Niu You Dao wasted no courtesies with him:
"There is a matter for which you must depart."
Wu San Liang: What do you need me to do, Lord Dao?
Niu You Dao: Shao Ping Bo has two brothers, and it seems they do not get along well with him. You are to go to Beizhou and observe them. See with whom they usually associate. Only observe; do not make contact with them, and await word from me. Shao Ping Bo also has a younger sister; you may watch her too. But under no circumstances are you to make contact with them. Otherwise, you will find yourself in danger.
He was sending Wu San Liang also because Wei Duo stuttered, and if he constantly asked questions, he would quickly be exposed. Moreover, this Shao Ping Bo is keeping an eye on the Supreme Purity Sect.
Wu San Liang: Understood.
Niu You Dao: This journey will be perilous. You should not reveal yourself; disguise yourself somehow. In short, you understand. Once you learn anything, send me word. I will find someone to relieve you later. And for now, it's best not to tell Black Peony or the others about this matter. For your own safety.
"Alright." Wu San Liang nodded.
Niu You Dao smiled:
"Prepare yourself and depart as quickly as possible."
"Yes, sir!" Wu San Liang cupped his hands and exited.
Niu You Dao turned to Yuan Gang and said:
"We can act in two weeks!"
Yuan Gang nodded...
Beizhou, deep into the night. A lamp glowed in the library of Shao Ping Bo's residence.
Piles of official documents lay on Shao Ping Bo's desk. Shao Ping Bo reviewed them one by one and signed them. His household manager, Shao San Sheng, brought him a bowl of hot soup.
Shao Ping Bo gulped down the soup, then stood up.
Shao San Sheng reminded him:
"Young Master, no news has yet arrived from the Ice and Snow Palace. Might it be that..."
"It's nothing. Continue the observation. Do not relax." Shao Ping Bo said in a cold tone and exited the library...
Dusk had fallen. The Song Residence.
A simple carriage pulled up to the side gate. Cheng Gui Shuo stepped out of the carriage, wearing a conical hat.
Song Shu emerged from the carriage, reeking of wine and women's perfumes. He had been letting off steam outside.
Though he had a wife at home, he occasionally indulged himself like this. Especially now, with the family's situation being so difficult.
Song Shu entered through the side gate, while Cheng Gui Shuo instructed the gatekeeper to return the carriage to its original spot.
When Song Shu returned to his courtyard, he called out for his wife. However, she did not answer. He turned his head and shouted to the servants:
"Where did my wife go?"
Someone replied: She hasn't left her room yet. She must be sleeping.
Song Shu looked at the sky. What could she be doing in her room at this hour?
He immediately went to the bedroom, but as soon as he opened the door, he detected a thick scent of blood. He quickly rushed in and saw two corpses lying in a pool of blood.
One corpse belonged to a maid with wide-open eyes, while the other was a woman's body, only headless. The woman's clothing was exactly like his wife's.
Song Shu's eyes widened. At that moment, it was as if something clicked in his head.
Suddenly, a scream rang out from outside:
"Ahhh! Master is in trouble, in trouble..."
Song Shu immediately rushed out the door and saw an old man screaming hysterically. His face turned pale, and he was already surrounded by people.
"Master is in trouble, in trouble..."
Song Shu immediately drew the sword from his waist and headed towards his brother's courtyard. Chaos already reigned there. Someone was crying.
Song Shu immediately rushed into the hall and saw a headless corpse, its body dressed in official robes. There were also four more headless corpses. Clearly, it was his brother, sister-in-law, two nephews, and a niece.
At that moment, a scream came from the main courtyard.
A terrible thought arose in Song Shu's mind. He immediately ran out and headed towards his father's courtyard. He rushed directly into the library, where a crowd of people had already gathered.
"Make way!" Song Shu pushed everyone aside and rushed inside. There, he saw two corpses. They also lay in a pool of blood, headless.
One corpse belonged to Song Jiu Ming, and the other to the household manager, Liu Lu.
At that moment, Cheng Gui Shuo rushed in and, seeing the situation, cried out:
"Uncle, what happened?"
"Clang!"
Song Shu drew his sword and pointed it at him. He shouted:
"Speak, did you do this?"
Cheng Gui Shuo immediately began to retreat:
"Uncle, it wasn't me. It wasn't me! When would I have had time to kill them? I was with you the whole time. When I was with you, the master was still returning alive from work. The guards can confirm! In that short time, when would I have had time to kill them?"
The crowd began to step back.
Song Shu turned to the others, pointing his sword at them and questioning them.
Cheng Gui Shuo rushed over and, grabbing him by the shoulder, said:
"Uncle, what are you saying? What enemies of the Song family could have done this? Who could have killed them? A common person couldn't have done this in such a short time."
