Chapter 134 The Silent Murder Trap (Seeking monthly votes!)
When A-Jie arrived at the Beitian Aid Home, she learned why the young magistrate in plain clothes had suggested she come here in the dark alley behind Yunshui Pavilion that day.
Looking around, the courtyard was full of the elderly, the infirm, and the disabled, many of whom were missing limbs.
However, it can be seen that there are enough houses to house them, and the monks in the temple may have been somewhat negligent in their duties, leaving some patients with poor mental health unattended.
For example, right now he saw a dirty patient lying on all fours, gnawing on bamboo near a dry well in a bamboo grove not far away.
However, aside from these, the other disabled elderly and children did not appear pale or sickly, and showed no fear or apprehension towards the monks around them.
Having grown up in the streets of Chang'an, A-Jie, who herself came from a humble background as a beggar, had seen far too many examples of this.
His right arm was cut off when he was a child by an old beggar so that he could beg for money in front of noble people.
Most of his childhood beggar companions were also physically disabled, some deaf and some mute.
Therefore, regarding the Beitian Nursing Home in front of us, which shelters disabled elderly and children...
Is it about fooling the ambitious county officials, or about ensuring they have enough to eat and wear and getting things done in a down-to-earth manner?
A-Jie could tell his true colors at a glance.
So... at this moment, the servant of the Liu family, who had just returned after inquiring about the news, was reporting and talking to the Jade Cup Fairy.
He looked somewhat lost in thought.
Silently watching a little boy not far away who also had a missing arm.
The poor little boy didn't seem too sad. He and a snotty little girl who appeared to be deaf and mute were squatting in the corner playing a game of counting pebbles, both with their hair in pigtails, carefree.
The Jade Cup Fairy seemed to sense that A-Jie was distracted and did not ask for his opinion.
The Jade Cup Fairy continued to question the robust and capable servant of the Liu family before her:
"You mean, Ouyang Lianghan and Lady Xie didn't come over here right away, but instead went to the main hall on the east side? What are they up to?"
She frowned slightly. Could it be that the Liu family had obtained the county magistrate's schedule incorrectly, and had been tricked again? Then Ouyang Lianghan's mind was far too meticulous and frightening.
"Reporting to the fairy, it seems they went to the morning meal hall. When I returned, I sent someone to continue following them. We should have news soon."
"Okay, but be careful not to get too close. Xie Lingjiang is very vigilant, so don't alert her."
"Understood, fairy. However, there are many worshippers at the temple today who are seeking divination. It's not easy to be discovered if you blend into the crowd."
"In short, it's best to be careful. The fish haven't been caught yet, so it's not the time to be careless. You know how risky what we're doing is."
"yes."
The Jade Cup Fairy nodded slightly and dismissed her subordinates.
Her brows furrowed, as if she were deep in thought.
"Hey, what are you looking at?"
A moment later, the Jade Cup Fairy turned to ask A-Jie, who, holding her sword in one hand, turned her gaze away from the back of the child in the corner of the courtyard.
He did not answer.
The Jade Cup Fairy suddenly sneered, glancing at the disabled elderly and children in the courtyard:
"It's just a county magistrate's inspection, and the abbot of the temple is just putting on a show. You wouldn't be feeling soft-hearted, would you?"
A-Jie said indifferently, "I am a swordsman."
"You'd better be."
The Jade Cup Fairy gave a cold snort and then asked:
"The situation is neither good nor bad. Xie Lingjiang still came along and stayed close to Ouyang Lianghan. They should be here soon."
"Let's finalize how to deal with Xie Lingjiang."
"Should we subdue her and only behead Ouyang Lianghan, or should we kill her as well?"
Ah Jie finally spoke, but shook her head indifferently:
"I will not kill the Xie family woman, although it is not difficult."
"Among the Confucian scholars who rise rapidly at a young age, none have simple backgrounds."
"Once you make a move, you will leave some traces no matter what. If a Yin-Yang School astrologist can see the aura and trace it back to its source, you won't be able to escape."
"Moreover, she also possesses protective and sensory items given to her by her Confucian elders who value her. If she were to die, the trouble that would ensue would be unknown."
"This is really troublesome."
The Jade Cup Fairy frowned, pondered for a moment, and then asked:
"Then how about you subdue Lady Xie when the time comes?"
"Can."
A-Jie nodded and said slowly:
"You'll have to pay more."
"My deal with Liu Ziwen is Ouyang Lianghan's life. In exchange for this sword, everything else will have to be paid extra."
