Chapter 20
Yi Feng glanced around, then stood in the courtyard with his arms crossed and a cold expression: "It's just a fight, why are so many people watching?"
"I didn't invite them; they all came spontaneously to join in the fun," Shen Yu said, shrugging.
Needless to say, Yao Liuliu was curious, Xu Dahe was curious, and as for Gong Er's two junior brothers, they insisted on watching after Gong Er let it slip.
After all, today's competition is about swordsmanship. With weapons at stake, one can discern the skill involved.
Besides, the swords were all brought by Viktor.
Shen Yu's right hand was injured, so she held the sword in her left hand. She loosely rotated her wrist a few times, trying to get a feel for it.
"Don't say I'm bullying you because you can't use your dominant hand." Yi Feng also drew his sword, his eyes becoming more serious.
"No need to give in. Just give it your all."
The words had barely left his lips when the swords clashed, the metal clanging against metal.
Yi Feng's aura was fierce, and his movements were so fast that he was almost a blur. His moves were precise and his attacks were relentless, with each sword aimed at Shen Yu's defenses.
Shen Yu remained calm and composed, controlling the sword with his left hand. His movements were light yet steady.
The two exchanged blows for more than ten rounds, their strength evenly matched.
Yao Liuliu was sitting, but the more she looked, the more nervous she became, and she unconsciously stood up.
How did Yifeng become so powerful?
When she fought her before, she didn't realize that her opponent was hiding their strength.
The wind swept across the eaves, carrying a few fallen leaves.
Taking advantage of the situation, Yi Feng intensified his attack, his sword strikes like a sudden downpour, carrying a fierce and defiant edge.
Shen Yu took a half step back, flicked his wrist, and the sword blade grazed Yi Feng's sleeve, leaving a very thin crack.
Yi Feng's gaze darkened slightly. He had long been annoyed that Shen Yu mainly focused on defense, but unknowingly, he had fallen slightly behind.
His swordplay suddenly changed, shifting from fast to ruthless.
Shen Yu remained calm and composed, flicking his left hand back with a slight turn of his sword.
bite--
As the two swords clashed, Yi Feng felt a numbness in his wrist, and faint bloodstains were visible beneath his sleeve.
"Alright," he said, stopping the conversation and standing still, his breathing slightly heavy.
But in the blink of an eye, he broke into a hearty laugh.
"Manager Shen, you have excellent skills!"
"If you're not good with a sword, why do you insist on using this short sword?" Shen Yu retorted.
Yao Liuliu also remembered that Yifeng used to use a pair of short thorns.
“I used whatever I wanted, there’s no reason needed. It’s just that my skills are inferior.” Yi Feng readily admitted, without bothering to explain. He turned his wrist to sheathe his sword. “I hope the shopkeeper will keep his promise. If you train with me for three days, I will tell you who killed the person.”
"Alright." Shen Yu didn't waste any more words. She tossed the sword to the two bloodthirsty gate forgers and waved her hand, "Go eat some lactose dumplings!"
The atmosphere at the inn had been a bit tense a few days ago, and Shen Yu hadn't had time to cook her favorite dishes. Now that the "culprit" had come out, Yao Liuliu was much more at ease, and she finally had some free time.
"Osmanthus flowers are a must to eat in autumn." She leaned over the table, spooning them into her mouth one by one.
Fighting is physically demanding, and even though she had just finished eating, she was already a little hungry.
"I never expected such a small inn to be full of talented people." Yi Feng also inexplicably joined the group eating.
Although he was a member of the Moon Shadow Sect, it seemed that apart from Yao Liuliu, who came from the same background, no one was afraid of him, nor did they deliberately hide their identities.
In this respect, he is much better than many self-proclaimed free spirits of the martial arts world.
“Sanhe Town is bustling, who knows how many experts are there? What are we compared to them?” Shen Yu replied vaguely.
"I've climbed so many rooftops, do you think I don't know their skill level?"
Yao Liuliu glared at him: "Is this something to be proud of?"
Yi Feng straightened his back: "I developed my lightness skill bit by bit. They can't detect it because I'm capable. What's wrong with acknowledging it?"
Gong Er shook his head slightly, but kept his face buried in the bowl and said, "That's a good attitude."
"Thank you very much."
Yao Liuliu: ...
She then looked at Shen Yu, her eyes clearly saying: "The Moon Shadow Sect, which deserves to be punished, is eating with us here, aren't you going to do anything about it?"
Shen Yu certainly wouldn't care, because Yi Feng said the dumplings she made were delicious, and he would pay for them.
"Speaking of which, are you a full moon baby now?" Shen Yu then remembered to confirm this with him.
The Moon Shadow Sect has a terrible reputation, so it's difficult for her to associate with them.
In the past, there was only Yao Liuliu, but she was unambitious and knew nothing. Now that Yifeng has finally arrived, she naturally wants to find out more about him.
“Ah…no.” Yi Feng uttered a word.
"Is that profit or loss?"
No, not exactly.
Shen Yu looked up and met Yi Feng's listless gaze, which seemed to have just finished eating and drinking.
“I just killed the sect leader last month, and now I am the leader of the Moon Shadow Sect.”
Yao Liuliu's hand trembled, and she couldn't eat anything.
Xu Dahe was stunned for a long time before he could react, and he buried his head in his bowl, pretending not to hear.
"That's amazing?" Shen Yu exclaimed in surprise. "Then your swordsmanship is quite poor."
"Thank you, no need for you to remind me." Yi Feng drew the replica sword and examined it carefully. "If I'm feeling interested, practicing swordsmanship wouldn't be bad."
"What if you use a weapon you're good at..."
