Chapter 68: In An Uproar

Meng Qi slowly exhaled several times, calming his emotions. Because he had anticipated something like this, he wasn’t overly shocked, though he felt the situation had become increasingly complicated. He couldn’t tell who was telling the truth, who was lying, or which parts were genuine and which were falsehoods.

This was not the right time to sort through clues or words carefully. Meng Qi cautiously observed his surroundings, confirming there was no ambush before opening the door and stepping inside.

Inside the room lay nine corpses. Besides Han Shi, Wu Cheng, and two attendants, there were four other individuals, all dressed in tattered clothes like dock laborers.

After carefully inspecting their wounds, Meng Qi discovered all nine had died from single fatal strikes to the throat—puncture wounds caused by a sword. There was no sign of any struggle within the room.

The martial arts skills of the person responsible were truly terrifying!

Meng Qi somewhat suspected the murderer was the shadowy figure from the previous night. He was skilled in swordplay, capable of breaking Meng Qi’s Golden Bell Shield, and possessed extraordinary techniques that affected others’ senses. It wouldn’t have been difficult for him to achieve this result if Han Shi and the others were caught off guard. If not for the fact that he couldn’t be certain he could kill Meng Qi within two or three sword strikes and had to worry about the Rain of Pearls Needles, Meng Qi himself might have been secretly attacked as well.

However, this was only a guess on Meng Qi’s part, and he couldn’t be certain it was indeed that shadowy figure.

As he paced back and forth, he suddenly frowned. He noticed the expressions on Han Shi and the others were quite strange—not showing fear or surprise—but rather, with lowered brows and eyes, they appeared rather respectful and relieved.

“Could it be a high-ranking member of the Snow Palace? But why would he eliminate them?” Meng Qi thought, puzzled.

After confirming that aside from the secret tunnel leading to the “Nan Bei Tong” shop, there were no other noteworthy traces within the courtyard, Meng Qi quietly left the area. He constantly changed directions, taking a large detour before returning near You Mansion, where he observed the mansion’s activities while contemplating the entire matter.

Due to the numerous mysteries involved, anyone could potentially be lying. Meng Qi kept having new ideas but lacked a clear train of thought.

…

The challenge issued by the White-Robed Sword God caused slight chaos at the City Lord’s Mansion. Since Cui Xu needed to retreat for cultivation to “hone his sword,” he entrusted all mansion affairs to his eldest daughter, Cui Jinxiu. As elder relatives, You Tongguang, Mu Shan, and Fei Zhengqing voluntarily remained to assist her in handling various matters in an orderly fashion, gradually stabilizing the chaotic situation.

Because of this, You Tongguang did not return to his own mansion until midnight, when dark clouds obscured the moon and visibility was nearly nonexistent.

“Father, has the City Lord accepted Luo Qing’s challenge?” As soon as he entered, his third son, You Hongbo, came forward to greet him.

You Tongguang slightly nodded: “My fifth younger brother has long anticipated a Grandmaster-level duel, hoping to stimulate his potential and approach the elusive boundary between human and divine.”

He spoke quite thoroughly, because You Hongbo was his most satisfying son—his eldest son, You Hongwen, was obsessed with poetry and literature, his martial arts mediocre, and he had lived in the capital for years, enthusiastic about inheriting the family business but unwilling to engage in commerce. His second son, You Hongshi, had been spoiled since childhood, turning into a spoiled, unruly man in his thirties or forties without any sense of maturity.

Only his youngest son, You Hongbo, had truly inherited his martial arts skills and showed considerable talent in business. Therefore, You Tongguang had already entrusted him with the affairs of the courier bureau. If he performed well, the family business would eventually be his.

You Tongguang had always disregarded distinctions between eldest and youngest or legitimate and illegitimate children, believing in one principle: in the martial arts world, only the capable deserved to inherit the family business; otherwise, the entire family would perish without a burial place.

“How many years has it been since we’ve seen a Grandmaster-level battle…” You Hongbo sighed wistfully.

