The rainwater flowed along the tiles, forming a curtain of water.
Wu Qianhuan paused slightly with the hand that was about to take the wine pot and looked up at Chu Qing:
"What did you say?"
Chu Qing looked at Wu Qianhuan and smiled slightly:
"You heard it, and you didn't hear wrong."
"...Why?"
"To kill someone."
"Kill who?"
"Tang Xi."
"Reason."
"I'm an assassin. Naturally, someone wants him dead, so I will kill him."
Wu Qianhuan's smile turned slightly cold:
"Luoyu Hall is the Luoyu Hall of my Celestial Dance City, and the Grand Hall Master is a distinguished guest of my father.
"It's also one of the main forces in my Celestial Dance City...
"Do you think I will allow you to kill people from my Celestial Dance City within the city?"
Chu Qing didn't think:
"You will."
"What makes you so sure?"
"Because he is not from your Celestial Dance City."
"What evidence do you have?"
"He is practicing the 'Resentful Heart Demon Skill'."
In the exchange of questions and answers, as Chu Qing mentioned the four words 'Resentful Heart Demon Skill,' Wu Qianhuan's expression suddenly changed.
This was followed by silence. Finally, after a long time, Wu Qianhuan spoke:
"How can you be sure?"
"I saw... a Resentful Heart person."
As soon as Chu Qing finished speaking, there was a crack sound. The wine cup in Wu Qianhuan's hand had been crushed by her.
The Resentful Heart Demon Skill is a notorious demonic martial art in the Martial World.
To practice this skill, one needs to nurture a Resentful Heart person.
And the so-called Resentful Heart person is someone who holds a deep grudge against the practitioner.
The practitioner would often plant a Demon Seed on them using a special technique and then perform all sorts of heinous acts against them.
Killing their whole family, dishonoring their wife and daughters, deeds often against the laws of heaven.
Thus achieving the purpose of nurturing the Demon Seed with resentment. When the resentment of a Resentful Heart person reaches its peak, the Demon Seed is considered fully formed.
By then, they can cut open the person's heart, consume it, and the practitioner's inner power can progress rapidly.
This is why, when Tang Xi told Er Gou that he killed Er Gou's fiancée, he didn't allow Er Gou to die.
If he died, all prior efforts would have been in vain.
Wu Qianhuan let out a long breath, looking at Chu Qing:
"But... isn't this just your one-sided statement? How can I trust you?"
"You've already believed."
Chu Qing sighed:
"Tell me, what do you want?"
"I want to go with you."
"Okay."
"I definitely won't be a burden to you, I... what did you say?"
Wu Qianhuan originally planned to persuade Chu Qing to take her along.
However, realizing that Chu Qing had just said... okay?
She looked at Chu Qing in surprise:
"Are you sure you didn't misspeak?"
Chu Qing spread his hands:
"Miss Wu, with your high martial arts skills willing to assist me, why wouldn't I agree to such a good thing falling from the sky?
"However, let's be clear, the commission is mine, and the reward is also mine. Miss Wu won't get a single silver from this."
This was partly true. With Wu Qianhuan's high martial arts skills, before acquiring Ah Fei's Swift Sword and the Purple Mist Divine Skill, if Chu Qing faced her directly, he'd definitely be beaten badly.
Moreover, she wasn't the kind of spoiled and willful wealthy lady who would be a burden.
With her presence, tonight's assassination would go more smoothly.
And her joining was anticipated.
"...Do you think I care?"
Wu Qianhuan felt that this person was getting on her nerves again.
Chu Qing chuckled:
"Besides, we need to lay down three rules."
"Which three?"
"First, everything on this journey must be under my command."
"Fine, what's the second?"
"Second, everything on this journey must be under my command."
"...Is the third one the same?"
Wu Qianhuan felt her forehead starting to swell again.
Especially when she saw Chu Qing nodding shamelessly, she felt this guy was truly abominable... even though she hadn't seen his face yet.
"After all, you are an outsider. If you don't listen to me and something goes wrong, I won't save you.
"So, for the sake of your safety, you'd better listen to everything I say."
"...Fine."
Wu Qianhuan took a deep breath to maintain her composure:
"When do you need the Defense Map?"
"As soon as possible..."
Chu Qing looked at the rain in the sky:
"The heavens favor us, tonight is the best opportunity."
"Follow me to the City Lord's Mansion."
Without thinking, Wu Qianhuan stood up directly, but Chu Qing didn't move.
She turned around to look at him, and Chu Qing waved his hand:
"How can the City Lord's Mansion be easily breached? Moreover, if Miss Wu harbors any ill intentions and sets a trap for me there, wouldn't I be walking into a snare?
"I'll wait for you here, Miss. Please go and return quickly."
"..."
Wu Qianhuan no longer wanted to waste words and proceeded to leap away.
Chu Qing smiled slightly, glanced at the dishes on the table, swallowed a bit of saliva, but didn't move.
This woman didn't have good intentions; all the dishes on this table were his favorites.
Wu Qianhuan didn't return too quickly. After about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, a man in black appeared before Chu Qing.
Except for a pair of eyes, no other part was exposed.
She first looked intently at the dishes on the table, and a look of disappointment appeared in her eyes.
Then she waved her hand and threw a bamboo tube to Chu Qing, who opened it and took out the map inside.
He scrutinized it carefully, praising as he looked:
"When you tested Tang Xi at the Chu Family today, it was indeed not a spur-of-the-moment decision.
"This Defense Map is drawn so meticulously, with annotations that are thorough. It seems the City Lord's Mansion has long intended to deal with Luoyu Hall."
"Before handling external threats, one must first secure the internal issues."
Wu Qianhuan snorted:
"Valley of Myriad Nights has become increasingly presumptuous lately, I think the battle is imminent.
"Luoyu Hall harbors treachery. Even if we don't know about Tang Xi practicing the Demon Skill, Liu Shijie's collusion with the Seven Horse Thieves is insidious and untrustworthy.
"If a battle arises, they must be controlled first.
"Even if they aren't problematic, preparing in advance has no drawbacks."
"Aren't you afraid of causing internal division?"
"That would require loyalty not to be fractured first."
Hearing this, Chu Qing laughed. Indeed, no one should treat anyone else as a fool.
Wu Ganqi sitting firmly in Celestial Dance City, keeping these turbulent winds and rains at bay, definitely isn't just a brute only good at wielding an axe.
Even if someone is stirring trouble under his nose without detection, he would still be wary.
Didn't Chu Qing come to Wu Qianhuan today for this Defense Map because he predicted that the City Lord's Mansion intended to deal with Luoyu Hall?
After securing the Defense Map, Chu Qing stood up:
"Let's go."
...
...
Luoyu Hall is located in West City.
Right in the middle of West Street, it occupies a large courtyard.
The two of them took advantage of the nighttime darkness, rushing through the rain, and soon arrived outside the walls of Luoyu Hall.
After listening carefully, there were footsteps passing by after a short while.
They exchanged a glance before leaping into the courtyard.
With the Defense Map in hand, their intrusion felt leisurely; they knew when and where patrols happened, when shifts changed, and how far apart they were, all as clear as day.
Soon, they reached Tang Xi's courtyard.
Cautiously stopping at the rooftop, Chu Qing reached out and removed a tile.
At once, a decadent sound emanated from the room.
Wu Qianhuan's face flushed red instantly, she couldn't help but look at Chu Qing, only to see a gleam of joy in his eyes.
He then signaled to her with a look, meaning... take action!