Chapter 29

Qin Lie sent Bai Xinrong away with a mixture of threats and comfort.

"Grandpa, what you're saying sounds so scary," Shen Yu said, listening from the side, even feeling a little sorry for him.

Bai Xinrong's crime doesn't deserve this much punishment.

"It's good that young people have a sense of justice, but they also need to be mindful of their methods. How can you possibly find out if she keeps playing her cards so openly?"

"It's as if you know the truth..."

"How could I be so amazing? It's just..." Qin Lie tapped his fingers on the table, a hint of coldness flashing in his eyes for a moment, "It's not that I'm arrogant, but after seeing so many things, when you think of the worst in people, the truth is often not far off."

"That sounds really discouraging."

"On the bright side, this is also a test of character. My greatest hope for my grandson is that he can still be kind to those around him even after experiencing the harsh realities of life. Many people easily lose themselves as they go through life."

Qin Lie rarely felt sentimental, but he felt that what he said was indeed inappropriate, so he clamored to cook for the inn's staff.

Qiu Chiyan took some time to come back at noon, and Qin Lie sneakily handed him a bowl of dark stuff.

"What's this?"

"I stir-fried some meat. Eat up!"

"...You can cook?"

"It's been so many years since I've done this, it's understandable if I mess it up."

"Then let's just dump it."

Qin Lie slapped his hand: "You're wasting someone else's money on this food! So it's not your money, is it?"

"So if I eat it, it won't be a waste?"

"At least try to save some money."

The restaurant was bustling with activity, with everyone moving back and forth between the kitchen and the dining area.

Qin Lie watched Qiu Chiyan finish eating the meat and then told him about Bai Xinrong's incident that morning.

"You know what, this girl is quite principled. She didn't just agree to anything because she was soft-hearted," Qin Lie remarked with a touch of admiration.

"She won't cause trouble for herself, but I'm more worried about Bai Xinrong."

"What do you mean? You don't want her to seek help from the authorities?"

"Bai Qing'e has always disliked outsiders interfering in the affairs of his gang and family; his face and status are of paramount importance. If Bai Xinrong really does this, how will she face herself?"

"Officer Qiu is kind-hearted."

Qiu Chiyan looked helpless: "...Grandpa, please don't tease me."

Qin Lie glanced at the progress in the kitchen, then turned to Qiu Chiyan and said, "It's not that I'm heartless, but let the people of the martial world handle the affairs of the martial world. If you can avoid getting involved, then don't."

“Grandfather, I was just following orders from above. I had no choice.”

"Don't think I don't know you just want to investigate..."

As Shen Yu brought out the dishes, Qin Lie suddenly changed his demeanor, becoming kind and amiable towards Qiu Chiyan.

"Chi Yan, don't work so hard. Did you stay up all night again last night?"

"...?"

Seeing the strange atmosphere between the two, Shen Yu pretended not to notice, put the dishes on the table, and went back to the kitchen.

"Let's not talk about it now. Let's invite your master over here tonight. I haven't seen him in a long time."

Qin Lie's expression changed frequently, but once he left, he returned to normal.

"Not today. Alliance Leader Huo will arrive around tonight; they have other matters to discuss."

"What? You guys really want to..."

"Alliance Leader Huo invited people from the imperial court to observe the battle, under the guise of cooperation and friendship. Since it is for the sake of friendship, it is natural to do things that promote stability."

"You brat, you're trying to fool me, aren't you!" Qin Lie raised his foot and kicked.

Qiu Chiyan was already able to anticipate his grandfather's beating and dodged in advance, disappearing into the back kitchen.

In the kitchen, Yao Liuliu was still busy preparing the last of the customers' orders, while Shen Yu had already cleaned up the staff's lunch.

"Here, take this." Qiu Chiyan handed Shen Yu a small cloth bag.

"What is this?"

When Chen Yu took it apart, it was a bamboo whistle necklace with three dried wild rose fruits hanging from it.

"It's said to have been made by an old bamboo craftsman from the south. It was originally made to scare away sparrows, but the whistle was later improved so that it could guide birds. Of course, to use it for this latter purpose, you have to practice," Qiu Chiyan said with an awkward smile.