Song Shu froze in place and angrily shouted:
"Niu You Dao!"
Cheng Gui Shuo was speechless. Indeed, the Song family had enough enemies. However, Song Shu immediately shouted Niu You Dao's name. In truth, Cheng Gui Shuo himself was both anxious and agitated.
"Ahhh!" Song Shu flung Cheng Gui Shuo's hand away and, looking up, cried out furiously.
And from outside, a shout rang out:
"The Third Master has gone mad, he's killed people. The Third Master has gone mad, he's killed people..."
"..." Song Shu stopped shouting and immediately headed towards the main gates of the residence.
He stopped on the street in front of the gate. Someone who had just screamed ran away. And in front of the gate, people remained. Many still did not know what was happening. However, when people saw Song Shu's bloodshot eyes and the sword in his hand, they were frightened. He truly seemed deranged.
"Who! Whose dog's offspring was just screaming! Come out!" Song Shu angrily shouted, glaring at the people. He was ready to kill.
Everyone began to step away from him.
Song Shu wanted to continue searching the street for the one who had screamed. Obviously, the one who screamed was connected to the criminals.
Only then did Cheng Gui Shuo rush over and pull him back:
"Uncle, don't."
"Let go!" Song Shu angrily cried out.
"Uncle, this is clearly a conspiracy. Someone wants to frame you. As soon as the government officials arrive, they will seize you... Uncle, I don't need to tell you the Song family's current predicament. Someone is clearly trying to obstruct you. If you fall into the guards' hands, will they really let you go afterward? The young master is dead, the elder master is dead, the dignitary is dead. Who else but you can seek revenge now?" Cheng Gui Shuo whispered.
These words brought Song Shu back to his senses. He calmed down somewhat.
Cheng Gui Shuo led him back into the house and said:
"Uncle, calm down. We need to escape now, or we won't be able to later."
At that moment, Song Shu collected himself and began to gather valuables.
Before leaving, he stopped in the library before Song Jiu Ming's corpse and, with tear-filled eyes, bowed to him. He was tormented by remorse. He hated himself. If he hadn't left home and gone chasing pleasures elsewhere, perhaps none of this would have happened. After all, Cheng Gui Shuo was with him, and the criminals wouldn't have dared to attack them. Otherwise, Cheng Gui Shuo would have raised a commotion and attracted the city guard.
Cruel! Song Shu stood before the decapitated Song Jiu Ming. Then he stood up, unable to bring himself to leave.
Soon, an old servant rushed over. He was utterly terrified. Song Shu took out a banknote and said sorrowfully:
"Old Zhang, I entrust all household matters to you. Go and report to the authorities! Tell them that the culprit is Niu You Dao!"
"Third Master, you..." The servant was frightened.
Song Shu did not explain to him. He turned and looked at Song Jiu Ming's body. He understood that now that Song Jiu Ming had fallen, everyone would scatter. Like monkeys scattering from a falling tree. Now, it was unknown whether the Song family would ever rise again?
"Uncle!" Cheng Gui Shuo, standing nearby, urged him.
Though Song Shu didn't want to leave, he had to. He was heartbroken that he had abandoned his family this way, unable to give them a proper burial.
Quietly and silently, they left the city, stopping by a mountain. Song Shu gazed sadly towards the city.
Cheng Gui Shuo, with a bag on his back, said:
"Someone definitely orchestrated all of this. Even if the dignitary's enemies wanted to deal with him, they wouldn't resort to such measures. It seems the enemy did not want anyone in the family to remain and seek revenge."
Song Shu whispered to himself:
"Where do we go? Where can we go?"
If he left the Yan Kingdom, he didn't know where he could go.
Although he was a cultivator, he had always been under the protection of his family and had never before been alone in the world of cultivators.
No matter where he went, or to which kingdom he fled, if the Yan Kingdom requested him from another kingdom, that other kingdom would not seek trouble for his sake alone. Without the Song family, what use would he be to another kingdom?
Would he really have to hide his name for the rest of his life?
Cheng Gui Shuo spoke:
"Beizhou. Perhaps we should go to Shao Ping Bo?"
"Shao Ping Bo of Beizhou?" Song Shu was surprised.
Cheng Gui Shuo nodded:
"Uncle, do you remember that they were the ones who sent us the letter, exposing Niu You Dao? They are currently at odds with Niu You Dao. Shao Ping Bo should shelter us."
Song Shu, frowning, said:
"Doesn't Shao Ping Bo love Tang Yi? The Supreme Purity Sect is now in Beizhou. If we go there, will the Supreme Purity Sect let us go?"