Everyone thought this archer was far away, but he had actually lurked just outside the main door, separated from everyone by only a layer of door panel. His breath-concealing technique could truly be called supernatural. Seeing the person had revealed himself, the other fifteen monks shouted loudly and surrounded him. Suddenly smoke filled the air – clouds of white smoke rose around that person, momentarily concealing his form. The monks stepped in the Seven Stars formation and suddenly retreated. Just as they retreated, several arrows shot out from the white smoke with whooshing sounds. The monks struck out to parry, and the white smoke became even denser, instantly obscuring everything in the house. Everyone covered their mouths and closed their eyes. When the smoke cleared, they saw the area by the table was empty. Yu Tuan’er lay sprawled on the ground, Fang Pingzhai leaned to one side, but Liu Yan was nowhere to be seen.
The Shaolin fifteen monks looked at each other. After a chaotic battle with one injured and one dead, they had failed to take away Liu Yan, who had lost all his martial arts and had disabled legs. Shaolin Temple had truly lost great face this time.
A’Shui’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as she bit her lip and stood there. Seeing the Shaolin fifteen monks pick up the wounded and dead to bid farewell and leave, she returned their courtesy. Watching the monks depart in the distance, she turned around, helped Yu Tuan’er up, and with difficulty moved her to her own bed, covering her with quilts. Fang Pingzhai had his acupoints sealed and leaned motionless in his chair. She brought over bedding to cover him, not knowing what to do for the moment. Looking back at the silent guest room, she slowly walked over and gently pushed open the door. As expected, the room was empty – Tang Lici had left at some unknown time.
Had he… heard Liu Yan speaking? Had he seen the chaotic battle just now? Had he seen… that people who were originally strangers could shed blood for their companions, and would even… think of risking their lives to protect each other, think of never separating even unto death? She quietly closed the door, gently stroked Fengfeng’s head, thinking of Liu Yan being taken away by the mysterious archer with unknown fate, thinking of his extremely sorrowful eyes, thinking of the child she and he had once had. After a long while, she sighed deeply.
“Miss A’Shui.” Someone outside the door called peacefully. A’Shui suddenly turned around to see Yang Guihua in official robes, followed by several soldiers, looking at her with gentle eyes. “Miss, your home was truly restless tonight.”
A’Shui stepped back two paces. She had always been composed when facing Yang Guihua, but now felt somewhat nervous. “Master Yang.”
“The Eastern District Military Patrol Office reported that Xingyang Bookshop housed three suspicious guests overnight. I came to investigate on Lord Jiao’s orders, and the result truly shocked me greatly.” Yang Guihua said. “The Shaolin Seventeen Monks fought with sound-killing techniques in your home. These two guests of mysterious origins must have close connections with Liu Yan, master of the Crimson Ghost Nine Hearts Pill. And—” He smiled slightly and didn’t continue. “All three of you come with me to the Court of Judicial Review.”
A’Shui stared at him intently. Yang Guihua directed the soldiers to carry the two people from chair and bed. She lowered her gaze, held Fengfeng, and obediently followed them out.
He had come long ago – perhaps when those soldiers reported back, he had already arrived, yet remained silent throughout. Perhaps he calculated he couldn’t defeat the Shaolin Seventeen Monks, so waited for an opportunity to benefit as the fisherman. He was one of the main investigators of the murder case where five people were killed. He clearly knew who the murderer was, yet couldn’t truly arrest Tang Lici. Fengliu Shop’s Liu Yan was precisely the master of that mysterious drug circulating in the palace. Whoever was distributing poison in the palace, whatever conspiracy lurked behind it, it must all be connected to Liu Yan. The dead bat-like monster and Wei Beiyin were both Liu Yan’s subordinates. Tang Lici killing the bat monster showed his stance aligned with Yang Guihua’s, and he was the strongest force in the martial world targeting Fengliu Shop, so naturally Tang Lici couldn’t be arrested. But the Emperor was in a great rage and the matter was pressing urgently – they couldn’t go long without finding a murderer. These two strange men and women in Xingyang Bookshop who had close connections with Liu Yan were perfect candidates to temporarily appease the court. And A’Shui… with Yang Guihua’s discernment, he could naturally see that Tang Lici had an ambiguous relationship with her. Having this young lady in hand would provide additional constraint over the unfathomable National Uncle Tang.
Dawn was breaking, and the autumn sun gradually rose.
Aunt Liu had been disturbed all night by the sounds of wind and rain. In her sleep she vaguely heard some mournful flute music and had hazy dreams of her youth. When she woke in the morning, she was startled. Looking out her window, she saw the main door of the neighboring Xingyang Bookshop was shattered with wood scattered on the ground and bloodstains dotting the earth. A’Shui and Fengfeng were nowhere to be found. She touched her chest, thinking that women who seduced men brought nothing but trouble. Things had been perfectly fine – how did it end up like this? Now heaven knows who she’d provoked this time. It was truly frightening.