Clang—
The commotion from inside the house nearly sent Bai Ling'er, who was engrossed in enjoying her meal, tumbling into the soup. Her anthropomorphic eyes flashed with anger.
"These damn bastards, daring to disturb me while I'm enjoying my food! I'm going out to bite them to death."
I helplessly patted my forehead. She was a snake, yet she acted like a dog, always wanting to bite. Still, thinking that snakes also bite to catch prey, I didn't say anything.
However, I didn't want too many people to know about Bai Ling'er's existence yet. She was one of my trump cards. Although her strength was sealed as a ghost general by the Fifth Prince, she still gave Zhang Dabiao quite a bit of trouble when they fought.
I believed that was only because Bai Ling'er held back. Otherwise, Zhang Dabiao would have certainly lasted only a few rounds against her. After all, snakes were venomous.
"Stay in the house and eat. Don't come out unless I call you, or I'll send you back to the Half-Yin Realm, where you can't see the outside world or taste supreme delicacies."
Faced with my threat, Bai Ling'er showed her displeasure, opened her small mouth, and took a fierce bite of the mutton, as if biting me.
As Zhang Dabiao and I stepped out of the house, a large group of people rushed into the courtyard. Then, the crowd parted to the sides, leaving a path, clearly indicating that an important figure was behind them.
"Ahem..."
With a cough, someone sitting in a wheeled chair was pushed out. I didn't recognize the person in the chair, but I recognized the one pushing it – the man in the red suit who had delivered Wang Jun's head to me. Seeing me looking at him, the man in the red suit smiled slightly, as if greeting me.
In the wheeled chair sat an old man, appearing to be seventy or eighty years old. He wore a blue long gown, his complexion was pale, and he had the dead-fish eyes of an old man. He held a handkerchief and coughed from time to time. His demeanor was like that of an old eunuch in an ancient palace. Listening to his violent coughing, I doubted if he would survive the next moment.
As I was observing him, the old man in the chair spoke, "Kid, we meet again."
Hearing him speak in the tone of an old friend meeting again, I was stunned. "Do we know each other?"
"Cough cough... Young people are truly forgetful! We met yesterday, and you've forgotten so quickly?"
"Yesterday?" I thought hard but couldn't recall meeting anyone like him. Although I didn't have a photographic memory, I could still remember someone in a short period. But this old fellow, who looked like half his body was already in the coffin, left no impression on me.
"Let me give you a hint: the Fifth Prince's Estate."
Upon hearing the words "Fifth Prince's Estate," my expression changed several times. Combined with the surname of the man in the red suit, I instantly knew who he was – Li Zuoquan, who was in conflict with the Fifth Prince.
I never expected this old man to find me so quickly.
But I was also a bit puzzled. When he was in conflict with the Fifth Prince, he was clearly a middle-aged man. How could he have become an old man on the verge of death in just one day?
Seeing my expression change several times, Li Zuoquan let out a sinister laugh. "Remember now? Cough cough..."
I nodded and remained silent. Since he had brought it up, further denial would be meaningless. Moreover, his appearance without immediately resorting to violence indicated that there was room for negotiation. I just didn't know what he truly wanted. Su Dan Novel Network.
Listening to his violent coughing, I secretly thought, why doesn't he just cough himself to death?
My wish was good, but after a few coughs, he stopped. His eyes flickered twice, and he said in a hoarse voice, "Kid, do you particularly wish for me to cough to death?"
My expression remained unchanged, and I said sternly, "I don't have such thoughts. We have no enmity, why would I curse you to death?"
"No enmity?" Li Zuoquan was taken aback, then let out a sinister laugh, his gloomy eyes almost spitting fire. "What a fine 'no enmity'."
"Cough cough..."
The man in the red suit standing behind Li Zuoquan quickly fumbled in his pocket, took out a pill, and gave it to him. Only then did his coughing subside.
"Second Uncle, why are you wasting time with this kid? If you ask me, we should just find a place and bury him," the man in the red suit said in a low voice after glancing at me.
Bury me? I wanted to bury you!
I nudged Zhang Dabiao lightly, signaling him to be ready to act at any moment. As long as we could control Li Zuoquan, I didn't believe this kid could cause any more trouble.
"Kid, don't try to be clever in front of me. I'll ask a few questions and then leave."
I thought my actions were subtle enough, and coupled with the darkness, Li Zuoquan wouldn't notice. But his words immediately sent me into despair.
As Li Zuoquan finished speaking, the people accompanying him all put their hands into their clothes. At this point, I knew with my toes what they were holding.
"What questions?"
"Do you know the Fifth Prince?"
I was stunned and shook my head. "No."
"Then why were you inside the Prince's Estate?"
"Do you think I wanted to be? I was captured."
Then, I embellished the story of how I was captured by the bearded man leading the troops, and I specifically mentioned Zhao Defu and his group of tomb robbers.
Since I had heard that Zhao Defu and his gang intended to deal with Li Zuoquan, how could I not seize this opportunity?
"Zhao Defu?"
Then, the man in the red suit whispered something into Li Zuoquan's ear.
"So that's how it is?" Li Zuoquan nodded. "Kid, we'll settle our score in a couple of days. The three days you were given to find Boss Fang's daughter have passed, and you have one day left. If you don't find Boss Fang's daughter, someone will deal with you then. Let's go."
Watching Li Zuoquan being pushed away by the man in the red suit, I was dumbfounded, even somewhat bewildered. He had arrived with such imposing authority, but why did he leave so abruptly after hearing me mention Zhao Defu?
Could Zhao Defu be more terrifying than Fang Huixin?
Just then, Bai Ling'er's surprised cry came from inside the house.
I turned and rushed back, only to see Fifth Gege sitting on a chair, her eyes gazing out the window.
Zhang Dabiao, who followed me in, had a solemn expression, his hand unconsciously reaching for his waist. Seeing this, I quickly stopped him from making any moves.
Fifth Gege's strength had not been sealed by the Fifth Prince. If Zhang Dabiao dared to attack, I believed that given Fifth Gege's temperament, she would at least beat Zhang Dabiao half to death, if not kill him outright. I didn't want another patient at this time.
"Fifth Gege, how did you get out of the Half-Yin Realm?"
She turned her gaze to me. "My father said you were in danger and asked me to come out and scare Li Zuoquan. He also asked me to convey a few words to you..."