Lingbo had noticed Kong Hou standing in the crowd long ago. Among a group of ordinary-looking people, if there was a young woman of outstanding appearance, she would naturally be more conspicuous than others. However, seeing that the other party’s bone age was only fifteen or sixteen yet she had already reached the fifth stage of Foundation Establishment, Lingbo didn’t rest her gaze on her for too long.
Seeing Kong Hou actively helping her question the people at the inn, Lingbo took the initiative to speak. “May I ask who you are, miss?”
“I am Kong Hou, a disciple of Yunhua Sect.” Kong Hou bowed to Lingbo. “Greetings, Lingbo Xianzi.”
“Greetings, Kong Hou Xianzi.” Lingbo returned the bow, her expression becoming somewhat more solemn. She had heard of Kong Hou’s name. Two years ago, her master had told her that a cultivation genius like herself had emerged from Yunhua Sect—at only fourteen years old, she had already achieved Foundation Establishment. Lingbo hadn’t expected they would meet here. Her feelings toward Kong Hou were somewhat complicated. She both admired the other’s talent and disliked having a younger girl steal her spotlight, so for a moment, she didn’t know whether she liked this young woman or not.
The others were secretly shocked—what kind of day was today that they would encounter disciples from two great sects all at once? Some people thought about how during the day, a playboy had flirted with Kong Hou. If that playboy had known this young lady was a Yunhua Sect disciple, he probably would have been scared witless.
“I wonder, Kong Hou, when you were sleeping tonight, did you notice anything unusual?” Lingbo asked.
Kong Hou shook her head. “Tonight was exceptionally quiet. I only came out after hearing the scream.” She glanced around. “Who made that scream?”
That scream had been particularly piercing, making it impossible to distinguish whether it came from a man or woman.
What surprised Kong Hou was that everyone present said they had also come downstairs after hearing the scream. Not a single person admitted to discovering the corpse first.
Seeing this situation, Lingbo’s expression became grim again. That scream had been deliberately made to lure them out. Perhaps this person was now pretending to be an innocent lodger, smugly watching her helplessness to mock Zhaohan Sect’s incompetence.
He was making Zhaohan Sect lose face.
Thinking of this, Lingbo’s beautiful face flushed with anger. “Does the killer wish to make an enemy of our Zhaohan Sect?” Many things she could tolerate, but the sect’s reputation—not even a bit of it could be lost.
Seeing Lingbo’s anger, the others silently cursed the evil cultivator hiding among them. Fearing they might be the next to die, they began suspecting those around them.
“Lingbo Xianzi, since this happened in Qiu City, why not send someone to notify the city lord and have him assist with the investigation?” Kong Hou saw that Lingbo’s maidservants were blocking the main entrance, not letting anyone leave. “That way you’ll have more help.”
“If they could find the killer, they would have caught them last month. How would today’s incident have happened again?” Lingbo’s tone was somewhat indifferent. “Kong Hou Xianzi, this is Zhaohan Sect’s matter. Please allow me to handle it myself.”
So she found her meddling annoying?
Kong Hou leaned against the stairway railing, crossed her arms, and said lazily, “Please, Lingbo Xianzi, do as you wish.” Having said this, she closed both eyes and began resting.
Clearly the other party hadn’t argued with her or even said a single harsh word, yet Lingbo inexplicably felt something blocking her chest. Worse still, she couldn’t even lose her temper. With a stern face, she said to her subordinate maidservants, “Properly collect Yue Lian’s remains. We’ll bury her locally tomorrow.”
“Miss, Yue Lian’s ancestral home is in Ping City. This servant wishes to take her ashes back to Ping City for burial.” A maidservant who had been close to Yue Lian steeled herself and knelt down. “Please grant permission, Miss.”
Lingbo looked at the maidservant expressionlessly and said coldly, “Fine.”
Having said this, she glanced at everyone. “Before this matter is cleared up, I ask that everyone stay at the inn for a few more days. I will cover the expenses.”
Although everyone wanted to flee this place, since Lingbo had spoken, no one dared object. They could only give scattered, half-hearted responses. Those few with more courage only dared mutter quietly but didn’t dare contradict Lingbo to her face.
According to the rules, when a murder occurred at an inn, people indeed couldn’t leave easily. However, if identities were verified and innocence proven, leaving was permitted. This Lingbo Xianzi from Zhaohan Sect was clearly treating all of them as suspects.
Lingbo didn’t care what these people thought. Having entered Zhaohan Sect less than twenty years ago, she had already reached Core Formation stage cultivation and was thoroughly doted upon within the sect. She was a genius famous throughout the entire cultivation world—who wouldn’t give her some face? As for these lodgers with mediocre cultivation or who were even ordinary humans, she only showed politeness on the surface but actually didn’t regard them at all.
Let these people complain privately if they wanted. In her presence, didn’t they still respectfully address her as “Immortal”?
Just as everyone was preparing to return to their rooms to rest, City Lord Du Bin arrived with his people. As soon as he entered, he apologized to everyone. “Du’s management has been lax, causing everyone such alarm.” Having said this, he performed a deep bow to everyone.
Everyone hastily returned the courtesy, saying this was the work of an evil cultivator and didn’t blame City Lord Du. Though Qiu City wasn’t large, it bordered Yunhua Sect and belonged to Yunhua Sect’s affiliated cities. Although Yunhua Sect usually didn’t like interfering in the affairs of affiliated cities, if matters became serious, Yunhua Sect would definitely not stand idly by. So they couldn’t afford to provoke them, absolutely couldn’t afford it.
“This disciple greets Martial Uncle Kong Hou.” Du Bin made his way through the crowd to Kong Hou and respectfully performed a junior’s bow.
