He Died Last Night

"Your heart is not still today."

When Xu Lu wrote the wrong character for the third time, Chen Siming finally spoke up.

"Do you feel that after last night's events, you are already a famous great scholar, so you no longer need to practice calligraphy? Nor do you need to learn from me anymore?"

Chen Siming frowned and asked.

"Of course not." Xu Lu hurriedly shook his head, "Master, it's just that I drank too much wine last night and didn't sleep well."

"Your alcohol tolerance, much like your calligraphy, needs more practice." Chen Siming said dismissively.

"Yes." Xu Lu replied respectfully.

He didn't want to tell Chen Siming about Zhang Bao's family. Chen Siming might not be able to help, and it might even alert the enemy. Xu Lu had decided in his heart that he had to resolve this matter himself.

Seeing Xu Lu's distracted spirit, Chen Siming didn't force him to practice calligraphy anymore and waved his hand, telling him to go back and catch up on sleep.

-----------------

Returning to Ande Ward, as soon as Xu Lu pushed open the door, his face immediately darkened.

"Zhao Si!" He gritted his teeth.

"Xu Lu, where is the manuscript?"

Zhao Si sat on an armchair he had found from somewhere, with two burly men standing behind him. Judging by their clothes, they were definitely members of the Great River Gang. He was indeed very cautious, never forgetting to bring "bodyguards" wherever he went.

"Master Chen was drunk last night and hasn't woken up yet; he didn't write any poems today." Xu Lu said coldly, "Where are Uncle Zhang and the others?"

"How would I know where they are? I'm not their father." Zhao Si said with a mocking face.

"Very well!" Xu Lu said in a cold voice, "Zhao Si, you'd better not harm a single hair on their heads, otherwise I will definitely not let you off!"

"Whether they live or die depends on how you work." Zhao Si said disdainfully, "You did well today, not reporting to the authorities. Just be honest and listen to me from now on, and Fourth Master guarantees they won't lack any limbs."

Zhao Si laughed heartily and led his two bodyguards away arrogantly.

Looking at his back, Xu Lu had to struggle hard to suppress the urge to strike.

"It seems you've run into some trouble. Need help?"

A voice suddenly rang out, and immediately after, a figure as graceful as an oriole stepped in.

Situ Yanqing, dressed in neat and brisk attire, walked through the threshold with her hands behind her back like a female hero of the martial world. She naturally assessed the surroundings, walking back and forth in the courtyard without the slightest politeness.

Xu Lu's face darkened slightly. What did these two people think his house was? A park? Coming and going as they pleased without any courtesy.

"What could you help me with?" Out of respect for Situ Yanqing's status, Xu Lu held back his temper.

"In this Jiangdu City, there seems to be no problem I cannot solve." Situ Yanqing puffed out her chest proudly, her expression confident and natural.

"Anything at all?" Xu Lu looked at her and asked.

"Anything at all." Situ Yanqing replied.

This was truly a female version of Dao Liuliu—no, even Dao Liuliu would have to take a back seat to her.

"What price must I pay?" Xu Lu didn't know Situ Yanqing well and didn't believe she would kindly come to help him for no reason.

"You only need to tell me what happened between you and my father." Situ Yanqing's eyes lit up, "Then I'll help you handle your trouble."

Xu Lu's heart stirred. Situ Yanqing was the City Lord's daughter; if she truly agreed to help, never mind a mere Zhao Si, she could uproot even the Great River Gang!

Xu Lu had originally prepared to go "chat" with Zhao Si at night, but now that a blade had been delivered to his door, why not use it?

Xu Lu's thoughts turned quickly.

"That's what you said!" Xu Lu spoke up.

"A gentleman's word is as good as a bond." Situ Yanqing said, "I, Situ Yanqing, have never gone back on my word."

"Alright then." Xu Lu acted very hesitantly, "Actually, regarding the matter between me and the City Lord, I told you everything last time. To investigate a case, the City Lord asked me a few questions, and I answered a few..."

"What else?" Situ Yanqing said softly, "It couldn't be that simple."

"In fact, it was just that simple." Xu Lu said with a sincere face, "Oh, right, I also gave the City Lord a poem."

"A poem?" Situ Yanqing's eyes lit up, "What poem? Read it to me!"

"Help me first, then I'll tell you the content of the poem." Xu Lu shook his head.

"As a man, do you only have that much backbone? Do you think I won't keep my word?" Situ Yanqing said.

"Please forgive my pettiness, but you and I aren't very close, so..." Xu Lu replied calmly.

"Fine then." Situ Yanqing didn't act angry and said casually, "Speak, what is your trouble?"

"It's like this..." Xu Lu quickly recounted the whole story.

"Zhao Kaichang wanted you to steal Chen Siming's manuscript, so he had people kidnap your friends?" Situ Yanqing was somewhat surprised.

"Yes!" Xu Lu said in a deep voice, "Before, he only used money to buy them, but perhaps he was provoked last night, so he went this far..."

