melody.”

Bing Xuan: “That is right. This martial art technique is known to all three Demonic Sects. However, the Hehuan Sect had no strive with the Yandang Estate in the past nor the present. We would not annihilate them all, hence I want to inform both Lords of this.”

Feng Xiao snickered: “The fact that you report this on your own would not strip yourself of suspicions. Sometimes, when one is too eager, it would instead make themselves look suspicious. And just as you said just now, you were obviously just passing by, but from the looks of it now, you knew that we would be passing by Luoyang and so you waited here on purpose!”

Bing Xuan sighed: “Truth to be told, when Lord Cui was investigating the case of embezzling rations in Guangqian County, he did so with such a scene. No one in Guangqian County is oblivious to this. During that time, a disciple happened to be staying there and needed to spare no effort to ask around the time of your departure. After I received that information, I estimated that both of you would pass by Luoyang during these few days and hence waited here. I hold no ill will. If Commander Feng refuses to believe it, I am willing to follow both of you back to Luoyang to prove my innocence.”

Cui Buqu slowly said: “I trust you.”

Feng Xiao’s face blackened abruptly.

Cui Buqu: “I trust that you didn’t tail us on purpose, but whether you are innocent or not, it would have to wait until further counsel is through.”

Only then did Second Commander Feng’s blackened face slowly regained its colour.

Bing Xuan got to her feet to adjust her garments: “Thank you for your understanding. This humble one is eternally grateful. The Hehuan Sect is not involved in this incident. The reason I did this was just to clarify misunderstandings. I beg both Lords to unravel the truth and restore our innocence.”

She knew very clearly that the Hehuan Sect had a hundred things waiting to be done. It could no longer sustain any wave of events. If the crime of murdering an entire family was clasped onto her own sect, the combined strength of the Zuoyue and Jiejian Bureaus could most certainly overcome the powers the Hehuan Sect had in the Northern Dynasty. When that time comes, her sect would have it difficult.

But now, there was no use for her to explain further. Before the truth was clear, Cui Buqu would not promise her anything.

Since a murder case happened, this travelling group of people could not stall any longer. They would have to head to Luoyang City immediately.

Bing Xuan was along at the back, following behind them.

Second Commander Feng once again stepped into Cui Buqu’s horse carriage.

Cui Buqu did not shoo him down, because Feng-er’s mood didn’t look well. He didn’t look like he came here to create mischief.

“After Lin Wei was seized by the Zuoyue Bureau, I sent some people to keep their eyes on the Yandang Estate in the dark. Who could have known that such a massive thing happened, yet I know nothing about it.”

The Jiejian Bureau had deployed spies perfectly across the lands, including the City of Six Crafts and the outskirts of the city, so let alone a great city like Luoyang within the Central Plains. Even if Feng Xiao rode to the horizon, to the end of the world, as long as he wanted to know something about someone, the news would have their way of flowing into his ear very quickly.

The Zuoyue Bureau’s ambit might not compare to the Jiejian Bureau’s, but Feng Xiao believed that with Cui Buqu’s discreteness, he would most definitely spy on the Yangdang Estate as well.

Yet on their way here, not even a whisper of information came.

As both of their gazes met, there was only one possibility that came from their hearts.

It proved that even their spies were dead.

[Wushuang] Chapter 159
Pei Jingzhe: ???

Corvus squawks and broken twigs swirled wildly in the air.

Atop the heads of stoned lions that hadn’t been polished for years, two lanterns swayed, hitting the pillars, and the copper ring on the gates complied with a loud ring amid the wind.

Ghosts came knocking on the doors.

It was unknown when these three words appeared in Pei Jingzhe’s mind. A cold breeze whipped past and the lantern in his hand flickered dangerously.

Then it went out.

Pei Jingzhe: “…”

The night was abandoned and cold with the looming of ghost shadows. It was enough to form a sensational story for the ordinary folks.

Moreover, he was part of it.

Everyone in the Yandang Estate died all of a sudden, and even the funeral house could not contain them all. They could only arrange the corpses in the courtyard temporarily. More than fifty in total are arranged systematically into a few horizontal rows with pale faces and dried blood stains that have hardened into patches of brown-ish red on their bodies. Some of them even had their eyes opened in undeserving.

Pei Jingzhe proclaimed to have seen many corpses and some lives were also lost at his hands. He had quite seen it all. Yet upon seeing such a scenery, nothing stopped a cold, icy feeling from surging up inside of him.

He unwillingly took a few steps forward, following closely behind Feng Xiao as he gave Cui Buqu a glance at the same time.

The latter had knelt, reaching out with a hand to touch a corpse with the most severe damage—half its neck was gone, its flesh pouring out from both wounds and one eyeball had fallen out. However, the eyeball hasn’t wholly snapped, so it was dangling out of its socket.

But Cui Buqu’s face didn’t change. He even took the eyeball and pressed it back into its socket.

Pei Jingzhe: “…”

He really should kneel in exasperation in front of Cui Buqu!

Then looking at Feng Xiao—

Second Commander Feng naturally wouldn’t do that by himself. He was covering his face with a sleeve, his foot even avoiding places where there were traces of blood. He was even pointing at a specific corpse and giving Qin Miaoyu orders.

“Pry open that person’s collar. I want to see whether there are wounds on his body. Right, take them all off. Even the pants. Look at whether the dantian is as well as his crotch!”

Qin Miaoyu who was like a flower and jade had to move the corpse of a big man. It made Pei Jingzhe feel some sympathy for her.

Feng Xiao suddenly turned around to look at him.

Pei Jingzhe blinked, acknowledging it quickly and ran over to help her out.

After entering Luoyang City, they went straight to the Luoyang bureau and proclaimed their identities. They rejected the County Magistrate’s warming welcome and in the end left with the constable and coroner who had previously worked on the case and brought them to the crime scene.

Cold wind seeped through the window sills and howled in loud wailing. Even the clothes on those corpses were swayed by it. Because of the blissfully cold weather, the corpses’ decay process was prolonged. They were only frozen hard. Frost gathered at the corners of their eyes and faces as if they would turn into viscous moving corpses in the next second.

Cui Buqu’s hand swept over an older man who was denied a peaceful death and shut his eyes.

But, after some seconds were gone, they flickered open again. Cui Buqu once again shut them up before the corpse’s eyelids fluttered back open, again, and again, and again.

Everyone: “…”

Feng Xiao twitched his lips and couldn’t help saying: “Alright, take a rest and stop working.”

“This is an indication of injustice!” The old coroner sighed, “What a sin; although this humble one has examined corpses all his life, I have never seen such a terrible sight. Everyone in this residence died, even servants, women and children. How frightful to the ears!”

The Yandang Estate was a distinguished family in Luoyang. Lin Wei was the only son of the patriarch, Lin Leng. Both of them old folks only had one son, yet Lin Wei had neither gotten married nor delivered children. After the Zuoyue Bureau seized him, Lin Leng and his wife ran around begging for mercy on their son’s behalf, yet it was to no avail. The Lin family of Luoyang’s martial arts were mediocre. Yet, due to his knack in businesses, Lin Leng had many friends in Jianghu. A person like this would not have enemies who could not cease until they have hunted them down. Even if there is, it would just be strife formed in terms of business and not something that would put a price on their heads, let alone killing their entire family.

The only manipulative variable was on Lin Wei.

Of course, it was possible that Lin Wei’s father had something shady going on or that he held something important in his possession and thus led to his death.

But Patriarch Lin was now dead, and Lin Wei was in the Zuoyue Bureau. They could not summon him at the moment for inquiry, so they could only find out the cause of death of these people and the murderer that took their lives.