You Tongguang chuckled: “Encounters between Grandmasters are not uncommon, but most end with a mere demonstration, remaining unpublicized. Formal duels like this one are indeed rare. However, I have confidence in my fifth younger brother.”

He paused before continuing: “Hongbo, how is the matter with that shipment going?”

You Hongbo dared not meet his father’s gaze, hesitating: “Not found yet. If I discover which treacherous bastard did this, I’ll surely flay him alive and break every bone!”

“Hmph, Master You, what a temper you have! Now is not the time to seek out traitors. The shipment is the most important. If you can’t find it, prepare a new one as soon as possible. Otherwise…” You Tongguang, unusually stern, reprimanded his son.

You Hongbo naturally dared not contradict his father. With an ingratiating smile, he accompanied You Tongguang, the butler, and the others into the inner courtyard, making their way toward the study.

It was You Tongguang’s habit to go to the study first. He unlocked the copper lock and pushed the door open with a creaking sound. However, he suddenly stopped, his facial expression shifting from smiling to serious as he gazed solemnly into the room.

“Father, what’s wrong?” You Hongbo asked, puzzled.

You Tongguang’s voice was grave: “Someone has entered the study.”

The butler and guards were all seized with panic—it was their failure!

You Hongbo knew his father’s martial arts were unique, capable of sensing subtle changes in aura, so he had no doubts. Rushing in first, he scanned the room.

“There’s a letter!” he pointed toward a neatly folded white paper in front of the jade Buddha statue.

“Bring it over,” You Tongguang ordered the guards.

One guard stepped forward, carefully testing the letter for poison with silver needles before picking it up and respectfully presenting it to You Tongguang.

As You Tongguang unfolded the letter, You Hongbo curiously leaned over to read its contents:

“I have heard you possess a jade Buddha statue, masterfully carved with divine craftsmanship, and I have long yearned to see it. Today, having finally witnessed it, I find it truly lives up to my expectations.

Yet taking it without asking is not the way of a guest. I leave this letter to inform you sincerely: in six days, I shall come to claim it under the moonlight. You are refined and elegant, and I am certain you will not cause me to travel in vain.

Respectfully submitted by Shen Hou.”

After reading it, You Hongbo was both shocked and furious, fearful and angry. He both wished to tear Shen Hou apart and hoped the Twelve Divine Beasts would reconsider and abandon their attempt.

“Such audacity! Such audacity!” You Tongguang’s face darkened, gritting his teeth as he spoke, before tossing the letter to the ground.

“Father, we must teach Shen Hou a lesson!” Thinking of his father’s strength and his City Lord uncle’s martial prowess, You Hongbo suppressed his fear and panic, shouting in anger.

The butler and the guards exchanged glances. Since when had Shen Hou of the Twelve Divine Beasts turned into a refined thief?

“Go tomorrow and invite your uncles over,” You Tongguang, his face devoid of any previous smile, said after a moment’s thought. “Your Uncle Cui is currently retreating for sword cultivation. Don’t disturb him for now.”

After saying this, he gradually calmed his emotions and added steadily, “By the way, spread this news around.”

…

Meng Qi observed You Mansion for half the night, but after You Tongguang returned home and discovered the letter—initially furious but later responding calmly—he made no suspicious moves at all, leaving Meng Qi with nothing to gain and forcing him to return early to the temple where he was staying.

The next day, after meditating, practicing martial arts, and strengthening his body, Meng Qi leisurely made his way toward the “Jue Shan Lou” restaurant, intending to enjoy lunch and gather information.

Along the way, he bought a bamboo hat, a set of common clothes, and a white monk’s robe he had long desired.

As soon as he entered the restaurant, before even sitting down, Meng Qi’s ears were filled with discussions about Cui Xu and Luo Qing.

“A Grandmaster-level duel! This is practically a once-in-a-century event!”

“Exactly! Who would have thought we’d witness such a grand occasion!”

“Pity only the invited martial arts elders can enter the City Lord’s Mansion to see this legendary duel. The rest of us won’t be able to watch.”

“Yeah, it’s such a damn shame. But I heard Cao Man setting up a gambling house, taking bets on who will win between the City Lord and the White-Robed Sword God. Who do you think has the better chance?”