“No need for excessive courtesy, no need at all.” Kong Hou straightened up and pointed below. “You handle the matters here. I’m going to sleep.” She yawned and turned to head back to her room.
Suddenly, she paused mid-step and pointed at the finely dressed young man shrinking by the doorway. “And this is?”
“In answer to Martial Uncle, this is my worthless son Du Jing.” He said somewhat embarrassedly, “This year he didn’t pass the entrance examination, so he hasn’t had the opportunity to join a sect yet. But according to seniority, he is of your martial grand-nephew generation.”
“Oh, a martial grand-nephew.” Kong Hou looked at Du Jing with a half-smile. “Looking… quite spirited.”
“Martial Uncle is too kind. This troublemaker spends all day chasing cats and teasing dogs, doing nothing proper. In his twenties and still without much cultivation—I’ve made you laugh.” He turned and berated Du Jing. “What are you standing there for? Hurry up and pay respects to your martial grand-aunt.”
Du Jing silently groaned. If he’d known, he shouldn’t have followed along just now. This was simply asking for humiliation. How could such unlucky things happen in this world? In a moment of hot-headedness, his mouth ran loose, and he provoked a martial grand-aunt.
What was Yunhua Sect thinking anyway? How did such a young girl become his martial grand-aunt?
“This junior… greets Martial Grand-Aunt.”
“Speak louder! Your voice is usually plenty loud—how come now you sound like you haven’t eaten?” Du Bin became angry seeing his son’s cowering appearance and slapped him on the forehead. “No manners!”
Du Jing gloomily glanced at Du Bin. This really was his biological father, sparing no effort to pit his own son. If the old man knew that his son had flirted with his martial grand-aunt today, would he be angry enough to kill him on the spot?
“Martial nephew need not be so formal. We’re family—we don’t stand on such empty ceremony.” Kong Hou looked at Du Jing standing on the lower step with a smile, reaching out to pat the top of his head. “Good grandson.”
Du Jing: …
The mighty little tyrant of all Qiu City had actually fallen to the point of being the grandson of a sixteen-year-old girl. What face did he have left to be a playboy? He was the shame of the playboy world, the failure of the little tyrant group.
While secretly suffering, a red brocade pouch appeared in his hand—Kong Hou had stuffed it there. He looked up at Kong Hou in confusion. What did this mean? Was she giving him poison to end his own life?
Although he was the shame of the playboy world, he didn’t want to die! As the saying goes, a bad life is better than a good death. He had no particular virtues except thick skin—to stay alive, he could even discard his face.
“Good grandson, this is a greeting gift from your martial grand-aunt.” Kong Hou patted his shoulder, saying cheerfully, “See you tomorrow.”
“Respectfully see off Martial Uncle.” Seeing his son’s lack of reaction, Du Bin reached out a leg and kicked him.
Du Jing quickly bowed. “Respectfully see off Martial Grand-Aunt.”
“Good grandson.”
Du Bin watched Kong Hou’s departing figure, silently sighing in admiration. Truly worthy of being a personal disciple of Yunhua Sect, a five spiritual roots genius—such bearing was simply different. Then looking at his good-for-nothing son beside him, he sighed. Forget it, forget it. This one was his own flesh and blood—he wouldn’t compare anymore.
If he kept comparing, he wouldn’t be able to resist beating this worthless thing.
Seeing Du Bin walk toward Kong Hou, Lingbo guessed that Kong Hou had used a transmission talisman to notify him. Though somewhat unhappy about it, since he had already come, she didn’t want to make the atmosphere too tense. She left her maidservants to communicate with Du Bin and turned back to the rear courtyard herself.
Du Jing said quietly to Du Bin, “This Lingbo Xianzi from Zhaohan Sect sure can keep her composure. Her maidservant was killed, yet she can still go back to sleep.”
“Shut up.” Du Bin glared at him and ordered his subordinates to surround the inn to prevent the killer from escaping in other directions. When he went to examine the corpse, Zhaohan Sect’s maidservants wouldn’t allow it, saying Yue Lian was a woman and it was improper for other men to touch her.
“The person is already dead. You won’t let her depart in peace and still cling to these worldly proprieties—isn’t there something wrong with you?” Du Jing mocked. “Could it be the killer is one of your own people, and you’re afraid we’ll discover it, so you’re deliberately making excuses not to let us near?”
“Nonsense!” The maidservants became so angry their willow-leaf eyebrows stood on end as they drew their swords.
“What do you want to do?” Du Jing raised his voice and shouted. “Zhaohan Sect is bullying people with their power! They want to kill and silence witnesses!”
“City Lord Du, for Young Master Du to slander our sect like this—isn’t that inappropriate?” The lead maidservant’s expression was grim, wishing she could stab the loudly shouting Du Jing with one sword thrust.
“Please forgive us, miss. My worthless son has always been unruly. I will certainly take him home for strict discipline.” Du Bin smiled apologetically, his face as honest as could be. But while claiming he would discipline his son, he wasn’t stopping Du Jing’s loud shouting.
Knock, knock, knock.
A black-robed man stood at the inn’s entrance, knocking three times.
“Excuse me, are there any vacant rooms?”
Everyone turned their heads in unison and saw, through the swirling snow outside the door, a man whose white robes were whiter than snow. In that instant, the room fell silent. The candlelight flickered gently in the night wind, casting shadows on the dead person’s face.
The black-robed man saw the corpse laid out on the ground and turned to the man. “Young Master, someone has died in this inn. We cannot stay here.”
The lodgers in the inn: “…”
Did he mean all of them standing inside the building weren’t people?