Pei Jingzhe asked: “The people of the Yandang Estate are all there? None of them were left out?”

There were a total of fifty-four bodies, including Lin Leng, his wife, and all their servants. One of them was the scout in the disguise of a white-collared worker sent by the Jiejian Bureau, and the other one was someone from the Zuoyue Bureau.

There wasn’t a single exception. Everyone was dead.

Pei Jingzhe walked towards the corpse of the scout from the Jiejian Bureau and realised that, other than the wound that claimed their lives, there were still claw marks on their bodies.

These claw marks were very deep; one could tell that they’ve gone full out forcibly ripping a layer of skin off. It was clear that they were merciless when they did it, insatiable if they only killed their subject and had to torture them like a bloody sea of vengeance was between them.

Pei Jingzhe took one of the scout’s hands and examined the black and sticky stuff inside his fingernails. The flesh he’d ripped one off his enemy even clung onto one of his fingers. The horrific scene of these two colleagues fighting and biting each other before their deaths seemed to play before his eyes.

“They’re all here!” The young constable said, “Yesterday, this humble one was on duty at the bureau when someone came to report a case, saying that a murder occurred in the Yandang Estate, and so this humble one immediately clarified it to His Excellency before bringing someone over…”

Pei Jingzhe interrupted him: “This is to say that you were the first to encounter this case? Who was the person who reported the case? Was he withheld?”

Constable Song immediately said: “Yes, the one who reported the case is surnamed Zheng. He had been delivering vegetables to the Yandang Estate for more than twenty years. Everyone nearby knows of him! According to the rules, Old Zheng would go to the rear gate of the estate between 5 am to 7 am every day to deliver newly harvested vegetables to the kitchen. In the end, when he arrived yesterday and had been knocking on the door for half a day with no response, he pushed the door and entered.”

According to what Old Zheng said, the weather was cold on that day, and the wind was strong. He couldn’t smell the dense scent of blood. After pushing the doors open and entering, he didn’t see anyone until he continued to walk forward and discovered three corpses. His knees began to clatter and he dared not call for help, afraid that the murderer was still inside. So he immediately scampered his way out and fled to the bureau without hesitance.

Although the Yandang Estate was remote, it was still situated within the city and within its gates. Once the Count Magistrate realised how severe the situation was, he immediately allowed Constable Song to bring all the available people within the bureau over. In the end, they found corpses laying everywhere. Aside those three corpses, everyone in the estate had died. Even the master and mistress of the estate had been killed in their own sleeping chambers.

As the constable finished talking, the elderly coroner added to his words. He was in the second batch of people to go over, the batch that after the constables discovered everyone had died, called for them.

After examining, the coroner discovered that those people had been dead for roughly four hours. The Estate’s patriarch knew martial arts. Although the Yandang’s “Thirteen Styles” weren’t popular in the Jianghu, they were more than enough to suppress little thieves. Additionally, they were at least a dozen guards within the Estate.

“This is the patriarch of the Lin Estate.” Constable Song pointed to a middle-aged man and said, “When we discovered him, Madam Lin’s two maidservants were dead by a sword to each of their chests. These were all done by Master Lin. Master Lin had also stabbed himself, yet he was still breathing.”

During that time, Constable Song hurried over to ask for the murderer. Master Lin looked like he had never seen him before in his life. Both his eyes were opened wide, his face in agony as he stared in front of him. He was even still smiling.

“Smiling?” Pei Jingzhe asked curiously.

Constable Song nodded his head with a lingering fear: “Smiling eerily. He said nothing when he was asked about the murderer, turning his head around and around while saying “So beautiful”. After he repeated it a few times, he died.”

“Would it happen to be someone’s name, Hao Mei1?” Pei Jingzhe turned around to look at Bing Xuan, “Maiden Bing Xuan, is there such a person in the Sword-Sparring Competition?”

Bing Xuan thought and thought: “I’ve never heard of it.”

Cui Buqu said: “If it were someone’s name, Lin Leng would not be smiling. His mental consciousness was in disarray during that time. It seemed like he was watching a delusion and said it was beautiful.”

Feng Xiao suddenly said: “I have a question. Even if it had been the Demonic Sect’s “Heart-Enchanting Melody”, not just anyone without a strong foundation of martial arts could manipulate so many people at once. Even if such a strong person exists, he couldn’t warrant that everyone would fall for the enchantment. Not everyone would be similarly affected, and people who knew martial arts could even escape easily. If one were to guarantee that everyone would fall under the enchantment, other than using one’s inner strength to control the melody, they would also need the help of other external factors.”

Pei Jingzhe didn’t understand, giving a confused look.

Cui Buqu exclaimed: “Food!”

All the people in the entire estate, including the scouts they’d sent into the estate to serve as spies, ate three meals a day that came from the kitchen. That also meant that from the master to the servants, the only thing that linked them were food.

Qin Miaoyu also understood. She immediately hurried to the rear kitchen.

Feng Xiao walked to Cui Buqu’s side and elbowed him: “How many people in the Zuoyue Bureau have you placed here?”

Cui Buqu gave him a look: “Two.”

Feng Xiao: “The Jiejian Bureau has also placed two.”

There was only one corpse each of the Jiejian and Zuoyue Bureaus’ scouts present. This also meant that they were still short of two people.

These two people could have possibly escaped when they realised something went wrong. They could have been after the murderer. Regardless, since they haven’t shown themselves now, their fates were possibly more ominous than propitious.

Feng Xiao told Constable Song: “Go ask around, during the happening of the crime scene yesterday, did anyone near to the Yandang Estate heard any sort of commotion? Ask the night patrol as well.”

Then he ordered Pei Jingzhe: “Go fetch a bucket of water here.”

Pei Jingzhe went with a head full of confusion just as Qin Miaoyu returned, her expression strange.

“Commander, Master Cui, there was nothing in the kitchen.”

What she meant by ‘nothing’ was that not only were all the vegetables and extra ingredients gone. Even the lumbers were gone.

For a wealthy family, this was very unusual.

As the case progressed until this point, it has reached a foggy dead end. The murderer’s goals were not clear, and their methods were cruel. They left no trace behind.

Speaking of Heart-Enchanting Melody, it belonged to the Fajing Sect of the Demonic Sects no less. As the Sect Leader, Feng Xiao should have been able to deal with it with high efficiency, but even he had no clue.

Pei Jingzhe brought the bucket of water.

Feng Xiao gestured to Cui Buqu to wash his hands. He still remembered the scene of Cui Buqu pressing back someone’s eyeball just now.

Cui Buqu knew that Feng Xiao recalled how last time, in order to disgust him, Cui Buqu had reached out to touch Feng Xiao’s face after touching a corpse. Now, he’s afraid that Cui Buqu would repeat it, and so he smiled vaguely before reaching his hand into the water to wash his hands clean.

When Pei Jingzhe saw both of them flinging looks at each other, he didn’t understand, and so he looked at Qin Miaoyu, hoping that she would give him some tips.

Qin Miaoyu was looking left and right, everywhere but him.

The elderly coroner had already said everything that needed to be said about the corpse, no longer able to deduct anything more from it. Bing Xuan was walking around the estate, and Feng Xiao didn’t stop her.

Although the Yandang Estate called themselves an ‘Estate’, in reality, they were just a grand manor location near a mountain inside of Luoyang. With Bing Xuan’s speed, she could quickly finish walking around the front and rear courtyards and into the slumber chambers of the Lin couple.