As soon as this question was raised, the entire restaurant erupted into chatter, everyone analyzing the strengths and weaknesses of both sides.

“The City Lord has been famous for over twenty years and has been a Grandmaster for a decade. How could Luo Qing, who only recently became a Grandmaster, possibly stand against him? I’m betting on the City Lord!”

“Not necessarily! Luo Qing has challenged all under heaven with his sword, never meeting his match. No one can withstand his three strikes. His momentum is strong. Meanwhile, the City Lord has rarely fought in recent years; perhaps he’s lost that sharp edge.”

“Three years ago, the City Lord required five moves to break the Seven-Star Sword Formation of the Laoshan Sect, while the White-Robed Sword God defeated it in just two sword strikes.”

“But in three years, maybe the City Lord has unlocked another secret treasure?”

Opinions flew back and forth, with no consensus reached, nearly leading to a fight. Fortunately, the gambling house provided an outlet, transforming their heated arguments into bets.

Meng Qi, chopsticks in hand, enjoyed his meal while listening to the discussions. He learned that City Lord Cui Xu had begun his retreat, and that Lady Cui Jinxiu was now managing all city affairs. He also learned that the White-Robed Sword God had taken residence in Great Compassion Temple, burning incense, fasting, and cleansing his sword in preparation for the duel.

Was Young City Lord Cui Jinhua truly not in Tianding City? This was the point Meng Qi was most concerned about, as the information he currently possessed was difficult to verify. He needed to find a way to “question” another party involved—Cui Jinhua himself.

“Oh, by the way, have you all heard that Shen Hou appeared again last night?” Cao Man, having his attendants collect the gambling money, began boasting new information.

“What happened? Did Shen Hou kill someone again?” Many of the restaurant’s patrons were ordinary citizens, but quite a few were martial artists, so they were particularly interested in such martial arts world news. Moreover, since the City Lord of Tianding City was a contemporary Grandmaster, even the local populace couldn’t help but pay attention to martial arts affairs.

Cao Man slowly shook his head, putting on an air of mystery: “Shen Hou didn’t kill anyone. Instead, he infiltrated the home of the ‘Living God of Wealth’ and left a letter in the study.”

“What letter?” someone eagerly asked.

“The letter says, ‘I have heard you possess a jade Buddha statue…'” Cao Man’s memory was quite good.

The crowd inhaled sharply upon hearing this. This near-provocative act, this bold display of skill, both shocked and fascinated them.

“The ‘Living God of Wealth’ is the strongest among all non-Grandmasters. Shen Hou is definitely no match for him!”

“Exactly! He could have just secretly taken the Buddha statue, yet he left a letter challenging him. Where would that leave the ‘Living God of Wealth’s’ face? I bet that in six days, Shen Hou will return in failure.”

“Right! The ‘Living God of Wealth’ has formidable martial arts skills and many powerful friends. In six days, a dozen experts will surround the jade Buddha statue. I’d like to see how Shen Hou plans to steal it then!”

“They say if it weren’t for the upcoming duel with the City Lord, the ‘Living God of Wealth’ had even planned to deliver the jade Buddha statue to the City Lord’s Mansion himself. Haha, in that case, Shen Hou would have no choice but to admit defeat.”

“Speaking of it, Shen Hou is quite cunning, picking just the right timing to prevent the City Lord from offering assistance.”

…

The restaurant’s patrons discussed animatedly, as such a flurry of significant events was rare in the martial arts world.

Meng Qi listened in satisfaction—it was exactly this kind of effect he wanted! With the White-Robed Sword God and City Lord Cui’s duel imminent, if any members of the nearby Twelve Divine Beasts had the time, they would inevitably come to observe the battle and broaden their horizons. At that time, by leaving another letter and creating a commotion, the Twelve Divine Beasts’ members who arrived would naturally seek out Shen Hou, giving Meng Qi hope of completing his side mission.

Of course, this alone wasn’t sufficient. After finishing his meal, Meng Qi donned the bamboo hat he had bought earlier and quietly followed behind Cao Man as he left.