Chapter 17
"Chen Yu!"
Yao Liuliu had never been so eager to see her, and at this moment she even felt a little aggrieved.
Shen Yu stared intently at the man, never letting her guard down.
"You're back pretty quickly." The man suddenly laughed, his voice low and menacing, as if he were deliberately provoking him.
“Although I clearly remember there were three candles left, I still went out when I saw they were gone from the drawer.” Shen Yu’s fingers tightened their grip. “After sneaking around for several days, to come in so openly like this is just disrespectful to me.”
A dark glint flashed in the man's eyes, his Adam's apple bobbed slightly, but he remained defiant: "Why are you so nervous about seeing an old friend? I had no intention of fighting you."
"My rule here is: swords must be drawn, and if you're going to fight, please leave the premises. You said you weren't targeting me, so what was that just now...?"
"Since your friends don't welcome me, I naturally have to find a way to fit in. Right, Yao Liuliu?"
Yao Liuliu's expression darkened even more when she was suddenly called out.
She didn't say anything, but Shen Yu let go of her.
Gong Er was so anxious that he almost shouted out loud.
He had just recognized it too; the man's sword looked remarkably similar to the weapon used by the mysterious man in the town who was said to kill people.
The man stepped back, stretched his wrists, and acted as if nothing had happened. He put on his faint smile again, but only said to Yao Liuliu, "I won't eat with you today. We'll talk about it another day."
After saying that, his figure disappeared into the night.
"Why did you let him go?" Gong Er rushed over instantly.
“He definitely didn’t intend to make a move; I could feel it,” Shen Yu replied calmly, turning her wrist.
She looked around the room; nothing seemed amiss.
"...I've troubled you today, I must take my leave now."
Zhou Siyao, who had been hiding in the corner, suddenly appeared behind Shen Yu. She was a little less drunk, but her gaze was somewhat evasive.
As if he had just watched a play, he bowed and then hurriedly left.
Yao Liuliu felt as if all her strength had been drained, and she slumped onto the stool.
"What's his name?" Shen Yu asked her.
Yao Liuliu bit her lip, her voice so low it was almost inaudible: "...Yifeng."
"Okay. Let's eat!"
"No..." Gong Er stood there, looking at the two people who had already taken their seats. The emperor wasn't worried, but the eunuch was. "Who is he? He looks a bit dangerous. How's his kung fu?"
"How would I know? I just stopped him a little. He didn't really mean anything by it, otherwise we would have definitely gotten into a fight." Shen Yu had already picked up her bowl and mumbled a vague answer.
"You're taking too much risks, getting so close to him without any weapons on you," Qiu Chiyan said in a low voice beside her.
Shen Yu looked up and grinned sheepishly: "I'm a kind and honest person, why would I carry weapons when I go out? But you, you weren't trying to overturn my table just now, were you?"
Her tone was light and cheerful, as if she had just stopped a drunk customer.
After her repeated calls, everyone finally settled down.
Everyone could see that the man had a close relationship with Yao Liuliu, but no one asked her about it anymore.
I've never seen her so out of control; why reopen old wounds?
So early on, the group silently took care of all the chores, leaving Shen Yu to accompany her back to her room.
“How could he come so suddenly…” Yao Liuliu sat on the bed, her head resting against the bed frame, and murmured.
"That means he's been watching you for a long time." Shen Yu took a bite of her apple, her tone unusually calm.
"...How could you say such terrifying things so calmly!"
"That's true." Shen Yu blinked, looking completely innocent. "But does this Yi Feng really have any ill intentions towards you?"
"...I don't know." Yao Liuliu's mind was in turmoil; she dared not recall or think too deeply about it.
"I think you need to figure out whether you're afraid of him or afraid of the Moon Shadow Sect."
"There's no difference."
"There's a big difference. You can't live your whole life constantly on edge."
Yao Liuliu remained silent for a long time, then suddenly looked up, her eyes filled with an almost probing look: "Is there anything you're never afraid of?"