The door was ajar and everywhere there were patches of blood stains. She didn’t take them seriously, passing through the disorderly mess and took a saunter inside the room to discover a bowl.

Or, specifically speaking, this is a half-eaten bowl of Lotus Seed and Lily Bulbs soup in the crime scene.

Qin Miaoyu could not find anything in the rear kitchen and yet, there is a bowl of soup here. It meant that Madam Lin was possibly drinking a bowl of soup when it happened and she never had the chance to finish it.

Bing Xuan took that bowl of soup and smelt it, yet discovered that nothing was suspicious about it.

There was a fragrant scent inside the house, but it didn’t smell like incense.

“It’s machilus.” Cui Buqu was walking over here just as she was sniffing up the pillars. “All the wood used here was machilus wood, so the scent would have been thick.”

Bing Xuan curiously said: “According to what I know, Luoyang does not produce machilus wood.”

Cui Buqu: “That is right. So these lumbers are most certainly imported from Xinan.”

Bing Xuan sighed: “The Lin family truly is wealthy.”

Otherwise, they wouldn’t have become the treasury of the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai in the Northern Region.

What followed afterwards was Qin Miaoyu walking in to see two of them conversing happily before seeing Pei Jingzhe, who was walking around the courtyard, seeming to have not noticed them at all.

She was in a dilemma about whether she should break up these “lovebirds” or not.

From the corner of her eye, she saw Feng Xiao’s approaching figure. Without hesitating any longer, Qin Miaoyu walked forwards abruptly and inserted herself cleanly between the two of them: “Master Cui, I’m afraid there’s something I’ve left out in the rear kitchen. Why don’t you take a look there? If you see it yourself, I would be at peace.”

Cui Buqu nodded without suspicion: “Take this bowl of Lotus Seed and Lily Bulb away. We will be examining it after our return.”

Qin Miaoyu withdrew her smile and nodded, then took the bowl of soup from Bing Xuan and left.

The few of them took a few more turns within the estate and found nothing else.

Constable Song also pleaded: “Both my Lords, how would these corpses be taken care of? After a few days, I fear they will begin to rot.”

Cui Buqu said: “In this weather, they could still be left here for a few days. After two days pass and we’ve found nothing, you people could give them a proper burial.”

Constable Song immediately agreed.

Since running into Bing Xuan, their group hadn’t stopped for a moment since hurrying to Luoyang City. Now, it’s long past 11 pm, the wind and chill has thickened. Cui Buqu’s robes couldn’t block out the cold and so he coughed once after the last repeatedly.

Feng Xiao yawned: “It’s too late. I should go back to take a rest, otherwise, my skin will become duller tomorrow morning.”

Cui Buqu twitched his lips, holding in the jeer that almost escaped his lips out of instinct because he knew that Feng Xiao said that on purpose.

Since remaining here wouldn’t help much, Cui Buqu got up the carriage and parted the curtains: “Maiden Bing Xuan, may I invite you on this carriage?”

Pei Jingzhe had been listening to the howling of the wind for a very long time and felt his heart getting anxious. He couldn’t help letting out a breath of relief once he fantasized about the feeling of warm soup soothing his belly in the posthouse and soaking his feet in warm water, indulging in the steamy, comfortable sensation of it.

Yet, he couldn’t think about that at that moment, because a sentence reached him suddenly: “Qin Miaoyu’s salary is doubled this month, and Pei Jingzhe’s is deducted by 10 per cent.”

Pei Jingzhe: “???”

[1]: 好美 and 郝美: Pei Jingzhe was suggesting that “So beautiful” (hao mei) might have meant Hao Mei (a name of different characters).

[Wushuang] Chapter 160
You are too deliciously edible. For a moment, this humble one surname Cui was seduced.

On the horse carriage.

Bing Xuan sat with her knees sticking out, her manner of appearance elegant.

She wasn’t an incredible beauty, but her temperament and conduct complimented all that was insufficient. When onlookers saw her, they wouldn’t immediately pay attention to her looks. They would instead be astounded by her demeanour.

This was also an achievement in the martial arts cultivated from the Hehuan Sect.

Bing Xuan knew that her superiority wasn’t in her exterior beauty, but in the elegance of her breathing and the jade-like voice she spoke, the grace of every slight twinkle and smile of hers alluring, a beauty that could be cultivated and nurtured.

These years she had visited many places and met many people. Other than a few incredibly highly skilled martial artists, she met people from royalties and nobility to common merchants and traders. As long as she wanted to, she could sway their hearts.

But Cui Buqu was an exception.

Just like the present, Bing Xuan looked like she would behave any other day, but in reality, she was using the Hehuan Sect’s seduction techniques. Yet, even though Cui Buqu was not even a bit cultivated in the martial arts, he looked unaffected with a clear gaze.

Bing Xuan couldn’t help feeling a bit of pity, even suspecting whether Cui Buqu had a heart of stone.

She still had a long way to go before the peak of her martial arts. However, when faced before those far superior to herself, Bing Xuan had never felt defeated. Because she clearly knew the difference of their skills and knew clearly as well how she could learn from the other’s strong points to compliment her own weak points to fill up the gap.

In front of Cui Buqu, other than knowing that he wasn’t cultivated in martial arts, she knew nothing else.

If one wished to kill Cui Buqu, Bing Xuan only needed one hand and time as long as one breath, and before Feng-er and the others could find out, Cui Buqu would already be dead.

But not everything in the world could be dealt with killing. Other than using martial arts, Cui Buqu was like a depthless puddle one would find it impossible to see its bottom.

“Since the last time I saw Lord Cui, he has grown thin quite a bit.” Bing Xuan gently said, “Duties are endless, please take care of yourself.”

Cui Buqu said with a smile: “Thank you for the concern. From the looks of the maiden’s face, she seems to look more lustrous. Perhaps she’s managed to alleviate her martial arts once more.”

Although she knew that the other didn’t know a seduction technique was being used on him, she couldn’t help feeling guilty upon looking at those eyes of Cui Buqu that could pierce into someone’s heart. She put away every other second thought she had and replied honestly: “In this Sword-Sparring competition, I watched the martial arts from each Sect from the sidelines and did gather some information. However, they are still far from Second Commander Feng’s level.”

Cui Buqu very quickly got straight to the topic: “To be frank with you, Maiden Bing Xuan, this case is so baffling at present, even I have not been able to get a clue about it. So, we will need Maiden Bing Xuan to remain for a few more days to assist from the sidelines.”

Maiden Bing Xuan pondered over it for a while: “The few days Lord Cui mentioned would not be so brief, I presume?”

Cui Buqu said: “Truly intelligent. If this case hasn’t been resolved, even as we return to the capital, we can only take Maiden Bing Xuan along with us.”

Bing Xuan’s smile didn’t waver, but her gaze had lost its smile. She furrowed her head slightly as if she was both troubled and sullen.

“You suspect me to be the murderer? If it was me, there was no need to deliver myself to your hands.”

Cui Buqu smiled vaguely: “Naturally, Maiden Bing Xuan has my trust. However, of all the cases I’ve dealt with in the past, it didn’t lack murderers going against common sense and delivering themselves. This case concerned the lives of more than fifty people. Among them were the scouts of the Jiejian and Zuoyue Bureaus. For caution’s sake, this must be done. Hopefully, Maiden Bing Xuan will understand.”

His voice was soft, holding not an ounce of strictness, yet he left no space for refusal.

With a fur overcoat next to him, the Zuoyue Bureau looked pale with an air of lingering illness. He did not look domineering at all, but his mannerisms resembled nothing but that.

