Chapter 550 - 306: Assassination (Part 2)
Chapter 550: Chapter 306: Assassination (Part 2)
Moreover, over the years, no one from the Liu Family has ever traveled to Celestial Dance City.
This shows that the relationship between these two people is mostly unacknowledged; even if one has to admit it, it seems to be filled with grievances.
Chu Qing suddenly felt that Chu Yunfei asking him to deliver a message to Celestial Sound Mansion seemed like a trap.
Just hoping it doesn’t end up in a uncontrollable conflict...
Thinking this inwardly, he said:
"Naturally, that’s great, but before that, we plan to visit Little Cold Valley."
"Little Cold Valley, the lively scene with Han the Stranger?"
Liu Qingyan thought for a moment and said:
"I am quite curious about this incident. Since you are going, how about we travel together?"
"Su Ningzhen..."
Chu Qing raised an eyebrow.
Liu Qingyan sighed:
"She won’t listen to me. After the recent incident, I’m afraid she’s even more unwilling to see me. Even if I catch up now, it would only lead to a fight. It’s better to let her calm down for a few days."
Chu Qing nodded, feeling that Liu Qingyan had a clear understanding of the situation.
Thus, Liu Qingyan temporarily joined the caravan.
She was curious about Chu Qing, which also made her curious about the caravan that could accommodate someone like Chu Qing...
After a few days of observation, she found that this caravan was too ordinary to mention.
Ordinary guards, ordinary deals, ordinary shopkeeper...
She couldn’t figure out what was special about this caravan that could hire such a master like Chu Qing to protect them?
However, occasionally talking to the caravan guards, Liu Qingyan learned that Chu Qing and his group were not originally part of the caravan... They joined the caravan in Heaven-Reaching Town.
Where he came from prior to that, nobody knew.
This left Liu Qingyan slightly shaken.
She had never heard of an ultimate master named ’Han San’ in Lingbei.
As the lady of Celestial Sound Mansion with a noble status, she had access to various martial world information, rarely failing to find what she sought. Thus, she might not know about ordinary people, but she must be aware of martial arts masters.
However, throughout Lingbei, she had never seen anyone like Chu Qing.
Considering his first appearance in Heaven-Reaching Town at the foot of Heaven-Reaching Ridge.
Could it mean that these people are actually coming from Transcendent Ridge... South Ridge masters?
However, despite Transcendent Ridge separating the north and south, it is not completely impermeable.
With her status, Liu Qingyan had some understanding of South Ridge’s news.
Thus, she knew that even in South Ridge, there was no master like Han San.
So, where did these people come from?
As they continued their journey, the following days were relatively peaceful, spent mostly traveling... Occasionally encountering mountains bandits or road robbers, which were too insignificant to even prompt Chu Qing’s ’scram’. Old man Sun could handle them himself.
Finally, they saw Little Cold Valley ahead.
Shopkeeper Zhou came to Chu Qing, indicating they could go no further.
Their group was just a regular caravan, going further would require Chu Qing to speak, or else Little Cold Valley’s people would hinder them.
Upon hearing, Chu Qing didn’t make things difficult for them, and merely said with a smile:
"Thank you all for the care given during this journey... I have nothing valuable to repay you.
"How about this, Shopkeeper Zhou, if you ever encounter troubles in the future, you can have someone deliver a message to Celestial Sound Mansion."
While speaking, he glanced at Liu Qingyan to ensure she didn’t hear him before continuing.
Shopkeeper Zhou was surprised, realizing that this person had a mysterious connection with Celestial Sound Mansion.
He nodded repeatedly at once.
Meanwhile, Old man Sun looked conflicted, occasionally glancing at Yu Shiliu, hesitating to speak.
Chu Qing was curious:
"Elder, do you wish to say something? Feel free."
"This... Oh, nothing really, nothing."
Old man Sun waved smilingly.
Chu Qing watched him silently, without speaking.
Ultimately, Old man Sun sighed and said with an awkward laugh:
"Actually, since meeting Brother Han at Heaven-Reaching Town, the old me harbored some private intentions, hoping to earn some favor from you along the way.
"I hoped to use this favor for my grandson’s future.
"Wanted him to become your disciple... but throughout the journey, we helped you little, while you resolved the caravan’s crises several times.
"Naturally, I dared not bring it up."
"I see."
Chu Qing smiled, thoughtfully took out a small booklet from his pocket, and handed it to Old man Sun:
"I don’t know your grandson, nor his abilities, so it’s beyond me to determine.
"However, since you have this wish, I could make an exception...
"Take this secret manual to him. It may not be a divine skill, but if he successfully trains it, he can come to seek me, and I’ll accept him as my disciple."
Old man Sun was overjoyed, received the manual with both hands, and glanced at the cover, which had four words ’Purple Mist Divine Skill’ inscribed.
He hurriedly tucked it into his pocket, almost kneeling to thank profusely.
Chu Qing stopped him, smiling:
"This was a coincidental journey together, and now it’s time to part ways.
"Until we meet again, farewell, both of you."
Shopkeeper Zhou and Old man Sun hurriedly clasped their fists in greeting, then watched Chu Qing call for Wu Qianhuan and the others to depart. Even after Chu Qing’s figure vanished, their hearts felt a sense of loss.
...
...
The place where they parted with Shopkeeper Zhou and the others was really not far from Little Cold Valley.
As they continued, there were many martial world characters to be seen.
Some were traveling ahead, while others roamed around.
Some were napping in the trees, some were drinking under the trees, and as someone approached, they lifted their gaze, containing scrutiny and severity.
Under the watchful eyes of these people, Chu Qing and his group arrived at the gate of Little Cold Valley.
But they found the gate tightly closed, evidently not receiving guests for the time being.
Chu Qing clasped his fist and presented the invitation he obtained from the sect.
The disciple at the gate took a look before handing it back:
"We apologize, something has happened within the valley, and we cannot open the gates temporarily..."
"Something happened?"
Chu Qing was puzzled: "May I ask what happened?"
"Internal matters of Little Cold Valley are inconvenient to disclose, please understand."
They were very polite but didn’t reveal anything.
Seeing this, Chu Qing didn’t press, asking instead about the upcoming meeting, whether it remained closed.
Learning that three days later, Little Cold Valley would open its gate wide, Chu Qing and the others then turned back.
Understanding now why so many had gathered around, unable to enter Little Cold Valley—they were waiting for three days before entering for the meeting.
However, Chu Qing was very curious about what happened inside Little Cold Valley.
After scouting around but finding nothing, he returned to sit down, feeling like he gained nothing when suddenly a voice spoke behind:
"Someone died inside Little Cold Valley."
The voice sounded familiar, and when Chu Qing and the others turned around, they heard Liu Qingyan exclaim:
"How come you’re here?"
The speaker was none other than Su Ningzhen.
She slightly frowned, glanced at Liu Qingyan, then at Chu Qing with some trepidation, before saying:
"What’s it to you..."
Chu Qing asked:
"Someone died? Who died? How did they die?"
"A master from Little Cold Valley died from an assassin of Mirror of Sin.
"On the body was hung a Book of Sin enumerating the person’s misdeeds."
Chu Qing and Wu Qianhuan frowned deeply, the people from Mirror of Sin assassinated someone inside Little Cold Valley?
Could it be Li Shengxing who acted?
Upon hearing this, Su Ningzhen spoke gravely:
"No one knows what martial arts the assassin used, but it’s said that the person initially showed no signs, yet suddenly all his bones were shattered, the whole body turned into a pile of flesh, lying on the ground... He screamed painfully for a while before dying completely."
Hearing this, Chu Qing’s eyes narrowed slightly.