“Patriarch, why didn’t we just kill them? Better to kill the wrong than let one slip!” One of Liu Yu’s confidants was deeply puzzled. They had come in such force, yet retreated without even fighting.
“That couple is not simple. They may be outsiders hiding here. We must not act rashly. I already have a plan in mind. Return first.” Liu Yu’s face was icy cold. After speaking, he headed in another direction instead of returning to the Liu residence.
No one knew that Liu Yu went straight to North Desolation Hall.
“Who goes there?” A guard stopped him at the entrance.
“Please inform Hall Master Xing that Liu Yu of the Liu family seeks an audience on urgent matters.”
Upon arriving at North Desolation Hall, Liu Yu had already shed his earlier arrogance.
“Wait.”
Even facing the Liu family patriarch, the guard showed no expression.
Such was the confidence of the Abyssal Burial Palace.
Within Starfall Province, on Abyssal Burial Palace territory, even a dragon had to crawl!
After about 15 minutes, Liu Yu was invited inside and granted an audience with Xing Xiuyuan.
Xing Xiuyuan sat high upon the main seat in the hall. He casually tossed aside a portrait that had just been delivered, not even bothering to look at it.
Liu Yu wore a flattering smile. “Liu Yu of the Liu family greets Hall Master Xing.”
Although Xing Xiuyuan was the weakest among the thirty-six Hall Masters of the Abyssal Burial Palace, he was still far beyond what the Liu family could afford to offend.
Xing Xiuyuan nodded slightly, expressionless. “What is it?”
Liu Yu spoke righteously, “I know who killed Miss Zhou Yuanyuan.”
He knew that the Drunken Flower Pavilion was an industry of the Abyssal Burial Palace. The death of its most attractive Courtesan Queen would inevitably affect business.
Xing Xiuyuan didn’t care about his son’s death, but he did care about Zhou Yuanyuan’s.
He had already been investigating the matter but had yet to find the culprit.
That man had composed a poem, gained Zhou Yuanyuan’s favor, and the two had spent a long time together in bed.
Afterward, he left. Zhou Yuanyuan died, and Liu Long also died.
However, Xing Xiuyuan believed it was more likely that the man killed Liu Long, since he left shortly after Liu Long.
Furthermore, examination showed that Zhou Yuanyuan died around early morning.
That meant she was still alive when Ye Yuan left.
It was unlikely that Ye Yuan had gone out, killed Liu Long, then returned to kill Zhou Yuanyuan. So her death was probably unrelated to him.
The killer had left no trace at the scene. It could only be determined that they had entered through the window and instantly killed Zhou Yuanyuan and her maid.
A single strike shattered both women’s hearts, yet no external injuries could be seen.
Xing Xiuyuan remained calm. “Go on.”
Liu Yu cupped his fists. “The killer is the pretty boy from Tingwan Courtyard. He is Ye Yuan. He killed both Zhou Yuanyuan and my son Liu Long.”
Xing Xiuyuan tapped the armrest lightly. “Why are you so certain he is Ye Yuan?”
“He has no solid alibi either. He only claimed he was sleeping at home with his wife.”
“Furthermore, he had prior conflict with my son. He must be the one who killed both my son and Zhou Yuanyuan.”
“And he even allows his subordinates to run a hidden brothel in a shabby residential area. That is openly defying the Abyssal Burial Palace!”
“…”
Liu Yu’s reasoning was clear and prepared. While not conclusive, it did carry some weight.
But Xing Xiuyuan remained unmoved. “Even if he killed your son, that doesn’t mean he killed Zhou Yuanyuan. After all, he spent the night with her.”
Liu Yu stepped forward and raised his voice. “Hall Master Xing, everyone knows the Drunken Flower Pavilion is under your control. Aside from that audacious Ye Yuan, who in all of North Desolation City would dare to kill someone there?”
That pretty boy had killed members of the Black Cloud Gang in broad daylight and swiftly taken over two gangs. Such a person was indeed bold beyond measure.
Xing Xiuyuan replied calmly, “Even if he is bold, that doesn’t prove he is the killer.”
Everything Liu Yu said was speculation. There was no real evidence.
