The Aloof and Pure-hearted Killer: She Is the World’s Gift
You Ye’s wooden token was not here.
Fang Xun’gui stared at the broken sword and scattered fabric remnants in the ashes, his lips pressed tightly together, his brow heavy with gloom.
The worst-case scenario had occurred.
He asked Yuyi Yue in a low voice:
“Are you certain that wooden token was thrown into the fire along with You Ye’s clothes?”
Yuyi Yue nodded, her expression equally grave:
“I’m certain. So someone dug the token back out, and it likely wasn’t You Huo.”
Fang Xun’gui asked:
“How do you know?”
Yuyi Yue pointed at the nettle plant that had just been dug out of the soil and tossed aside:
“After I buried the traces of the burning, I planted this nettle in the soil mound. This nettle was carefully cultivated by me—if anyone touches it, their skin will inevitably develop a rash that takes at least half a month to fade. Now the nettle has been touched, but You Huo’s hands show no rash. Do Netherworld Hall assassins usually wear gloves?”
Fang Xun’gui shook his head: “Not in my memory.”
However, relying solely on a plant for judgment was still too hasty.
He straightened up and said:
“Let’s go back first, and question You Huo carefully.”
…
Outside the storage room of the desolate courtyard, Yuyi Yue retrieved the Soul-Control Gu she had hidden around the exterior before signaling Fang Xun’gui to enter.
Fang Xun’gui looked at You Huo, who was tied up tightly against a pile of rotten wood, and the corner of his mouth twitched slightly.
Yuyi Yue raised an eyebrow:
“Did I tie him securely enough?”
Indeed, it was secure enough—the same method used to tie up a hog.
Fang Xun’gui half-crouched and checked You Huo’s breathing.
As expected, only a faint breath remained.
Yuyi Yue walked over, tore open You Huo’s upper garment, and tapped a few times on his chest.
A black Gu insect swam through the blood vessels to the skin beneath You Huo’s chest, rising and falling with his faint heartbeat.
Yuyi Yue whispered to Fang Xun’gui:
“You can begin now.”
Fang Xun’gui nodded.
His voice was cold and sharp, his pitch-black eyes gleaming with a chilling light under the moonlight:
“Your name, codename, affiliated faction, and rank.”
You Huo answered in a weak, emotionless voice:
“…Nameless, codename You Huo, affiliated with the Nether Division of the Netherworld Hall’s main hall, rank nineteen.”
“After discovering You Ye’s body, what did you do?”
“…Followed the woman in white, ambushed outside the desolate courtyard, discovered that Zhan Kong of the Blood-Severing Pavilion had stayed in the desolate courtyard for several days… reported this to the main hall via carrier pigeon, and after Zhan Kong left… came to ambush the woman in white…”
“After the ambush, what were your original plans?”
“…Take her back to the Netherworld Hall to use her to threaten the Master of the Blood Severing Pavilion, Xue Ningshuo…”
“Why did you think she could threaten Xue Ningshuo?”
You Huo answered intermittently:
“Zhan Kong has been investigating the events of nine years ago. Xue Ningshuo was displeased and sent Zhan Kong alone to deal with an entire branch of the Netherworld Hall… He was already planning to eliminate Zhan Kong… This is the first time Zhan Kong has stayed outside Moon-Cutting Mountain for so long. This woman must be… very special to Zhan Kong… Regardless of the final outcome, controlling this woman first would be nothing but beneficial…”
“How do you know about the events of nine years ago? What deal did the Netherworld Hall make with Xue Ningshuo?!”
When he asked this question, Fang Xun’gui’s tone was fierce and urgent, the veins at his temples bulging.
Yuyi Yue could even hear his increasingly rapid heartbeat.Under the control of the Truth-Telling Gu, You Huo spoke in a still emotionless tone, his words fragmented:
“I was one of the participants in the incident nine years ago… The Hall Master only sent me to confirm the status of You Ye and Zhan Kong. I don’t know about the deal between the Hall Master and Xue Ningshuo…”
Fang Xun’gui grabbed You Huo’s collar, staring intently into those dull eyes that had long lost their vitality.
