Chapter 122 (Guessing)

Chapter 122 Speculation

Although Gongzi Mingyue had no concrete evidence and could only speculate about what he said to Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan, he was already convinced in his heart that Yue Buqun was the one who did it.

“I had someone investigate what happened back then. Linghu Hao did indeed disappear without a trace. No one could find any trace of him, not even his remains. But my people went elsewhere,” Gongzi Mingyue explained to Ling Hao. “Before and after Linghu Hao’s disappearance, Yue Buqun also went down the mountain and changed his clothes when he returned.”

Yue Buqun's whereabouts were spotted by a herbalist gathering herbs on Mount Hua. This herbalist was a native of the foot of Mount Hua and naturally recognized Yue Buqun. However, at the time, the herbalist only found it strange and didn't think much of it.

Of course, most importantly, he dared not think too much about it. Even though they both grew up in Mount Hua, he, an ordinary doctor, had no connection with the leaders of martial arts sects. Therefore, the doctor never mentioned this matter to anyone. If someone hadn't specifically investigated, asked, and returned the gifts, he wouldn't have said anything.

"Not only that, Yue Buqun also ate vegetarian food for a period of time after returning to the Huashan Sect. At that time, he claimed it was for Linghu Hao's sake, hoping that he could be reincarnated into a good family." Gongzi Mingyue sneered, "Without finding Linghu Hao's body, Ning Zhongze and the disciples of the Huashan Sect refused to believe that he was dead, but Yue Buqun, who had always said that he loved Linghu Hao, so hastily assumed that he was dead."

Compared to Ning Zhongze's relentless search, Yue Buqun's seemingly calm yet indifferent actions seemed to reveal something. Was his certainty that Linghu Hao was dead because he had killed him? Although there was no concrete evidence, that was what Gongzi Mingyue believed.

He is neither from the Ministry of Justice, nor the Court of Judicial Review, nor the Divine Marquis's Office. He doesn't need evidence to judge a person; if he thinks it is, then it is.

Ling Hao frowned. "Now that you mention it, it seems quite possible." You see, in the original story, Yue Buqun was the kind of person who would cut himself to practice the Evil-Slaying Sword Manual. It's not impossible for such a ruthless person as him to eat human hearts.

"Yue Buqun is no good either." Gongzi Mingyue leaned against the carriage wall and chuckled. "It's just that he hasn't harmed the common people, so I'm too lazy to care." He never cared about the battles in the martial arts world, and he only investigated Linghu Hao for Linghu Hao's sake.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have bothered with other people's business.

Ling Hao glanced back in the direction where Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan were, even though she couldn't see them from inside the carriage. "Wouldn't Yue Buqun have killed them?"

It was obvious that the two of them would definitely return to the Huashan Sect. Although Linghao couldn't fully predict Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan's actions, she believed that the two of them were no match for Yue Buqun. Linghu Chong, without those extraordinary encounters, was no match for Yue Buqun in martial arts; he and Yue Buqun were still young and not as cunning as Yue Buqun, so it was hard to say how long they could keep his secret.

If Yue Buqun were to truly become ruthless, it's entirely possible he would kill Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan. Don't cite the saying "even tigers don't eat their cubs"; throughout history, there have been countless cases of fathers, mothers, wives, and children being killed. If Yue Buqun were to actually do it, he would simply be one of those heartless and cruel individuals.

Upon seeing this, Gongzi Mingyue immediately said, "In that case, I will have Shici send people to protect them."

Linghao turned to look at him and said, "So kind-hearted?" Although Mingyue often tried to hide his true feelings from her, she knew he wasn't a kind-hearted person. Although he wasn't a bad person, he was often quite indifferent.

If ordinary people who weren't江湖人 (jianghu people, people from the martial arts world) might even get a second glance from him, then those江湖人 (jianghu people) wouldn't be so likely to. However, Ling Hao didn't care; he was just indifferent, he hadn't harmed anyone. And the things that Gongzi Yu did in the original story had all changed after she arrived. A Yu hadn't harmed anyone, and Mingyue hadn't harmed anyone either, so of course she wouldn't care.

Compared to those who kill and rob while pretending to be virtuous, these two are much better. Ling Hao thought to himself.

"Of course not." Although Gongzi Mingyue concealed the ruthlessness in front of Linghao, he never lied to her and was unwilling to lie. "It's because Ah Hao is kind-hearted. You're worried about them, so I'll help you resolve this concern. Besides, if their Qi Sect falls into chaos, can't our Sword Sect rise again? At that time, Ah Hao, if you want to be the leader of the Huashan Sect, then you can be the leader; if you don't want to, then let Master be the leader, and I'll find a few people to help handle the affairs."

He knew Linghao didn't like those tedious sect affairs, but that didn't matter; he could help her resolve them. As long as Linghao was happy, he was willing to do anything, especially since these were minor matters.

Ling Hao laughed, "What do you mean, 'our Sword Sect'? Is it your Sword Sect? Besides, that's my master."

Young Master Mingyue ignored her, "Ah Hao, we're best friends. Your Sword Sect is my Sword Sect, so it's our Sword Sect; as for your master, he's mine too..."