"Officer Qiu." Before Shen Yu could speak, Yao Liuliu called out to him silently from behind, but her eyes held a hint of mockery. "I don't have a gift?"

"...Next time for sure."

Yao Liuliu made a face and silently repeated, "I'll definitely do it next time."

Qiu Chiyan then said to Shen Yu, "I'll be going now, I have other matters to attend to at the yamen."

"Weren't you back for dinner?"

"I've been busy, but I managed to squeeze in a trip back. Maybe I'll go back tomorrow. Goodbye!"

“I’m so fussy,” Yao Liuliu muttered again from the side.

"Dinner's ready!" Shen Yu chuckled, put on the necklace, and continued serving the guests.

.

Inside the backyard of the government office.

Six men sat around a small table. There wasn't much food or drink, but there were plenty of wine jars.

With a beaming smile, the supervising officer Jiang Ce poured wine for the remaining five people: "I'm so sorry, my humble abode is rather simple. I hope the chief constable and Alliance Leader Huo won't find it offensive."

"We'd appreciate it if you could lend us this space for a small gathering, Lord Jiang," Xiao Wuhen said politely.

"Not at all. Your choice to hold the Hundred Sects Sword Ceremony in Sanhe Town is truly an unparalleled honor for this place!"

Jiang Ce said this, but he didn't think so at all.

At first, when I heard that various martial arts sects were coming to hold a sacrificial ceremony for the sword, I thought it was a good thing, something that would bring glory to the town. But as the date drew closer, not only did the case of the hallucinogenic drug occur, but people also died one after another.

None of those people were people he could afford to offend.

How to do nothing yet make his superiors look very busy has become Jiang Ce's biggest worry these past few days.

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the group raised their glasses and drank them down in one gulp.

Huo Liao got straight to the point: "Brother Xiao must already know about the situation in the town. Although the matter of Zhenyue Hall and Guanzhong Sword Society is an internal matter of their sect, it has been spread everywhere, and there are many exaggerated rumors outside."

"I've heard about it. I wonder if Alliance Leader Huo finds it inappropriate?" Xiao Wuhen didn't express any opinion, but instead asked in return.

"I heard some of it on the way, and today when I arrived in town, I was stopped by a girl who poured out her grievances."

"Bitterness?"

"Yes, Bai Qing'e's daughter is well-informed. She found me before anyone else and told me... about her suspicions." Huo Liao took a sip of wine, his tone indifferent.

Qiu Chiyan's heart skipped a beat, and he slightly raised his eyes.

Unexpectedly, this girl was really decisive. After failing to find Chen Yu and being frightened by her maternal grandfather, she turned around and went to find the oldest one.

"Then, Alliance Leader Huo, do you think this little girl's suspicions are credible?" Xiao Wuhen asked again.

"Without evidence, I can't make a judgment. But with her drive, it seems she won't give up until she finds the murderer." Huo Liao spoke without leaving any room for doubt. "She contacted me behind Bai Qing'e's back, so whether it's for the sake of the Qinglan Society, the Guanzhong Sword Society, or the stability of this Hundred Sects Sword Sacrifice, I have no choice but to talk to these two sect leaders."

Qiu Chiyan found this strange.

What did Bai Xinrong say that involved the Guanzhong Knife Society?

Huo Liao took another sip of wine, then turned his gaze to Qiu Chiyan: "This must be Brother Xiao's disciple, the one who gave me the clue to the illusion drug?"

Qiu Chiyan nodded and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect.

"You stubborn fool is useless. After all this time, you still haven't figured out the source of certain hallucinogenic drugs in the area. You're not worthy of any praise from Alliance Leader Huo."

Qiu Chiyan listened, but he didn't think his master was being polite or modest. He probably really meant it.

After all, he had initially thought his fall and injury were related to hallucinogenic drugs, but after investigating, it turned out to be purely accidental.

A group of masked deserters encountered him. Seeing that he acted like an official, they assumed he was there to arrest them and suddenly attacked him without any explanation.

Qiu Chiyan's assumption led to many detours in the investigation.