Bing Xuan sighed lightly: “What if, I refuse?”

Cui Buqu’s expression was unchanged: “Then I will have no choice but to forcibly withhold you.”

Bing Xuan slowly said: “According to what I know, Lord Cui has no top-tier martial artist from the Zuoyue Bureau around him. These people are all subjects of Commander Feng. How would Lord Cui know Commander Feng would automatically lend you a hand to withhold me?”

Cui Buqu didn’t speak.

His silence meant: You cannot leave for sure; but you can try.

Bing Xuan refused to believe it. She looked at Cui Buqu with a vague smile and immediately leapt into the air.

Her speed was extremely fast. Her clothes floated like those of a fairy, flying a few zhang across the air within the blink of an eye.

Bing Xuan’s martial arts were not particularly impressive, but hers was one of the first-class. The Zuoyue guards next to the horse carriage immediately reached out to stop her but failed.

Past them were Pei Jingzhe and Qin Miaoyu.

Similarly, these two people were a step too late. Very quickly, Bing Xuan put them behind her.

Seeing that no one else could stop her, she inwardly let out a breath of air.

If she could, she wouldn’t want to make an enemy out of Cui Buqu, but the elements concerning this case were complicated and it would be impossible to solve it within just a few days. As for her, she needed to hurry back to her sect, and so she could only pick the lesser of the two bads. As long as Feng Xiao didn’t get involved, she could be free.

Suddenly, someone else appeared in front of her.

Hands behind his back, brimming with confidence as if he had been waiting for her.

Bing Xuan was dumbstruck. She hadn’t seen how the other had appeared.

But she could not stop.

“Commander Feng.” Bing Xuan sighed.

“Running off like that would make you look more like the murderer.” Feng Xiao sighed, his tone patient, “Don’t waste my strength on such a cold day, go on back.”

Bing Xuan gently said: “I don’t know since when the Jiejian Bureau has turned into Cui Buqu’s lackeys. Would someone of such a high standard like Commander Feng have his share of times when he listens to someone else’s orders?”

Feng Xiao replied in a similar gentle tone: “Surely ‘having a high standard’ aren’t words that mean well. Are you trying to flatter me? Or provoke me? The Second Commander of the Jiejian Bureau might not start killing people baselessly, but as members of the Demonic Sects, I need no reason to kill you.”

Bing Xuan remained silent for a moment before she finally smiled.

“Since both of you put it that way, then I could only accept it and hope that both of you will solve the case quickly and grant me my innocence.”

As she finished speaking, she turned around and walked back to the horse carriage step by step.

No one knew better how to act the best according to the course of their situation than the disciples of the Demonic Sects. Naturally, Bing Xuan knew about it and after realizing that she was at a disadvantage, she immediately took a step back. There wasn’t even a need for a fight, because she knew that she would never be Feng Xiao’s match.

Bing Xuan couldn’t have thought that after the last time they met, when Cui Buqu and Feng Xiao were still fighting with open rivalry and veiled strife, now the situation has changed and they seemed to share a mutual synchronization.

Qin Miaoyu looked at Bing Xuan suddenly running out all of a sudden before obediently going back. How funny, she said in her heart, but stomached were to not laugh out loud.

Feng Xiao walked slowly back, leaping onto Cui Buqu’s horse carriage before raising a thumb at the latter.

“That posture of Commander Feng just now truly was a spectacle. It’s a pity that this humble one surnamed Cui didn’t have a neck long enough to see it clearly, otherwise, I would have been able to engrave Commander Feng’s elegance into my mind.” Cui Buqu spoke with absolute honesty since, after all, it cost him nothing to say a few good words.

Feng Xiao raised a brow: “Are you trying to send me off with just one sentence?”

Cui Buqu: “Then how many more sentences do I have to say?”

Feng Xiao placed a hand on his forehead: “Ah, I’m not sure if I was exhausted just now. Suddenly, I feel a headache. I should rest a little earlier after I return. I should ask Pei Jingzhe and the others to look after the prisoner, but if Bing Xuan hears about it, she might take the chance to leave in the middle of the night. Then, I might not be able to stop it from happening.”

He pretended to get off the horse carriage before a hand reached out to hold his sleeve, as expected.

Cui Buqu glared at him: “Commander Feng, don’t go. We can talk.”

Feng Xiao: “The wind just picked up. Feeling a headache. Can’t walk.”

Cui Buqu ground his teeth: “…I will massage it for you.”

Feng Xiao innocently said: “Spoke too much. My mouth hurts.”

As both of them looked at each other, Cui Buqu finally felt defeated. He leaned forward to cover Feng Xiao’s lips.

Feng Xiao didn’t move, his irises turning crystal clear like a young and tender innocent lamb who was forcibly attacked by an unfortunate devil he met.

Cui Buqu was driven into furious laughter, after tracing his lips for a moment, he bit down all of a sudden.

Feng Xiao squealed in pain and jerked backwards to cover his mouth and looked pitifully at him.

Cui Buqu wanted to say: Don’t put up the act. There’s no one here to watch.

At this time, Pei Jingzhe was talking outside. He happened to sweep the curtains apart from above his horse and peek his head inside.

“My Lord, it’s late, the posthouse might not have prepared a meal. I should go ahead and order them to—”

His voice stopped as he looked stunned at Feng Xiao’s dishevelled attire and swollen red lips, like a little white rabbit being mishandled. Cui Buqu’s cold and glaring expression looked fierce, like a barbarian who forced himself onto the maiden of a good house.

Feng Xiao adjusted his clothes and replied: “En, go ahead.”

For a moment Pei Jingzhe had an illusion of Feng Xiao having endured the greatest shame, his mind couldn’t respond in time, yet his body had already taken action to execute Feng Xiao’s orders and urged his horse to go forward. He’d probably still be thinking about it on the road.

Feng Xiao coquettishly told Cui Buqu: “Look at that~ It’s all your fault even this little rascal knows about us now.”

Cui Buqu gave him an expressionless face: “My apologies. You are too deliciously edible. For a moment, this humble one surnamed Cui was seduced.”

Feng Xiao sighed: “I understand. The finest people will be coveted, will they not?”

Cui Buqu pondered over it for a moment. “Yes.”

This “Yes” had many twists and turns, hard-earned and difficult, filled with the Zuoyue Commander’s helpless plea of being forced to beg for the sake of the bigger picture.

Feng Xiao looked at him for a while and suddenly gave a light little chirp: “Alright. I’ll not tease you anymore. I truly am a little bit tired. I’m lying down. Call me when we’ve arrived.”

After he finished talking, he truly did lie down and closed his eyes, no longer creating mischief.

Cui Buqu recalled Feng Xiao’s previous heavily wounded and agonal state, when he’d qi deviated and descended into a situation that seemed hopeless, and couldn’t help furrowing his brows slightly.

Everyone had seen all of the Yandang Estate and seen a few dozen corpses. Additionally, they had their hands full with another confusing case and had endured cold wind along the way. They were all tired. Even when the horse carriage arrived in the posthouse, there was a soundless relief in their hearts when everyone saw bright lanterns hanging by its door.

The officials in the posthouse have been informed, and hence prepared hot water and meals. Blankets were prepared for everyone and as they were welcomed, they were also guided into the rear courtyard to rest.

But just as Cui Buqu arrived at the posthouse, the Zuoyue guards brought a letter to him.

It came from the capital. There was the Zuoyue Bureau’s seal on it.

Zhangsun Bodhi knew that Cui Buqu was travelling, so he would be handling most of the official affairs. He wouldn’t send a message on a quick horse unless he had encountered something difficult.