Shen Yu thought about it seriously: "I'm definitely afraid, so I have to find a way to make myself not afraid."
"...You have such a good attitude." Yao Liuliu sighed, resigned to her fate. People are just so different; she couldn't do it.
If she could have done that, she wouldn't have hoped to escape the Moonshadow Sect in the first place, but would have honestly become a wealthy assassin.
"I slept."
"I hope you can sleep well."
"...You're so annoying!"
Yao Liuliu crawled into bed, but Shen Yu sat outside for a long time.
She was so close that she naturally saw Yifeng's weapon.
It may be a coincidence, or it may not.
But if it really is him, how should Liu Liu face it?
The snail will not hatch.
.
The next day at dawn, as soon as Gong Er moved the door panel, a group of people rushed into the inn and shoved him back into the room.
Who are you?!
Gong Er was truly fed up with this group of impolite江湖人 (jianghu people). One came yesterday, and a whole bunch came today.
"Hand over the person." The leader was burly, and although his clothes were neat and well-made, they couldn't hide his ruthless,江湖 (jianghu, a term referring to the martial arts world) nature.
"Who is it? They can't even explain themselves clearly."
But the other party pointed his spear directly at him: "Stop pretending! Hand over the man who killed my young master!"
"...Third Young Master?" Gong Er looked the group over carefully again, noticing the dark bronze badges around their waists. He belatedly realized, "You're from the Ink Rhyme Hall?"
“Indeed. I am Shi Yang, the manager of the third branch of the Moyun Hall.” He held the spear with one hand effortlessly, speaking coldly without uttering a single superfluous word.
Although Gong Er was being pointed at his head, he still managed to focus on observing the tip of the gun.
Good gun.
The spearhead is shaped like a willow leaf, long and sharp, with two terrifyingly deep grooves near the tip. Once it pierces the skin, it will inevitably cause profuse bleeding and certain death.
It seems they're willing to shed blood to achieve their goal today.
The commotion in the lobby alerted the other innkeepers, and people gradually gathered on the street, all peering out.
Qiu Chiyan lifted the curtain and entered. Shi Yang frowned slightly: "Officer Qiu, what brings you here?"
Although he was polite when he visited Moyuntang last time, what he did still went against Moyuntang's wishes, so Shi Yang naturally didn't like him very much.
"What is Manager Shi doing?" Qiu Chiyan gripped the gun and felt a strong force, so he silently exerted his strength as well. "It's not good to block people's business so early in the morning, is it?"
Shi Yang stood his ground: "Then what makes you say that Constable Qiu is protecting a murderer?"
Shi Yang's voice was booming, and discussions began to rise outside the inn.
"I hope Manager Shi will be careful with his words." Qiu Chiyan's expression remained unchanged, but he exuded a more imposing aura.
"Be careful what you say? Then let me ask Officer Qiu, did anyone enter the inn last night, carrying a short, cone-shaped sword?"
"So what if they do? Do you think an inn would take in and protect a thug who breaks in with a sword?"
"Then you have met him. Now, let me ask you, does he know anyone at your inn?"
There's no denying that Yifeng did call Yao Liuliu's name last night.
"Do you know what my guy is called? Do you know what's so hard about it? Just stand on the street and ask him, and everyone in the neighborhood will know."
Shen Yu stood on the stairs, coldly watching him.
"Eloquent and persuasive." Shi Yang reached for his gun, but someone was standing next to him. He glared at Qiu Chiyan and said, "We came early this morning just to demand an explanation for my young master. If you want peace, boss, hand over the murderer quickly!"
"Judging from your attitude, even if I let you search the whole place, as long as you don't find anyone, you're just going to stay here with me, right?"
"The shopkeeper is just dodging the question. I've said it before, I only want the person!"
Shen Yu went downstairs, gestured for Qiu Chiyan to stand behind her, and looked directly into Shi Yang's eyes: "I already said, the thugs broke in last night and left. I don't have the person you're looking for here."