The Jade Cup Fairy's expression immediately turned somewhat unpleasant, and she said impatiently:
"Then you only need to subdue Xie Lingjiang, and Ouyang Lianghan will be the one to kill him."
A-Jie glanced at the black-robed female priest in front of her, then tilted her head, sword in hand.
"This is different from the agreement between me and Liu Ziwen. Besides... are you trying to steal my credit and reward?"
"..."
If it weren't for the faint crimson aura emanating from the one-armed youth, which was so striking in the eyes of the Jade Cup Fairy and had such a powerful effect on calming people down and making them kinder, it would have been a different story.
Otherwise, if it were anyone else, the Jade Cup Fairy would have slapped them across the face and broken their neck.
However, the minor skirmish at the South Pavilion courtyard at dawn made the Jade Cup Fairy quite confident in A-Jie's sword.
The 'Moon Maiden' sword in the arms of the one-armed youth was forged by an old swordsmith. Moreover, according to the swordsmith, it seemed to pay slight homage to and imitate the mythological elements of a certain cauldron sword that was once forged by the master craftsmen of the Daoist lineage on the west bank of Butterfly Creek.
It can instantly unleash moonlight sword energy to blind the entire field. Combined with A-Jie's already extremely fast sword speed, the moonlight sword energy makes her even more formidable.
The Jade Cup Fairy pondered that as long as Ouyang Lianghan dared to enter this Compassionate Nursing Home and appear within ten feet of A-Jie, even with Xie Lingjiang following him every step of the way, it would probably take until his head was slain and the moonlight that blinded him dissipated before Xie Lingjiang could even react.
The one-armed youth in front of her looked like he deserved a beating, but his sword was just that fast, unbelievably fast.
Looking around, apart from the Great Queen of Yunmeng Sword Marsh next door, who dares to claim that they can control her?
But the problem now is, after beheading Ouyang Rong, what to do with the remaining Xie Lingjiang?
If A-Jie doesn't step in to help, and Xie Lingjiang does indeed advance to the seventh rank, then the Jade Cup Fairy will probably be hunted down and killed by her in a fit of rage.
Even if Xie Lingjiang was intimidated by the one-armed swordsman's ruthless methods and didn't have much affection for Ouyang Lianghan, and chose to run away, the Jade Cup Fairy wouldn't be able to catch her if A-Jie didn't try her best to stop her.
If Xie Lingjiang escapes, the Liu family's plan to cut the wedding gift will be exposed.
If Xie Lingjiang interferes, forget about the later schemes of using someone else to kill another or killing two birds with one stone; even the first step of substituting one thing for another will be in jeopardy.
Moreover, the Jade Cup Fairy has now figured it out: this guy named A-Jie doesn't seem to be cooperating with the Liu family; he just wants to hire someone to kill someone and then leave.
Therefore, he will most likely kill Ouyang Lianghan, then turn around and leave, leaving Xie Lingjiang and the Liu family with a mess, and then he will run away with his sword without any guilt.
Jade Cup Fairy gritted her teeth, feeling that this possibility was not small at all, especially given A-Jie's indifferent attitude.
It will take my intervention.
She took a deep breath and nodded:
"Alright, I understand. You will follow my instructions. Ouyang Lianghan... will be killed by you."
Just then, another servant of the Liu family who had been following them returned and respectfully reported that Ouyang Rong and Xie Lingjiang, after having a vegetarian meal at the Zaozhai Courtyard, seemed to be heading towards the main hall to burn incense and draw lots.
"What is Ouyang Lianghan trying to do, burn incense and pray to Buddha?"
The Jade Cup Fairy was speechless. She lowered her head and pondered for a moment, then suddenly stood up and uttered a sentence:
"I'll go out and take a look. You wait here... If Ouyang Lianghan comes in, draw your sword and behead him. Don't hesitate, and don't forget the reward you received."
"You wouldn't hide away and dump Xie's daughter on me, would you?" A-Jie said with a laugh.
"This immortal is not like some people who disregard the big picture."
"The price isn't enough, and you expect me to consider the bigger picture?"
"snort."
The fairy with the jade cup flicked her sleeve and led her people away, leaving only the one-armed youth behind.
Beidai Nursing Home, next to an open-air stone table inside the courtyard.
Ah Jie, holding a sword and closing her eyes, sat quietly among a group of disabled elderly and children.
With his arm severed, he was inconspicuous among the suffering crowd.
Quietly wait for the young man I met briefly in the dark alley that day to arrive.
Here it is, two updates!
(End of this chapter)
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