Cui Buqu knew clearly in his heart that if even Zhangsun found it difficult, it truly would be something incredibly urgent and troubling that he needed to know immediately.

He tore the letter open and there was only one line of characters on it.

Murder in the capital. If allowed, please return swiftly.

Another murder.

What murder would require the Vice Commander of the Zuoyue Bureau himself to write a letter?

Zhangsun’s words had two important meanings to it.

The first: This case baffled even the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicature and Revision.

The second: Something about the case is fishy, it might involve the Zuoyue Bureau.

Cui Buqu furrowed his brows.

Not long later, Qin Miaoyu came over, bringing a half-filled bowl of Lotus Seed and Lily Bulbs soup.

“Master Cui, no poison is found in this soup.”

[Wushuang] Chapter 161
Would the skin lose its shine from sleeping too late?

Testing for poison with a silver needle was a popular method among the common people. However, silver needles were only capable of revealing the presence of arsenic poison whereas many more unnamed poisons could escape its detection.

Qin Miaoyu was very cautious; after running tests with a silver needle, she had also even ordered some people to catch a few chickens and ducks to use the soup on them.

After an hour had gone, the animals were still jumping around in full health.

Unless, this was a poison that spread slowly, so its effect would only show itself after a few days.

Cui Buqu looked at that bowl after he’d finished listening to her speak.

After the half-full bowl of Tremella and Lotus Seed Soup was taken for examination, there was not much of it left.

He raised the bowl up, and just like he did before in the estate, he sniffed at it again.

“The soup is cooled, but there is still a faint fishy smell.” Cui Buqu said.

Qin Miaoyu nodded her head, “Because there are some fish maws in it. It’s good for the skin when women drink tremella boiled with fish maw.”

Cui Buqu had never invested much in beauty, so he only offered silence. He would never simply offer an opinion on subjects he didn’t know much about. “Zhangsun’s letter just came. He asked me to return to the capital as soon as possible. Go ask Feng-er, see whether he wishes to remain and investigate or if he is willing to put the case on hold and hand them over to the Luoyang Authorities and go back with me.”

With experience from all the cases he had investigated, the annihilation of the Yandang Estate has already reached its end. The murderer has likely fled the moment they arrived. Unless the other committed another murder, or if they obtain some clues from Lin Wei after returning to the capital, it would be very difficult for them to have a breakthrough.

Cui Buqu added: “I would let the Luoyang Authorities gather more coroners to examine these corpses of the Yandang Estate and leave behind one Zuoyue member to take over. If there are any new findings, he would immediately report back to the capital. You people from the Jiejian Bureau could also leave behind some people to investigate together.”

After a moment of being stunned, Qin Miaoyu immediately answered: “I will ask the Second Commander to make a decision!”

“Wait.”

Cui Buqu stopped her, a look of confusion on his face.

Qin Miaoyu thought that she’d seen wrongly.

Given Cui Buqu’s personality, it was practically impossible for him to give such a look.

After a while, Cui Buqu asked: “Would the skin lose its shine from sleeping too late?”

Qin Miaoyu: “???”

Her instincts told her that Cui Buqu’s words might mean something else—some mechanism hidden within them that required her to analyse it.

Qin Miaoyu’s brain went blank for a moment. “It should be… true.”

Cui Buqu: “Do you usually go to sleep late?”

Qin Miaoyu blinked. “When I was in the Kingdom of Khotan, I obtained some secrets about retaining one’s beauty and made it into the recipe of an Immortal Salve. Even if I sleep late at night, that would be no trouble. If you want, this humble woman could offer it with both hands. Or, do you want to offer them to the Second Commander as gifts?”

Cui Buqu looked at her: “How did you come to the conclusion that I was giving it to him?”

Qin Miaoyu felt that she’d said something wrong. She felt shy and so she lowered her head.

Cui Buqu smiled all of a sudden, speaking gently and slowly: “It’s only due to me thinking how jade-like and luminous your skin is, Qin Miaoyu, that you look incredibly beautiful. If you overwork yourself, it would be such a pity. There are quite a number of beauty secrets in the palace. Perhaps some of them could be of use to you. The next time I pay the palace a visit, I will request from the Empress for some on your behalf.”

Qin Miaoyu was shocked at the favour she received. Her heart was a little moved, “Can that be done?”

Cui Buqu: “Naturally. Although you are a member of the Jiejian Bureau, you play a great role in defeating the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai this time. The Empress has always been generous. I am simply passing a message.”

In all honesty, no woman wouldn’t be moved after hearing such words. Qin Miaoyu was no exception. She happily said: “Then, many thanks to Commander Cui!”

Since they stepped onto Guangqian to this moment, one could say that they hadn’t stopped working, for upsurges happened one after the last. Even for people like Qin Miaoyu who was quite good in martial arts couldn’t help her stomach growling after returning to her own home and seeing the steamy meal delivered by the envoy from the posthouse.

In life, one must strive for a luxurious lifestyle to their full enjoyment; to only wag a finger and watch someone offering them the things they wanted with both hands—since the moment of joining the Fuyu Sect, trained, and ordered to get close to the Khotan King’s nephew and become the concubine of Yuchi Jinwu, Qin Miaoyu had established such a thought for herself. However, all these thoughts changed when she was forced into surrendering and handing over everything she knew to join the Jiejian Bureau.

She woke up earlier than a rooster and slept later than a dog. Every day, she’d have to busy herself dealing with cases, frequently putting her life on the line. Once in a while, she would even have to fight against top martial artists. Nevermind a luxurious lifestyle; if she could sleep on time it would already be quite the treat. Qin Miaoyu knew that Feng Xiao hadn’t fully trusted her. Su Xing, who infiltrated the City of Six Crafts with her and later killed the mistress of the Lu family, was already dead. Qin Miaoyu was the only one who survived.

So, in order to protect her own life, Qin Miaoyu had no choice but to work hard. Her desires for items of luxuries lessened, and now she couldn’t even help wetting her eyes at the sight of hot soup and a bowl of rice.

The more she lived, the more she fell back. Qin Miaoyu suddenly couldn’t help feeling sourness in her heart.

To think of that year, when she was someone surrounded by servants, and yet now—

Pei Jingzhe’s voice rang from the outside, “Sister Qin! After discussing with Commander Cui just now, my Lord decides to set out after sunrise.”

“Got it!” Qin Miaoyu immediately said. Hearing Pei Jingzhe’s footsteps getting further and further away, she had no time to spare to mourn, so she immediately raised the bowl and began to eat.

At this time, it’s not even six hours away from sunrise. After eating, she’d still need to wash…

What a terrible life for a fragile woman like her!

If they could return to the past, she would most definitely slap the past version of herself who had stolen the Jade of Heaven’s Lake. Who asked you to be greedy and short-sighted?! Quickly pack your bags and leave, otherwise, you would be caught into the den of tigers and wolves to work like horses and cows!

Qin Miaoyu could only gobble down her soup as she gathered her bitter tears.

In such a season, the sky was slow in transitioning from night to morning. After the time where the Dragons are going to bring rainwater (7AM – 9AM), the sky outside still looked dark.

Once Qin Miaoyu finished washing, it was already past the time when the oxen were chewing the cud (1AM – 3AM). When she thought about how she couldn’t sleep much after lying down, she meditated on the bed instead. When 7 am drew near, her heart was on alert, and so she opened her eyes, got down the bed, and went out to make arrangements in advance.

The people in the posthouse would make arrangements for the horse carriages. The horses have already been fed full. They would only need a driver to guide them out and place a harness on them.