"I might not lose to you."
"Then let's try it another day."
Gong Er looked at the two of them, shook his head and sighed, "Young people, their energy and spirit are really good."
Vickery said quietly, "You have the opportunity to go back to doing what you love, but you're not willing to do it."
"...What do you know, you little brat! Eat your food!"
After finishing his food, Yifeng took out some money and tossed it to Shenyu, not intending to actually mingle with them.
Before leaving, he glanced at Yao Liuliu, who was terrified, chuckled, and left swiftly.
"How could he... have taken the position of sect leader..."
After he left, Yao Liuliu murmured to herself in a daze. Her fingers unconsciously dug into her palm, then she raised her hand and began to bite her knuckles. It was a habitual action she took when she was nervous.
"Don't worry, I fought him and I think that although he is quite ambitious, he is not someone who can't be dealt with." Shen Yu patted her shoulder, but still couldn't comfort her.
She was completely caught up in her emotions and couldn't pull herself out.
In the short term, she'll probably be on edge again, and there's no solution to this. Further persuasion will be futile.
Let her take her time first.
The afternoon's competition was just a minor incident; the inn continued to operate normally.
However, perhaps because of the commotion yesterday, most of the guests who came near dinner were unfamiliar faces.
The few tables in the lobby weren't enough; even after they were full, some people stood by the door, using the excuse of drinking tea to frequently look around.
These people's eyes are not honest.
Whether openly or secretly spying, whenever Shen Yu was in the lobby, their eyes were glued to her.
She could sense the change, but she didn't point it out. She simply continued walking around as usual, smiling as she served tea and dishes.
They waited through the night, but Qiu Chiyan didn't return.
However, a messenger from the government arrived and said that he would stay overnight and that tomorrow's matters could be discussed tomorrow.
Shen Yu didn't know exactly what they were doing, but reopening an old case was never going to be an easy task.
However, Qiu Chiyan still did not return the next day.
Throughout the day, three or five martial arts practitioners, disguised as ordinary guests but actually eager for a challenge, arrived, each clamoring to learn from the masters.
By the time she had chased the last wandering swordsman out the door, it was already dark.
As night deepened, it finally became quiet.
Yao Liuliu was sleeping beside him. Shen Yu nuzzled her face with his hair, but she just turned over and didn't wake up at all.
Shen Yu rose silently and changed into her outer garment. The hem of her coat brushed against the lamplight, and with a flick of her finger, she blew out the oil lamp.
With a soft click of the window, she vanished into the night.
A cool night breeze swept through Sanhe Town. The lingering warmth of the day between the roof tiles was gradually swallowed up by the chill of the autumn night.
Like a shadow, Chen Yu leaped over the rooftops of the streets and alleys, his toes landing on the tiles with almost no sound.
The government office was located in the west of the town, only two miles from the inn. It was heavily guarded during the day, but now it was unusually quiet.
She stopped on the rooftop, squinted, and saw that there was no one in the front yard, but a faint light shone in the back yard.
She landed lightly on the backyard wall.
Under the lamp, Qiu Chiyan sat in the main seat, his expression focused, as he bowed his head and gave instructions.
She slowly moved to the roof beam closest to him.
"who!"
Qiu Chiyan's teacup was instantly flung away, but he saw Shen Yu, who was hanging upside down, catch it steadily.
"Why are you here?" Qiu Chiyan tried to get up, but his upper body seemed to freeze, and he couldn't stand up. So he sat down to greet him without making a sound.
"Let's see what Officer Qiu is busy with."
Shen Yu deftly flipped and leaped down, landing silently.
"I sent messages to the brothers in other parts of the Six Doors, but I didn't receive any replies until dinner time. I have to read these first." Qiu Chiyan shook a stack of letters beside him, looking rather helpless.
"Isn't this an old case? Why the rush?"
"I feel uneasy if I don't clarify any doubts."
Shen Yu crouched down and approached, her fingertips tracing along Qiu Chiyan's spine, tapping several times on his lower back.
Qiu Chiyan's previously stiff and swollen muscles suddenly relaxed, and he breathed a long sigh of relief as if he had been freed from his shackles.
"Thank you, shopkeeper."
"If you're going to help someone, you should see it through to the end." Shen Yu sighed. "If my mother knew that I treated someone who repeatedly disobeyed medical advice, I'd probably be ridiculed."
"I'm so sorry for holding the shopkeeper back." A hint of embarrassment flashed in Qiu Chiyan's eyes as he handed Shen Yu an oil paper package, trying to ingratiate himself by having her open it.
"Candied hawthorn!" Shen Yu was delighted to see food.
"Zhao Ze bought it. He likes this sweet and sour flavor, but his colleagues always laugh at him for having a childish taste, so he secretly bought it."
"What's so funny..." Shen Yu stuffed a piece into her mouth, but was too sour to speak. "...What? You guys can actually eat this?"
"It's excellent for refreshing the mind." Qiu Chiyan smiled with a hint of triumph, and then quickly handed her a cup of hot water.
Shen Yu calmed down: "Don't you need sleep?"
"Yes, it is necessary, but you need to come and see."
Qiu Chiyan pulled out a page of the file, which contained records of cases involving Gu poison from various places.
"Why are there so many?" Shen Yu glanced at them and saw dozens of cases in the past five years, from all over the country. They were incredibly chaotic and he couldn't make heads or tails of them.
“This is only what has been reported to the government; there are countless others reported privately.” Qiu Chiyan looked at the list, but his gaze went beyond what was in front of him. “And on this list, there are twelve cases of employees who have business dealings with Moyuntang or are its subordinate branches.”
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