Chapter 36: Rumors
The room fell into utter silence.
Wu Qianhuan pricked up her ears, her thoughts circling back to Tang Yinfeng and Tang Xi's demonic arts.
If these two truly had other origins, it raised an unsettling question—where had they obtained so many demonic techniques, and for what greater purpose had they acted?
Tang Yinfeng stared at Wu Ganqi for a long while before sighing. "Forget it. Deceiving you is pointless, and I've no time to spin a tale worthy of your paranoia.
"Now that victory and defeat are decided, I've nothing more to say.
"Kill me, torture me—do as you please."
"We've been friends for three years," Wu Ganqi said slowly, his tone calm yet edged with bitterness. "I've always treated you as a trusted companion. It seems I was wrong."
He waved his hand. "Take him away. Keep him alive for now—I'll decide his fate later."
"Yes, sir."
Several Tianwu Guards came forward and dragged Tang Yinfeng out of the chamber.
Wu Ganqi stood in silence for a few moments, then turned toward his daughter.
"When do you think he should die?"
"When he's of no more use," Wu Qianhuan replied without hesitation. "A thief can act for a thousand days, but no one can guard against him for a thousand days.
"What happened today in Uncle Chu's courtyard was clearly orchestrated by Ten Thousand Nights Valley through the Mirror Platform.
"The longer we delay, the more disadvantageous it becomes for us.
"So, Father, I believe we should turn their own plot against them—lure the snake into the jar."
Wu Ganqi looked at his only daughter, and a rare trace of tenderness softened his rugged features.
"You're right… Hmm, the man who came with you to Falling Rain Hall tonight—was that the so-called Night Emperor?"
"…Yes."
Wu Qianhuan hesitated. She wanted to add that the man might also be Chu Qing, but since nothing was certain yet, she chose to remain silent.
"When did the jianghu birth such a figure, bold enough to use a name like that?" Wu Ganqi chuckled. "Still, we owe him thanks. Without his help, taking Falling Rain Hall would not have been so easy.
"Prepare a generous gift for him later."
Wu Qianhuan nodded and agreed softly.
Her expression, however, seemed somewhat off, and Wu Ganqi was just about to ask when a Tianwu Guard stepped in to report: "The eldest young master of the Chu family has arrived."
Wu Ganqi's expression remained steady. "Let him in."
Moments later, Chu Tian entered the secret chamber in white robes.
He offered a polite bow—first to Wu Qianhuan, then to Wu Ganqi.
"Brother Chu," Wu Qianhuan asked, "why are you here? Did something happen at the Chu estate tonight?"
She remembered earlier, when she and Chu Qing had encountered a few Chu family disciples, a vague unease had already formed in her heart.
She'd rushed home to report, only for her father to immediately bring her to Falling Rain Hall.
Now, seeing Chu Tian here, she couldn't help but ask.
Chu Tian nodded lightly, a faint smile on his lips. "My father is dead."
Wu Qianhuan froze as though struck by lightning.
Before she could recover from the shock of those words, Wu Ganqi simply nodded.
"I know."
Wu Qianhuan's eyes widened in disbelief.
Uncle Chu was dead—how could he say it so casually?
Why was Chu Tian smiling?
Had the world gone mad while she wasn't looking?
…
…
The "death" of Chu Yunfei was not officially announced, yet the entire atmosphere of Tianwu City had turned strangely tense.
The next morning, Chu Qing left his inn intending to find a blacksmith, but what greeted him were squads of Tianwu Guards running everywhere, searching every street and alley as though they meant to overturn the entire city.
Every gate—east, south, west, and north—had been sealed shut. The guards tightened their patrols, and no one was allowed to leave the city.
The townsfolk, seeing this, were terrified and bewildered, uncertain what disaster had struck.
Still, in the inn's corners, some "well-informed" individuals were whispering secret news.
"I heard that last night, Chu Yunfei was assassinated."
"No one knows who did it, but whoever they were, their background must be extraordinary."
"Who could Chu Yunfei have offended to end like this?"
"Shh—keep your voice down. The City Lord's Mansion forbade anyone from spreading this news."
"The Chu family's master was a good man… How could this happen? Is it really true?"
"Would I lie? Didn't you see the banquet tables? They were supposed to be laid out for three days, but after just one day, everything was taken down."
"But if it's true, why keep it secret?"
"They say Ten Thousand Nights Valley has been preparing for a battle with Tianwu City. Chu Yunfei was powerful and feared by them. If they learn he's dead, that would be disastrous."
"What? Another war? Heaven help us…"
As word spread, panic slowly took hold of Tianwu City.
Rumors swirled endlessly. Would Ten Thousand Nights Valley attack? What would become of the people when that time came?
Some even brought up the long-absent "Chu Qing," claiming that the prodigal son had returned only to slay his own father—sparking waves of wild speculation.
The rumors rose and fell, yet under the City Lord's heavy suppression, they gradually faded into silence.
Curiously, not a single person mentioned Falling Rain Hall.
The rain from the previous night had washed away many things.
Even those who had seen or heard something kept their mouths shut and their ears covered.
Outwardly, Falling Rain Hall looked the same as ever—peaceful, undisturbed.
Chu Qing ignored all the gossip. He had his own matters to attend to.
He visited a blacksmith, ordered a sword, and commissioned ten new sleeve arrows crafted to precise dimensions.
Unfortunately, he was no expert in poisons.
He thought to himself that once he found a suitable venom, he would find a way to coat the arrows.
The sword would take a few days to finish, so he wasn't in a hurry. Carrying a small box containing Tang Xi's severed head, he strolled toward an old place—the Earth God Temple.
As a child, he often came here when incense still burned brightly.
But ever since a new temple had been built, this one had fallen into disuse.
Ergou now made it his temporary home.
Yet when Chu Qing arrived, he found that besides Ergou, there was another unexpected visitor—Wu Qianhuan.
She was crouched on the temple roof, eyes sharp and wary as she scanned the surroundings, looking for all the world like a thief.
Chu Qing clicked his tongue, concealed his presence, and quietly approached.
When he stopped within a few paces, his gaze fell upon the curve of her raised hips.
An ordinary man might have felt the urge to give a playful slap.
But Chu Qing felt something else entirely—an overwhelming urge to kick her.
Perhaps that was the curse of childhood memories coming back to haunt him.
(End of Chapter)
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