He clenched his back teeth, enunciating each word as if it were wrapped in a bloody, solemn aura.
“What did you participate in? What happened in the imperial capital nine years ago? Why did Fang Yunmo die!”
You Huo’s voice grew increasingly weak, forming a ridiculous contrast with his flat tone:
“I was one of those responsible for setting the fire in the imperial capital… As for what exactly happened, I don’t know. That is the highest secret of the Netherworld Hall… Fang Yunmo, I’ve never heard that name…”
Fang Xun’gui’s voice was hoarse to the extreme, as if scorched by raging flames:
“Fang Yunmo, codename Severing Cloud, a man with his right eye covered and a scar on his neck. Did you see him in the imperial capital nine years ago? Do you know what his mission was?”
You Huo’s breath was faint, using his last gasp to answer:
“…I saw a corpse like that in the imperial capital… I don’t know what connection the events nine years ago have with the Blood-Severing Pavilion… I don’t know why he went to the imperial capital…”
After uttering the final word, You Huo finally breathed his last, collapsing limply onto the pile of rotten wood.
Fang Xun’gui remained silent, his eyes bloodshot, fists clenched tightly.
Yuyi Yue stood behind him, equally silent.
After an unknown length of time, Fang Xun’gui slammed a fist onto the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust in the room.
Half-crouched on the ground, his back heaved violently, his heavy breathing carrying undisguised pain.
If the events nine years ago had nothing to do with the Blood-Severing Pavilion, why did Fang Yunmo go to the imperial capital?
To die?!
He couldn’t distinguish whether the soul-tearing pain came from his bloodied fist or the memories etched deep into his bones.
Once again, the trail went cold, as if fate mocked his arrogance and insignificance.
Fang Xun’gui trembled, curling his body, a buzzing sound filling his ears.
Until his cold form was enveloped in warmth.
Yuyi Yue half-knelt down, quietly wrapping her arms around Fang Xun’gui’s waist from behind.
Fang Xun’gui shuddered, but at this moment, he truly lacked the strength to turn and push her away.
Yuyi Yue simply maintained this position, saying nothing.
Her fair, soft right hand soothingly covered Fang Xun’gui’s bloodied right fist, gently holding his hand stained with blood and dust.
She pried open Fang Xun’gui’s fingers, which were nearly digging into his palm, until their fingers intertwined tightly.
Yuyi Yue rested her chin lightly on Fang Xun’gui’s shoulder and whispered:
“You’re hurting. I don’t know what to do, I just felt I should hold you. No matter what happened, you’re not alone now. Rest for a while.”
Fang Xun’gui’s body trembled, the blood in his veins seeming to flow once more with Yuyi Yue’s voice.
Having weathered nine years of hardship, on his solitary journey into the endless night, Fang Xun’gui’s eyes were finally illuminated by a sliver of moonlight.
He allowed himself to cling to this moment’s warmth.
He was truly exhausted.
“Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me. It was the Truth-Telling Gu that made You Huo speak.”
“No, thank you.”
Fang Xun’gui stubbornly repeated, tightening his grip on Yuyi Yue’s hand.At this moment, your existence is the greatest blessing this world has bestowed upon me.
So, thank you.
Yuyi Yue chuckled softly and tightened the embrace.
“You’re welcome.”
Moonlight poured down, illuminating the once murky and bloody past.
Fang Xun’gui knew that from this moment on, the karmic bond between him and Yuyi Yue could never be severed.
Just a little longer, until everything is settled.
If this world allows it, if she is willing…
This worthless life of “Fang Xun’gui” shall be offered to her.
…
[Master, the Favorability is still fluctuating significantly, but the peak has already reached the threshold for “Love.”]
[Mm. Fang Xun’gui has hidden himself behind coldness for too long; in truth, he’s incredibly pure-hearted. Before completing what he must do, he won’t allow himself to indulge in emotions. It’s perfectly normal.]
[I understand, Master.]
[Next, let’s listen to his story.]