Qin Miaoyu was very meticulous. Since the weather was too cold, Cui Buqu’s carriage would not have enough blankets to keep him warm. Normal people may hold out for a little, but with Commander Cui’s body, he would have frozen and fallen ill. She still remembered what Cui Buqu had told her yesterday about getting her some beauty salves from the palace. In her heart, she said: if Commander Cui fell ill on the journey, it would delay him going into the palace. Thus, she gave the carriage a glance and made the envoy put in some additional blankets.

One night has gone. There was a thin layer of ice surrounding the carriage. Even the steps leading to inside the carriage weren’t spared. That was where the host would have to step on to get into the carriage. It was also the place where the driver would be sitting. Qin Miaoyu gave it a sweeping glance and was stunned on the spot.

Lanterns at the gates of the posthouse wavered; their gentle light swaying like it would go out at any moment.

On top of the white-coloured ice, there were two footprints.

Those footprints were very light, so light that anyone could have missed them. They were heading into the direction of the inside of the carriage.

All the hairs on Qin Miaoyu suddenly stood!

All her fatigue disappeared within an instant. She abruptly took a few steps back and shouted: “Who goes there? Come out!”

The horse carriage didn’t even shake.

Instead, someone else came running out due to her voice.

Qin Miaoyu flipped her hand to draw out Pei Jingzhe’s sword, sweeping it with the pivot of her wrist and tore the carriage’s curtain apart.

Someone was sitting inside.

His face was twisted and it had turned green. His eyes were wide and round, his mouth hanging open, glaring at Qin Miaoyu as if he was looking at an incredibly horrible and painful sight.

Pei Jingzhe let out a slip of his tongue: “Zhou Laoqi!”

A member of the Jiejian Bureau, Zhou Laoqi. He was originally sent as a scout to the Yandang Estate. By orders, he was supposed to infiltrate the Yandang Estate in the disguise of a servant and monitor every move of the estate.

After that bloody incident, the Jiejian and Zuoyue Bureaus had lost a scout each.

Now, Zhou Laoqi of the Jiejian Bureau has shown himself.

Then where was the one from the Zuoyue Bureau?

As everyone outside was in a frenzy, Zhou Laoqi didn’t bulge. He continued to look at them.

“He is dead.”

Ming Yue walked out from the door. Those severe injuries of his haven’t recovered, and so most of his time was spent resting in the horse carriage. At this moment, although he wasn’t as quick as he used to be, he revealed himself like blinding lightning as he attacked. One might say that his condition has turned for the better.

But when he attacked, Zhou Laoqi didn’t move.

Ming Yue’s expression changed slightly. As he used a little more strength, the horse carriage shook a little, yet Zhou Laoqi’s butt seemed to be stuck fast to the ground.

“Something is fishy under the carriage.” Cui Buqu coughed twice. He had also come out. The lack of rest made his face look paler than yesterday night.

Pei Jingzhe bent down and looked at the bottom of the carriage and quickly found the problem.

“There is a sword under the carriage!”

Once he pulled the sword out, Zhou Laoqi finally slumped sideways.

Not only Pei Jingzhe, but everyone else was also astonished.

Zhou Laoqi was placed into the carriage, then fastened onto the seat by a sword piercing directly into his body. So, it was obvious why when Ming Yue attacked, he hadn’t bulged.

From the looks of his expression, Zhou Laoqi might not have been completely dead when the sword pierced through.

How did it feel as an experience to be pierced through your body alive by a sword before you were dead?

Pei Jingzhe knew that this wasn’t the sort of pain a normal person could endure. Even his own guts seem to be churning.

“The enemy is imposing their dominance on us.” Ming Yue said dully.

His words made Pei Jingzhe’s heart start beating fast.

The enemy’s capabilities had led to the Yandang Estate’s total annihilation. It was impossible for Zhou Laoqi to escape this, and it seemed like the enemy not only knew that Zhou Laoqi was a scout of the Jiejian Bureau, they even know that Feng Xiao and the others had made their way here and tortured Zhou Laoqi to death in front of them on purpose. This wasn’t only challenging Feng Xiao, but also a challenge towards the entire Jiejian Bureau.

Ming Yue has always been lenient and he seldom got angry. And yet, this time, he truly was angry. “Er-lang, we should stay here. We’ll leave only after the truth has been discovered!”

Before Feng Xiao could speak, Cui Buqu spoke first: “I suggest we all leave. We leave now.”

Towards Cui Buqu, Ming Yue still held some degree of respect. He angrily said: “Commander Cui. This person obviously knew our intentions and whereabouts. If we fail to remove them quickly, I fear they would pose an even bigger threat!”

Although Pei Jingzhe and the others said nothing, their expressions agreed with Ming Yue.

Cui Buqu’s train of thought was different from theirs. “Before I slept yesterday, I already asked the people from the posthouse. The posthouse of Luoyang is larger than any others that could be found. Not including us, there were three different groups of people. One group of four went to Xin’an County to assume their post as county officials. One group of six passed by Luoyang as travelling scholars. Another group of thirty-six people were from the group belonging to Yangcheng Xuanzhu, the daughter of the Emperor’s late brother, Prince Caijing. Adding to the miscellaneous workers of the posthouse, there were too many people. News of us leaving today must have spread out last night and it wouldn’t be impossible to investigate, but it would most certainly be time costly. In fact, it would not yield effective results. I think that the enemy has a different motive.”

Feng Xiao, who hasn’t spoken before, concluded his words: “What you mean is that he is trying to stop us from leaving Luoyang so quickly.”

“That is right.” Cui Buqu nodded, “The more he wants to stall us, the more it proves that we need to hurry back to the capital. This matter cannot be delayed, and so we must depart immediately.”

As Ming Yue listened to this, his eyebrows furrowed in silence. For a moment, he could think of nothing to say back.

But Feng Xiao had already made the decision. He allowed Pei Jingzhe to inform the posthouse immediately and allow them to help bury Zhou Laoqi’s corpse. Then, he made arrangements for Cui Buqu and Guan Shanhai to change into a different horse carriage. The group of people tidied and arranged their journey, not having the time to even fawn on each other about the weather.

Everyone was separated into three different horse carriages. Guan Shanhai and Ming Yue shared one; Qin Miaoyu and Bing Xuan shared one; Cui Buqu’s horse carriage would be in the centre along with a few Zuoyue guards and eagle riders from the Jiejian Bureau.

One moment before the horse carriages departed for their journey, Cui Buqu was sitting inside the carriage in deep pondering when he saw Feng Xiao giving up on riding a horse and welcomed himself into the carriage.

“How warm is it in here!” Feng Xiao comfortably exhaled a breath and met Cui Buqu’s speechless expression, “The enemy is in the dark, yet we are in the light. I had no choice but to abandon my comrades to come over here and protect you. Don’t you forget who it was that helped you stop someone else yesterday night.”

Little Lord Pei who was unable to “share in the joys and sorrows” with his superior was being blown over by chill winds outside as he rode on a horse.

As he thought about how tired the other was last night, Cui Buqu withdrew the words he wanted to speak and instead passed the pre-prepared water sack made from animal hide next to him over to Feng Xiao.

“It’s warm.”

Feng Xiao raised a brow, and from the corner of his eyes, he saw another water sack similar to the one he was holding in the corner of the carriage.

This meant that Cui Buqu had long already prepared this one, wanting to give it to him.

He gave the other a half-smile and received the water sack to take a sip.

The water was still warm, and after slipping down his throat, it had even tasted sweet.

