"Hmm..."

Chu Qing did not deliberately avoid her gaze:

"Yesterday’s little matter, it doesn’t really count as any favor, right?"

Chu Qing’s eyes did not shy away at all, causing Xia Wanshuang to turn her head:

"I come from a merchant family, and I value trust and promises most of all. I also dislike owing people favors.

"Although my martial arts are weak, as long as Master can speak of it, and I can manage to do it, there is no reason for me not to."

Chu Qing’s expression did not change, but he knew in his heart that this wave had been handled... But this woman was indeed a trouble.

Once the seeds of suspicion are planted, they inevitably grow into towering trees, and if these trees are not properly controlled, they might grow uncontrollably.

Fortunately, this seed is still small. As long it doesn’t continue to grow, there shouldn’t be any issues.

Or let this seed grow according to its own intentions...

Thinking of this, he said softly:

"Miss Xia wishes to repay a life-saving favor. I happen to have two matters that need someone to help me with.

"You only need to choose one."

"May I ask Master to clarify?"

Xia Wanshuang clasped her fists and spoke.

"The first matter involves the girl you saw during the day, and her brother.

"They are not people of the Martial World, and their arrival at Luochun Manor was purely coincidental.

"I want them to return home tomorrow. Although the journey is not too far, there might still be some unexpected occurrences.

"If Miss Xia can help me ensure their safe return home, the previous favor will be written off."

Upon hearing this, Xia Wanshuang nodded slightly:

"And the second matter?"

"The second matter... is a bit troublesome."

Chu Qing said:

"Divine Blade Hall has been causing mischief, leading to the loss of a Divine Blade City.

"Dragon Spear Fang Tianrui is stationed in Divine Blade City, and from now on, it should serve as a new stronghold.

"Currently, everything there is in a state of disrepair, presenting an opportunity...

"Miss Xia has said she comes from a merchant family, so you might have some knowledge about the art of making money?

"How about I provide the funds, and you help me conduct some business in Divine Blade City?"

"Ah?"

Xia Wanshuang was momentarily stunned:

"This... What kind of business should I conduct?"

"Miss Xia can decide what business to conduct herself; I only look at the outcome."

He said this while looking at Xia Wanshuang:

"Miss Xia, which task do you wish to choose?"

"..."

Xia Wanshuang pondered for a moment before speaking:

"I choose the second one."

Chu Qing gave Xia Wanshuang a deep look, drew a stack of gold leaves from his sleeve, and placed them on the table:

"This is the capital... Dragon Spear Fang Tianrui owes me a favor as well. I will write a letter tomorrow. Once you reach Divine Blade City, if there are any difficulties, you can meet Fang Tianrui with this letter and my name."

"Alright."

Xia Wanshuang carefully put away the gold leaves:

"Aren’t you afraid that I will take these gold leaves and escape from Luochun Manor tonight?"

"One does not employ the suspicious, nor suspect the employed."

Chu Qing chuckled:

"It’s just a casual move; since I’m not relying on it, why worry?"

Xia Wanshuang secretly gritted her teeth, feeling that he truly didn’t regard her at all.

She took a deep breath and said:

"Alright, we’ll meet again early tomorrow morning."

After saying this, she turned and left.

Chu Qing also stepped out the door, only after seeing her walk far did he withdraw his gaze and said to Gentle:

"It’s late, let’s go back and rest. It’s best if you’re not present for what’s next."

Gentle heard his words, glanced at Chu Qing, and finally nodded slightly:

"I understand."

After watching Gentle leave, Chu Qing then said to Si Ye:

"Take me to see that person."

Si Ye immediately led Chu Qing away from the courtyard. The place where that person was imprisoned was not far, also heavily guarded.

Entering the courtyard, they opened the main house door.

They saw the person lying on the bed, looking like a pile of sludge.

He wasn’t asleep; his meridians felt as if sliced by a knife, leaving him in great pain due to Chu Qing’s remaining inner strength and frost qi.

His spine had been shattered, leaving him lying there as if enduring torture, keeping him awake in agony.

Upon seeing Chu Qing and Si Ye arrive, he gritted his teeth:

"Despicable scoundrel... I will kill you!!"

Chu Qing’s gaze shifted from his body to the scattered items on the table.

"These are his personal belongings."