"Aunt Hong, you've heard it all. Please make a trip." Situ Yanqing waved her hand and said.

"Yes, Miss."

Only then did Xu Lu realize there was another person behind Situ Yanqing! He followed the sound and looked back, just catching that person's gaze.

For a moment, Xu Lu felt like a small boat in a great storm, his mind going blank.

By the time he regained his senses, that person had vanished. His heart was filled with terror; this feeling was something he had experienced once before when meeting Lu Tianbo. That person just now was very strong!

"Aunt Hong is a Seventh Grade Lishi. In Jiangdu City, there aren't many who can defeat her." Situ Yanqing said calmly, "If your friends were truly kidnapped by Zhao Kaichang, Aunt Hong will bring them back."

"Seventh Grade Lishi?" Xu Lu's voice was slightly hoarse. His reaction was perfectly suited for someone suppressed by the aura of a Lishi.

"You only need to know Aunt Hong is very strong. Explaining other things is very troublesome." Situ Yanqing waved her hand somewhat impatiently. She assumed Xu Lu didn't understand the ranks of a Lishi and had no intention of explaining.

"No evidence is needed?" Xu Lu was silent for a moment, unable to help asking.

Did Situ Yanqing trust him that much? Wasn't she afraid Zhao Kaichang was being framed?

"Is it needed?" Situ Yanqing said as if it were obvious.

Xu Lu fell silent. Right, a Seventh Grade Lishi personally taking action, and being someone sent by the City Lord's Manor—even if the Zhao family had some status in Jiangdu City, how would they dare to act up? A cornered dog biting the wall and killing Uncle Zhang's whole family? Did they think a Seventh Grade Lishi and the City Lord's Manor were jokes?

The problem that had given Xu Lu a headache all day was solved by Situ Yanqing with a single sentence.

"Now, can you tell me what poem you wrote for the City Lord?" Situ Yanqing said.

"I want to see Uncle Zhang's family safe before I can speak." Xu Lu remained silent.

Seeing Xu Lu say nothing, Situ Yanqing also boredly kicked her feet, walking back and forth in the courtyard. Xu Lu recalled the appearance of that Seventh Grade Lishi but found that besides knowing she was female, he couldn't remember anything else.

"A Seventh Grade Lishi already has such power, so what about a Seventh Grade Tianguan?" Xu Lu's heart was filled with waves of fear. It was fortunate that the Ninth Grade Secret Cultivator Lu Tianbo had no ill will toward him, otherwise...

"With my current level, I should still stay modest."

About half an hour later, the plants in Xu Lu's courtyard were nearly all plucked by Situ Yanqing. A light breeze blew, and then a figure suddenly appeared in the courtyard.

This time, Xu Lu stared wide-eyed. The newcomer wore white clothes with a red belt tied at the waist. Her face seemed covered by a layer of mist, her features looking somewhat blurred, making it impossible to tell her age. Her figure was extremely beautiful—long legs, a slender waist, and curves in all the right places—and her whole body exuded a sense of power.

"Miss." She spoke. Her voice, though pleasant, was incredibly cold and devoid of emotion, making one feel a bit chilled upon hearing it. "Zhao Kaichang denied ordering the kidnapping."

Aunt Hong continued: "The Zhao Si that Xu Lu mentioned—last night after the banquet at Daoli Garden, he slipped and fell into the water, passing away in an accident."

"Impossible!" Xu Lu cried out, choked up.

If Zhao Si had been dead since last night, then who was the person he saw today? A chill ran from Xu Lu's back straight to the top of his head.

"I personally inspected the body; he indeed drowned last night." Aunt Hong seemed to glance at Xu Lu, her voice emotionless, "If it were a fake, it couldn't escape my eyes. The Zhao family people didn't lie."

"Xu Lu, you aren't lying to me for fun, are you?" Situ Yanqing frowned.

"He isn't lying." Beyond Xu Lu's expectations, Aunt Hong spoke up to explain for him. "It must be the antics of those rats who dare not come into the light. They have set their sights on Chen Siming and Xu Lu."

"Xu Lu is just an unknown brat..." Situ Yanqing frowned.

"He is not unknown." Aunt Hong said in her emotionless voice, without even a ripple, "After last night, no one in Jiangdu City doesn't know the 'Three cups to seal a vow, five mountains seem light in comparison' Xu Lu."

"True." Situ Yanqing rubbed her smooth chin, appearing thoughtful, "He does seem to have some fame now. Why were they targeted so quickly? This matter is actually a bit troublesome. I promised to help him solve it; if I can't, won't I lose a lot of face?"

"I am good at killing, not at finding people." Aunt Hong said, "To find people, the best way is to ask a Tianguan for assistance, but the price is a bit high. It's not worth it for a few commoners; I do not suggest the Miss do so."

Xu Lu's heart was in a tangle, but he still understood Aunt Hong's meaning—she was advising Situ Yanqing to abandon Uncle Zhang's family! ||CHAPTER_SEPARATOR