Chapter 554 - 308: Nightfall in Little Cold Valley (Part 2)
Chapter 554: Chapter 308: Nightfall in Little Cold Valley (Part 2)
This time the explanation was very detailed.
Chu Qing nodded at the words, gently pressing his finger on the back of the servant’s neck, causing him to faint instantly.
Su Ningzhen’s face slightly changed:
"You’re not really planning to ask Han Yi Ren, are you?"
Chu Qing shook his head. The Small Han Valley colluding with the Celestial Evil Cult made Chu Qing wish he could kill Han Yi Ren immediately.
However, the "grand event" at the Small Han Valley had not yet begun, far from the right time to reveal intentions. Any slight disturbance might alert the mastermind behind the scenes.
If he appeared in a rage, it would be perfect.
But not knowing this person’s temperament, if he got spooked and fled at the slightest provocation, wouldn’t it amount to nothing in the end?
To avoid unexpected situations, Han Yi Ren couldn’t be moved for now.
However, Han Yi Ren couldn’t act, that didn’t mean others couldn’t.
"I’ve never heard that Han Yi Ren is a loner. Since he lives there, I bet his family does too.
"Let’s go and see if we’ve got other options, maybe we’ll ask around a bit."
Su Ningzhen felt that Chu Qing’s actions were indeed audacious... Though they were in a perilous situation, he seemed completely at ease, as if everyone in the Small Han Valley was at his mercy, and not acting against Han Yi Ren wasn’t due to fear.
By his expression, it seemed like it wasn’t time to act on him yet.
She couldn’t help but sigh, having great martial arts skills is wonderful, acting without restraint, unlike herself who had to be cautious about everything.
Carelessness might offend powerful people and threaten her life.
Chu Qing had no idea what Su Ningzhen was thinking, directly leading her and Gentle into the building. Just upon entering the yard, Gentle subtly moved her arm, prompting Chu Qing to stop and glance at her.
Gentle softly whispered in his ear:
"I smell the scent of Chu Family’s older brother."
This remark sent a shockwave through Chu Qing’s heart.
Although he had anticipated finding Chu Tian’s traces here, he didn’t expect it to happen so quickly.
"Where?"
Gentle pointed with her finger, and without further ado, Chu Qing flew directly in that direction.
The journey was naturally not smooth. As the most important place in the Small Han Valley, it was heavily guarded, but the guards could not detect Chu Qing and the others.
In a moment, Gentle guided them to a small courtyard.
Leaping into it, they saw a lamp lit in the room.
But the maid outside the door was yawning, nodding off and on, almost asleep on her feet.
Gentle softly said:
"In the main building, although he might have left already..."
She deliberately didn’t make it clear, especially with Su Ningzhen present.
She concluded he might have left because the scent had faded.
If someone stayed here consistently, the smell would linger.
Chu Qing understood, but couldn’t dwell on this as it at least confirmed Chu Tian had been here before.
It seemed the courtyard wasn’t abandoned, occupied long-term, possibly by a woman... Why had Chu Tian hidden here?
Could the old boy have forgotten about his affection for his sister-in-law and come to flirt with other girls?
Chu Qing curled his lips, refraining from prematurely condemning his brother.
In a flash, he skirted around the maid and entered through a window on the side of the room.
The room was large, with just one person, engrossed in a drawing by the firelight.
Surprised by the noise, they turned suddenly, a look of joy spreading across their face:
"You’re back..."
Only after saying two words, they realized something was wrong.
Attempting to speak again was already too late.
Chu Qing seemed to traverse space, appearing before her in an instant, grabbing her throat, stifling her subsequent words.
Her eyes rounded, and she twisted her palms, striking towards Chu Qing’s chest.
Yet Chu Qing didn’t resist, didn’t release her neck. When her palms landed, it was as if hitting a mountain.
Her blows did nothing to Chu Qing, and the recoil made her hands tingle.
Unable to produce a muffled grunt, breathing became increasingly difficult, her mind went blank, on the verge of fainting, Chu Qing suddenly released her.
Grabbing the drawing on the table.
The woman staggered, recovering, and upon seeing Chu Qing’s actions, hurriedly reached out to snatch it:
"Give it back to me!"
Her voice was soft, as if fearing alerting those outside.
Chu Qing raised an eyebrow, recognizing the portrait as Chu Tian.
Only, Chu Tian appeared disheveled, with blood on the corner of his mouth, eyes gleaming with an intimidating frostiness.
Dodging her attempt to seize the drawing, Chu Qing coldly asked:
"What is your relation to the person in this painting?"
"What does it have to do with you?"
She suddenly looked at Chu Qing:
"Do you know him?"
Otherwise, why ask?
"More than just know..."
Chu Qing lightly sighed:
"Spill it, what’s your relationship?"
"...Tell me yours, then I’ll consider telling you."
She didn’t just let Chu Qing dictate terms but proposed a condition instead.
"You dare negotiate with me!?"
Chu Qing’s eyes narrowed.
"Just kill me if you can!"
This girl wasn’t afraid of death.
Chu Qing’s gaze shifted to the door:
"Fearless for yourself, but indifferent to the maid outside?"
Her face drastically changed, gritting her teeth:
"Despicable!!"
"Since you know, be honest with me about what I want to know, or else..."
Chu Qing’s eyes hardened, leaving unspoken threats evident.
She took a deep breath, snorted:
"Fine, I’ll talk.
"That man was an assassin... He barged into my room by chance, forcing me to heal him.
"Once nearly recovered, he left."
Gentle suddenly lifted a carpet, revealing a trapdoor with a handle below. She pulled it open, exposing a tunnel.
Chu Qing turned to look, directing his gaze back to her:
"What is this?"
"...A secret passage leading out of the Small Han Valley."
She gave Gentle a surprised look, not expecting such a concealed place to be discovered.
Su Ningzhen was even more astonished, Gentle’s familiarity making one suspect she might be the room’s owner.
Gentle glanced at Chu Qing, giving a slight nod.
Meaning, Chu Tian certainly wasn’t below.
Chu Qing relaxed a bit... He didn’t fully trust this woman’s words.
An assassin in the Small Han Valley, wandering into her room, would such a personality obediently heal him?
Something must have transpired between them.
Chu Qing rubbed his chin, a flick of his palm setting the painting ablaze.
She startled, attempting to recover it, tears welling up:
"Give it back to me!!"
"Knowing he’s an assassin, yet holding his image, hoping he meets a worse fate?"
Chu Qing squinted at her.
She froze, sighing finally:
"I just wanted to... never mind, you’re right..."
Realizing, she asked:
"You’re friends, not foes with him?"
Finishing her sentence, her hostility towards Chu Qing lessened.
Chu Qing tutted inwardly, realizing Chu Tian’s slyness, becoming an assassin yet still charming...
About to speak, a voice interrupted from outside:
"Young Master!"
Her face changed dramatically:
"My brother’s coming, hide quickly..."
Turning back, the three figures previously there had vanished.
She looked bewildered: "Huh?"