Si Ye explained to Chu Qing.

Chu Qing nodded and said:

"Invite the Manor Master carefully."

"Yes."

Si Ye agreed, and turned to leave.

Chu Qing then examined the items on the table, starting with thirteen Skull Needles.

Next were various elixirs for emergencies. Beside the elixirs lay a pair of gloves, whose material was unknown but felt soft to the touch and seemed comfortable to wear.

Further to the side was a key.

This key had two segments. Once released, it was a metal stick, which had branches extending upon rotation, looking quite intricate.

Chu Qing inspected the key, played with it, and finally placed it into his pocket.

Then he picked up the Skull Needles, and chuckled as he spoke:

"Soul-Hunting Guard Sang Qing, whose Lightweight Technique is the ’Hundred Ghosts Wander,’ comes in without a trace and leaves without a sound, like a ghost or a phantom, moving silently.

"His signature skill is the ’Ghostly Wail Thirteen Needles,’ and his performance today indeed opened my eyes.

"I never truly sparred with you, which is somewhat regrettable."

Upon these words, Sang Qing’s face on the bed suddenly changed:

"How...how do you know my name?"

"Not only do I know you... I also know that there is a Soul-Capturing Guard Shi Ye in the Celestial Secret Valley now.

"And...Prince Mu, Burial Cold Sound."

Chu Qing smiled and said:

"To be honest, we have already understood everything about your arrangements in the Celestial Secret Valley.

"Your wish to use the Celestial Secret Order to lure the heroes of the Jianghu into Luochun Manor, and then reveal the location of Celestial Secret Valley to everyone...

"Using your long-prepared arrangements to commit murder... causing a bloodshed and awakening the Celestial Demon Robe with the blood of experts!

"The Celestial Evil Cult, indeed a grand plan, indeed a malevolent mind!

"But such petty tricks to boast before me are too naive.

"Truth be told, on the day you reveal the location of the Celestial Secret Valley and let the Jianghu heroes enter the valley.

"Will be the day Burial Cold Sound and Shi Ye meet their demise!

"You wish to achieve your goals with the blood of heroes, then you must have the consciousness to die at their hands."

With each sentence, Sang Qing’s face grew a shade paler and more incredulous.

When Chu Qing finished speaking, he shook his head instinctively:

"Impossible... Even if you know we’ve arranged ’Yellow Springs Powder’ in the Celestial Secret Tower, it’s simply impossible to obtain that many antidotes!!"

Yellow Springs Powder!

Chu Qing’s expression remained unchanged, but inside he felt a heaviness.

This substance had been used by the people of Divine Blade Hall and provided to Yinfeng Stronghold.

Yinfeng Stronghold used it, enabling the town’s residents to use it against travelers, plundering their wealth and people for Yinfeng Stronghold.

Its potency is fierce; only a specific antidote can neutralize its poison.

However, the antidote carried by Chu Qing was far too scarce.

To uncover the composition and ingredients of this antidote within the next couple of days, and to prepare more, is truly impossible.

This matter will undoubtedly be troublesome.

However, he was not about to believe what the opponent said, so he sneered coldly:

"Facing impending death, yet refusing to be truthful?

"Did you truly arrange Yellow Springs Powder in the Celestial Secret Tower?"

When Sang Qing heard these words, he was first confused for a moment.

After a while, he seemed to come to realization; then he was overwhelmingly furious:

"You’ve tricked me again!!

"You... You don’t actually know our arrangements in the Celestial Secret Valley, you’re bluffing me!!"

Chu Qing nodded:

"Now it’s basically confirmed; it’s indeed Yellow Springs Powder."

Sang Qing nearly gritted his teeth to the point of breaking, shut his eyes, and simply refused to speak to Chu Qing.

This despicable scoundrel is excessively cunning and treacherous.

How did he manage to craft such an impeccable story?

To the point where I accepted it without any hesitation...

The key is that he was completely correct.

Only concerning the arrangements in Celestial Secret Valley did he remain vague, which led me to instinctively reveal this matter.

Recalling how he fell into this person’s hands, Sang Qing’s spine broke out in cold sweat.

It was exceedingly sinister.

Seeing this, Chu Qing was amused:

"You’re quite interesting, aren’t you, like a little child, getting angry and then ignoring people?"