"If you won't listen to reason, you'll have to suffer the consequences!"
Shi Yang couldn't hold back his anger any longer and shouted. He shifted his feet and thrust his spear like the wind.
Qiu Chiyan's brow furrowed, and he was about to step forward when Shen Yu raised her hand in a backhand motion. The palm wind was light and swift, yet incredibly precise.
With a crisp clang, she parried the iron spear.
Shi Yang felt a jolt in his tiger's mouth and his palm went numb. Before he could regain his balance, Shen Yu had already stepped forward, her palm carrying inch-by-inch force, sliding down the shaft of the spear, grabbing the butt of the spear, and with a slight exertion, she had actually taken the entire spear away.
With another sharp flick of his wrist, the spear whistled through the air, bursting out of the open doorway with a deafening roar, and plunged into the crack in the bluestone in front of the inn. The spear trembled slightly.
The onlookers outside gasped and took several steps back.
Manager Shen... is he that amazing?
I've never seen this before!
For a moment, only a faint buzzing sound remained in the air.
Shen Yu turned around and quietly straightened her cuffs: "See that sign? Fighting is not welcome here. If you want to fight, go outside."
Shi Yang was astonished by the strength of this young woman and secretly regretted underestimating her.
He made a gesture, and the men behind him more carefully adjusted their weapons at their waists.
"Manager Shen, you have excellent skills. But since we've already started fighting, it's not my place to take advantage of my seniority!"
Shi Yang's feet sank slightly, his boots making a crisp sound as they pounded on the bluestone slab, and his aura suddenly rose.
Shen Yu merely turned slightly to the side, her gaze as cold as frost.
Shi Yang let out a loud shout and unleashed a powerful palm strike, his true energy carrying a surge of energy that shook the tables and chairs.
Instead of retreating, Shen Yu advanced, his sleeves billowing, his palm strikes both soft and firm, meeting him head-on.
The two forces collided in mid-air.
Qiu Chiyan's vision blurred for a moment, and it seemed as if Shi Yang gave a faint smile before disappearing.
But Shen Yu caught the palm strike, and suddenly moved like a shadow, taking a step forward and using the recoil to close in again, striking Shi Yang's chest with a palm.
Bang--
Shi Yang was thrown into the air by the shock, then crashed to the ground outside the inn. His chest caved in, he felt a sweet taste in his throat, spat out a mouthful of blood, and then everything went black before he passed out.
Shen Yu withdrew his hand, his face showing no emotion, and only glanced at Mo Yuntang's attendant, who was still gripping the hilt of his knife and looked pale.
The men exchanged glances, put down their weapons, and, by a combination of dragging and lifting, carried Shi Yang to his feet.
Shen Yu followed her out. She pulled out the long spear that was deeply embedded in the bluestone at the door and threw it between Shi Yang's legs. The spear tip stuck into the ground with a "clang" and stood firmly.
She glanced around at the crowd, her voice not loud, but loud enough for everyone to hear—
"Gentlemen, let me make things clear today to avoid future troubles." Her tone was cold and steady. "Yesterday evening, a stranger did indeed barge into the inn, but he left after a short while. It had nothing to do with my inn, but if it were related to my staff, I would not shirk responsibility. However, today, Manager Shi Yang of Moyuntang brought men armed with weapons to cause trouble and attempt to frame someone. I have already stated my rules enough. If anyone comes to disturb us again, don't blame me, Chen Yu, for showing no mercy."
After saying that, she returned to the inn. Her gaze swept across the room, and Ye Wushuang silently took in everything from the second floor.
But she didn't stop and ran straight to the backyard.
Qiu Chiyan sensed something was wrong. Her footsteps were too fast and too light, still almost without making a sound, yet carrying a hint of unsteadiness and unease.
He frowned and quickly followed.
But as soon as Chen Yu stepped onto the muddy ground, she suddenly bent over and spat out a mouthful of black blood, which splattered on the ground, carrying a fishy, sweet, and putrid smell.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