Feng Xiao blinked. He thought that just because he was in a good mood, the water had turned sweet, but quickly realized this was not the case when he took another sip.

It really was sweet.

“What did you put in the water?”

“Poison.” Cui Buqu casually raised a book to flip it open, not even raising his head.

“Ooh~~~~” Feng Xiao dragged his tone, “It appears to be Bingzhi Pellets.”

Cui Buqu: “…”

“My apologies. I’ve taken the wrong one. This was originally meant for Qin Miaoyu.” He coldly stated.

Feng Xiao sighed. “Although one might say that there are no little amount of people in this world who admire my eminence and grace, if you hold such kindness, it’s only right for you to say them out loud.”

Cui Buqu coldly laughed: “Although one might say that I would never take a fancy on common mortals, that even if Second Commander Feng has fallen for me, I might not even bat an eye at you. However, with your manner of concealing your intentions in such a way, aren’t you disgracing your status and air as a top martial artist?”

Feng Xiao chuckled. “Who says I fell for you? How would I fall for an ailing invalid? Stop immersing in your fantasy. Could it be that you have fallen for me?”

Cui Buqu sneered. “You think I would fall for a bald tailed peacock with a polished exterior who habours a disappointment on the inside?”

They met each other’s gazes and tore away at the same time, no longer paying the other any attention.

Feng Xiao said in his heart: Hmph, refusing to speak your heart!

Cui Buqu gave a cold laugh inwardly: Refusing to speak your mind!

Dust Bunny: I forgot to put this earlier. Bingzhi (冰芝) Pellets whereas 冰 means ‘Ice’ and 芝 appears to be from lingzhi (灵芝) is a medicinal mushroom that has been recognized for over 2000 years. Personally, I believe Bingzhi is referring to frozen lingzhi, maybe from a dash of wuxia-ness.

[Wushuang] Chapter 162
Enemies. Really. Walk. A. Narrow. Road!

Content Warning: Mild descriptions of gore and dismemberment.

After Luoyang, they weren’t far from the capital.

The sky was dark as gloomy clouds hovered over the air like an endless night.

Waves of chilled wind swept by one after the last, but even more unusual were the dark and sinister whispers coming from all around.

They have just left the main path and ventured into a smaller alley. Forests stood on both sides; and although all the leaves had mostly fallen, the light of lanterns wavering in front of the horses gave off a strange, eerie feeling from the forest as if something would leap out at any moment.

Pei Jingzhe repeatedly raised his head, questioning why the sky hasn’t brightened yet.

The more he thought about it, the more the sky seemed to defy him, refusing to grant him his wish. After they have travelled more than half their journey, a glint of greyish white finally peered through the sky, though it was still far from a bright and sunny day. Instead, those wilted trees that were originally pitch black had turned into swaying dark shadows that overlapped one another, looking like they were opening their jaws wide sinisterly.

The good news was that there was no snow.

The bad news was that fog had risen.

A wave of fog surged towards them. The breeze had not only failed to blow the fog away, but it had instead made the forest thick with it.

The roots of jagged, wilted trees were halfway concealed, leaving only their strange upper body to flaunt endlessly in the fog.

Pei Jingzhe realized something was amiss.

He knew that this path stretched a long way, and the forest was quite huge, but—

The tree on their right looked a little familiar.

“Ghosts are hammering the wall.”

At the same time, he heard Cui Buqu’s voice from inside the carriage.

Truly, this was a case of “speaking of the devil, and the devil may come to haunt you.”

He wasn’t afraid of ghosts or demons.

Since the bloody incident from the Yandang Estate, everything that had happened was beyond their expectations. Not long ago, Zhou Laoqi’s corpse seemed to be giving off a sense of foreboding, and although they have chosen not to remain due to Cui Buqu’s insistence, everyone was unable to feel at ease. Pei Jingzhe could not stop himself from feeling like something was about to happen.

Firstly, his heart jerked upwards, and then it was like something heavy had been lifted, before the feeling of a sudden realization sinking in.

When trouble came hitting at one’s door, it was always better than having trouble waiting for them outside.

Everyone else also realized it. They looked around and finally finished searching this region.

At a single command from Pei Jingzhe, the convoy stopped.

“My Lord, Commander Cui, let us wait for the fog to disperse before continuing—”

Before his words could fully make their way out, a shriek seemed to sound at the same time, overpowering Pei Jingzhe’s voice completely.

He abruptly turned around!

Amid the fog, a black shadow revealed itself from the trees and in the blink of an eye, it appeared right in front of an eaglerider of the Jiejian Bureau.

The other was abruptly pulled down from his horse and dragged into the depths of the fog!

Pei Jingzhe was taken aback. He didn’t hesitate before dashing forward.

But Feng Xiao was even quicker than him!

Pei Jingzhe couldn’t even get a clear look of him unleashing an attack. The black shadow was forced to release the eaglerider and then cruelly cast him to the ground.

“A play of the devil!” Feng Xiao gave a cold snort. He dropped, drawing a pained cry from the black shadow before he fainted dead.

Pei Jingzhe gave him a thorough glance and realized that the other was only wearing a nightgear. They had neither turned ashen mist and smoke nor were they moving underground.

It really was a play of the devil.

What quickly followed were a few black shadows appearing in the fog, coming from all directions and as they surrounded the convoy.

Pei Jingzhe also quickly realized that these people’s martial arts were only above average. Qin Miaoyu, himself, and a few more eagleriders from the Jiejian Bureau and guards from the Zuoyue Bureau would be enough to take all of them on.

“These people are from the Crimson Sun Group. Their martial arts techniques originated from the Jinhuan Group.” Cui Buqu said.

The Jinhuan Group was the head of the Nine Groups of Caoyun, with its Group leader Ning Shewo as the Group Leader. Although the Nine Groups of Caoyun were an alliance, the other Group leaders were not puppets guided by strings. Among the nine groups, only the Group Leader of the Crimson Sun Group rose to his position with the help of Ning Shewo, and so he listened to every command of the Jinhuan Group.

In the last battle at the tavern, the Jinhuan Group’s Young Master Leng Dou brought a batch of Jinhuan elites to forfeit their lives. Feng Xiao had annihilated all of them alone.

But without Leng Dou, there was still Ning Shewo.

That old sly fox Ning Shewo refused to show himself. Instead, he had sent someone else to be his meatshield.

So, naturally, these black-robed people were not his match.

Pei Jingzhe was still concerned about something.

Even if the Crimson Sun Group and the Jinhuan Group came at once, would they have been able to thoroughly annihilate the Yandang Estate completely?

Didn’t the old coroner say those fifty or so people died from madness and killed each other?

If the murderers weren’t them, then who else was there hiding in the fog and watching their every move?

In the midst of their struggles, one person descended from above. As his figure wavered, a wave of attack was shot at the horse carriage at the centre of the envoy!

It was Cui Buqu’s carriage!

The attack blew off the roof of the carriage.

But that person had failed to shatter Cui Buqu’s body into thousands of pieces.

Because Feng Xiao had come!

Both of them fought in the air. Within a blink of the eye, they have fought from the roof to a few zhang away into the treetops. Onlookers could not even tell their movements clearly.

Feng Xiao did not even need to see the other’s true face. Once they fought, he immediately knew the other’s identity.

“Old Yuan, could it be that your love for me is already so deep-rooted, that you had to find the chance to die by my hand only to be satisfied?”

Yuan Sansi’s face blackened at being called ‘Old Yuan’ by Feng Xiao.

Enemies. Really. Walk. A. Narrow. Road!