"Let's not do this," Ling Hao stopped Gongzi Mingyue. "I don't want Senior Shen to go and have a heart-to-heart talk with my master." The matter of snatching someone's disciple could be a big deal or a small one, depending on the disciple's aptitude and how much they were favored. She could tell at a glance that both A Yu and Mingyue were Shen Lang's beloved disciples. If she "snatched" them, her master would probably have to face Shen Lang.

Aside from taking her in and raising her, the old man, Master, is actually a person who dislikes trouble and prefers peace and quiet. If Shen Lang were to come and have a heart-to-heart talk with him, he would probably call her an unfilial disciple, and she would just be sneezing a few times here.

Gongzi Mingyue chuckled, "It's alright. It's a good opportunity for Master to travel to the Central Plains and visit his in-laws. As for your master, don't worry, I'll definitely stop him from coming to our door."

Ling Hao's smile deepened. "You really are a good disciple of Senior Shen."

“I always have been.” Gongzi Mingyue winked at Ling Hao.

Someone on a distant island overseas: "Achoo! Achoo! Achoo! Achoo!"

Meanwhile, Ling Hao thought for a moment and said, "Let someone follow Linghu Chong and the others, just make sure they don't lose their lives. Let's see how things develop; I'm quite curious to know what will happen next."

She really wanted to know whether Linghu Chong and Yue Lingshan would break with Yue Buqun for the sake of their senior brother, even at the cost of their own family; or whether they would pretend that nothing had changed for the sake of Yue Buqun, since they had no blood relation to that senior brother and hadn't known each other for long.

"But Ah Hao, are you sure you don't need to take your hairband back?" Gongzi Mingyue was still a little bothered. That belonged to Ah Hao; how could he let someone else take it? He couldn't let it go just thinking about it.

“I’m not doing this for Yue Lingshan, I’m doing this for Lady Ning,” Linghao said. “She must have loved that child named Linghu Hao very much, and that hairband must be one of the few things she has left. Although the hairband originally belonged to me, and I don’t know how it ended up in Linghu Hao’s hands, Ning Zhongze considers it to be his keepsake. If the hairband were to disappear from her possession without her knowledge, she would be very sad.”

"Yue Buqun is not a good sect leader, nor does he know how to manage a sect. If it weren't for Ning Zhongze, the Huashan Sect would not only have declined over the years, but would very likely have disappeared. Even for this reason, I don't want Lady Ning to be too sad."

Although Linghao didn't grow up in the Huashan Sect, and although she didn't have any feelings for the Huashan Sect, she did for Feng Qingyang. Because of Feng Qingyang, Linghao developed a little more affection for the Huashan Sect and Ning Zhongze, especially since Ning Zhongze was a very admirable person.

Exactly, her judgment of character isn't very good. She married Yue Buqun and became his devoted wife. In Linghao's opinion, Ning Zhongze should have taken over the Huashan Sect herself and become its leader. After all, she's the daughter of a Huashan Sect elder.

Compared to Yue Buqun, she clearly had better conditions. Whether it was connections or martial arts talent, she was better than Yue Buqun. It's just that after becoming Yue Buqun's wife, she became his virtuous and capable assistant, and all those advantages seemed to become unimportant.

Sigh. Ling Hao felt a pang of pity for Ning Zhongze. She dedicated herself to helping Yue Buqun manage the affairs of the Huashan Sect, caring for its disciples, and even earned the sincere respect of others in the martial world as "Heroine Ning." If she had focused solely on herself, she would surely have achieved even greater things. What a pity.

"Alright then, let's let them hold onto it for a while." Although Gongzi Mingyue was still somewhat unwilling, he would never contradict her once she had spoken.

The carriage returned to the front of the villa. Linghao was the first to push open the door and get out. Then she turned around, leaned against the carriage door, and said with a smile, "Mingyue, get down."

"Hmm." Young Master Mingyue responded with a smile, one hand on the other carriage door, the other lifting the hem of his robe as he stepped off the carriage.

The moment he landed, his expression immediately turned sour.

Ling Hao shook his head helplessly, then turned around and looked at the gate of the villa. "Mingyue, let's go in."

"Hmph, she's got something to do again," Gongzi Mingyue muttered under her breath. "I thought she was very busy."

"I am very busy." Standing inside the door was a person—the Emperor, who should have been in the palace. Her position was cleverly chosen, making it impossible for those outside to see her face. "Therefore, you should be grateful that I have come out to see you in person, you know?"

She said this with an indifferent attitude, clearly she was just teasing her brother and didn't really think they should be grateful.

Young Master Mingyue knew this, but he just wanted to be alone with Ahao right now, and he wouldn't be happy no matter who came. It's just that his attitude towards the Emperor was a little different.

"You brat, aren't you going to greet us?" The emperor raised an eyebrow. In truth, she secretly chuckled; Mingyue Nu was much more amusing than Ayu, hahaha.

Gongzi Mingyue spoke with some frustration, "Sister." Why are there so many people in the world? Why are there so many things? If only he and Ahao were in the world.

The emperor smiled and nodded, then looked at Ling Hao, "Miss Ling, I've come to see you. Shall we talk?"

Ling Hao paused for a moment, then nodded in agreement, "Okay."

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Author's Note: My computer updated automatically, and the page looks weird and clunky.