Xing Xiuyuan naturally understood he was trying to borrow a blade to kill. He hadn’t become a Hall Master of the Abyssal Burial Palace by being foolish.
Liu Yu directly took out ten golden notes and a top-grade Yellow-tier battle technique.
Each note was worth 1,000 taels of gold. Ten notes meant 10,000 taels of gold, equivalent to 1 million taels of silver. It was no small amount.
To deal with Ye Wudu and his wife, Liu Yu had truly paid a heavy price.
“Please accept this, Hall Master Xing.” Liu Yu respectfully offered them with both hands.
Xing Xiuyuan waved his hand, and a stream of force swept out, sending the notes and the technique back into Liu Yu’s hands.
Only then did he show a faint smile. “Patriarch Liu’s love for his son is understandable. Zhou Yuanyuan’s death must also be thoroughly investigated. Ye Yuan does indeed have suspicion. Return for now. I will handle the matter.”
Hearing this, Liu Yu revealed a smile. “Many thanks, Hall Master Xing. I take my leave.”
As Liu Yu turned to leave, a pained expression flashed across his face.
What he had just offered was a heavy loss even for him.
But without paying such a price, Xing Xiuyuan would never act.
After Liu Yu left, Xing Xiuyuan summoned a confidant. “Go capture Li Mazi first.”
The confidant departed with a small group toward the Black Cloud Gang headquarters.
Liu Yu was not foolish. Before understanding the depth of that couple, he wouldn’t act rashly.
Since Li Mazi was working for that man, capturing him would test the waters.
If there was no reaction, it meant the man didn’t dare oppose the Abyssal Burial Palace and wasn’t worth fearing.
If there was a reaction, then even if he turned out to be an expert, capturing just Li Mazi wouldn’t create an irreconcilable enmity…
Night had deepened.
Murong Wanyin said softly, “The Liu family will eventually become trouble. Can I defeat Liu Yu? If so, I might as well go wipe out the Liu family.”
Ye Wudu thought… even 100 million Liu Yu couldn’t compare to a single finger of yours.
“Liu Yu is also at the 3rd stage Qi Refining Realm. Facing him would be somewhat dangerous. Don’t worry, my wife. Leave it to me.”
He didn’t tell the truth. These minor characters didn’t warrant the Female Sword Immortal taking action.
If she acted, she would realize her cultivation was far higher than what the original host had claimed.
During her amnesia, she had killed before, but only ordinary people with no cultivation. She had never needed to use her true power.
Thus, Murong Wanyin had never realized she was actually a top-tier expert.
“Then be careful… it’s all my fault for being too useless.” Murong Wanyin nodded, even beginning to blame herself.
If she were stronger, things wouldn’t be so troublesome.
Unfortunately, she was too useless… unable to help at all.
Ye Wudu quickly pulled her into his arms. “What nonsense are you saying? It’s just that with me here, there’s no need for you to act. If you did, Liu Yu would surely die.”
He was telling the truth, but Murong Wanyin only thought he was comforting her and gently wrapped her arms around his neck.
After a moment of silence, she suddenly said, “Actually… hands are fine too.”
Ye Wudu: “???”
The topic shifted too quickly, and he didn’t react at first.
When he finally understood, a slight smile appeared at the corner of his lips. “Alright.”
He hadn’t expected Murong Wanyin to take the initiative. After her favorability increased, she was indeed different.
Murong Wanyin herself didn’t understand why she resisted that act so much.
Logically, they had been together for nine years. Now that their relationship was so good and they were husband and wife, she should have accepted him.
But deep within her heart, there was an instinctive resistance.
It was the pride of a Female Sword Immortal.
Even with her memories lost, it had not disappeared.
How could a proud Female Sword Immortal tolerate being beneath a man?
Just as Ye Wudu was about to test his wife’s “skills,” the courtyard gate was suddenly knocked.
“Gang Leader! Something terrible has happened!”
Recognizing the voice of a Black Cloud Gang member, Ye Wudu got up and opened the gate.
“Gang Leader, the Vice Leader has been taken!”
“Who took him?”
“It… it was Hall Master Xing of the Abyssal Burial Palace!”
“I understand. You may leave.”
“…”