Last time, he had retreated with heavy injuries which have not fully healed even at this moment. He dared not go full out, and thus only fought while he plotted to escape.

Although Feng Xiao’s martial arts have far surpassed his at present, it wasn’t an easy feat to kill Yuan Sansi on the spot if he was deliberately not trying to fight a serious battle.

However, Yuan Sansi very quickly felt his pressure decreasing.

Because two more people had joined the battle.

One of them was the Group Leader of the Jinhuan Group, Ning Shewo and the other was the Group Leader of the Crimson Sun Group, Hong Li.

Ning Shewo was a sly enough fellow; last time in Tiannian Mountain, once Group Leader Ning saw that the situation had turned unfavourable, he had vanished quickly and was naturally spared from the same fate that befell Yu Xiu. Returning to the subject, even if his martial arts weren’t one of the top ten beneath the Heavens, he would easily be a top-tier martial artist solely by the fact that he led the Nine Groups of Caoyun and had roamed the Wulin of the South for many years. If he had joined forces with Yu Xiu back then, they might have succeeded in defeating Feng Xiao.

The Crimson Sun Group was akin to the younger brother of the Jinhuan Group. However, the Group Leader Hong Li was known for his barbaric Iron Palm Technique.

When the three of them joined forces and surrounded Feng Xiao, not only did Yuan Sansi have hopes of escaping alive, even if Feng Xiao desired to kill Yuan Sansi, it would no longer be so easy.

The battle outside was also in progress.

The chicken and ducks that Qin Miaoyu had used to test for poison had been ‘kidnapped’ onto the journey as well, to see how long it takes for the poison to act up within them. And now, no one knew how they had escaped from their imprisonment and were all wildly quacking as they ran about. They didn’t even turn back as they ran into freedom.

Cui Buqu stood next to the horse carriage as he observed the battle. Suddenly, he heard some movement behind him.

He turned around, only to see that someone else was behind his carriage.

The other’s face was pale, with a pair of eyes filled with blood vessels as they looked at Cui Buqu with a stoic expression no different from those who are looking at something dead.

Cold, yet frantic.

Cui Buqu knew him.

“Lu Ming.”

He happened to be the missing scout of the Zuoyue Bureau from the bloody incident of Yandang Estate.

Hearing his own name, Lu Ming showed no reaction. He seemed to have failed to recognize even his own superior. Reaching out, he grabbed at Cui Buqu.

His right hand crooked into a claw, fast and cruel, aiming for Cui Buqu’s neck.

At the same time Cui Buqu took a step back, he realized Lu Ming’s footsteps were uneven and hesitant.

As he watched his prey escaping, Lu Ming didn’t hesitate moving forward to go into a chase.

Qin Miaoyu quickly came to his aid. She struck Lu Ming’s chest with a sword. The latter hesitated, then reached out to grab the sword and pulled it out of his chest.

This wasn’t something a normal person could do, Qin Miaoyu was dumbstruck.

Recalling the appearance of Zhou Laoqi that morning, and now at Lu Ming, one could make a lot of terrifying connections.

“He isn’t dead. He’s drugged with some poison that sends one into madness!” Cui Buqu exclaimed as if knowing what she was thinking about.

As her mind spun, Qin Miaoyu swung the sword in her hand and sent Lu Ming’s head flying into the air!

Fresh blood sprayed everywhere!

Qin Miaoyu, after all, preferred beauty and cleanliness. She was afraid that she would get blood on her robes, and so pulled Cui Buqu to stand behind him.

Lu Ming’s head flew into the air, rolling to a place not far off by Pei Jingzhe’s feet.

“What is this?!” The black-robed man fighting with Pei Jingzhe shouted.

Cui Buqu and the others turned around to look, and saw, from the spot where the neck was cut, there was a long black worm as thick as a finger squiggling out!

Qin Miaoyu picked up a piece of rock and tossed it over. Before the worm could move, it was smashed into a bloody pulp.

“There is a third force at play here.” Cui Buqu coldly said.

Qin Miaoyu was still a little oblivious at first, but upon being reminded, everything fell into place.

From the reactions of those black-robed people, Lu Ming and the worm had nothing to do with them.

This means that they were most likely being lured here as well.

The enemy wanted them to fight among themselves so they may reel in the final catch.

Other than the Thirteen Pavilions of Yunhai, who else were they against?

Qin Miaoyu’s heart sank. Suddenly, she felt that today would not be an easy day to pass.

After Yuan Sansi fought with Feng Xiao for a moment, he realized that Feng Xiao had never intended to take his life.

Feng Xiao suddenly asked: “Are you people the ones behind the Yandang Estate’s incident?”

Yuan Sansi snorted but didn’t answer him.

Ning Shewo asked instead, “Wasn’t it you people who did it?”

Feng Xiao snorted coldly: “Stop fooling around with me!”

The four of them seemed to synchronize. Feng Xiao suddenly stopped, Yuan Sansi and the others also retreated into different ways.

Ning Shewo knew that his side was weaker compared to the enemy’s, and so there was no advantage they could have taken, thus he gently said: “Commander Feng was mistaken. We originally came for the Little Sword-Sparring Competition but heard about the massacre at the Yandang Estate, which left us astonished. Afterwards, we heard about Commander Feng and his company’s arrival in Luoyang to handle the case. With Commander Feng and Commander Cui here to deliver miracles upon solving cases, no one would need to worry that this case wouldn’t be solved. So we were prepared to leave in reassurance, but hadn’t expected to run into Commander Feng and your company here.”

To think two parties who couldn’t tolerate each other would cast aside their prejudices and engage in a civil talk, this was truly a miraculous sight.

He chattily said a bunch of things, but it all went back to a single point: They were not the murderers behind the Yandang Estate’s massacre, neither were they tailing Feng Xiao and his company.

As if Yuan Sansi could no longer stand his chattiness, he immediately said: “A few of our subordinates had gone missing. When we pursued our way here, we run into you people.”

Once these words came out, all four of them came to realize that they were intentionally brought together.

Feng Xiao’s expression changed all of a sudden. Ignoring the three of them, he turned around to rush back from where he came from!

His speed was incredibly fast, arriving at the same place where the company stopped just now.

But other than those three horse carriages and a few horses, everyone had gone missing.

“Cui Buqu! You surnamed Cui!”

Feng Xiao shouted a few times. In the vast and empty forest of wilted trees, only the vast sea of fog answered him.

He inhaled deeply as if he smelled a faint scent of a fragrance.

The fragrance of wood.

But in such wintry weather, from where would the smell of forest wood come from?

Even if Cui Buqu was kidnapped, there was still Ming Yue and the others. It was impossible for them to disappear soundlessly just like that!

From the corner of his eyes, he saw a smudge of red.

Feng Xiao lowered his head and saw blood.

It looked like blood that dripped from wounds, bleeding over the ground continuously before it stopped, then bleeding again. In the long stretch of land in front of them, it led into the fog.

Following the bloody trail, he walked over step by step.

The scent of blood grew thicker.

Thick like there was a mountain of corpses waiting ahead.

But Feng Xiao did not see a mountain of corpses. He saw Cui Buqu lying down in front not far off, and Qin Miaoyu was on top of the other’s body, biting down on his flesh.

Hearing his movement, Qin Miaoyu turned around with a face full of fresh blood!

White bones have already revealed themselves from Cui Buqu’s arm.

Feng Xiao’s heart stopped.

This was an instinctive reaction.

The expression on his face changed, and he rushed forward without a second thought!

At the same time, there was a black shadow closing up on him from behind, soundless and breathless.