"Brother Xiao, there's no need to be so harsh," Huo Liao said with a smile, waving his hand to help him out. "If it weren't for my apprentice's clues, I'd probably still be eating sand in the Northwest right now."

Huo Ningyu suddenly spoke up from the side: "Father may not know this, but it's quite a coincidence that we're all at this table today. The place where Officer Qiu stays in Sanhe Town is the inn that Xiao Yu runs."

"Who? Shen Yu, that girl? She's here too? That Shen..." Huo Liao suddenly became talkative and excited, almost dropping his wine cup.

"Uncle Shen is not here. It is said that he left Xiao Yu behind and went on a trip alone with his aunt."

Huo Liao laughed and cursed, "That old man, he's so irresponsible, he doesn't even look at such a good girl!"

Xiao Wuhen looked around: "What, does Alliance Leader Huo also know that little Manager Shen?"

“I not only recognize her, she’s the daughter of my best friend, and our two families were neighbors for a while,” Huo Liao replied, his expression softening.

"That truly is fate!" Xiao Wuhen drank another cup, his gaze towards Qiu Chiyan now tinged with a hint of mockery—

You're pretty good, kid.

Seeing that the atmosphere had eased a bit, Qiu Chiyan then told him about Bai Xinrong's visit to Shen Yu during the day.

Huo Liao sighed softly, "This girl is quite a sentimental person."

"It seems that Alliance Leader Huo will have to take this very seriously." Xiao Wuhen toasted him again.

"Brother Xiao, don't talk like that without understanding the situation. I invited the people from the Six Doors to witness the ceremony, wasn't this the moment I was waiting for?"

The two exchanged a glance, silently raised their glasses, and clinked them together with a crisp "ding".

After a hearty meal and drinks, the group made it clear they wouldn't sleep that night.

The next morning, he excitedly ran to Shenyu's inn.

Although he had important business to attend to, Huo Liao couldn't resist visiting his little niece.

"Little Yu!"

The sound reached inside the inn before the person even entered.

The inn hadn't opened yet, and the staff were all eating porridge in the lobby. Upon seeing Huo Liao, some didn't recognize him, while others froze, too afraid to move.

But Huo Liao stepped through the door, completely ignoring everyone's reactions, and his gaze immediately fixed on Shen Yu.

"Oh my, you've grown so much, and you're even more beautiful now." He looked her up and down with satisfaction, his eyes crinkling with laughter.

When he was neighbors with Shen Jingyuan, his greatest wish was that Shen Yu would be his own daughter.

This desire has not diminished; on the contrary, it has intensified.

"Alright, let's have a go at it, you and I!"

“…Father!” Huo Ningyu grabbed the agitated Huo Liao, a hint of embarrassment on his face. “Who starts fighting right after meeting someone?”

The father's demeanor towards outsiders and his family is completely different, a fact that few people in the underworld know.

"Yes, yes! Xiao Yu is still eating." Huo Liao patted Shen Yu on the back, his voice softening, before remembering to look around at the group of guys.

"And this is…" He glanced at Gong Er, finding him familiar, "Mr. Duan Yun?"

"Sect Leader Huo." Gong Er remained remarkably composed as he bowed to him.

Gong Er had met him once when they were casting doors, and he thought he would never see him again in his life.

Fortunately, Huo Liao was knowledgeable and experienced, so he didn't ask any further questions, but simply returned the greeting.

Looking at the others, these men, women, young and old, seem to have the same personality as Shen Yu. I guess when hiring, he only looks at first glance and doesn't care about anything else.

"Don't be shy, everyone. Just pretend I'm not here." He waved his hand.

"Uncle Huo, would you like some porridge?" Shen Yu was delighted to see an old friend, but she was still hungry, so she asked everyone to sit down and have a simple breakfast together.

"I'll help you." Qiu Chiyan rolled up his sleeves quite naturally and followed Shen Yu.

"Then help me cut some smoked meat, it's crowded today. Oh wait, I bought some cured meat yesterday, you like that..."

Shen Yu's voice gradually faded, reaching the ears of those in the front hall.

Huo Liao glanced at his son, then at Xiao Wuhen.

Xiao Wuhen, however, sipped his water leisurely: "Eating meat is good, everyone likes it."